Tuesday, October 6, 2009

On the Lookout: CatherineHolm


The funny thing about this thrift shopping gig, at least for me, is that half the time I have no idea if I'm walking right past a lottery ticket or buying up everyone's trash. And as much as I love the act of digging through other peoples junk in search of my treasure, the real rush isn't even in sight.

I always thought it would be fun to act, I have no talent in this department -- let's be honest, I can cry on demand but that's as far as it goes; I have no interest in the celebrity of it -- well, there are those... gifting suites but other than that forget about it; what I envy from the outside looking in is the research that goes into becoming someone else, the hands-on education. That's the rush I get from thrifting.


I come home having bought up the goods that caught my eye, those I considered priced reasonably enough to make a profit from or to justify keeping. And even when I know what I have in my possession I promptly hit the web for a quick value search. Sometimes I score, sometimes I strike out and sometimes I find a new obsession. That's the real score, when I find something from a designer I have never heard of, someone whose entire collection makes me yearn for more, to learn more, and typically spirals into several new obsessions.


You've seen these orange striped bowls before, I found them several months ago during my "orange period". Like many of the items I found around that time they sat in my home collecting dust, I loved them so much I couldn't part with them. But I also have no place for them in my tiny little home so I recently decided to do it, I put a few items in the store and a couple on Etsy. It was hard, I was mellower but something like what I imagine a child is when you take away their favorite toy - resistant, and vocal. And not two days later did I sell these... TWO!


They're cool, but that's quick. I obviously didn't charge enough, but with no label I had trouble finding this one online... originally that is. I had learned about CahterineHolm maybe a week ago when I was researching Dansk, I hadn't come across this design and it didn't hit me until this very moment but THAT, that CatherineHolm that I had just been obsessing about slipped right through my fingers. I would've had to let go anyway, right?! I mean, they were just collecting dust. But still, I'm sad.


So, I introduce to you what will be a fairly regular post, "On the Lookout". You can learn from: A.) My mishaps, B.) My research, and C.) I can learn from you - feel free to write in with designers you'd like me to know about, ones you're on the lookout for!


*All designs on this page, to the best of my knowledge, are CatherineHolm designs by Grete Prytz Kittelsen a Mid-Century, Scandinavian designer. All photos that are not mine (mine are the orange striped bowls) link to the web page I "borrowed" them from.

**In the future I'll try to share more information about the designer and less about me!

3 comments:

  1. It's a learning curve and you never really get to the top, right?

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  2. "what I envy from the outside looking in is the research that goes into becoming someone else, the hands-on education. That's the rush I get from thrifting."

    My feelings exactly. As a former thrift employee, I have just started thrift-selling full-time. I love your blog! It is a great resource. Thank you and keep it up!

    Visit me at toliveforlove.com I am also new to blogging. I admire your organization and hope to excel to your level. <3

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  3. Pssst.... this is a cool blog -- and I can totally relate with those forehead-slapping moments of revelation, the hindsight, the "WAIT... THAT'S what it was actually worth??" haha I can also relate with the awesome finds that make your heart flutter simply because they're freaking nifty ... then you come to find they're freaking valuable!! Good stuff.

    I did want to give you a little tip: Be sure to spell "Cathrineholm" without the e (correctly) as to bring in other searchers.... But still include it spelled with the e, as it sounds, and as so many assume it is spelled. (I know I did!)
    This blog is from 3 years ago -- I'd be interested to know how far your adventures in researching have come! And I shall certainly go check out your Etsy shop right now... my fellow Etsian.;) hehe!

    Blessings to you...

    ~nnylasoR~
    RetrospectiveOrange.Etsy.com

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