Fresh Picks: Handbag Heaven

For the price of one designer handbag, you could purchase this entire collection! The designer’s mega-corporation won’t notice, but six small businesses you will be patronizing certainly will. And you will have a bevy of bags for all seasons and all occasions. Best of all, each is one-of-a-kind with a story to tell…if only these purses could talk!

Vintage Black Leather Box Pu... MoonOverMarily... $48.00	Vintage 80s Summer Purse Emb... judygovintage $18.50	Whiskey Western/ Vintage too... dahlilafound $34.00
DOUBLE RAINBOW knitted clutc... RainbowVintage $18.00	Vintage Lucite Tortoise Shel... VintageJunkInM... $59.00	Vintage Golden Shimmer La Re... GeneralWhimsy2 $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Want to create your own vintage handbag wardrobe? Follow this link for more than 300 bags and purses from Etsy Vintage Team Certified Shops!.

FOODIE FRIDAY -- Q is for QUINOA

I can hear you from here!! Queen-what????

from epicurious.com:
quinoa
[KEEN-wah]
Although quinoa is new to the American market, it was a staple of the ancient Incas, who called it "the mother grain." To this day it's an important food in South American cuisine. Hailed as the "supergrain of the future," quinoa contains more protein than any other grain. It's considered a complete protein because it contains all eight essential amino acids. Quinoa is also higher in unsaturated fats and lower in carbohydrates than most grains, and it provides a rich and balanced source of vital nutrients. Tiny and bead-shaped, the ivory-colored quinoa cooks like rice (taking half the time of regular rice) and expands to four times its original volume. Its flavor is delicate, almost bland, and has been compared to that of COUSCOUS. Quinoa is lighter than but can be used in any way suitable for rice — as part of a main dish, a side dish, in soups, in salads and even in puddings. It's available packaged as a grain, ground into flour and in several forms of pasta. Quinoa can be found in most health-food stores and some supermarkets.

Read More http://www.epicurious.com/tools/fooddictionary/entry/?id=4164#ixzz1OtZoF58g

Photo courtesy of quinoasalads.com

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My favorite way to enjoy QUINOA (aside from just substituting it for rice) is in a refreshing summer salad.

QUINOA SALAD with TOMATO and MINT


Ingredients

* 2 1/2 cups water or broth
* 1 1/4 cups quinoa
* 1/3 cup raisins or currants
* 1 pinch sea salt
* 2 medium tomatoes, diced
* 1 medium onion, chopped fine
* 10 radishes, sliced (optional)
* 1/2 English cucumber, diced
* 2 tablespoons sliced almonds, toasted
* 1/4 cup minced fresh mint
* 2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
* 1 teaspoon garlic powder
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon or lime juice
* 2 tablespoons olive oil
* salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Bring water to boil in a small saucepan. Pour in quinoa and a pinch of salt. Cover, and let simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, then remove from heat, and allow to cool to room temperature.
2. Toss together the tomatoes, onion, radish, cucumber, and almonds in a large bowl. Stir in the cooled quinoa, raisins or currants, then season with mint, parsley, garlic, lemon or lime juice, olive oil. Toss gently. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Can be served at room temperature, or chill if desired. **Note: I have used fresh basil from my garden in place of the mint, and it was GREAT!

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Serve your delicious QUINOA SALAD in a classic vintage bowl; like this beauty from vintagejunkinmytrunk on etsy:

Is There Really a Season For Selling?

I did a post on my Facebook page the other day, asking my group why they bought vintage. Was it for gifts, events, or just for their own personal collecting? Several people responded and several emailed me directly. Overwhelmingly I was told they bought to collect for themselves. If this is true, then we should cater to that mentality. Collectors don't buy seasonally. They look all year round.

Bottlebrush trees by VintageJunkInMyTrunk

I collect old Halloween & Christmas. I'm always searching, especially during the off season. Why? Because that's when I can find things easily. The market isn't flooded with reproductions, there isn't a lot of just "clutter" listings that don't apply, there is less competition and things cost less, often much less.

Vintage button upcycled necklace by calloohcallay

Don't fall into this trap. A vintage paper Halloween horn from the 1940's isn't worth any less in May. But I notice sellers discounting these types of items over and over. Collectors will find it and pay the right price-as long as the condition warrants it of course. (which brings up the point-know your prices!)

1950's Bombshell Swimsuit by hautecountryvintage

This same logic applies to items like swimsuits and other seasonal clothing that appeals to everyone, not just collectors. That client who marks it as a favorite in October is planning to fit in it by January. She'll come back for it! I've had this happen several times in my shop-things get marked as a fav and then when the buyer is motivated, they buy.

Welcome New Member: Vintage Junk in My Trunk

Voted shop name most likely to bring smiles, we're pleased to introduce new member Vintage Junk in My Trunk of New Jersey. There's an eclectic variety of treasures, with a wealth of vintage holiday decorating items right now. Gina collects "all things vintage (and antique) and hopes to find loving homes for every found treasure. To me, the beauty and charm of vintage lies in its imperfection! If it's old, tattered, or chippy, I'll like it and you will find it here!"

If you're "of a certain age," you will remember Old Maid! I know there was a newer version of this card game into the 1960s, but certainly it became politically incorrect soon after. This early 1950s edition is quite a find!

Although new to the Etsy Vintage Team, Gina has jumped in quickly, serving as the coordinator of our Facebook page here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Etsy-Vintage-Team/104375582943641

More smiles--and memories--are guaranteed when you visit Vintage Junk in My Trunk. Welcome!