Styles that take me back ...
... to the sixties. I was just a squirt back then, but the current obsession with the Mid Century aesthetic has reawakened my fondness for preserving the fashion, decor, toys and trinkets that dominated the decade.
Asian artifacts
From foo dogs to ginger jars, silk kimonos to gofun dolls—I'm partial to the rich symbolism and artistry exported from Asia.
Quirky and random stuff
Some of the things that turn my head defy description. I know it when I see it, and then it's up for grabs to the next quirky collector who happens on our store.
What do you like?
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Act now to line up a gift for your favorite dad this Father's Day. The special day set aside for the top pop in your life always falls on the third Sunday in June, which means in 2017 we celebrate on SUNDAY, JUNE 18. There's still time to get a thoughtful and one-of-a-kind gift for your dad. Here are some ideas to help you nail it this year. Find his favorite fragrance. Do you have fond memories of dad's cologne wafting in your nose when he crushed you in a bear hug as a young cub? Recreate the moment with a gift of the stuff from back in the day. Present him with a boss shirt. Everybody's wardrobe needs a fresh infusion now and then. Find something for dad to wear that captures his personality. (Your thoughtfulness will be extra appreciated if he's the kind of guy who hates to shop.) Add to his collection. Is your dad a collector of some kind? Zone in on what he's passionate about and find a piece that will complement his collection. If you don't have time or are worried you won't make the right choice, consider purchasing an eBay gift card. The gift is doubly good for collectors who believe the hunt is half the fun! Score a conversation piece. You dad will love having something you picked out especially for him in the spaces where he spends his time. Do Dad's Day in a big way this year and let him know he's special. Ask not what your dad can do for you . Ask what you can do for your dear old dad! Finding something meaningful and useful that's also gently used is a great way to honor dad and the planet.
If there's one thing you can say about our eBay business, it's that no two days are ever the same. Our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay offers an eclectic variety of merchandise. The store attracts serious collectors, window shoppers, costumers, staging professionals, crafters and even resellers looking for that special something. We're getting better at rescuing gold when we're out and about. Here's a short list of items that customers have been eager to buy. Someone wanted this hat. My partner in crime recognized the value of the well-constructed straw hat shown above, and sure enough, it sold to a buyer in Korea within hours of being listed on our eBay site. What makes this hat special? Quality (the straw was super sturdy); origin (made in Italy); age (over 50 years old); condition (flawless) and style (self-evident). Chinese pottery is very popular. I'm drawn to stunning works of art with Asian origins. Fortunately, many of our customers also appreciate our finds in this area. The buyer of this Chinese Satsuma vase asked us to be on the lookout for other pieces featuring this beautiful "1000 flowers" or millefleurs pattern. Mid Century has a big fan base. Retro towels, table cloths, bed linens and interior decor are hot right now. Mod floral and atomic patterns are often scooped up as fast as we can list them. Judging by sales, buyers also appreciate no-iron percale sheets (popular in the 60s and 70s) more than ever. Made in the USA and union made—two labels that are harder to come by in newer merchandise—tend to increase desirability. Classic patterns continue to please. Toile patterns are consistently good performers, so we like to score it for our store. Pillows, throw blankets, comforters and table linens often feature this pattern in blue on white or off white. More rarely we've found it in yellow on white and also red on white. Variations on this theme complement French Country (sometimes dubbed "romantic" or "shabby cottage") as well as American Colonial decor. What are you looking for? Send us your suggestions for our future shopping excursions. We may just find exactly what you've been looking for. I have a soft spot for old photographs. On our treasure hunting forays, I always stop to inspect the faded photo album or the cardboard box stuffed with negatives. I don't claim to be an expert on photography over the ages, but I do consider myself a fan of the medium. Whether tintypes, cabinet cards or kodachrome prints—formal portraits, casual snapshots or carefully crafted compositions—photographs offer a window into history that narratives simply can't. Here are some reasons why I rescue and resell photographs in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay. A glimpse of people in the past Perpetually curious about people and places over time, I'm drawn to images that show a slice of life from an earlier era. Armchair anthropologists like myself actually enjoy looking at vintage photographs. Hair and clothing styles are telltale signs of the decade. It's the subject matter that counts. How people are posed—where and with whom—can also speak volumes. Collectors are especially avid about old photographs of famous people, military personnel, people in trades (and quirky fields such as the circus or burlesque), ethnic groups and amusing family gatherings.
Let me know in the comments section if you too are passionate about old photographs and what you look for as a buyer and/or collector.
Like many online businesses, eBay encourages buyers and sellers to provide feedback. A glowing review is not only insightful for potential customers, it's also meaningful to us as sellers.
Many discoveries are just the ticket.
Our primary mission is to connect buyers to longed-for and often hard-to-find merchandise. We love it when buyers are so thrilled with their find that they share what their purchase means to them.
It's our hope that all of our stores' visitors find something they want, need, crave or desire.
Collectors love a successful find.
One less gem relegated to the landfill. One more treasure finds a loving home.
Some stories are heartwarming.
One customer revealed how happy she was to encounter a particularly care-worn stuffed teddy bear that we rescued from the tail end of an estate sale. She explained in a message that her beloved teddy of the same make and style had been tossed by a zealous family member while she was confined to a hospital bed. Now that she was home, she longed for the childhood treasure that continued to provide comfort to her in her old age. Her words of thanks and many blessing made our day!
Happy to rise to a challenge.
This buyer needed something from our store on a tight turn, for an upcoming fashion photography shoot. We were honored to learn our cool vintage find exceeded their expectations.
It's fun to get (and give) an out-of-the-ordinary thumbs up.
Gotta love the thought and effort that goes into a glowing review like the one below.
.Then there's the cool factor.
Naturally we get an extra kick out of living up to our name.
It's all about sharing the love.
It never gets dull to hear from a "stoked" buyer.
Kind and honest words are a powerful motivator for us. Keep 'em coming!
View our complete feedback history at our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.
Valentine's Day is a special day set aside to shower a beloved with gifts and proclamations of love. Greeting cards are the most common way for a secret or open admirer to express affection on February 14, the date assigned to Valentine's Day. Mass production of intricate greeting cards started in earnest in the 1840s when an artistic woman named Esther A. Howland crafted cards from scraps of ribbon, lace and images (History.com). Valentine’s Day cards from earlier times are popular collectibles. Like other ephemera, Valentines reflect the social sensibilities and design aesthetic of their respective age. Take a closer look at what makes Valentines from yesteryear especially desirable.
Die cuts and paper lace
Simple and complex die cuts add interest to Valentine cards. Common figural cards showcase die-cut cupids, hearts and cherubic faced children. To imitate the earliest handmade Valentines that used real lace, inventive printers created intricate die-cuts. Printed images of lace offered a less expensive alternative.
Embossed
Raised lettering and design elements add dimension and desirability to Valentine's cards. Embossed elements may also be enhanced with touches of gold.
Mechanical and honeycomb
Mechanical cards feature pull-out and/or pull-down mechanisms that allow the card to expand. They also may include levers that enable motion to enhance the message. Stiff re-positionable strips of cardboard help the card stand independently for display. Tissue-paper honeycombs add dimension in a very desirable albeit delicate way.
Valentine verse
Old Valentine’s Day cards include all manner of expressions of love, admiration and desire—from sweet to fierce, exuberant to melancholic, innocent to perverse. If you have a slightly twisted sense of humor, you might enjoy BuzzFeed’s collection of Weird And Creepy Vintage Valentine’s Day Cards.
Why not give your loved one a vintage Valentine this year? In 2017, the holiday falls on Tuesday, February 14.
Find vintage Valentine’s Day cards in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.
If you enjoy pinning or simply browsing the amazing menagerie of images on Pinterest, you're in for a special treat. Cool Vintage Finds has more than 62 boards filled with more than 1,300 images for your viewing and sharing pleasure! Topics are diverse and feature items from our store as well as many other purveyors of vintage and other fascinating things. Follow us on Pinterest, where our name is abbreviated to "coolvtgfinds." Scroll on for a small sample of our boards, which are ever changing and growing. Feast on images of Irish china Look at all the different dollsEnjoy Asian artistry in all shapes and forms Poke around to your heart's content
Calling all dog owners: Stay cool in the heat and humidity of August with some indoor and online shopping for canine-themed collectibles. 1. Winsome vintage framed white poodle needlepoint Someone put their time and talent into creating this kitschy cute needlepoint rendering of a fine white poodle. This handmade treasure could be yours. 2. Little Paws key ring Bulldog breed Carry your favorite breed with you in the form of a key chain (or bag charm). 3. Sweet golden retriever resin figure Decorate your home or office with a lifelike likeness of your best friend. 4. Dachsund stuffed animal This stuffed puppy is sweet and huggable, just like the real thing but with no shedding. 5. Two-sided dog dish You can never have enough doggie dishes. 6. Hunting dog setter book ends Keep your books standing up straight on a shelf with these remarkably handsome vintage canine bookends. More to love, for the love of animals. There's something for every animal lover in the For the Love of Animals category in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay.
It may be 85 degrees and sunny where you are right now, but if you're a true fan of Christmas decor of yore, you're already thinking about how you'll deck your halls for the upcoming holiday season. Vintage Xmas decorations are always charming and nostalgic, connecting us to ghosts of Christmas past and creating memories for generations to come. Here are some favorite vintage finds to enhance your collection of holiday home finery. Ceramic Christmas trees There's been a recent resurgence in the popularity of ceramic Christmas trees. By Atlantic Mold Co. and other makers, these trees are typically fitted with small colorful lights. Less common, you may find a tree that's lit with candles like the one shown above. You can find more online options for ceramic trees at the Christmas Tree Source. Vintage Christmas stockingsWhether hand knit or made of felt and sequins, vintage Christmas stockings are fun and festive holiday decorations. Some of the oldies but goodies are personalized, which adds a little kitsch (unless you're fortunate to find one with your own name). No worries—often you can remove or cover stitches or print to make it your own. Vintage Christmas candles Carved and figural candles with Christmas themes are highly collectible. Mark each year with the annual Christmas candle issued by popular makers. Santa, snowmen and tree candles from the 70s are fun finds. Christmas candles of all kinds make great gifts. Vintage Christmas tree skirt Christmas tree skirts come in all shapes and sizes. If you're looking for something vintage, keep your eyes peeled for hand knit, felt and sequins, needlepoint and other hand crafted masterpieces. Christmas tablewaresSpread good cheer with a table set with your favorite holiday-themed glasses, dishes and table linens. Vintage Christmas ornaments Vintage Christmas ornaments are easy and addicting to collect. Look for mercury glass, needlepoint, wood (real and faux carved) and even resin renditions to add nostalgia and charm to your holidays at home. Vintage ornaments are also an attractive (and useful) way to spruce up your gifts; simply wrap your ribbons around gently used ornaments to add flair to your packages. This short list offers just the tip of the iceberg—there are oodles of Christmas collectibles for connoisseurs of all things vintage. What's your favorite vintage holiday decor? Show and tell in the comments below!
French country and shabby cottage aesthetics are all about flowers. Fortunately you can get your floral fix and achieve the look you're going for in a fantastic multitude of ways. Lie down on a bed of flowers.Ralph Lauren linens lead the pack with fabulous floral patterns in bedding. Carry a bouquet with you. Choose a canvas purse with a flowery pattern. Give in to your flower hang-ups. Get a dose of flower power when you open your closet with flowery padded clothes hangers. Pick a bunch of flower pillows. Add a splash of flowers to the room with a decorative floral throw pillow. Drape yourself in flowers. Once again, Ralph Lauren offers exquisite floral designs in skirts, blouses and dresses. Stop and smell the flowers. Like what you see? Go on a floral treasure hunt at our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay for vintage and more recent desirable items of clothing and home decor.
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SCOUTING BLOG
Learn about our recent discoveries and what captures our imagination in this blog, then peruse the treasures in our Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay. Brought to you by...
... Susan Buie, writer by day, vintage curator and co-proprietor of the Cool Vintage Finds Store on eBay in all the moments in between. Archives
February 2023
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