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!
It's a learning curve and you never really get to the top, right?
ReplyDelete"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."
ReplyDeleteMy 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
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.
ReplyDeleteI 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