That is the question. And the answer is…To Sell!
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I have lots of collections. So does Keith. Some are things I collect, some are things he collects, some we both collect. The point is, we have a lot of stuff! So much stuff that we cannot even display all of it. And if we find a new piece to add to a collection, we cannot buy it until we figure out where we will put it, or what will have to go in order to make room for it.
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On a separate note, we would like to remodel our bathroom and do a few other projects around the house, but really don’t want to take out a loan to pay for that, and we don’t have extra money just laying around. But we do have all this extra stuff…stuff that we could part with to fund a project or two. Stuff that is no longer part of our collection that we want to keep forever, or at least until we find something else we like better!
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Like extra Chintz pieces that no longer fit into what I currently collect. When I started collecting Chintz dishes, I collected any pattern that struck my fancy and that I could afford. I love all of it really. But then I started gravitating to one particular pattern, Pansy Chintz. And now I have amassed a collection that could serve a dozen or more comfortably including all those fancy serving pieces and gadgets.
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And then, I went on a trip to Ireland and fell in love (again) with the Lorna Doone pattern. I already had a cake plate and server, but since most of the non Pansy Chintz had been relegated to totes in the basement, it just didn’t seem like I would be able to have room to start another collection. Then a junking trip with Keith’s cousin in Pittsburgh led us to a Lorna Doone milk jug that was a steal, and the second patterned collection of Chintz was started.
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So, now I have quite a bit of Chintz in all kinds of different patterns that I need to sell. There is no reason for it to be just sitting in a tote in the basement. I have my two patterns that I am focused on, so it is time to let the others go to good homes where they will become part of someone else’s collection.
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The problem is, how to sell…Keith and I both have jobs that do not allow us a lot of free time for dealing with the duties of selling wares. We could set up a booth or cabinet in an antique shop, but that isn’t always the fastest way to move items quickly. We have sold on eBay in the past, but they take a cut, Paypal takes a cut, etc. I sell my jewelry on Etsy, and yes, they take a cut, too, but I don’t know how they do with selling antiques. I know handmade goods do well, just not sure about limiting traffic to a site with pre fixed prices. Auctions sometimes on eBay can really drive a price up if you get the right people bidding.
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And, I will have to get down and dirty with my camera and learn how to take decent pictures of my items for sale. I still am not totally happy with my indoor shots, as you can see in these pictures I took last weekend while playing around. It was rainy outside and not much light was coming in, so I had to use the overhead lights and my tripod. Plus, the room with the best light is my red dining room, so those red walls don’t help matters. Anyway, I will be selling these three little pieces soon, once I figure out which method I want to use for selling.
Wish me luck!
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