Inside Etsy Vintage Seller's Shop : RetroBabs

RetroBabs brings one of a kind eclectic finds, and a touch of ReMix too!

RetroBabs, or Barb, as her friends know her ventured onto Etsy one day with the help of her daughter, Bec.  It seems there was no turning back.  I took some time to interview her to find out how her "RetroBabs Vintage and ReMix" shop came to be.

How did you find Etsy start?

Barb says, "Bec was constantly telling me to go to Etsy because there was things she wanted me to buy.  I started searching the site and realized they had vintage.  I had been a big collector for years and I loved all the shops.  I decided it was something I could do and a good project for Bec and I to do together."

Baby Quilt, found HERE.

What role does your daughter, Bec play in your shop?

"She told me she wanted to be a silent partner (then having been a newly wed and all-married in June of 2010).  I supply the vintage fabric and Bec makes what she wants out of it.  She is a talented seamstress."  *Read about Babs and Bec here*


So how did you prepare for your "grand opening" in August, 2010?

"I started to collect some items to put in the shop.  I went to resale shops, antique stores, searched through my own collections, flea markets etc.  I decided to start listing items and it was then that I realized it all had a theme of sorts.  Mostly mid-century modern stuff. "

Lovely Desk Accessory, Found Here.

Mid Century Modern seems to be THE theme in your shop? 

"I was drawn to mad men, rat pack type items, and also desk accessories were selling. I have many male customers they buy things like york barbell weights, martini shakers and Ice -o-matics.  At Retrobabs we also sell a lot of fabric items from towels, apron, curtains, linens, and gloves. "

Lovely Seashell ReMix frame!

What is the "ReMix" end of things?

Barb explained that Bec re-mixes items that would normally be discarded into functional can-use items mixed with original artwork. You will find everything from Baby Bibs to plates fashioned into clocks, or hand sewn dish towels incorporating older fabric remnants.  She explains, "Bec's items are finally starting to sell. It took a while for the ReMix to catch on. We have sold three clock/plates to date. " 

Juicy Strawberry Pitcher. Find it Here.

What is your personal favorite item in your shop?

"Right now my favorite item in the shop is our Juicy Strawberry ceramic pitcher and the Mad Men type barware set of glassses with its groovy metal tray.  I want to keep them myself but I think my husband will make me move out of the house!"

Temporama cups by WhatsNewontheMantel

Do you collect anything? 

"I have to admit I am a collector of many things, atomic dishes, (I love Temporama), pottery, hand blown glass, elephants..... "


What have you learned from your experience on Etsy?

"When I first made my shop I thought you were supposed to keep everything separate from your personal life. Privacy wise I tried to separate my art life from the Etsy life.  Many of fellow Etsians including encouraged me to let people know who I am and what my art is.  With RetroChalet's help I started my RetroBabs blog and set up one for my personal artwork.  I now try to link everything together so folks get the full picture of our shop and us."

Etsy Teams ROCK!

What is your favorite part of being an Etsian?

"My favorite part of Etsy is the  community and the customers.  I did not expect this, such camaraderie and fantastic friendships.  I have 57 positive comments and customers write me letters, send photos and one actually sent a thank you gift to my home!! I then joined the Vesties team (focused on vintage) and that really helped me hone my shop and I picked Martha's brain (Team Captain of Vesties) at a local meet up."

Barb is a member of several teams, all of which help curtail her Etsy experience in positive ways.  Catch up with RetroBabs: 

RetroBabs Shop


Check her Facebook Page out!

RetroBabs Blog

On Barb's Art and Pottery Blog

On the Vesties Team

Meet Slapsy Maxi : Etsy Vintage Clothing Seller Dawn of Recyclers Guild Team Spills All

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves Floral Blouse, $38

Dawn of Slapsy Maxi told me a little about how her love of vintage clothing came to be.  

She explains, "I got addicted to vintage clothing about 22 yrs ago. My Mom gave me an Edwardian, leather drawstring handbag. That was all it took. My husband and I would go to auctions and buy boxes of clothing, hats, shoes, purses. No one else wanted these things. We LOVED them. So much history we can learn from clothing. I wish clothing could talk, the stories they could tell. "

Lovely Louis Fe'raud Sweater, $30

So how did her sales of vintage clothing start?

Dawn says, "Three years into marriage I told my husband I was not happy working as a LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse). I wanted to own a shop with vintage clothing. So I quit my job and Timeless Treasures Vintage Clothing Boutique (Brick Mortar) was born! I opened on November 17th, 1993."

How did she grow her business? 

She continues, "Filling the store from stem to stern. A few years into business and with knowing the RIGHT people we were able to connect with Hollywood. Our first movie we sold items for was Titanic. In fact of all the items they purchased from us, the only thing we could recognize was a Large, Black, Ostrich Plumed hat with a Red Rose on it, worn by Kathy Bates! "

Could this be the hat? Image courtesy of WornThrough blog.

Dawn continues, "From their we sold clothing for SeaBiscuit, Mona Lisa Smile, Public Enemy, That 70's Show.  Meet the Browns, HBOs-Carnivale to name a few. I always tell people that we are Collectors First and Sellers second." 



I asked her what she collects....

Dawn says, "Between my husband and I we have an Eclectic collection of items. I collect Vintage Ladies Head Vases, Art Deco items that Trip My Trigger, Flapper items with Faces on them, Old Hollywood items (I have a cigarette case/lighter combo that belonged to Cary Grant) and Vintage Mannequin Display Heads. "

I spy a vintage mannequin showcasing her 1936 vintage hat for sale!

Dawn and Hubby Jim

She continues, "My Husband collects Chicago Worlds Fair 1932-1933 items and memorabilia from our hometown. Our home is more of a museum and we LOVE it!"

Libby Lucille has inherited a passion for vintage!

Libby gives her Seal of Approval !

She continues, "Our 9 yr old daughter, Libby has inherited our Vintage passion. My all-time favorite find besides the TITANIC hat would have to be my Cary Grant cigarette case. Although I LOVE IT ALL! I get my inspiration and passion from the history in vintage items. I love finding an item that has a hand written note with it telling who owned the item and where it was worn. Clothing is a personal item to collect and I relish in that fact."

Vintage jewelry is also found in her shop!

What else does she want the world to know? 

Dawn explains, "I also dabble in making Jewelry. Especially earrings and necklaces. I enjoy making them out of broken or one of a kind jewelry pieces. Most of my time is spent online , reading books or magazines on Fashion and Vintage. We are never to old to learn!"

Gunne Sax Dress in her shop, Lace Confection timeless at $165

What is her favorite item in her shop? 

"One of my favorite items in my Etsy Shop right now is an Early 1970s GUNNE SAX-Cream Lace-Wedding Dress. So there you have it, me in a Nutshell."

Connect with Dawn: 

 Timeless Treasures Vintage Clothing Boutique on Facebook

Etsy Shop Slapsy Maxi

Ebay Shop

Meet Member RetroBabs : Retro Babs Vintage and ReMix

Renuxed Dish Towels!

Retro Babs is a great Etsy shop full of vintage housewares and upcycled finds. This shop is a Mother-Daughter duo known as Barb and Bec.  They stock their shop full of "a little vintage this" and "a bit of handmade that."  I love the vintage decor and practicality housed here.   Bec enjoys "remixing" things such as making ooak towels -- a lovely set of 3 can be had here for just $10.  Bec often embellishes things with her own personal touches, making them more lovely than they originally were.

My absolute favorite has to be the clocks.  Ahhhhhh, the clocks.  These are a great way to re-use vintage plates, and not to mention would be a great gift idea if you know someone who collects this particular line! There are usually several different versions in stock here.

Although I'm reportedly a kitchenista (RetroBabs stocks plenty of cool kitschy items), I find it interesting to see her mix of lovelies. Here you will find gifts for him, for her, memories for both, and wedding items.   These great gloves are only $12, a real steal for the vintage clothing lover, and would be perfect for the bride to be vintage-wedding-style.

Let's not forget the cameras, RetroBabs has some keen eyes for the hottest in vintage camera finds! I just love this 1957 Poloroid Highlander, with original case, booklets, and everything for $30.  Perhaps the photographer in you can get this working, or use it for a cool icon in your retro home.

She is a proud member of the Vintage Etsy Society Street Team, Trade-a-holics, and Etsy Recyclers Guild Team on Etsy!

Keep up with Retro Babs :

In Her Etsy Shop
On Her Blog
On Her Facebook Page

This article courtesy of VintageChalet.  and was previously published here.

Meet LC Vintage

Lindsay Van Cleave is the mastermind behind LC Vintage Jewelry . She randomly created an Etsy treasury a few days ago and included one of my 1950s vintage brooches. I took a peek at her shop and fell in love with so many of her pieces. I asked Lindsay if she would be interested in doing a blog interview and she gladly obliged.






Custom Vintage Brooch Bridal Bracelet $175

Photo taken by Tyler Wirken of Wirken Photography

Q. Tell me a little about yourself:

My name is Lindsay Van Cleave, I currently live in New York City where I work in advertising and am passionate about developing my jewelry business, LC Vintage. I have loved design and crafts since I was a little. I was always the girl who had a special craft to make as a party favor for all my birthday parties. My designs are inspired by vintage fashion and my grandmothers – Ida, Constance and Sara – whose vintage jewelry I still wear today. I love the stories behind finding vintage pieces to blend with modern high-quality materials to create a new chic look that can be timeless.

Q. When did you first start selling/creating vintage jewelry pieces?

I have always been fascinated by vintage pieces, but started selling my jewelry three years ago by word of mouth and now I am working towards building a larger business.

Q. Please describe your favorite eras in detail:

I have always been fascinated by the 1950s. The polished ladylike look, beautiful jewels and big full skirts make me melt! My interest in the era was initially peaked by my Mom who talks about my Grandmother, Constance, who passed before I was born. My mom always talked about how she worked in a dress shop, was so fashionable and always wore the big beautiful full dresses of that era. I have been in love ever since! I think it's so lovely that during those days, people took time to dress up for the theater or even just a shopping trip. Since I live in New York, I always find it fascinating to Google pictures from New York in the 1950s to see how the women and men dressed. They just look so dapper. I love it! I use a lot of old pictures and jewelry advertisements from the 1950s as inspiration when designing my jewelry. Of course, I love when I can incorporate time pieces from that era into my pieces. The 1950s feels timeless, sophisticated and elegant.

Goldstone Brooch Triple Strand Necklace $50


Q. Where do you buy your vintage items?

I try to support fellow Etsians by buying vintage brooches and odds and ends on Etsy. I also LOVE A grain of sand. They are based in North Carolina, which I have a sweet spot for since I went to college there, and they always have new unique vintage goodies for crafting beautiful pieces. I also like the thrill of the hunt at flea markets and antique shops. You never know what you will find.

Q. Where are your products sold (online/stores)?

My goal is to get into boutiques, but right now I sell ready to ship and custom pieces on Etsy and Wedzu. The links are below:
LC Vintage Jewelry on Etsy and
LC Vintage Jewelry on Wedzu

I also have a Facebook page if you want more behind the scenes peaks at my creative process. Besides jewelry, I post links and images that inspire me.

Seed Bead Vintage Brooch Necklace $130


Q. What advice can you give others who are interested in selling vintage/vintage jewelry?

I would say to make sure you do your homework and research the time periods so you know what you are getting is good quality vintage items. If you like to create, mix and match vintage pieces to create a new look. If you want to sell a piece as is, just make sure you give buyers detailed information on the era so they know it's a reputable piece.

Q. Describe yourself in three words:

Personable, Ladylike, Fashionable

Q. Is there is anything else you'd like to share with us?

Along with the pieces that I design and create, I love doing custom work for Brides and everyday. It's always so nice to incorporate a family heirloom into a brand new piece that you can wear everyday or on a special occasion. I am getting married in October and am incorporating parts of my Grandmother's jewelry into my necklace to keep them with my on that day and also design something extra special for my walk down the aisle. Thank you for letting me share my story!

This blog post was contributed by Heather of Texas Vintage Things.

Get to know our awsome team captain, Cindy of Retro Chalet

I joined the Etsy Recyclers Guild Team a few months ago and have had a pleasant experience from day one. Cindy our team captain and team leader has several shops on Etsy. Her main shop is Retro Chalet and her second shop is Retro Chalet Studio. She sells really cool vintage stuff including vintage buttons, vintage Melmac, vintage block letters, vintage advertising and other vintage items at Retro Chalet.

Her Etsy bio says, "Dumpster Diving Diva, Recycler, Artist, Writer, and Greenie. Proud Team Leader of the Etsy Recyclers Guild. Member of the Vintage Etsy Society Street Team. Do-gooder".

Lot of vintage buttons $12.00


In her Retro Chalet Studio shop, she sells a variety of cute recycled handmade art things such as poker chips with cute images taken from vintage books and other sources (these are made into pendants), mixed media collages and other jewelry pieces.

WATER LILY - Pendant - 1930s Vintage Ephemera - Eco Friendly Blue Poker Chip Pond Plant Pendant $12.95


Cindy is the type of person who is willing to go above and beyond for anyone. She's always willing to promote other team members because that's just who she is. I've never met her in person, but we have exchanged quite a few messages and I feel as if I've gotten to know her. She's a genuine person who would give anyone the shirt off her back if it came down to it. She gives 110% and more in everything she does. I would like to thank Cindy from the bottom of my heart for everything she has done for our team and for me. You can get to know Cindy better by clicking the links below:

Retro Chalet
Retro Chalet Studio
Ira Mency
Ira Mency Blogspot
Twitter

Vintage Ephemera Galore at the Paper Picker

I have an extreme love for all things vintage, especially paper.  Today I spent some time getting lost in one of our member's shops, PaperPicker. 

 

Vintage 1950's Fawn Greeting Card, $3

This shop is full of fantastic finds in paper. (One of three very cool shops from the lovely Nerrissa, straight out of Fort Worth Texas.)   In an effort to separate her handmade clay treasures, and growing vintage finds, this third store contains all things paper!

Flower Power Wrapping Paper, $6

From vintage greeting cards to retro wrapping paper, this is a paper lover's dream come true.  Collage artists, scrapbooking lovers, artists, vintage junkies, and paper recyclers will love this shop.

 Vintage 1946 Book Page, $2

One could certainly spend a lot of time in this shop, browsing the advertisements, book pages, wrapping paper, vintage playing cards, books and zines, vintage greeting cards, and so much more.  Affordable pricing and great selections make this shop a must see!

Check this shop out!
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http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpicker
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All images and funky link courtesy of Nerrissa, Recycled Wares.

Recycled Wares : Keeping Vintage Alive

I'm a vintage junkie, and I was thrilled to learn of Nerrissa from RecycledWares joining our group.  She is from Fort Worth, Texas and does her part to rescue and re-offer these way cool vintage items. 

Check out this great 60's can for only $16 in her shop .

When I first joined Etsy, vintage was something they weren't 100% sold on.  Vintage sellers had to unite and fight for the same "type" search results as the other categories.  There was a time we were in fear that vintage would go away.  Etsy did love vintage items, however, their aim was a handmade (and supply) marketplace.  It's no wonder that because repurposing and reusing vintage items is a way to reduce the carbon footprint - that it was bound to stay.  (Maybe in part by modern day divas like Rachel Ray  with her retro kitschy items and Martha Stewart who show that vintage can be functional as well as decorative and go hand in hand with crafting and other daily activities...) 

Imagine Rachel Ray whipping up something in this mod enamelware casserole at $30.

Nerrissa says, "With so many items being discarded, our mission is to rescue as many items as we can (within reason) and present them to the arts & crafts and collector's world. We work with local businesses and families to find items that are no longer of use to them. All the treasures we find are in good condition, but just need a second home. The space in our home and our budget will only allow for so many rescues, but you can be certain, that if you find it within our marketplace, it was a rescued ware."

  Martha Stewart could transform these 93 vintage swatches, $10 into a masterpiece !

Nerrissa keeps busy promoting her shop, and has opened two new shops on Etsy. House of Mirth offers the best in Clay, Wood and Paper Arts and Paper Picker which offers the best in vintage paper.  

Find our more about her here:

FLICKR:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/recycledwares/

BLOG:
http://recycledwares.blogspot.com/

Or go visit her Etsy shop now!

luvvinjewels

Shop Name:  luvvinjewels

Owner: Ellen

Location:  Memphis, TN

Shop Link: http://www.etsy.com/shop/luvvinjewels

Ellen loves to sell everything vintage - - from jewelry to household items.  Are you a crafter? You'll find a great assortment of vintage fabrics and crafting supplies. Ellen says, "I truly cannot stand to see usable items go in the trash. I regularly comb through curbside offerings."

When time allows, Ellen also makes one of a kind handmade bags and upcycled jewelry. She says, "I also try to repurpose fabric in my tote bags. I am using old tablecloths, dish cloths and upholstery samples."

                                            

Ellen loves to recycle and upcycle.  "My biggest repurpose projects are mosaic jewelry pictures made from old broken jewelry," she explains.

                                        
 
Be sure to check out her shop as stock is ever-changing!

RetroClassics

NAME: Retro Grandma

Shop: Retro Classics

LOCATION: Saskatchewan , CANADA

SHOP LINK: http://www.retroclassics.etsy.com/

When Retro Grandma is not making her cool upcycled purse and book purses, she is stocking this great vintage shop with cool finds. Anything goes here, a true "blast from the past!"

Toys, games, dolls, clothing, you name it!

Hey, wait, I had this as a kid. Does that make me retro?

Grandma just loves the thrill of searching for vintage. If you are looking for something special just let her know. Did I mention the kitchenware?

Etsy RetroClassics HERE.

Check out her other shop, RetroGrandma HERE.

Visit her BLOG here.