Doing Vintage Research on New Items

Every vintage dealer has areas they are familiar with, and areas where they have no clue. I grew up in a rural environment, so I lean towards the rusty, metal, rustic items. Porcelain?-not a strength of mine. Growing up they were around, but I considered them "old lady" items and would play with my toys or in the outside environment. That's why I was stumped when I came across these items.

We recently had an auction of my mom's items, which I really should do a post about now that I'm thinking of it. This was the first time I was on the seller's end, and I was wishing there were no bargains, I ended up buy a box of figurines that no one wanted and these were included. At first glance, due to the jasperware center, I assumed they were Wedgewood. They weren't marked however, so I suspected they were older.
There was some information on the back written in pencil with a question mark. I assumed it came from my mom. When I did a search for Vater Porcelain the work was more whimsical and figural, so that was a dead end. I also did some general searching on the internet, another dead end
At some point, I had a list it, so I did. Sometimes you can't find everything about an item. If you underprice it oh well, so long as you make a profit you are fine, and the buyer is happy with a bargain. Whoever ends up with this item will enjoy it.

Emil Cahoy Pottery Horse Head Bookends

Emil Cahoy lived in South Dakota and made pottery from clay found on his farm. If you've never come across his pieces, they are beautiful, with lovely swirls. He had skill, and his pieces reflect this in looks and quality. I'm fortunate to have two rare items done by him, they are horse head bookends. There was a rural auctioneer the worked in the northern part of Nebraska. I loved attending his auctions, as I found some great deals. Unfortunately, he passed away, but after his estate was settled he had an auction that includes pieces from his collection. That's when I came across these two items, being an auctioneer, he did have first "dibs."

If you look on the internet for horse head bookends done by Cahoy, there is only one listing available on a WorthPoint page. It provides more information on Emil Cahooy, so it's worth a look. I'm glad to have these two rare pieces in my collection.

Further Along Highway 7 in Nebraska

When you continue past the cross in my previous post you then come across a church.  I still has an active congregation, and has a house next door.

There was a service next door, so I wanted to be respectful, so I stayed in the truck.  It is a Lutheran Chuch and it located in the German Valley region.  It is nicely kept.  After I took a picture, I was back on the road.

I found some great weeping gold items.  They are in my shop.  There is a panther planter, deer planter, and a second deer planter which is very unique.  The colors are great, and I've not seen anything exactly like them.  While the first two planters are common styles, the weeping gold sets them apart, and the baby deer is distinct.  Such a cool set!

Country Auction

I went to a great auction this weekend in rural Nebraska. It was an old farmhouse that was being cleared out, and had a bunch of old vintage primitives. I couldn't buy everything I wanted, the windmill weights went higher than I wanted to pay, but I did get some great finds. Keep an eye on my Etsy shop, as I've already posted some of my finds.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Modred12

New Uses for Old Jars and Customer Service Rant

I love what MidwestFinds on Etsy has done. Have an old jar?-put a lid on it. Instant soap dispenser. It's another clever idea that I love. I also like the way it looks, if you have an old blue Mason jar at home, it would really add some vintage style.

And now for the second part of my post, if you sell on Zibbet on Etsy, please answer you "messages to seller/convos." Since the black cat is my thing, I stumbled across a funky pre-made shop banner that I thought would work for Halloween for my Zibbet/Etsy shops. I really like it. I sent a convo. and more than 24hrs later no reply.

Just so you know, I like to send convos before I buy. I had a bad experience on E-bay. Bought the item, and nothing. I sent messages to the seller, nothing. I filed a claim of non-receipt and did get my money back, but I guess she was sick and couldn't respond to my messages. Unless I'm in a coma I get to the computer and can respond to my customers. Part of running an online business means being able to check your e-mails. If you can't or are away, please put a message in the announcement so at least I know.

So, I will give the banner maker a little bit more time, but will likely end up going elsewhere. I really like the look of the pre-made one, but I don't and won't wait around for forever. After all, Modred is a black cat and Halloween is coming up, he's got things to do.

Box of Wooden Pegs

Sometimes in the vintage trade, you come across items you're just not sure what to do with. At my last auction, I ended up with a box of wooden pegs. They could also work as vampire stakes, but since I'm not friends with any vampire killers I'm not sure what to do with them.

I haven't come across any this old. They likely marked property or a garden, as some still have some rope with them. They were then put in a barn and forgotten, until I came along. They will probably sit in my basement for awhile, as I'm not sure what to do with either. Thankfully, we have the room, and my husband tolerates my vintaging. Sometimes you just hold onto items until you learn more about them, or what to do with them.

I did learn people would make dolls from some wooden pegs. I remember being a child and learning about Laura Ingalls' doll she made with a corncob. In today's modern age, it's hard for me to relate to this. I don't know how we survived without the inter net, but survive we did. I would prefer a soft doll to a hard doll, but again, it's a different age.

The only marking pegs I see today are metal. Someone likely carved these from wood, taking time and care. I want to make sure whoever ends up with these realize that once upon a time someone cared about his work, and made these. That's also part of selling vintage, you want your items to find a good home. For now they will stay with me, until I find one.

Chosen Vintage

Usually this is my vintage home decor section, but today I decided to do something different. I love vintage jewelry, it's unique, well-made, and has stood the test of time. Sometimes I come across pieces that are damaged, and I wish I had the talent to fix them, because they are still stylish pieces that deserve new life, but I don't.

That's why I'm glad there are shops on Etsy like Chosen Vintage. When I do have pieces that are less than perfect, I list them, and someone like her buys them, and gives them a beautiful new life. I've included three examples from her shop, aren't they lovely? Also, as a bonus her shop is running a sale. If you have a moment visit her shop, there are a variety of items and your jewelry won't look like everyone else's-and who doesn't love a sale?

Friday Blog Hop

Crazy Day, I'll spare you the details, but let's just say some things are still better done in person that on the Internet, no matter what you might hear. I'm going to participate in the Friday Blog Hop done by Graphic Design by Tara. It's a great way to check out some new blogs, and I love the graphic below. Happy Hopping.

New Uses for Test Tubes

I wasn't the best at science, but I do remember the test tubes. They were kind of neat, but it wasn't like I was good enough to get to mix any dangerous chemicals like they showed in the movies. When I graduated high school I never saw them again, since I made sure to avoid science in college.

I now see test tubes popping up as bud vases, or for other decorative purposes. I think it's a cute idea, and original. The picture on the left looked like the ones I had in high school, it's for sale at polkadotHOME on Etsy. I've also seen beakers and other high school implements used as home decor.

I'm not sure how one comes across vintage science class items, perhaps a retiring teacher? I've never come across any, but I'll keep my eyes out. Like most vintage items, if I can't use it, someone else can.

Did you Blink?

It's been a busy week, what with the kids starting back to school. Since the youngest is in preschool, I only get a couple of hours of "down time" and I'm amazed at how fast it goes. I still have a ton of items on my to-do list, both vintage and family related.

I took pictures of the squirrel bank roughly a week ago, but hadn't had time to get around and list it. I finally had a chance on Friday night, not the best time to list new items, but the kids are asleep and my husband is out of town. Even if no one is looking, I figured it was best to get it listed.

I also had to do some numbers for the month. I listed the bank (it is cute), then was looking over my sold items. A few minutes later, the bank showed up in my sold items. Wow, wasn't expecting that, I thought it was a mistake at first. When it wasn't, I was very pleased, but for the most part my items don't sell within minutes. Okay, there was that one time I had a cameo grouping that looking back I did under price, so I could see why that one sold fast, but even it wasn't this fast.

Tomorrow, it's off to the Post Office. I'll keep my eyes open for any more squirrel banks, especially if they are as adorable as the one I sold. Just goes to show you never know when you will make a sale.

Back to School, Vintage Style

It's been a busy week, I've been running around getting my kids ready for school. There are forms to complete, school supplies, doctor notes, and back to school nights. Once they're back in school, my day does get a little easier and I will be able to put more time into my shops and blog. I can also run errands to the grocery store without any complaints. In honor of back to school, I've picked out a few vintage items.

The schools of my youth had chalkboards, not wipe-off boards. The frame on this chalkboard is vintage, and it was re-made into a great chalkboard. It's for sale at mimiyaya at Zibbet.

I actually learned to type on a typewriter very similar to this. No, I'm not that old, our school was just that behind the times. Some had computer labs, I had this, but I digress. This is for sale at ChaseVictory on Etsy.

This old style school desk is for sale at queganga on Etsy.

Flawed Vintage

In vintage forums, I often come across threads where people have been selling mint/high quality vintage items, and they are wondering if it's okay to sell pieces that are less than perfect. My answer is always, yes, so long as you are honest about the flaws, describe them, photograph them, and price accordingly.

Part of the joy of selling vintage for me it to find new homes for items where they will be appreciated, not sitting in a box somewhere or winding up in a landfill. If I come across some shelves that I know can be picked up with some paint, stain, or other touches because the quality of the wood is still good, I grab them. I don't have the talent to restore them, but someone else does. I price them low enough to still make a profit, but so that the person that is restoring them can profit as well.

What if you're looking for a mixing bowl for everyday use? You could go out, buy one, but it's likely made overseas and the quality or style might be questionable. Or, you could buy a vintage one, it has some scratches, but if it was made by Fire-King I know you'll love the decoration and quality. Also, you'll be helping the environment, some small business, or if you buy it at a thrift store you'll be helping some charitable cause. If you're looking for items for everyday use, it doesn't have to be perfect, so long as it works is what matters.

I have a planter in my Modred12 store that isn't perfect, but it will still work as a planter. There's some white that shows along the rim of the planter. You can still plant with it, and do anything you like, but I'm letting people know that if they have a McCoy collection of high quality this isn't the piece that they want. If you're just looking for a planter for everyday use, this would be a nice piece to have. The white hardly detracts from it, and it would still work fine. It has been priced accordingly, and not priced as mint.

So, if you have some flawed item that still works fine for it's intended use, list it. I might sell, it might not, but you never can tell. Always be honest with the flaws and price accordingly, and see what happens.

Hazel Atlas State Glasses

Today I woke up to rain, not the best way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. However, in honor of the birthday of our country, I decided to focus on Hazel Atlas State Glasses. They are very collectible, and who doesn't love learning a little fact about the state you live in? They're also known as map glasses, as this was how they were advertised.

There are a variety of designs, variations, and colors. They are frosted, with greens, pinks, blues, oranges, or yellow. They are vibrant colors. They were made during the 50s and some are marked HA for Hazel Atlas, some aren't. Please note that Imperial Glass also made a line of state glasses during the same time period, and I've seen them mis-identified. In my experience, the Imperial Glass line is also frosted, but done with a red, and it's not as neon as the Hazel Atlas line is. If anyone else has something to add about the differences please do.

The glasses from the western states tend to see higher demand. There were also glasses done for souvenir spots, such as Pikes Peak. They are cool glasses, I like them. If you price them within reason they do sell, as they are unique and you don't see glass items like this today. I've included a couple of examples below.

This Nevada glass is for sale in my ModredVintage shop on Zibbet.

Here's a Nebraska glass I have my eye on. It's for sale on Etsy by FreshPikd4u. I better not wait too long, with vintage, when it's gone, it's gone.

Summer Cabin

Last summer we were fortunate enough to spend some time with the extended family in a cabin by a lake. It was a wonderful time, and a wonderful cabin. It was a large wooden cabin, well made and decorated. We were able to do some boating and I really enjoyed it. My oldest had a good time as well, he still talks about it. If I were ever fortunate to enough to get my own cabin in the woods, I would love to decorate it with vintage items. These are three I found on Etsy while searching under vintage cabin decor.

I wish I had a lamp for this lampshade. It's for sale at BellwetherWares on Etsy.

I love ducks in a cabin, it's a must-have. These duck book-ends would look great with some vintage titles in between. They're for sale at onelovelyrosebud on Etsy.

This is a great piece of vintage wall decor for sale on TheLovelys on Etsy.

New Uses for Old Bottles

When I was a child, we had an old outhouse by the house we used to live in. The house had once been a hotel, and the outhouse hadn't been in use for awhile. The walls had blown down on the outhouse, but the toilet and concrete base remained. It was a distance from the house, and tucked into the trees. A few feet from the outhouse was a pile of bottles. Looking back now I realize most of the bottles had to come from the depression era, if not sooner.

I love older glass. It has a thickness and quality to it that I admire. You lift it, and it has a "heft" to it. The same holds true with older bottles. The top image is from my Modred12 store. It's a lovely amber brown bottle, that comes from the 1960s at the earliest. It can stand by itself as a pretty item, but it can also work to hold flowers, whether a single bud or a bunch.

I have a similar bottle for sale as well, and they could "bookend" a larger item, whether a bigger vase or pottery piece. You can even mix and match, and the Good Seasons bottle would work with the brown bottle. It can be a eclectic mix, and one that will stand out.

So keep this option in mind when you're out looking for estate sale finds. Older glass can be beautiful by itself, but could hold flowers, or other pretty items such as glass beads, pebbles, or other small pretties. The quality of older glass is to be admired, as are well-made vintage items in general.

Vintage Fashion - Vintage Sundresses

May is ending, and we are unusually warm. In fact, the air conditioner had to come one, something I try not to do unless I absolutely have to. Since it's so warm I decided to show some of my favorite vintage sundresses on Etsy. I like sundresses, they are casual and can help you stay cool. I love the light and airy feel of the fabric. I've tried to show you some different styles and colors. Even though I usually prefer dark colors, that just doesn't work very well during the hot summer days. Summer dresses work best in more feminine styles.

This one is for sale at VioletFolklore on Etsy. It's pretty in pink, and ready for summer.

This is such a simple blue summer dress. You can put it on and go, or add some jewelry is you want to dress it up a bit. It's for sale by CarnivoreCockatiel on Etsy.

This style of sundresses remind me of the 1980s. It's for sale at jessjamesjake on Etsy.

Roseville Pinecone

I love books. The internet is great, but when it comes to vintage research I look in my books first. I have several Gene Florence books on glass, and some pottery books, but I don't have books for everything I collect. I thought I would go the library and check out a Roseville book, and I grabbed Roseville, In All it's Splendor done my Jack and Nancy Bomm.

I've always recognized the Roseville Pinecone pattern. It's very pretty, and easy to recognize, you just look for a pinecone. I knew it was their most popular pattern, and it's still highly collected and sought after. However, until reading the book above I didn't know it was originally rejected by Roseville when it's creator, Ferrel, first made it. The sample was rejected and placed in a museum, where a salesman came across it. He was sure he could sell it, and it saved the company in the 1930s. I guess management not recognizing what the people want has been a common theme not only in this day and age.

Color plays a part in collectability. Pink is the rarest, so it tends to run more. Blue is also highly sought after. Since this pattern is easily recognized, you might not be able to find a bargain. If you do come across a piece at a garage sale that it reasonably priced, grab it. Even if you don't want it someone else will. Also, it still works great for home decor, and is very unique.

This sample is from PrissyAntiques on Etsy and according to the listing is in great condition. I just love the blue color. Wouldn't it look nice on a dresser with flowers in it?

New Uses for Old Pottery

I've seen it time and time again at auctions. There is always some unloved, chipped piece of pottery that no one wants. It goes for $10.00, maybe $15.00 because of a hairline crack. It's not practical for day to day use, or displays, but is still a good decorative piece of pottery.

Why not buy that piece of pottery, and once the weather gets warm, take it home and use it in your rock garden or garden area? It will be a unique piece, and can add some color and panache to the area. If it's chipped, you don't have to worry about damaging it further. Also, like the top green planter, you could add some more flowers, colorful rocks, or whatever would work for your garden.

The Roseville Vase below is for sale by gracetimeline on Etsy, so I would advise against putting it in the garden since it's still in great condition. In fact, it still has the original foil label. Let's pretend that you come across a similar one at a second hand store or estate sale though, and it's not in the best condition. Wouldn't it look lovely outside surrounded by tall flowers. If it's chipped in the back on one is likely to be able to tell. It would be a perfect garden decoration, vintage style for outside.

Vintage-A Peek into the Past

I wish I could sew, or had the patience for it. I love quilts, they are warm, handmade, and last forever. When they come up for auctions, I've never seen a good quality made one go at an undeserved price. They really seem to hold their value. They are a way for the designer to express themselves through sewing, and as I get older I appreciate the quality of handmade items more.

I stumbled across some vintage quilt magazines at an estate sale this last weekend. The one on the left is from 1977, and it's an interesting peek into the past. The "grandmother" is dressed in the mode of Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith Show, very prim and proper. I think the purpose is to show quilting being passed from one generation to another, but the little girl looks bored to me. I also love the title has "quilt gossip"- I wasn't aware this a big draw in 1977.

Collecting vintage items such as these are an interesting peek into another time, whether it be magazines or glass items. You can see how tastes and styles change. Some looks and items are timeless, why others can "date" a period. When you design your own space vintage items give you unique options for designing, as can handmade items. If you can sew your own quilt, you can design a bedroom around the color scheme of the quilt, using vintage and handmade items. You also have a very unique look, and I'll be jealous of your quilt and sewing abilities.