Estate Sales

Old Harper's Magazines!



I love estate sales!  I have my favorite liquidators that send me emails whenever they have estate sales! Plus, one of the elderly gentleman that helps with the estate sales, Charlie (adorable), is now a friend of mine, and he'll call me when he knows there will be things I like at the upcoming estate sales, or if there are things that didn't sell, he'll let me know about those too!

I love old books and magazines!  These Harper's Magazines caught my eye right away!  Two of them are from 1913 and the other is from 1922!

LOVE this Tiffany advertisement!

The advertisements alone are so fun to look at, like this Tiffany and Co. ad! 

Some products stand the test of time-Grape-Nuts!



These magazines have a ton of advertisements for colleges, summer schools, and my favorite: "The Garland School of Homemaking"!



I need this one!










This one is my favorite! "Thinkers-men and women who achieve by brains-make the heaviest demands upon their nervous vitality.  And it is significant that these leaders in the arts and professions find in Sanatogen a means to successfully combat nervous exhaustion".  What!?

Automobile Ads



I'm surprised at the cost of some of the cars back in the day!  $4500 to $5950 for the "C-Six" seven passenger motor-car!

There was actually a huge box of these magazines, but I just grabbed these three.  Shortly after I picked these out, a guy bought the entire box of magazines (he was eyeing mine too!).

Happy vintage shopping!

Jen

Retro Party Supplies

Cool Retro Black White Striped Tumblers

Oh this is weird!  If you read my last post, you know that for some reason, I could not add pictures to my blog posts.  Well, I just tried again, and it's working! Yay!

Large Mod Chip Bowl

So, back to blogging about what I originally wanted to blog about!  I have everything you need for a "mad men" style party!

Macho Aluminum Mugs with a Glass Bottom

I have all the "must-haves" for a fun party!  Glasses, pitchers, bowls, and more!

Leafy Gold Nut Dishes



So get the party started! 

Have fun!

Jen

Change of Plans

Well, I was going to do a fun post on some fun items I have that are perfect for your retro "mad men" party, but blogspot is giving me trouble adding pictures! Darn, and I can't figure out why.  I cleared my caches, but that didn't help.

It's only letting me upload pics from my blog, or an url, but not from my own files! Help!

Jen

Pinterest

Johnson Bros.



I wasn't sure about Pinterest when I first joined.  There are boards, and pins, and you can repin and be repinned! 

I guess I joined Pinterest at least a few months ago, but am just now really getting into it!

I even have a Pinterest thingy on my blog that you can click and it will take you right to my boards!

So far my boards are Vintage Pyrex, Vintage Jewelry, Vintage China, Milk Glass, Flowers, and Cottage Chic!

I did start a Style board too, but I can't figure out how to add some of my favorite things to it (like this cute dress on the Banana Republic site.  For my other boards I've just been adding stuff from my shop, or repinning other people's pins to my boards!

But it's fun, and I'm getting quite a few followers, favorites, and repins!

If you haven't tried Pinterest, I recommend that you do!

Happy Pinning!

Jen

PLEASE DO NOT SPAM MY BLOG!

Recently I've been having spammers leaving comments on my blog posts.

That does not make me happy.

I am so thrilled when I receive a comment on my blog, and then to find out it's a spammer.  Now that is just mean.

Stop
it
now!

I was on the Etsy Front Page Treasury

So exciting! I was actually at spin class, so I missed it! 

Layaway

Serve sherbert retro style!

Tough times means you need to "think outside the box" to draw in the customers who just might be able to afford to buy anything at this time!

I actually have a "layway plan", and will be updating my policies regarding that.  I will reserve the item, and set up a payment amount and time period for the final payment, working with what the customer can comfortably afford.

It's easy to send an invoice through paypal.  Just click on the "request money", add the customer's email address, the amount, and a note (ex: 1st payment).

The customer will receive the request via email, and it's easy enough for them to pay at that time!

So think outside the box, and perhaps increase your sales!

Happy selling!!

Jen

A Few of My Favorite Things

Personalized Embosser

These days my favorite gifts usually are things I can use in my Etsy shops!  My husband always knows to buy me bubble wrap for all ocassions (yes, you heard me right!).

Check out the cute personalized embosser my daughter, Lindsey, bought me for Christmas!  I love it! 

Great way to say thank you!

Lindsey also bought these cute tags for me to use!  These look so cute on top of packages I ship out!  You can find the embosser and tags at http://www.williamssonoma.com/ (love that place!).

Another cute thank you!

My other daughter, Katherine, bought me these cute gold Thank You stickers!  I love to package my orders so you feel like you're receiving a gift!

So forget the diamonds and other luxuries (except for chocolate)!  I would much rather receive fun stuff for my Etsy shops!

Happy Packing!

Jen

Costly Trip To Target

Royal Embassy Dinner Plates

It started out so innocent!  A trip to Target!  I had a few things I need to get there, but of course, I had to buy a cute dress, and some workout clothes too!

But that wasn't too bad.  It's what happened after this that got me into trouble!

1800's Paris Plates



I realized I hadn't visited one of my favorite thrift shops in awhile (and the ladies there are always so nice!), and it was so close by, why not stop in!?

Fenton Blue Milk Glass



Trouble is, this thrift shop always has the most gorgeous vintage items.  I found tons, and bought tons!  I had several wonderful ladies packing up boxes of pretty vintage items for me!  Let's just say it was at least 4 or 5 boxes of pretties!

I bought several lovely teacups & saucers!



Thank goodness it was a sunny day today! I've spent hours photographing and listing some of my fun finds!  I still have plenty yet to list, but I've made some good progress!

So maybe I should stop going to Target....no!!

Jen

My Ad on TheKnot.com

I am officially on the knot.com!  To see my ad you have to actually sign in (unfortunately).  Wait..I just tried the link and it works! Hope it works for you and thanks for looking!

Happy weekend!

Jen

http://www.theknot.com/Vendors/MyMilkGlassShop/Profile/OWS/084/447707/profile

Advertising

One of my top goals for this year, is to find new ways to promote my Etsy shops!  http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/ http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ and http://www/jenscloset.etsy.com

I rarely go into the Etsy forums (things seem to get a little nasty there), but on occassion I do, especially if I'm bored and need a little entertainment!

But, the one time I did check, there was a message from Etsy that they were looking for vendors to place their ads in http://www.theknot.com/ !! Perfect!  My milk glass is very popular with brides (and now my china shop is becoming just as popular with brides)!

So I sent a message to Etsy letting them know I was very interested in advertising with The Knot!

And it was just about as easy as that!  Oh, yes, I will be paying a monthly fee (I'm signed up for a year)!  But the price isn't bad, especially if it brings in more sales! 

I will blog more about it, along with the link to my little place at The Knot as soon as I have everything up and running, hopefully very soon!

Now on to thinking of more ideas!!

Happy marketing!

Jen

Stand Back! I Have a Glue Gun!

Valentine's Day Wreath



That's right, stand back!  It's time for Jenny's Crappy Craft Segment!  This time it involves a glue gun!

I took this cute heart shaped grapevine wreath (inexpensive at your craft store), hot glued pink and red silk flowers, pink tulle, red and white ribbon, pink ribbon, and added on a paper cupid and rose on the left.!

Happy Valentine's Day

So you know, if I can do this, anyone can!  So get to your craft store, purchase an inexpensive little glue gun, glue sticks, some pretty ribbons, tulle, silk flowers, and heck, you could even add some sparkly vintage jewels to add a little extra bling!

Happy crafting...and Happy Valentine's Day!

Jen

A cute kitty

Yes, I am aware that I ramble on about twitter!  But I just had an epiphany (and if you know me you're probably surprised I know that word, I learned it from buying fake jewelry on QVC).

This post isn't just about twitter, but about social media.  It just so happens, twitter is the best social media (in my opinion).

If you read my tweets, you know I refer to facebook as "the library".  Very quiet (and kind of boring). 

Twitter is like a party that goes on all the time.  Even at 8:00 am in the morning, I feel like I should have a cocktail in my hand (I haven't tried that yet)

Back to my epiphany. 

What has social media taught me? Not to judge people on their appearance.  Now when I see people, I think, they could be one of my twitter friends!

You get to know the person before you actually see them (or you may never see them, in most cases)!

You know them.  You know their families.  You know their likes and dislikes.  You know their hobbies.  You know them!  

I will never understand people that "don't get twitter".  What is there to "get"?  It's quick, fun, and sometimes (often) crazy, like me!

We're all basically the same!  We want to be acknowledged, we want to be heard. I hear ya!

Jen

CottonfieldFarm

http://www.cottonfieldfarm.etsy.com/



I don't purchase items on Etsy.com as often as I would like to, but I did purchase several beautiful digital collage images from http://www.cottonfieldfarm.etsy.com/ and I am so excited to share this shop with you!

Regina is the owner of this shop, as well as another adorable shop http://www.fabricsfromthefarm.etsy.com/ (I didn't realize until this morning that she had the 2nd adorable Etsy shop!)

How cute are these!?

You all know I am just not too crafty, although I do try!  These thank you's are perfect for me to add to my Etsy orders!  I may even get a little crafty, and add a few extra touches (let's not get carried away)!

Vintage cute!



For your true crafters, you could really have some fun with these images!  They print so crisp and clear, like the real thing! 

http://www.fabricsonthefarm.etsy.com/

Don't forget to check out Regina's other Etsy shop http://www.fabricsonthefarm.etsy.com/ how cute!!

Thanks again! You've inspired me to keep on craftin' or die trying!

Jen

Etsy Discount

Fire King Teacup & Saucer



This is the year I really start working on my marketing! 

One way to promote your Etsy shops is by having a blog; better yet, one that actually gets some traffic!

So I am offering a 20% discount off of one item in any of my 3 Etsy shops to those nice people that visit my shop!! 

I have a huge vintage china selection at http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/

and an eclectic mix of retro items at http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ and classic and simple milk glass selection (perfect for weddings!) at http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ .

Hope you find something you like, just send me a convo through my Etsy shops, or a comment on my blog, and I will be sure to set up the 20% discount!

Thanks again for stopping by! You make me happy!

Jen

It's here!

Brave runner in the snow



Yes, the darn snow is here!  Supposedly it's going to keep snowing today and tomorrow.  I'm glad I don't have to go out in it today, but my husband will be driving our daughter Katherine back to college (which is usually a 2+ hour drive).

Kooky Katherine

It's been nice having Katherine home, but I'm sure she's happy to get back to Ohio State University!  It's her first year at OSU and she loves it (I knew she would).

Bob and Katherine



I always laugh about Bob's great expressions!  This is his really happy face!  Not that he's a serious guy, how could he be, with me as his wife!  It's just that he doesn't have the big goofy smile that I usually have!  So he looks pretty serious in most of his pictures, but I know he's actually smiling inside!

So, I will worry about them driving in this crappy weather.  That's why I don't like snow.  Yes, it's pretty, but driving in it isn't fun!

Jen

Happy 2012!

Cheers!

Yep! It's 2012~!

This is the year you will write down your goals, and stick with them!  At least that's what I keep telling myself!

I have made my list, and I've been adding 1 or 2 more goals to it each day, or getting more specific on the goals I have listed!

One of my goals is to increase my sales on Etsy!  In case you don't know about my shops, here's links (and I don't know how to make the links shorter like most people do-hey, I'll add that to my list):  http://www.jenscloset.etsy.com/ http://www.thechinagirl.etsy.com/ and http://www.mymilkglassshop.etsy.com/ .

To increase sales I know I need to get going on marketing my shops.  I'm making a list of possible ways to promote my shops, so if anyone can suggest ways that they've advertised, and had success, I would love to hear from you!

I would also love to increase traffic on my blog.  I want to make it "cute" too!  That is why the look keeps changing, I'm trying out all kinds of stuff, none of it really working for me yet!

So that's a few of my 2012 goals! 

Good luck with your goals and Happy 2012!

Jen