Etsy Chicago Meet n Greet

Last night I went to the Etsy "Meet n Greet" in Chicago at Vecco Studio. They served wine, Fat Tire beer, fruit, vegetables, cheese, and a healthy dose of conversational networking. I had an absolutely wonderful time chatting the night away with Etsy Admins Morgan, Randy, Kimm, and Leland, and many Etsians. Worlds collided when Morgan and I introduced my

two team leaders to one another. Ashley of OneInTheHand currently captains Chicago Style Crafters, and Martha of OpenDoorStudio created and captains the Vintage Etsy Society Team (VestiesTeam), and we all had plenty to talk about!

Other people I talked to during the night included Vanessa of Little Lady Company, Paula of Eganaise, Karen of Will Oaks Studio, and Kim of Kim Holmes.

After the Meet n Greet, Martha wrangled a number of the vintage sellers together to go out to dinner. The Etsy Admins were nice enough to give Martha the leftover wine, so we found a sushi restaurant (Sai Cafe) that was more-or-less BYOB ($10 corking fee per bottle). Thanks to good company and the several glasses of wine we all already had in us, we had ourselves a fantastic and lively meal. The attendees were: Martha, Lisa from A Blast from the Past, Tanya and Lisa from Bunny's Trunk Show, Gwen from Chloe's Window, and Sarah from Zzouzi.

Yay networking!

Top photo of (from left to right) Martha of OpenDoorStudio, Me, and Creative Director Randy. By EtsyLabs on Flickr.

Dress photo from Zzouzi's shop.

Treasury: Under Lock and Key

I made this treasury last night and I'm fairly pleased with it. It's for the Vintage Etsy Society Team's weekly challenge, which anyone can enter. Check it out HERE (as soon as they update it) on the Vesties blog.

'Under Lock and Key - A Vintage Collection' by jillhannah

Assorted lot of vin... Meanglean $15.00	Vintage Glass Cryst... theartlyons $24.00	vintage hardware allthebestvint... $32.00	Vintage Shabby Crea... cabinwindows $8.00
Antique Victorian B... bonnbonn $85.00	The key to my heart... slinkycat $9.99	porcelain door knob... multer $29.00	Antique Ornate Bras... preciousplayti... $28.00
Three Vintage Skele... SameSameMaryJa... $12.00	Vintage Brass keyho... flosolio $10.00	Industrial old lock... jollytimeone $19.99	2 Ancient French Fa... FrenchGypsy $21.00
Antique Brown Swirl... WurdeSein $15.00	Vintage Furnace Key KateStealey $10.00	Vintage Metal Padlo... oppning $20.00	Industrial Chic. A... funretro $12.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Vintage Letter Blocks

A few months back, I found an entire box of vintage letter blocks at an estate sale. I'd already sold a set of blocks in my JillHannah Etsy shop so I was very excited to find quite so many of these fabulous blocks.

But now I face a problem: how to sell them. A lot of people already do custom names and things, others have words like "FUN" and "LOVE" available for sale. So I can compete with the existing or I can innovate. My initial innovative instinct? Sell words like "SHIT," "ASSHAT" and "NUMBSKULL." They'll sell, or at least get attention, but do I want my shop going in that direction? It's not exactly classy.

Maybe today I'll work on listing the vintage popcorn popper and see what other people think.

Other people? You out there?

Black Americana is Not "Cute"

As a seller of vintage goods, I frequently come across "Black Americana." Mammy dolls, Uncle Remus, Aunt Jemima, "pickaninnies," and anything that looks like a black dysmorphic clown is not cute. It is racist.
There are positive historical icons of African Americans out there. I'm aware of them and all for them. These are not what I'm disparaging.
I'm also not advocating setting the racist items on fire (though I do have the impulse), as it is an unfortunate part of our history. Still, they need to be recognized as a mockery and not just sweet little cookie jars.

Etsy's "DOs and DONTs" actually state:

Items or listings that promote, support or glorify hatred toward or otherwise demean people based upon: race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation; including items or content that promote organizations with such views

So, along with relics of the Hitler youth, the racially demeaning salt and pepper shakers can't technically be sold on Etsy.

I'm more than happy to report any listing that uses the words "cute" and "mammy" in the same sentence. I find this a thousand times more offensive than the four letter words and artistic nudes that have to be labeled "mature."

If you sell vintage, please take this into consideration before you buy or list that horrific lawn jockey.

What do you think? Please comment! I know it's a hard issue and there's no "right" answer, just my strong opinion.

Treasured! Alongside a Gazillion New Favorites

I just got the convo that I'm in this new Etsy treasury, and holy crud are there a lot of items in here that are now on my favorites list. Those Oxford shoes are to die for (and I promptly hearted just about everything in annacarinavintage's shop), I'm strongly coveting the LanaStepul checkered skirt, and the mid-century modern lamp from birdie1 is a completely awesome find. I could go on with the necklace, photograph, ornament, purse, etc., but it's easier to just post the whole treasury and let you see for yourself:

'as simple as black and white' by boohoobluewhale

Vintage 1980s Black... annacarinavint... $36.00	Milk Glass Fenton H... jillhannah $65.00	Classic Black Onyx ... Beteabon $25.00	MADE TO ORDER-Vivie... Innerversion $225.00
Vintage Black and ... STLvintage $10.00	Mid Century Modern ... birdie1 $75.00	Retro Inspired Cott... LanaStepul $59.00	Black and White Dia... asecretshop $24.00
Framed Cameo Neckla... awedore $32.00	Huge Vintage Black ... Glamaroni $15.00	New Item --- (2) Pa... ShugabeeLane $219.00	Littlest Round Coin... wildmustangs $20.00
Untitled BW (from t... totally80sgrrl $75.00	Black and White 4 i... Rigmarole $9.75	Black rutilated qua... odalisca $25.00	vintage flats in me... ElasVintageFin... $52.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

In other treasury news of today, my recently listed 1950s Tupperware ketchup and mustard dispensers made it into a very fun and summery treasury:

'Nice Day For A Picnic' by TripleCTreasures

Vintage Hand Crank ... AliceIdella $40.00	Vintage Photo Teen ... americathebeau... $2.25	Vintage 1960s Kodak... TheVelvetBranc... $44.00	Thermos Brand Red P... mysistersbarn $16.00
Vintage Wicker Picn... TheVelvetBranc... $52.00	vintage INGRID pici... rustyvintage $17.00	Faded Shabby Chic V... 51VC $40.00	Vintage green bait ... cabinwindows $12.00
Vintage Retro Ice B... TidBitz $10.00	Vintage Tupperware ... jillhannah $20.00	Picnic Chair Great ... funretro $25.00	Large red Coca Cola... myler4 $150.00
Vintage 1980s Red P... BasyaBerkman $25.00	Vintage Lighter Flu... funretro $15.00	Adorable Vintage Su... poppyandbean $22.00	Big Red . Avant Gar... RecycleBuyVint... $13.99

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

There are a number of treasuries I've been in recently and haven't posted, but you can always see them all by going to http://www.etsy.com/treasury/search/?search_query=jillhannah

I do want to post one I loved from a few days ago that contained a clock I want want want:

'Honey, let's redo the kitchen in Mid-Century Mod!' by katieale

Pair of Vintage Eme... FunVintageLivi... $18.00	Mid Century Red Pla... BarkingSandsVi... $95.00	Vintage Mid Century... DaveysVintage $75.00	footed wood cutting... thelittlemarke... $40.00
Vintage Retro Bubbl... TeamRuster $7.00	Cathrineholm bowl hazelhome $80.00	Mid Century Modern ... horseandharevi... $20.00	In the Kitchen - Mi... handz $19.00
Lion Star Mid-Centu... StringbeanStud... $24.00	Mid-Century Vintage... jillhannah $20.00	Mid Century Danish ... junk2funkbiz $1200.00	Vintage catherineho... lunaparkfoundr... $130.00
3 Vintage Colorful ... DandelionGirl $36.00	avocado green fondu... pinkshirtsncar... $25.00	Mid Century Slat Wo... puscake $150.00	Mid Century Modern ... VintageEye $16.00

Treasury tool is sponsored by Lazzia.com A/B image testing.

Enjoy!