GOLD RUSH SUCCESS

                        Don't GO through life, GROW through life.  Eric Butterworth


We've finally recovered from Gold Rush! It was a whirlwind week of cleaning our treasures, tagging them, packing them, and then unloading them in our booth. That was followed by three days of selling and of course, more buying! The first day was raining and COLD! Fortunately we were inside. The people who had planned on being outside didn't set up until the following day. I was surprised  that we actually sold some things! The true diehard collectors and shoppers still came! We did have to have our winter jackets, boots, and even mittens. It was THAT cold, even inside! But still, as always, we had FUN!

I managed to remember to take a few photos of our booth.  Some of the items in the photos have sold and others are being listed in our Etsy Shop.  We sold a lot of the furniture on the first day. A large green cart was sold to a lady who was going to use it for an outdoor wedding and then giving it to a friend who had a floral and garden shop. I love it when someone finds something that is just perfect for their needs. Some of our items go to photographers to be used as photo props. Others, of course, are happy to find a treasure for themselves. There were even shoppers for Mother's Day gifts and I happened to have just the right items! So all in all it was a success for everyone!

                                     And these were  just SOME of the treasures we had.  Be sure and check out my Etsy Shop, here, to see more!

NEW LISTINGS AT GWEN AND ALMA'S

                        In the Spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.  Margaret Atwood


 Are you getting ready to get out there into the dirt? The gardeners here are out working hard already. Ben has planted Pansies in the big pots by the door but now is using his blower to blow leaves, dirt, and other junk off the driveway and sidewalks.

For my part I've just purchased indoor plants as mentioned in a previous post. I don't smell like dirt, yet, but I'm working on it!

I've listed a few more things in my Etsy Shop, Gwen And Alma's! I'll post some of them here but go check out our shop to see more. I'm trying to get up to 300 things for sale on our shop but things keep selling! Not complaining though! I love to hear those Cha Chings! In case you don't know what I mean by that.... Etsy's site is set up so that whenever you make a sale, your ipad makes a loud CHA CHING noise! If I'm on the ipad, engrossed in reading something when it cha chings, it scares the bejeemers out of me! But it's so FUN to hear!

So here are some latest listings:

Tomorrow I head out to the 100 mile garage sale around Lake Pepin! Hope to pick up some great stuff! I'll be listing some and taking some to Gold Rush this month! See last post for info on  Gold Rush.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sandy

P.S. Click the  link to go to our  Etsy Shop

If you like something, "heart" it! Thanks!

BAKER'S RACK FOUND A NEW HOME

A while back I shared a photo of an antique Baker's Rack that I picked up at an Auction. I listed it in my Etsy Shop as "For Local Pick-Up Only".  I received an e-mail from someone in California asking if I would sell and ship to her. So I figured out how to get it done and it was on its way!

The kind new owner of the Baker's Rack sent me a photo of the Rack in its new home, now a display rack for her beautiful quilts!

Doesn't it look great in its new home? And those quilts! They are AMAZING! I just love the soft colors!

 I love it when people who have purchased something from our Etsy Shop, send us a photo of their purchase in its new home. But just getting feedback TELLING us what they did with their purchase is fun also!

Etsy customers are the friendliest people!

VINTAGE ITEMS THAT SELL BEST ON ETSY

                  Never get so busy making a living, that you forget to make a life. Author Unknown

 If you read my post here on the top 20 vintage sellers on Etsy, you'll find that most of the top vintage sellers have some things in common. Most of the items that are selling are smaller items like jewelry, ephemera, and bits and bobs. Of course that is not all, but it surprised me to learn that while larger  decor items are big sellers in Occasional sales that I've been to, I didn't find one Etsy store in the top 20 whose main inventory was these items! Hmmmm.

The top seller list was based on number of items sold, not amount of money made. Since smaller items would cost less, that may be why they sell more of these items. Also the shipping costs may figure into that in that it costs more to ship a larger item than a smaller one so people might prefer to purchase these items in person. Of course, if they listed the top 20 shops that make the most money, maybe the list would include sellers of larger items. I'd like to see that list!

I also think that staging larger items in vignettes makes a big difference. So why not take photos of vignettes with your items for sale to enhance their look online? I think it is Country Living magazine that shows photos of decorated rooms and then breaks it down into individual pieces, listing where you can purchase them. I wonder if something like that could be done in my Etsy shop?

I've only done a little research into this but will continue to do more. So far it appears that:

1) Smaller items sell more often in Etsy shops than larger items

2) Jewelry and Ephemera are popular sellers

Since I'm just setting up my Etsy shop I'm going to keep this in mind. I'll still list larger items and see how they do, however. I also have found that  there is something for everybody and eventually even the larger pieces will sell, though maybe not quite as quickly.

So what are your top Etsy sellers? Have you found something that sells as soon as you list it so you hunt for more of the same? Have you done any research of your own? What have you found?

THANKS, SWANKY SWIGS, AND ONLINE SALES

Thanks to all of you who came to our Labor Day sale! If you came, I hope you found a wonderful treasure to take home. Here's the work crew waiting for the doors to open!

Once again we had a great sale, we had a lot of fun, and we ended up exhausted! But we're ready to get out there and find some more goodies for our next event!

A vintage blogging buddy, Ann Garritty, came and brought with her two swanky swig glasses that I wanted to buy from her Etsy shop. I'm collecting the green and blue ones. I love them!

Instead, she gave them to me as a gift! How sweet was that?!!? Thanks, Ann! Ann blogs at Protector Of Vintage here. Check out her Etsy store also for fun vintage finds!

Speaking of Etsy stores, I'm opening my own little Etsy shop beginning in October. If you've seen some of my fun treasures on this blog but don't live nearby, now YOU'LL have an opportunity to get some of the goodies! There will be farmhouse and industrial finds, linens, unique vintage treasures, fine china, and more! Keep watching for more information in the very near future!

Also beginning in the next week or so I will be posting some of the furniture pieces on Craigslist that didn't sell at our Labor Day Sale. So if you live nearby and missed the sale, you have the opportunity to purchase one of our fun finds! More information will be coming soon about this as well.

Right now I'm busy updating the mailing list, reorganizing the stuff that didn't sell at our sale ( though there's not a LOT left ), and taking photos for posting on Craigslist and the new Etsy shop!

Now I need to get around and read some blogs!! I've been so busy lately I've not been blog hopping like I used to...

ThE GiFt Of CrEaTiViTy

THANKS-LIVING   ToDaY  I'm ThAnKfUl FoR ThE GiFt Of CrEaTiViTy.

Creativity...We ALL have it. Some just are not aware of it yet. Made in the image of a creative God we all have endless creative possibilities! We just need to discover it and express it!

 You might be creative in painting, or making beautiful pottery, or you might be a creative writer. Maybe your special gift is in creating a beautiful home for your family, or decorating or cooking.

I have been amazed at all the creativity I see in blogs, on PINTEREST,  Etsy, and in other places on the internet!  This allows us access to more than the creative endeavors we find in our own communities. I am in awe as I look around and see all the possibilities of endless creativity.

We were MADE to create! The important thing is to discover YOUR WAY of creatively expressing yourself Then  develop it, and  best of all...SHARE IT! 

Shown here are some handmade  items I found on Etsy that show creativity expressed in different ways.  Since Christmas is coming up also, I thought I would share some things that you could purchase  in time for the holidays to decorate  with or give as gifts.

                               Lovely hand painted pillow from Southern Empire Designs

  
                  Darling Christmas hanging made from a garden apron from the Rusty Thimble.

                                       Wooden manager scene from the Creative Wood Shop.

                   Beautiful painting of a bird from rachellelevingston.rachellelevingston.etsy.com

                                             WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?