Back to the Books and Winnowing Down the Projects

Farmer Boy's Fanny appliqued block. 

This lead-off image is an orphan block from the lot of my project shown below. The crocheted quilt in the background was from an antique shop in Clearlake, California. 

After visiting 4 thrift shops, an estate and rummage sale came through and produced books and CDs. My $10 donation to the Boy Scout rummage sale will spin into $100 profit. Back to listing the books, I will follow that with listing a few needle kits.  

I was blessed with some quality storage baskets from my mom's estate. That prompted me to cull down my quilting projects. I still have them stored in Ziploc bags and would like to find some cloth or canvas storage bags. 

In my quilt project cull, I found these antique flower quilt blocks. I bought these in a lot and sold half of them online. Four of the blocks need a green stem added to make the blocks consistent. I may not use all of them, as some have some dark spotting. I may size down those blocks, depending on the border fabric. 

Reseller update: When I first began listing sewing patterns, it was mainly vintage cut ones. Over the years, I have segued to newer uncut patterns. The patterns that do not sell are home decor (excluding anything holiday-related), and cut wedding dress ones. I de-listed at least 25 patterns from my first tub of mainly Butterick ones. 

I finally got around to listing this Disney goldfish costume. All it required was  reinforcement of the larger fin on a corner of the costume. I keep the rainbow of colors in threads and fabrics for mends and reconstructions. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185596921817

I am doubling my eBay listing efforts because I recently purchased a new 2022 Toyota truck, an Army green Tacoma sport. Love it!

It Is All About That Crochet, and the Sewing Pattern Sessions

It is all about that crochet (sung to the tune All About That Bass). My lead-off image is a cluster of crocheted flowers bought at thrift for $1.99. The crocheted slip cover to the vase was in another $2 bag I've highlighted below. 

I was able to turn my attention to the $2 bag of crochet pieces I bought in Fort Bragg. I've listed the lot of orphans for $32. I also have more sets of crochet granny squares to list, some very soft and beautiful ones. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185583111696

I am back at it - listing sewing patterns on eBay. Like a squirrel storing away food for the winter, I am in Madwoman listing mode. I have squirreled away boxes and boxes of patterns to list. It has nearly gotten out of control. 

This pattern deserves a highlight even though a patchwork cover doesn't make much sense to me. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185571521279

I couldn't resist posting this adorable slippers pattern. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185571548867

I am heading toward my goal of 2,000 total active listings. $15k in gross profit for FY 22/23 is another goal. My profit has increased by $5,000 each year. If I can list everything in my death pile by year's end, I might be able to reach my milestone goal of $20k. 

September signals that start of queueing up my Countdown to Christmas posts. I will begin composing them weekly, and if I have enough content, go to daily until Christmas. I will highlight this find again - I was delighted to find a light-up vintage Christmas tree at thrift for $3.99! It has a clunky/chunky 70s vibe to it. 

Crocheted items continue to dominate my life 😐 I spent more than what I usually would for this crocheted blanket ($18). The Mr. and I stopped at a thrift shop in Clearlake, California. They were just opening their doors and were moving big items so I could look around. It is in the keeper category - now known as the colorful Clearlake blanket.

Had a completely awful day the other day. It began by having a buck run into my already beat-up 2008 Ford Escape. I was taking the country road at a slow pace but could not avoid him. He hit the driver's side bumper, and his antlers hit the top of the hood. He went under the vehicle and then stood up from his tumble and ran off. 

The vehicle now down, I worked from home. While I was trying to reach something on a top shelf, the bucket I was standing on gave way and I twisted my ankle, spraining it. I was already upset from the accident, so that just added insult to injury. 

I am on the mend, and there looks to be a new car in my future. 

Off and Running

The reason for the post title is that the months from September through year's end seem to fly by. These two G.I. Joe figurines are another item I collect. Found at a flea market for $1 each, they too like to hang at the marina. 

I rarely deal in clothing but this Mexican embroidered jean jacket will go up on eBay. There are other embroidery details on the sleeves - bought for $40, will be listed for at least $80. 

The Paul Bunyan thrift shop in Fort Bragg came through for me with quilt books, crocheted squares, and fabric (I don't need). 

We, like many others, are escaping the 100+ heat. We have had the good fortune of staying close to the coast where the weather is downright gorgeous. I hope you too are staying comfortable. 

Freebies and Treasures

I am on track to complete my listing goals of books and sealed CDs. I was all set to list for sale this 1976 publication of Treasures from Throwaways. It was a giveaway scored from a fav thrift. I pulled it from the sale pile because I can use it for either my AtoZ posts or do a spoof on some of the crafts. The lead off image is a cardboard tree from that book. 

The book also highlights painted furniture. Funny how things like that trend back. 

Now that the holiday selling season is looming, I am ratcheting up my efforts to get product listed. I have been concentrating on sealed CDs. Some of my best CD finds have been from the thrift shop State of the Ark in Fort Bragg, California. This Rambo Mix is the best of the bunch.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185556194425

All throughout the summer my eBay listings posted averaged 25 items per month. August was deemed crocheted-blanket-month. I gained this beaut for a few dollars half off at thrift. Bought one day, listed the next. If only I could do that with all of my items, August's blankets are now listed. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185557190529

Ending the post with the Pattern of the Day - cutest of the bunch of the sewing pattern sessions. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185557760223

I've Got the Blues

I know exactly why I have the blues - I am grieving. I lost my best friend, my mother, last month. I cannot allow myself to fall into the abyss. I have decided to resume my Art History classes at Sacramento City College in the spring. 

My quilting activity is on hold. It is such a physical craft. You have to be 100% to engage in the sewing, ironing, organizing layouts, etc. in quilting. That is just the piecework aspect of it, the actual quilting is a whole nuther story.  

The Mr. has put the kibosh on me adding more shelving to contain my eBay listed product. I will continue culling those items that have not sold. I just launched a 60% sale on Creative Circle needle kits. They seemed a good idea at the time, but have not been moving like they should.  

Even with taking a month off during the summer as time away from selling, my sales reflect as up 70%! Go figure. I did allow offers and acceptances during that time though. 

Another category I am beginning to think may be slowing are cookbooks. I have a little collection of 1980s red plaid ones. I may have to stop buying them and let this round sell through. 

My best selling patterns are from Vogue. I can see myself segueing to carrying only that line of vintage pattern. There are other specialty patterns that are best sellers such as Folkwear and the historical costumes. Costume patterns in general do no sell as well as I anticipated. 

Ending the post with a pattern I have kept in my collection, a 1972 McCall's 3397 Betsy McCall rag doll.

I keep the cutest and oldest sewing patterns that I find. Probably about 1% of what I actually list. 

My next rounds of eBay listings will be books, NIP CDs, Vogue sewing patterns, crocheted blankets, then quilt blocks and tops. Let's see how well I keep to my schedule. 

How much is that dolly in the window?

I thought I was back in business buying a bag of doll clothes for $1.99 at thrift. A few years ago, I found bags of Barbie clothes. I lotted them up by color and all of the lots sold. But for my recent purchase bag, only two articles of American Girl dresses were keepers. Not too bad for a buck a dress. My fav Hallmark bear sports the cutest of the two dresses.  

My pattern collecting, of course, continues. Here is one most unique, at first I thought it was a pattern for a full-sized chair. On closer inspection, there are eyeglasses resting on the chair in the picture, and the instructions note "Only for bears, bunnies, and dolls." 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185549719745

eBay Open 2022 will be held September 21-23. It is hybrid event for eBay sellers. Only those who live near New York, Austin, and Los Angeles, can attend in person and those live events have sold out. I would really love to attend one of those events in person. 

Ending the post with this neato Treehugger graphic. I do beg to differ on "shopping at the Thrift Store Leads to Less Hoarding." I have so. much. stuff, especially fabric. I buy it in bulk and give away all of the character prints. 

August is Crocheted Blanket Month

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185557213958

It has started out that way finding a crocheted blanket per week in August. One year, it was the summer of the hinged blue Ball jar where I found 5 of them. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185557206166

I am not sure what my fascination is with these crocheted items. Maybe because I never mastered the crafts of knitting and crocheting. 

Here was my first find of the month. I think each one is a work of art. 

I will have to put some or all of them up for sale. I get to collecting in cycles. It is odd some things show up at thrift regularly, other things show up occasionally, and other finds are rare. Items I collect in the rare category are crystal Princess House lamps, wooden duck decoys, and of late, ceramic tiki mugs. 

My summer days of leisure are nearly over. We kept our camper was in fish camp alongside the ocean for three months. We now have a supply of cod and salmon. 

Time to ramp up the eBay listings. I have product to list in all of my specialty categories. I will highlight the unique ones in the upcoming posts. 

Ending the post with graphics from a 1960s publication - Let's Crochet.