After “liking” over twenty of her Instagram posts in a total of thirty seconds, I headed straight for RockAndRollVintage’s Etsy shop. Her fabulous vintage finds span the decades and dreams of my fellow vintage addicts (that’s you!). I had to know more, so RockAndRollVintage is week’s featured shop. Read on!

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: Hey there! Pleased to meet everyone. I’m Veronica. I’m 27. I have a special love for vintage, and this has run through my blood & veins since I was born. I have always been attracted to things that were special, different, or one of a kind, which has always had me vleaning toward vintage & antiques. For most of my life, Vintage was JUST that. Obscure. Rare. It still is, but the internet provides us with all sorts of easier ways to find, buy, and sell it.

Before I started doing this full time, I took care of boys/musicians on tour, allowing me access to thrift stores & goodies all over the world. I collected, collected, collected. I moved to Baltimore, Maryland from San Francisco, California. I began working at an auction house here, which is basically equivalent to an alcoholic working at a bar, or better yet- a brewery! My mind was blown by the access, and I began collecting everything that was awesome, that was somehow perceived as trash to other bidders, interested in WWII or other historical finds. Well, turns out one man’s trash truly is thousands of other people’s treasure. I began collecting things I couldn’t leave behind but really had no use for.

I started selling my treasures on Etsy & in the retail portion of the auction house. My boss turned out to be a total scumbag, so finally, I was free to work for myself. Thus began birth of Rock and Roll Vintage! I’ve been doing this nonstop for almost 4 years now. I also have a 300 square foot retail space with a friend here in Baltimore. For me, it’s about connecting someone with something they really want, need, or love. It makes me feel good.

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

A:  Lots of my friends live by the “sacred secret thrift code”, but I don’t mind sharing. While I thrift all the time, only about 50% of my shop comes from thrift stores. I find things at the various Value Villages here in Baltimore, but like always, no matter where I am geographically, the Goodwill, Salvation Army, & church thrift stores are my favorites, as far as thrifting goes. Lots of our thrift stores here have pretty inflated prices for genuine “thrift stores”. It’s funny, because it’s always on the things you’d never want, too- some horrible (not even great horrible) prom dress, or suit jabber. But, the Goodwill & Salvation Army always stay true, and I KNOW my money is definitely going toward a charity.

My true secret is always estates. There is nothing like the look of something when it comes out of a closet that has been preserved since 1973. I have actually had a dozen closets that had literally not been touched since the late 60s to mid 70s. That is rare. It is very hard to come across an estate that was so sentimental, that parts of homes have literally not been touched or rearranged since a parent had passed 35 years ago. It’s definitely kind of weird, disturbing, sweet, and therefore, right up my alley! My favorite part of my job is when I spend time with ladies who tell me their stories in exchange for the clothing. I hear the greatest memories of the 30s – 60s.

Also, even though we have the reality television to remind us, I still feel auctions are an undervalued & forgotten market. In turn, to the owner’s of said auctions, vintage clothing is not by any means where the money is to them, so if it’s there, lots of them won’t even mention it. You’ve got to dig for the places to dig.. It’s like thrifting to the extreme!

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:  Since I began really doing this for a living through auctions and estates, my shift back into thrifting to sell and not just buy for myself was, well.. difficult. I could pick through the estates, and what I would leave behind, was often what I found myself purchasing from thrift stores. It was hard for me to not buy EVERYTHING that was old. Even things people, myself included, would never, ever want. Now, in order to decide what to take or leave, I evaluate whether or not it’s truly special. There is a lot of vintage that can be found in any thrift store, everyday. I am happy to have finally learned what exactly those items are, and how to know when one of those items is slightly better than the average one.

I try to pick things that no one would leave behind, even when they see it in my shop. Since I get to pick things of all sizes, I have a leg up on the girls that shop for themselves. I can grab treasures they couldn’t, because it didn’t fit them. I thrift like a robot. I can fill my cart with missed treasures by thumbing for fabrics & patterns/prints. I am usually always attracted to what’s old. Sometimes, it really amazes me. It’s cool. I look for 1950s – 1970s always, and then anything I think is cute and TRUE vintage. I hate it when people think the Marc Jacobs coat they wore last winter is vintage. It’s not. True vintage is 20+ years old or older. My heart belongs to true vintage. It always speaks to me.

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 keep a lot of stuff I find and I collect a ton of things. I keep lots of wearable items. I love the 1960s & 1970s stuff that has the quality and character of vintage, but traits of today as well. I am ecstatic when things I like don’t fit me! In my closet alone I possess over 250 dresses, alone. Once an item goes in there, it rarely comes out. It’s my “vault”. It’s not even necessarily comprised of the vintage world’s most valuable things, but I can assure you they are pretty amazing.

My favorite dress being one I purchased off of etsy, that is 1970s red chiffon with a whole southwestern landscape & roaming deer. My shoe collection is pretty insane, lots of vintage boots, but mostly newer trendy or designer pairs. Aside from clothing, I collect everything vintage, but to name a few: 1800s & early 1900s mechanical birdcages, victorian celluloid, early bakelite & plastic jewelry, vintage girl scout memorabilia, medical & dental oddities, miniatures, furniture, & art. I collect lots of jewelry, although I hardly wear it.

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

A: Sometimes I wish somehow I could keep everything for myself, haha. But that’s just unrealistic. Most of the things I regret selling stems from the fact that I regret having to sell them in the first place. I’ve never ever sold anything I wanted to keep because I needed the money, but because they wouldn’t ever fit me, or because there is no surgery to make my feet size 6. There are lots of dresses I wish could’ve placed in my current lineup of “dresses to wear to galas”, but I still have about 20 dresses that may never be appropriate for where I go. It’s also a far better feeling relinquishing that dress to the person who will make it the favorite dress they’ve ever had.

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

A: I always ignore the rules, so I’ll briefly answer all three.

Most valuable: 1800s Antique Lace Wedding Dress $7,643 (on bay) paid $10 at a flea market.

Most satisfying: recently, Vintage 1970s Authentic Gucci Oxblood Heeled Riding Boots with inner handwritten markings – valued $199+ paid $3. Had to dig through a trough of decaying shoes, and they don’t have any flashy outer markings. I had been having a rough day, and it cheered me up.

Weirdest: Got an estate in from a recently deceased man. He had some very nice antique dressers I was interested in, and when I opened up the top drawers of every one of his dressers there were hundreds of fingernail clippings in each one. Obviously, I did not buy any of them.

For more RockAndRollVintage, follow her via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram (via rockandrollvintage), Tumblr + be sure to visit her shop! Have a favorite vintage shop you would love to share with our readers? Send us a note to finds@myvintageaddiction.com or post a comment on Facebook.

We asked you to share your favorite vintage shops with us via our Facebook page + you jumped at the chance. Thanks to Nancy from LdyLux Vintage for introducing us to Brande of  Victory Vintage Boutique! Victory Vintage is an Ebay shop featuring Brande’s vintage finds from bygone eras. Find out more about Brande + Victory Vintage by reading on…

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: Buying and selling vintage is what I do full-time. I have small children at home and its a blessing to be able to stay at home with them. I got started about 10 years ago on ebay. My love of vintage started with a few hand me down pieces of vintage chiffon lingerie from my grandmother. I had never seen anything so dreamy as these candy colored peignoirs and I was smitten like a kitten. Always loved vintage dresses, hats and bags too, so it really got a hold of me!

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?
A: Oh yes! I LOVE Goodwills and Salvation Army shops..no secret..they use your money for a good cause and that motivates me to keep returning.

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’m like a well oiled machine anymore..I feel thru fabrics with my fingertips…I go right to colors and prints I like and know instantly if they are what I am looking for by their feel and texture. I know if its a stiff polyester..its a keeper..or a soft cashmere or tweed. I like! I already know in advance what I am after and usually am in and out of a shop within 20 minutes.

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: Of course I keep some..but I take photos in so many of the garments and pieces I sell ( I model for my blog and store) So that’s all I really need is the memory that it passed through my hands into the new owners closet who has been awaiting its arrival. It is so much more of a thrill to me to see someones excitement over a piece I uncovered and made available to them rather than adding to my own personal collection. Most of my personal collection is from my grandmothers and these will be handed down to my daughters. Oh but there are rare pieces that my oldest daughter swoons over and begs me to keep for her and I am happy to do that. She is a big part of my business and has learned how to thrift and shop/hunt for treasures like me. This is such a joy to me!

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?
A: Yes..I came across a vintage 40′s tortoise shell box purse made in Italy.It sold right away.I regretted it…I still do.It was gorgeous..but you never know if I found it, I could find another similar some day. I am hopeful.

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?
A: Most Satisfying find to me was a 60′s Emilio Pucci long nylon gown! I have loved and admired these in other sellers shops for years and just came across my 1st ever. And found it here in Arkansas! It was beautiful and in perfect shape!

*Find out more about Brande and Victory Vintage by following her on Twitter + Facebook + YouTube.

Have a favorite vintage shop you would love to share with our readers? Send us a note to finds@myvintageaddiction.com

If you’ve ever wondered how the vintage scene varies in other parts of the world, you’ll enjoy reading today’s Addicted To interview. Zohar from RakShniya Vintage fills us in on thrifting in Israel, and more. Read on!

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: My name is Zohar Avron and I live in the city of Tel Aviv in Israel. RakShniya Vintage is an affiliate shop of “RakShniya” which is one of the most successful vintage and second-hand shops in Israel that is run by my mother and her business partner. “RakShniya” has always worked as a family business and I’ve been involved for many years. Because of my endless love for vintage I felt like there was a market for a lot of items that weren’t finding their right customer base and so after I got to know about Etsy I decided to take things into action – basically RakShniya Vintage is my own personal homage to beautiful vintage clothing and accessories that can reach a worldwide crowd. At this moment, I can’t run my shop full-time but I could never say it’s a hobby since the vintage business is something I’ve been “soaking” in for so many years and my shop is something I constantly try to better.

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

A: Most of my vintage finds and wardrobe come from “RakShniya”. I’m always on the look for great pieces, however because Israel is only 62 years old we don’t have such a fabulous vintage heritage like, let’s say, the US does. You mostly won’t find clothes and accessories that are over 70 years old and are Israeli made but I try to visit as many markets and shops across the country as I can, in hopes to discover those wonderful finds you don’t come across every day. The best vintage “spots” though, are the houses I get invited into. Every now and then a family lets me explore their closets for treasures and these visits usually result in 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: It’s hard to explain how I pick and choose the vintage that goes into my shop but one of my golden rules is “be true to yourself” – there isn’t one item in my shop I wouldn’t try to incorporate into my own wardrobe and it’s important to me that my shop reflects who I am. The way I dress allows me to express who I am and how I feel at any given time. People often say that it’s only when they got to know me that I really let my personality shine – and because I’m evidently, a little shy or guarded, my clothes allow me to show a lot of Zohar on the exterior. I feel that fashion also means much more than clothes, it’s rather a lifestyle and can reflect your aesthetics as they manifest in different areas of your life – I think it’s important to recognize what you gravitate towards fashion wise and also to allow yourself to mix it up when it comes to fashion influences.

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: Since I’ve started my business I keep less than I used to. The shop has actually helped me learn what suits my body better because I come in close contact with a bigger variety of items. I do have a few collections – I collect slips (which I wear on a daily basis come summer), I collect vintage t-shirts (the really simple loungey ones) and I’ve started collecting clothes by a certain Israeli brand called “ATTA”, they were pretty much the only clothing brand when Israel was established as a state and it’s always exciting to find something of theirs because they are pretty rare by now.

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

A: There’s one item I kind of wish I hadn’t sold: a lovely spring skirt set, I don’t know why but I’m obsessed with sets and I guess I only realized how lovely it was only after it sold. I might have overlooked it a bit because it was slightly big on me. Oh well – I hope it’s happy in Australia (where it was sent).

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

A: One of the coolest and weirdest items I found (and sold by now) was a rainbow bead and crochet handbag. When I first saw it I was taken aback a little because it’s so “in your face” – it’s so bright and noticeable and I try to make vintage look less costumey and I tend to try and blend it into our current clothes. But the more I looked at it and the crazier it seemed – the more I wanted it. I knew I had to get it especially after I saw it had, amongst all that colors, one single black bead – it was as if the bag maker was trying to break formation if you know what I mean and express themselves within their creation. I love it. It was a very popular bag before it sold not long after I listed it.

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.

With a fantastic eye for vintage, Sadie Rose of SadieDELUXE is definitely a shop to watch. I adore Sadie’s attitude that all vintage pieces are just on the hunt for their perfect owner. For us hopeless romantics, this thought makes for such a sweet love story! Sadie also has a handmade line — Lost Boys & Lovers — giving new life to otherwise forgotten materials. Be sure to stop by her shop to check it out!

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’m not selling vintage full-time yet, but I hope to get there soon. Right now I’d say I’m at about half time, and I spend the rest of my time doing ten billion other things – like working another job, making jewelry, raising my son, and holding it down on the homefront (cooking, cleaning… all that good stuff.). I’ve lived in Northern California for just over a year now, after spending nearly 9 years in Oregon.

I started selling vintage when I lived in Portland in 2007 or 2008. My roommate and I rented a spot at the vintage Mecca known as House of Vintage on SE Hawthorne, and sold there for two years. Once I moved to California to this sweet little town – I began to focus more on my online shop since the actual population (and vintage market) here is so vastly different than the one in Portland.

Before I sold vintage, I was an aimless collector and giver. I used to buy amazing things when I found them – feeling certain that one day I would meet someone that it would fit. I was always like, “this is too good to pass up – I have to get it!” My friends were the happy beneficiaries of the product of this habit, and it was a sort of a sad transition for some of them when I started my business (and putting price tags on everything!). However, this is to say that vintage is just in my blood. I’ve always been on the hunt – it was such a relief when I put two and two together and realized I should start selling it.

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

A: Hmmmm, this is a tough one. I feel like generally, I always find one good treasure at most of my usual haunts. I’m still exploring and discovering the full range of treasure-hunting options in my Northern California location, so I’d have to say that I don’t have a favorite yet (though there are some good ones).

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 try to stay open to all options. It’s sort of like skimming a book (wherein you gloss over most of it, except for the keywords). Generally I sort through piles or racks of stuff, and I have a mental buzzer that goes off when I see textiles and fabrics that look promising. This could mean a cool print, or a gorgeous weave, etc. But as far as clothing goes – that’s mostly how I do it – by skimming for materials that catch my eye – then I dig a little deeper into those.

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: Oh, absolutely. I’m constantly finding things that I feel like I MUST have, and then I keep them for a while, and then eventually they end up in my shop. As my personal taste streamlines with age, I’m getting better at determining what I truly want to keep for myself. My favorite collection that I’ve built over the years of thrifting is my collection of “pretty white things” – this consists of various petticoats and tutus, slips and dresses. I have a couple Edwardian pieces in this collection, and a white ballet costume….the whole thing has its own section in my closet and it’s a lot of lace and tulle (this satisfies my inner 6 year-old on a daily basis).

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

A: Well, this isn’t technically something I sold – but in high school, I gave away a few amazing items that my mom had given me – one item in particular was a fitted, full-length Icelandic 60s/70s wool coat with this cool zip-front…it was so killer. I STILL can’t believe I just gave it away. On the flip side, I do love the transient nature of vintage – you find amazing pieces, and you pass them on. Sometimes you keep them, but there is always an influx of more beauty, and so it is our job (the sellers) to make sure the beauty keeps flowing onward.

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

A: Recently I found these 1940s velvet peeptoe wedges in perfect condition for a crazy low price. The low price, plus the actual materials (red velvet?! rainbow pompoms?!) made me feel sort of like a small girl discovering a giant pile of magical candy. Those moments when you find something so old and so beautiful…that takes my breath away every time.

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.

After a long hiatus, the Addicted To series is BACK in action! I’ve got some fabulous interviews lined up and I do hope you’ll tag along.

We’re going to kick off the series’ return with an interview with the lovely Anna from Etsy shop Revolving Styles!

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: My name is Anna and I’m a loud, outgoing, 28 year old with one son and a daughter due in mid-May. I received a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley and a M.A. in teaching from UC Irvine (yes, I am a UC product) and taught seventh grade for 4 years before my son was born. My husband and I decided that having me stay at home and raise our son would be more important and beneficial to our family than me teaching, so about 10 months after my son was born, I decided to start my vintage Etsy shop and it has been a blast! I’ve always loved clothes and old Elvis and Audrey Hepburn movies, so this has definitely been fun! The best part is I get to work from home and raise my amazing son. I definitely feel blessed, but don’t be fooled! I have never been more tired in my life!

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 definitely have a handful of spots that never let me down. I don’t mind sharing 2 of them — the Long Beach flea market and the Alameda Antiques Fair. I live close to Long Beach so I try to make a trip every month. As for the Alameda antiques fair, that’s about 6 hours north of me, but my family lives by there, so I plan trips every 2-3 months or so revolving around when the antique fair occurs. Great daughter, huh? The other treasure hunting spots are my little secret!

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 realized a couple of months ago that my shop picks were becoming quite one dimensional — 1950s dresses, which are my favorite. Since then, I decided to broaden my picks to items that are flattering to a woman’s body and can be incorporated with pieces from today because in the end, I do have a business to run and I want to reach as many viewers as possible, while staying true to what I like. (hope that makes sense) But, I still have a weak spot for the 1950s :)

Also, I don’t mind picking items that need a little TLC, especially from the flea market because those items’ prices are more negotiable and such a better deal and I love restoring vintage pieces!

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: Wow, this question makes me feel like I’m in an interrogation room. haha. Honestly, when I wasn’t pregnant, I would keep more finds and not tell my husband, because he sees this as strictly business, but I see it as pleasure and business! Yikes, hope he doesn’t read this. I have built up quite a collection of 1950s, 60s dresses and 70s button up shirts that I’m afraid I will not be able to fit into for a while, or forever!

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

A: There are actually 2 little black dresses that I sold in February that I look back on very often and just wonder! But, because I was pregnant at the time and the dress sizes were small, I let them go, but never got to try them on. My big regrets! Here and here.

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

A: This question has me stumped! I can’t say I have any weird ones (except for some jumpsuits I modeled when I opened my shop, but let’s not go there) so I am going to describe my most satisfying find. It was this 1920s white lace wedding dress because the previous owner sold it to me at such a low price because it was damaged and she had no idea how to fix it. After a little soaking and restoring, the lace came out remarkably and I sold it to someone who wore it as their wedding dress! I definitely was smiling a lot that day!

Thanks so much to Anna, for letting us get to know you a bit better. And make sure to check back next Monday for the next installment of the Addicted To series!

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.

Becke from The Vintage Cabin is a ball of laughs…just read for yourself! If there’s ever someone who I’ve thought to myself, “I bet thrifting with her would be fun!”, it’s Becke. Learn more about her, then go check out her shop!

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: My name is Becke and I live in a really old wooden house in, what my friends would call, the boonies. I care for 3 geriatric cats, a French Bulldog and a British guy (who is my husband). I sell vintage home decor and housewares on Etsy, which is somewhere between a part-time and full-time job these days. I also have a booth at an antique market in a small town near my house. I am a thrift junkie and have been since about the 8th grade (so that’s, um, kind of a long time ago…). My mom would always drag my sister and I to yard sales, rummage sales and thrift stores and we’d go to each place reluctantly…with a coat over our heads. Back then, it was pretty embarrassing shopping at these places. Vintage clothes were only worn by Cyndi Lauper and the term ‘vintage’ in relation to clothes and home decor wasn’t even a part of the collective dialogue.

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 do have some ‘old faithful’ treasure hunting spots that I just have to keep secret! I sometimes go to the Waddington’s Sunday auctions but the prices are usually pretty steep there. For the most part, I frequent a lot of one-off sales or church sales that only come around once or twice a year.  Let’s just say, I frequent any store or sale run by seniors who use the “is 10 cents okay, dear?” pricing strategy.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting?

A: I am all over the place when I thrift. I have always looked for weird, creepy, funny and truly original items. I love anything with weird faces on it, funny expressions or weird sayings. I also love vibrant colors and gravitate toward them when I look for fabric, furnishings and knick knacks. That said, I also really love minimalist styles and look for really utilitarian pieces that can stand the test of time. As I get older, my need for useless stuff has been replaced by a need for things that are purposeful and stylish at the same time. My main goal is to never take myself too seriously when thrifting and decorating.

Q: How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: Some items do more than speak to me, they beckon me to take them home and completely redesign a room around them. Other items are a bit more subtle. I think I have about 5 go-to decor styles that I really love – mid century modern, primitive, cottage style, rustic modern and industrial. I try and find items that fit into these styles and go from there. Once in a while I will take home the strange items that speak to me, maybe in a scary way, like taxidermy frogs, ugly clown paintings and crazy dog portraits.  “Hey lady! Over here! Take me home and stick me with a collection of other ugly gems and I promise you I’ll look amazing!” “…Oh…okay. I guess I can make room for a weird, moustached baby…”

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 have had many collections come and go and I have kept a lot of my finds…for a while. I eventually change things up and filter things out over time so I don’t have too many items that have stuck around for more than the last 5 years. I have collected everything from Ghostbusters and Peewee Herman toys to weird and wacky foreign language albums to chicken figurines and squirrels. My current collecting obsession involves eagles, ships and The Statue of Liberty. I have a few Lady Liberty statuettes and some ship paintings but I’m trying not to get too out of hand with them. And I LOVE eagles, although they have to be in a certain position and have a certain look of severity to them. No eagles in flight, they look too Harley Davidson. I prefer eagles perched or with their wings outstretched but not actually going anywhere! Wow, this is all making me sound like a maniac! Anyway, let’s just say collecting is a strange compulsion…

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

A: I always have one or two items in the shop that make me cringe a bit when I sell them, especially when they sell really fast (not even an hour after it was listed). I recently sold a great, antique wooden eagle that I bought from an old lady who had it in her kitchen for decades. It was so awesome looking but I just couldn’t find a spot for it so…off it went.  It could come back to haunt me but I try not to get too attached to anything that I sell.

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

A: Most satisfying and valuable find…Since I started selling on Etsy back in October of 2009, I have found 3 teak peppermills – 2 Dansk and one Nissen (here, here and here). I sold one mill for $150 and the other two for just under $100 a piece. I found the Nissen mill for 50 cents at the Salvation Army and both of the Dansk mills came from one of my favourite church shops. I took one of them up to the cash to ask how much it was and the woman held it as though it was contaminated, she made kind of an ‘ewwww’ face and said, “is 10 cents okay, dear?”

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.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jeanna from SwaneeGRACE and I sure hope you will too. A gal can only hope to have the luck she has when she’s treasure hunting! 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: Hello! My name is Jeanna and I’m a New York City native lucky enough to still live in the city I call home. I work full-time as a Business Manager at Bergdorf Goodman but devote as much time as I can to SwaneeGRACE. I consider it much more than a hobby as vintage truly is my life’s passion. I long for the day that it’s more than just a part-time gig.

My love affair with vintage dresses goes way back. I went on my first thrifting adventure with my grandma in the 7th grade, filled a bag for $1 and left with an entire fall wardrobe. Desperately needing another fix, I started going to fleas in New Jersey with my mom and very shortly after that I was exploring Manhattan and rummaging through the myriad of vintage shops that lined Broadway, all of which are now long gone. I’ve been hooked ever since. Funny thing is my nanny had absolutely no idea what a lasting impact that thrift run would have on my adult life. We still laugh about it and she’s tickled pink that I named my shop, in part, after her.

My collecting took a more serious turn about 7 years ago when I started going to all the NYC vintage shows and the Whitaker-Augusta auctions in New-Hope. Further along in my career, extra cash in hand, I did what any vintage-obsessed 20-something sewer would do: started to buy lots and lots of pretty dresses, some not even my size since I convinced myself I could make them fit. This was almost never actualized. My apartment started to look like one big closet and when even I couldn’t take it anymore, I knew selling was the next step. I dabbled with Ebay for a spell, rented space at a design cooperative in Soho for a few seasons and tried my hand at the Brooklyn Flea when it first opened. Throughout it all I wanted an online shop. After having a customized site designed but never programmed due to budgetary constraints, I decided to give Etsy a whirl last August. All I can say is I wish I did it sooner.

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

A: Of course I do! Like most vintage aficionados, I have top-secret tactics and a few off-the-radar thrift spots that continually churn out some pretty spectacular stuff. I often feel like I live a charmed vintage life. Most likely I’m just lucky, but I like to joke that I was some fabulous dress shop owner from the 50s in my past life and I’ve come back to re-collect all of my long lost dresses.

In addition to the shops, shows and fleas (my most favorite being The Elephants Trunk), I recently started traveling to estate sales and just can’t get enough of ‘em. Plus, whenever I travel, the first thing I do after scouting out accommodations is research the vintage spots.

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: When hand-selecting my stock, beauty, quality, craftsmanship, design and lasting wear always take precedence over trendiness. With a focus on femininity, flattery and fun, I gravitate towards vintage that displays its roots and simultaneously looks refreshingly current, either on its own or paired with modern pieces. Beautiful and wearable dresses, 25-100 years old and in great condition, that blend seamlessly with a 21st century wardrobe, are on the top of my most wanted list.

And while there’s no denying my heart races when I discover designer pieces, I’m always most taken with those handmade, little known label, and label-less dresses whose fabric, fit, and construction could easily cause any one of them to be mistaken for a piece out of a current designer’s collection. I wear lots of vintage to work and am constantly being asked questions like, “Is that Prada?”, “What floor did you get that on?”, etc. It always delights me to tell them it’s vintage. I just love raising awareness and imparting knowledge about vintage clothing. Anything new that’s even remotely similar in terms of quality is most often cost prohibitive. And let’s face it: vintage is just tons more fun.

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: Oh yes, I keep lots of them! My love of a good dress is what got me into this whole thing in the first place. And considering I only buy things I love, if something fits perfectly, it’s really hard not to keep it. Lately I’ve been trying to only put one item from each successful buying trip into my closet and this seems to be working nicely. I know, however, it’s only a matter of time before this plan fails miserably.

In addition to dresses from the 20′s-50′s, there are a few other vintage things I can’t resist: school autograph books from the 1890s-1940s (I just love the quirky and dated phrases), recipe books, photographs of ladies in dresses, watch rings, interesting dress patterns and fashion magazines.

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

A: Not yet. If I’m on the fence about something, I hold on to it until I’m emotionally ready to let it go. Once it gets into the shop I can’t wait for it to be united with its new owner. I don’t like to have things just sitting around looking pretty on a garment rack. It’s important to me that these items get the love and use they deserve.

Right about now the only thing I regret is not having enough time to get all my pretties into the shop. Thankfully, my summer lighting situation is figured out and I’m about to implement a system to ensure new items get debuted in a timely manner.

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

A: At a recent estate sale that was so loaded it ran over three weekends, I lost my cell phone in a room that was literally knee-deep with picked over stuff (including my own). I didn’t realize the loss until after I left, so back into that musty room I went. Although my phone was never found, I discovered the most stunning, museum-quality 2 piece Victorian beaded sash. Each piece was just lying there on the floor underneath all that madness. Much to my surprise, it survived 100 years (including that frenzied sale!) without one bead missing or even a nip in the chiffon. Amazing!!! As soon as I found it I gleefully gave up on the phone and called it a day.

Experiences like this have taught me that, more often than not, some of the best stuff is lurking in the background away from all the hubbub. Sometimes you just need to dig a little deeper.

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.

I won’t name names, but I know a few people who have a slight addiction to clocks. A clock fetish, if you will. I have no doubt in my mind that those individuals have already stumbled across Clockwork Universe, but for those of you who haven’t, this interview is for you. Let the drooling begin.

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: My name is Oskars. I live in Eastern Europe – in Latvia. Together with my wife, we have 5 shops here on Etsy. We both have a higher education in social sciences, but we are currently selling vintage things as our full-time job while also raising our little son.  I started to sell vintage clocks and watches only 4 months ago here on Etsy, but other vintage and antique items I have collected and sold from time to time for about 8 years.

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 buy my clocks in every possible way – in antique shops, flea markets.

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: No I don’t wait until an item speaks to me. When I started my shop, I bought almost all vintage clocks that I found. Now I’ve started to understand what kind of clocks my customers love more. It is most important criteria. Also I always try to find something unseen and rare.

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: It is strictly business. I stopped collecting vintage things, when I started to sell them on Etsy. But I hope someday I will have collection of things that are made in Soviet Union or diggers founded items.

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

A: No, I cannot remember such emotions. There are so many beautiful watches, but I know, that I will find them again and again.

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

A: This nice antique wristwatch was signed Pavel Bure in Russian. It is a very old and very rare Imperial Russian watch. Possibly it is the last one on the world. I found only one similar design watch on ebay that cost $3000. I sold my watch much cheaper. I hope the new watch owner is happy for this watch.

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.

Today’s interview subject, Sarah from Mouse Trap Vintage, offers up an eclectic group of vintage clothing, housewares, and oddities. But perhaps some of my favorite treasures in her shop are the City and Country Mouse Pins which are frequently made out of vintage and recycled fabric. If you’d like to learn more about Sarah (and I’m quite certain you do!), read on:

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 have been selling on Etsy part-time for about 2 years. I also work full-time as an Admissions Counselor at Moore College of Art & Design, my alma mater, and am a member of the Midwives Collective & Gallery, an art collective and cooperative gallery for women. I am a busy lady who is about to free up her schedule to make room for more vintage and my budding textile and home design company, SquidWhale Designs, when I go part-time at Moore in September. Woot!

I began working in my family-owned record shop when I was 11. The record store was in a “dirt mall” and behind that “dirt mall” was a true flea market with cardboard boxes full of dusty old treasures to rifle through. I started buying young, decorating my bedroom and myself. The rest is history.

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 am a flea market girl. My favorite is The Golden Nugget in Lambersville, NJ. It’s an outdoor market open year round. I love going in the middle of the winter, very early in the morning. You have the whole place to yourself.

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 love very old, one-of-a-kind handmade objects or clothing and folk art. The more amateur the maker, the better. I am currently planning my Depression-era hobo-themed wedding, so items from the late 1920s and 1930s are of particular interest to me right now. I am also very attracted to the color red. It’s becoming the unofficial theme of my shop.

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: My apartment is pretty full, but I do keep very select items. My most realized collection is of 1930s and 1940s dresses, but I have many, many starts to collections. Yesterday I was shooting a pair of figurines for the shop, an elephant and a mouse, from 1940s Japan with matching red bowties. Just before listing I decided that animal figurines with red bowties will be my new collection. My last short-lived obsession was hand-sewn humpty dumpty stuffed dolls. I have three so far. Someday I will commit to something, but for now there’s too many things to love!

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

A: A handmade leather horse brooch with straw hair and wooden bead legs. I wear a lot of brooches, but this one I would have displayed.

I have come to love the process of photographing objects and clothing. It’s almost as satisfying capturing them this way and filing them away in my digital archives than it is to own them. It also takes up less space.

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

A: I think the weirdest thing I have ever found is this jar of dental implants. I found it at a flea market that happens monthly in my neighborhood and all you readers can buy it right now in my shop. I like things that are gross, but fascinating. Fortunately, there’s other people out there who do, too.

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.

I was first introduced to Anita from Rolling Hills Vintage in an Etsy article. I was blown away and so inspired by her! It was only natural to want to get her know her better. Read on to learn more about her vintage addition.

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 work full-time as a nurse in a surgery center. Due to the economy, our center is only open 4 days a week. My hours are from 6am to 2:30 pm, Mon – Thurs. Once I get home from work and do the daily things that need to be done around the house, I take pictures, answer convos and browse through Etsy. Hopefully, I have a sale and I get it packaged up for the Post Office. Friday and Saturday mornings are spent going to estate sales and my favorite thrift shops. Once I’m home, more picture taking and research.

I have always loved vintage. My earliest memories are going through my Gramma’s
treasures and having her tell me about them. Fortunately, I married a man who also appreciates the perfect vintage item. We treasure the way things were made in the past. From pottery to furniture. No plastic for us!

My husband is an only child and when his mother passed away in 1997, she left an attic, a basement and the main floor of her house filled with the most wonderful items! She saved everything. We spent months sorting through it all. Not having room for everything in our home, we rented a space at an antique mall and started selling at vintage and antique fairs in the area.

I eventually discovered Etsy and opened two shops. My husband was ill and we could no longer keep up with going to the antique fairs or mall.

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 favorite places to treasure hunt are estate sales. We live in a rural area, lots of old farm houses full of wonderful items! I have a favorite shop in our nearest town. The shop is called Yoshi Now. It is a huge warehouse in Fresno, CA, filled to the brim with everything you can imagine. The owner is Yoshi and he travels all over the area going to yard and estate sales. He brings everything back to the warehouse and sells at fabulous prices. He loves to bargain. He doesn’t clean anything up before it goes into the store. So, wear old clothes if you’re planning on visiting Yoshi.

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 usually go through phases as to what I am looking for. Right now, I am hooked on vintage sewing items and antique tin toys. I have a passion for pottery and never pass up a good piece of Pyrex. Remember my motto, “No Plastic For Us.”

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 keep some of my finds for awhile and eventually sell them. My family swears my house looks like an antique store. I’m usually sad when I sell something I really love but, I can’t keep everything and if I know my item is going to a good home, I’m a happy camper! I collect Fiesta and Bauer. I do sell the Bauer but, I don’t think I can ever sell a piece of Fiesta.

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

A: I don’t like to go through my “sold” items in my shop. I remember where and when I found a great piece of vintage and think “Maybe I should have kept it.”

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

A: My best find…the one I am most proud of…last year my husband and I went to an estate sale. It was the second day and most everything was picked over. I saw a large hat box from Dobbs & Co. The person running the sale said it was $5.00. OK by me! When I went to purchase all of my items, she lowered the price of the hatbox to $3.00. I told my husband to take it to the car, don’t stop and don’t open it until you get it in the car. And…walk fast!!! Inside the box were 6 antique hats from the early 1900′s. I sold every one of them and regret not keeping two of them that I absolutely adored!

I hope you enjoyed meeting Anita in this special Tuesday edition in the Addicted To series. I hope everyone had an excellent Memorial Day holiday yesterday. And happy summer!

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.