Vacation Sourcing

If I had my way, I would be thrift shopping every day during vacation. As it was, I was able to visit Fort Bragg secondhand sites on each successive Friday. 

The best of the bunch was the Paul Bunyan thrift shop which featured cookbooks buy 1 get 1 free. Mastering the Art of French Cooking is an automatic $20+ sale. 

There were sewing patterns, and fabric, two finds found most frequently in the wild. This $5 bag of scraps included orphan blocks and pieces. 

Gramma's Attic at the Redwood Coast Seniors Center produced a bag of completed crochet squares. I routinely find this type of handcrafted item there, and they always sell. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185982168462

This thrifted patriotic panel may finally spur me to complete a patriotic quilt. I keep tubs of fabric for certain themed quilts such as plaid wovens, Christmas prints, animal-themed fabric, and batiks. 

Fishing was largely unsuccessful as the Mr. caught one, and I caught none. We were circled by a few dolphins but I was unable to capture a good video. 

Finally, these Angelic Messenger Cards priced $2 at thrift were hidden in the books for sale. Yet another $20 bill waiting to be picked up by me. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185982143253

My Top 5 Best Selling Publications on eBay

Top 5 books that are my best sellers on eBay.

1.    The New York Times Cookbook (1961) by Craig Claiborne. I have a particular fondness for this one. It was one of my first cookbooks. I still use the teriyaki recipe to this day. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185801461107

2.    Mastering the Art of French Cooking (1970) by Julia Child and Simone Beck, this one happens to be Volume 2. Our public broadcasting station runs Julia Child cooking shows every afternoon. I tune in when the Mr. isn't watching cowboy movies. Post update: This book sold the same day as listed. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185801446540

3.    Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book. The Red Plaids. These sold more on condition than year of publication. Here is a pandemic blip in sales - these books sold like hot cakes during that time frame. I had 20 of them in my inventory at one point. I have 2 left to sell. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184699088595

4.    Sewing books, the older the publication, the better. This Singer Sewing Book (1954) is worth the price just for the graphics. These I also collect for my library. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185801475481

From very old to very new, I will try my hand at selling this sewing publication. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185801488005

5.    Tarot and Tattoo. Both are popular subjects. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185158798016

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185795692489

The first two listed books, along with the Singer Sewing Book were Goodwill boutique finds, all same day. It was a happy Tami thrifting day.  

Those are the ones that are popular - vintage sewing and cookbooks, how-to, and specialty publications. 

Cookbooks and the Connection Challenge

There used to be an antiques/junk shop on J street in Sacramento. It was filled to the brim nearly floor to ceiling with stuff. In the back was the book room. I remember row upon row of cookbooks. Kicking myself now I didn't snab the best of the bunch. 

One of my best-selling items is vintage cookbooks. Betty Crocker red plaids, any retro year. The New York Times Cook Book (pub. 1961), the Fannie Farmer cookbooks. I don't remember the cuisine from the 1970s being particularly appealing, it was the rise of vegetarianism but those vintage ones sell. 

One of the challenges within a challenge is "Connection Challenge" to grow a new friendship with a blogger. I hope to discover some amazing blogs on my AtoZ journey. 

Cardinal Strawberries

Set some fine, cooled strawberries in a timbale; coat them with raspberry sauce, or a puree of fresh raspberries, and sprinkle the latter with slivered fresh almonds. 

The Escoffier Cook Book