I Must Be Getting Old

I have rarely ever gone to a fleamarket and NOT bought something - even if it was just a hotdog. But today I did. 

Yes, I saw things I wanted but I kept thinking of all the "stuff" here that is supposed to be listed on ebay and isn't. 

So even though I saw two pair of Born shoes for $10 ea - new, never word (and in my size!) I didn't buy them. I also didn't but the green glass etched Hat pin.. I loved it but like really...where am I going to use that?

I looked an Ungaro jacket in my size  - a mere $20 but again no sale.

What? Why?

I'm trying to be more intelligent in my purchasing.. really where would I wear the Ungaro piece?

Ok so much for reasonable, I'm doing to Salvation Army and buy something.

2016 - The First Day

2016... Already?

So I'm in a blog challenge and if you're a follower,  you'll see more activity this month than for the last year.

Here's an update on me:

I am doing way more FBA on Amazon than I was

I am finding about 1/2 my items fell "off" ebay so I'm having to relist them.
I'm still a compulsive collector so I have books in piles higher than me so I started a facebook group for selling books that aren't pricey enough to sell on ebay or amazon due to their fee structures.


I still have 4 cats - 2 boy Siamese (one of who is partially blind due to high BP - that's a whole blog post in itself )and 2 tabby girls I kidnapped from under my azalea bush in December 4 years ago.

So. that's enough for today but batten down the hatches. I'm supposed to do this every day this month!

OH! wait! do you buy books? want to sell books? Come and join me on a new adventure https://www.facebook.com/groups/172248716466509/

 

The Cats of Hilltop Road Recommend...

There are four of us here - Cats we mean... Cosmo and Max are the Siamese boys and then there are two of us Girls. Mom found us under the Azalea bush after a hericane... (storm with lots of rain and a big puddle in her back yard) and now we're princesses. We tell the boys what to do but they don't always agree with us.

 

So, these things are stuff we like. Check it out - Chris Green wrote a book about Gray Cats, who knew? Well Max thinks that's awesome. Here's an affiliate link 50 Shades of Grey Cats
and this is other stuff we recommendThe Cats of Hilltop Rd Recommend:

Happy Birthday Godzilla

So earlier this week, Godzilla, the King of Monsters, celebrated a birthday.  He's a mere 60 years old. Doesn't look a day over 25... and to celebrate that, a family member, who just started in ecommerce, has a new store with TONS of Godzilla figures, toys etc. 

So I figured I'd post a link to his site > TheVampireRobot and his facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/VampireRobots

Follow him on Twitter at  @TheVampireRobot (Vampire Robots)

And he's on Instagram as vampirerobots

Please go look at his website (and buy something) but also he only needs 8 more LIkes to get to 100. 

THANKS

 

The Real Thing? or Not... Rosenthal & Versace

So a few months ago, I was at an estate auction and there were dozens of beautiful cake plates and servers.  Now I've collected china/porcelain cake servers since I was about 17.  I just like them.  I've bought them, sold them and bought them back.  You know the drill right?

Well the plates at this auction took my breath away:

These are just 3 of about 15 that were present.  The problem is, NONE of these were legitmate. They were all knock-offs. Which with a little research and some help from some ebay buyers I figured out pretty quick. The "marks" give them away and Rosental's company website was quite helpful in showing me what the real marks would look like. SO be careful out there. The same place I bought these and several other local venues continue to pass these off as legitmate even though I showed them Rosental's email stating NO they never made that. Starting with the pink one at the top which is a plate glued on to an upside down juice tumbler.  So...BUYER - Be better informed than your source. OK? (If I ever get the other computer working again, I'll pull the links and do a rehash of this subject.

Stangl Pottery Plates...A Flower Garden in MY kitchen

Auction Roundup

Most everyone who knows me, knows I spend most Friday afternoons and Saturdays at the local auctions.  Sunday I do fleamarkets, weather and joints permitting. 

Well, a lot of my online friends have been doing "garage sale roundups" they call them where they show off what they got in the Garage Saling adventures.  Since I don't do that, I figured I'll show off some of my favorite colletions once in a while.

So here we go:  Stangl Plates - coincidentally I wrote a little essay for the 2nd version of Janelle Elm's Home Run Guide (#2) on Stangl. You can still order, just ask me how.

These plates were all in one box for $12 - now they're all hanging on the kitchen wall - well most of them are.

 I did not id  most of these but the next to last one is Country Gardens. I have several other things in that pattern and I seem to gravitate to it. Which one of these is your favorite?

My Favorite Christmas Figures - Byers Choice !

I started seeing Byers' Choice figures at auction first, bout maybe 10 years ago and I started buying them right then. I love them. They remind me of Dickens (well of course they have a bunch of Dickens' Carolers and a series called Cries of London. You can see a ton of them on eBay even now in mid-August Byers Choice Carolers

But I also like some others, like the Salvation Army Series.
Byers Choice Salvation Army

Now this group below are mine that I have for sale - if you have questions you can leave a comment and I'll be happy to contact you. My Byers Choice For Sale

What Are You Collecting This Year??

Want to revisit a portion of your youth?? Rent a 16 MM projector (or buy one at a garage sale) and buy this Patty Duke in Ben Casey from 1962  and wind back the clock 50 years. 

OMG we all wanted to be her with those bouncy curls and her movie career!! Little did we know what she'd go thru later.

BTW, the seller here BookCornerCafe   has lots more items that would make excellent gifts for folks in your world!

Talk about Compulsive Collectors...here's a few!

I just read this article and I'm, as always, amazed at what other folks find to collect...check it out and see what I mean, then come on back and tell us about your collection in the comments!!

10 Bizarre Collections  courtesy of http://mom.me/

The Car Goes to the Thriftshop!

You won't know this because I haven't posted in so blessed long but the flu has been here creating havoc with my little household. I had it first and seem to be recovering with help from the Dr.  Now DH has it ....and won't go to the doctor or take anything..so he's suffering.  

Yesterday I decided I'd go to the store and get some soup and the stuff for beef stew (stew veggies..we have NO fresh anything at the moment). BUT the car insisted on going to the Thrift Shop first. So I went along for the ride.

The glass, pottery, home goods section has been dismal for weeks but I got 2 Corning pieces (which I think I'm keeping) a small sauce pan and a small frying pan type thing and a blue glass tray I have to identify (light blue something Indiana I think) but pretty.

No crafty things...POOH.  so headed to the men's shirts, got 2 Hawaiian, one with surfboards instead of flowers and 2 HARD ROCK CAFE tee shirts and three women's brand name shirts - all smaller sizes but good condition for like $3.99  each so I'm gonna put them on THE AMAZON (my new mannequin) and take pictures and sell them.  Clothes are a new area for me. I'm so not a fashionista but I find such nice things and want MY customers to have them.

I love thrift-shopping, auctions, fleamarkets and will be writing more about what to buy and where and how and when.

What I learned on eBay today..

1. Parker Pens sets - sell (lots of folks like fountain pens??) 3 banded is old original Parker

2. I should look for my vintage Parker T-Ball Jotter - someone gave me it as a gift, I put it away and it's good for around $40 on eBay

The Phone Just Rang and

and my stomach rolled over (2012 has STUNK with family illnesses, family deaths, people complaining about their eBay Items) but I answered it anyway and there was this exuberant, joyous woman on the other end RAVING about her eBay item she just opened and she's THRILLED..

SO nice to hear and so nice of her to do that on the end of the week that was.... and now she's even more happy 'cause I told her were to find the artist's website and buy more! Just when you think you know it all...some one teaches you a lesson!

2012 & My Cat Collecting Continues

My friend, Danna Crawford, aka Powerselling Mom, posted this blog on PracticalEcommerce - 100 Top - Interesting eBay Categories.  And I don't disagree with her that those are interesting. In fact I found one I never really looked for on eBay - Immigration Lists  that one is fascinating to me because I do Genealogy - can't find anyone I'm related too but found some of my inlaws and outlaws relatives.

I was wondering about some of the other categories on Danna's list so I think I'll explore them over the next few months and share here... But meanwhile, I've continued to add to my "cat collection" but these were two real cats - feral kittens who are now learning how much trouble there is to get into INSIDE the house.  Here are the "Whippersnappers of Levittown"  - 2 girl princess cats

This is Whipper - she's the smaller one..but feisty - except with me. She   hates me...

This is Snapper - the bolder braver one... she only likes me when I have food or a toy in my hand.

tThey join the "Boys" - the Vice Presidents

So, you know I've been busy - the girls are only about 6 mos old now and we've only had them inside since Mid-December.  Lots of learning going on..and now I need all those tabby cat statues, postcards, pictures, art work etc. that I used to be able to pass up.

See you next week, meanwhile in comments post which categories of Danna's blogpost you like best and we can explore them!



Even Collectors Can't Know "Everything" so...

You know by now, I'm terrible at keeping up with posts here.  Part of that is I'm currently overwhelmed with vintage collectibles that are my inventory for eBay selling.  But I have a resource for you that is just too good to pass up.  First a disclaimer - THIS IS AN AFFILIATE LINK! So I'm making money if you  buy this eBook or even if you buy it as a smart phone download.

That said, I still think this book will be an amazing resource. It's called The Home Run Guide and will be available as both an eBook and a smart phone download.  There are 90 topics, here are some of them:

Handbags and handbag related things
Ephemera
Southern Heritage Cookbooks
LongabergerGolf Collectibles
English Registry pottery
Music memorabilia
Vinyl records
Golf Collectibles


The Guide is due out in late September 2011, so, I recommend you order your "Pre-Launch" copy now at the introductory price of $25 because you know you're not gonna be happy when you come back later and it's sold out.
HOME RUN GUIDE - Pre-Launch Price

We've been on hiatus but we're back

Do you know that feeling...the one where you know  you SHouLD do something but you just can't make yourself?? Well I have that feeling about blogging...I like writing, I just don't want to do it on a "schedule" so I tend to keep putting it off...in this instance for like 5 months. BUT I'm back, and I'm going to tray to be more faithful here.

So stay tuned... come back in a day or so and bring a friend...


Meanwhile,  you waant to make a collection - find the other 27 Rock/Music stars who died too young and collect their music...it's not just this generation that's done that. It's a long and infamous history... see who you can find..



And if you want a great read?? Gather up the First Editions of this series and read it in sequence... I am on Book Five and love it!! (and I sure hope book 6 doesn't take  years..)

#Fire and Ice  Book 1

Real Or Repro ?- part 3

A Compulsive (Obsessive) & Very Thorough Train Collector

Here, all these years I thought my husband was compulsive and obsessive..

One of my Favorite Sellers MYMOMSBOOKS

The birth of My Moms Books was summer of 1999 after my mom’s passing in June of that year. My Mom was a avid reader with a home full of bookshelves. She always instilled the love of reading and respect for books. So what would you do with her books?




Around this same time in my life I purchased web tv and vola shopping on line. After reading in a few web tv newsgroups about selling online I discovered Half.com a book selling site. At that time Ebay did not own Half as it is a divionsion of Ebay now. On Half you could list books for free till they sold.



This wet my appetite how fun my Mom’s books went to a new home and not a land fill! About a year later and hanging with my web tv friends a girl in Texas mentioned Amazon. I was scared, hmmm the rules were different, could I do this? Still free to list. So I jumped in. Best jump I ever made, did you know books sell faster on Amazon? Ok I’m hooked a book seller is born. Other sites soon followed Alibris, Biblio with my books showing up in Borders and Barnes and Nobel.



Books weren’t the only “stuff” Mom left me. It was time for Ebay. (and a laptop computer) I sold all sorts of things with the idea of clearing out the stuff. My family was also growing with many clothes and treasures of our own to clear out of the over stuffed house. Someday we would like to build our retirement home and move. This stuff needs to go.


Still enjoying my book selling passion I started to source books at library sales, garage and estate sales, thrift stores always an eye open. Learning as you go.
My motto became “Sell what you don’t want buy what you want” How perfect for the budget.



As the years went by my husband’s parents needed our care. We decided to live together for ease of care. Now we have another household to liquidate. A big family homestead that has gone thru depression years with the belief of never throwing anything out. EKKK! Hubby and I are getting older, remember the retirement home?

How do you live in two locations and sell? Our retirement home is only accessible nine months of the year due to a private rural road. We do go back and forth between homes for Doctor appointments for Mom and Dad and other family obligations in our home town. Not always easy as they are three hours apart.

When you sell on line you need to ship timely. My stores go on vacation hold while I’m gone. With the exception of my Ebay store My Moms Books. I have an out of town notice letting my shoppers know when I will return and when their item will ship. I also communicate with them via email.



With all this combined / down size household stuff I need a place to store. The logical place is the attic of the retirement home. I now sell from there on Ebay as My Moms Books Attic. I only do auctions and Buy It Now’s . I have set up a photo area and shipping area for convince there.


I ship from my friendly little Post Office in our closest town. They are so nice! Just like my home Post Office community. You know when you sell on line you get to know the postal employees like family.



While at the retirement home I have my laptop, printer, scanner, camera and high speed internet. All the comforts of home office. Many times I list books and items there that I will sell from the home house. Just pack them up when I leave.


To help make listing items at two locations effortless I use The Art of Books and Turbo Lister. Both programs allow me to switch items between stores and locations as needed. When I list items they are assigned a sku with a location corresponding with a Rubbermaid tote bin. Organization is key in this operation.

I love what I do and will keep fine tuning as I go.


It’s not hard if you plan on paper what sites you sell on, the requirements of confirming shipments timely.



1. What inventory is in what location.



2. What sites you can sell this inventory from each location.



This was my first full year of this new business model. Next year will be bigger as I move stuff the two house way!







Click a link and save gas shopping at My Moms Books

Thank You for stopping by!



FREE Shipping Special for Ebay,ioffer and Bonanzle

Pay for your heaviest item rest ship FREE

http://www.mymomsbooksatebay.com

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http://www.alibris.com/bookstore/mymomsbk

http://www.amazon.com/shops/mymomsbks

http://www.biblio.com/?aid=BSCB357312

Not really a collectible but..

I grew up going to Wanamaker's in Center City Philadelphia and watching "The Tree of 1000 lights" and took my son (although he denies it now) and all the younger brothers and sisters to see it every year.

Here is an amazing performance... 683 local choir members from the Delaware Valley organized and singing... in the Wanamaker's Gallery which is now Macy's.

Brought tears to my eyes... seriously -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab8QzT-ziw4

Check it out!

China Rolling Pins - Baby, Toy or Doll-size

Looking for a new collection?? My email friend Sterling sent me these pictures of the collection he and his wife have put together of rolling pins.  I featured some of them back in December 2009 ROLLING PINS. 

Well they recently sent me more pictures but these are of 22 "baby" or doll rolling pins. Aren't these just the cutest things?? I've loved the patterns in the top pin shown in picture #2 and the scoop shown in picture #4 for years.  Periodically I get pieces, then trade or sell them but now I'm rethinking that practice. These are too pretty to let go!





For more information about collecting rolling pins, My Rolling Pin (My First Kitchen Gadget Books) is available there (pointing back over my sentence )Search Amazon.com for antique rolling pins