“…Maybe I’ll l clear my junk,
Maybe I’ll just get drunk on apple wine.
Me, I’ll be just fine…”
Hard Candy Christmas, Carol Hall, composer
That’s a tough choice. Tidying the mess or a good vintage? Hmm.. could be
too often choosing the latter contributed to my cluttered basement. Lots of treasures down there, mixed amongst the junk. Sorting through it? Sigh…See Clearing the Cellar.
A significant source of my stuff stems from my lifelong passion for auctions, estate sales, consignment and thrift stores. I rarely go because I need anything in particular; I go for the thrill of the find. I love the history, the artistry, and the singular nature of a piece. However, even the Manse has a limit to its space, and passion can veer into obsession. Darling daughter, Elizabeth (La Liz,) suggested an Etsy shop.
A terrific outlet for crafters, Etsy also features a Vintage category for pre-1999 items, a perfect venue for my treasure trove. It’s pretty easy. You’ll need a camera, a computer, a credit card, and shipping components. Etsy is user friendly and the online shop was quickly up and running.
I was skeptical. I like my stuff, but will anyone else? Apparently, as I discovered while scanning the listings, there is a market for even improbable items.
A couple of days later, a little blurb appeared on my computer screen. Congratulations! You’ve made your first sale! Ooh! This is exciting! What sold? Where’s it going? Who bought it?
It was the kitty salt and pepper shaker set I bought at a consignment shop in Missouri, then drove to Upstate New York, that was now going to… Australia! The buyer, from Western Australia, had recently visited her mother-in-law in New South Wales who owned that very set. Unfortunately, daughter-in-law broke the tuxedo cat shaker and was now crediting me for “saving her.”
I made a few dollars on the set, but it was a pittance compared to the gratification of replacing Mum’s loved piece and knowing the buyer was out of hot water.
Those are some well-traveled kitty shakers.
Basements are accomplices in the mayhem. A large, infrequently used space that doesn’t have to be kept tidy, in case people wander through and question your hoarding tendencies and sanity. All can be hidden by a latched door, your reputation as a reasonable person intact. Cleaning the basement tops the I’ll Get Around to It list. That list you see, sigh, and then binge on Netflix.
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