V is for... Vintage Buttons
When I last visited my Mother, she had a mysterious box. You know sometimes you can tell there's something exciting inside without even looking? I felt it.
Vintage buttons - lots - six pounds by weight! I nearly wet myself. They had come in as a donation at the charity shop where she works and she was sorting them to be carded up for resale.
The first words on my lips were 'How much for the lot?' and then reality kicked in. How long would it take me to use six pounds of buttons? But I wanted them - to touch them, sort through them, wonder what beautiful garments they originally adorned.
So I've volunteered for a little (or as I've come to realize, fairly Herculean) task. To sort and sell on these glories for the Hospice.
So at least I get temporary custody, if not outright ownership. A duty of care if you like (alongside a big clean up job, because they're pretty filthy some of them).
I've got light ones, chunky ones,
dark ones (engraved 'Saville Row'), tortoiseshell ones,and crazy multicoloured ones.
Now I need a bit of advice - call it market research if you will. Would people prefer to buy in small or large lots? Do you like your vintage buttons in sets or a mixed bag? E-bay or Etsy? I don't have an Etsy shop, but I've always harboured a secret shopkeeper fantasy - maybe this is my virtual chance?
Vintage buttons - lots - six pounds by weight! I nearly wet myself. They had come in as a donation at the charity shop where she works and she was sorting them to be carded up for resale.
The first words on my lips were 'How much for the lot?' and then reality kicked in. How long would it take me to use six pounds of buttons? But I wanted them - to touch them, sort through them, wonder what beautiful garments they originally adorned.
So I've volunteered for a little (or as I've come to realize, fairly Herculean) task. To sort and sell on these glories for the Hospice.
So at least I get temporary custody, if not outright ownership. A duty of care if you like (alongside a big clean up job, because they're pretty filthy some of them).
I've got light ones, chunky ones,
dark ones (engraved 'Saville Row'), tortoiseshell ones,and crazy multicoloured ones.
Now I need a bit of advice - call it market research if you will. Would people prefer to buy in small or large lots? Do you like your vintage buttons in sets or a mixed bag? E-bay or Etsy? I don't have an Etsy shop, but I've always harboured a secret shopkeeper fantasy - maybe this is my virtual chance?
Comments
Just envy.
And do you have any mother of pearl ones???????
However, if you're trying to raise funds for hospice, you could cut pretty paper cardstock into index-card size and attach buttons complementary to the paper print. For example, if you have a pretty pink floral, then attach buttons that pick up the colors in the paper. You could sell each card for more than you could make as a large bunch. This is a lot of work but looks lovely and inspires folks to buy them--it could be an ongoing project for hospice volunteers to help raise funds.
i'd sell on etsy - you're selling for charity and craft minded people may pay a smidge more than bargain hunters on ebay.
as for size of lots? i'd do matching sets as far as you can, then mixed (maybe themed) sets.
oh and take good photos, including something for scale, and let me know when you're gonna put them up as i want first go!
I have bought and sold vintage buttons. I've found out with my experience that the neutral colored ones seem to go better in larger lots and you can sell colorful and unusal ones easy and they go fairly well in smaller lots. But from the look of them, they are all lovely and will more than likely be sweep up in no time.
I like to buy larger batches on ebay to rummage through but am more price aware on ebay.
I have bought several mixed bags from ebay, I think mixed bags seem to work out better value for the buyer and there have been some real treats in amongst the rejects.
Well presented vintage sets often seem to go for quite a lot on ebay and the better you present and photograph them the more they go for. I have had some bargains just because they were so badly photographed that no one else would take a chance. Of course, your photos will be great because your blog photos are always lovely.
Blimey Ali, YOU SHOULD DEF HAVE AN ETSY SHOP!!! Your stuff is lovely, and you also have a great accompanying blog which really helps things along. Go on, you know you wanna!
I alos like buttons sorted by colour and size. But I don't like wading through all the listings on ebay, so I normally buy mixed bags, unless I am looking for something specific.
I have brought mixed lot's on ebay cos I like the randomness of a tin of buttons.
But i agree with the others nice carded sets on etsy and big random bags on ebay.
I used to buy lots from charity shops in Herne Bay, but Belgium seem to not have many charity shops bar one; SPIT.
I can see me Christmas visit turgning into a second hand shop blitz with me returning with old fabrics and buttons!
I love the button photo's they remind me of pebbles.