Thrift Core

Antique Store Wisdom: Rebranding Progress. Sexy New Price Tags!

2012-02-14T09:01:00.000-05:00

One of my big resolutions for 2012 was to work on branding my antique store booth Thrift Core style. I've made new merchandise, signage, and now these sleek new price tags. They're a big improvement on my plain white tags (seen here) from before and suit my colorful, kitchsy aesthetic.

The details really matter with your small business. I'm anxious to see if sales will increase from this small change, but even if they don't, I've been having fun choosing the right tag for each vintage item. The new price tags really help bring the whole picture I'm trying to paint together!

Resellers, speak up, what do you use to tag items? Buyers, what kind of details make you reach for an item while shopping for vintage or in a boutique?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: Mod Madness! Quality Flea Finds and Toys, Too.

2012-02-13T08:52:00.000-05:00

My goal this week was to restock. Mission Accomplished! I thrifted on Wednesday and Sunday at three different flea markets and I'll be up for hours cleaning, tagging, and documenting the merchandise. Withstanding the fickle North Florida weather was well worth it! I have lots of vintage to show off, so let's get started...

These are the finds from yesterday's flea market trip. One vendor was selling so much quality vintage that I didn't have time to look through it all. Believe it or not, I held back a lot! He didn't sell me anything for over $2.00, and the most expensive thing I bought this week was $4.00. Ah, flea market prices, how I love thee.

Here you see the cutest squirrel figurine alive, a pretty teal toolbox, bold wooden whale with tiny whale companion, toothpick owl, brown suitcase, and John's Private Bar art deco style glasses set (the aforementioned $4 item).

These vintage barrel mugs go with a Vintage Gifts for Him section I'm curating in my Southern Crossing Antique Mall booth.

I've already got a great collection of vintage pottery going, but how could I resist these pretty pieces in perfect shape? There were even more pieces in great condition lurking in boxes, but I resisted and bought home nine choice pots.

I always pick up vintage camera cases, they sell well. My vintage book obsession prevented me from leaving the Hardy Boy's books behind.

I've encountered this set of vintage children's book before but people are usually selling them for more than I would pay. I got this set for an excellent deal. I'm up for the daunting task of scanning the illustrations inside!

The covers are so beautiful. I have too many and don't sell them well in the shop, but I can't help picking up well designed vintage books.

Maneki neko cups! Not vintage, but I love these things. I already own a quirky white kitty but I secretly yearn to own a calico Japanese bobtail as well. I'd name her Usagi (Rabbit). I've clearly thought too much about this.

Speaking of kitty, the specter of Yuko haunts this shot of the cute coffee tin and small tea pot. Not in the best shape, but I thought I'd give it a try at 50 cents for the set.

And speaking of things from Japan, oh such beauty for only $1.00! A tiny ceramic figurine depicting an antique Japanese storefront. The colors! The shapes! I love it.

This is what's written underneath. Anyone have leads on this item? I'd love to know its story.

I love this weirdo white whale incense burner (?) and shallow mccoy pottery planter. Whale has the strangest eyes and mouth and the vendor threw him in for free.

I'm kind of regretting this purchase. I've never been a fan of Strawberry shortcake, this suits my colorful illustrated aesthetic and love of pop culture but it's just not me.

Speaking of strawberries, I feel like this set was a decent deal at $2.00. I always sell my strawberry sets.

I did buy a lot of toys this time around for DIY projects that you'll see later in the month. I love this colorful set of classics for kids, too. I like how each book has different typography for the titles.

And more planters! I'm trying to hold back on buying cups but loved the color of the these tea cups so I though I'd try them out.

These class ice bucks always sell for me. I love novelty bar glasses so I scooped up this whiskey themed one for about 50 cents.

And finally, some interesting stone white owls. Love the bold shapes of these two.

As you can imagine, I have a lot of work to get back to. Time to clean and tag the day away. Remember, everything pictured is for sale. Drop me a line if you're interested in anything pictured in these thrift haul posts. If you're local you can find a lot of it at Southern Crossing Antique Mall and Treasure House, ask about booth #4504.

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Huge Bento Box Giveaway: Goodies from Japan

2012-02-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

I thought you'd love know about my friend Carrie's Big Bento Box Giveaway. She no longer works outside the home so she's trying to downsize.

I considered doing a giveaway like this for my huge bento hoard now that I work from home. But I'm not ready to let them go...yet. In the meantime, you can enter for a chance to win some of her bento goodness! Today's the last day!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals Week 7: By the Power of Grayskull...Progress, Ho!

2012-02-12T08:47:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1. Stick to my strict daily schedule! 2. ~~Continue my apartment hunt.~~ 3. ~~Refine~~ and perfect my ~~design ideas~~. 4. Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas. 5. ~~Continue to Perfect Bedroom Organization.~~

Can you believe we're already this far into the year? Last week I said I'd perfect my work life balance; didn't happen. Driven and inspired, I worked until 3AM to 6AM every day making products, rebranding my antique store booths, and organizing. It was a very productive week!

I didn't maintain a perfect work/life balance... but at least I got my boba tea and cake fix (pictured above). How I missed and craved it, it's been months since I visited my favorite cafe!

Goals February 12 to February 19:

1. Finish Graphic Designs for my clients.
2. Finish hand-drawn button design project.
3. Complete 1 ebook rough draft (any ebooks you'd like to see?)
4. Finish bagging small ticket merchandise & their displays.
5. Progress on my children's illustration & pillow projects. (You'll see soon enough!)

Weeklies: Apartment hunt, brick & mortar business plan, 1 DIY, refine blog, e-mail clear-out, general organization, 50 items listed

Share Your Goals for the Week:

I've been hard at work with all kinds of fun projects this week, you'll see it in this week's posts. What have you been hard at work on? What are you goals for next week?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Valentines Gifts for Him: Goodies for the Men in Your Life

2012-02-11T11:00:00.001-05:00

I feel like it's hard to find just the right gift for the guy in your life. There isn't enough out there catering to them. That's why I adore the shirts designed by my friends and sponsors at Maiden Voyage Clothing. Their shirts the kind of piratey-lumber jack vintage awesome that both the guys and the gals can enjoy.

If your gift recipient doesn't need another t-shirt (impossible, I say! Every guy I know always needs more t-shirts!) Maiden Voyage has nice leather goods, too. I own the Dark & Stormy night shirt, it's the new favorite among all my shirts, perhaps even beating the transformers shirts in my collection! (Optimus, forgive me!)

Check 'em out! They are my favorite T-Shirt Designers.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Store Horrors: Lizard Food? Hemorrhoids? What?!

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

Thrift stores frequently sell questionable donations. Half-used toiletries. Toxic chemicals. Used undies. A favorite local thrift not only stocks bizarre items, but keeps them in a locked Wunderkammer-like Cabinet 'O Curiosities up front. This week I peered inside to witness stomach churning horror. You've been warned!

Behold the Nightmare Cabinet and prepare yourself for the nightmare fuel precariously stocked within...

ANUSOL? Horror of horrors! And if you read carefully you'll see these are suppositories? Go ahead, let it sink in that this thrift store is selling Hemmorrhoidal suppositories called Anusol. Do they even make this stuff anymore? Is it legal to sell it outside a pharmacy!?

After seeing the horror that is Anusol on thrift store shelves, doesn't Bearded Dragon Food (possibly expired) seem normal by comparison?!

What's the Weirdest Thing You've Seen at the Thrift Store?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrifters Around the World: Natasha's Thrift Journey Across the USA

2012-02-09T04:40:00.000-05:00

Thrifters have dreams, and embarking on a thrift road trip across the USA is high on the list! Work and daily life stops you from renting a van and hitting the open road, so let's travel vicariously through adorable Natasha. She's an avid thrifter and owner of the groovy Halmoni Vintage. (@halmonivintage)

Natasha has thrifted in California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois Hawai'i, Washington, Oregon and New York! She's also thrifted abroad in London! It's a feat so amazing I had to map the adventure. There's a screaming star on every state she's thrifted in. Follow along class, there's a quiz later!

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself, Natasha.

My name is Natasha Harden and I was born and raised in the Boogie Down Bronx. I have a brick and mortar vintage boutique in Oakland, CA, named HALMONI. I created my "Dream Job" so that I can fuel my love of vintage and addiction to thrifting.

2. When did you start thrifting?

I was trained to thrift when I was in 5th or 6th grade by my best friend's older sister would let us tag along with her on thrifting adventures. She showed us all the spots and taught us everything.

3. You tell me you've thrifted in London, what was that like?

It was amazing thrifting in London. It was the first time I traveled outside of the country and I went with really good friends who were super into thrifting too. Our whole trip consists of shopping at thrift stores, vintage boutiques and outdoor flea markets.

4. You've thrifted all across the United States too, what were your thrift stops? List each state you've thrifted in again for the lovely readers?

I recently went on a road trip across the country to my hometown in the Bronx from Oakland, CA. Along the way I thrifted in California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois and New York. I've also made some weekend trips to Oregon and Washington. I lived in Hawai'i for a few years and thrifted there extensively.

5. Hot Damn! I'm envious, envious I tell you! Which were your favorite states to thrift in?

California is my favorite place to thrift right now because I have a new obsession with old California based department stores that are no longer. Since I am a vintage boutique owner I come across something new all the time so I am constantly learning. I think that I just appreciate living on the west coast because it has such a different history then the east coast.

6. Which states yielded the most vintage goodies?

Believe it or not anywhere I go yields the most vintage goodies. I think I have a different point of view on vintage so I think it just depends on what you are looking for.

7. NYC is your hometown, what do you like best about thrifting in the big apple?

NYC is also my favorite place to thrift. I think part of it is because it is my hometown but the other part is that NYC is one of the fashion meccas of the world so there is lots to be discovered.

8. What did you like the most about thrifitng in Iowa?

Iowa seemed like a dream. I don't know if it was just good timing but it felt like I was in the thrift stores alone, low traffic with prices that seemed unreal.

9. You find the most AMAZING vintage in your shop. Don't hold out on us, top three vintage hunting tips. Go!

1. Look through everything! EVERYTHING! You never know what you will pass up being all rushy rush.
2. Make sure you don't let the excitement of what you find blind you. Look for stains and holes! Thrift stores don't usually have the best lighting.
3. Don't be afraid to pile your shopping cart up to the sky just edit yourself. I usually go through the clothes at least 3 times to make sure I love them.(Humans work at thrift stores so remember to be courteous and put everything back and not just shoved in any aisle. They appreciate it, A LOT!)

10. And finally, vintage owls versus groovy mushrooms, battle to the death, who will win?!

Owls EAT mushrooms, THE END!

* Photo Credit: First photo of Natasha by DRKRZ.

* * *

If you would like to be featured in Thrifters Around the World, shoot me an e-mail. I would love to interview you and chat about thrifting where you live.

Past Thrifters Around The World Interviews:

[2/15/2011] Thrifting Pro Miss P From the UK (Part I)
[2/22/2011] Thrifted Treasure's Alice from Australia
[3/01/2011] Thrifting Pro Miss P From the UK (Part II)
[3/08/2011] Switcheroom's Elle From the Philippines
[3/16/2011] eLousion's Cindy From Puerto Rico
[3/30/2011] Ashleigh's Thrifting Tales from Taiwan and Tokyo
[4/15/2011] Kimberly's Thrifting from France to Germany
[5/13/2011] Thrift in Vancouver, Canada with SixBalloons
[5/19/2011] The Vintage Cabin's Becke from Toronto
[6/17/2011] Planet Fur's Marlous from the Netherlands

[6/22/2011] Thrifting in the Arctic with Mali of Arctic Mum
[6/29/2011] Marco from Italy and Amsterdam
[9/08/2011] Thrifting in the Desert with Fenna

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

What's in my Bag: A Peek at the Life of a Busy Bohemian

2012-02-08T08:27:00.000-05:00

When I realized I had records in my bag I thought it would be fun to analyze its crazy contents! This is what ends up in my purse after a busy week of networking, thrifting, photo gigs, and art shows. Picture taken the day after Downtown's Art Walk.

1) Screen printed bag from a Japanese art museum. 2) My bro gave me records. One has songs from a favorite record, Off The Wall! 3) I always bring a composition book. I constantly record ideas. 4) Pen and pencil for the idea lovemaking!

5) SLR Battery Charger; zee camera is always by my side. 6) Beloved Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 lens 7) A dab of hot pink lip gloss is the only makeup I wear these days. I've had this for at least 6 years. Likely breeding a mutant strain of bacteria in there.

8) Cute Sunglasses 9) Always need cash for random thrift or flea stops! Or art. 10) Wallet! Yep, credit and business cards fit within. 11) Gum case featuring a cute kokeshi doll. Always loaded with my favorite gum. 12) I call him Change Fish! Hosts my flea market change.

13) Tiny hair ties for when I feel like braiding my hair. 14) I'm always exchanging business cards. 15) Remember my envelope savings system? 16) Squint and you'll see a tiny toy knife from my nephew and a "Fuck" button from a friend in Vegas! :)

Bonus: Peek in my bag when I was a writer working in a cubicle for The Man.

So there you have it, the tools of the trade of one quirky bohemian. What's in your bag? Bring anything special with you to the thrifts?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Free Sleek Mod iPhone Wallpapers

2012-02-08T08:23:00.001-05:00

My friend and sponsor Moe, artist and DIY extraordinaire made these beautiful free iPhone wallpapers to celebrate Valentines day in style. I know you love free as much as I do, so I thought I'd share. click here to download!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Treasure House: My New Antique Store Space

2012-02-07T08:41:00.000-05:00

I live near a busy section on Park Street in Jacksonville, Florida that's home to at least five eclectic antique stores, all practically side-by-side! Treasure House is a fresh new shop in the line-up. Shop owner Jackie used to rent space with me at Southern Crossing, but now she has a cute shop of her own.

The space I'm renting is the third bookshelf at the far right. I'm allowed to put items in front of the store as well, so I'll try to bring in some furniture.

I'm switching apartments next month and I didn't want to lug a bunch of vintage with me. This was a perfect time to try out a second antique store booth. I just moved into this space so I haven't had any sales yet, but I'm going to spend this week adding small ticket merchandise to see what happens.

It's going to be a little tricky balancing my time between this booth, my Southern Crossing Antique Mall space, online reselling, and stocking up on merchandise for the future Thrift Core brick and mortar shop, but I'm up for the challenge. I see this is as practice, and $36 isn't too much to pay for the experiment.

Luckily, there's plenty of vintage for me to find in my area to keep stocked-up. Let the hunt begin! How are your reselling efforts going?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: Some Things I Bought and Some Things I Left

2012-02-06T09:40:00.001-05:00

I didn't thrift as hard as I'd planned to last week, instead spending time getting organized and settling into my new antique store booth. (More details on that later in the week!) With a new area of my house to fill with thrifted merchandise I can hunt with fervor this week.

The plaid Pullman case was found at the flea market for 75 cents. It has some damage, but it charmed it's way into my home anyway. Kitty is on standby to show you the scale of this monumental beast. I've been selling a lot of vintage suitcases to girls planning their weddings. They're using them to hold cards like my friend Nicole did at her thrifty vintage wedding.

More planters! My collection of these is getting out of hand. The little cub was my sole thrift store score for the week and after imagining the other two vintage planters filled with cacti and succulent I couldn't leave them behind.

Now here's all the things I could leave behind, despite their cries:

This catalog was being sold by the same person who offered the vintage luggage for 75 cents. She flipped through and showed me the exact pullman case design in the catalog. Amusing!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals Week Six: Fixing the Work-Life Balance

2012-02-05T15:01:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1.) Stick to my strict daily schedule! 2.) ~~Continue my apartment hunt.~~3.) ~~Draw those damn designs at last- no excuses!~~ 4.) Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas.5.) ~~Finish the terrifyingly disorganized bedroom and closets at last!~~

As a freelancer it's easy to work from 8AM until past midnight. This week I worked more effectively with less time and scheduled more outings. I went bowling for the first time and did a creative photoshoot. Fun times!

Goals February 5 to February 12:

Next week I continue to stick to my strict schedule. Can't wait to get back to it!

1. Stick to my strict daily schedule!
2. Continue my apartment hunt.
3. Refine and perfect my design ideas.
4. Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas.
5. Continue to Perfect Bedroom Organization.

Weeklies: 1 DIY, refine blog, e-mail clear-out, general organization, 50 items listed

Share Your Goals for the Week:

What Are Your Goals for the Week? Share in the comments or via the link share.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Chalkboard Basket DIY: The Perfect Valentines Day Gift

2012-02-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

Chalkboard paint and vintage go together so well! I've used it to make groovy toolboxes and now I've made a chalkboard picnic basket! Many vintage picnic baskets have a flat wooden top- the perfect canvas for a coat of chalkboard paint.

Instructions: I smoothed out the picnic basket top's surface and applied my rust-oleum brush on chalkboard paint in thin, even layers. Every couple of hours I applied another thin coat. The next day the surface was ready for me to draw all over it. Easy!

I feel like these baskets are a sweet wedding or valentines day gift for a couple. Write something personal and fun on the front, then fill it with tasty snacks, wine, cute drinking glasses, and a drop cloth. It's a great way to encourage the ones you love to go out and enjoy the beautiful weather.

Fun vintage-style picnic basket sets I've made before. Not chalkboard painted, but still cute.

I like how you can write what you packed right on the basket or use them for creative craft storage and write the supplies you have stowed inside. If you're local and interested in buying this basket, it's waiting for you in front of Southern Crossing Antique Mall.

What's your favorite vintage and/or thrifted gift to give for Valentines Day?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Garden Show and Tell: Gardening Plans and Dreams for 2012

2012-02-02T00:06:00.000-05:00

I wrote that thrifting is in my blood. So is gardening. My mom's a plant lover that was raised gardening and I've always lived in a home full of potted plants and a backyard with plenty of flora and fauna to document and explore like the scientist I wanted to be. I love growing my own vegetables and I've helped local community gardens make websites and grow food.

For the past year I've maintained the small potted herb garden pictured above outside my apartment's kitchen door. I scaled back on growing food because the garden was the one thing that tipped the scale on my busy, precariously balanced life. I just couldn't fit it in. But I've never stopped dreaming.

In my dreams I own one of the quirky vintage homes I see while biking around my quaint historic neighborhood. In the backyard I have a huge vegetable and herb garden. I grow all of my favorites like basil, mint, tomato, parsley, and much more. There are fruit trees bearing starfruits, avocados, lemons, and oranges.

One day I'll own the little house and garden of my dreams, until then, I'll have fun in community gardens and growing vegetables and herbs from pots. This year I plan to grow some more herbs and a select few of my favorite vegetables.

This post was inspired by Gayla's (of You Grow Girl) Garden Show & Tell Book Giveaway!

Show and Tell: What are your garden plans for 2012? Tell me your plans and show me your gardens in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Jobs: The Top 50 Dream Jobs for Thrifters

2012-01-31T08:29:00.000-05:00

You live to thrift. The thrill of the hunt is exhilarating, but the magic ends when you return to your day job. That was me, but now thrifting and creating is my career. It's easier than you may think to make a living from your passion for thrifting and vintage.

Here are 25 Dream Jobs for Thrifters. Each one will require hard work, but they are entirely attainable!

Reselling: Resell thrifted items for a higher price.

1. Online Reseller: You resell your thrifted items online via sites like eBay and etsy.
2. Antique Show Vendor: Travel the country and resell at antique markets and events.
3. Flea Market Vendor: Rent space at local flea markets to resell your thrifed finds.
4. Antique Store Vendor: Rent space in a antique store/mall to sell your finds.
5. Reselling Consultant: Consult with clients on how to resell their goods.
6. Resell for Others: Resell items for your clients.
7. Estate Sale Biz: Hold estate sales for your clients.

Pro Picker: Get paid to thrift items for your clients.

8. Set Designer: Use second-hand items to design sets for plays and movies.
9. Movie Prop Scout: Hunt down specific items from a list for your clients.
10. Antique Scout: Hunt down specific items from a list to help stage restaurants and boutiques with a unique look, like Cracker Barrel and Anthropologie.

Writer: Write about the thing you love most, thrifting!

11. Blogger: Run a thrift-related blog. For an example, look here! Yay!
12. Author: Write thrift-related books.
13. Magazine Owner: Create a thrift-related online or print magazine.
14. Columnist: Write a thrift column on a website, blog, or in a magazine.

Artist: Thrifted items are your muse and materials.

15. Cartoonist: Draw a thrift related comic, online or in print.
16. Mixed Media Artist: Or "Junk Artist." Make art from thrifted items. (Ex: Junk Culture)
17. Painter: Paint still lives of thrifted items, or thrift-inspired art. (Ex: Old Skool Junk)
18. Upcycling:Paint and re-work thrifted items into new ones for sale.
19. Interior Designer: Redesign interiors with thrifted items.

Styling: Use the Thrifts to Make People Stylish!

20. Seamstress: Sew thrifted clothes.
21. Alterations: Modernize vintage clothing.
22. Wardrobe Stylist: Create wardrobes from thrifting. (Ex: Thrift Store Shopping with Sammy Davis.)
23. Costume Designer:Find authentic period pieces or make new ones with thrifted items.
24. Clothing/Accessory Designer: Create new clothes and accessories from thrifted clothes and materials.

Shop Owner: The Ultimate Dream for Many!

25. Consignment Shop: Sell people's vintage wares on consignment.
26. Antique Store: Own a shop, or rent space within one.
27. Vintage Boutique:A carefully curated version of an antique store.
28. Pawn Shop Owner: People pawn their wares off on you, then you resell 'em.
29. Junk Retrieval Business: Scoop up client's"junk" which you can then resell.
30. Vintage Clothing or Furniture Shop: Reselling vintage clothing or furniture.
31. Record Shop: Reselling records and vintage music players.
32. Prop Shop: Selling props or providing props for clients by appointment.
33. Thrift Store: An obvious choice :) Don't forget Flea Market ownership!

Event Coordinator: Plan events and parties for clients.

34. Antique Rentals: Rent antiques for people to use for fancy events.
35. Murder Mystery Party Planner: Use thrifted props to host fun themed parties.
36. Wedding Planner/Designer: Use thrifted finds to design/plan weddings.
37. Event Planner: Use your collection of vintage as a selling point to plan events.
38. Vintage Party Planner: Specialize in vintage-style party planning.
39. Party Prop Creator: Use thrifted items to create special props for parties.

Technology: Pioneer Thrift-Related Technology!

40. Ap Designer: Create phone or web aps that help people. (Ex: Mogasa)
41. Thrift Website Webmaster: Create thrift-related websites. (Ex: The Thrift Shopper, Krrb)
42. Thrift Gadgets: Create or invest in the creation of gadgets that help people thrift.

Antiques: Capitalize on your antique knowledge.

43. Antique Appraiser: Appraise antiques for a fee.
44. Antique Sale Curator: Create antique bazaars and markets.
45. Auction House Owner: Rent a space and host auctions.

Media: Entertain the masses!

46. Television Show Writer: Write and/or sell scripts for hit thrift TV shows.
47. Television Show Director: Direct a thrift TV show of your own.
48. Webshow Director: Direct a thrift-related web show.
49. Play Director: Direct a play with thrifted supplies or thrift-related plays.
50. Television Show Personality: Star in or host a thrift TV show.

Remember: the thrift craze is growing exponentially. More people than ever are thrifting and there have never been so many shows in the media dedicated to vintage and reselling. Many thrift jobs are low start-up operations that require ingenuity more than capital.

If you want it, get it! There's unlimited potential in "Thrift Jobs!" Get out there and find the niche for you.

Can you think of any thrift jobs I left off the list? What's your dream thrift job?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: The $3.25 Flea Market Haul. Vintage for a Quarter!

2012-01-30T02:22:00.000-05:00

After my rant about high flea market prices it was a relief to take my hunt back to the flea market. On a sunny and unseasonably blazing hot Florida morning my business partner Rosaly and I scored a pretty bundle of vintage. Most pieces were a quarter each!

That's right, each item in this picture cost one quarter! With the exception of the Tennis Girl planter and Mod Lion which were fifty cents each. The unearthed treasures were caked with dirt but it only took a little cleaning to make them shine like new again.

This is the type of item I'd usually request for free if it wasn't offered (I'm brazen, shameless! And I'm used to people telling me to just take "trash" like this for free.) But the nice vendor was giving such good deals that I accepted the price of one quarter for this tattered vintage relic.This will be incorporated into a series I'm working on.

Continuing with the quarter trend, I scooped these two frame up for a quarter each. They'll be filled with charming art prints and placed in one of my antique store booths soon.

Again, each item pictured was a quarter each! This is part of Rosaly's haul. I spotted the cute vintage dogs and offered them to her because it suited her reselling aesthetic better. Likewise, she kept finding me books and robot bits. She hunted hard and acquired the tidy change purses pictured from a vendor's scattered boxes.

She scored interesting geodes, vintage cologne bottles, and a cute lamb and poodle figurine, too. It's fun to hunt with a friend and look at the different finds you score from the same places!

I scooped up the vintage picnic basket for fifty cents at the second flea market we visited. The metal eagle really makes it unique. It's already been re-purposed into an item I'll show off later in the week! Rosaly's new metal basket is perfect for retail displays, I'll show it to you again once she's got it spray painted and in use.

Rosaly's going to turn the frames into mirror trays for retail display and found the cute 90s era Pekkle pencil tin for fifty cents. Have I ever told you people have e-mailed me to identify the origin of random Japanese kawaii-style things. Yup! I've got it bad...

I was thrilled to find another Hallmark Candles vintage Danish Taper Candleholder. I've found two in perfect shape before, but this was the first one in-box...even though the box was tattered! A peek inside revealed the candleholder was in decent shape.

But when I got home and took it out of the box I saw it has some bad rust damage! Oops! Next time I need to take the item out of the box. I'll try to see what I can do for this piece.

Isn't it ironic that I found the Cut The Clutter book in a giant clutter pile? I'm already reading it and taking notes, I'll share anything useful I find in. A good read thus far and it was in pristine shape. This is my second Better Homes New Garden Book. I'm amassing quite a collection of vintage Better Homes books!

Anyone up for some terrifying baby doll action? Rosaly and her partner Ricky use these to stage and paint still lives. Sometimes the dolls are sewn together to form fun monstrosities for their Old School Junk Line.

I love their thrift-filled still lives, they speak to a junk hunter's soul! I have two of their colorful toy-filled still lives hanging in my living room. I am so lucky to be working with such talented artists.

And because it's worth a second look...I really like this mod planter and lion combo, replete with a groovy speckled finish. If the planter doesn't sell soon I'll be tempted to keep it on my desk, filled with tiny cascading succulents! Again, can't beat the price, 75 cents for the pair!

Novelty mug, I dub thee, The Man Cup! I love "masculine" vintage swag. I wouldn't mind opening a lodge with antlers on every square inch of man space, mighty flowing barrels of beer, and there will be pirates! Oh, the jaunty tunes we will sing! (With Vikings? In silly hats?) Yo ho!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals Week Five: Time to Buckle Down!

2012-01-29T09:58:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1.) Draw and paint robot AND OTHER designs. (For my button/banner project.) ~~2.) Start my hunt for the Perfect Apartment.~~ 3.) Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas ~~4.) Price & organize all merch for my antique store booths (Yep, more than one now!)~~ 5.) List 10 items on Craigslist per day.

Above is a behind-the-scenes photo in my living room. My business partner Rosaly and I scored and priced a plethora of vintage for our antique store booths. (Many photos coming tomorrow!) I stayed busy this week organizing business paperwork and merchandise among other things, but I feel bad for not sticking to my goals and schedules.

Goals January 30 to February 5:

Next week I have a strict schedule to stick to! I want to work more quickly and efficiently.

1. Stick to my strict daily schedule!
2. Continue my apartment hunt.
3. Draw those damn designs at last- no excuses!
4. Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas.
5. Finish the terrifyingly disorganized bedroom and closets at last!

Weekly Tasks: At least 1 DIY, continue to refine blog, e-mail clear-out, general organization

What Are Your Goals for the Week?

My car was in the shop this week, so I delivered vintage goodies on bike! I didn't stick to the goal on this list, but at least I was tenacious! What are your goals for next week? January's nearly over, but let's keep our resolutions in-mind!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

What I Didn't Buy at the Thrift Store: Damn You and Your Prices!

2012-01-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

After being been spoiled by flea market prices, thrift store is intense. Visiting the thrift store last week was torture. I was dying to fill my cart with treasures, but I came home with only three items. I'll show you what I got for $2.25 at the flea market on Monday, but 'til then, here are the pleas from my abandoned quarry:

Damn, I really wanted that red wagon for store displays. And those cups! And, hell, everything! But I'm glad I held out and spend less and got more at the flea market.

Oh, and about that Raggedy Ann doll. My mom bought me a life-sized one. I was so terrified of it that I begged her to banish it to the basement. I grew up watching horror films yet the soulless black eyes of that giant doll were scarier than any Jason or Freddy. I can never resist vintage Raggedy Ann goodies despite the childhood trauma. I classify them with clowns; fun kitschy horror!

What's your limit for spending on individual second-hand items? Do you think thrift store prices are getting out of hand lately?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Freelancer Life Update + What to do When You Hate Your Job

2012-01-26T09:45:00.001-05:00

Does your day job fill you with deep loathing? Is every moment you spend at the office sheer torture? If you hate your job, you need to quit!

Don't subject yourself to conditions you hate every day. I haven't looked back at the time I spent working in a cubicle as a writer. I love my flexible schedule and using my creative energy on my own projects- instead of my boss's.

Of course, there are challenges that come with being a Freelancer as well. You have to stay inspired and motivated to survive, and you can never stop innovating. Being accountable for yourself isn't easy and it's not for everyone, but if you're up for the challenge it's also very liberating. (See: How to know if you're ready to quit your day job.)

My new coworker is really funny and cute, too. I like working with her every day, she's silly...

I didn't just up and quit my job. I plotted for years: I saved, paid rent in full for a year, researched, practiced and established a revenue stream. If you long to leave your current job, start your own plans.

Life's too short to work at a job you hate. Let's spend every day doing what we love.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Which Vintage Owl Do You Like Better? Before or After?

2012-01-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

Selling antiques is unpredictable. Sometimes a piece you think will fly off the shelves will stagnant for months, waiting for its vintage-loving soul mate. I predicted this owl would be seized quickly, but failed. Luckily, a little creative reconfiguring will sometimes make the sale. I'll be spray painting several vintage pieces to see if that helps them sell this week.

Spray painting vintage items a solid color is a big trend right now. You definitely have to find the right piece to pull it off. Bold shapes work best.

Which owl do you like better? The original, or my white spray painted version?

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Chalkboard Toolbox DIY: For Your Tools....or a Zombie Apocalypse

2012-01-24T08:38:00.000-05:00

Whether you're building a new bookshelf or defending yourself against hoards flesh-hungry zombies, it helps to know what's inside your toolbox at-a-glance. Besides being useful, these chalkboard toolboxes are delicious to behold.

The smooth black of the chalkboard surface brings out the texture of the chipping paint and chalk markings. This is a fun way to really make your vintage piece tell a story!

Supplies Needed: 1) Chalkboard paint 2) Painter's Tape 3) Vintage toolbox 3) Colorful chalk // Optional: White spray paint or acrylic paint, primer, and stencils.

I've heard bad reviews of the chalkboard spray paint, but can highly recommend the rust-oleum brush-on paint. It goes on smoothly and this small container will go a long way. Make sure you use a matte finish fast dry spray paint with your stencils, gloss finishes are too runny.

1) Clean your toolbox with a damp cloth and dry it completely. Tape off the area you want to paint. 2) It's recommended that you prime your surface first. But I'm an impatient crafter, I skipped this step! 3) Apply chalkboard paint in thin, even coats. Wait a few hours between each application. Do this 3-5 times. 4) Wait 24 hours before you write on the surface, curing it by rubbing it with chalk dust first.

Your toolbox will look and function just fine without painting extra letters on it. But I had a vision! I had to get nerdy and interactive with it.

I like how this design with the stenciled-in letters lets you give the tool box a theme. You can change it on a whim, Zombie Apocalypse Tool Kit, Transformer's Energon Tool Kit, G.I. Joe oh the geeky possibilities!

Have Fun making your tool boxes sexy. But beware, this may become addictive. You'll want to paint EVERYTHING with chalkboard paint!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Increase Traffic: Advertise on Thrift Core this February

2012-01-23T13:09:00.000-05:00

I still have Ad Space available for February! Thrift Core sponsors will be introduced on the blog for maximum exposure. You get hundreds of eyes on your site and of course, I respond quickly if you have any questions. :)

No Banner? No problem. I'll make the perfect one for you free of charge.

Free Marketing Tips and Advice: Thrift Core sponsors also receive a monthly web marketing tips newsletter and specific tips for improving your site and increasing traffic/sales.

[Embarrassing sampling of nerdy sites I've been making since I was 11...Oh my! I've made dozens!]

Remember: I've been doing this web-thing for 14 years. It's my job to increase blog traffic for my clients. I absolutely love doing it, too! I help make dreams come true!

I have a metric ton of blog ideas and unique developments in the pipeline. These are exciting times! I'd love to collaborate with you with advertising, giveaways, and more. Just drop me a line!

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrift Haul: The Creepy, The Cute, and the Sexy

2012-01-23T00:39:00.000-05:00

It's over...I survived! Next month I can set a higher thrifting budget and spare myself the torture of leaving many desirable items behind! This week I went to the thrift store once and came home with two items. The first one is a ridiculously cute vintage nursery scale.

Who could resist such cute illustrations? I'm kind of geeking out over the typography,t too. It's the perfect gift for a baby shower; a functional display piece for baby's nursery.

I haven't had luck selling vintage jars and canisters in the shop, so I've been leaving most of the ones I encountered behind. But I have faith in this sunny pair.

I meant to show this off last week, I won an amazing book giveaway from Vintage Goodness! They're full of vintage fun, practical information, and inspiration galore.

I adore all the vintage pin-up art and inspiration in Bad Girls Need Love Too and Dames, Dolls, & Delinquents but Creepy-Ass Dolls speaks to my horror-loving soul. Some of these dolls are true nightmare fuel. But none as as scary as my demon baby, with eyes that glow with the fires of hell! Kill it, drown it in holy water before it's too late!

What did you find this weekend?

Linked to: [Thrift Share Monday] [The Penny Worthy Project] [Flea Market Finds].

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Sunday Goals Week Four: Getting Back to Basics

2012-01-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

Last Week's Goals: 1.) Draw and paint robot designs. (For a surprise project!) 2.) ~~Finish the two DIY ideas floating around in my head.~~ 3.) ~~Continue re-working the blog, getting ahead on my content ideas and e-mail catch-up.~~ 4.) ~~Continue to organize merchandise and art supplies.~~ 5.) ~~List 10 items on Craigslist.~~

Paint, pencils, drawing! I've missed you! I love having my creative energy back. Each week I'm inspired to work harder, get more organized, and take on more creative projects.

If you're not playing along yet, I really encourage you to stay doing Sunday Goal posts of your own or at least leave them in the comments here.

Goals January 23 to 29:

1. Draw and paint robot AND OTHER designs. (For my button/banner project.)
2. Start my hunt for the Perfect Apartment.
3. Write rough drafts for some ebook/ecourse/package ideas
4. Price & organize all merch for my antique store booths (Yep, more than one now!)
5. List 10 items on Craigslist per day.

Back-Up: Continue to refine schedule and create better work/life balance.
Weekly Tasks: At least 1 DIY, continue to refine blog, e-mail clear-out, general organization

What are your Goals for the Week?

What are your goals for next week? Do a Sunday Goals post of your own or leave your goals in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.

Photography Tips: 5 Quick and Easy Steps to Improve Your Photos

2012-01-20T08:51:00.000-05:00

Photos are paramount in blogging and online reselling. Creative photography gets eyes where you want them, and you don't even need an expensive SLR camera or equipment! When you have the foundations down, an inexpensive point and shoot camera or even a camera phone is sufficient.

Make the effort to improve your photos and your customer and reader response will be noticeable! Here are 5 Quick and Easy Tips for Taking Better Photos:

1.) Use Bright, Natural Light Whenever Possible.

Natural light is magical, especially for showing all the details of your product. Schedule photoshoots early and take advantage of the daylight.

2.) Use a Tripod. Always. Forever.

Camera movement is what makes your photos blurry. It's especially noticeable in low lighting situations; indoors and at night. Using a tripod keeps your camera stationary, producing bright, clear photos.

Tip: Use a wall, pal's shoulder, railing, or anything stationary as your tripod in a pinch.

3.) Be Mindful of Your Background.

It only takes a couple more minutes of prep to make a big difference in your photos. In the example below I used a vintage mirror and a lace cloth to make the product pop. Always seek to eliminate distracting details in your photos.

4.) Try a Different Angle. Go High, Go Low!

Change your perspective. Lie underneath your subject, stand on a chair above it, get in close for an extreme close-up. Take risks and try new angles to yield creative shots that can really put the viewer right there with you.

5.) Be an Unabashed Nutcase. It's Fun!

I get perplexed glances and random comments from my constant photo antics. I never let it stop me from having a blast taking my pictures. Don’t let shyness get in the way of getting the perfect shot. Ask strangers for permission to take their picture, jump fences to get to that perfect clandestine spot for taking photos. (Shh you didn't hear this from me.)

I've sold a lot of prints of this photo. It's from my Toys Behaving Badly series. Indecent! Hide yo kids, hide yo wife!

Experiment, Practice, and Experiment! Use a rubber band to affix colored saran wrap to your lens or walk around your neighborhood during twilight and snap photos. I encourage you to constantly take pictures and try new things.

Have Fun: I never leave the house without my bulky SLR. Innovate and have fun! Go forth, photo adventures await you!

Need a Camera? If you're looking to upgrade to an SLR I use an recommend a Canon Rebel, it's everything a beginner needs and it's less expensive than a more advanced DSLR. I use a Canon Rebel T1i and use my 50mm f/1.8 II Camera Lens most frequently.

Got any other Photography-Related Tips or Questions? Let's discuss in the comments.

Daily thrifting updates, information, & Inspiration: Follow Thrift Core on Twitter and Facebook.