Sale, Sale, Sale!

My Mom and I have been toying with the idea of opening up a vintage pop-up shop in our city this spring - the perfect location presented itself to us, so it seems serendipitous.  For this reason, we've put off having a sale in the Etsy shop (and have been slow to add more listings).  It felt a little silly, though, to stockpile wares because the mission is ultimately to make sales.  

We finally decided that, in the spirit of Valentine's Day and looooove, we would put some items on sale, because the motto of our shop is: "everything we hope you love".  It's a stretch, I know.  (Some of these sale items won't be re-listed when they expire Feb 17th, just FYI).  Below you'll find photos and links to all of the items that have been reduced.  On top of discounting some items, we're offering a sale code for friends and readers.  Use: WINTER15 to get 15% off your entire purchase - including sale items!  The sale will run until February 14th.  Also, please feel free to contact me through Etsy for a customized shipping quote - I'm normally able to save folks a few more bucks!  Also, I accept turquoise Pyrex as currency ;)

FIRST ROW:
Fondue Pot with Alcohol Burner and  12 Bonus Skewers ($5.00 off)
Set of 8 Culver Medallion Glasses, Mint Condition ($10 off)
Vintage Coret Handbag ($7.00)
Set of 10 Yellow Blown Glass Drinking Glasses ($5 off)
SECOND ROW:
Solid Brass and Wood MCM Tray ($10 off)
Set of 4 Glass Fish Plates and Solid Wood Bowls ($10 off)
Canape Making Widget ($3 off)
1970s Signed Pottery Piece ($4 off)
THIRD ROW:
Tundra Earthenware Set, Made in Canada ($10 off)
McCoy Plates ($10 off)
West German Vase ($3 off)
Pair of 1960s Belgian Planters ($3 off)
FOURTH ROW:
German-made Black and White Cake Stand ($5 off)
Vintage Japanese Lacquerware Serving Set, New in Box ($5 off)
Figgjo Norway Lotte Souffle Dishes ($15 off)
Figgjo Norway Lotte Platter ($13 off)

Some of my favorite items have recently gone out the door (and with each one, that internal debate: "Oooo, I liked that," "yeah, but you don't have room," "but maybe I should have kept it anyway?"), but there are still plenty of gems left.  If you're feeling very meh about our current offerings, we decided to stop the madness and focus on Etsy first, pop-up shop second.  With that in mind, we'll be listing brand new items mid-late February, including some very springy pieces.  Expect some cheery colours to lift the winter blahs.

Before I toddle off (we're doing some very exciting bath reno recon  - which is something that will be filling our calendars for months to come, I'm sure), I wanted to say "thanks".  I never expect a purchase from any of my readers!  I'm just so thankful you encouraged me to open a shop in the first place, and that you've all been so supportive and encouraging since.  So thank you!    

Shop Update and Spider News

The Etsy shop I run with my Mom and Grandma has been chugging along, and I'm so thrilled that we made some great sales in our first month of being open again:

Some of my favorites were out the door first!  Every time I packaged something up I thought, "maybe I should have kept this?"  Our spendy new furnace has made it much easier to part with treasures, though...

In addition to the shop, I've held two Instagram sales.  For the first sale, a vintage hodge podge with enteraining goodies, I listed about 25 things and sold 10.  For the second sale, I listed just over 30 items (mostly Pyrex, some Fire King and Hazel Atlas) and sold nearly everything.  The women at the post office fought over who had to help me with my truckload of packages (1-2-3 not it!).  I've been so surprised by the underground economy of vintage selling/trading on Instagram - it's like the Wild Wild West over there.  It's nice, though, because you get to know sellers personally.  I've even bought/traded some vintage Pyrex that way.  But I do love Etsy.  I like being able to list lots of photos and pen supremely lengthy descriptions.  You might have guessed that I'm a bit chatty!  Plus, I downloaded the Etsy app onto my phone and I hear a little "Cha-CHING" when I sell something.

I recently added some new listings to the shop and thought I'd give you a peek.  I like to make jobs more difficult than they need to be, so I've continued to try to list items in colour groupings.  It looks so good that way that I can't stop.  Behold my reds and greens:

Those green anchor hocking tumblers gleam like emerald!  I love those, but I think the mint condition red polka dot Fire King grease jar is my favorite.  The vintage medical jars are really neat and I'd love to see them in a vintage-inspired bathroom.  The red and white coffee set has the word "coffee" written in a bunch of different language, from Finnish to Spanish, French and German.  And no winter is complete without a fondue pot ;) - I saved the most incredible fondue recipe as a sweet surprise for the purchaser.

I also added some vintage jewellery, including some rhinestone stunners, a sweet pair of 14k gold half moon studs, and a really striking pair of enamel earrings in mint, gold, and black.  Perfect for holiday parties.

Finally, some exciting news (get ready to pat me on the head!): I've added three listings, each with bunches of my handmade Christmas spiders.  See them here, here, and here. 

UPDATE: This listings above sold, but I've got three new listings, with five choices in each:
Click here for blues, greens, and purples
Click here for pinks and reds
Click here for gold and jewel hues

I've been meaning to list them on Etsy for years (I want to say 2011...), but I always sell out locally.  This year I started making them very early and set aside some for the shop.  I can't custom make them for Etsy buyers at this time, but for YOU folks I will happily make one in a certain colour(s), or snag one from my local inventory.  If you want one and don't see one that's perfect, just let me know (in the comments here, through Etsy convos, or feel free to email dans.le.townhouse@gmail.com) and I can send photos of more options. I can also use your zip or postal code to see if the shipping to you would be less expensive than the estimate - I offer this to anyone, for any listing.

Even if I don't sell a single one on Etsy (weep), I'm feeling really good because I've finally fulfilled a four year old goal.  I've been working on getting stuff done (as you might have gleaned).  No excuses, no more delays, and no distractions. 

Truthfully, it was a pleasure making extra spiders this year.  It was so relaxing to hunker down on cold days and just create - and not feel guilty about doing it (like I should be cleaning or doing laundry).  I also love a good excuse to binge watch Gilmore Girls (for the millionth time, but it's on Netflix now and who can resist?).  The process is kind of adorable.  I make the bodies first, so I have a big batch of these weird looking guys:



Then I bead the legs and they still look like little octopi until the legs gets formed and shaped into spider legs.

Hubby actually shapes most of them for me - he is eerily skilled at forming the legs.  Mine always look a little frightened and/or squashed, but his look so elegant.

I can't help myself, the photo below is just perfect for this: "get 'em before they're gone..."  

That's my shop update!! Take a peek at our Minden Shop here if you're curious.  Thanks so much for your encouragement and support.  I know some of you have even bought things, recently and over the years, and that's just so kind of you.  Thank you!  I never expect a purchase from readers, but it's really touching when I'm able to send a vintage treasure to someone I know here. 

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Back in Business!

Our Etsy shop hiatus lasted a bit longer than planned.  It's been almost a year and a half since it was last stocked.  In my defense, you know I crammed a lot of living into that time.  I defended my PhD, sold the townhouse, moved 1500km, bought the lakehouse, and started sprucing it up.  We also added a bull to our China Shop ;)  Yep, I have a litany of truly fabulous excuses but we're open again, and I'm sure you'd really rather just see the goods, right? 

With three people picking (myself, my Mummu and my Mom), our Minden Shop has a pretty eclectic vintage offering.  Looking through the shop, it says a lot about our aesthetics - one day we should play a game of who found what.  Someone clearly has a secret love for gold and gleaming brass...  I can't help it!  (We also have a set of gold chevron glasses that are so pretty).

Solid Brass Butterfly Box; Hand Blown Polka Dot Glasses; Solid Brass Tray with Wood Handles

Our Finnish lineage is evident in our inventory.  That Arabia strawberry jam jar and my Riihimaen Lasi Oy score are such fabulous pieces that it was hard to put them up for sale.  But Hubs and I downsized to a much smaller home in the townhouse to lakehouse transition and I just can't keep everything.  These beautiful things need homes where they will be used and loved, not hoarded and boxed up.  Really, I'm ready to say good-bye, I swear.

Arabia Jam Pot; Riihimaen Vase; Arabia Sotka Coffee Set, Iittala Kasthelmi Cups, Saucers, Cream & Sugar

We've been even more selective stocking the shop this time around, looking for timeless design and unusual finds (Iittala! Rosenthal! Dansk! Howard Pierce! Figgjo! W German Pottery!)...

Rosenthal "Balance" Vase; Howard Pierce Vase; Figgjo Lotte; West German Pottery

But, as always, we've got some fun pieces that I'll categorize as cheap & cheerful.  We've got lots of goodies for under $10 and $20:

Bakelite Cake Serving Set; Dansk Warming Pot; Orange Coaster Set; Iittala Niva Shot Glasses; Stainless Steel Egg Cups; Bakelite Glo-Hill Bar Tools; Copper Bowl; Escargot Forks; Teak Ice Bucket

We've decided to start to curate our offerings in a more seasonally-aware way.  We've stashed boxes of really spring-y things for now (aren't you curious??), and we've stream-lined our current offerings largely to entertaining, cooking, and barware - plus some really special gift ideas.  We're also mindful of the cold hard winter some folks (like us) are facing and so, hello YELLOW (to heat things up):

West German Vase; Dansk Bowl; Swedish Figurine; Dansk Fish Trivet

Weirdly, many of my favorite items are such a departure from the look I'm aspiring to in the lakehouse (bright + colourful).  The very cool 1970s glasses, designed by Inuit artist Germaine Arnaktauyok, might just have the top spot, but the Pyrex wine decanters with cork stoppers are a close second  Also, that faux horn bakelite cutlery set...

Inuit Glasses; Bakelite Cutlery Set; Pyrex Decanters with Cork Stopper; European Table Runner

Can't you see these things in a space like this (earthy but minimal):

That's why we named the shop "Minden" (which means "everything" in Hungarian):  our shop consists of nothing we don't love!

Because Thunder Bay is so close to the Minnesota border, right now I'm shipping domestically to Canadian and US buyers - so no international shipping fees!  I'm not sure how long I can offer this service, but for now it's awesome because the savings are huge.  If anything does catch your eye, contact me for a customized shipping quote and you might save even more. 

Now that the shop is open we have no plans to close, and I'll be adding new goodies every week.  I'll give sneak peeks on Instagram, and occasionally here on the blog, so you can get first dibs!  I'll also be holding more Instagram sales (a Pyrex/Fire King/Hazel Atlas sale is coming up a week from today).  Before I sign off to package my first two sales for shipping (yay!), I wanted to say thanks.  Thanks so much for all of your support over the years - especially to those of you who encouraged me to open the shop in the first place.  It's been fun to work on this with my Grandma and Mom, and it's made all the better by being able to share it with you.  So thank you.

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My Instagram Sale Tonight!

You might have surmised that there has been quite a bit of heel-dragging when it's come to re-opening the Etsy shop I run with my Mom and Grandma.  We enjoyed most parts of running a vintage shop the last time around - especially the shopping!!  Listing items is a little less fun, making money a little more fun, connecting with follow collectors is the most fun, and miscalculating shipping and actually loosing money is probably the least fun - oh wait, that's tied with trying to track down a parcel stolen in Italy (I found it!)...
 
Moving the Etsy shop inventory from my Mom's basement to my guesthouse was a fabulous idea but a daunting task.  Happily, I can finally say that we did it!!  We unpacked EVERYTHING - even the 10 additional boxes I found in the basement after we'd (prematurely, it seems) celebrated the completion of the task.  I still have plans to gussy up the guesthouse, build a pretty desk, and do more to make it a functional space, but at least the formerly empty shelves are stocked (actually, packed!!), and we're ready to go.  We're making use of the long weekend to officially re-open the shop with some listings on Etsy, but we thought an Instagram sale would help light a fire under our bums.

Instagram is like the wild wild west of vintage selling.  Flash sales, no listing fees, and a first-come-first-served policy.  I have bought a couple of things - Pyrex, of course - on Instagram and thought it might be fun to host a sale.  In the future, I'd like to do theme sales: like just vintage linens, or bakelite, maybe mid-century pottery, or Pyrex and other vintage bake ware - maybe even a Finnish sale (I have a lot of Iiitala and Arabia stockpiled).  This first sale is a sampling, hinged on a timely theme: Holiday Entertaining.  On the eve of the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, it seemed fitting!

HOW IT WORKS:

The sale starts 7pm tonight on Instagram - just take a peek at my feed (you can click here).  Listings will pop up starting at 7pm (I think it might last a couple of hours) and the first person to leave their PayPal email address + zip code or postal code in the comments wins!  After I have every item that's earmarked for the sale listed, I'll answer questions and provide shipping quotes - but be forewarned, some people will snag an item regardless of shipping so if you wait for a quote you might lose out.  I'll include the package weight and size and where it's being shipping from, so people can figure out there own shipping quote estimate if they'd like.  Because I'm close to the Canadian/U.S. border, I can ship from within both countries so no international shipping rates for this sale!!  After an item is claimed, I'll send an invoice through PayPal and once it's paid I'll delete the listing.  Unsold items will be moved to the Etsy shop this weekend, where some will be priced a bit higher to cover Etsy listing fees and sales commissions. 

I'm excited, but a bit nervous!  Etsy feels familiar, safe and easy - this Instagram sale seems like it could be a real flurry of activity or a total flop.  No matter how the sale goes, I'll be happy to have the shop up and running soon.  My Mom and I have fabulous plans for adding more handmade gems - even some artwork!  I'll be sure to share on Instagram and here when the shop opens officially, but look for it soon.  I'll be using my hashtag #mindenetsy to share photos of fresh finds, newly listed items, sale items, and instagram-exclusive items.

Wish me luck...and I hope to see you there.

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Giveaway Winner + News!

Congrats to Melissa Dalgleish (of Heart & Salt), the winner of the jewellery giveaway with ILIOS!  I'll put you in touch with Kat soon to make your jewellery selection - you'll have to let us know what you picked.

In other news, I'm running a spring sale in our Etsy store, Minden Shop.  Everything is 20% off (coupon code SPRING20).  Some of my favorite items have sold . . .

. . . but there is still a bevy of gorgeous finds that we love, plus almost a hundred (!) more to be listed in upcoming weeks and months.  A little secret: my Mom actually snagged the little turquoise sugar shaker (made in West Germany) right out of the shop!  We still have a healthy variety of pretties, though, from the rare Sotka patterned Arabia cups and saucers to funky turquoise Fire King mugs.  We also have a cool mid-century purse made in Canada, three different sets of vintage Coca Cola & Sprite glasses (from a collector who worked for Coke!), a few pieces of Pyrex (of course), a sweet and petite yellow West German vase, Baltic amber earrings, mod pale pink salt & pepper shakers, and more! We try to have things in every price point, in many different styles (although that's going to happen anyway, with three generations of us finding inventory!).

For a little braggy blog news, my tile trivet project was featured at Glo.com!  It's always so fabulous when a publication or magazine you read features your work.  Click here to read the whole article, which rounds up the 10 easiest DIY ideas of all time.

My felted wool billy buttons also got a little love from Bridesmaid.com.  I love the idea of brides making these as favors, centre pieces, or boutonnieres - so sweet!

Finally, Knock Off Decor featured my recent DIY agate art!  

Well, I'm primed for a good weekend and I hope you have a good one too!

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Shop Talk: New in Store

Hubs and I were a little ambitious about our Family Day plans yesterday.  We thought our little project would only take an hour or so.  Six hours later and we were still at it.  But we're done!!  After a little misplaced anxiety about it, I'm so happy.  I'll snap some photos today (once I pack away the step ladder and drop cloths), and share some of the changes we've been making tomorrow.

In the meantime, I've added a few new items to the shop and this time am making good on my promise to keep you in the loop!  When we re-opened Minden Shop, I decided to list things in colour groups.  It take so much more time than I thought it would (I had to get up at 5:30 a.m. today to squeeze this in), but I think it makes the shop more fun to look at.  I don't expect everyone to want to buy something from us.  We're such avid collectors ourselves, we're seriously happy if some folks just enjoy looking at the items we've curated, and the colour groupings make it more fun.  Here's a peek at what's fresh: 

I love this round, retro tin (Made in England!) for storing jewellery beside a bed or on a desk to store paper clips and unsightly office supplies.

We also have this mini Pyrex casserole for sale, in the super cheery Friendship pattern.  I need to add a few mini casseroles like this to my collection of turquoise Pyrex.  Currently almost all of my fridgies are in use storing leftovers, so I think I can justify more mini Pyrex.  This is part of a Bake Serve Store set and has stackable friends (haha) in other sizes.

You know me, I am a little nutty for trinket dishes.  I use them for soap dishes, to organize my jewellery box and I also just generally hoard them like a crazy person.  We have a fun pair from London in the 1970s for sale. 

I also listed this adorable red polka dot bowl by Hazel Atlas.

This mug is in such pristine condition, with a super funky pattern.  I have no idea who made it (not Fire King, not Anchor Hocking, not Pyrex . . . ), anyone know?

Here are a few other favorite items of mine, for sale right now, including this pair of cheery turquoise Fire King mugs.

This petite yellow West German vase is a burst of sunshine.  Add a bunch of handmade wooly billy buttons and never go another day without breaking into a huge, silly, grin.

I love this pair of 1960s Federal Glass bowls.  The teal colour and pattern of vintage kitchen utensils (called "antique" or "utensils") are perfect.

Our shop is pretty eclectic because, as mentioned, there are three generations of us adding inventory.  My grandma has a flare for picking really glam pieces, like this Sadler cream and sugar duo.  We have a really fun Sadler tea pot that "goes," but doesn't match, for a modern tea party.

I love this Lotte platter, design by by Turi Gramstad Oliver for Figgjo Flint of Norway.  The size of it (13.5" long!) is so versatile.  We also have a set of egg cups in the same design for a perfect Sunday brunch, in style.

I am going to try to squeeze in a few more listings before it's time for work-work.  Check out the shop if you'd like to ogle a little vintage eye candy today!  And don't forget, if something does catch your eye, readers get 10% their purchase with the discount code DLT2013.

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Hiatus Sale!

Now you know why my Mom and I will be temporarily closing our Etsy shop on August 15th.  It has been torturous to keep buying & stockpiling vintage goodies and not be able to list them, but we wanted to keep it small scale and test the waters because we only had time to keep the shop open a few weeks.  We have had so much fun conversing with fellow collectors through Etsy and finding new homes for some of our vintage finds.

The time flew by so fast, I never even had time to arrange a giveaway!  I promise something big for when we re-open.  We'll be opening again some time in 2013 (likely spring) but some of our unsold goods won't be making it back into the shop, so if there's anything you've been ogling, now's a good time because readers (+ their friends and family) get 20% off anything and everything!  PLUS, please feel free to convo me for a personalized (and cheaper) shipping quote or combined shipping.

For readers who have already bought something, thanks so much!  Convo me through Etsy to get your special 25% off coupon code.

Coupon Code: DLT20

Indulge me while I pimp my wares (and share some of my gift/storage ideas in the meantime):

Need a unique baby shower gift?  Here's one for the new Mom (babies don't know the difference): a set of mid-century pale grey and yellow planters for a chic nursery. 

For anyone starting school in the fall, or needing an at-work pick-me-up, this hand painted, hilariously quirky vintage planter from the 1940s or 50s would be perfect to hold little office bits and bobs:

The glaze on this Hull planter is just as luminous in real life and would also do wonders to spruce up a desk area - either for plants or for pens and office goodies:

This W. Germany single service vintage coffee set would similarly be cute at your office to cheer up your at-work lunch, or for display in a retro-themed kitchen.  Heck, for this sweet price, use it for a lovely little girl to play with or to use at the dinner table as her own special set (fill the coffee pot with her favorite iced tea!)

This antique plate is 100% not going back into the shop if it doesn't sell.  I'll take it as a sign it was meant to be and hang it up on the wall.  Although . . . it's not like I don't already have a stack of art to be hung.  I will just end up greedily hoarding it because it's so unusual.

Are you thinking holiday gifts (or attire) yet? 

Looking for a sweet, sparkly purse for a New Year's Eve Party (it's sooner than you think!) or wedding?  Something with just enough room for some cash and a cell and absolutely no prohibiting of hot dance moves? 

This pretty, Austrian brooch looks festive to me, maybe perfect for a cream winter coat during the holidays?

A thoughtful hostess gift: 8 sweet, vintage dessert plates that will make any table setting a touch prettier.  Because they're clear, they will work with any existing china/dishes.  Added bonus: you're covered if you're the guest that accidentally breaks a dish (there's always someone)!

P.S. Do you have any idea how hard it is to photograph a clear plate?  These are more gorgeous in real life.

A retro Battlestar Galactica board game (new in wrapper) for your favorite geek:

Let me suggest a cute pair of Astrological salt & pepper shakers for those folks who are impossible to buy for (everyone has a sign!)

Also for that hard-to-buy-for person: a pretty, silver plated vase from W. Germany.  Perfect for a few gorgeous stems of roses.

Fill this sweet tea cup with a few handmade bags of tea (or forget tea - go for chocolate) for your favorite coworker (or teacher) so she can start drinking her break-time coffee or tea in style.  Honestly, this peach luster stuff totally brightens any dreary day because it just glows:

Who doesn't need drinking glasses?  We're constantly breaking them and would love to be gifted a chic vintage set like this one.  Our other gold set has already sold, but this one is just as glam!

This set of Pyrex bowls is pristine and more than a dozen people favorited them so if you were at all interested I'm giving you a heads up (and a sweet, 20% off discount):



This zingy, celery green Haeger planter would also stand in as a gorgeous vase and looks beautiful empty, too. 

You can click here to see what other goodies we have left.

Happy weekend!  I'm out hitting yard sales and packing this weekend, how about you?

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