Meet Our Members! Tim and Kim Show

1)Can you tell us how you came to sell vintage? 

Tim and I had a retail store where we designed and manufactured the mens sportswear. We started collecting vintage Hawaiiana, surf and beach memorabilia to use as decor props.
 
2) And how your Etsy shop began?

 I was scouting for vintage items to use in client's interior design projects and kept running across awesome vintage items that were not right for my clients but too good to pass up. Our house couldn't hold any more so I decided to open the Etsy shop to share the amazing finds.
 
3) How did you find your shop name?

 Tim and Kim Show is a nickname that we have become known as a couple. While I still take on interior design jobs and Tim works in real estate, the etsy shop is a venture we are enjoying together.
 
4) What is your favorite era? 
                                           1950's, hands down!    

5) What is your current favorite Vintage find? 

 We are getting ready to list an amazing mid century room divider that has built in lights. We found it in a lighting store that has had it for over 50 years, original tag and all. They were really using as a display shelf for other items but we asked if they would sell it to us. We were elated when they agreed!
 
6) Where do you like to hunt for your treasures?
                           We scour for treasures all over Florida; estate sales, auctions and thrifts.
 
7) is there any single item you have found that you can not list & what do you love about it?

We have two and they are both lighting fixtures. One we listed for a short period but I deactivated it when it struck me how heartbroken I would be if it sold. It is a teak hanging swag pendant that has a lace fabric inner shade. I've never seen one like it! The other is teak floor lamp made by Woolmus in St Petersburg, Florida in the 50 or 60s. I just fits with our other pieces so perfectly!

 

  8) What advice would you wish someone had told you when you first started selling vintage?

 A master photography class would have been a godsend. If the picture doesn't look good, it doesn't matter how great the piece is

New Member Spotlight

Kateblossom

Shabby chic gypsy eco prairie romatic custom

The Etsy Vintage Team proudly welcomes one of our newest members Kate from Kateblossom!

 Kate brings new meaning to taking the old and making it new. Her up-cycle clothing creations are truly one of a kind masterpieces! Each item Hand-died, Hand-sewn, and embellished with fine vintage linens, lace, and/or buttons. Each selection tells a whimsical tale and perhaps peers into Kate's very own childhood dreams. You cannot help but to stop and smell the proverbial roses while browsing her shop. It sparks your own imagination (which is just fine with her). Shes happy to work together with her shoppers & help them create a custom masterpiece.

Meet Kate the owner and creator of Kateblossom! 

"Hi Sweet Friends! I am Kate and I live in North California with my dear Husband. I love to create unique, earthy, ethereal, sometimes edgy, carefree, fun, country, chic, farm, bridal, ranch, cottage clothes for women and children.. casual, yet with a touch of elegance. I love God, and his Son Jesus, His Word....and pleasing him every day is my goal. What a blessing that he is our creator. "

More from Kate:

"Etsy has been a way for me to use my own creativity. I have always loved Vintage Things, even when I was a little girl at my Grandmothers house. I loved visiting Thrift Stores as a child. I find thrill in taking thrifted or handed down clothing and making them into something new. I also enjoy using bits and pieces of things, kind of like making a collage with clothing. Old lace and lots of different fabrics, buttons and other textiles go into my creations."

...and what a wonderful collage Kate creates!

Fabric Art isn't Kate's only talent... 

She enjoys reading, cooking and an array of outdoor activity. All seemingly inspirations for her creations. She has recently written a Historical Fiction picture book that her husband illustrated, and it will be published this Summer!


She has a Second Etsy Store Katerustic where she creates "Handmade Rustic Farm Girl Home Decor Folk Art."

Shabby Spring Twiggy Doll


As being one of our Etsy Vintage Team Members, you can shop Kate's store confidently, knowing you are getting the highest quality product and customer service possible!

Ten Killer Tips for Attending a Sheriff's Auction

So you want to attend a Sheriff's auction. I'm talking about a personal property auction not a real estate auctions held on the courthouse steps. Sound intriguing? Not only does it sound interesting but  I have it on good authority that items go for cheap—dirt-cheap.  Pickers of vintage goods need to buy low and sell high. I’m going.

I often bring my mom along with me for some quality mom and daughter time. She is as enthusiastic about searching for treasures as I am. We make a good team when we aren’t shouting at each other about directions and my propensity for ‘curb hopping.’ Without further jabbering, I’ll let you in on the secrets to a sheriff’s auction.

1.     Get there early. It may or may not be crowded but regardless there are very few chairs. Auction attendees mostly mill about or prop against a wall. You will also need to get a bid number. I did notice people arriving late but they were still able to get a bid number.

2.     Wear comfortable clothing. Especially shoes. You will have an opportunity to dig through items.

3.     Stand or sit next to people who know what they are doing. We formed an immediate camaraderie with our little contingent of auction attendees. Five total strangers rooting for  each other, the ‘regulars’ whisper tips to mom and I, such as: “stop bidding, the person you are bidding against will not quit.” Or “Bid on the table, its very good.” Our helpful neighbors are not storeowners but what I’d call, ‘auction zealots.’ They love a good auction but not dealers from out of town. Luckily, I have a home in Blaine County or I’d be kicked to the curb.

4.     A regular (usually a dealer) will always start the bid. It’s not a rule but it worked that way at this auction. Anyway, don’t worry about starting the bid.

5.     Bids start between $1.00 and $10.00!!!! I’m not kidding, however I’m sure its different at all auctions depending on the inventory and the county.

6.     The auction will most likely go all day long. Not joking, but don’t worry, you can cash out at one-hour break intervals. Cashing out is quick because the auction clerk records a finished bid  as soon as it’s made. I checked out at the end of the day in five minutes.

7.     This is not a professional setting like an auction house; there isn't an official auctioneer. The sheriff assistant will hold up an item like a hatchet and ask, “how much for this hatchet?” That’s it. As a side note, my mother became so excited about the low prices that she bid on — well she bid on the hatchet. I hissed at her. “Mom, stop this instant, what do you need a hatchet for?” I’m still mulling over her response. “I need a hatchet for the back of my motorcycle.” No my mother is not crazy and she USED to own a variety of motorcycles but she is long past rides in the backcountry and camping in the woods. Apparently, it's a very fond memory because she wants another hatchet for her long gone motorcycle. It's fortunate that no motorcycles are up for auction. My mom simply succumbed to a sort of ‘auction frenzy.’ It can happen.

8.     Be prepared to pay with cash or check. No credit card. There is no auction fee.

9.     Personal property auctions happen because someone has not paid their debt. The property is seized and auctioned by the sheriff. The debt is made whole to the person owed the money within days. This is the system in Blaine County, and I would imagine elsewhere. The auction stops when the total cash amounts to debt owed, in this case, $14,350. Done.

10. And finally, I asked three people in charge about the remainder of goods not auctioned. I have no answer as of yet.

Have you been to a sheriff's auction? I'd love an answer to tip number ten. Auctions are loads of fun with all sorts of interesting attendees. I purchased ALL of the pictures below for $40.00. The frames alone are worth the price I paid.

 Feel free to post YOUR auction finds and a link to your store in the comment section.

Living A Vintage Life: Through Abuse, Drought and Overload

Submitted by Three Chicks Vintage
I have found the most delightful blogs - a 'set' of blogs actually: Pyrex Collective, Pyrex Collective II and Pyrex Collective III. Given that the objects of their passion can come in sets it seems appropriate that they blog about them in a set. The writers of these collectives discuss the weighty issues of collecting that many of us can relate to no matter what our pursuit, while sharing the colorful delights of the Pyrex spectrum.

1960 Holiday Casserole, Heather of Lark & Lola.

On Pyrex Collective II: "I've been in the worst Pyrex drought here, lately!" exclaimed Heather.
Similar emotion was shared by Rachael on Pyrex Collective III when a friend found a piece marked by a previous owner with nail polish: 
"She gasped in horror when she saw this! . . . This is a definite case of Pyrex abuse! Shame on them!".
Thrifter Sisters moaned in consternation when faced with a pile of duplicates, the result of sending hubby to an estate sale in her stead:
"Evidently my husband is a member of the 'Leave No Pyrex Behind' club."
(To his credit he scored every single piece available at the estate sale for a mere $35!)

Six Balloons' favored little workhorse, a yellow Fridgie.

What did these avid collectors of the multi-hued, durable glass do to ease the discomfort of these travails? Well, bake brownies of course! Triple Chocolate treats, baked in a humble but useful Yellow Fridgie, were shared by Six Balloons and a pretty pink Pyrex pan with posies of positively wicked treats made by Jessica: Vegan S'mores Brownies.

From Lesley of Froog and Doog on PCIII.

The collective mindset of PC, PCII and PCIII was succinctly stated by Lesley on Pyrex Collective III: "Happiness Is Stacks Of Pyrex"!
Take the time to enjoy the Pyrex Collectives - pages of fun, colorful anecdotes, advice and experience offered by fun, colorful and passionate collectors!

A Walk in the Woods

Vintage canteen from TheFancyLamb

By Susan from CalloohCallay

Like much of the United States, we here in the middle have had an eerily warm winter--no frozen ponds like when I was a kid, and my crocuses are up already, probably just in time to be zapped by another cold snap. But the upside to climate change, if you can call it that, is last weekend I got out for a hike along the river bluffs--just me, my canteen, and 300 other hikers, bikers, and dogs taking advantage of the weather.

Wildflower guide from TheVintageReader

I didn't see much wildlife--a few hawks circling the river, a few gray squirrels. But on a less crowded day I might have run into some deer, or even an otter or raccoon along the river bank. It was too early for the wildflowers, but in the coming months they'll be making their appearance in great numbers.

We're heading into just about the best time to enjoy the outdoors (though autumn has a lot going for it too). So, in anticipation of many hikes to come, here are a few of my favorite vintage items to take along.

Vintage Czech rucksack from PerfectlyPoshVintage

KampKing 1960s utility knife from KentonCollectibles

Vintage camp stool from moxiethrift

1912 Boy Scout book from queenofsienna

Pedometer from tippleandsnack

Vintage snakebite kit from kowgirlkitsch

Living A Vintage Life: Sweet Dreams

'Diary Of A Quilter' Gives Old Sheets New Life

Submitted by Three Chicks Vintage
I remember a lot about the sheets and pillowcases I slept upon as a child. My dear Grandma Alice's white sheets were pressed and starched and her pillowcases were lovingly embroidered with flowers and fancy ladies. Even now as I close my eyes I can smell the starch and feel the gentle scratchiness of grandma's freshly made beds. When my Dad remarried, my stepmother had a closet of striped sheets - it was the 1970s and the sheets were white with stripes in fashionable color combinations - yellow and orange, pink and gold, blue and purple. I was especially jealous of my little stepsister's sheets - wild, mod arrays of flowers in bright pink. How I longed to choose my own sheets! When I finally got my chance, sometime in junior high, I picked lime green sheets scattered with yellow-eyed white daisies. Green, no matter the shade, is a calming color to me, and at that time in my life I longed for the calm and the freedom to choose that those sheets represented.

Another vintage sheet project from Amy.

Nowadays it is rare for me to purchase new sheets, (unless I find good, Egyptian cotton on sale) instead I pick up beautiful, high thread-count, vintage percale at second-hand stores. For a couple of dollars I find a sheet that will outlive almost any sheet I could buy new AND I get to pick colors and patterns that remind me of childhood. But I don't just pick up vintage sheets out of a sense of nostalgia or thrift, I pick them up because they are simply beautiful fabric. Holding them at arm's length I can imagine them as quilt squares, little sundresses, hair bandannas, valances ... Of course my imagination is much more active than my needle, so I've a healthy stash of vintage sheets and pillowcases awaiting a resurrection or a sleepy head!

Fortunately, there are folks who actually put their stashes to good use. Amy Smart is one such person - the smiling face on her 'About Me' page suggests that she is a colorful, creative person and the pages of her blog, 'Diary of a Quilter' confirms it. The project I discovered in her blog post 'Vintage Baby Sheets Quilt' looks like my own sheet stash come-to-life. In her quilt I can see both sheets I have and sheets I have slept upon.
Her vintage sheet projects include hangable art and sundresses too!
So ... you have a stash, you have the inspiration, now you have pictures and the instructions to guide you through a vintage sheet project!
Do you need to start your own vintage sheet stash? Or build on one you already have? Search etsyvintageteam bed sheet or etsyvintageteam pillowcase to get started!

Living A Vintage Life: Vintage Valentine's Clipart

Life is the flower for which love is the honey.

  ~Victor Hugo 
We *vintageophiles are often creative people, looking for ways to incorporate our passion into our everyday lives whether it be a snuggly vintage afghan, funky 1970s blouse or in the gifts we offer to the ones we love. Valentine's Day is no exception as we seek vintage heart jewelry, trinkets and timeless sentiments on aged greeting cards. Even if we were willing to part with our long searched for greetings, we would probably be hard-pressed to acquire enough to give to all the loved ones on our list. Fortunately there is another way to send vintage sentiments: we can create our own Valentine's cards using vintage graphics.

There are many sources of free vintage Valentine's graphics on the internet, you just have to make sure you are truly accessing free clipart. To make that task a little easier, I've swam through some websites for you and came up with a few links.
The Graphics Fairy has a wonderful selection of vintage images and craft ideas. 
Hub Pages has dreamy graphics too!
Vintage Holiday Crafts has gorgeous images for Valentine's and other holidays.
The Stock Solution has free graphics as well as images for sale.
Want to fore go the fuss of printing, pasting and glitter? Fun and free vintage style e-cards can be found at Hipster Cards.

From my vintage heart to yours - Happy Valentines Day!

*vintageophile - a person whose every waking moment is consumed with the thought, pursuit and possession of vintage goods!

Babes in Toyland: A Vintage Gift Guide

Click here to see more vintage gift guides from the Etsy Vintage Team.

  

'Babes in Toyland: A Vintage Gift Guide' by calloohcallay

Antique Chalkware Figurines ... ReBopShop $16.00	Shabby chic primitive farmho... wonderdiva $70.20	Antique Dolly Dell Toy Iron TheWhiteMole $14.00
Vintage ScienceCraft Microsc... ThirdShift $60.00	Vintage Ohio Art Tin Spinnin... vintageatchirp $32.00	French Vintage School Poster... LeTrip $50.00
Vintage Little Learners Toy ... RetroVintageBa... $34.00	Wild Thing Hanukkah Christma... SurrenderDorot... $14.89	Vintage Children's Knitt... SeagullIsland $5.00
Vintage viewmaster with reel... reconstitution... $18.50	GOD JUL (Norwegian) Vintage ... TheOldBarnDoor $4.00	Happily Ever After Vintage B... SecondHandNews $15.00
Childrens Clothes Hangers - ... VintagePDX $11.00	1940s KAY-an-EE Sew Master T... tparty $72.90	Vintage 1950s Child's Pl... KitschyVintage $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.