Now Open! - The Vintage List - Online Vintage Shop Directory

Finally, I can tell you about my new project - The Vintage List! This is going to be a long post, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in... :)

What Is It, And Why Now?:

It used to be that there were only one or two places where most people sold Vintage online, which made it simple for buyers and sellers to find each other. Times are changing though - in the new Web 2.0 environment, a lot of sellers are opening multiple shops on a variety of different venues, and/or on their own websites.

I realized that having one central directory that lists all the various stores from around the web would be a great solution for buyers and sellers alike! It is my hope that the List will become the #1 source for quality 20th century collectibles on the internet. No use dreaming small, huh? ;)

For Buyers:

Vintage buyers and collectors are a savvy and passionate bunch - for most of us, it is more of a way of life than just a hobby or a passing fad! It is my hope that The Vintage List will become the first stop on every vintage geek's online treasure hunt, because they will know that the sites listed are of the highest quality, containing only authentic vintage merchandise from trusted sellers who make customer service their top priority.

Each shop listed is personally looked over and approved by me, if they meet a set of pre-established standards:

- 85% of their inventory is from the 1920's through the 1970's

- New inventory is added on a regular basis
- At least 20 items for sale at all times

- Feedback scores are 95% and above on those venues that allow Feedback ratings

Also, the directory allows users to rate listings using a star system, and also to leave comments - it's a fun way to let shops know how they are doing, and to let other buyers know which shops you have had great experiences with!

For Sellers:

Making your shops known to buyers is a daunting task, but if we can come together as allies instead of as competitors, I believe the entire online vintage community will benefit. By listing our shops on one central directory, we can make it much easier for buyers to find us, and to find that special something that they are hunting for!

Regular Listing: $15 for 3 months, paid via PayPal - one URL listing into 2 categories

Featured Listing: $30 for 3 months, paid via PayPal - one URL listing into 2 categories, placement at the top of the category page, and in the Featured Listings box

Life On The V-List & The Vintage List Blog:

Included in the price of listing is membership to a private forum community for vintage sellers called Life On The V-List. My vision for this community is to create a group where we can "talk shop", share ideas, resources, and knowledge, and generally support one another as we each work toward our common goal - building an amazing online vintage business! We could also hold sales or promotions as a group as well... the possibilities are pretty endless!

Also, as a member you will be able to submit articles to The Vintage List Blog, to highlight your business, promotions that you are running, or to share information about your area of expertise. The blog will also have a link list to all member blogs that are listed in the Blog category.

Introductory Special!

For a limited time when you purchase a paid listing, you can list your blog in the Blog category for free for 1 year, as long as you place a reciprocal link on your blog back to the List! Click here for the details...

To Wrap This Up, Finally:

Needless to say, I am really excited! If anyone has any questions feel free to email me at thevintagelist@gmail.com.

New on Etsy - Vintage Greeting Cards!

Finding unused vintage greeting cards is such a treat - the illustrations are always amazing, and not only can they be used as intended, they are also great for collage, scrapbooking, and other art projects...

I finally got all of my stash of cards listed on Etsy this week - click on the photos to see the larger version! This is just a couple of my listings to give you an example - I think I actually have like 15 different lots up for sale... I just can't resist them!

Lot of 8 Embossed Birthday Cards

Lot of 5 Vintage Sunshine Birthday Cards

Tons of goodness ending tonight!

I've been so wrapped up this weekend shopping and working on my new project that a lot of the cool stuff I have up for auction that I wanted to show you is ending tonight!

The main thing I just have to share is this totally fab Enid Collins box purse titled Wise Guy - look at that adorable retro owl! I have drooled over these purses before, but never thought I would be lucky enough to find one - but I did! I am going to try to do a featured collectible post about Enid Collins later this week, so stay tuned...

Ok, I really am torn about these Dakin hugging monkeys - like, I hesitate to even tell you about them because I am afraid they will sell!

See, I had these cuties when I was small - in fact, they were born the same year I was, 1975. I loved them to pieces, literally. So when I saw them at a sale, in MINT condition - I had to snatch them up! The lady said they have never been played with, just displayed on a shelf.

At first I was going to keep them, not only because I had them when I was a kid, but because Will has a "thing" for monkeys - actually when we first started seeing each other, he used to call me Little Miss Monkey! He was ready to put them on his shelf next to the pink Love monkey I got him for valentine's a couple of years ago... they certainly made a cute little group!

But, of course, practicality won out and I listed them. If they don't sell, I may just go ahead and keep them - or put them in my brand new Etsy shop.

Oh, wait - I didn't mention that I started a new Etsy shop this week, did I? It's called Vintage Goodness Too, and it will be focused on vintage children's items. Nothing is in it yet, but it is all set up and ready for me to start filling it up! A few things I am putting up for auction this week will end up there if they don't sell, like these:

Miller Studios chalkware puppy dog plaques - how cute would these be in baby's nursery!

I have a whole bunch of other things of course - kids books, dolls, games, ephemera - that are probably skipping eBay and going straight into the shop...

Ok before I go, I have to show you one other thing that is ending later this week... Remember the post I did on vintage Ouija Boards? I found a 1960's Parker Brothers board:

And guess where I found it - a church sale! Too funny....

Featured Collectible - Vintage Chenille Bedspreads

I've found a couple vintage Chenille bedspreads in the past - but nothing as amazing as this one! I about died when I found it this weekend, crumpled on the bed at an estate sale. The colors are gorgeous, and the pattern is really sweet - a heart flanked by spring flowers:

These spreads are highly collectible, and they come in a wide variety of colors, styles and patterns. I was so excited to find a couple catalog pages on Wish Book Web featuring Chenille spreads!

Look at these original prices!! Unreal... From Sears, 1942 (click to enlarge):

From Spiegel, 1942 (again, click to enlarge - you gotta see the detail!):

Of course I had to poke around eBay and see the others that are currently up for sale. I was shocked there were so many! Most of them have a very cottage chic type of vibe, like this beauty:

Others are much more, to put it delicately... um... wild. Yeah, that works. I think my favorites are those featuring peacocks - not for the faint of heart! Check out this over the top gem:

I also fell in love with this really unique hearts pattern - it's like a valentine made of fabric!

Ahhh, if only I had a few guest bedrooms to decorate...

Where the hell have I been?

I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, I swear. I'm just letting you guys miss me, that's all. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and all that. Right?

Really I've just been busy busy, as always. I have a brand new project I am working on - and it's big. Like, I'm probably crazy for taking on the task - but I am so excited about it! I am hoping to be able to launch later this week. I can't make any promises though, I made the mistake of starting a project while Mercury is retrograde, so I've had plenty of stumbling blocks! I'm working it all out though, so stay tuned...

I've been shopping like crazy - there were so many sales the last couple of weekends I was almost overwhelmed. I got some killer stuff too - I'll be listing some of it over the next few days, I'll post about it for sure!

I have also been making an effort to list a few new things on Etsy every day. I am moving all of the clothes I've been listing on eBay over to Etsy if they don't sell - in fact, all the ones I showed you before are now on Etsy, plus a lot more, and more to come!

Check out the amazing vintage tin toy pins/badges I listed also - they are mint on card! The sale I got them from was selling all kinds of old toys and prizes from the 60's and 70's, the kind that were prizes at county fairs.

Bugs! Ladybugs, dragonflies, bees... and cockroaches? ;)

Etsy Vintage Street Team Scavenger Hunt!

The Etsy Vintage Street Team is holding its first big promotion this Sunday from 10am to 10pm EST - a scavenger hunt! The prize for completing the hunt is 25% off one item in each participating shop! Click here to visit the team blog to get all the details...

The future of eBay...

I posted a few days ago about the newest changes that were announced by eBay, and I started out my post by saying:

"eBay has a master plan, and they are executing it in small steps. The final goal of this plan is still a mystery, but the more changes they roll out, the more I feel like my small business isn't welcome there anymore."

Today I checked in on Skip McGrath's blog, only to find a very similar post - except he actually made a list of possible outcomes:

• Will eBay eventually abandon the auction format altogether?
• Will eBay eventually abandon the sale of used goods including antiques and collectibles?
• Will eBay announce tiered listing fees for large sellers or continue to seek out and do private deals with large sellers?

Skip is one of the most knowledgeable and trusted eBay experts around, and to see him speculating about these scenarios really makes me worry...

If you have a small business selling vintage on eBay, my advice is to start branching out. The days of being an eBay only business are pretty much over - and the chance that at some point in the future being on eBay at all no longer being an option is growing every day...

Spring/Summer Vintage Clothing Collection is Here!!

Yes, finally! I have started listing the spring and summer clothes that I have been stockpiling all year. I am so sad that I am not a size 4 or 6... most of the dresses I have came from one estate, and they are small - if you are tiny it is your lucky day!

The sale where I found them was great, they just had a few pieces outside with the rest of the things, and when I grabbed them the lady running the sale said, "I have a lot more clothes inside, I didn't bring them out because they are so outdated."

Score! Music to my ears...

I bought them all of course. ;)

This floral dress is so perfect for summer, and it comes with 2 belts!

This one has the cutest little keyhole button sleeves!

This beaded evening dress is amazing - and it comes with a sheer cape!

This party dress is actually a medium, maybe a 10 or 12... it doesn't have any tags but it sure looks like one from the 50's to me - check out that bow!

There's lots more, and you want to know the kicker? I still have more to list! I should get them all up by the end of the week...

I also listed one of the paper mache trays that I got in Springfield... It's got a bid and lots of watchers, I'm excited to see where it ends!

There's lots more - a set of Edwin Knowles Plaid dishes, several lots of Volkswagen magazines, a few vintage cookbooks... we didn't hit our goal of 90 auctions, but we did get closer than we have in the past couple of weeks! ;)

New on Etsy this week!

A really pretty vintage painted and carved wood jewelry box from Germany...

A fun retro plastic snack bowl set...

A working Lady Norelco electric razor - complete and in it's original box!

A pair of large 3-D floral ceramic decorative wall plates...

And last but not least, a Better Homes & Gardens Baby Book from 1951!

And the winner is...

I used Random.org to pick the winner of the free 1 year subscription to Country Home - congratulations #8 - Mama Brook! And a big thanks to everyone else for entering, I wish I had more to give out! ;)

eBay is at it again...

eBay has a master plan, and they are executing it in small steps. The final goal of this plan is still a mystery, but the more changes they roll out, the more I feel like my small business isn't welcome there anymore.

Yesterday they announced that starting in July you can no longer have links to outside websites on your About Me page, which was the only place on eBay where you could link to your own website or blog legally. I can't even include outside links in the eBay store newsletter I send out every week, so I have to type cumbersome instructions to people when I talk about things - "Just click over to my About Me page to get the link to my website to visit my blog/Etsy shop" - bleh!

And now I won't even be able to do that.

They also announced changes to the rules about listing multiple items, which I find completely confusing. I would take the time to research it, but I'm too busy getting set up on OnlineAuction.com.

I love eBay. I still think it is the best online marketplace in the world for finding things that you can't find anywhere else, and I love selling (and shopping!) there. The majority of buyers and sellers on the site are amazing, honest people. I'm scared that eBay is going to drive off all those good people, and in the end we will be left with only big box sellers!

I'm not leaving eBay, but I am going to give OLA a try - I'll keep you posted!

Want a 1 year subscription to Country Home magazine?

At the flea market this weekend they gave away cards for free 1 year subscriptions to Country Home magazine with admission - they were having their Antiquing Festival there, which I missed because I was too busy shopping... kind of ironic, since the whole reason I went was because the Country Home people were going to be there!

Anyway, I am going to try to use my card to extend my subscription, but my friend Gary didn't want his so I have an extra! No elaborate contest this time, just leave a comment and I'll draw a winner on Wednesday...

Springfield Scores!

Out of the thousands of things I looked at at the flea market on Friday, these were the only ones that managed to find their way home with me. Honestly it is more than I was expecting to come home with - it was a very pleasant surprise to find so many cool things at prices I could handle!

My first purchase of the day was the box of vintage Christmas cards - they are so cute! The chalkware bird plaques I really love, they are from Miller Studios. I'm tempted to add them to my bird collection in my kitchen, but I can't - rent is due soon!

I couldn't pass up these adorable Lacquer Ware containers from Japan. Their hats come off so you can put candy, nuts or trinkets in their heads, and their heads also come off so you can put even more what-nots in their bellies!

The two floral trays are also from Japan, they are actually painted paper mache. I sold one recently, I guess they are pretty hot right now - so I was super happy to find them!

I was also very happy to find a nice big set of 8 burlap melmac tumblers - a couple of weeks ago I found the ice bucket that goes with them! So now I have a nice juicy set to list, which always makes my day. :) The pitcher is the polka dot Federal glass one I mentioned in my last post, it isn't marked, but there was one stray matching glass on the table that had their little F in a shield logo on it.

And last but certainly not least, I found this awesome Kromex aluminum canister set! I was excited to find it, in the past the ones I have seen were either in really bad shape, or there was only one lonely canister to be had...

I had a good shopping day today out at the sales too, but I'll wait to show you those things once they are listed, except for this:

1968 - and I got it for one dollar!! Now all I need is 1956... Don't worry, scans will be posted eventually, after I finish up with the ones from the 1961 version, which is on my to do list - I swear!

Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market = Love

Who says there's no such thing as love at first sight?

Take this image and multiply it by 2,500 - yes, you read that correctly - and you will understand the beauty and overwhelming awesomeness that is the Springfield Antique Show & Flea Market.

It had me at hello....

Here I am, 7 hours into the day - I held up pretty well for someone who woke up at 5am (!!) and spent all day walking, though I had to down a couple of Advil and take a nap when I got home...

My partner in crime for the day was my friend Gary, he was such a trooper - he carried my bags for me! A girl can't ask for anything more...

I was pleasantly surprised by some of the booths, like this one - the stuff was cool (I almost bought that dog - isn't he just the cutest?!?) and the prices weren't outrageous. Of course there were plenty of booths that had things priced high too, but they were fun to look through anyway!

All the people I talked to were super nice, and there was a good crowd, but it wasn't so busy that you couldn't take your time and move around easily. And people were *shopping* - no hint of recession or hard times today!

And the food!! There were a ton of great fair style food stands, like this Chicken On A Stick stand that I couldn't help taking a picture of. I opted for a shredded chicken sandwich instead though, and a beyond yummy chocolate peanut butter milkshake. :)

Of course there was a bit of angst involved, as I knew there would be. If only I had about a grand to spend... I would have been in heaven! What would I have bought with my imaginary stack of hundreds?

Figural planters - they were *everywhere*, and I loved them all. Figural salt and pepper shakers were in great abundance too, but I couldn't find any at a price I could justify...

Lamps - oh, the lamps I saw! Total drool fest, let me tell you. Especially this table:


*swoon* - Lamps AND a ton of polka dot glassware! I think this was my favorite table at the entire show, actually. I spent a long time drooling over it. I showed restraint though, and only bought one Federal glass pitcher - with polka dots on it, of course.

I'll try to post a few photos of the stuff I did buy later this weekend, and I also have a little giveaway to do too, so stay tuned! ;)