Vintage Mugs │ How to Curate a Vintage Mug Collection

A small shot of my collection

Do you like mugs like I do? 

If you're like most Americans, we all love our mugs. We love our morning cup of joe (or tea), and there's truth in the meme we've seen floating around, "I can't explain this with science, but the cup you drink your coffee out of matters."

It does matter. Coffee tastes better out of mugs from which we love to drink.

So, how many mugs do you have?

I've read much about people and their mugs and there's a variety of answers to what is deemed as "a lot." Some say 73, others say 10. It's subjective. 

At one point, in my vintage collection, I had upwards of 60 mugs. Yep. And these were the vintage ones. 

Never mind all the other mugs that we had in our cupboards: the ones my husband drinks from, the ones my sons drink from, the ones given to us as a wedding gift, the ones from Disneyland. 

We probably had over 100 mugs.

But guess what? I didn't (and still don't) care. I love vintage mugs and I use them every day and no one is going to make me feel bad about it.

I happen to be a minimalist, so having a lot of one thing isn't my jam anymore. But, I have only a couple of collections (Vintage Pyrex is the other), so I feel like I can responsibly collect the mugs I use. 

And if you're wondering, they're not just sitting around; I rotate through them so no one feels left out.

A few months ago, I got rid of half my collection (I sold them via my online vintage Etsy shop), but I still pick up ones I love and have a goodly 15-20 in my cupboard that I use on the regular. And yes, I add to this collection regularly, but usually only if a vacancy opens up (.,e. I broke one)

If you love vintage mugs like I do, here's how I curated my collection and how you can too.

Have Patience: I've posted some TikToks about my vintage mugs and most people think "I'm so lucky" or that "I'm taking all the good mugs," (yes, someone said that) but here's the rub: I've been collecting these mugs for over ten years.

Ten years, people.

I didn't just instantly have a collection of beautiful mugs. It took time and patience and the willingness to thrift, garage sale, and estate sale, and thrift some more to get them. I find them because I'm out there looking to find them. 

You too, can do this, but it will require patience. On average, I find maybe one or two a month (they're getting rare - many vintage mugs break every day all over America, so the vintage supply shrinks every time a mug bites the dust), and some I find but choose to sell. My point? Have a plethora of patience. It'll do your mind wonders. The mugs are out there. 

Know What You Like: There's a variety of vintage mugs out there. From Garfield mugs to steins, to Fiesta Ware mugs (very rare), to the mugs from the '60s through the '80s that I happen to collect. They are often speckled and have brown-rimmed tops and handles.

They're also slightly smaller than modern mugs often eight ounces or less. Modern mugs are larger, but it also means the drink gets colder sooner. Vintage mugs have lots going for them!

I especially adore vintage Otagiri mugs. The designs, the three-dimensional look, and mostly, the quality of these mugs are outstanding. And not something that has (shockingly) been reproduced today. (Not yet, anyway).

These are the mugs that get my heart racing. I  love them to pieces. It's why I collect them (and why I sell them too. I know what I like and keep so that I don't buy every cute mug I come across).

Theme the Hues: I love many vintage mugs, but I found that when I coordinated the colors - for me, it's the muted blues, ivories, light browns, and olive greens I prefer - it not only helped me pare down from buying all the gorgeous vintage mugs I came across, but it made my collection look perfect.

I've had people tell me it's the best collection they've ever seen. (TikTokers can get really complimentary.) And they wonder how they too can get a nice collection like mine. 

I'm telling you, coordinate the colors. Each one is unique but it looks like they could've come from a pottery maker set.

I didn't set out to collect vintage mugs. I remember it was a very slow (and extremely cheap) temptation. When something costs $1, it's easy to let that dollar go and take a chance on a mug I might like.

I found I not only loved and used the mugs, but they gave me such satisfaction looking at and holding them, that I needed to add a few more. 

And a few more.

Using vintage mugs not only makes them utilitarian, but they are sustainable. (Reusing and recycling beautiful things is a nice bonus.) So, get out there and find your mugs... the kind that speaks to you, makes you want to collect them and also makes your mug shelf look like it's straight out of a curated collection. 

Your desire to truly appreciate what's in your cupboards also helps to further the slow living movement. When you're intentional about what you have, love, use, and share, it changes everything around you.

Happy hunting.

Vintage Mugs │ Perennial Vintage Supply

I've been collecting vintage mugs for over 15 years.

It started out as a cheap addiction. I mean, when mugs go for fifty cents (and sometimes up to $2), you're truly collecting something that doesn't cost much and satisfies a craving for a good quality item.

Are you a coffee mug collector too? Maybe you collect them for other hot drinks like tea, or cocoa, or perhaps, the evening hot toddy?

Regardless, I understand the sentiment because I'm fully ensconced in the concept of collecting mugs.

Heck, I'm into curating a vintage mug collection. I wrote about it here because hello, it's not just an addiction but an obsession.

I love vintage '60s to '70s mugs, a lot in the Otagiri camp (again, future a post will be coming about that), and many others made in Japan, Taiwan, and elsewhere. 

I happen to like the smaller mugs. 

Mugs of today are almost all a minimum of 12-16 ounces. That's huge. By the time you finish your cup of coffee, the coffee is cold.

Vintage mugs take care of this issue. 8 ounces at a time. This is why vintage mugs get to be the Goldilocks of mugs: not too big, and not too small.

If you love vintage mugs like I do, they're few and far between. I thrift a lot and I still find them few and far between. 

However, that doesn't stop me from looking as often as I can.

After 15 years, my collection is coming along. It looks a little like this:

Anyway, happy mug hunting. Tell me your favorite mug! 

I have too many favorites to pick just one, but there is one from the '60s I adore. I'll have to do a post on that mug. It deserves it.

If you're looking for a good vintage mug, don't forget to check out my shop. I not only love mugs to collect but also sell. Remember, I sell what I love.

Best rule ever.

Well, okay, that rule gets me into trouble. I want to keep everything I love.

And yet, this blog is essentially everything I love (which is what I sell, too) so if you're ever wondering what I like, take a passing glance at this blog, and you'll know.

But common sense gets knocked into me after I hold and admire the thing I'm supposed to sell, and I get my head on straight, and look at my cupboards (overflowing and all) and know indeed: some things are to sell, not to keep.

I want others to have the good things too. I want others to appreciate vintage as I do.

And with vintage mugs, it's a cheap addiction almost anyone can afford to keep.

Vintage Mugs │ The Art of Curating a Vintage Mug Collection

Do I need another vintage mug?

Nope.

But will I go out of my way, run people over (sort of), and snatch up a vintage mug if I see it idly - or not so idly - lying by in a thrift store?

You betchya.

I've talked about my vintage mug collection before. It's a real treasure to me, and the more I thrift, and the more I look for them, the more I realize how rare they're becoming to find.

I have friends who are now wanting these for their home use. And I'll gladly look for ones that fit their curated collection as well.

But they are getting harder to find. Not just because they break or chip being used in kitchens all over America, but because I know there are plenty of people who are just like me and love these mugs.

So, they're in demand.

I also sell a ton of them. Over the last nearly 14 years, I've sold over 350 mugs. I'd say that's quite a few ... a few that I didn't keep for myself! I'm still selling them and have about 20 listed right now in the shop.

So, when I say that I love them, I really do. I am selling what I love... which is the best rule to keep to when sourcing items for your vintage shop.

But, I do have my small collection to tend to, so when I saw this set of three vintage mugs today at my local thrift, I had to have them.

Will I keep them all?

Perhaps. But more than likely, I'll sell one or two of them as I use them and realize I don't need nearly as many as I think. (Maybe.)

For now, I just added them to my vintage mug collection and I think it looks quite nice. 

Today started out great but ended up thrice great.

Do you like vintage mugs? I've had so many varying opinions from folks on TikTok (sometimes I'll post a "mugtok" on my Pyrex TikTok account. Some people love these mugs, and some think they're ugly.

My little collection

I think they're beautiful because they're all so unique. 

And as always, when things are unique, when others see the value in a vintage item, when more people like something than they don't, they become harder to find... which makes me want them all the more.

Have a great rest of your day. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot!

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Vintage Mug Monday │ A Small History of the Otagiri Mercantile Company

Otagiri mugs are among my favorite vintage mugs. They began production in the late '60s, ended in the early '90s, and now, there are hundreds of designs out there to choose from. But, I'm not the only one who thinks they're amazing. Many people collect them and there's a huge, almost cult-like, following behind them. 

While they are vastly popular, varying in designs from teddy bears to nautical scenes to flowers, for me, it's the quality that takes my breath away. They were designed to look like pottery pieces - as if they were created from clay and thrown into a kiln to cook. I've been collecting them for the better part of almost 15 years before it was a trendy thing.

Modern-day mugs look and feel nothing like their vintage counterparts, and it's not just because of materials - it's because Otagiri chose to create a quality product. Meaning, that their creations would outlast most of its competitors.

There isn't a whole lot of information about Otagiri, or the Otagiri Mercantile Company (OMC). They were a San Francisco company, importing from Japan where the products were made (which explains why I find it quite regularly here in the Sacramento Valley), and were in production for 46 years. Enesco bought them out in 1994, which is when the line essentially died out.

This beautiful Otagiri mug appeared to me last week. It is unused and still with its original Otagiri stickers (two of them!) While I can't date this specifically, I do know it was made before 1994, and per the design, probably no later than the late '80s as they seemed to transfer from an etched design to a painted-on or screen-painted design as the collection aged. (I prefer the etched.)

I've never seen this pattern or design before, even the color is unique. I'm thrilled to offer it in my shop.

I do have a mug collection. About 32 mugs (that you can see here.) I rotate through them all month, trying to use a different one every day. Sometimes, I'll find a new one I have to have, and add it into the mug party that is in my cupboard. 

Then I'll find one I own that I don't like as much as I thought I did, and take it out to sell in my Etsy shop (I've sold hundreds of mugs in my shop - 396 to be exact.) I cycle through them, but I almost always have about 32 mugs in my cupboard and no more than that (since I don't have room!) 

Though many of my mugs are unmarked, probably more than half of them are Otagiri. The quality and craftsmanship can't be beat. I also happen to love the size of them. Today's standard coffee cup is large - as in, 12 to 16 ounces large. 

Here's one of my favorites that I found for .50 cents a few years ago. 

Contrary to the very American and popular belief, larger isn't always better. And when it comes to drinking coffee before it gets cold, large mugs are virtually impossible to work with. These Otagiri vintage mugs are almost always eight ounces or smaller. There are a few larger styles, but even then, they were no larger than 12 ounces.

Otagiri mugs are fun, beautiful, and diverse. In most cases, they are an extremely inexpensive collection to acquire (I spend anywhere from 50 cents up to three dollars. It varies from thrift shop to estate sale.) This cost-effective collection is also utilitarian. I use mine every day.

You can't beat a collection you use! It's a win/win in my vintage book.

As a side note, I sell more mugs during the holiday season than at any other time during the year. They make such a great gift and are inexpensive. If you're looking for a unique gift, check out my site for a variety of fun mugs (a good chunk of them being Otagiri, of course.)

Happy Mug Monday. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot.

Vintage Mugs for the Vintage Lover

I live and love life with vintage mugs. One of my favorite morning rituals, aside from pouring and drinking the coffee, is to pick which vintage mug I'll be drinking from. I get many from my friends, which only adds to the charm of the collection.

While it's ridiculous to think I need more than a few mugs to choose from (I really don't), I still have a couple dozen in my own collection. And I love every one of them and use them, rotating through them every month.

And because I love them so much, and know I can't keep every one I come across, I sell what I love: so I sell, and have sold, a lot of vintage mugs over the years. Something like 500 of them. That's crazy to think about.

August through December is when I list them because vintage mugs make great gifts. What better way to find a niche mug that works for the person you're buying for? Love camping? Get a camper mug. Love Snoopy? Find a Snoopy mug that works for them. It's a fun way to love them for what they love. And who doesn't feel seen when you play into their interests?

I went to a fun rummage sale a month ago and found a good twenty mugs I could sell. Sure, I kept a couple, but most of them are in my shop now or will be over the next couple of months. I love it when this happens! Saves me time. And I love seeing what people have in their cupboards and decided to give up.

So, hop on over to the shop to see what I have listed! As I said, they make great gifts... especially for yourself. 

My vintage friends, may your day be blessed, your coffee hot (or iced, I suppose), and your mug vintage.♥

Why all the Vintage Blog Posts? │ Perennial Vintage Supply

Did you know I had a vintage blog like this one to go with my Etsy shop back in 2017?

I had it for several years, but I let my desire to write for it wax and wane. I wasn't happy with it. I tended to use it more for posting my vintage outfit of the day, and I was getting tired of that.

So, I started over and have created a blog that truly lines up with my Etsy shop. It means posts that coordinate with newly listed items, sales notifications, and most importantly, all things vintage.

Because it is a vintage blog, it covers my vintage life. It covers what I am treasure hunting out in the wild (thrifting and estate sales) and what I'm selling.

I called it Perennial Vintage Supply. My Etsy shop is called Perennial Vintage. The supply is exactly what it sounds like: me supplying you with knowledge and information about the vintage things in my world.

It's also a play on the "old timey" name of selling in a store. A supply store.

For the last few years when I wasn't blogging about my vintage life, all of these wonderful vintage things were happening around me so it's partly the reason why I'm not posting once a week or twice a week like a "regular" blogger. 

I have so much to post, that I'm pulling out all the stops and posting the backlog of things I've been wanting to write about for the last few years.

I feel like a faucet turning on after years of being shut off. It feels wonderful.

I wanted a place to post vintage pictures, vintage quotes, vintage items I didn't buy, vintage items I did buy, or vintage family photos. I wanted to have a place where I could post a random vintage outfit of the day, but really focus on the clothing; focus on my vintage life and how much vintage is a part of it.

Vintage has so infiltrated my everyday life that I forget how much it's a part of me. And I want to share all of it with fellow vintage lovers. You!

So, in summary, this means I will write posts that have to do with:

• vintage clothing listed on my Etsy site
• vintage quotes (I love literature and vintage so this is a win/win)
• vintage gardens 
• vintage labels
• vintage kitchenware (vintage mugs, as you know, are a part of this).
• vintage celebrities 
• vintage photos
• vintage holidays
• vintage EVERYTHING

I don't plan on posting five times a day in the future. Understand that my goal is to post once or twice a day (some days, there is more vintage goodness to post). But as I've said before, the faucet is on - and there is a whole world of vintage at my fingertips I want to share with you.

Also, the more I post, the more people will find my blog. Again, I'm here to promote my Etsy shop, but more importantly, it's a place to share knowledge and to post about the ordinary but extraordinary goodness behind all things vintage. That's what I love so much!

Vintage living and choosing a sustainable lifestyle, redolent with vintage clothing, is my favorite way to live. And I hope that, through my posts, you'll get a glimmer of why I love it so much.

Please, let me know if there is ever a topic you want me to cover. Feel free to comment on my posts at any time. I love feedback. I love knowing there are others out there like me. 

Thank you for walking with me on my vintage blogging journey. So glad you're here.

-Heather

Vintage Sweater + Vintage Jeans + Vintage Belt + Vintage Mug │Vintage Outfit of the Day

I wanted to show you my vintage outfit of the day. 

A long time ago, I used to post my vintage outfits regularly on my old Instagram account. I posted many "outfits of the day" and it was a unique time. I made many good friends and back then, like from 2014-2016, Instagram was a community of like-minded folks. 

It wasn't all about advertising, or reels (that didn't exist then), or one-upping your competition. It was all about beautiful photos, simple living, and a chance to connect with people who shared the same interests.

Instagram is a different animal now.

While I don't miss posting all the time, I do miss telling others what I threw together for the day. 

Now, my closet is about half vintage. The other half is filled with more modern pieces.

When you wear and sell vintage like I do, it happens. In truth, I love vintage more than modern clothing. They're better made and better looking and I'm into slow fashion.

I'm also a minimalist. So every piece I have in my closet counts. And here's the best part: I wear every single piece and I adore every piece in my closet. (If you're interested in more about minimalism, check out my blog on that).

Many people wonder how to wear vintage. They think it has to be this over-the-top, bold look when it's sometimes all about the normal things. In fact, most days, it's about the average stuff we wear.

Of course, a great vintage dress is necessary on some days. And those days will be documented.

But, I've written many articles about how to wear vintage (I even wrote an ebook about it and you can get that in my Etsy shop) and it's quite easy. Find what you love, find more of it, and wear it.

I love vintage sweaters, vintage denim, vintage belts, and vintage mugs (these are my top-selling items in my shop and my favorite items to wear- go figure!) so today's outfit makes me happy.

Today's look is:

• A green wool vintage sweater. Originally men's, but just as great for ladies as an oversized, comfy sweater, made by Pebble Beach of Califonia, circa 1960s. 
• A vintage burgundy belt that I sometimes throw on with the "woolie" of the day.
• A pair of vintage denim jeans. These are from the 1950s-1960s. They fit like a dream.
• And the mug, well, I just happened to pick this mug for today and then realized I matched it later on. Naturally, it needed to make the picture.
• Shoes are Chucks (Okay, these are modern... but they have a vintage appeal!)

Wearing vintage is easy. Every single thing I'm wearing today is vintage. Once you start adding pieces you like to your wardrobe, you begin to get a taste of what you like, what you want, and the vintage lifestyle your closet is asking for.

If you're looking to add vintage to your wardrobe, start with one item, and start small. Like a vintage mug. Then a vintage belt... and go from there.

Cheers.

The Papel Mug Company

Just recently, I picked up a vintage mug for my shop and looked at the bottom of it. It was made by Papel. Papel is a company I've seen for decades. I've owned Papel mugs for years, and I remember seeing it growing up. I just figured Papel was another gift-making company, like Hallmark, that had been around since the '80s.

Well, I finally did a deeper dive into the brand, and what came up totally shocked me: Papel began at Walt Disney's Disneyland in 1955. What? How did I not know this? Papel's mug invasion all started and thrived because Walt took a chance at letting the owner and creator, Phil Papel, set up a small shop on Main Street, USA, of Disneyland. He called his shop "Ruggles China and Gifts." This wonderful storefront was there from 1955 to 1964. 

The rest is history.

I'm such a Disneyland fan, have gone dozens of times, love the joy Walt Disney created, and am in awe of his visionary and creative endeavors. I also love vintage mugs, have a slight obsession with collecting and selling mugs, so this combination of two loves into one is sort of over-the-top incredible. I'm having a hard time believing two cherished things - Disney and vintage mugs - get to be celebrated together!

I've had issues tracking down, tracing, and researching other brands of vintage items I sell in my shop. It's as if some designers disappear after having a wonderful career. And if no one is recording the history of the brand, it disappears with them. Which is a horrible shame. Papel, on the other hand, actually has a history (thankfully, his son is making sure the name continues in the history books!) and there's even a website, through his son Stanley, which is remarkable.

Stanley is still making sure his father's legacy is written down, recorded, and known. He's on LinkedIn with lots of information regarding a book or two he's written about his father. The current one is called "Generation to Generation," and you can find it here. I look forward to reading it. 

There is another page of information I found about Papel through Phil's granddaughter, Melissa (Stanley's daughter), and it is loaded with images of designs. They were the FIRST company to do personalized name mugs. Amazing.

300 million mugs sold later, even though the mug production is no longer, the history, love, and incredible tenacity of a man named Phil Papel created a corporation that put smiles on millions of American homes over the years. 

What a legacy. Thank you, Phil Papel, for your ingenuity and vision for filling a void in the coffee mug industry. And thank you, Stanley, for continuing that legacy. 

If you're anything like me, you have had - or still have - a Papel mug (or more) in your cupboards. And guess what? You have Phil Papel to thank for that.

Cheers. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot.

-Heather

Picture sourced by Stuff from the Park

The fun Papel mug that got me interested in Papel, in the shop!

Love this.

Vintage Mugs │ You and Me Vintage Mugs

This lovely duo is in the shop.

I've sold two other sets just like it over the years.

I love them. So sweet.

Happy Vintage Mug Monday!

May your mug be vintage and you coffee hot...

 

Vintage Mug Monday

I suppose I should call this "vintage mug Monday" thing more of a "confessional Monday."

Because half of the vintage mug Mondays I've been writing about this year on the blog are mugs I could've sold but decided to add to my collection. 

This one? I was supposed to set it aside for my friend who loves them as much as I do. But (to my credit) I found a set of two vintage mugs that go together that she'll like which both she and her husband can use instead

Or, that’s what I’m telling myself.

So yes, I confess. I'm keeping this beautiful mug and adding it to my collection. As the saying goes, "Sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission." 

I actually despise that saying because it doesn't work for most situations.

But, knowing exactly how my husband will roll his eyes at my newest mug addition, well... let's just say I'm sorry (forgive me) and be done with it.

Happy vintage mug Monday, my vintage friends.

May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot. ♥

She's a beauty.

Is Etsy Better than Ebay? Four Reasons Why Etsy Might Be the Better Choice for Buyers and Sellers

If you haven’t heard of Etsy, then perhaps it’s time you have. 

Etsy is a site that sells handmade and vintage items. That’s it. It’s the boutique version of eBay. And after selling on both venues, I’m going to get specific about why Etsy is so great.

I’m also going to get a little opinionated because I can and because I have years of experience in both venues to corroborate my findings.

 

I’ve sold sporadically (from one to five vintage items a year) on eBay since 1999. I’ve been selling consistently (from one to five vintage items a day) on Etsy since 2010.

The good thing about eBay: You can sell everything under the sun. The bad thing about eBay: You can sell everything under the sun. 

The good thing about Etsy: You can sell only within two categories. The bad thing about Etsy: You can sell only within two categories.

Okay, so which one is best for you?

It depends on what you want. Let’s be real here - it’s awesome that you can sell whatever you feel like on eBay. But, as a consequence, that means there’s a great deal of competition and sometimes, a great deal of “nothing special.” When I can find a Target t-shirt on eBay that was just in the retail store last week, then whoop-de-do. Everyone has that shirt. It’s normal stuff; it’s everyday modern fast fashion.

EBay is like the Amazon of the used items world. 

I’m not bashing eBay as much as I’m pointing out they’re like a big box store while Etsy is a boutique.

On the flip side of the online-selling world, Etsy is a boutique-style venue that only allows you to sell vintage or handmade items. That’s it. Because of that, it’s very niche-y, and you can find specific vintage items and specific handmade items.

It’s like a giant artist colony all in one place - a place that exists right in front of you. This means you don’t have to pack your van and travel the country. You get special, unique, and often, one-of-a-kind items.

Can you find that on eBay regularly? More importantly, do you even want to?

With the click of a mouse, you can find that macrame plant holder hanger (vintage or new), candles (vintage or new), or furniture (vintage or new) all over Etsy. It’s like a giant flea market without the trash floating around the venue spaces and parking lot. 

As slow fashion goes, the quality of vintage is superior to fast fashion. The same goes with the artists who create handmade products - you know they're quality, because let’s face it, the people on Etsy aren’t on it just to make a quick buck.

And that’s the biggest key here.

Sure, Etsy folks want to make a little money, like a living perhaps; like to pay their mortgage even. But on the whole, if you think of Etsy sellers as artists, it changes the way you shop. Slow living and slow fashion embrace intentionality, authenticity, and true quality. 

Etsy is, essentially, all of that.

Here’s why, after selling vintage on Etsy for over thirteen years, I think Etsy is better than eBay particularly for those of us to sell vintage or handmade items.

Etsy is sweet. I know what you’re thinking. Sweet? Yes. Sweet. Etsy is like the toned-down version of Jack Sparrow: cute, doesn’t need makeup to look attractive, and with hair something to aspire to. Etsy doesn’t need to do anything to be the best market for your art or vintage because they’re amazing just as they are.

They’ve grown and changed over the years, and some sellers are always going to balk at the changes - like listing fees, and commissions, for example, being more than they’re used to. (Folks, they take half of what eBay takes, okay? Take your complaints elsewhere.) 

Some people will complain that things aren’t what they used to be. Used to be … before what? Before Etsy, there was only eBay. Things change! Etsy gave eBay a run for their money and has succeeded. Etsy is sweet because they have nothing to prove. They’re like the older, prettier neighbor of eBay - the one you want to date, and not have to date, because your mom’s best friend set you up with them.

Etsy is a niche marketplace. As I’ve mentioned before, Etsy only sells vintage or handmade. It's a niche market extravaganza that very few people can successfully pull off. Can you imagine Amazon only selling books and clothing? It wouldn’t be the giant it is today. But Etsy has managed to only have these general two categories and the whole world knows who they are. They are known because of these two categories and are a huge success. 

Etsy is a force to be reckoned with. Did Etsy have to make recent layoffs? Sure. What corporation doesn’t have to alter its production and personnel year after year? Things change, people change, the economy changes. But Etsy is still an incredible venue for artists and vintage lovers, who like to buy or sell, all over the world. Etsy is a viable corporation, in my opinion, and that they are a niche marketplace makes it even more impressive. 

Etsy is self-control. Have you ever heard of a company that succeeded and then proceeded to open more and more locations too fast and then (because of not monitoring their growth) self-destruct? Yeah, me too. This happens to companies over and over again. Etsy didn’t do this. They took their time to grow slowly, they hired slowly, they raised fees slowly, and it allowed them to learn and grow from mistakes or potential mistakes. And there they were smiling and waiting with open arms when folks left eBay.

Etsy is the epitome of self-control. Etsy waited ten years - ten years! - to grow their small, sweet, niche company before going public. To me, that says everything I need to know about why I sell with Etsy. 

Since Etsy’s beginnings in early 2005, it’s come a long way. There is a lot of competition (like eBay) but the competition seems different. It seems a little bit nicer. It’s a Target versus Walmart competition. I’m not saying that people who sell electronics on eBay are a Walmart variety. They’re not. I get it. If electronics are your thing, then great!

But, they’re not mixed in with the handmade pottery mugs. They’re not sitting next to the incredible jewelers and artists whose paintings, sculptures, and jewelry could be in a museum. It's competition against peers - peers you actually want to be around.

It’s like Etsy found a way to showcase the artists of the world, and they don’t feel like they have to place these artists right next door to a 1983 diesel 300D Mercedes.

Nothing wrong with selling cars on eBay. Nothing wrong with a 300D Mercedes, either. But, if I’m looking for the right diesel Mercedes, why would I want to go to a place that sells millions of other items that have nothing to do with diesel Mercedes?

Etsy may not be for everyone. Some folks may like the chaos of an everything-under-the-sun format from which to buy and sell. For me, my heart rate increases, and my blood pressure spikes when I try to sell on eBay. It's all too much, too big, too crazy.

At Etsy, it’s like a breath of fresh uncrowded air. It’s a way to feel like an artist, a way to feel like what I sell matters, and the bonus is that I’m surrounded by others who feel just like I do.

Interested in selling on Etsy? Check out their handbook and see a little about what they do, how they do it, and why you may want to give Etsy a try. Interested in shopping for truly unique items? Head on over to Etsy. You won’t be disappointed.

Saturday is for Thrifting Vintage│ Weekend Thrifted Finds

I don't always get to thrift on Saturdays There's usually quite a bit to do around the house, events to go to, or something involving my sons and extracurricular events.

But I hopped into my local thrift store, the one that's a mere mile away from my home and on the way to just about any errand I run, and found a few more goodies. I'm a huge fan of getting into thrift stores as often as you can for even a mere five minutes. It's consistency that brings in the findings. Like this dress.

This 1950s / 1960s house dress is one of them. The pattern is so fun, as is the rhinestone piece.

I sell a great deal of vintage belts because I love belts, and think they're undervalued as far as accessories go. I always look for good quality leather, and Ralph Lauren belts usually fit the bill.

Also got this sweet vintage Christmas mug for .99. I'm going to hold onto it for a little while... add it to my collection and maybe sell it if I don't love it. But, let's be honest - I'm such a sucker for vintage mugs. This one is a cutie. It may be in my cupboard for a while.

The dress and belt will be added to the shop next week. Stay tuned.

Have a great weekend. 

-Heather

Vintage Mug Monday │ March 11, 2024

 

Good morning.

The daylight savings time change never works for me, whether it's "springing forward" or "falling back." The adjustment hijacks my sleep and takes me weeks to get back to "normal."

I think many people feel this way. How wonderful it would be to banish this time-change nonsense. Hawaii and Arizona figured it out, didn't they?

Nevertheless, it is what it is. And this fine Monday morning means it's time for vintage mug Monday.

I picked up this sweet vintage mug last week. With neutral colors, and a floral design, it fits right in with the rest of my mugs.

May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot, my friends.

Happy Monday.

Vintage Mug Monday │ Vintage Otagiri Golf Mugs

So... I thrifted this lady golfer mug for myself a week or two ago. It's by Otagiri. I love it and I added it to my vintage mug collection. 

Then I thought: Surely there's a guy golfer mug out there? Surely they made one of those too.

I hopped onto eBay and found it. I bought it for my husband (the real golfer in this family) and gave it to him as a stocking stuffer.

This morning, we used our special mugs. I had to snap a picture. We've never been more coordinated... as far as our morning coffee mugs go. I suppose this is all part of the aging process. We're starting to match each other all the time, especially in our clothing choices. Granted, this is unintentional matching.  

But, before I know it, I'll be going out of my way to match him. Even on our next vacation. We'll have matching hats and sweatshirts or something. 

I hope you have a spectacular New Year's Eve evening ringing in the new year. Or, as it would be for me, the most unspectacular. I plan to watch the ball drop at 9:00, find a good book, read, and go to bed at a reasonable hour. 

I've never been much of a New Year's party gal. And my husband works this year on the eve, so, this sounds like a perfectly good evening.

Happy New Year!

Vintage Mug Monday │ Vintage Owl Mug

I have a beautiful little screech owl living outside my bedroom window.  He looks just like this family of owls on one of my own favorite vintage mugs.

Small, quiet, sweet, and the best guard western screech owl anyone could ever want. Owlie (my clever name for him) deserves to have a children's book written about him one day. So, I'm adding that to one of my writing goals. 

Have a wonderful week and a blessed Monday, my vintage friends. 

May your coffee be hot and your mug vintage...

Thrifting an Aesthetically Pleasing Look On Accident │ Perennial Vintage

After thrifting professionally for almost 14 years, I've learned what I love to sell and what I love to wear. 

Both are mutually exclusive. Because I sell 100% of what I love.

And I love to own and wear anything I would sell.

So, often I will keep what I want to sell and later on sell what I thought I wanted to keep.

It's a job hazard for certain. But one that I'm willing to sacrifice for. Ha.

Many times, and I'm talking each week I do this, I bring home a stash of vintage clothing that I plan to sell and plop it down on my bed to sort through.

Often the whole set of clothing all goes together. It's remarkable. But then, as I look through the findings, I realize, "Of course this happens. I have a basic idea of what I love and all of those colors go together."

Today, I had to run a few errands and had a chance to stop by two thrift stores. I picked up a few things as I breezed through the stores and later on, when I began to check out my finds in more detail, I found that they all went together like a perfectly curated outfit.

It's missing a sweater (that's because I've already found those earlier this week), but on the whole, isn't this a fantastic look? It feels so relaxed with a Ralph Lauren vibe to it.

I collect belts, so this belt would stay in my closet if I didn't already have one just like it! I collect mugs, I collect bandanas, and olive green is my favorite color. This thrift haul has my name on it.

Here's what's in this set of vintage thrifted finds: vintage Boy Scout trousers, a gorgeous (with deep patina) Mexico-made belt, a Taiwan-made vintage mug, and a vintage 70s to 80s blue bandana.

I would wear this. All of it. And to some extent, as I said, my wardrobe already consists of all of this.

These will start showing up in my listings this week and next, so keep an eye out!

I love to shop for things that I love (and sometimes keep) and it's why everything - I mean everything - in my shop are things I adore.

Have a wonderful day, my vintage friends, keep thrifting, and tell me about some of your favorite thrifted finds below. 

I'd love to hear about it.

-Heather