Favorite of the Week - Vintage Christmas Ornaments, including Shiny Brite Decorations

Wow! It's raining Christmas ornaments here -- or should that be it's snowing Christmas ornaments?

I've enjoyed reading about Shiny Brite ornaments and learning more about vintage Christmas decorations this week. I love retro Christmas -- these ornaments always just look like Christmas to me.

A tip for new sellers or collectors -- always look at the silver cap on the ornament. Shiny Brites are labeled there, and other maker's marks appear on the silver cap. Vintage ornaments made in Germany are also very sought after.

I went through a liquor box full of vintage ornaments yesterday and listed them separately and in small lots. My very favorite -- the beautiful pale blue glass tree topper pictured here. It has two indents (front and back) and is exceptionally pretty. I could not find a maker's mark, but it is the style and era of Shiny Brites. Really a lovely decoration!

You'll find lots of my ornaments here:
http://search.stores.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books_ornament-ornaments-shiny-brite-topper_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ3QQfsnZBirdhouseQ20BooksQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQftsZ2QQsaselZ81052548QQsatitleZQ28ornamentQ2cornamentsQ2cshinyQ20briteQ2ctopperQ29QQsofpZ0

Christmas Rush - Tips for Improving Sales

The Christmas rush has begun on eBay! I have had slim listings the last week because I've been busy packing and shipping.

A few tips to improve sales:

(1) Raise prices.
(2) Lower prices.
(3) Pull some store items to Fixed Price 30 days (higher visibility).
(4) Run a series of short sales (i.e. cookbooks on sale for 5 days, then children's books on sale for 7 days, then jewelry on sale for 4 days).
(5) Use Best Offer on your Fixed Price and Store listings. I am a huge fan of Best Offer ... it generates lots of sales!
(6) Be sure all Christmas items have the word CHRISTMAS in the title.

Just a few ideas ... I've done these for several years and they work!

Favorite of the Week - A Very Young Dancer by Jill Krementz

A Very Young Dancer by Jill Krementz is a rare and especially lovely book about ballet for young readers. The photographs by Krementz, of a young dancer who is chosen to perform in the New York City Ballet's Nutcracker Ballet, are wonderful.

Jill Krementz was a Vietnam War photographer, and she is the widow of Kurt Vonnegut. While I like all her children's photography, I especially like her A Very Young series of books.

http://cgi.ebay.com/A-Very-Young-Dancer-1979-Jill-Krementz-RARE-Ballet-Book_W0QQitemZ360103253960QQihZ023QQcategoryZ279QQssPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

Favorite of the Week - Antique Christmas Postcards

I went to an ephemera show a while back and bought a wonderful assortment of antique postcards. I kept a few favorites ... and have listed many on eBay (with many more still to list). I put a bunch of vintage Christmas postcards up this week. They are beautiful cards! The greetings on the back are fascinating reading, too.

The three cards pictured here are all by artist Ellen Clapsaddle. She lived 1863 to 1934, and was the most popular postcard illustrator of her time. I love her cards -- especially the ones for Christmas and Halloween!

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books_christmas-postcard_W0QQfcdZ2QQfclZ3QQfmcZ1QQfromZR10QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQfsubZ0QQftidZ2QQpZ2QQsaselZ81052548QQsuZbirdhousebooks

Favorite of the Week - Halloween Costume Patterns

My favorite this week -- cute Halloween costume sewing patterns, some new and some vintage! I love this pattern for a variety of costumes: bat, flowerpot (so cute!), and lady bug.

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books_Halloween-Costume_W0QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ3QQfsnZBirdhouseQ20BooksQQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsaselZ81052548QQsatitleZHalloweenQ20CostumeQ2aQQsofpZ0