Thrift Haul │My Vintage Thrifted Finds froom May 30, 2024

Some weeks, the thrifting finds could be better. 

And some weeks, they're terrible.

This week was one of those terrible. It's not like I didn't find anything, but those special pieces weren't to be found. Instead, small simple finds were my finds. Which, truth be told, are my bread-and-butter items... which keeps my shop running.

However, I do the best I can with what's been given to me (my motto for just about darn near everything in my life if I can help it)! Here's what I found:

• 1 Vintage '80s dress- I love that design and bird on the front.
• 4 Vintage '70s-90s belts - I sell a ton of belts and particularly love the large brown one on the bottom in pics - that may be older than '70s- I'm thinking '60s based on the patina of the buckle.
• 1 Vintage '90s thermal - Theremals sell like crazy - I get it. They're a staple.
• 1 Vintage '80s Mug made in Korea - Mugs are my jam.

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The total of all things purchased this week was about $20. Small finds. But as I said, they're the staples that make my store run well.

So, how can I be ungrateful? PTL I even found these things. All are headed to the shop by this weekend.

Thanks for checking in on my vintage finds. 

Until next week...

Vintage Beauty Pageant Photo 1922 │ TGIVF Thank God it's Vintage Friday

Happy Friday! The temps here in Northern California are starting to heat up. But, it is almost June so it’s time.

Here’s a 1922 beauty pageant photo courtesy of  The Vintage News.

I love how both styles of hair - long and short - made it to the top two.  The lady on the right looks miffed she came in second though. I suppose I would too…

Thank God it’s vintage Friday. TGIVF.

Pyrex Update for Perennial Pyrex │ Vintage Pyrex Collection

For over three years, I've had a Pyrex Tiktok account. It has been a very fun account to maintain. Many folks love Pyrex like I do. And thanks to social media, there's a way to group subjects to find what you like and keep it in your feed.

Pyrex fans are out there and love it like I do!

The gist of this TikTok account was to document my Pyrex thrifting journey. It was all for myself. Just to document my thrifted Pyrex find and watch my collection grow.

Turns out, people loved watching me collect! And that things were thrifted was an extra fun part of the treasure hunt. I was just shy of 20,000 followers. 

I got rid of that account a week ago. It served its purpose and I was tired of dealing with the trolls. 99% of my followers were lovely people.

But there's always those few party poopers. I was tired of them. My collection is for me. Not for anyone else. I don't care what other people say and have decided not to deal with it anymore. The good and the bad.

Having said that, I didn't get rid of the TikTok account because of the trolls. I was already thinking of deleting it because I'd acquired more than half of the Pyrex out there and finding pieces I don't have is going to get more difficult. 

Meaning, fewer posts to post. It was time. Time to leave Tiktok. 

Believe it or not, I'm relieved. The pressure to post is always out there and I despise it. Some people may say they don't feel pressure to post; even if they have a huge following. Well... they'd be lying. That's the nature of social media; to post and keep posting for more followers. I don't care who you are, the pressure is there.

It was a joy to have it when I had it, but I'm just as joyous now saying goodbye to it.

So, no more TikTok "Perennial Pyrex" for me. I love my Pyrex, and still plan on adding thrifted Pyrex finds but if I have a good find - and I know there are other finds out there to be found - I have a vintage blog to post it on: this one. Right here. Perennial Vintage Supply.

Meanwhile, here's the latest look at what I have. This is three years and three months of thrifting Pyrex. It is 98% thrifted. The other 2% are gifts or a random antique store find. 

There's more Pyrex to find in my thrifting world, albeit less as my collection continually amasses, but I'm always on the quest.

Pyrex fans, I get you. I love you! Thanks for following along on my Pyrex journey in Northern California.

 

Introverted but Willing to Discuss Plants │ Introvert Tshirt

I thrifted this t-shirt a couple of days ago. I vacillated on whether or not I wanted to spend $2 on it. I know - but every $2 adds up!

"Introverted but willing to discuss plants."

After putting it back and thinking about it while I thrifted, I went back to it, took it off the hanger, and put it over my arm. Done deal.

If there ever was a t-shirt that represented me, it's this one.

After a quick search on Google, I found it's available on Amazon! It's linked right here. And it comes in so many colors. I love it! ♥ 

Introverts, your t-shirt awaits…

Estate Sale Finds │ Vintage Clothing at an Estate Sale

A few weeks ago, I mentioned a fabulous estate sale I went to. I scored about 40 items! It was a great day for vintage clothing. These kinds of estate sales are rare. Usually, estate sales give me a couple of items ... if I'm lucky.

The lady of this home had impeccable taste. Her style was exquisite. Here are just four highlighted pieces. All are listed and linked to my shop.

Enjoy!

-Heather

Vintage 40s 50s Dress

Vintage Velvet 40s 50s Skirt Set

Vintage 50s 60s Wool Black Cape

Vintage 50s 60s Lambswool with Mink Collar Coat

Iris Flowers in my Bouquet

My son gave me flowers for Mother's Day a couple of weeks ago. (Both of my sons and husband gave me flowers for Mother's Day so my home smelled like a florist and I wasn't mad about it, that's for certain.)

But the bouquet my oldest gave me included these beautiful irises. This picture is of one flower that took two weeks to open. 

It smelled divine and kept the family room smelling like an outdoor flower garden.

The flowers finally said goodbye to me but not before I snapped a picture of this last iris opening. Two of the "sides" of the bud still had yet to open.

Flowers. I love them...

Memorial Day 2024 | Vintage Patriotism

Have a fantastic Memorial Day. Don’t forget how many families have sacrificed their own for our families to thrive.

Thank you. We owe you forever.

Vintage Mug Monday │ Cowboy Mug

As I've repeatedly said - and demonstrated with my frequent vintage mug purchases - I love vintage mugs. They're a force to be reckoned with and I'm losing badly. I love them all.

Saw this awesome pottery cowboy mug and had to get it. Adorable. Perfect for the western wear person, cowgirl, or cowboy. For Cowboy poetry and living "home on the range."

Hee haw, y'all. Would work great as a vase, or decorative piece as well. It's in the shop.

Have a great Monday... may yer mug be vintage and yer coffee hot.

My Vintage Garden | A Riot of Rhododendrons

I love my rhodies.

Rhododendrons are beautiful and intense and every year they bloom, I’m always shocked at their vibrancy. My backyard is a riot of color.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend. My plans are simple: stay at home, read, be with family, and relax.

Be safe, everyone.

Memorial Day Sale at Perennial Vintage

 For those who want sales alerts, here's one!

20% off all weekend and Monday starts today in the shop.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.

I'm thankful for those who sacrificed for us all. ♥

Here's a couple patriotic items:

Awesome Eagle Bandana ( 'merica!) ↓

Vintage Military Laundry Bag ↓

Artist Virginia Demont-Breton │ The Fisherman's Wife after Bathing Her Children │TGIVF

When I came across this painting online the other day, I stopped scrolling. It took my breath away. The artist is Virginie Demont-Breton, a French painter, whose work became known from the 1880s and beyond.

There's a lot to love about it and I, many moons ago as a young mom with two boys, can relate to it. It's a snippet of a mom's life.

The boys she's carrying, where she's walking - on the rocks - balancing life and work and ... everything. Her face is angelic. And the point of the whole piece, in my opinion. She is a mom. She is an angel. What a beautiful work of art.

Have a wonderful Friday. Thank God it's Vintage Friday. (TGIVF)

Virginie Demont-Breton (French, 1859 - 1935), "The fisherman's wife after bathing her children" (1881), oil painting on canvas (203.2 x 126.4 cm.)

Annie the Movie | Vintage Cinema and a Blast to My Past

 My first movie - in a theater - was at six years old. It was 1982. The movie was Annie, the musical.

And it was the most amazing thing I’d ever seen. 

The first movie in a theater is always a big deal. But that it was a musical really made it the pinnacle of my new cinematic experience. How do you top a musical? Cinema, music, and dance all rolled into one.

I'm sure I was overwhelmed. And I think I was. Because every time I think of Annie, I smile and a huge rush of good feelings wash over me.

I had the glass cup from a fast food restaurant, the Halloween costume, the soundtrack on cassette - that my sisters and I listened to a thousand times -  and other bits of commercial promotional things growing up. It became a part of my life.

My niece played Annie in a local theater production last week. She did so well and was the perfect lead. So proud of her!

The perfect Annie

It got me thinking about the movie, Annie.  I hadn’t seen it in over 35 years. So? I watched it a couple days ago.

Did that take me back! I love the musical score, and the ‘20s costumes (with a huge ‘80s hint that was so prevalent in ‘80s movies - think Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark - set in the ‘40s but geez, the ‘80s influence is so apparent!)

I felt like I was six years old all over again in a dark theater, trying to navigate the folding seats and sticky flooring. Some things never change. I'm still trying to navigate those things.

It’s a great story though with a positive storyline too: anything is possible and anyone can be redeemed from Annie to Daddy Warbucks.

And even Mrs. Hannigan. Because the sun will come out tomorrow.

Liberty Pattern │ What is a Liberty Pattern?

One of the best things about selling vintage is the continual education I receive with each piece I purchase. Because research is required (sometimes a little, sometimes a lot) on each item (from pricing to label history), I find new information about random stuff daily. 

Sometimes it's a new company or brand, sometimes it's a style or cut of clothing.

Yesterday, it was the "liberty" pattern. I was looking at an Etsy shop owner's current listed items and she kept referring to an all-over floral pattern as a liberty print.

So I looked it up. And sure enough, a liberty print's "pattern profile incorporates botanical, animalistic, Paisley, ikat, conversational, and a range of other motifs, while the floral one still prevails. Liberty fabrics can be vibrant or pastel, mysterious or playful, infused with motifs addressing Western or Eastern culture, but never solid and boring."

The liberty print was in fact created by a textile corporation in London back in the late 1800s of silk and moving onto cotton printed textiles, particularly of floral patterns, which is what gave the company its claim to fame.

So, now you know. Liberty pattern is an all-over floral pattern. Very busy and beautiful. 

For those who know fabrics, this is forgone knowledge. I'm late to the party on this one. But, now that I know,  that's one more descriptive bit of text I can add to my listings.

Cheers to knowledge!

-Heather

Thrift Haul | May 21, 2024

 Today’s little thrift haul was small and sweet.  

• Vintage ‘80s Boy Scout Trousers - My husband rolls his eyes at these because he had to wear them as a child. Hey, people love the color. I can’t blame them. It’s my favorite color, too!
• Vintage Brighton Belt from 1993 - Belts are the best. Brighton has such good quality that I can’t pass them up. 
• Vintage Frankoma Mug - So, I might be keeping this. (Shocker!) Collectible and then a knockout of a mug, I just love it. Sturdy, pottery, perfect.
• Vintage Kensington Shirt with not-so-hidden Mickeys! - I’ve talked about these shirts in a previous post. I love these men’s Kennington crazy shirts. And Mickey, well, come on. How awesome to have little Mickey scattered throughout.

All are headed to the shop later this week. Thanks for loving vintage like I do. It’s the best.

-Heather 

I am not Amazon │ 10 Pieces of Advice for Etsy Business Owners

Where the magic happens: listing and shipping.

Want to know what it's like to own a small business on Etsy? Here's a little look into what to expect.

I could write scads about customer service and how difficult it is to have good customer service in any small business. It's not difficult because it's too hard for the owner. It's difficult because there is only one of them with a thousand different jobs to do.

If you want to own a small business or have a small business (for me, I am the sole employee), I sympathize and empathize. It's tough out there. Especially when everyone feels like an entitled critic and proves this role by leaving one-star reviews.

It's madness, actually. And there's no nice way to put it, but... people are rude. And yet, that has been going on for thousands of years. So, that's neither here nor there and not something to dwell on.

But, here is something to think about: A few “rules” I would love every customer to read before purchasing from me as a shop owner on Etsy selling vintage goods. Just so they know what I’m dealing with.

More specifically, these rules are for anyone looking to own a business, particularly one on eBay or Etsy, who has a small business, or who thinks owning a business is easy (and we should bend backward for everyone, all the time, no matter what).

There’s a lot involved.

• You are not Amazon - This is the first one because it's the obvious miry pit we business owners have found ourselves in. Everyone expects Amazon results. Amazon has a bazillion employees. They send merchandise out fast. I am not that. I’m the opposite of Amazon. I am the shopper, photographer, packer, shipper, and everything. I am slower than Amazon. I can't guarantee money back like Amazon. If Amazon were one person, there would be delays, mistakes, and room to grow. Give us small businesses a break, people! We are real people behind the merchandise.

• The owner does it all - I'm serious. You name it, you do it. You will wear many hats and you will get tired, but you will simultaneously be so fulfilled selling things you love on Etsy, that it makes up for anything negative.

• The owner is fallible - You will make mistakes. You are human. You will ship the wrong item to the wrong person. Not sure how this happens, but it does. I've done it several times. Triple-check your actions, and still know, that you will make mistakes anyway. As a human being, this is your rite. If folks treat you like you should be superhuman, and they will, that's their problem, not yours. Last I checked, the buyer was as human as the seller.

• The owner is doing the best they can - You are. If you love your work, love what you sell, or create, you will want to do the best you can. You want positive feedback, not negative reviews. Sometimes, we get negative reviews anyway,  but that is a constant, like death and taxes. You will do your darndest and still get a bad review. Demoralizing, yes. But, don't dwell on it. Learn (that you can't please everyone) and move on. Keep moving forward.

• Remind the buyer to read the listing - If there's one thing I wish people did more it's this: READ THE DANG LISTING. It seems odd to remind them to do something they should know to do. Questions are answered, and curiosities are quelled, if you just read the listing. Also, know your own measurements (if you sell vintage clothing.) If you know your measurements and they fit within the listing you've JUST READ, then you'll fit it. If you don't have the measurements that are listed, you won't fit it. Trust me. It's how it works. Seems almost... prosaically simple. You'd be surprised how many people don't read the listing and think the item will fit them regardless. (moronic behavior, but again, ... I digress).

• Be Gracious - This is where you don't use the term "moron" to your customers, and instead, smile and say kind words to them explaining what they did, and how to rectify the situation. You don't need to refund them or correct their mistake. That's their issue. But, you can still be gracious. It goes a long way.

• Be prepared for 24/7 - When it's your company, you will be thinking about it constantly. We're talking, 24/7 constantly. Especially in the beginning. Although, I will say, that after nearly 14 years, I'm still thinking about my shop - and how to improve it, and make more sales- all the time. I suppose it never goes away. You've been warned.

• You will not be a gazillionaire - I sell vintage clothing because I love it, not because I want to make tons of cash. Money is a necessity to live, but I don't do this job because I plan on raking in the dough. Do what you love, and the money will come anyway. Focus on your art or your vintage, and everything will fall into place. Including income.

• You make zero dollars in shipping - Just a reminder, folks. Shipping an item costs money. I don't make money on shipping. Ever. In fact, Etsy takes a commission off the shipping. So, in essence, if I'm not paying attention, I will lose money on shipping. If an item has free shipping, it's because the shop owner has put that cost into the cost of the item. It's rearranging - a shuffling of the numbers- if you will. Customers, please don't complain about the shipping. We don't set the costs. The shipping companies do. Be prepared, shop owners, for people to haggle on shipping sometimes.

• You do this because you love it - At the end of the day, this is the only reason I keep my shop open. There are a ton of hassles to deal with when you own your own business and I didn't even cover quarterly taxes, business licensing, etc. My vintage shop is here, and I continue on with it, because I love selling vintage, I love sourcing vintage, and I just love everything about the vintage world.

This was a long-winded, but it's something I've needed to get onto the proverbial paper for over a decade. 

I am not Amazon. But, I sure want you (the customer) to have a wonderful shopping experience every time you purchase something from me.

If you're gracious to me, I'm more than over the moon thankful for it. And I'm always thankful for every single sale. It means the world to me. Getting to do what I love every day is a dream come true.

-Heather

Vintage Mug Monday | Vintage ‘70s Floral Japan Skinny Tall Mug

You guys, I love the shape of this mug.

I picked this up last week and chatted a little about it in a previous post. It’s a more unusual shape: skinny and tall. 

And I adore it. Fun to drink from. I swear my coffee tastes better because of it.

Have a wonderful week. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot!

Disneyland Details │ Nine Simple Details of The Disneyland Park

After going to Disneyland last week, a specific point is confirmed for me: just like in writing, it's the details that make the magic.

The rides of course are the main attraction. But the details are all chosen for a reason. Even the flowers. It all tells a story; it’s all intentional. 

This place is the “happiest place on earth” not just because of the Indiana Jones Ride, or the Matterhorn ride, but because the details in the queue up to the ride are perfect. The colors of paint, the music, or sound effects piped in on hidden speakers; it's the signage, the props, the way they can create real-looking rock from cement.

Their details use all five senses and maybe, even, the sixth sense. This is exactly what a great writer should do as well. 

Anything is possible if you believe. Walt Disney believed in this concept, created what he wanted to see, and watched his creations come alive for the happiness of all those who visit the parks today.

Here are just a few details I noted on this last trip. There's about, oh, a million more details photos I could've taken, but I chose these nine. Much of the park still feels vintage while many areas are brand new and feel new. 

Some areas of the park make me feel exactly like I did when I was there as a child in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It’s a nice blend of both. 

Until next time, my vintage friends...

Commemorative Fountain at the Pirates of the Caribbean ride.

Details of a table in Fantasyland.

A lampost in California Adventure.

This is what the cups look like at the park right now...

Rest area at the Guardians of the Galaxy ride.

Dusk at California Adventure Park.

Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse Study... perfect room.

Star Wars Land at Disneyland.

Silver Ragwort spotted in line at The Matterhorn ride.

Fanciful Foxglove | My Vintage Garden

My foxglove is flowering and gorgeous. It’s a perennial but can act as a biennial. So, I never know where it’ll pop up - and flower - in my garden. 

The squirrels and birds move the seeds around. It may be in one part of my garden one year, but show up in a new spot the next year (with no flowers in the old spot.)

Then pop back up in its old place after that! It’s always a surprise. 

Hope you have a lovely weekend.

TGIVF │ Vintage Victorian Photo

When I went to Disneyland last week, the ride The Haunted Mansion was closed for renovations. The Haunted Mansion is a fun and spooky ride, and I missed all the music and merriment of "99 Happy Haunts."

But, I came across this beautiful Victorian photo via Facebook on the page "Historical Pictures." I love their page for all of the true vintage photos they post.

A recent picture they posted is of a woman in Victorian-era clothing. Hauntingly beautiful, and a perfect stand-in for missing a haunted house ride, this photo would be a lovely addition to any haunted house. She is a beauty.

Happy Friday and thank God it's vintage Friday (TGIVF). 

Mini Thrift Haul | Vintage Mug Alert

My two thrifting days are Tuesday and Thursday. 

Today’s little haul was nice; more of the usual things I love to sell like denim, belts, and bandanas.

But the mug… I had to get it - another one for my collection. Love her shape.

-Heather