I sold the
thing in 2015. I knit and crochet more than I sew and it got in my way. The
contents easily fit in a drawer. It hurt a bit to sell a gift that at the time
meant to say he accepted the change to living with less money, but I haven’t
missed the object once. I’ve got so many pretty curb finds to keep!
A SIMPLE ACCOUNT OF REUSABLE GOODS FOUND IN THE TRASH, THE SALES, THE KEEPS AND THE TRANSFORMATIONS
Saturday, January 28, 2017
My Sewing Box
The Man
brought this home for me around the millennium change, after I had announced
that I was going to work less and craft more. Found somewhere along his route
to a shop. I remember seeing the square fold-out boxes in the Seventies, but we
never had one at home. I think my mom hated them. I have to say I agree, but
those were possibly copies and this one is almost antique and I did like the
legs. They are in the same style as my vintage dresser.
Sunday, January 22, 2017
Timing
I found
this sled last year January at a fair distance from the house, so it was a bit
of a hassle getting it home on my bike, but I managed and I thought it was a
pretty good pick. But then the thing just didn’t sell. It wasn’t snowing or
freezing here, but wasn’t anybody planning on a skiing holiday abroad anymore?
I looked for my competition and found lots of sleds for sale, but all in rural
areas, not around Amsterdam.
I waited
for October to relist it and then it went quickly. Not the head prize of course
but I was glad it was out. And I think it was
for a skiing holiday. Right now Holland is slowly freezing over for the first
time in years and shallow waters have thick enough ice already. I wonder if I
should have postponed my relisting even longer to get more out of it, but I don’t regret my sale; the weather is
unpredictable after all. Now if we can get some snow I like the thought that
the child it was bought for can play with the sled at home too.
I’m just
looking through my old photo’s now and shortly after the sled this comes up. I’m only showing this simple crude basket because there’s something time related to say
about it as well. Found across the street it was an easy pick and though not
worth a lot I couldn’t leave it.
It was
previously used as a planter, sewing thread that held the plastic lining in
place was still visible on top. Listing at only EUR 2 I thought it would sell
soon enough. There's always somebody who needs a basket. But I had to relist it over and over again. I had at least seven inquiries
about it, but none came to a sale.
Finally
when December neared I threw in the keyword ‘St. Nicholas gift basket’. When
celebrated in the traditional way, on our national gift-giving day December 5 the
family sits in a circle around the packets presented in a large container and a
basket is perfect for that. I guess it worked as I sold it a week later, just days
before the party.
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Cricket Man And Hunter
Last year I
sold some fun wooden wall decorations.
I’ve seen a
lot of these signs in bars and restaurants in my days when I still frequented
such places. But those were mostly food or drink themed. Actually my co-picker found
it in November 2015. I doubted if it would go quickly. Cricket is not big in
the Netherlands and mainly played by posh university folks.
However I
liked my cricked man because his friendly face reminded me of a co-worker of
many years ago who was a pleasant peer to hang out with.
My friend
liked him simply because she is of British origin.
My real
cricket player finally found his way to my board halfway February. Indeed he
was from Leiden, renowned for its university and was going to hang it in the
club house.
This
smaller one is obviously a souvenir item, most likely from Germany. On top it
was half cracked through the middle. But then, anything handmade is worth rescuing. Found across
the street late February. This took until June to go. The buyer wrote in his
email that is was to decorate his Alpine themed caravan. Sounded cool to me,
though there aren’t any high mountains in the picture.
Sunday, January 08, 2017
Three Nudes And A Still Live
Last year
January my co-picker brought me two more paintings.
This large
work looked the most interesting at first and I listed it soon after. I didn’t think it
was great but the charm is in the hairdo of the girls, representing different
style periods from around the 1940’s to the 1980’s. The year ’80 was on the
back side. I thought it would go quickly but it took until September. I had to
ship it so no clue no what type of person bought it or why, only that it was a guy.
But here's the proof that real art can still be found in the garbage:
Freek also brought this still live that I thought was quite nice but hesitated to list
because of its poor condition, especially on the sides of the canvas. It was
falling out of the frame which was very ugly anyway.
Painted
over in grey and in terrible condition as well. I threw that back in the trash hoping someone would take it, but I didn't check.
At the time
I couldn’t figure out the signature on the work and so I didn’t find the
artist. Just looking at the photo’s now I had an insight and looked for A.
Broekman, and found he was a Dutch painter who lived from 1874 to 1946 and was himself a
trader as well. I read he often signed work of others, so we still don’t know
if this was his own, but I found a comparable still live with poppy’s listed
currently at EUR 300! But that is neatly framed and in good condition. And there
are others around EUR 50. Mine certainly needed work and I’m just glad it ended
in the right hands and is hopefully now restored in full glory and somewhere
being appreciated.
That’s it
for now. I’ll be back with more of our favourite picks from 2016 soon!
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