Some Lamps And A New Market Season - And Clearing Out A Bit

Well you must think I’m a terrible blogger! It’s been months again. Now I’ve got some time left as my friend canceled our market plans for today. With two boys moving out she’s got other things on her mind. I wonder what her house is going to look like when they take out all the 'trash' she's collected for them over the years. I hope to clear out a bit more too. Sales are a bit slow as I've been lazy with listing, but I haul in selectively now and less than goes out. 

Here are some lamps I was happy to sell recently and earlier on:

A while ago I woke up to a message about this little lamp foot. Less than two hours later it was picked up. I like it when things go smoothly like that!

But it took almost a year, and not being very big I stored it on a shelf in my lounge where it really started to get in my way.

I had even more trouble getting rid of this retro ceiling lamp.

The oil lamp model is popular with vintage lovers, but I’m afraid the Seventies colours just didn’t appeal to anybody. Listed October 2015, sold June 2017… That was one big box out of my storage.

On the other hand this chandelier was out, early last year, within two months. To my surprise because it wasn’t in great condition. First, it was really left for trash, covered in dust and cobwebs with broken bulbs still in the sockets. I took it home because the model is sought after.

After cleaning it I found rusty bits, the yellowed plastic candles were crumbling at the edges and most of the gold plate shine was off the brass. Somehow it appealed to a young lady who paid a very decent price. Thank god, as the clumsy shape didn't fit anywhere and I had to keep it in my bedroom!

Talking markets again here are some items that didn’t go out on line over winter but sold in April at our first event this year:

A diet recipe book in Dutch translation.

Incomplete set of wooden bricks. Practically gave them away to a six-year old who paid from her pocket money for her three-year old brother.

One straw party hat in our flag's colours. Days before the national Holiday I thought it would be a good idea to bring them along.

A dull French Seventies salad bowl.

Plus all the things I never deemed worthy of photographing. 

So though it was sad we couldn't go today, I filled the one nearly empty market bag with random picks from shelves, cupboards, the yard and even my floor. Restored away I'm ready for the next market and the mess alreay out of sight. Then I had time to list a recent find, and to make an appointment for a sale at the door:

As I woke up to the message I could pull this large candle tray straight out of the market bag, then after my friend's call I made the appointment and it was gone before noon. Not a bad day after all!

Clothing 2016 - Part I - And Some Hats

Yesterday’s sale was quite a surprise. From my Fall 2015 lot of clothing these two mass produced hats were finally ordered and I’m even more pleased the man wanted both. But it often happens that several items from one previous owner go to one and the same new owner. Some more examples further on.

First one more hat that I listed just to see what would happen.

I picked it up last summer, nobody looked at it at the markets, then late November I thought why not? It’s good quality, completely lined with thick fleece and the design is cool. It went in January to a pensioner who needed something warm on his head for his work as a volunteer parking valet at a hospital site. I don't know about you but I think that's a nice story. I can just see him there and it looked good om him too.

As I’m recovering from the flu and do not have much energy to do anything else, I’ve got time to go through my fashion finds from last year and even before. Most garments and shoes sell a lot quicker than the above hats. If they don’t go in the first listing period I tend to drop them off at free pick-up center. Let’s have a look at the sales and non-sales that didn’t make it to the blog so far.

This fashionable sleeveless vest is from a Dutch design company, Yarn Unit. Listed and sold in January. From the bag that produced the Ab Donkers boots.

Here's the rest that was in the same bag:

The girl who bought the shoes also wanted this King Louie skirt.

And this Sissy Boy skirt was on top and why I new the bag should produce good stuff. I like the fabric. I guess that sold it. It was out the day after listing it.

And last but not least: a leather belt by Unleaded that I kept for myself!

The next lot is from two small plastic bags I found late 2015, but didn't start listing untill early 2016. They were in the rain and knotted by the handles somewhere along my route home. I could see there was fabric inside and loaded them up without further inspection. At home I found the wetness wasn't too bad and everything was very fashionable and brandnew or otherwise in great condition.

The little black dress. Basically just a sort of long tank top in stretch T-shirt fabric. Simple but good quality. Doesn’t look great on doll. However sold within four weeks.

Harem pants Zouave style. I had two pairs, the other one in grey. By Hema with cardboard labels still on them. Both went with the above dress.

Cora Kemperman top. I had this one in black and one in grey. Sold both within two weeks to the same person.

Somehow this wasn't a success. I don't know if it's the dull colour, the model or the not so good presentation on my doll. But the labels were cut out and things without them don't do well. I gave up on it fairly quickly and donated it to free pick-up center. Surely one of my better gifts.

Bershka pencil skirt. Another one sold within a day.

H&M miniskirt. This took a bit longer but I shipped it out in Summer.

I donated this one as well. Labels were also cut out, but it's possibly a Cora Kemperman. I don't remember well, but I guess I just grew tired of the thing. Definitely my most fashionable gift so far. I just read the company went bankrupt in 2016 but made a restart.

And last, another Bershka.

It went together with this H&M. This was still from the October 2015 suitcase. I held on to it because of the interesting print. Not everybody's taste but I was sure it would go sooner or later.

I've got one more textile haul from 2016 to show, but I'm getting tired now. You too I suppose. I'll come back to it in part II with some extra random finds and shoes.

The Hand And The Doll

To stay a little bit with last post's theme I want to show some more display stuff my neighbours threw out.
Here's the hand again that came with the shop window doll's legs.

Here it is in the layer of black paint I gave it. If you look carefully you can also see it on my market table (second picture). It really works to draw attention to my crocheted bracelets and helps folks to immediately understand what the bands buttoned around the cardboard cylinders are for.

Now I'm still dreaming of a complete adult lady model, but I'm quite happy with this little girl. Actually I was pretty amazed when we found her and only a block away! Some neighbours I have.

It's a pity her hands are missing but I can live with that. She looks a bit funny in her oversized shirt, but I hope to use her soon to show my first crocheted little girl's clothing.

In the meantime she's perfect to show my tiny beanies. The truth is some just turned out too small for an adult by accident, but at the markets I found out that children often look at them so now I started a complete series in kid's sizes on purpose.