Addicted To :: bellalulu
Today, the Addicted To series bring us to bellalulu, an incredible shop on Etsy that is about to celebrate their two-year Etsy-versary. This shop has an amazing mix of hard and soft: industrial decor and porcelain dolls; rustic metal signs and feminine accessories. Quite different, but when paired up, they go together oh-so-well.
Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?
A: I started going to our local Flea Market as a little girl with my mom. It wasn’t always my favorite thing to do, but obviously it grew on me. I have a degree in Interior Design, and worked at design and architecture firms before having kids. Finding vintage treasures for people to decorate their homes with is just about the right fit for me now. I guess I would call this a part time thing for me. I stay at home with our two little girls, and that is my first job. I love that I can do most of the work, other than the actual hunting, from home.
Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?
A: My local flea market has always been the very best place for treasure hunting. I do love a good estate sale, but you never know what you are going to get with those. Yesterday, I stood in line outside in 20 degree weather with about 10 other crazy people just to be one of the first into an estate sale. I may have ended up with purple toes, but it was worth it to get first dibs! :) There are also a few antique shops that I visit pretty regularly.
Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?
A: I do kind of wait for an item to speak to me. I think one of my favorite things about the business is that when you walk into a sale, you never know what you will find. I love old signs, dolls, cabinets. Other than that, it’s just whatever I know will be perfect for my Etsy customers!
Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?
A: I do end up keeping some of my finds. Sometimes I go as far as taking pictures for Etsy before I fall in love with something enough to keep. Of course there are a couple of things that I have used in my house for a while, and then decide to sell. That’s another great thing about this business: as things get older, they only get better!
Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?
A: I’m sure there are some things. Usually, though, it’s something I sold a long time ago. I do love the thrill of the sale, and that my customer appreciates something just as much as I do.
Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?
A: My mom helps me find things quite a bit, and I think she wins the award for the weirdest find lately. She found an old, orange metal box that said “TORTURE BOX” on it. I couldn’t find any evidence of any other boxes like that ever existing, so I had no idea what it’s purpose ever was. It was, however, perfect for the Halloween season in which I listed. One of my favorite customers grabbed it right away!
I’m sure all our readers will be addicted to bellalulu now too! Stop by the shop on Etsy, and head on over to the bellaluluBLOG to read about a recent find that was just PERFECT, and to learn even more about bellalulu.
Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.
