Seller's Block, Shipping Complex, and Shop Envy

It's November 13 already (brrr, winter's coming!) and I'm a little embarrassed to look back at an old post from July 17 when I excitedly announced that I was opening up a new shop on Etsy - Sarsaparilla's Boudoir - and that you should keep your eyes open for items for sale there "soon."

My intention was to take a month's break from selling on eBay while I got my shop rolling on Etsy.  And then I planned to start up again on eBay in October - in time for the Christmas season.

Perfectly sensible, right?
Well, 117 days later and I still have an empty Etsy shop - and I haven't sold a thing on eBay since early August!

I seem to have a dreaded case of........SELLER'S BLOCK!!!

                             courtesy of Stuart NG Books

Psychoanalysis no. 1 (Mar./Apr. 1955) edited by Bob Stewart and written by Steven Ringgenberg.

I wish there was a virtual couch that I could lie down on, and one of my blogging friends could play therapist and help me figure out what my problem is.

Or how about a "Psychiatric Help" booth like Lucy's? 

Anyone willing to step in for Dr. Lucy?  I'll bet there are plenty of bloggers that would line up at your window/screen.  Just think of the money that would roll in at 5 cents a minute!

Has anyone else out there gone through a spell of Seller's Block? Any suggestions?

I'm so frustrated with myself because I have a house full of vintage things that I'd like to sell, and have even taken photos of a few of them...

But I can't seem to take those next steps to get them posted - and start making some money, which I could definitely use right now!  

I think part of the problem is that I have "Shipping Complex."   Because everything I sell is different weights and sizes, I spend enormous amounts of time finding the right size box and packing materials and making sure I've calculated the proper weight so that I don't overcharge for postage. 

That whole packing/shipping process is looming large in my mind right now and is dragging me down. I'm thinking, do I really want to get into this again? 

Part of me says YES, I need the money and I love the customer contact!  And the other part of me says NO, you don't have time for this! Start selling again and you can kiss your social life goodbye! 

I guess that NO seems to be winning the battle right now.  Thus, my Sellers Block.

Maybe a little "Shop Envy" will help inspire me and get me out of my slump.

cartoons from Bizarroblog by Dan Piraro, creator of Bizarro

I've got some wonderful followers (thank you!) who have fabulous blogs - and some amazing things for sale right now. 

Look at what I found at these lovely online shops!

Adeline's Attic Vintage on Etsy. The lovely Jill / Baroness Von Vintage modeling one of my favorites - a 1930's Lush Merlot Crushed Velvet Evening Coat. 

Createology on Etsy.  The talented Sherry made this wonderful Limited Edition Wearable Art Boa. Lots more gorgeous things here!  Check out the Caramel Cameo Choker Necklace too...

The Kitschy Collector Home of C. Dianne Zweig.  This book looks like great fun - just like her fabulous blog!  Here's her book, Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles, 2nd Edition, on Amazon.

Fiona aka "Straight Talking Mama" has an incredible selection of vintage inspired items on Notorious Kitsch. Isn't this a fun Anne Taintor What Can I Buy Today Coin Purse?

On Etsy... Mitzi's Collectibles . I love Mitzi's hand crafted Vintage Style Carnival Chalkware Flapper Girl Figurines.  And how about that cool Vintage Firefighter Badge Pendant for Men/Unisex!

Lizzie's Etsy shop - FuzzyLizzie Vintage   I've always wanted a pair of Vintage 1940's Daniel Green Comfy Slippers.  And this 1950's Purple and Black Wool Plaid fitted jacket is so pretty!

Katsui on Etsy.  Kat and Suz, my favorite mother/daughter team!  Isn't the Vintage Repurposed Sparrow Necklace with Resin Bird Charm sweet? And the second one - Kat's Meow Vintage Repurposed Necklace - has a resin pendant of Miss Kitty flapper saying "Meow."  Fabulous!

Shona's online store, Heyday!  I love these Heyday Plum Ladies Swing Trousers!  Lots more pretty things there. I was crossing my fingers that I might be the winner of Shona's Fleur Dress giveaway.  But I will have to add it to my wish list!

Vintage-a-Peel from Miss Peelpants.  A fabulous John Bates for Jean Varon - 1973 Dress!

Carol at Dandelion Vintage.  What a lovely 1930's Black Satin Nightgown w/ Ivory Lace!

New on Etsy!  Lady Betty.  Isn't this fun? - Vintage Inspired Carved Bubblegum Pink Resin Bangle

Able Gable  I love their custom order clothing - especially the Miss Ann Darrow 1933 Dress. The frock is worn by Miss Amanda Lee in Ivory and Mlle Fleur de Guerre in Kingfisher.

And one more dress from Jill's Adeline's Attic Vintage shop - because she's such a doll!  This late 1930's/early 1940's Wartime Raspberry Velvet Dress with Scalloped Trapunto Style Details would be perfect for holiday parties...

Oh my, that little shopping excursion was fun!  Especially because in the middle of posting photos, I decided to buy one of the darling handmade flapper figurines from Mitzi's Collectibles.  My new little mascot flapper has a polka dot dress and is named "Etta."   I'm so much better at buying than selling!

Seller's Block, Shipping Complex, Shop Envy...  I can just imagine you thinking - "Excuses, excuses! Girl, you've got to stop complaining, get off of that couch, and just DO IT!"

Okay, I will.  I promise!
The next time you see my happy face I will be the new Selling Queen.

Free therapy, and tough love. That's what friends are for...  :-)

Channeling Dorothy Parker

It's just 10:30 a.m. and I've already got martinis on my mind.  My darling sister Mary turns 50 this coming week (sorry M - guess the cat's out of the bag now) and five of the six sisters (and a couple of nieces) are celebrating today with an afternoon of shopping fun - and then a sleepover at a nearby Hampton Inn.

It's during the sleepover part that the martinis will come into play.   And play is exactly what I need after a particularly looong week at the office.  (It's hard to go back to work after a week's vacation!  I'm ready for another one...)

courtesy of Mind Bling

Dorothy Parker and martinis somehow led me to think of Helga von Trollop.  Have any of you had the pleasure of meeting Helga or visiting her delightful blog? 

lovely Helga in 70's frock

Helga is one of the queens of cheeky quips.  Her motto (borrowed from Mae West - or is it the other way around?) is...
 "Better to be looked over than overlooked."

That sounds like something Dorothy Parker would have said.
Are you familiar with Mrs. Parker?

Witty Dorothy Parker (1895 - 1967) was a poet, short story writer, literary and theatre critic - and was the darling of the New York literary scene in the 1920's and 30's.

Parker was the best known female member of the Algonquin Round Table.  Each day at a 44th Street Manhatten hotel a collection of journalists, actors, writers, and other artists gathered around this famed table.

"Algonquin Roundtable" cartoon by Al Hirschfeld

Dorothy Parker is perhaps most famous for her tart sayings and playful turns of phrase - like the drinking quote (...four, I'm under my host) above.   She had a reputation during her lifetime as being one of the wittiest women in America.

"If all the girls who attended the Yale prom
 were laid end to end,
I wouldn't be a bit surprised." - Dorothy Parker 

I was first introduced to "Dottie" through the rather grim (warning!) but still fabulous 1994 film "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle." 

The cast includes some of my favorites: Jennifer Jason Leigh (who won a Golden Globe for her performance), Campbell Scott, Matthew Broderick, Andrew McCarthy, Jennifer Beals, Sam Robards, and Gwyneth Paltrow. 

If you're intrigued with the arts and literary scene of the 1920's and 30's - and adore fashions from that era as much as I do, you'll enjoy this film.  (Tip: the entire film is available in a series of 13 videos on YouTube!)


courtesy of Paikov

Here's more fun from Mrs. Parker...

photo courtesy of frogsmoke

"Brevity is the soul of lingerie."  - D.P.

"Men seldom make passes at girls who wear glasses." - D. P.

photo courtesy of Heartaches and Handbags

"It serves me right to put all my eggs in one bastard."

                                                             - Dorothy Parker


I would like to have seen Helga and Dorothy Parker sharing a table back in the 1920's.  Better yet, add witty British bloggers Vix and Ivy Black to the mix.  Now that would have been a hoot of a conversation to listen to.

Admittedly, I tend to be a bit on the prim and proper side sometimes.  (My German Catholic upbringing, perhaps?)  And I can always use a little help from martinis and such to loosen up a bit.  So before I head over to meet my sisters today, I'm going to be channeling Dorothy Parker and all my lighthearted blogging friends to lift my spirits. 

Here's to blogging, to friendship - and a drink that warms the soul!

As Dorothy Parker once said: 

"I'd rather have a bottle in front me than a frontal lobotomy."

Yes, this is Greta Garbo...

Cheers!

Have a wonderful weekend -

Susan

1920's-1930's Composition Dolls: Ain't They Sweet!

There she is! There she is!
There's what keeps me up at night
Oh, gee whiz! Oh, gee whiz!
That's why I can't eat a bite

Those flaming eyes! That flaming youth!
Oh, mister
Oh, sister
Tell me the truth...

Ain't she sweet?
See her walking down the street.
Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she sweet?

Ain't she nice
Look her over once or twice.
Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she nice?

Just cast an eye in her direction
Oh me, oh my, ain't that perfection

I repeat
Don't you think she's kind of neat
Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she sweet?

Tell me where, tell me where
Have you seen one just like that.
I declare, I declare
That sure is worth looking at.

Oh, boy!  how sweet
Those lips must be.
Gaze on it, doggonit!
Now answer me...

Ain't she sweet?
See her coming down the street.
Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she sweet?

Ain't she nice?
Look her over once or twice

Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she nice?

Just cast an eye in her direction
Oh me, oh my, ain't that perfection

I repeat -
Don't you think that's kind of neat.
Now I ask you very confidentially
Ain't she sweet?

            -- "Ain't She Sweet" by Milton Ager (music) and Jack Yellen (lyrics). Published in 1927 by Edwin H. Morris & Co., Inc./Warner Bros., Inc.

15" comp. head Bye-Lo doll, marked "Grace Storey Putnam". 19" unmarked comp doll.  14" Effanbee "Patsy" all-composition doll, poseable head/arms/legs. 21" Horsman Doll, mohair wig, marked E.I.H.Co. Inc.

13" Mama Doll, comp. head/arms, cloth body/legs, marked "Ideal Doll, Made in USA".  Large 25" comp. doll, open mouth/teeth, unmarked.

Video courtesy of RReady555

This charming early version of "Ain't She Sweet" was recorded in 1927 by Gene Austin (1900 - 1972).  Austin is often proclaimed the singer who gave birth to the singing form "crooning"

Hope you enjoyed the song...
...and my humble
but definitely sweet!
collection of dolls.

If you'd like to see another fun and eclectic collection of "little friends" from the same era - take a peek at Mitzi's Collectibles latest blog post. 

I fell in love with her adorable Kewpie (below) and her sweet handmade flapper girl figurines!

courtesy of Mitzi's Collectibles: Vintage and Handmade Treasures from the Midwest.

Mitzi feels that "every room should have something with a face in it." 
I most definitely agree.

Hugs,
"Sarsaparilla" Susan