I. Thrift
No surprise--most things sell better when visible. Mostly, only record collectors flip through the LPs, but once in a while I set one up for its cool cover.
My Boyfriend's Back sold soon after I put it on display:
Other things just don't move. I love vintage hammered aluminum, like the tray below, but it doesn't sell well.
That gorgeous green coffee pot is by Frankoma, out of Oklahoma, (I'd had some mugs by them, but they were so heavy, I gave them away.)
BELOW: Space age spun-aluminum is another matter---this set of kitchen canisters in the to-shelve cart will sell in a minute, I bet.
BELOW: Paddington Bear squints to look out through the small bullet hole in the window (above him, slightly to the right). "It's a fun game!"
The annual Society of St V de P conference will be in our town this year.
It'll be held at a conference center hotel by the suburban Mall of America.
Usually, attendees visit the local SVDP stores, but the organizers say they won't arrange trips to our store because "it's too dangerous".
It's not that it's not dangerous to live around there.
But even so, the whole MISSION of the society is to follow the model of Vincent de Paul, a real guy in 1600s Paris who followed the model of Jesus--that is, to be with the deprived and despised.
And to do it in LOVE, not in condescension!!!
Vincent said, " It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them."
[Did he really say that? I guess not literally. But he'd agree.]
These Society members seem to prefer the far easier call of Being Nice . . . and serving the 'worried well'.
You'd think I'd be immune to moral cowardice and hypocrisy by my age, (being guilty of both myself sometimes!), but I was fuming with disgust over this.
I felt better after talking to Amina, Book Girl.
She just laughed merrily.
"Of course they don't want to come here!"
Of course.
II. Clear the Clutter
I am in the mood for spring cleaning, and I need to––because I bought a love seat at work! I've wanted one for a long time, but never liked what got donated.
It will go great with my pink velvet armchair!
To make room, I hauled the big blue armchair (always too deep for my short legs)--and a lot of other stuff --onto the boulevard outside my apartment with a big FREE sign.
I love doing that: stuff magically disappears.
It meant dumping stuff off bookshelves, etc.
Now my apartment must be restored to rights before the couch gets delivered tomorrow...
Pictures tomorrow...
vintage item photos!!! So I tend to buy the hammered aluminum and spun aluminum items. and absolutely love the frankhoma tea pot. I am always on the outlook for pieces. we put stuff that is still good out by our dumpster and it always disappears quickly.
ReplyDeletethe response on not visiting is one that always bugs me about religious charity organizations. how very disappointing!
your floors are beautiful. my wood ones need some work. can hardly wait to see your new seating.
k
I try to take pictures of vintage thrift because people here do seem to enjoy when I post them. I enjoy them too!
DeleteI’m excited for my new loveseat tomorrow – – will for sure post photos
Portmeirion casserole looks forlorn- Aluminum got a bad rap for a long time during the aluminum leaching days, everyone got rid of it. Agree about the Frankoma stuff, just too heavy but I like them! Paddington through a bullet hole- would put me off I reckon, or I might rush in to save him. I might side step that reality and head to a less bombed out neighborhood. But it is sort of like the outside of the V&A - evidence left as a reminder of the blitz.Clever of you to feature albums in different locations - I would buy it from the curated arrangement, but not from the file of albums.
ReplyDeleteThe portMerion casserole is so beautiful!
DeletePeople have told me they don’t come to the store because of the rough neighborhood – – and I don’t blame them – – sometimes you do have to put up with drugged out street workers and the like – – can be very upsetting.
And there was a murder in the parking lot last summer at 2 PM in the afternoon – – so you just never know.
but my point was that somebody from St. Vincent de Paul who is there for the mission, not just the thrift, would be willing and even wanting to come see that reality—I think the organizers of the conference should allow for that.
They definitely should
DeleteBeautiful casserole in that to-be-shelved bin and I’d buy that cabbage pot? Teapot? in a heartbeat. Your shop has some tempting stuff.
ReplyDeleteThat cabbage is indeed a little serving dish with lid—I think it would be perfect for serving brussels sprouts! However it does have some flea bites—I priced it five dollars.
DeleteSo what is the point of having a StV conference somewhere where the local store is to dangerous? Not learning I guess or “showing the flag” type supporting? Are they at least inviting a contingent from the store to the keynote speech? Sounds like a failure of creativity and credibility all around. Ceci
ReplyDeleteI truly don’t know the purpose of these national conferences.
DeleteI’ve been at the store for seven years, and the executive director & manager always go to the conferences, but I have never heard a single report back.
Communication is basically nonexistent, and as for what there is of it – –I am not in the loop. 🙄😄