Yelling, lurking and reselling

This foggy weekend's focus was books and records. My 1958 Patchwork publication by Averil Colby arrived. 

 

And I found the follow-up book to Quilting for People Who Don't Have Time to Quilt. I am in that "still" category. Can't wait to get back my Gypsy Wife Meets Jelly Roll quilt currently in to the longarmer. I chose clamshell quilting in a dark brown thread. It is a pattern that I would NEVER attempt myself. I know I have a tendency to rush and sometimes I can't hold my arms completely still to do ruler work. I so prefer doing uncomplicated patchwork piecing or sewing together orphan blocks made by mystery quilters. 

Records included a few of Glen Campbell's and this Greatest Hits of Dave Brubeck. Dave is a jazz pianist who grew up in the city where I live now. When I found this, I may or may not have said loudly, "I found a Dave Brubeck!" 

With the Babylok in the shop and still recovering from my injury induced hexagon-cutting marathon, I have been sidelined from any progress in the quilting arena. 

My thrift shop lurking has paid off again with the purchase of this needlepoint kit for $3. This came from the same lot as the retro quilt blocks. This massive craft-related donation has been months in being released. Once priced, it doesn't move on the floor for another few weeks. This, I saw in the pre-pricing area and hoped I could get to it before anyone else. My first intent was to resell it, but decided it should join my project holder. 

January is an interesting month in thrift where nearly new clothes or even those still with their tags, land. There are also boxed gift items and, of course, discarded Christmas. 

Moving on to my reselling topic, what seems to still be selling is Christmas items. I am on holiday burnout right now after creating some countdown to Christmas posts, decorating, baking, all that stuff. A break is certainly in order. I have been buying like a maniac though thrifted Christmas CDs. Priced around a $1, I have an inventory of 50 to sell. 

I am a small potatoes store https://www.ebay.com/str/grammasonacid

I try to list 5 items a week, sometimes it is less and average a profit of $100 a month. Currently, I have 17 listings with an average price of $20. I recently sold a lion head door knocker I bought retail some 30 years ago. Don't need it, gotta sell it. My reselling is underwriting my thrift purchases. Admittedly, I am buying more with an eye for resell too. When I do buy for myself, I think, "these few dollars add up," and how hard it is to recapture on a resell. I end up putting back more than one item before I head to checkout.

Are you divesting or investing in more stuff? 

Music Collections Are Dropping

Not only do I shop thrift frequently and often, I range far and wide. The fact that tons of CDs and vinyl records pass through secondhand shops isn't a surprise to anyone. As a music collector, I think it is a mistake to discard the older formats. It is what it is, if the music isn't valued it is donated. All to my betterment as I am able to discover music I have never heard before or collect artists that are sought after. 

Here is the holy grail of vinyl and Prince collectors. I scored, not one but two, Prince and the Revolution records at $1.29 each. I was in awe of such a year end gift from the thrift shop gods. 

The funny thing is I have always liked him but I never bought his music. I guess I just took it for granted. Now, I will be able to hear his other recordings that may not have heard radio play. 

Dropping by a Goodwill, I saw the record pricer was savvy with some marked as high as $25. I would have to drop out of the collecting game then. 

From that same hospice thrift, I grabbed 17 CDs, some xmas. Here are some of the titles I may know the artist but have never heard that certain recording:

Little Feat, Ain't Had Enough Fun
Jonny Lang, Wander This World
Spyro Gyra, dreams beyond control

Some fun ones:

Disco Fever, the Pure Gold Collection
Moulin Rouge soundtrack
100% Funk, Vol. 2
Johnny Cash, Columbia Records 1958-1986

Earlier in the month, I stumbled onto a 1960s through late 1970s treasure trove in vinyl at a Goodwill boutique. I rip the CDs to my laptop and then pass them on to another music lover in the family. 

For those moving to online services, keep those collections coming!

Weird and wacky in the world of thrift

Another of my recurring features are the Weird and Wacky, previous year's posts 2016 and 2015. This is my 4th and final post for the Aprilalternativechallenge - the weird and wacky in the world of thrift, beginning with a few owls,

some friendly frogs,

a strawberry shortcake and her creepy clown friend.

Adding in a tissue box cover.

I am not sure what the following creation is but it is resplendent in it's glue-gun gone wrong adornment.

Stuffed guy and his fish pal joining the party.

Welcomed by the cork wreath.

On my regular thrifting there was fabric, a quilt book How to Make an Amish Quilt and Olaf. I have begun collecting certain Ty Beanie Babies, ok, the ones I think might be collectible, some that I attach atop baby shower gifts, and some I just keep for myself.

Another retro item I have added to my secondhand thrift shopping list is vinyl records. Of course, they have to be in good condition and something I would eventually like to listen to, like jazz from the 60s/70s.

What is your Must Have collectible?