Recycle Reuse, Buy vintage this Christmas and Holiday Gift Giving Season

Renaker vintage collectibles for the Cat Lover, ForsythiaHill

It's that time of year again where we try to find that perfect gift for family and friends. Amazon seems to be the go to place for buying new items and Ebay has long been the place for collectors. The growing trend is vintage gift giving. I've always thought it more personal and definitely more unique to buy a nicely cared for vintage item. Not just another throw away but something they might want to hold onto and treasure because of its uniqueness.

Warm vintage Angora Hat, ForsythiaHill

I've been selling vintage for family and friends for 10 years now and my buyers really are excited about their purchases. Totally unique one of a kind items that they comment about in their online product review after purchase. I love matching old items in new homes to be appreciated and adored.

Art Nouveau early 1900's Gold Jewelry Box, ForsythiaHill

Etsy is a fun place to shop as they have combined a wide range of artisan items with vintage. You can set your search setting to only shop for art or vintage if you like. The stigma that a gift can only be new in order for it to be appreciated is fading, year after year. Shoppers are becoming more conscientious about saving natural resources by gift giving a previously used item. More and more online resale sites are popping up as the ease of selling a used item goes mainstream. I'm seeing newer used items on these sites while authentic vintage items (more than 20 years old) are still being found mainly on Etsy and Ebay, along with a few more less popular sites such as Bonanza and Ruby Lane.

Large fabric printed 1980s Rabbit, ForsythiaHill

It's trendy to gift give vintage but maybe not as cool to give a new used item as these items can still be found new. The key to success is to find a unique item that is difficult to find, one that brings back memories, something that can be physically used or something kitsch. An item that never gets old is vintage Pyrex. Who doesn't love and use Pyrex! One year I gifted an adorable retro cat hand towel to a friend. She loved it! Ornaments are also a fun item to give.

Amazing vintage Poodle Pin, ForsythiaHill

I love selling vintage because of the history each items holds. It's a treasure hunt often for me as a seller just to locate a similar item to date it or determine its authenticity. Over 10 years I've found homes for thousands of items and I've seen the trend expand from just personal buying to shopping for a gift.

Gardening books, these for the Rose Lover, ForsythiaHill

I also like selling vintage because I like being a part of the reuse, recycle movement to help our planet which by all accounts is failing. Not only does no new manufacturing go into the products I sell but I also only pack items using previously used boxes and packing paper. I don't know too many sellers that go to this extreme but it is personally important for me. I've never once had to buy a box or paper! Friends bring me boxes, an optical shop saves boxes for me, and I get bubble wrap and paper from freecycle. The only shipping product I buy is tape. I also am conscious of the delivery method I use and even have my postal carrier's cell phone number. Nearly all my shipping is done at my house, I rarely drive to the post office.

I hope you will consider shopping for vintage this holiday season for a host of good reasons! Right now I'm running a SALE in my vintage shop, ForsythiaHill during the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales. I also sell on ebay, ruralreality. Go check them out, I thank you in advance!

~Rebecca

Garage Office and Vintage Etsy Shop Interior Renovation Complete

Our little garage at night.

Looking back over the last 6 months of constant building seems like an impossible dream. I'm really not sure how we managed to finish the interior our garage ourselves for the exception of hiring an electrician and spray foam insulator. Basically I've had to shut out the world during this extreme build phase, receiving more than one phone call from Mom asking if we're alive. Bad, bad daughter! On the rare occasion when friends or family came to visit, I put them to work! Not one person passes through the front door without hauling furniture or boxes into the garage!

Sheds Unlimited builders putting up garage.

This construction effort began in order to Make room for Mom. In October of last year we purchased a prefab 2-story garage from Sheds Unlimited to house an office and warehouse upstairs for my online vintage shop. I designed the garage wall space just wide enough to place furniture and storage racks along the perimeter to hold my shipping boxes, glassware and moms excess when she moves in. We do intend to park a car in the garage so have to keep it reasonably clear.

Installing batt insulation to the upstairs walls.

It's been about a month since my husband and I finished the space by hanging gutters, insulating, running electrical wires, hooking up fixtures, hanging sheetrock, finishing walls, installing trim and flooring, painting, installing a mini-split, and installing a garage door opener. Not to mention adding barn boards from my family's farm (which are very special to me) to the exterior and interior. The final detail is to add barn board shutters to the garage and house to tie them together.

I forgot about painting, thought it would never end!

I am a lucky, lucky girl to have married a man that has extensive building experience. Ladies, if you're single, do not marry a man that can't throw a hammer down in a BIG WAY. Anthony is awesome. I did get pretty excited about electrical work and spent most evenings watching youtube videos so as to not burn the garage down from my tinkering. Anthony has a full-time job so while he was at work I was running electrical wires and installing outlets.

Based on the advice of my father-in-law, we did hire an electrician to hook up a huge wire (that Anthony and I ran) from our main box to the garage. Talk about a beast this was a challenge due to the size and weight of the wire. Somehow we got it done and it passed code! The electrical work was the most tedious part of the project. Anthony knew enough to keep me in line but this was not his field of expertise.

Rigged up scaffold with wood extenders to ceiling.

Anthony's smartest purchase was a scaffold and he rigged it up so we could lift heavy sheetrock together up to the ceiling without having to hire out this job. It worked amazingly well. I now use the scaffold in the garage to hold all my shipping boxes for my online business.

Wonderful handcrafted barn board window ledges.

Anthony is an expert at hanging and finishing sheetrock and he did such a good job that we could not find any stud seams when it came time to install shelves and brackets for my office / shop. Anthony did a beautiful job creating a barn board bookcase and window ledges. I also love the exterior barn board over the garage door that he installed. I found a 1930's Gas Station green light fixture on Etsy and he also installed this on the front of the garage.

Spray foam ceiling R30.

I did decide to hire spray foam insulators to shoot around the garage perimeter ceiling and coat the entire upstairs ceiling. It would have been a crazy insulation install if we hung batts. Too complicated to even explain. The foam guys were done in about 3 hours. A relief to have some part of it DONE FAST.

Oak / barn board look flooring.

We love the oak laminate flooring which is holding up really well. Not one scratch yet and we've moved a lot of items around on it! Very pleased. It was easy to install and Anthony rigged it up as trim around the stairwell and on the stair landing. Another interesting install was our DIY Mr. Cool Mini Split system. At one point I yelled to Mr Cool, "you ain't cool Mr. Cool" - it was not easy but it is effective and one of the few systems you can buy without having to hire a heat and air guy to install it. We have not even noticed a change in our utility bill - very efficient. Love it!

Online Business Vintage Book and Designer Shoe nook.

If I was to do one thing differently it would be to make the garage ceiling 2" higher. Anthony did have to engineer the garage door by sawing the metal runners down an inch to allow for the garage door opener to fit and work. The ceiling height upstairs is perfect as is high enough for me to have storage racks toward the ceiling. I have a rack over my shipping station which holds bubble wrap, packing paper, and a few boxes.

Online Etsy Business Shipping Station.

Over the next 3 months we'll be trying to hammer out the basement apartment where mom will live. Anthony is going to have to do the majority of the work as my body is wearing out. Warning to visitors -- you will be put to WORK if you step a toe on the premises!

~Rebecca

2016, It's a strange New Year

Pink flowering Quince, Rugby Rd, Cville.

As I drove downtown in Charlottesville, Virginia yesterday, I was amazed at the dots of color on many of our early blooming plants. I do not ever recall my New Year being welcomed by waving pink and yellow flowers. It's a nice contrast between the dead blossoms and the early flush of Spring color. But wait a minute, it's not Spring! Sadly the pretty buds will be crushed by the anticipated January and February chill but a good freeze will kill off many insect pest populations.

Forsythia in bloom on Forsythia Hill

A few years ago in Cville we had a really early Spring in February. I didn't like it much because every plant in the yard exploded at once, leading into a lull of no bloom activity. YAWN. I prefer a gradual opening of plants, a daily treasure hunt to see what has decided to open its sleepy eyes. With the cold air pumping in from the North this week, I'm afraid this oddity is nearly over. We can only hope that Spring will stay put until its normal arrival come late March to early April in Virginia.

Dried Hydrangea blossom on Forsythia Hill

A few weeks ago while dashing around madly trying to tie loose Christmas shopping ends, a woman with Florida plates tossed a wad of gum out her car window in front of me. I was so angry, waving and pointing, and kept thinking about it for a good hour. This led me to question my reaction and ask myself why in the world would my thoughts be occupied for so long concerning such a trivial event. People over the world have bombs being dropped on their heads, are fighting back Ebola, and are starving. I remember when I was growing up my mother always said, eat your greens, little children in Africa are starving and they really ARE!

Jethro, a rooster with a good attitude.

In trying to analyze what has happened in our society, I decided that people are too quick to judge. Shooting down crowds of people they dislike because of their frustration. We have become an intolerant society. Possibly due to the use of all the electronics. You can google and find an answer to any question in 2 seconds. We just don't have the patience to deal with society that can not satisfy us quickly. Nothing seems to be right and by God if its not right then you are gonna hear about it. Face to face or through an online review.

Finding beauty in the madness.

The looming Presidential Election might just be more entertaining than enlightening depending upon who is nominated to run. The political climate in the US falls into the category of intolerance generating feelings of hatred and madness. What should be look for in a President? In looking back, the top 3 President's ever were Abe, Washington, and Franklin Roosevelt. This is an interesting list and not surprisingly, recent presidents are ranked as some of the worst in history (personally I think Jimmy should receive a better ranking but it's not based on his performance after his stay in the White House). Franklin Roosevelt served longer than any other President (4 terms). No wonder he died in office. If he were living now, he probably would have died after term 2! He ended Prohibition and got right to work when elected, making his campaign promises good.

I said no to Starbuck's red cup all together!

Nothing too strange is slated for me personally. I'll continue to sell my vintage wares, develop my garden for the bugs and birds, and try my best to remove intolerance from my thoughts leaving compassion, and curiosity in its place. Some of the most fun I had last year was from unexpected events.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Echinacea

Butterfly watching, exploration of local Wineries with the girls, and the surprise transformation of Janie the hen into Jethro the rooster! Continuing my desire to tread lightly on Mother Earth, last year I only accepted one plastic bag from a store, using my cloth bag all other times. I always carry a cup with me for those Coffee Shop trips and rarely used their paper cups. I'm planting more native plants, swapping and trading with fellow plant lovers.

Set achievable goals for yourself and stick to them! If you forget your cloth bag, just put your items in your cart and wheel to your car. You will be sure to not forget it the next time!

Wishing you a Happy 2016.

-Rebecca

Vintage for the Holidays

Poland Wawel China Serving Platter by ForsythiaHill at Etsy

As a vintage seller, I often run into one of a kind items on Etsy that I just have to share! Let's take a walk down memory lane and get into the spirit for the Holiday season, vintage style. All items mentioned in my blog are currently for sale, but hurry, the season is HERE!

Pink and Black Sunbeam Mixer by Vetera on Etsy.

Many of my treasured household items are put to use during this time of year. The antique platter of Grandmom's is always used at Holiday dinners and the vintage mixing bowl set is pulled out to accommodate the assortment of cookies I whip up. I have one platter that doesn't match anything I own that was my Mom's. I use it every time I bake cookies and it always reminds me of our house where I grew up.

Charming set of Cone Gnome's by Cybersenora on Etsy

Vintage ornaments are often fun conversation pieces. You will be sure to get friends and family asking about your unique "kitsch" vintage holiday collectibles! There is something homey and warm about vintage Christmas Decor. It's really fun to collect a certain era or theme.

Bottle Brush Wreath by CommodityMOD on Etsy

Don't limit your decorating to indoors! Unique wreaths, swags, balls, and outdoor ornamentation can be found online and shipped straight to your door. I love simple accents that meld well with nature. Each year I cut Pine and Holly boughs and put my window baskets to good use. A little twig tree at your entry door is a great place to hang vintage ornaments to greet your guests.

Pretty Lion 9 candle Menorah by ForsythiaHill

Have fun this Holiday season and shop vintage. Often items are built to last and a much higher quality for a lower price. I also like the fact that it is a great way to reuse and recycle old objects. Who doesn't like a treasure hunt.

Happy shopping, vintage style!

-Rebecca

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5 Good Reasons to Buy Vintage

1950's Princess Robe in my Etsy shop.

Selling vintage is a wonderful way to recycle. Perfectly good items can be diverted them from the landfill. It's shocking for me to think of all the things we've thrown away simply because they became unfashionable. Thrifting is super hot and the hunt is part of the appeal.

V

Big Wrought Iron Candle Holder in my shop.

intage is HOT - beyond HOT! Trend setters always try to be unique. Thousands of styles are mass produced, leaving little room to stand out. Vintage continues to be on trend.

Super cool 1950s Royal Copley Poodle Planter Vase in my shop.

Designer Pierre Cardin Wallet in my shop.

Vintage is collectible. In all forms of media, vintage being picked, sold, thrifted, or collected. There are numerous TV shows revolving around vintage discoveries.  It's usually a good investment - how many times have you wished you would not have tossed out an item that is now being shown on a collectible show!

Vintage is quality. Very often a vintage item is made of more substantial materials and will last longer than it's newer knockoff.  Many retailers are now offering updated versions of vintage, but it's just not the same and designer vintage can be found at bargain prices.

Vintage is interesting and is a historical snapshot of our past.  It's fun to buy and discover unique vintage items. I love vintage because of the sleuthing required for each piece.

In my nearly 5 years of selling vintage, I've found so many great finds and I am amazed how much more substantial products were made 20 years or more ago. BUILT TO LAST certainly held true.

Have a good find? I would love to hear about your treasure.

-Rebecca

Wrapping up 2014, It's a New Year!

I'm very much a forward thinker and rarely think about past disappointments. Luckily this year was a pretty darn good year to remember.

Our last 2 chickens.

We didn't have any pet deaths, thankfully, and only lost 2 chickens because they were given back to my neighbors when they returned from Hawaii. It was a sad transfer but their original yard is deep in the forest with lots of worms and Blueberries to enjoy. We hope to get more rescue Chickens and are even contemplating raising Bees! I've switched so much of my sugar consumption to honey that it really does make sense so I'm trying to develop a bee and bird friendly habitat.

My mail carrier is wonderful, I would die w/out Debbie!

My blog title "wrapping up" 2014 is appropriate because this past year I shipped over 400 items from my etsy shops and ebay. Setting lofty goals in 2014, my expectations were exceeded! I've streamlined shipping, designating an area that my friend Cindy helped me set up. My only frustration has been the tape dispenser that will soon be beaten to a pulp!

My favorite flower photo of 2014, one of Ted's Dahlias.

I continue to shop responsibly, bringing reusable bags and mugs everywhere I go. Keeping two bags in my purse and backups in the car! I've also started emailing junk mail companies to remove me from their mailings. Our disposables are showing up in our oceans and is deadly to wildlife.

Lot's of balloon landings around our house on Forsythia Hill.

I still use grocery coupons but have changed my habits to include more fresh organic vegetables and fruit instead of cardboard boxed items. Coupons for produce are far and few between but I still managed coupon savings of nearly $1,200.00. I'm still keeping my life pledge to only purchase organic eggs hoping the treatment of the hen is better.

Crowned Slug Moth Caterpillar hiding in leaf litter.

Gardening for me is constantly evolving. Initially I grew for food, then incorporated flower gardening because of the beauty and diversity. Now my focus is on the creatures that need our plants to survive and how to best support their habitat. I stumbled upon a few interesting critter activities that were totally foreign to me. If I had not been photographing my garden, I never would have noticed an amazingly strange bug and a bee living in my cut Peony stem. I've changed my garden ways of totally cutting back stems and clearing out beds until I'm pretty sure that critters have finished doing their thing. I've also learned that organic and natural remedies for killing "bad bugs" is not always a good thing. A friend informed me that my sprinkling of Cayenne Pepper to deter Deer can harm Bees!

I video taped the refinishing of my freecycle find.

This Spring I will focus on rooting cuttings instead of growing seedlings. Something I've never mastered and have a big fail rating as far as that goes. I'll have to provide bottom head inside and better control the process in order to succeed. I have big plans to put in trees in the front yard, probably Magnolias among others (but husband assistance is required so we'll see how that goes).

Cute Coffee Cup set for sale in my vintage shop.

On the home front, I hope that we find a flooring solution for our basement and paint our shed (a rollover from 2014). We continue to make progress each year with a few minor improvements that seemed pretty major at the time! We still love the kitchen floor that we installed in 2014 and somehow still remain married after it was all said and done.

Wishing you a happy 2015, let's focus on the positive, support one another, and be kind to our amazing planet.

-Rebecca

Beautiful barn in Tennessee when visiting the in-laws.

Shop online this Holiday Season

It's time for my annual vintage Shop Sale on http://ForsythiaHill.etsy.com. I'm having a sales sweep running from Black Friday through Cyber Monday. I'll be sweeping out the merchandise at 20% off all items in my Etsy Shop.

You might think that vintage is not the appropriate thing to buy someone for Christmas but you can find ~ one of a kind ~ special ~ items!

Like new ~ vintage Roses book.

Vintage Shiny Bright Balls.

Some of my friends like pristine finds and others like shabby chic. Think about how your friend or relative decorates and you can find something to suit their taste that they are sure to love. Nearly everyone collects something!

Screen printed T by PARCELwork.

Check out the Etsyville Team on Facebook and the Charlottesville Etsy Sellers on Pinterest for gift ideas featuring a combination of vintage, handmade clothing, art, t-shirts, pastries, and soaps.

Necklace by Spirit Girl Design.

If you live in Cville, most sellers are happy to meet you with your item so you can see it before purchase and also save you the cost of shipping. All items listed can be purchased no matter where you live! All sellers ship in the US and many ship globally.

Handmade Copper Cuff by Fresh from the Flame.

I hope you will support small business owners this holiday season that offer unique and creative finds!

-Rebecca

Leaf Soaps by Indigo Canyon.

Through the Garden Gate Tour features Vintage Finds

Entryway into the gardens.

Today a fellow gardening friend and I visited the interesting garden and home of The Askew's of Charlottesville, Virginia. It was the featured garden for July in the Piedmont Master Gardeners tour series, Through the Garden Gate. Tours are hosted the 2nd Saturday of the month from 9 - noon, in a different garden each month.

Great mix of herbs and collectibles in the garden.

The Askew's are huge collectors of vintage and have designed their home and gardens around the items they have acquired. Sturdy industrial metals and large ceramics are tastefully woven throughout their garden. I especially enjoyed the collection of old farm equipment, fencing, and building discards that had been artfully placed into select garden spots. It takes a creative mind to find uses for found items that might have otherwise been tossed out.

Re-purposed entry door block A/C Unit. 

For some time I have been scratching my head trying to decide how to put some of my collected items to good use and the Askew's have inspired me to think out of the box. I really liked their placement of an old (but really cool) door to block their air conditioning unit and how they hung an old window frame and shutters on the side of a shed to make it look like a real window.

A quiet place to sip some tea - love the fence!

There were many quaint nooks in the garden in which one could sit and relax, all providing a different view of the grounds. The Askew's love of the garden was obvious, all vistas within the house were really extensions of the garden. The expansive front porch and back sun porch providing panoramic views of the garden.

Rarely Through the Garden Gate tours include the inside of the home but today was one of those days. Throughout the house, walls displayed family photos and memorabilia. I loved the feminine touches like the sweet handkerchief collections dotting the rooms and the cool framed vintage bathing suit along with the historic swim team photo. One would have to return again and again to really digest all the cool finds in the house.

Whimsical shed just for "her", MEN KEEP OUT.

Because I collect and sell vintage, I especially enjoyed this tour. I couldn't get enough of the found and family treasures and wish I had more hours to explore this interesting home.

-Rebecca