Half A Table

I don't remember when I found this three-legged table but it was not so long after I moved the chest of drawers from my hallway to my kitchen to support my electric oven and cooking device. And it stayed there until I sold it this morning. Most likely designed as a hallway table anyway. It was waiting for me across the street and it served me well as a place to keep mail to be looked at later or to use as a counter for sold books or other smaller items for pick-up. I would have liked to keep it. Don't you love those turning drawers? But downsizing is a bigger priority now and I have another chest of drawers to put there that will serve the same function. On top that holds my shipping materials for books. Will show later when it's in place and out of my living room. For now a huge box is there waiting for trash night. Would love to bring it to paper collection but it's too much. Sorry Nature...

The customer also wanted this basket. Dragged home years ago as well, walking with it on the back of my bike. I wanted to use it at the thrift shop as a display for my unsold leftover handmade earwarmers that I donated. But bringing it home was so clumsy that I decided to not want the same hassle to get it to the shop. Sat in my storage for years until listed early this year.

It was a bit difficult to set a pick-up date with the bidder and it took two weeks but the wait was worth it. The friendliest happy young couple showed up, apologized more than once for the delay and left with a big smile. Apart from the €20 added to my account, that's what I do it for too.

Big Red Vase

This pretty huge thing was a find of my friend who brought it to me after we stopped the markets. Years ago. I forgot when. All his time it was sitting in an even huger protective box in my kitchen, that I kind of used as an extra table surface. I just didn't get around photographing and listing it. Now that I'm back into the flow of that it was one of the things to attack recently. Listed less than three weeks ago it was picked up yesterday. I only got €10, half of my minimum, but I gladly let it go. Happy with the regained space. It was of most likely Chinese make having traces of glass chipping at the bottom so not to worry about greater value.

Clearing Out

Three things listed less than two weeks ago out tomorrow!

Today, I had to pack these two bulky items in a box of limited size, partly because of shipping costs but also transportability for me. Actually I started late last night and I remained sleepless until I managed to get it done basically. Finally with not perfect, but good enough result I felt it was ok to send out payment request to buyer in th morning who paid tonight. 

I only have to finish it off now with some extra duct tape, as box doesn't completely close. I don't know if the anti-allergy quality was why it was ordered. But this is one of the duvets I wrote about here. 

And with 85 % feathers it's thicker than the other one. You'll see the difference with photo lower down.

But to finish this sale story, I sold that same basket, made of banana leaves in 2016 but it's somehow not in my admin, also never showed here before. This one brand new with tag 'Jinx' still on. There is record of one the same brand but in a square model.

    

I listed the 50% down German blanket earlier and had an offer from a local quickly. Only due to snow and icy roads pick up was delayed. We now have an appointment for tomorrow. From the contact we had I'm confident this person will show up.

To sum up: basket €5, one duvet €35, other duvet €40, €80 in two days. I'm a happy bunny. Plus place in my storage where things currently clogging my living space will move into asap.

But what are your thoughts on goose down duvets? I heard they take it from live animals who suffer terrible pain. I don't want them anymore. Currently I have a wool filled one, also from across the street and I like it.

Cradle To Cradle

I had a copy of the book, Dutch translation, listed since somewhere 2024 at only €1,75, following market prices as the number offered is large and demand seems to be low these days. As it was some kind of hype at the time and everybody had to have it. And the writers have been over here for lectures, bringing copies maybe as well. Now I wonder what has become of the revolutionary ideas of Braungart/MacDonough. Are there still followers? I didn't read the book but I recycle and reuse my own way. A couple of days ago it was ordered by a local who wanted to come pick it up at the door even though he had to come from across town. Save shipping and wrapping in accordance to the message of the book he said. I agree!

Due to the snow our appointment was delayed till this afternoon. Young handsome guy threw €3 in my hands remarking 'it's peanuts!'. Naturally with shipping costs it would be almost €4 extra so he had a great deal. It happens more often that people don't ask for little change. But I never count on it (and people also pay on line at the door) and this was the biggest 'tip' so far.

Winter In Amsterdam

For once in a long time we already have over two days of snow and it's sticking. Makes lovely pictures and happy children, but at my age I struggle walking with groceries and then on top I had to go to the thrift shop for my shift today. My bike stays where it is until I feel safe to ride it again. Do you spot it? Bottom middle half behind a bush, seat and bag covered in snow.

I planned to list another down duvet today but I felt too wasted. Luckily book sales were good. Two orders today! 

To wrap the books of course I don't buy flat boxes or envelopes. Any strong kind of paper I can find is good. From old posters to even suspension files. Large paper grocery bags are great because the paper is a bit more flexible. I cut them apart to make a sheet that is usually good for two books.

When making space for the central heating maintenance I also found a shopper full of luxury smaller customer bags. Probably collected by some neighbour for years, then left on the curb. I took them years ago to use at the markets, but since my friend and I stopped it had been sitting there. And now this is how I use them up.

 

They happen to be just the perfect size for pocket books or the not too thick paperbacks. Just shove in the book leaving bottom flat on one side. Cut off handles. Staple open side, cover with tape for security and protect fingers of postal workers.

Back side tape over flat lying bottom.

I don't mind doing the extra work of folding around flat sheets of paper, but this is really quick and easy while I have this stock and it looks slick!

Bath Towels

Whenever I find good clean undamaged towels of whatever kind, tea towels, big or small bath towels, the happiness hormone starts working in me. That sounds opposite of who I want to be, a simple living person. But hey, we can't completely change where we came from, and my artistic mother taught me to appreciate good fabrics.

This set of five came together with two down duvets. Three huge bags of textiles in front of the door late at night, in the dark hard to see what all exactly was but I smelled freshness. Where the reason in me said 'no place', the real me said 'don't leave great textiles'.

I managed to push the duvets into my little storage. One listed by now and in negotiation with buyer.

But I unpacked the towels next morning. And found a pretty matching set of five, washed but still in good as new shape. An unusual mirrored design in dark and light grey. 'Oh, for me' said the I want voice. 'You've got bath towels you don't even use', said reason. I want replied, 'we'll get rid of some of the older'. Then we looked together and couldn't decide. Because there are no bad ones there. Even though it's mainly a mishmatch there are some pairs of two. But not good enough to sell but yet a pity to bring at kilo price to the recycling center. And recently I had already sent two or three less favourites upstairs, to replace some of the really torn up ones of the Chef there. I added my loot to the pile, ending conversation with myself with 'we'll see later on'. 

Three months after I had not used one of the new and had to move pile (on top of my washing machine) for central heating boiler maintenance. So many days later not even moved back. Then, with my self imposed obligation to list new items for sale at least every other day I was looking at it and decision was made.

It went fast! Today, in less than two weeks someone offered under my price, but I decided to let go. It means I sold even under what I would price for at thrift shop, but it was an experiment on this kind of product, and I also wanted to have my sale of the day and get rid of the load. 

This morning I dug up a new tea towel from a box that had been sitting in my hallway for a week. To keep! I can never have too many of those, because they do wear out. And ones with little holes go upstairs, since Chef uses them as dishcloths as well.

Bad Trash Behaviour

This electric or convection heater looks brand new. It was not out on trash night but in broad day light on a corner with a glass container nest to to regular trash underground bin. Comparables sold at Dutch shop (but owned by A.S. Watson) Kruidvat but with brand names like Auronic or Tristar depending on size from €31,50 (mine) to €18,00 for the smaller one. Would have been a pretty good thing to sell this time of the year even if without a brand. But the thing is dead. A Monday morning product. Maybe it's just a little contact somewhere but I don't know how to fix it. I do the inventories for Kruidvat and see the stuff in backrooms brought back. Every one in so many of such (Chinese) cheap makes is useless.

Just puzzles me. If I pay for something that is not working, it goes back to the shop. But otherwise, if I'd have too much money, I'd cut the cable off at least to make clear it's broken. 

Never mind for me this is still e-waste money, but the weight is minimal it won't make me much. But apart from that it will prevent someone else's disappointment.