I’m so pleased to bring you another Addicted To interview based on your nominations! Delia is the almost-namesake behind Ameelia Bedelia. Just like Delia, I also abide by the motto “the dirtier the better” when it comes to estate sales, so I identify with her vintage inclinations 100%. Read on to learn more about her vintage addiction.

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’ve always been a treasure hunter. Since I could shop on my own, I was sifting through thrift stores looking for that perfect velvet blazer or vintage blouse. I think my dad’s love of old movies may have influenced my obsession with mid century décor and style. I’ve also been a bibliophile my entire life and there’s just something about turning the pages of a nineteenth century novel that gives me butterflies in my stomach. I think what I love the most is being able to hold a little piece of history. About a year ago I somehow stumbled upon Etsy and realized that I could take something I already do and make it into something I could share with other people. I barely have enough time to sneeze at the moment, as I am trying to finish a full-time graduate degree; so my shop remains a hobby. A hobby, nonetheless, that keeps me sane when the nights are long and the papers are due the next morning.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: I think I get the most pleasure out of estate sales. I’m a die-hard thrifter, but there’s just something different about digging through a dark, musty attic or basement and finding something you would absolutely never see on a shelf in a regular store. Quite honestly, the dirtier the sale, the better, if that makes any sense. When you’ve found something at the bottom of a box that is covered in decades of grime, it just makes it that much more satisfying when you take it home and clean it up and it turns out to be a simply amazing treasure! I’ve also been known to frequent garage sales here and there, which I’ve been doing since I was little; my grandma and I would circle the ones we wanted to go to in the local paper and spend the mornings hitting each one. Visiting thrift shops outside your normal comfort zone is always a good idea too. Rural areas, for example, often have a very different selection than your local thrift store down the block. Taking the time to drive a few hours out of town can sometimes yield the best finds.

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 have a pretty good idea of what I want and what I am looking for wherever I go. I’ve gotten pretty good at scanning. Whether you’re at a thrift store or an estate sale, if you pass something up the first time, it may not be there when you circle back around. I mostly try to stock my shop with items from the 1940’s-60’s. I have a weakness for mid century dishes, restaurant ware especially, and vintage fabric, sheets, pillowcases, etc. I love the happiness of the pastel colors from this era and am drawn to anything blue or green. I generally don’t buy items that are damaged, unless they are extremely unique. I sell things in my shop that I would be proud to use in my own home, so I try to stay away from objects with cracks or stains. I don’t look for items that I think will sell, I look for items that I love.

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: Heh….let’s just say that my house is filled with things I have kept. Since I have an alter ego who is crazy about organizing, I generally try to recycle things through my shop as I find new treasures. I try to keep my house simple, which is often hard to do when it’s overflowing with pyrex and doilies. My decorating style incorporates vintage pieces everywhere you look, mostly functional. As my organizing side would attest, I have a penchant for canisters, or any sort of antique storage device that can hold and/or organize my stuff in style. Collection? Hmm….I have a budding collection of: Homer Laughlin dinnerware that I am always looking to add to, volumes of 19th century children’s books with amazing illustrations, old fashioned star-printed ball juice glasses which I use for wine and grab every time I see, blue mason jars, antique refrigerator dishes, old hand-embroidered flour sack towels….those are just a few that come to mind.

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: Actually, no. I’ve only ever put up an item for sale once that I was unsure of, and ended up deactivating it and keeping it for myself before anyone bought it. I take a lot of pleasure in being able to help someone add to their collection or find that perfect piece to make their home a happier place. I probably keep at least one thing from every hunting trip I make, so I try to live with no regrets.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: Most satisfying find has to be my gorgeous, leather bound English-Italian dictionary published in 1820. It has perfectly worn gold scrollwork on the binding, delicately faded pages and stunning print. Each page you turn makes you think about the person who used it almost 200 years ago…

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.

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