Where to Find Me Next - Springfield, IL Giant Flea Market

Over the winter holiday I visited a long-time friend who now resides in Springfield, IL and just so happens to live right across the street from the fairgrounds. While we were out walking around he pointed out that they hold a monthly flea market and I thought - hey, I have a free place to stay, perhaps I should give this a shot. So on Sunday, January 15th I'll be at the Giant Flea Market at the fairgrounds in Springfield, IL.

I'll be hot off the Handmade Happy Hour event (which means no need to unpack the car!) and ready to show a new market what Vintage Baubles & Bits is all about!

Come visit. If all goes well I may make this a monthly activity!

Where to Find Me Next - Handmade Happy Hour

Liven up the winter blues by hitting up the Handmade Happy Hour with me on Friday, January 13th!

This will be my first time participating in an event put together by Miss Ohio Vintage, who I've been dying to meet since we started chatting on Twitter a few months ago. I'm incredibly excited and I'll have a lot of new items, especially clothing, ready for the event! Be sure to come out and support local, handmade and vintage!

PHOTOGRAPHER:
CAMI WADE {photography} - http://camiwadephotography.com/

VENDORS:
Miss Ohio Vintage - http://missohiovintage.com/
Bluebird Denim - http://bluebirddenim.com/
BelleStyle Bijoux - http://bellestyle.com/
happiihuman - http://happiihuman.bigcartel.com/
WOVEN - http://www.facebook.com/WOVENweaving
Gebbs Goobs T-Shirts: http://gebbsgoobs.com/
Vintage Baubles & Bits: http://www.facebook.com/VintageBaublesnBits
Caroline Williard Couture: http://www.cw-couture.com/
(1 Vendor Spot Open)

What: Handmade Happy Hour (Buy Local - Supporting indie biz gives you good karma!)

What Else: Complimentary Red & White Wine and Cannellini Bean Dip*
(while it lasts - come early with your work friends to take advantage of the free drinks!)

When: Friday, January 13th 5:00pm-9:30pm

Why: We love to support local handmade vendors. Come out to shop, drink, and mingle!

Visit http://missohiovintage.com/ for more details and vendor spotlights posted periodically through 1/13/2012.

Expiring Listings!

This week marks the first four months of my tenure on Etsy. I've found the site to offer so many avenues for growing my business, learning about owning an online retail shop and becoming an obsession! But what the end of four months means is the first time I'll have listings expire! So in honor of that and to be honest, to hopefully reduce the amount of relisting I have to do - I'm offering a discount on items posted in September and expiring this month.

Just check out how much my listings and photography have improved since September! Click on a photo below to see the listing on Etsy. Use coupon code EXPIRE15 at checkout and get 15% off!

Gerry's Cameo Pendant/Brooch

West Germany Clip Earrings

One Pair Left! - Gold & Seed Pearl Clip Earrings

Gaymode Vintage Pantyhose from the 1960s

Blue Swirled Hat Pin

West Germany Clip Earrings

Multi-Colored Rhinestone Clip Earrings

West Germany Plastic Flower Clip Earrings

Austrian Blue Plastic Flower Clip Earrings

Japan Clip Earrings

Peach Thermoset Choker

Set - Clear Rhinestone Necklace and Screwback Earrings

Vintage Park Lane Locket

1970s Korean Silk Beads in Brown and Blue

Brown & Gold Set - Japan Necklace and Clip Earrings

Basement Sale - Round 2!!

So my traffic wasn't what I was hoping it would be last Saturday, so I thought I'd give this another go before packing everything up! Here's a reminder of what you'll find at the sale. But now it's 12/17 from 8-1pm!!

Address: 5217 Alabama Ave., St. Louis, MO 63111

Vintage:

Glassware
China
Jewelry boxes
Lots of costume jewelry for cheap!
Clothing
Shoes
Purses
Gloves
Lingerie
Christmas items
50s Kitchen Table
Lots to pick from and great prices!

Household:

Women's clothing - 50 cents each, sizes sm-lg
25 cent table that included luau party items
Lamp table
50 gal metal tank stand
Photo printer with ink and photo paper
Pool table and all accessories
DVD player

For an idea of the types of vintage items I will have available visit Etsy and search under shops for VintageBaublesnBits. I have a lot of items still available.

If you'd like to arrange a viewing before the sale or a private pre-sale email me to set up a date and time.

Basement Sale!

I've decided to clean  house! And make room for new vintage inventory. I have tons of items that I tote around to flea markets and rummage sales and I'd like to clean out some of the glassware, jewelry boxes and heavier items to make more room for clothing, jewelry, hats, purses, etc. So I'm hosting a basement sale on Saturday, December 10th from 8am to 1pm.

Here's a short list of the items I'll have available -

Vintage:

Glassware
China
Jewelry boxes
Lots of costume jewelry for cheap!
Clothing
Shoes
Purses
Gloves
Lingerie
Christmas items
Lots to pick from and great prices!

I'm also getting rid of non-vintage items as well.

Household:

Women's clothing - 50 cents each, sizes sm-lg
25 cent table that included luau party items
Lamp table
50 gal metal tank stand
Photo printer with ink and photo paper
Pool table and all accessories
Foosball table
DVD player
Much more!!

Come on out and say hi!

5217 Alabama Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63111

Avon - A Brand History

Probably one of the most iconic names in beauty products - Avon began producing costume jewelry in 1963 and continues to do so today. The company was founded in 1886, focusing mainly on perfumes. It was founded by David McConnell and offered, at the time, an unheard of opportunity for women to go into business for themselves. In the late 1800s if women worked, it was mainly in factories, as housekeepers or maids and as laborers on farms. The opportunity to sell perfume opened doors for women in a supportive way.

The company, originally known as the California Perfume Company, grew quickly, growing to 5,000 representatives by 1900. In the 1929 CPC began using the word Avon for some of their products and in 1932 received their first trademark approval. In 1939 the company officially became Avon Products, Inc. and began offering more products such as skin care lines.

It wasn't until 1963 that Avon began offering jewelry to customers, but it wasn't for sale, the jewelry was offered as a gift with purchase. The jewelry became popular among Avon's client and a demand began building for the jewelry as a separate purchase from the perfume and skin care products.

Avon began experimentally selling a few pieces in 1965, but until 1970 most pieces were only available with an Avon product. After 1970 the pieces became more and more popular and the costume jewelry became it's own section of products available in the Avon catalog.

For vintage collectors this timeline can be a helpful tool - odds are most of the pieces you'll find are going to be from the 70s or newer. Most Avon jewelry is decent quality - but not very high-end. So you'll need to look for pricing accordingly. Some of the most popular pieces were perfume pendants. These were very big in the 70s, usually very heavy and well made, more so at least than some of the later vintage costume jewelry pieces.

All Avon pieces will be marked. They've always done a great job of branding their items and it's pretty consistent. The main way you'll be able to date items is based on the design of the piece. 60s and 70s pieces will have a lot of plastic - lucite and thermosets mainly. Look for older pieces to be made of metal in goldtone color and real rhinestones. Also look for resin cameo pieces - Avon created a lot of those!

I've posted some pictures of different Avon pieces I've had or sold for reference. Happy hunting!

A New Idea - Private Vintage Shopping Experiences and Vintage Shopping Parties

The other day I posted about my ideas for loyalty programs and rewarding good customers and that sparked my thinking about offering the "custom picking" service. I've decided to take it a step further - not only can I do searches for vintage pieces you may like/want for you, but I can also provide private vintage shopping experiences and vintage shopping party opportunities!

I've done the private shopping experience once and it was a lot of fun. I had a customer who couldn't make it out to a flea market I was at, but really wanted to look at some of the vintage dresses I had to offer. I set up an appointment and she came to the house to review the dresses and make her selection. It was a lot of fun and a nice personal way to share vintage with someone. So I thought - why not make this offer a little more known and today I posted several Craigslist listings to promote the idea here in St. Louis.

Then I had a second brilliant thought - why not offer to host shopping parties!?!? They're currently very popular, but I find them to be so high pressure - so offering a low key way for you and your girlfriends to browse vintage finds, try things on and treasure hunt in your own living room sounded like a blast!

Here are the details/my Craigslist posting:

If you're a female in 2011 it's bound to be true - you've most likely been invited to some sort of shopping party - Mary Kay, Tupperware, Scentsy, Pampered Chef, Park Lane and the list goes on and on and on. These parties can be tons of fun, but there's always pressure to buy, expensive items you don't really want/need, but you feel guilty about or if you buy more then you can earn something you actually do want. Well this is my twist on the idea, with a little less pressure - host a vintage trunk sale party!

If you love glitzy, pretty, lacy, girlie items from the 1920s - 1980s I've got items for you! The party host can come view my inventory (I run a small, home-based vintage company called Vintage Baubles & Bits), select specific items, a theme/era or style of items you'd like brought to the party and I'll pack them up and bring them to you the night of your party. My inventory includes vintage costume jewelry, clothing, shoes, purses, belts, gloves, scarves, hats, mirrors/compacts, handbags, clutches, box purses, lingerie and more! There's no charge, no obligation to buy, no pressure to host another party and best yet - no pyramid scheme! I'm not out to create a host of minion vintage sellers :) Of course items will be for sale that night - but it's also about the fun!

I love finding vintage treasures, trying on fancy items and experiencing the nostalgia of the past - which is why I got into vintage myself!

To see a sample of my inventory you can view my Etsy shop - search for VintageBaublesnBits or read my blog on Blogger - search for thriftinginthelou.

I also do private shopping experiences if you'd like to set up an appointment to come by and see for yourself. Just email me with the types of items you're interested in, any size specifications and dates and times you're available (after 6pm during the week please!).

So if you or your friends are interested in something like this comment on the post or email me at mandyheth@gmail.com and we'll see what we can work out!