Sunday, November 15, 2009

Social Network Happy

Hey Everyone.

I just signed SellingVintage up for not only a FaceBook page but it's on Twitter now too! We're all Social Networked out over here. And I'm planning something that I'm really excited about too and I hope you can get behind as well.

Become a fan of SellingVintage on Facebook and/or Twitter and you'll be notified when I'm about to pass up something great. The cool thing about this is that if you "tweet" or message me back in time I'll buy it on your behalf!

What are waiting for? Become a fan of SellingVintage now by clicking on the above links.

x's and o's

Melissa

Friday, November 13, 2009

Rain Rain Come Today

I have something beautiful to keep you away!

I live in LA. As most anyone knows rain is hard to come by in this tiny little corner of the world. But an Angeleno has got to prepared for that one dreaded storm of the year and what Angeleno in her right mind would fail to be stylish when the clouds cave in on our sunny little bubble?

I'm already prepared with the dominatrix of all umbrellas but... I could also use another sale on my Etsy store so in contemplating the sell of my beloved umbrella I decided to hunt around Etsy and see what these things are selling for. To my delight they're mostly on par with what I thought I could let this stunning piece go for.

And since I was at it, and since I found the cutest little "umbrella bags" that I just had to share with you, I decided to do another What's Available on Etsy post! But before I get into that let me just show you my sexy little find.

First of all it has a CASE!


And look at that handle.


Va Va Voom! What do you say, keep it or sell it, it never rains in LA!



Drum roll... On Sale at Etsy now.

51VC is selling the umbrella bags, two for $60! Aren't they so mid century? I just love them!


TheVintageThread (don't you just love that name?) is selling this lovely set of three vintage umbrellas for only $45. Only one of them, the orange one, which is also tote size, is in excellent condition. But the other two are still good and you have to see the white one fully open - so pretty.


Here's one that's compact and reasonably priced. StudioStebbylee's is selling this pretty aqua thang for only $19! I'm drooling over the chain wristlet.


This 1940's Damask Print Umbrellas is so feminine and sweet it's just to die for. JessJamesJake is selling it for $48.


Suddenly I have an itch to see a little pitter-patter on my window pane.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Lucky ME!

Everyone drives in LA. We don't have much of a choice. Walking in LA is like walking in the suburbs, the blocks seems to go on forever, there's not a whole lot to look at, and barely a person walking beside you, it's cars just racing by. Cars with grouchy people in a hurry to get somewhere that barely have the patience to let a pedestrian pass without hollering *profanities, at least that was my experience today.

The surprising thing is people actually DO walk in LA. We walk through quaint neighborhoods with well landscaped yards to look at and we see other people walking too, walking home from school, to the Farmer's Market or their local coffee house, walking the dog. It's really quite pleasant when we get out of our cars and hit the pavement. But it's tough to accomplish much this way and so we're chained to our cars.


There is a great thing about driving in LA though. Driving in LA means when you pass by someone's "trash" and you see something you like, like say a really cool pair of retro metal lawn chairs you don't have to ooh and ahh over something you can't take home. Sorta like The Elegant Thrifter had to do just the other day on the streets of NYC! Instead you come inches away from causing a car accident, speed around the block and jump out of the car asking ever so kindly if you can take this person's trash home.


At least that's what happened to me today and it was glorious!

I had thought about refinishing the street finds but was convinced otherwise by my friends at the Antique Station where I was conveniently on my way to when luck came my way. Don't you just wish it had been you?! I know I would.

*slight exaggeration though profanities are easy to come by in LA

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

I Spy...

Something graphic. Something smart. Somethings I want today.

I recently stumbled across a new-to-me blog that I am absolutely loving! I'm loving this blog so much that I spent close to an hour scrolling through old posts. What I love most about Little Green Notebook is her DIY tips, inspirational DIY projects, and her post on these most amazing re-covered classics.


Some of the titles available include: Picture of Dorian Gray, Alices Adventures in Wonderland, Little Women, Crime and Punishment, Emma, Treasure Island and more.

She's even so kind as to have done the research and shared where we can buy them online, and at a discount no less! Indigo books out of Canada is selling them for a mere $14.99 and apparently the dollar is strong somewhere in the world - eh... Canada!

I haven't pulled the trigger just yet but I'm going to, soon. I'm dying to hide these beauties away some place until I have the means to display them just right.

You should check out Little Green Notebooks post on these here if you like what you see, and how couldn't you?

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Sizzling Servers


It's been a couple of months since I mentioned my mad crush on Sizzling Servers. I picked up these visions of a kitchen beautiful when visiting an antique mall in Redding, CA. Naturally they weren't my idea of a deal but I just HAD TO HAVE THEM!

You can check out my previous posts on these oven friendly servers here and here.

Since these posts I've noticed a fair amount of traffic to the Selling Vintage Blog from the keywords Sizzling Servers and Caravelle, and in my own research I've found these items to be few and far between. But I've also found some knock-offs and other manufacturers of a similar product. Though I know nothing of the history I favor the Caravelle brand of Sizzling Servers for it's rounder bottom and higher, easier to grasp handles, and in my opinion superior craftsmanship.


The other brand you see in this photo above is a close second but I could be saying that from the pure bliss I felt when I found it in an old box of my Nana's stuff. I've always felt a oneness with her though she passed in the early 90's and was delighted to see we share a love for this vibrant kitchenware. Nana's Sizzling Servers were Imported from Italy vs. my Caravelle Sizzling Servers which were Imported from France.


Periodically I do a search for "enamel" on Etsy as I did today when I found a couple listings for this type of serve ware. I'm going to share those listings here in case anyone wants to see their purchasing options!

Retroology is selling this set for only $18! You can see that these ones have a silver rim vs. the black rim on the Caravelle brand, but for $18 it's easy not to be too picky.


CrankHeartPony has a set from Yugoslavia, also with silver rims, for $35.


ModishVintage is selling this single red one for $25.



And that's it for Etsy. I also have a set that I'm willing to let go of. It's a set of the Caravelle brand of Sizzling Servers.


They're in booth right now but the next time I'm down I'm happy to grab them and sell them to any of the readers of this blog at a 20% discount. I'm asking $45 for them so that would be $36 with the blog discount! And of course the cost of shipping which I estimate to be another $12. If anyone is interested email me at: SellingVintage@gmail.com First come, first serve!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Busy on Etsy!

New items in the shop - check 'em out!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

In Review: The Find


It's no secret that I enjoy a good thrift store and decorating with these finds, and so naturally "the find" a book about decorating with thrift store finds is right up my alley. But I had no idea that not only would I love this book and read it page for page the entire way through, but that I'd actually learn a thing or two as well!

You see, with these kind of books - big beautiful pictures, do-it-yourself text, it's completely my style to flip around, find what interests me and leave the rest for another day. Stan Williams, aka The Elegant Thrifter, held my attention as I'm sure he could do yours by sharing tips for everything from ensuring quality to painting a piece, alongside inspirational home interiors and fun vintage parties he's personally attended.

It's no doubt that it can cost a pretty penny to reupholster furniture and the minute you decide to hire someone to get the task done that inexpensive find can turn expensive. With loads of inspiration in this book you don't have to break the bank to decorate your home, as long as you take it at just that, inspiration. If you have the money, go for it, replicate the methods that others have used to create a unique home interior, with the cost of modern furniture these days you'll still be saving your wallet and you'll have a blast doing it.

Either way if you're interested in thrift store shopping and/or decor buy this book, it's fantastic... five stars.