freshvintage

fresh gifts | day 16 | the gift of square

Do you use Square? Then maybe you got the email from them, announcing that you can give Square as a gift. I love this idea, and I am pretending that I was the first person who thought of it.

What a nice gift for an fledgling artist or vintage dealer who wants to start selling at local markets. You can send them a Square for ONE BUCK - and it will be shipped in a cute gift box. The Square is normally free, but just spending that dollar to send a friend the Square might give them the push they need to get their business moving.

I've written about Square before. I've successfully used it with my iPad 3G at several outdoor markets, and I love it. Customers who were on the fence about spending a lot of money were swayed into buying, once I told them that I could easily and safely accept credit cards. And during the past few months, I've shopped at two vintage sales where the dealers used it, so I can also vouch for it as a buyer, too.

Do you have a Square? Who would you give it to as a gift?

Read the whole list of fresh gifts.

P.S. We have a winner for the Charms City Company gift certificate! Read the post to see who won.

 

 

fresh gifts | day 15 | beer of the month club

Today is my husband's birthday, so I thought I'd share with you what I bought him for Christmas last year.

I'd always wanted to get Chris a beer-of-the-month club membership, but I was worried about the quality of the beer. My dad had gotten one as a gift a few years ago, and all of the beer was disgusting. Like, take-a-sip-and-spit-it-out disgusting. And my family never spits out booze.

Chris is a beer snob. Blame it on his Pacific Northwest roots - all of those craft breweries and grunge music and the fact that they serve beer in the movie theaters. Too bad he moved to Pennsylvania, where the beer laws are ridiculous. (But, at least we have a few great local craft breweries like Victory and Dogfish Head).

I didn't want the club's selections to include beer that we could buy at the local liquor store. If that were the case, I could have just driven to the closest beer store and stuck a six-pack in the mailbox every four weeks. I searched and searched until I found a club called Micro Beer Club that ships to PA. This company offers a "High End Micro Beer Club". I know - it sounds awful fancy.

This club only includes beer brewed in California and the Pacific Northwest. And each of the beers has an "A" Rating by BeerAdvocate - a bunch of smart drunks who tell you how awesome or skunky a beer tastes. You get three BIG bottles of beer a month, for however many months you want. And by BIG bottles, I mean that they are almost the size of a standard wine bottle.

I was worried since you can't choose the style of beer that you want. For example, Chris prefers pale ales to stouts, porters and wheat beers. He was disappointed when his first shipment had a stout. He started sobbing and wailing. It was really embarrassing for him. But, we found that no matter what style of beer he received, they always tasted great since they are ranked so high. Believe me - Chris drank every beer to the very last drop. Lots of swallowing. No spitting.

I ended up getting Chris six months worth of shipments that each contained three different microbrews. It was around $185, so when you break it down, it is $10 per big bottle which includes shipping. It seems steep, but we both agreed that it was a worthwhile gift for a beer geek who craves craft brews that can't be found locally. And it was like a mini-Christmas each month when we got a new shipment.

This makes a great group gift, too. Especially if you are a procrastinator. On Christmas morning, you can print out a little card right on the website, and hand it to your recipient. You lazy bastard.

Have you ever bought or received the gift of a something-of-the-month club? What was your experience with it?

 

Find the round-up of all the gifts here.

P.S. Happy Birthday, Chris!

fresh gifts | day 14 | for that pregnant lady

Got a pregnant friend that needs a holiday gift? You know that she'll getting tons of gifts at her baby shower, so screw the onesies and strollers. Get her something unexpected. Here are five ideas (four vintage and one new):

1. Vintage Apron for the Expectant Mother

I've been selling vintage aprons for ten years, and I've never seen one specifically for a pregnant woman. Click on the Etsy listing by Neatokeen to see close-up photos of the apron.

2. Extremely Odd Vintage Ashtray

I guess this woman has regrets, since she "should have danced all night" instead of getting laid. It says, "For My Half Ash Friends" across the top. So is she smoking? Or her friends? Either way, I would totally buy this if I knew a vintage-loving pregnant woman with a strange sense of humor.

3. Vintage Salt & Pepper Shakers

Do you need to buy a holiday gift for someone who had a "surprise" pregnancy? These salt and pepper shakers that say "You and Your Once More For Old Times Sake" are the perfect gift.

4. Antique Breast Pump

Give her a sweet reminder of how goddamn thankful she should be that she is pregnant in the 21st century.

5. The Newly Non-Drinking Girl's Guide to Pregnancy

And for your normally-drinking friend who must suffer the holiday without alcohol, this book should help get her through her hiatus, with its 50 mocktail recipes.

 

Give her this book and a flask of egg nog. It will be your little secret.

Find the round-up of all the gifts here.

fresh gifts | day 13 | for the class clown

We all have one or two strange birds in our circle of family and friends. Those people who take every opportunity to embarrass others (or themselves) to get a cheap laugh. Here are five gifts for the class clown:

1. Literary Lites

These matchboxes by dippylulu on Etsy are a great stocking stuffer for people who poop and like to cover up the smell. Which would be nearly everyone on earth.

They have a great selection of funny handmade gifts (well, I don't think they made the matches). But the Literary Lites are my favorite. Here are some more:

2. Borrow My Pen?

Sure to freak out the chronic pen-borrower, this set of eight pens has advertisements for businesses like Dr Lance Hughes, Proctology (please use rear entrance), Springfield Sexual Addiction Center (curbing your enthusiasm since 1998), Stuffed with Love Taxidermy (ask about our goldfish and turtle discount).

3. Creative Cursing

Everyone loves a good curse fest. But sometimes you find yourself using the same old boring profanity. Creative Cursing by Sarah Royal and Jillian Panarese looks like a fun way to spice up your vocabulary. I've already got a few good ideas, just from looking at the cover. Clot Dangler might be my new go-to insult.

4. Holiday Bluntcards

If you are a total cheapskate but still want to incite laughter, send an ecard from Bluntcard.com. They are crude and hysterical and I love them all. There are Christmas cards and Hanukkuh cards - all guaranteed to offend your grandmother.

If you happen to find some money under your sofa cushions, Bluntcard also has a selection of mousepads, mugs, iPhone covers and other gifts.

5. Men's Apron FOR MATURE AUDIENCES

Which, duh, really means "immature" audiences. This line of men's aprons by mensnoveltyaprons come with a little (big) surprise under the attached towel. Click the photo to see the Etsy listing for more photos. I am too pure and gentle to show such a sight on my blog.

I ordered this Seahawks one for Chris (since he is from Washington), but mensnoveltyaprons has many other teams and styles for sale. When I first saw the above photo, I thought that the apron had a hole for the man's own package. Thankfully, it doesn't - so you won't have to see your brother's or your cousin's or your neighbor's junk when he wears this to the next barbeque. I would not consider that to be a very good gift.

Find the round-up of all the gifts here.

All images credited to the respective websites.

 

fresh gifts | day 12 | reader submission: milkshake crafts

Our second reader submission comes from Lisa, owner of Milkshake Crafts. Lisa is a fellow vendor at Clover Market who creates handcrafted prints, stationery, frames, clocks, pendants and notecards - all in her signature whimsical style.

In honor of Small Business Saturday, here are a few great gift ideas from Milkshake Crafts...

This print on wood is a little reminder of how quickly the kids grow up:

 

 And here's the boy version:

This print was created from an original collage that Lisa created. I love the quilted look and the subtle patterns. Yet another good gift for someone who loves the beach.

And here's a sweet print on wood. Lisa explains that she made this for her daughter, who was starting kindergarten. "She was very nervous about starting school and being away from home all day, so I created this image with the words 'try your wings' and hung it in her room, where she could see it from her bed."

I encourage you to look through the rest of Lisa's shop. She has a Small Biz Saturday Sale running right now: use coupon code CYBER11 to get 15% off anything for sale in her shop until midnight on November 30th.

I would love to hear from more readers about your favorite gift ideas. If you have your own Etsy shop, this is a great chance to show off your goods! Enter your ideas in this form.

Find the round-up of all the gifts here.

fresh gifts | day 11 | charms city company giveaway

UPDATE! We have a winner! Go to the bottom of this post to see the lucky gal...

I mentioned Katie & Rachel of Charms City Company a few weeks ago, after I met them at Clover Market and they magically & immediately made jewelry from metal numbers that I sold to them. Well, they have graciously offered to give away a $25 gift certificate to a lucky freshvintage reader!

I love how they incorporate salvaged finds into their jewelry. They have lots of great gift ideas in their shop: typewriter key necklaces, wine charms made from Scrabble letters,  and this brass ball locket:

What a nice gift this would be for a new mom (or an old one).

This Skeleton Key necklace with beads is another one of my favorites:

In addition to their online shop, Katie and Rachel also sell their vintage-inspired jewelry in several brick and mortar shops. Maybe there is one near you?

Just leave a comment below to be entered in the giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to Charms City Company. Let us know which product you would give as a gift this holiday season (to yourself or otherwise!). Be sure to include your email address or a link to your blog, so that I have a way to get in touch with you. You don't need to put your email address in the body of the comment. Only one entry per person, please.

The contest ends on Tuesday, November 29th at midnight EST. I'll randomly pick a winner and announce it on Wednesday, November 30th.

Thanks again to Katie and Rachel for this giveaway. And remember to support small businesses this holiday season!

Read the whole list of fresh gifts.

P.S. You can visit Charms City on Facebook, too.

UPDATE! We have a winner!

Congrats to Liz from Liz Taylor * Handmade! You are the lucky winner of the $25 Charms City Gift Certificate! We'll be in touch with details.

fresh gifts | day 10 | giving thanks to etsy buyers

Today, I'd like to give thanks to the three people who bought stuff from my new Etsy shop, freshvintage market. I was thrilled when I got each of the emails saying that I had made a sale. I look at some Etsy shops that have had hundreds of sales, and I wonder if that thrill ever wears off for the sellers.

Well, I guess I'm supposed to suggest a great gift idea. Hmmmm...any of the vintage finds left in my Etsy shop would make wonderful gifts! 

 

I especially love this green money box that Chris found in Lancaster County, PA. I think it would make a great gift for an antiques dealer or artist who needs a totally cool box for their change while selling at a market.

I secretly launched the shop last week, just to test it out. The selection's little sparse, I know. But I will be adding some new things this weekend. Thanks to everyone for your support, and for adding me to your Etsy circles and "favorite-ing" my stuff. You guys are the best!

For those of you in the states, enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday!

fresh gifts | day 9 | guest post from erin: just beachy

Thank you to my little (taller) sister, Erin, for this guest post about her favorite holiday gifts. Methinks her husband, Doug, had a hand in this, too. Read all about his odd family history here.

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In 2011, Doug & I bought a summer place at the Jersey Shore. No, not the cheese-filled, fist pumping Joisy shore, but the quiet island of Brigantine, just a stone’s throw from Atlantic City (where, let’s be honest, fists are known to pump). Fortunately, A.C. has cleaned up a bit since our heyday of chucking nickels at scantily-clad hookers, and Brigantine is the same peaceful, pretty place I remember growing up. Our dad lives five blocks away, so our new, ugly eighties-style house has been a great spill-over spot for summer guests.

Since this summer, I have been obsessed with all things beach, coastal, shore, and sea and routinely search my favorite spots for décor inspirations. Below are just five fun holiday gifts for ME! (Or another beach lover, if you want to be that way.)

Lucy Jane Totes on Etsy has this AWESOME oversized beach bag that I am expecting under my tree from one of you readers. They come in a variety of bold fabrics and combinations.

Designosaur.us has these colorful underwater creature watercolors. You can enjoy crabs without the mess! P.S. Colleen doesn’t usually like pictures of crabs - it brings back bad memories. Don’t worry, Colleen, this crab won’t make your vagina itch.

Our friends at Three Potato Four in Philly know what I am looking for in wall decor: old oars, bright colored buoys, and this old Philadelphia life preserver:

What to do for the sea-loving friend who also loves to tie a load on?  Clean out an old minnow bucket and you've got an ice bucket for wine or beer! Makes a great beach house-warming gift. These were from our sale at Clover Market in the spring (you can also find a bunch on Etsy).

And I love this bronze sea gull vintage pearl necklace by 2handstudios on Etsy. At least this bird won't poop on your shoulder.

Thanks for your beachy gift ideas, Erin! 

Read the whole list of fresh gifts here.

fresh gifts | day 8 | souvenir plates

A pretty souvenir plate make inexpensive, yet personal, gift. Especially when covered with brownies, homemade cookies or rum balls.

I have so many vintage souvenir plates and I've never paid more than a buck for any of them. My goal is to only buy plates from the states, cities and famous landmarks that I have visited.  Here's my home state:

But then, too often, I end up buying plates from places that I've never been. This Wyoming plate is especially nice...it is black transferware with painted highlights. It's a bit older then most of the plates I usually see. It would make a great gift for a Wyominger. Or is it a Wyomingian?

If you know someone who loves vintage and loves to cruise the Caribbean, this would make a lovely gift: (check out the sea horses along the border)

Of course, since I live close to Dutch Country, I'm keeping this one for myself. It reminds me of my husband Chris, since he gets me all "ferhuddled".  Sorry - didn't mean to turn this into an x-rated post.

P.S. I did end up getting more than Legos for my birthday yesterday...a white gold and diamond necklace in the shape of a clover. Thanks, Chris. You don't have to sleep in the dark part of the basement, after all.

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We have a winner of the $25 Bluebird Goods Giveaway! Visit the giveaway blog post to see who won!

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Read the whole list of fresh gifts.

fresh gifts | day 7 | lego winter village

It's my birthday today, so I thought I'd share a gift that Chris and the kids gave me: the Toy Shop from the Lego Winter Village series. Before you start sending Chris hate mail, I have to tell you that I actually asked for it. Yes, I am confirming publicly that I am on crack.

(Chris' birthday is next week, so our real gift to each other is a long weekend in Washington, D.C. in December to take the kids to see the National Christmas Tree and the Smithsonian.)

My kids are Lego fanatics, so I think that the Lego Winter Village makes a fun alternative to tranditional Dickens' Village houses and shops: they aren't breakable and the kids have more flexibility in setting up the scenes. Case in point: I found two of the carolers "making out".

The photo below shows the Bakery, which I bought a few weeks ago for the kids. And there is also a Post Office, which is new this year. We don't have that set (that's the most expensive one).

The kids (mostly Finn) put together both sets, and we have them on display in our living room. I took one of the three typewriter tables that we have in our garage, expanded the dropdown leaves, draped a vintage Christmas tablecloth on top and added a milk glass lamp. This particular tablecloth looks perfect with the village, since it has a green "town square" in the middle.

 

Here's a minifig decorating the tree:

And this little guy is hurling a snowball at the carolers, because, as Finn said, "they are horrible singers". Who totally like to make out.

The snowman is either getting his carrot nose installed, or is in the process of being beaten by a large orange penis.

I'll let you decide.

Find the round-up of all the gifts here.