Again, I had to harvest information from my gracious host! This time the Bit of Butter team shares their secrets on keeping their Etsy stock tidy:
Bit of Butter's Top 5 Thrift Haul Organizing Tips
First of all, we are not organizational wizards. No really. As I type this, our weekend finds clutter the dining table and counter. Such is the life of a thrifter and an online-reseller, especially after a weekend of estate sales. But here's how we try to keep the mess under control:
1. Don't Bring Everything Home:
Organization starts at the thrift stores. We don't bring home anything in bad condition and we try not to attempt too many projects. We only bring in things we *really* want or that we know that we can sell.
2. Once We Get Home:
Once we get home, we empty everything out of bags and begin to research each item. Who is the designer? When was it made? What about pricing? We open a document on the computer and start compiling information on the items, including condition and measurements. 3. Then What?:
This is where things get tricky. We're tired from estate sales and thrifting. THIS IS THE DANGER ZONE! So it's time to get organized. (*Steps 4 and 5 are interchangeable*)
4. Photos:
Since we list our items online, we take photos of every item we brought in the door that weekend.
5. Box it Up:
Once we take photos, we pack everything away in boxes to store in the garage. We use banker's boxes and list every item on a piece of paper that we tape to the outside of the box.
And no, it doesn't always work as smoothly as we'd like. (Currently I'm in the middle of steps #3-5 because we got a little disorganized this weekend.) But this method helps with excess stock sitting around our home and it keeps us from feeling overwhelmed!
Betty Draper Giveaway, You Could Win: 1.) Owl New York Salt and Pepper Shakers 2.) Ohio Art Company Recipe Card Holder 3.) Two Pyrex Mini-Cruets 4.) Hallcraft Coaster Set 5.) Two Cookbooks: Japanese and Chinese Recipes (1961) and American Oriental Cookery (1962)
Bit of Butter Betty Draper Giveaway Entry Instructions:
If you entered last week, you get a lot of free entries this time around. Yay!
1.) Shop Bit of Butter and select your favorite item. (Select a 2nd fav if you did this last week!)
2.) Leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite item is!
3.) Make sure to include your e-mail so I can contact you if you win.
4.) Follow the Bit of Butter blog and leave a comment on on this post for an extra entry.
5.) Follow Bit of Butter on Facebook and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
6.) Follow Thrift Core and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
7.) Follow Bit of Butter on Twitter and leave a comment on this post for an extra entry.
Good Luck! You have until August 23, 2011 to enter for a chance to win!
By the Way, Bit of Butter is offering a 10% discount off your transaction. Just enter the code "THRIFTCORE" when you check out!
(The winner of last week's giveaway is Grace! I've e-mailed you to get your shipping information!)
* Bit of Butter is a Thrift Core Sponsor. Click Here to read more about becoming a Thrift Core Sponsor or contact me.
I love this post. Once I get past step 2, bring it home, I stall! I'll leave things in the bags for a couple of days! Neat, to see what others do once they get home.
ReplyDeleteThis shop is awesome! It was really hard to choose, but this item caught my eye first:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.etsy.com/listing/79823663/owl-windchime-bell-ceramic-made-in-japan
I love and collect owls...I think it's because I'm a child of the 70's :-)
OK, just followed them on FB for another entry :-)
ReplyDeleteI love Dansk of Denmark Stacking Red Picnic Plates Designed by Gunnar Cyren!
ReplyDeleteI am a happy follower of thrift core!
ReplyDeleteI like thrift core on fb!!
ReplyDeleteI love the Takahashi of San Francisco Black Cat Ceramic Planter!!!
ReplyDeletemarcia.furman @ gmail.com
following on facebook!
ReplyDeletemarcia.furman @ gmail.com
following on twitter!
ReplyDeletemarcia.furman @ gmail.com
The Mystery German Task Lamp is my fave item.
ReplyDeleteLuckyTJG at cs dot com
My favorite item is the Blendo Highball and Pitcher Set.
ReplyDeleteamycastellano74(at)hotmail(dot)com
I just found your blog and absolutely love it! It's cool to see a kindred spirit here on the blogsphere (avid thrifter for years). Also, I'm in Orlando. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved reading this! In the store Im drooling over the vintage decoupage purse/lunchbox.
ReplyDeleteI followed them on twitter
ReplyDeleteAlready folow thriftcore <3
ReplyDeleteI like them on facebook yey Im loving thos s&p owls
ReplyDeleteSome great tips there! I love the chippy flower power canisters.
ReplyDeleteE :)
vintage_sweetheart@hotmail.com
I follow the bit of butter blog.
ReplyDeletevintage_sweetheart@hotmail.com
I'm a follower of thriftcore of course!
ReplyDeletevintage_sweetheart@hotmail.com
My favorite is the Ralph Lodewick Pottery Creamer.
ReplyDeletechoateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I love the vernonware pitchers
ReplyDeletekarlar215(at)gmail(dot)com
I follow thriftcore on facebook
ReplyDeleteKarlar215(at)gmail(dot)com
My last comments didn't show up so forgive me if they suddenly do. If so, feel free to delete half. : )
ReplyDeleteMy favorite item is the Chippy Flower Power Canister Set. Sweet!
Following Bit of Butter blog. : )
ReplyDeleteFollowing Thrift Core! : )
ReplyDeleteI love the Hammered Metal Sugar and Creamer by The Swan Brand.
ReplyDeletesmchester at gmail dot com
I like the cookbooks.
ReplyDeleteI love the Aladin plates...just looking quickly, I think they are the most expensive items listed. Champagne taste, beer budget, that's me!
ReplyDeleteI just signed up to follow Bit of Butter, too. They have some awesome items...stuff I don't see out on the east coast much. Envy is not a good thing!
ReplyDeleteeclairre(at)ymail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI love the Boston Champion Pencil Sharpener - Back to School - Machine Age Industrial!!
I like the chippy flower power canisters.
ReplyDeleteI follow via GFC
ReplyDeleteBit of Butter facebook follower.
ReplyDeleteTl Moyer
Eep! I hope I win this one:) I shopped and I love the Teak and Cork salt and pepper shakers! I may need to get those!
ReplyDeleteemily14680@gmail.com
And I Liked Bit of Butter on Facebook:)
ReplyDeleteemily14680@gmail.com
And I follow Thrift Core :)
ReplyDeleteemily14680@gmail.com
I like the Dansk Kobenstyle Dutch Oven in Cherry Red
ReplyDeletenblexp ( at ) gmail (dot) com
I follow the But of Butter blog on twitter as c5519
ReplyDeletenblexp at gmail dot com
I follow you publicly on gfc
ReplyDeletenblexp (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the Hammered Metal Sugar and Creamer by The Swan Brand, thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteI follow Thrift Core with Google Reader.
ReplyDeleteI love the Rheinfelden Ceramic Tray with Flower Girl
ReplyDeleteb dot ringer at hotmail dot com
I follow on Twitter
ReplyDelete@ContestMom
b dot ringer at hotmail dot com
Love love love the Finel Bowl, that color is amazing!
ReplyDeletemonkeychild92 at gmail dot com
I follow Thrift Core via GFC
ReplyDeletemonkeychild92 at gmail dot com
I like Bit of Butter on Facebook
ReplyDeletemonkeychild92 at gmail dot com
I follow Bit of Butter on Twitter via @candidreviewer
ReplyDeletemonkeychild92 at gmail dot com
Gorgeous Cobalt Blue Viking Vase
ReplyDeleteDeborah
Homemaker Honey
homemakerhoney.com
homemakerhoney @gmail .com
favorite item is the Blenko Water Carafe in Tangerine. the colors are GORGEOUS!!!
ReplyDeletePeruvianLilies@gmail.com
Following on twitter via @Peruvianlilies
ReplyDeleteChristina - xristya@rock.com- I love the Stacking Red Picnic Plates!
ReplyDeleteI love the Dansk Kobenstyle Fondue Pot in Yellow!
ReplyDeleteLilyhoot at gmail dot com
I follow on twitter, @slowclublover.
ReplyDeleteLilyhoot at gmail dot com
I love the owls
ReplyDeleteDiane Baum
esldiane@gmail.com
My favorite item is the Dala Horse Napkin Holder Designed by Nils Olsson. Beautiful! glasskey@aol.com
ReplyDeleteMy favorite item is the Digsmed of Denmark Footed Cheese Board Made of End Grain Teak.
ReplyDeletepkbw28 at gmail dot com
Following Bit of Butter via RSS-Penny W
ReplyDeletepkbw28 at gmail dot com
Liked Bit of Butter on FB-Penny W
ReplyDeletepkbw28 at gmail dot com
Following Thrift Core via GFC-Penny W or Pennykatw
ReplyDeletepkbw28 at gmail dot com
Following Bit of Butter via twitter-Pennykatw
ReplyDeletepkbw28 at gmail dot com
I like the Blendo Highball and Pitcher Set
ReplyDeletemrsnataliegibson@Hotmail.com
Thanks for you organizing advise as per my need from help with Etsy Lovers (Elm Place). Great blog! Will definitely be back!
ReplyDeletei love the Three Heller Plates in Yellow - Designed by Massimo Vignelli. Yellow is the best color ever!
ReplyDeleteferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
fb fan xferriza2 danielle b
ReplyDeleteferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
gfc ferriz
ReplyDeleteferriza2(at)yahoo(dot)com
Set of Four Anchor Hocking Environmental Shot Glasses in Original Box
ReplyDeleteweta1972@yahoo.com
i love the Teak Table Danish Modern - Round - Designed by Hans Andersen - Made in Denmark
ReplyDeleteyour google friend klp1965
ReplyDeletekathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
my favorite item is the Teak Table Danish Modern - Round - Designed by Hans Andersen - Made in Denmark
ReplyDeletesusansmoaks at gmail dot com
I LOVE the Four Forest Green Cups by Kenji Fujita for Freeman Lederman!
ReplyDeleteDara Nix
kitty32504 at cox dot net
I "heart"-ed the Four Forest Green Cups by Kenji Fujita for Freeman Lederman on the Etsy shop (Kitty32504)!
ReplyDeletekitty32504 at cox dot net
(I got these entries backwards -- LOL!)
I follow the A Bot of Butter blog via Google Reader!
ReplyDeletekitty32504 at cox dot net
I already like A Bit of Butter on Facebook (Dara Nix)!
ReplyDeletekitty32504 at cox dot net
I already follow you via GFC (Dara Nix)!
ReplyDeletekitty32504 at cox dot net
I already follow @BitofButter on Twitter (@Kitty32504)!
ReplyDeletekitty32504 at cox dot net
the highball glasses - adorable!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great contest!
ReplyDeletebahjeep@aol.com