XL Belly Bottle Vase

Picked up on my home from groceries just four weeks ago. Two streets away so a bit of a hassle to load up and add to the weight but I managed to tie it up on the back of my bike with a bungy cord, that is always traveling with me. Doing so I think I met the giver as someone came out to bring more stuff to the spot.

But I had. enough and didn't want to look. Though not restricted to outdoors, this is something people love to have in their garden so sure to sell this time of the year.

Listed pick up only at first. Then saw the box in my room. Recently taken in from in front of the door with contents to sort out inside. Forgot what was in it. But it seemed just the perfect size. Checked, yes. 

Adding shipping sure helps to sell faster. Ordered, payed and shipped this morning and that box is gone as well. My profit €10 is in line with what other people ask for comparable products.

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.

Seventies Glass Vase

Totally loved this vase as we had more or less the same at home in my childhood. It's fairly cheap cast glass, made in... China, Taiwan or. The welt is clearly visible, but then it's very thick and heavy which makes it a quality product after all. I just had no use for it.

Found March 2017, sold September €3.

Green Bottle Vase And Clear Glass Jug Vase

Both sold the same day so I take it to the same person. Also listed together early April 2017. The set was picked up €10 around six weeks later.

Three Fantastic Paintings

Oops, it’s been too long again since I posted. Well, changing one second job that totally sucked for a better one has been occupying me. So I also didn’t pick up much trash, which is all the better since I still hope to sell out, get space and then start all over again but more organized. Although I sold some stuff on line, most went out at the markets. Let’s have a look at what I lost in the past months, at least the things that were photographed but were unsuccessful on line.

A set of IKEA pillows. In my possession since 2015. I found the cases and later added the inserts from free pick-up centre. Didn’t help sell them. In June we went to that fun place by the water in the north of Amsterdam and they were gone in the first hour.

A pile of 13 Willy and Wandas. Decided against listing because of poor condition. Little boy didn't mind.

A tablet sleeve.

A couple of weeks later I was amazed a Moroccan guy bought  this for his mother!

The occasional book. Bought by an English girl who was reading aloud from it to her boyfriend and apparently found it hilarious.

In July we went to a one-time event at a new location, not far from the usual mall in the west of town but found a totally different crowd. Nice people and I lost some more really old stuff.

Unfortunately only this magazine basket to show. A German brand who dump their outlet at Lidl.

Back in the north last week I had my best day so far. Not in sales numbers but in having a great time.

First off while still unpacking this expensive photo book went. I dumped it because off the cracks on the cover.

Then even two age old handmades. Reused yarn and that blue is from yarn found in 2009.

And then this bright red dress went after over two years of trying. I thought it was quite lovely but while shooting I noticed the seams were not of the best quality so it had to be a market flog.

So here it comes. My neighbour Freek picked up these three paintings with fantasy creatures. So far I sold all the paintings he brought me on line. Not this time. I see my first listing dates of October 2016. I gave up earlier this year but they had become hidden behind a pile of stuff, so I couldn't bring them out. Digging through it all season that morning I finally got to them and said: Yes, this is your day! Well, starting off with a light drizzle they had to stay in the car boot and I was downed a bit. But it cleared up quickly, then towards the end of the day a young woman walked off with all three. Passing by a short while later with family I heard her say: Look, this where I got them! I felt so chuffed and my friend was shining with me. She liked them.

Finally yesterday we were back at the mall. Not fantastic, but at least I got rid of this big vase that was taking up space in the bags. Altogether there is quite a large open space in my little storage now, so the rest of the day I will spend filling that with things that are now still crowding my living space. Feeling good!

More From 2016 Part VIII - Zadie Smith

The weather last Sunday was way to hot to attract huge crowds to the market, but we came home with a profit nonetheless and I lost a fair load of shoes and some men's clothes.

My only photo is of this H&M vest that I decided not to list after all.

So on with the rest of trash finds sold last year:

An analog Soehnle scale. I thought they were almost obsolete and only took it for the markets. Then found the exact same model is still available retail, though inexpensive. Listed and succeeded. Not everyone wants things with batteries that can go flat.

I thought this newspaper holder was horrendous, but it sold in a week. There are collectors of copper items even though this is just a coat over iron.

Here's a better picture of the scenery.

The expat I spoke about in a previous post also left me a small collection of 1980-s comics. I got silly bids from young kids, but expected that and paid no attention. In the end someone serious wanted the whole lot and I made him a fair price for that.

I forgot if Zadie was in his lot as well, or in the bag next to the board games. Anyway she remained unhandled for a while because the title wasn't in the database of the site where I have my book account. On cold wet days last winter I just sat and scanned piles of such books, trying to get some business in a period where I couldn't do any photography. This was one of the successes that sold within two weeks.

A brand new bamboo mat brought in by the Man. Now I thought this would fly out but it took seven months.

This marble board was near new too, but it had a blob of dried out paint on it that had to be scraped off, which left a matt place. As they are popular to roll out cake toppings I was afraid it might not go, but it was bought to make a memorial tablet so it didn't matter.

That's it, but not all. I found some items I forgot about that sold on the last markets last year to fill up the post.

A skin covered primitive lamp shade. Flogged it but glad I didn't have to take it out twice.

From a different angle. You can see it's not in great shape. I had it since February and really wanted it out of the house.

A jar shaped vase. The text says Mason's Vintage Jars.

And last, a cute door rack. It came with the bamboo mirror.

More From 2016 Part VII - Fish Planks

I hope I packed wisely. I opted for a load of shoes, some clothing and other fairly regular stuff, as last year, on the early markets the Moroccans just bought about anything cheap to bring home to their families. Later on we relied on the Dutch who are more picky and looking for special stuff.  I'm leaving that on line for the moment.

Now I just have to sit and wait so plenty of time to post another dozen of sold curb finds from last year. I'm getting towards the end now.

This antique door window is another one of my favourites. This size they were often in double doors dividing front and back rooms. Those were then removed when people wanted more open space. I sold it for less than what they go for, but it had paint stains and was framed in a peculiar way. Can you see it? It's curtain rails. As I couldn't see the state of the lead underneath I took the first bid that was reasonable. Then the woman almost came running for it and it made me think... Regardless it was a good amount of money for me.

IKEA Trissa boxes are apparently sought after by vinyl collectors. I picked it up with toys in it which attracted my attention first. I sold one plastic truck at a market, donated the rest then found out the box was the most valuable thing of the complete haul.

Another cheap thing someone was prepared to pay shipping for. It keeps amazing me.

Luckily I didn't have to ship this.

Yin yang balls are not hot second hand. I got way less than what I saw others asking and it took eight months. Perhaps they do better with newer looking boxes.

A set of the exact same fold-up chairs I sold two months before.

This is an IKEA PS collection vase. I sold it for my friend. She brought it to a market and I had to sit with the thing between my legs in the car. Told her I wouldn't do that again and to leave it in my house. Got twice what she had asked.

It finally convinced her to bring me more stuff after the end of market season. Now she claims I made a face when she produced these fish shaped planks. Well I thought I'll list the weird things first, and first they went and the money I got stunned both of us. The lady was thrilled and was recently back at my door for a vintage suitcase.

I was sure Oprah would help me sell this book. She did and the bid was way higher than what I normally get for a novel, if at all on line.

The Joska vase from March.

Not all Ikea flies out. Found October 2015, sold November 2016.

Are you getting tired of looking at vases? Here's something more fun. Well the case looks quite nice...

then open it and... I suppose it's for wigs. Not nice enough for displaying my hats and I've got some good enough heads. Sold in about a week.

I'm almost there now. A few more things in the next post and then I'll do a seperate one on baby toys that I skipped so far.