Sold! : A Look Back at Some of Last Years Firsts and Favorites

So, basically my business is to find things I like...and then sell them to other people. Yes, it can be hard not to keep everything you find! So many precious things come and go. I like everything I buy but I love some things! Here's a look back at some of my firsts and favorite items that sold in 2014.

First creepy composition doll : I stock a good amount of creepy dolls in the shop. This little guy was my first composition doll acquired. He was so fabulous!

Favorite little case : I love boxes of any kind ; crates, tool boxes, jewelry boxes, anything that can hold things. This little metal tool box was perfect for an artist case and the yellow color secured it as my favorite!

Rusty scale : This vintage scale was so special! So perfect in photos. Between the rust, dirt, and perfect green color, she vogued like no one else. Great base to hold so many things. Loved using it at shows! So sad to see it go.

First Typewriter : This Smith Corona Zenith travel typewriter was my first bought and quickly sold. Started an obsession that continues today!

First Globe : So, globes have been hot this year for sure. This is the first one bought and sold. Love the simple style and bright colors!

This industrial medicine cabinet just happened to be from one of my favorite picks. It came from an 1800s house in Easley, SC, owned by a doctor who practiced out of his house. Who knows what this cabinet held?

Favorite Hardware : Another thing I love and keep in the shop and at shows is vintage hardware. These french provincial pulls were just gorgeous!

Favorite Suitcase : My love of vintage suit cases knows no bounds. I use them for traveling to shows, displaying at shows, and selling. This lovely little lady in white stole my heart! She was sold and became a table.

Favorite "someone gets it" item : Sometimes I buy some weird stuff that I know I'm taking a chance on and I'm not sure if it will sell. This miniature garden set, rusty and broken, was one of those things. It sold shortly after posting to someone who had just the place for it!

Favorite "as seen on TV" : I liked these Cera Mid Century glasses when I saw them on the counter at an estate sale. I LOVED these Cera Mid Century glasses when I saw them on Mad Men. So glad they went to one of my local customers that collects vintage glassware. At least they're nearby!

Favorite Guy Item : OMG This. This silver and turquoise bolo tie was unbelievable. I make it my business to have lots of guy items and this one was my favorites! It takes a special person to rock this bad ass piece and it found that person.

Favorite Oddity : I love oddities. If I'm going to keep anything, it's going to be something in this category and I did keep one of these doll heads. This lot of doll parts was probably my find of the year from a local flea market. People couldn't get enough of them!

Favorite General Decor Items : So many awesome decor items. So here are a couple of my favorites. You will see the white version of this deviled egg dish in every booth of every antique store. This was the only blue one I have ever come across. Surprisingly, I loved the mix of blue and gold! So interesting.

Amazing brass candelabras! I hardly got to give these a second look before they were in a box and out the door.

Brass animals figures were also quite popular this year. This gorgeous one was a peacock and nice and big. Great statement piece!

Favorite Item of the Year : This Burwood Peacock was a last minute grab, thrown on the pile at a pick. It was looking rough. After spending a good amount of time in my garage, I pulled it out and painted it. After researching, I found there were not many available. So this item ended up being a valuable item that I even got to add my artistic touch to!

I hope you have enjoyed looking back at some of my firsts and favorites from the year. After over 500 online sales, it sure was hard to pick!

Did you miss out on something you would have loved forever? Be sure to check Maliasmark to find a special pick of your own! Follow on Facebook and Instagram to see fresh picks before they're even listed. Can't wait to see what a look back at 2015 will find!

My Spots : Finding Vintage Treasures in Upstate South Carolina : BLDG 109 in Easley, SC

A vintage re-seller and altered art artist is only as good as the local junkers and salvagers in their area. As I look at all the vintage dealers, each vintage shop is a reflection of the area they live in. And we have some great little out of the way shops that I love to frequent here in the Upstate of South Carolina!

Some may want to keep their stops to themselves but I don't mind sharing these great shops for several reasons. First, I am confident in my brand. I am looking for a specific look and interest. When you go, you will not see the same things that I see. You will find your own unique treasures! Second, I want these local businesses who have added to my inventory to be successful too.

Today, I am highlighting BLDG 109 in Easley, SC. Owner, Dickie, has an eye for great pieces! The variety at BLDG 109 is one of a kind. 

Part thrift store, part junk store, part supply store, part antique dealer, there is something for everyone here! Last time I was there, I ran into a friend who owns his own computer repair business, looking for parts. BLDG 109 truly caters to those from all industries. When you go in, roll up your sleeves and start digging. Or, if you're not in a digging mood, let Dickie know what you're looking for. He knows where everything is and after a few minutes of getting to know you, can make suggestions based on your taste.

When I go, of course, I am drawn to the old, paint peeled building next door. It's my favorite place to explore at BLDG 109.

Sure, it's a little dangerous which is probably why I like it. Be careful not to fall through that hole in the floor! This is where you will find lots of furniture, stereo equipment, and his coveted piano boards with the decorative brand names that make great art and mantels.

If you are thinking about hitting the road to find your own diamond in the rough, stop by and see Dickie at BLDG 109. If he doesn't have what you're looking for, he'll find it or know someone that does!

BLDG 109 is located at 109 Gulf Street in Easley, SC, right around the corner from Easley's Main Street and downtown. Plenty of little lunch spots to enjoy before or after you shop!

BLDG 109 Facebook Page

Search BLDG 109 on Greenville's Craigslist. Dickie regularly posts pics of new items there.

Resolve to Organize and Decorate Your Office in Vintage Style in 2014

Your office.  You spend so much time there.  Does it reflect your personality at all or is it your standard clinical Staples office look?

When I worked in an office, I moved in, left it the way it was, and piles started accumulating. After 9 years, I decided it was time. I organized, threw away, filed, rearranged, and hung pictures. It was a great place to be. I didn't mind going there.  All I could wonder was "Why didn't I do this sooner?" As the great comedy of life would have it, my company closed two months later so I lost that office. So now, my office is home but it's still a challenge to claim your space. Mine is in my bonus room. Part office, part studio, part gym, part storage facility. There's a lot going on.

I will be starting off the year re-organizing the old office space into an organized place I want to be, surrounded by my favorite items. Join me in starting your year off organized and accessorized! You'll thank yourself. Productivity and happiness will be on the rise! Browse some of the great vintage office organization and decor items from maliasmark.etsy.com below.

Happy 2014!