Captain's Blog - Star Date 24/5/13
Week Three - Deal or No Deal
If you've been reading these posts you'll be up to date with my affection for collection of all things vintage, secondhand, recycled or whatever you want to call them.
Last time we talked about what you can find for free, this week I'm going to talk about how one mans rubbish can be another mans treasure.
Now if you've been to a car boot in this country you'll have noticed the large amount of early birds trying to clamber into the boot of your car or generally rummaging through unpacked boxes before you have a chance to exhale. These are mostly dealers, people who scavenge for a living, searching for gold and silver, antiques and collectables.
My advice if you are selling at a car boot is keep your prices high early morning because these guys know what something is worth and will try and knock you down big time. So start high and then drop to the real price that you want to sell at.
I've seen dealers pick up solid silver teapots, antique boxes and vintage toys for less than a fiver. They would end up re-selling in their hundreds. If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Del Boy dealer then figure out what specifically you are interested, buy some books on the subject (you can't beat books when it comes to antiques) and research, research, research!
You'll be amazed at what the everyday folk leave behind.
xx The Captain
Next week - Vide Greniers and French Markets
Friday 23 May 2014
Wednesday 14 May 2014
Captain's Blog - Star Date 14/5/14
Week Two - Recycling
I'm a huge supporter of recycling, up cycling, even cycling (but only on my rainbow bike with heart seat and handlebar Pom Poms) and many a Clareways collectible has been found or foraged from someone else's rubbish.
First stop is Freecycle - for those who don't know what this is its a nationwide website designed to give people a place to post items that they don't want anymore for other people to ask for them and pick them up...wait for it...for...FREE!?!
It's unreal. It's choc full of friendly, kind souls and if you're a good Freecycler you will give away as much as you get so the goodness just keeps flowing.
Last year I was gifted a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a book binding machine, a brass up lighter, feather filled sofa seat pads, a sewing machine and a shoe rack. All in great condition from kindly folk who didn't need them anymore.
There's no excuse to throw away perfectly good items that can continue to be loved and used again and again.
The next recycling gold mine is your local tip or household waste area. Most tips these days let the guys working there save anything that looks in decent condition and put into a 'sales' area. The guys then split the profits between their team. So double bubble on the goodness scale because when you get a bonus bargain they get a bonus too! Win, win, chin, chin.
My top treasures found at the tip are; two art nouveau vases; a pair of 1960's egg chairs; a brand new john lewis cot; a full length gold wrought iron mirror; wall lights; a ten pin bowling lane (yes, really!); a wooden Victorian style towel rail.
Most things were a couple of pounds each, with the exception of the chairs which were a whole five pounds each. It's truly mega so find yours today and rescue something wonderful from the land of fill.
xxThe Captain
Week Two - Recycling
I'm a huge supporter of recycling, up cycling, even cycling (but only on my rainbow bike with heart seat and handlebar Pom Poms) and many a Clareways collectible has been found or foraged from someone else's rubbish.
First stop is Freecycle - for those who don't know what this is its a nationwide website designed to give people a place to post items that they don't want anymore for other people to ask for them and pick them up...wait for it...for...FREE!?!
It's unreal. It's choc full of friendly, kind souls and if you're a good Freecycler you will give away as much as you get so the goodness just keeps flowing.
Last year I was gifted a Dyson vacuum cleaner, a book binding machine, a brass up lighter, feather filled sofa seat pads, a sewing machine and a shoe rack. All in great condition from kindly folk who didn't need them anymore.
There's no excuse to throw away perfectly good items that can continue to be loved and used again and again.
The next recycling gold mine is your local tip or household waste area. Most tips these days let the guys working there save anything that looks in decent condition and put into a 'sales' area. The guys then split the profits between their team. So double bubble on the goodness scale because when you get a bonus bargain they get a bonus too! Win, win, chin, chin.
My top treasures found at the tip are; two art nouveau vases; a pair of 1960's egg chairs; a brand new john lewis cot; a full length gold wrought iron mirror; wall lights; a ten pin bowling lane (yes, really!); a wooden Victorian style towel rail.
Most things were a couple of pounds each, with the exception of the chairs which were a whole five pounds each. It's truly mega so find yours today and rescue something wonderful from the land of fill.
xxThe Captain
Monday 5 May 2014
Captain's Blog - Star Date 5/5/14
Hello you beautiful being. How are you today? Feeling lucky? Adventurous? Excited? I know that I am. Every day is a wonderful adventure in which to learn something new. And so on to my next post...
I am what some might call a collector. Other, less polite beings, say hoarder - the brutes! So stuffed with booty is Clareways Towers that is often described as being like a museum and I like to think of this as a huge compliment!
Most of my pieces have been collected from around the globe, on my many adventures with the first mates. But some have been carefully scavenged from recycling, car boots, shop windows and the like, and over the next few weeks I'm going to give you my top tips for bargain home style on a budget of mere pennies.
Week One - Window Swag
In the Clareways lounge there is a mosaic heart shaped table, with heart shaped legs, which I just adore. This was procured from a Miss Selfridge shop window. The heart top was originally a hanging display but by using some mdf, a jigsaw and some glitter paint it soon became the best table ever!
Big chains of shops always over order on window displays and nearly always throw away the used ones from the stores.
Keep your eyes out for interesting props or graphics that you can re-use or turn into something exciting. Phone the store, email head office or go in and speak to the shop manager. Get your name down quickly before anyone else nabs the booty.
Most will give the stuff for free but some, like Monsoon, just ask for a small donation to charity.
No point trying Showcase cinemas - they send all of their stuff back...boo. But I had some luck with Disney by emailing their head office.
Top tips:-
Try Next for Christmas displays which are always excellent quality.
Find out where the 'flagship' stores are, as they tend to have bigger window displays with more props.
Next week get the down low on up-cycling!
xxThe Captain
Hello you beautiful being. How are you today? Feeling lucky? Adventurous? Excited? I know that I am. Every day is a wonderful adventure in which to learn something new. And so on to my next post...
I am what some might call a collector. Other, less polite beings, say hoarder - the brutes! So stuffed with booty is Clareways Towers that is often described as being like a museum and I like to think of this as a huge compliment!
Most of my pieces have been collected from around the globe, on my many adventures with the first mates. But some have been carefully scavenged from recycling, car boots, shop windows and the like, and over the next few weeks I'm going to give you my top tips for bargain home style on a budget of mere pennies.
Week One - Window Swag
In the Clareways lounge there is a mosaic heart shaped table, with heart shaped legs, which I just adore. This was procured from a Miss Selfridge shop window. The heart top was originally a hanging display but by using some mdf, a jigsaw and some glitter paint it soon became the best table ever!
Big chains of shops always over order on window displays and nearly always throw away the used ones from the stores.
Keep your eyes out for interesting props or graphics that you can re-use or turn into something exciting. Phone the store, email head office or go in and speak to the shop manager. Get your name down quickly before anyone else nabs the booty.
Most will give the stuff for free but some, like Monsoon, just ask for a small donation to charity.
No point trying Showcase cinemas - they send all of their stuff back...boo. But I had some luck with Disney by emailing their head office.
Top tips:-
Try Next for Christmas displays which are always excellent quality.
Find out where the 'flagship' stores are, as they tend to have bigger window displays with more props.
Next week get the down low on up-cycling!
xxThe Captain
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