Apr 13, 2011

Shop Spotlight: My Victorian Cottage


In the spotlight this month is My Victorian Cottage. I am pleased to feature a vintage shop for the very first time in the Shop Spotlight segment. Dianne, the shop owner runs her shop out of beautiful Ontario. Her shop specializes in vintage housewares, fabric, buttons, linens, notions, and clothing sourced from local estates.

I fell in love with all of her vintage treasures and I know you will too. Vintage has a very huge place on Etsy and I am proud to bring a part of all that vintage goodness to the Shop Spotlight.

Oh Canada: Of all the things that you sell, which item or style is your favorite?

Dianne: Vintage fabrics and textiles are my favourite. I think it's genetic. I learned to sew when I was very young and I remember my father feeling all the fabrics in stores. When I got involved with vintage I just gravitated to that.



Oh Canada: When did you develop an interest in vintage items?

Dianne: I went to an auction over 20 years ago and got hooked right away. Then like many dealers I started selling so I could keep buying. The buying is the best part. 

Oh Canada: Why do you have such a love for vintage wares? 

Dianne: I rarely buy anything retail, even then it has to be some kind of deal. I love that vintage is different. It's not what everybody else has. It's very inexpensive compared to new. It's my lifestyle now.



Oh Canada: How do you select which vintage items to add to your shop? Where do you find your vintage treasures?

Dianne: I select a lot of my items to sell because they fit through "the slot". Postage is the bane of my internet selling existence. That said, I also list things that I really don't expect to sell. I buy for shows and rather than have things just waiting I list them for the exposure, like vintage metal tackle boxes. Anything metal is so current and whenever I list or renew a tackle box they get immediate hearts and are chosen for treasuries. I have sold a few on etsy but they are more for the exposure value.

I shop at auctions, thrift stores, the outdoor antique markets. Aberfoyle is the best locally, and twice a year I go to Brimfield, Massachusettes for the biggest outdoor shows ever. First show is in May and I absolutely can't wait. When the team was talking about vacations on beaches I was thinking about my upcoming road trip. For me, that's the best vacation.



Oh Canada: Any plans to incorporate a new product into your shop this year?

Dianne: This business is a lot about reinventing yourself to stay current, always trying new things. I did recently start selling the pillows and bags I sew in a new etsy shop.

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing about selling on Etsy?

Dianne: I still love that total surprise when I check in and I have a sale. I love the new Activity Feed. I also love that buyers aren't afraid to spend money here because they recognize the value of Etsy.

Oh Canada: Do you have a number one tip for new sellers?

Dianne: Of course, you need good pictures. I think you need to be offering something that people want to buy. I don't know exactly. Etsy is still a lot of mystery to me, why some people get so popular and others don't. I like being on the Oh Canada Team. Etsy is a huge place and this makes for some sense of community. List and relist too for exposure in the searches. I know not everybody agrees with the relist thing. 

Oh Canada: What is your favorite thing to buy on Etsy? 

Dianne: I'm too practical. I think the best things to buy are supplies, zippers, findings, fabric, etc. So much choice and really good prices. 

Oh Canada: What is the number one best item in your shop right now? 

Dianne: The buttons are my best sellers. I just have to keep focused and list more.


Visit My Victorian Cottage to see her lovely selection of vintage wares. You can also keep up with Dianne in her two other shops. In From The Workroom you will find beautiful sewn items from mostly vintage fabrics, linens, lace, and trims. In Button Lane you will discover unique vintage button charm bracelets. So head on over and have a look. Dianne will be glad to have you stop by.





Copyright 2011 Oh Canada Team


9 comments:

Chriss Smith said...

Excellent! I love getting to know the Person behind the shop. Great Story.

Jensdreamdecor said...

Lovely post on a great Canadian team member...I love all your shops!!

dianne said...

Jo, thank you for this wonderful post. You and the other leaders do so much for the team. We all aprreciate it.

Dianne

Littlebearsmom said...

What a great feature, and I'm so happy that it's a vintage seller!!!

Saturations said...

What a wonderful shop - I love those vintage fabric pillows - my mother kept a pair of floral drapes that she used for dust covers - all I have left is a small square but it brings back great memories.

Anonymous said...

Lovely shop! and interesting interview!

Steph said...

great feature :) thanks muchly for sharing!

the butlers pottery said...

Thank you for sharing. Great shop.

Lulu Lang said...

Great feature! It was great to find out more about you, Diane!

Related Posts with Thumbnails

Contributors

Topics

accessories alberta all natural animals anterosurbanwood antique apron arly art autumn autumn 2012 awards awareness babies and kids bag banner contest barware bath and beauty beadwork behind the lens billiemonster birthstone blog help blue bracelet bridal british columbia butlerpottery canada canada day canadian landmarks canvas carvelcountrysoaps castillejacotton ceramic charity charm children christmas claraclips clothing collectique colors comments crochet cushion cover custom art cute dolls and miniatures earth day ecco friendly eco-friendly ecofriendly edibles embroidery etsy etsy help etsy tools Etsy. etsyteams fabric Facebook fall fashion featured on etsy felting fiber arts fibre finalists fine arts flag flowers framed art friday finds geography gift exchange gift guide gifts gray green hair accessories Halloween handbags handmade handsewn heirloom history holiday home accessory home decor hostess gift interactions j2studioscraft jewelry knitting kris kringle landscape lapis lazuli leather Link Love maple men minimade misticalacscents mitts mom mothers day natural nature necklace needle felted notecards ocean octchallenge Oh Canada Team ohcanadateam olympics ontario orange organic ornament painting paper goods patriotic pauperhandmade peacockandlime pearl pen Persian rug pet portrait philosophiacreations photography picture pink pinterest postcard poster sketch pottery prankepaintings Prince Edward Island promotions puppets purple quebec quilts rainbow recipe recycled recycledandresewn red rings roses sale sandrascardshop Scavenger Hunt school seatbelt cover secret santa sewing sewinggranny shawl Shop Critiques shop spotlight shopping silver soap souvenir special occasions spring stationery sterling silver stone summer tagging team news team sale team spirit thankyou cards thecottageworkroom theme board theoldbarndoor toxiedesigns toys treasury treasury blitz Treasury Challenge tree decoration tutorial upcycled vegetarian vintage vitrine wall art Weezi wheat white winner winter wood woodworking wool yarn yellow zigzagstitches