Organizing Inventory Unearths Forgotten Treasures for Thrifty Thursday...

If you sell vintage or antique goods like I do - you know the

 challenge of keeping your inventory from becoming a mess.  

Today I focused on cleaning up some drawers of 'smalls' and

 unearthed some forgotten treasures...such as these blown glass cherries!

Available here

To help organize the smallest smalls - I wanted a small tray or basket.  

I spied this basket that came with something from a yard sale 

last year - still wrapped and unopened...

It was covered in white paper and I didn't realize what was underneath.  

And look - it's a little gift set with cellophane, tissue paper and a 

metallic bow.  I'll keep those for another day - 

today I just need the basket for my drawer.

 Thrifty Tip #1 - It pays to focus again on your 'stuff'.  

You may have overlooked something!

So while working in my drawers I came upon these old 

Sunday School cards.  Love 'em & in the shop they went!

Available here

  AND - (again I hadn't paid much attention when I originally

 brought them in the house) - this trade card was in the mix.  

It is signed or autographed by the company owner on the back!

Some things in the drawer got pulled out and given a new photo shoot.

Thrifty Tip #2 - if you're a seller it pays to update your photos on occasion...

Available here

My drawers of smalls are full - but it's all very available...

  

Lastly -  I pulled out a few pretty things to use in my own 

home decor.

Thrifty Tip #3 - Decorate with your finds till they sell.  

Makes for 'free' home decor!

(If they're not in danger of being ruined that is.)

Lady Photo available here & Baby Motto available here

I love playing with 'stuff'.   It's just plain fun for me.
  

What may you have in your stash that you've forgotten about?

Good chance you already own something you were thinking of buying.

Go make a discovery!   ~Joyce

Friday Finds - New Shop Listings...

For my Friday Finds this week - I'm sharing with you things I have

 found in the past week... that I have since turned into Etsy listings.

  Some have an additional story... Enjoy...

This ironstone pitcher features wonderful pink carnations - 

front and back...

Click Here to purchase.

This dog figure in bisque is actually larger than most.  But is he 

a cocker spaniel?  A poodle?  A cockapoo?  You decide...

Click HERE to go to listing

And these Pyrex cups by Corning are the older milk glass teacups

 in the Crazy Daisy or Spring Blossom pattern.  Interestingly - Etsy

 removed them for approx. 24 hours to 'check on them'.  Apparently

 they discovered they are legit as they reappeared without incident...

Click HERE to purchase

If you've been following my blog - you've already seen 

the story to this doll.  I still have no additional information 

on where these dolls came from.  Can you help? 

Click HERE to purchase

Loved the old card to these hair pins... (look at those hairstyles)

  and still in such excellent shape.  I found 2 of these cards... 

and wouldn't you know it - my dog destroyed the 1 card.  

Thankfully - there is one remaining...

(It's not the 1st time she destroyed my inventory!)

Find the Etsy listing HERE

The following items are newly listed - but are not finds from my week.  

Do you love Art Deco style?  Don't miss this picture frame.  

Photo space size is a bit unusual at 4" x 6".

Visit HERE to purchase and/or learn more about the actor promo photo.

Some folks are in love with milk white in hobnail.  And I'm

 finding it quite attractive myself.  The sizing of this piece 

makes it great as a planter or a low vase...

Available HERE

And aside from the doll above - this is one of my favorites. 

 I just love everything about this little planter.  

And yes - it's McCoy!  In luscious pink...

Etsy listing HERE

Happy Friday!  No thrifting for me today.  

I've a house to clean (my own!).

Blessings ~Joyce

A Doll Stirs Up Memories...

We had time to stop at a thrift shop last evening on the way to 

an appointment. (Yes - I'm a bit of a thrift shop junkie...)  

My eye caught these dolls in little plastic bags - 

and immediately a memory was stirred....

When I was little - we had a doll just like the one in the crocheted dress.  

Except - it wasn't with my dolls and it wasn't in the toy chest.  

I am the youngest of 5 children - quite spread out - so many years

 and events occurred before I came on the scene.  My memory of

 this doll was that it was kept in a drawer in our dining room.

Red Dress Doll available in my Etsy shop here

I don't remember ever knowing why she was there.  On occasion 

I'd open that drawer and get her out.  I was intrigued with her 

long black hair in pigtails... 

  

...and cute little red shoes that I now know are Mary Janes...

Why was she in a drawer?  Where did we get her?  

My parents are no longer here to ask.  I've checked with my 

siblings but they also don't know her story.  

And this pair of dolls?

I have never seen the boy doll so am quite tickled with this find.

Do you know anything about these cuties?  A little tidbit 

may  help unlock our family mystery.

But regardless -  it was still fun to embrace a small memory 

that I had long forgotten.  

May your memories be sweet today too! ~Joyce

China Cabinet As Display Case Clear Out...

Last week I shared with you that it was high time to get my 

china closet cleared out. I prefer to use it as a display case 

for family mementos...

I have cleared out the pink transferware for a 

cleaner look. ('Before' on the left; 'after' on the right)

I'm enjoying my treasures all over again...

and uncovered some hidden gems.  

Like this penmanship award for my mother-in-law...

I have a few advertising collectibles from where my father 

used to work (A business which no longer exists)...

And a few collectibles that represent my father-in-law...

Every little completed clean-out project feels so good!

 

Many of the 'before' pink transferware pieces have landed 

in my Etsy shop.  Including this English Abbey plate.

It's all reason for a Happy Dance!  ~Joyce

After Christmas Sale...

Shop Update:

All remaining Christmas items in my Etsy shop have been

 discounted to reflect a 25% off price.

So if anything caught your eye earlier - this is your chance.

Here is a sampling...

Shiny Brite Ornaments in Peachy Gold and Pink

Japan Nativity Figures in Gold

Bridgeport Unused Stencils

Figural Santa Ornament

Pink and Silver Mica Shiny Brite Ornaments

Jewel Brite Ornaments in original box

Mechanical Rocking Horse Santa Pins

And there are plenty of new arrivals too.  

Again - here's a sampling...

Old 9 Patch Quilt Squares in Cotton

Del Monte Fruit Crate End with Label

Small Painted Metal Strainer - Marked 'Miracle Gem'

Green Transferware Butter Pats

It's always fun to see what treasures I can find for you 

that are unique and have that 'Quilted Nest' charm.  

Enjoy these last days of 2016!  ~Joyce

From Readers and Sellers and Buyers and...

It's so much fun to interact with you my readers.  

Recently a buyer/reader told me she was intrigued with my  

pony and cart picture from this post.

 

And with good reason.  Turns out - they care for 11 miniature horses 

at their place.  Eleven!  Oh - and 2 donkeys and 3 riding horses too.

  Oh my!

I asked for pictures.  These are a few she sent my way...

 Just precious...

 And is that a pot-bellied pig I see?  

They need to open a petting zoo!

Thanks Karen for sharing a bit of your world with us.

And I'd like to also give a shout-out to 2 Etsy sellers... Fall is coming 

and I'm thinking you just may enjoy what these gals have to offer.

Chunky Knits has some awesome trendy hats and ear wraps.  

I'm especially loving this ear warmer headband...and the color!

Available here.

And AhuvaKnits has some great pieces as well.  

I love the boho vibe of this shawl (and gotta love her modeling!)...

Available here.

There's still a good month of no-school summer left.  But it will go fast!  

Thanks online friends - you make my day!  ~Joyce

Saturday Sightings - Uncovered Romance And a Bullish Encounter...

Imagine my delight when I came upon an unadvertised yard sale sign 

pointing the way to a country home in an older development.  

Turns out the home owner had died unexpectedly -  the house was sold quickly - 

and the contents needed to be unloaded.  Thus - a last minute yard sale... 

where everything was going cheap.  We were told to look in cabinets, 

drawers and everywhere.  It felt very strange and invasive - gave me 

mixed feelings for sure.  There wasn't a lot left when I arrived - 

but these are some of my favorite finds that others overlooked...

Shoes available here and cake topper available here

Apparently 'Barbara' lived in this house - judging from the 

sentiments on the senior photos she saved.  

And Barbara was well-liked...

In fact - she had a special admirer!  

"To the Most beautiful girl of the senior class"...

"When are we going on our date?"...

Did she marry "Ken" I wonder?  

In the box of recipes - I found a little handmade recipe booklet from the 70s.  

It contained cookie recipes - put together from a neighborhood exchange.  

I love that idea!  My neighborhood is not that 'close'. Maybe I need to work on that!

To round out my pleasant morning... I came upon this guy -

 standing right up at the roadside fence.  When I got close to take 

a picture - he started to get a little ornery, 'huffed' at me and I saw

 his front hoof begin to do motions... I got out of there!

I'll leave you with a cookie recipe as a last nod to 'Christmas in July'...

Now I need to get some cleaning done.

How did you spend your Saturday morning?  ~Joyce