Maliasmark Rust and Ruin Reborn

Friday, October 7, 2016

Rust and Ruin Reborn : Selling Memories

Part of our goal in starting this business is highlighting the little parts of the past, yours and ours. Pieces that others might not find "valuable" but we know better. These special things meant something to us and those we love. They still have miles of use and tons of value to the right person.

As sellers curate their shops, lots of things go into the items they choose. Of course we want to consider trends. Mine is heavily based on my own tastes and styles. But another place I get inspiration is my past. My family is super important to me and here are a few pieces that I regularly carry in the shop that are a part of my memories!

Grandma's Jewelry Box : Everyone's Grandma had one. Everyone's. We loved seeing these beauties on her dresser and opening it to find the treasures laid out on the gorgeous velvet inside.

Want your own? Find this one here.

Find this one here.

Mirrored Dresser Trays and Hand Mirrors : A lady's vanity was her domain. A space just for her, filled with lovely things. I have my Grandmother's dresser tray and my other Grandmother's hand mirror on my own dresser.

Find this one here.

Needlepoint : I have two needlepoint pieces that my Grandmother made me for my childhood bedroom. Some of my favorites. My Grandpa made rustic wood frames for them, complete with beer tab hangers on the back! You just can't beat the homey feel of textile art.

Find this beauty here.

Treasure Chest Jewelry Box : So what about the guys?! My tastes are also heavily influenced by my Grandfathers. One has always had one of these cool treasure chest jewelry boxes. What treasures there are inside! Chunky men's jewelry, pocket watches, turquoise rings...you're speaking my language.

Find this stud here.

Vintage Military : Not only do I love the masculine industrial look of military, but both of my Grandpas were in the military, one in the Navy and one in the Army. So many amazing stories and history in the pieces saved from their experiences!

Find this warm piece here.

Last one can be found here.

Vintage Tools : Nothing like Grandpa's wood shop! So many sights, sounds and smells. Many memories made and I love a good rustic piece straight out of the shop!

Find this slice of Americana here.

Find this rustic shop stool here.

I hope you've enjoyed this walk down my own memory lane. Vintage items bring a certain level of warmth and character to a home. Memories posted at crucial moments in your home make it truly yours. Pictures are great but things are a subtle reminder of where we've been and where we come from, evoking a story at every turn. I hope your home is filled not only with things you love presently, but also with things you've loved from your past.

If you are looking for that special something from your past, check our website for the perfect piece!

Monday, July 13, 2015

The Modern Life of The Vintage Seller : How I Use My Phone For Business

The nice thing about these...

is they don't do this...

But there is also so much more those old vintage phones don't do. Keeping connected with your customers and running your business efficiently is so important when running your own business. Your cell phone is the answer to doing that!

My phone broke this weekend (again) and it was time to get a new one. While going thru the delightful task of setting up the phone again with everything I need, in the way that I like it, I thought I would give you a window into how I use my phone for my business. Keep in mind that this comes from a Type A personality in overdrive who likes everything to be organized and running at peak efficiency at all times. So take away what works for you and leave the rest!

The phone :

Allow me to geek out on you briefly. Nine years in the cell phone industry does have its effects. I have had a Note for years and Samsung for many more. Needless to say, I'm a fan. The Galaxy Note Edge was so appealing to my desire to have something new and flashy but eventually my practical side won over and the Note 4 found a new home. (See, that wasn't so bad) Must you have a Note 4? No. Almost all the ways I use my phone can be done on any Android or Apple phone.

Set-up :
You know when you are on your home screen and you scroll to the right or left and there's stuff there? Yeah, you can customize what you want there. This keeps your apps compartmentalized and convenient to keep you from searching through a large list of apps every time. Resist the urge to add everything you've ever used and just stick to the ones you use frequently. That weird game you played once will still be there should you ever decide to pick it up again.

My home page houses weather, alarm, and my most used apps.

Next screen over is all my business apps.

Next screen over is personal.

The apps :

There are so many apps to use in the app store. Trying out apps that others use is a great way to find something useful to you. Otherwise, feel free to browse the app store and give something a try. If you find yourself not using it, you can always remove.

Business apps :

Social media : Oh yes, the SM word. You've got to do it, do it well, and do it consistently. Having your social media apps at the touch of a button allows you to post any time, on the go, waiting in line, or just watching tv. Of course I have Facebook Pages Manager, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, and more at the ready.

Photo Editing Apps : What do we want? Photos. When do we want them? Now. There are so many great photo editing apps to make sure your photos are fun. I use PicsArt, Rhonna, and Snapseed, to name a few.
Apps to run your business : There are lots of apps that make it easy to run your business right from your phone. Here are a few that I use.

Sell on Etsy : Super obvious for the Etsy seller. Keep up with favorites, new orders, conversations, and update listings right from this app. I frequently get appreciative comments from customers on how quickly I respond to their questions.

USPS Mobile App : Oh, the beloved postal service. Every night I set up a pick up for the days orders, to be plucked right from my front porch the next morning. This has saved me countless hours driving to the post office and the emotional scarring of dealing with postal workers. You can also track and look up prices from the app.

Credit Card Reader : The Paypal Here app is so easy and the card reader is free. It's really a no brainer folks. Whether you use Paypal or Square, you must accept credit cards at shows or you will lose money. Period.

Apps and features that keep things going :

Camera : All my photos are taken with my phone and I don't do any editing for Etsy. As a vintage seller, I need items to be shown in their exact condition. With the Note 4 rocking a 16mp camera, I don't see a reason to drag out the old Canon and tripod. You should be snapping a photo at all times to use later on social media as well. All photos back up to my Google Drive, making it easy to post to Etsy from my laptop later.
Calendar : Things can get hectic. Everything goes on my calendar whether it's meeting with a friend or doing a show. All events are color coded so it's easy for me to know what is going on when.

Google Maps : What would we do with GPS? Sure, you might feel better printing out a paper copy of directions from Mapquest but what happens when you take the unexpected turn down a country road on the scent of a hot estate sale? This has gotten me out of a pickle on many occasions whether on the way to a new show, delivering an order to a customer, or hunting down a pick.
Mileage Tracking : When tax time comes, it sure is nice to just export a spreadsheet of miles used. Whether you realize it or not, you probably spend a good bit of time in your car for business sake whether you are running to buy supplies, ship an order, or head to a show or business meeting. It's so easy to take a sec before leaving your driveway to enter some mileage.
Music : I don't know about you but music goes a long way in keeping me moving and inspired. Your life needs a soundtrack.

Personal Apps : As a business owner, keeping your personal life organized can be just as important as keeping your business organized. As you know, they tend to blend together. I keep my banking app on the ready for account checks and super easy mobile deposits, grocery list app so I don't forget what I need, and my Starbucks app for when I need to be caffeinated (which is frequently). I keep entertainment and news apps like Flipboard, Netflix, and Redbox for those times you need to switch off the old brain.

Maybe you can see why my phone is my bff. Not only does it keep me organized and running smoothly, it allows me the flexibility to be on the go, meeting friends and taking care of family members while still taking care of business.

Don't worry, there are still lots of fun uses for those land line phones.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/pippa/bookends-diys?sub=2464747_1422180

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/114138171783467450/

http://www.theartofupcycling.com/2013/03/diy-lamp-funky-lamps.html

I'm sure you've taken away more from this blog post than "this person is nuts", I'm sure. Right? Feel free to share how you use your phone for business in the comments!

Check out our shop at Maliasmark on Etsy! Find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Vintage History : The Solemn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep

One slow unsuspecting day at Pickens Flea Market, I came across this fabulous piece. Pieces like this usually take a while to sell to the right person. Someone with a connection to the piece. But I just so happen to be one of those people so I bought it for myself. Usually, the only pieces I keep are pieces that I know from the time I hand over the money that it will be in my personal collection. I had an initial connection and although I'm not one for research, this piece inspired me to keep on digging!

My grandpa was in the Navy during the Korean war aboard the USS Philippine Sea. So, I've always loved the imagery of the navy and sailors.

The things drew me to this piece originally were the fantastic illustrations of Neptune and Mermaids. The colors and line work are so gorgeous and really get the imagination buzzing with ideas of the open sea.

Secondly, after further research, this was for an initiation into the Shellbacks, with tons of great wording evoking all the excitement of a secret society.

"TO ALL SAILORS WHEREVER YE MAY BE and to all Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Whales, Sharks, Dolphins, Skates, Suckers, Lobsters, Crabs, and other Living Things of the Sea, GREETINGS.

BE IT REMEMBERED: That said Vessel, Officers and Crew thereof having been inspected and passed on by Yourself and Our Royal Staff,

AND BE IT KNOWN: By all ye Sailors, Mariners and Land Lubbers, who may be honored by his presence, that [insert name], having been found worthy to be numbered as ONE OF OUR TRUSTY SHELLBACKS, has been gathered to our fold and duly initiated into the

SOLEMN MYSTERIES OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF THE DEEP.

BE IT FURTHER UNDERSTOOD: That by virtue of the power invested in me I hereby command my subjects to show due honor and respect to him whenever he may enter Our Realm. DISOBEY THIS ORDER UNDER PENALTY OF OUR ROYAL DISPLEASURE. Neptunus Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main"

Seriously, no one wants to piss off Neptune and it's signed by Davey Jones so you know it's real. Definitely two guys you want to stay on the good side of.

Besides all the wonderful ideas of mermaids, dolphins, sea gods, and pirates swirling in my head, this piece also carries great history regarding the USS Navy, WWII, and the Seabees. The Seabees were recruited for their civilian construction skills and adapted to military needs for naval construction.

This initiation was for Franklin Rupert Hames of the MS Island Mail, while on a mission of war.

I'm sure you can see why I will be enjoying the history and graphics of this piece for years to come. Truly a piece of art and a history lesson rolled into one!

Find your own special piece to connect with at Maliasmark. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see them as we pick them!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Luck O' The Vintage

As St. Patrick's day approached, I'm sure that you heard your fair share about luck and the luck of the Irish. The idea of luck is not just confined to those from the emerald isle.

Good luck. What does it mean? It means different things to different people across time and culture. I'm sure when you think of St. Patrick's Day and "luck" an image of this might pop in your head.