Treasure Hunting for Vintage Toys

Now that I'm an official junker, it is part of my job description to go out and find new things to sell at the swap meet.  It has given me the opportunity to buy things that I think are really cool but would not buy for myself otherwise.  Like toys for boys! 

I found this amazing hand made balsa wood glider plane at a sale last weekend.  I got to talk with the older gentleman who made it.  He said that he used to make lots of them when he was younger. It is made from the thinnest wood and paper and is very detailed, right down to the pilot & cockpit!

 Cleared for take off!

Have you ever noticed how themes develop when you are out junking?  I found more airplanes at another sale the next day!

I found this box full of great vintage boys toys.  Being a tomboy as a kid (and still today)  I was really attracted to this box.  I purchased it without going through it first.  I really wanted to take it home and sift through it, like a big grab bag!

I was sold on the airplanes and robots alone!  When I got it home and spread it out on the coffee table, there were treasures galore!

The planes are all die cast metal.  Everything in this box has been well loved and played with.  I especially like the Automatic Adding Machine (pre battery powered calulator?) and the wind up robot dog (what movie is he from?) and the Diving Suit Figurine.  This box reminds me of the toy & trinket treasure box from the French movie Amalie.  The main character finds a similar box hidden behind a tile in her bathroom and sets out to find it's original owner.  It is such a feel good movie! 


Hitting the sales on the weekends makes me feel good.  I always take the time to chat with the people having the sales.  Especially if it is an estate sale.  You will get neat stories about the previous owners and the objects you have selected.  It makes them even more special!

When life gives you lemons...Sell 'em at the swap meet!

Howdy Blogger Buddies!  I have had a whirlwind of a January so far and some big changes for the New Year.  I had a super holiday with my family and friends, and a nice long break off of work because the shop I work at closes from Christmas Eve to New Years Day.  When I did go back to work for the first day in 2012, my boss handed out some bad news, my hours were to be cut in half due to the lack of business.  I'm now at work every other day which sucks for my income, but is working wonders on my mood!  I had been getting pretty tired of my job, my bosses and being stuck in a dreary shop all day when the whole world was going on outside.  So, whaddya do when life gives ya lemons?  You collect up all the stuff you have accumulated over the years and hit the swap meet!

I have fantasized over and over about quitting my day job and becoming a swap meet seller.  Heavens knows, I have enough stuff in my apartment to sell!  My home town has a really amazing Wednesday swap meet (aka Flea Market for you East Coasters) at the fairgrounds which is literally situated right next to the beach.  Since I'm part-time now at the day job, I requested Wednesdays as one of my days off.   I'm actually getting a shot at Swap Meeting and I LOVE IT! I've been there two weeks already and will be going back tomorrow for my third time! 

Here are some pics form my first week at the Swap Meet by the Sea.

 The first week I sold a lot of stuff.  One guy bought $80 in vintage clothing alone!  My prices are very reasonable and there is always room to bargain with me :-)

 I took these pics 1/2 way through the day and by noon I had already sold about 40% of what I brought.

I have since gone through my collections some more and pulled more things to sell, as well as reinvesting some of my earnings back into buying more merch.  I actually get to shop at sales as part of my job now!  It brings a whole new purpose to the weekend sales I hit.

 I have met a lot of friendly shoppers and so far, all of the vendors that have been my neighbors are very friendly as well.  I was concerned about how I would be received as a new kid on the block but so far so good!

I have a small flat bed trailer that I load up with goodies and tow with my old Dodge station wagon.  I get a lot of people who just stop to talk to me about the old car and then end up buying something too.  Heh heh!

How about this dapper fella?  He was bought by a lady for her daughter who lives in Vegas.  You never know what wild and weird stuff I'll bring to the swap!

I was too busy last week to take pics of that set up.  My dad contributed a lot of merchandise to the booths as well because he is moving to a smaller house and has to downsize his sizable collections of movies, books and what-not.  He is a collector too (I guess the apple didn't fall to far from the tree on that one!)  I look forward to Wednesdays each week now and can't wait to get out there in the California sunshine and sweet ocean breeze to peddle my wares.  If you live anywhere near Ventura and have a free Wednesday, stop in and say hi!

OMG I have an Etsy!!

Wowee, I Heart Everything has its own Etsy shop!  I have finally made the big move to list some of my treasures on Etsy.  Please take a look at my shop, and make it one of your Favorite shops, or add me to your circles on Esty.  I am very new to this and could use some pro tips.  I know a lot of you lovely bloggers are on Etsy too!


Despite an initial mix-up with my Paypal account linking to my Etsy (people couldn't make payments!), which is A-OK now, I have  made a few sales already!  It is very exciting!I will be adding a lot more items this weekend and in the coming days so please check back!

You may have also noticed that I have added a few page tabs to the top of the ol' bloggerooney up there.  You can now read my bio/history of I.H.E. and check out some of my I.H.E. Artwork as well as see what I have for sale on Etsy and Ebay! 

Here is the Ebay sideshow too:


I will be keeping the last two pages current, so if you are ever interested in what is I may have for sale, you can check it out easily from here!  I hope you all enjoy the new I.H.E.!