Treasure Lost ~ Treasure Found

Okay, I’m not sure if that title is really the right one for this, but it was all I could think of.  I mean, you can’t lose something you didn’t have and you can’t find something you didn’t lose.  Yet in the end, it all works out and really might make sense.

This is the story of an item I found while “de-cluttering” my house.  I’m not sure where to begin this story though, so we'll see if the beginning works:  MY beginning so to speak. 

I was born in a small town in the state of New York.  At that time, my Dad had a sister in CA and she wanted him to come help her run a fast food joint in Pico Rivera.  I don’t know when negotiations actually began, but in 1963 my Dad went to California to work out the details with her.  She was living in Norwalk at that time (a part of Los Angeles County).  He returned and before we knew it we were moving:  station wagon all loaded, packed as high as could be with 3 kids in the back seat.  And back then, seat belts were NOT required. And the 2500 mile cross country trip began.

Since living in California, my parents have lived in 5 different places, the last one being in Santa Fe Springs.  So let’s do some quick math before I continue:  2500 miles, 5 homes and 46 years later.  This brings me to my “find”.

During his visit, my Dad had sent me a post card, from CA to NY.  The details written are not important.  But what I found very interesting and very mind boggling was this:  he was staying in Norwalk, the restaurant was in Pico Rivera and he mailed a post card to his daughter that had a picture on it of a park in Santa Fe Springs where that daughter (me) currently lives.  And I find this post card 47 years after it was mailed (and it came cross country with us) while “de-cluttering” my house.  Thank you Mom, for not throwing everything away!

Needless to say, I am hanging on to that one!  And here are some photos of that card.

Upper corner about the park in SFS

Postmarked Dec. 1963

Can you believe only 8 cents?

The park in Santa Fe Springs

Just goes to show, you never know what you might find in your own home.  Even a lost treasure you never knew you had!

Duuude  aka Julie  : )

"A Day in the Life" with Natalie”

I never really understood what “vintage” was all about and why people liked it so much.  As I’ve spent more time on Etsy, seeing some vintage shops and sharing with some folks, I can see now ~ items from the past that you just don’t see anymore.  And as my Dad would say “they just don’t make ‘em like that any more”.  In so many cases, he was right.  And as a good friend of mine always says “Vintage ROCKS”.  So today, we’re gonna spend a little time with a vintage collector/seller.  Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and spend . . .

A Day in the Life with Natalie, owner of

“RemindersOfThePast”

Click here to enter her shop

Duude:  How long have you been into collecting and selling?

Natalie:  Well, I’ve been collecting and enjoying vintage and antique treasures for quite a long time now.  My first job was with a very prestigious Decorating and Designing firm in New York.  The decorators would always incorporate antique and/or vintage pieces in their decorating scheme.  I was always amazed at how they used these old treasures with modern day pieces.  I was fortunate enough to go along with the Decorators on their treasure hunts and believe me it was a hunt.  We would haunt the antique shops and flea markets in Manhattan and I just fell in love with all the wonderful old pieces and the stories that went along with them. 

Ceramic Wood Grain Pitcher

Until my husband passed away (at an early age) I was an avid buyer and did a lot of my buying on line.  When my circumstances changed and my financial situation also changed, I thought,  well if I could buy from others, why couldn’t they buy from me – and so my journey began and people did buy from me – I was a happy camper.

Duude:  What got you into the vintage market?

Natalie:  I once sold a vintage prom dress to a woman that swore it was the exact dress she wore to her prom.   When she received the dress she wrote to tell me that it was almost an exact replica of the one she wore and she couldn’t stop smiling from all the memories it brought back.  She said the dress now lovingly hangs in her bedroom.  I think the fact that vintage evokes so many fond memories to so many people is what started me with selling vintage – I hope that the treasures I sell will bring a smile to someone’s face and a fond memory to their mind.

Duude:  Where do you typically find your treasures?

Natalie:  I absolutely love to search the Flea Markets, Thrift Shops, Antique Shops and of course Garage Sales for my found treasures.  As many of you will agree, it’s the thrill of the find and when you do find a wonderful treasure your day is complete – everything is good with the world LOL.  

Metal File Box

Duude:  Do you have any online research sites that you would like to share with our readers?

Natalie:  I do a lot of my research through Google.  Google can usually point you in the right direction for any research you may be looking for.  There are also many forums on Etsy where many sellers are willing to give a helping hand.    

Duude:  Where all do you sell your items?

Natalie:  I used to sell lots on Ebay but for the past few years I mostly sell on Etsy.   I also have a booth in a local antique shop.

Cracker Jack Charm Bracelet

Duude:  Do you have a special or favorite item right now?  

Natalie:  This bracelet is my very favorite.  It is made of antique Cracker Jack charms and handmade lamp work beads.  It is so fun and funky - there will never be another like it.

Duude:  Anything else you'd like us to know?

Natalie:  I love to try and recycle or as they say now “upcycle” as much as I can.  This corner piece is in my studio and I “upcycled” it from an old book shelf and fence boards.  It’s perfect to keep things neat and at eyes sight.  Of course, my computer room is a different story.   

Upcycled Book Shelf

Duude:  Do you have a blog or any other sites you belong to that would be nice for our readers to see?    

       

Natalie:  I do have another site – willowsnest.etsy.com.  That’s were I have my hand made and primitive pieces.  I am so incredibly computer illiterate and it’s all that I can do to manage my selling sites.  For me to have a blog, twitter, facebook or anything else would probably land me in the looney bin.   OOPS – I guess I’m all ready there – check out the sign on my “upcycled” corner piece. LOL          

(no caption required - haha)

Thanks for sharing with us Natalie.

So next time you’re out and about, passing by that yard sale, estate sale, 

or checking out that swap meet or flea market, 

see what reminds YOU of the past ~ 

you may just want to snatch it up.  Who knows what it might be worth!

See ya next week.  Duuude

To Downsize or Not To Downsize

Have you ever had occasion to downsize?  Maybe the clutter is out of control?  Or maybe you just need to let go of some “stuff”?  Well, I’ve found myself in that predicament lately.  And just to give you an idea or two of my space (or lack thereof), thought I would share.

Sad but true, and yet, this is AFTER I started the process.  Believe me when I say it was even worse.  You see, this is the shelf, now here is a section of the floor

The biggest problem with de-cluttering is what to do with everything, especially when some of it isn’t even yours! 

Trash – check. 

Dump run – check. 

Donate – check. 

Sell – wait, you mean I can sell some of this stuff?  Time to take a closer look! 

Ahhhhhhhh, yes.  Some pretty nice treasures CAN be found.  I feel like I hit a gold mine.  Yes, a vintage gold mine.  For you see, sometimes de-cluttering can open up a whole new world.  Here is just a sample of what I found, and is now in my Etsy shop.

So if you have occasion to clear, de-clutter or downsize, take it from me, don’t just think about dumping it.  You could have a virtual gold mine on your hands!

                                   "duuuuuuuude"