The Mustard Seed Pages is live and ready to go!! So, what is it?
A few months ago, I mentioned getting a quilt for free from Layla at The Chapel Market. This prompted a conversation in the comments of that post from readers who wanted quilts and then from others who had quilts they wanted to sell. That got my wheels turning. My blog readers are a collection of kindred spirits. We have similar tastes. We love working on our homes. We appreciate antiques and handmade items. We comb Craig’s List and Etsy and eBay for ironstone and French provincial furniture to paint and cool accessories that we can use to make our home ours.
The Mustard Seed Pages is for people like us. It’s a FREE online classified where you can list items to sell, trade or give away. You can list things that will be picked up locally or items that can be shipped. That is between you and the buyer. Since we don’t want MSP to get clogged up with discount mattresses and Nascar memorabilia, we are limiting the categories to things that will appeal to readers of this blog (and me, too!)
Here are the categories…
Antiques, DIY Supplies, Furniture, Handmade, Home Decor, and Textiles.
There are some subcategories as well and I’m sure it will grow all the time as we notice a lot of listings under a similar heading. (If you have any category suggestions, please share!) In order to prevent junk, all listings will be approved before they are posted, so we have control over the quality of the listings.
The Mustard Seed Pages is a “use at your own risk” resource, so I would highly suggest using PayPal for transactions that aren’t completed in person, since they offer conflict resolution and protection for buyers and sellers.
So, you can start listing pretty things right away and hunting for treasures!
A few tips for success:
- Post pictures of what you want to sell. A description alone rarely piques a buyer’s interest.
- Give a good description of your item including measurements, defects, markings, and any other interesting facts you know like age, origin, etc.
- Keep your price realistic. I know many of you are selling things for a living and you need to make a profit, so I understand that. I know that many of my readers are bargain hunters, though, so a nice price will fetch a lot of attention, I’m sure!
- I’m going to promote the MSP and highlight great items I spot to help you with selling your items, but I would encourage you to share them on Facebook, Pinterest, etc. as well.
- Send any listings for ironstone to me before you list it. I’m just kidding. 🙂
Some answers to FAQ’s…
- If I list on Etsy or eBay, can I list here, too? Sure thing! As long as it’s stuff that’s in line with what MMS readers would like, go for it!
- How does shipping work if I want to buy an item that’s not in my area? That’s between the buyer and the seller. I’ve seen people listing shipping costs in the post, but that might be something that is calculated once the buyer and seller connect. Just send an e-mail to the seller through the ad to work it out.
- How will I know if something is sold already? I would request that people remove their post once the item has been sold in order to prevent hopes from being dashed! So, sellers, please remove the post once the item is sold.
- I’m trying to upload photos and it’s telling me the files are too large. Try resizing the photos to make them smaller and see if they will upload then. If your software isn’t working, try this… http://jpeg-optimizer.com/.
This is an idea that I threw at my “tech guy” and he figured it all out for me and my lawyer wrote up some Terms & Conditions and here we are. It’s a reality. I’m sure there will be a lot of tweaks to be made and lessons to be learned along the way, so just hang in there with us as we figure it all out. Hopefully, it will be a fun marketplace we will all enjoy!
Click HERE to get started!
Also, today I started listing things in my new online shop, which seems to be working a lot better than the old one! All but one item has sold, but I’m about to list t-shirts (including the brand new MMSMP shirts), German glass glitter, I ordered more books, and I still have some great antiques to list. More should be in there tomorrow, so don’t get discouraged if it looks like everyone else has beat you to it!
90 Responses
This looks awesome! I can’t wait to see what will be listed on the “pages”!!
I would love to do this! Looks like you have another great idea in the making!!
Thank you…
Cool! Marian, you’re unbelievable…you’re like a force of nature – you get me so inspired. It’s like you manifest your dreams… it’s awesome to be a witness to it all
and you know, i have this great old quilt in a blanket chest upstairs… hmmmmm
Cindy
What a fabulous idea Marian. Looking forward to listing some of my favorite things.
Betsy Gordon
West of the Square Designs.
I am so thankful you have done this! I have been wanting someone to do this for so long!!! This is a great idea. Thank you.
I lve it when I wish for it and someone else makes it come true!
Marian,
What a great idea! This is a perfect way for many of us to sell in a safe environment. You are such a blessing to those in your blog community.
Your parents must be so proud to have raised such a creative and generous woman!
I love this idea. Love love love it.
Just one suggestion: Could you add a page that is a searching for page? Those of us who have been looking for a particular item for FOREVER and can’t find it where we live–maybe one of your readers has seen one where they are or have one they’d be willing to part with.
Just a suggestion . . .
And mine is a particular farmhouse sink, in case you’re wondering . . .
Great idea! Done. I just added it.
Brilliant, just brilliant! Can’t wait to discover what will turn up.
What a great idea! I just hopped over to the page and saw someone has already listed an ironstone goodie. I’m looking forward to seeing more items listed, especially ironstone! (And I better go look for my own goodies to list.)
Would vintage jewelry be something to sell?
Yes, definitely! You can list it under antiques for now, but we can make a category if a lot of people are listing that sort of thing.
This is wonderful. Thank you!
I’ve got 4 things to share right this very minute. This is exciting. Good luck with this.
This is a fantastic idea! I’m sure it will be a huge success among your followers and by word of mouth too. I have some quilts and a vintage hand crocheted popcorn stitch bedspread that I would love to find good homes for. Your new platform is the perfect solution for me as well as many others, I’m sure. Thank you for sharing and turning your creative ideas into reality.
Amazing! I love this…and it will only get better as the pages fill up with wonderful items. Love the search idea too.
Marian, how exciting and what an AWESOME idea!! You really do amaze me, and you’re such a good example to me of hard work & beautiful decorating! I’m excited to go now and check it out soon! Thanks for sharing–♥Angie
Hi – in textiles, would you add kitchen textiles. I have some dish towels to add but aren’t in the “table” category. thanks!
fantastic idea and very generous of you to host.
Thank you Marian!!! What an incredibly generous gesture and fantastic platform for budding entrepreneurs! I’m posting this morning!
What a brilliant idea! Looking on craigslist, ebay can be frustrating because it’s so broad. I can’t wait to buy and sell here. Thanks, Marian
Wow! Love it! Very generous of you to do this! Thanks for being so supportive and hope all is well with your little guy! — Pauline
Love the pages! What a great way to meet other lovers of all things vintage,ironstone,chippy and rusty!
Been looking forever for a tech person,you willing to share the name? Would rather create than figure out tech issues.
Thank you!
Wonderful idea! I can’t wait to take a look at the goodies for sale.. and list a few too 🙂
Is anyone else having trouble with loading the photos?
you have to make sure that your camera is set to a lower number of pixels! It took me SEVERAL ATTEMPTS but I finally got it. All of the photos I had saved in my computer were not the right amount of pixels, so I had to retake and resave and then post.
So excited! Thank you so much!
Cindy
I have to respond to this. In my wildest dreams, I never imagined there would be something like this, right here – right now! Your generosity in sharing is something that has been evident from the get-go…..but extending this generosity to give all of us women who love to create, as well as have an eye for things to sell? I do not say this lightly. My cup runneth over. I hope to be submitting items to sell very soon, and I am enjoying perusing the items already listed. Yesssssssss!!!!!! And HUGS to YOU!!
it’s thanks to YOU, Debbie Byrd, that I just listed my very first item on this site for sale : )
I agree, it’s wonderful to be involved with so many others who are passionate about making things themselves!
If you would allow for several categories to be checked when placing items for sale, that would be GREAT!
Example: Home Décor, Wall Décor, Made It Myself, Painted
thanks so much!
Pretty! This was a really wonderful article. Thank you for supplying these details.
Am I missing shipping..who pays,,is it in the price…I sell on Etsy and Ebay and in both cases the shipping is an important piece of the pie..
Help!
My ad photo uploads as someone else’s photo!!! I’ve tried many times to correct this yo no avail!
Love the online shop – but wanted to let you know that it does not seem to work well with mobile devices. I am sure it is not a top priority for you at this time, but thought I would throw this out as a possible future improvement. Please continue doing what you are doing!
You hit the nail on the head AGAIN! I’m down sizing and may have some things for others to enjoy. Thanks.
I have already listed one item, but with my Etsy shop as the URL. Should I not list more items since people can go to my shop or pick a few favorites and list them? Thanks! This is so wonderful! I’m struggling with the need to create and what to do with everything? haha
I have an etsy shop too. Maybe I should just post my shop name, OR Marian, could we have a place on this list for etsy shop names?
I’m really excited about this! Wow, I won’t have to surf through all the garbage on Craigslist! wheeeeee… Let’s get rolling! I love what’s already up, but just need a way to figure out if it’s already sold?
Can’t wait to list some things. Great idea Marian!!!!
Awesome! This will definitely be fun to browse and shop!
LOVE, LOVE LOVE that you are such a sweetheart for thinking of others and finding a way to help them get more exposure for their creations!!
Janet
Hate to show my ignorance but can I upload a picture if I don’t have a website?
You can upload a picture directly from your computer.
OOOooooo! This sounds fun! Thank you for being the creator of this!
I can’t wait to check it out!
Awesome site! Thanks so much for getting this together for us! It’s a Marian’s List instead o Craig’s list! I have lots of vintage/antique children’s books that I would like to list. What category should I use?
I was under the impression that shipping is the responsibility of the buyer…perhaps it can be more specific so there are no assumptions, however : ) Good Idea, Maybee’s Mom
This will be a winner~~thanks a bunch, Marian!
LOVE the idea! Thanks for doing this!
Please please stop tweeting every time a new item is listed. Thank you.
Oh, I’m not. I’ve just shared a few items today that I thought looked awesome.
Going to check MS Pages right away!
Too bad I am late again to see what’s in your shop, Marian! I suppose being in the Mountain Time Zone doesn’t help, does it?
this is great. I ran over there and looked first since stuff from you and now your “sisters” tend to disappear quickly! There is some real talent out there. Thanks so much. I especially like the searching for category and, until I started going through the listings, was going to request one. Thanks Jen for the suggestion!
“Send any listings for ironstone to me before you list it.” Haha! And then send them to me if Marion discards them! This is brilliant. So glad you thought of doing this. I’m ready for the hunt!
Great Idea… question for you. How do you know if something is ironstone if it has no markings on the bottom?
I have gotten to learn the look and feel of it, but it does take some practice. You can see my ironstone 101 post (below in popular posts section) to get some more details on spotting it.
WOW!! Just sold a vintage grain sack I put up on the page!! THANK YOU so much for the opportunity!
Janet
It’s an awesome piece! I almost bought it myself!
Great idea! I personally have a few great chandeliers from a local estate that I would love to sell! I’m north of Atlanta, in the burbs! Maybe you will add lighting soon?
Cathy, It’s not my site by any means but with the comment about just trying to avoid Nascar overload…lol…I’m thinking Marian would def allow lighting. Wouldn’t chandeliers fall under the Home Decor category? I know I’d love to see them! 🙂
I would love to see the chandeliers too – Looking for one! Can you send me a pic?
I have a never been used set of blue willow dishware with all the serving pieces etc… that I have had stored away since my mom passed. We have down sized and I will never use this so is this something I could list? Love the entire concept!
I would love to look at those dishes. I love blue willow.
Hi Miss Patti,
I am ever so interested in chatting with you about your special Blue Willow. I know that is not a light thing to do.
Please contact me,
Victoria
704-450-5088
amoshome@outlook.com
i would also be interested in your blue willow collection i have been collecting and using it ever since my great aunt gave me a piece many years ago
Would LOVE to see your Blue Willow dishes. I have some, from my Grandmother and am interested in adding to them.
Hi Marian, this is awesome. I’m a quilter. I love to make quilts, and make many custom quilts for others or finish incomplete quilt. I’ve followed your blog for over a year I believe, and also love to paint some craigslist furniture items for my house. Blue is also my favorite color and have variations of light blue walls in my house as well. I enjoy seeing your style. I don’t have a lot of ready made quilts. Just some of my own and maybe a few I could list, but I could make almost (preferable not those with curved piecing) any quilt someone might want, size, design and color. I’m just not sure if posting something like that would be appropriate, because for that I wouldn’t have an item. I have hundreds and hundreds of pictures of quilts I’ve made and finished or fixed some for others. I love to make quilts, and they are all hand quilted. I make them for my self as a hobby, but as a side I do it some for others as well. I love working with quilts, especially seeing old antique quilt tops finished so they can be enjoyed the way they were meant to be. Just wanted to see what you would suggest in how I can participate in this, or only if I have an actual item ready to sell right now. Thank you.
It would be more like offering my services, to make you the quilt you’ve been dreaming of and have a picture of, or finish the quilt top your grandmother never finished, or one you picked up at a garage sale and would want to have someone finish it who would hand quilt it the way it was meant to be finished and used.
I would be very interested in a handmade quilt! 🙂
Do you have any quilts for sale now? I am looking for that special one!
HOW Cool is this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Marian, what a great resource this will be!
Congratulations! Although I’m still chuckling over the ironstone comment…cute!
MMM what a fantastic idea. I’ve been going through my home and boxing stuff to sell, i’m downsizing and after years of estate sales, yard sales, ect. I’ve accumulated lots of vintage and antique items. thanks for providing a way to sell them.
What a great idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks Marian, I have already sold one of my listings, and a lady contacted me about painting a custom floorcloth for her. This is fabulous. Liz
Thank you, Marian!
-Ginene
This is a great idea, Marian, and I am so happy to see it up and running already! I’m sure you’re going to get a lot of listings, I’ve checked the site and there’s already quite a few posted. I’ve got to get my stuff in order, and hope to post some things soon. This is a great resource for your readers. Thank you for offering this to us!
This is such a great idea! Thanks, Marian!!
As soon as I clicked on Miss Mustard Seed Pages, I got all these “Jelly Splash” game icons all over my page. Did anyone else have this happen? Have never had an issue like this on MMS site before. it’s so distracting….
Oh no. yeah, I hate ads like that, so please let me know if ever you see something like that and I’ll try to block it. Was it in a certain space? Or in front of the screen?
It seems to be gone (-:
It was ad add for a game (showed up on the top of the page on on the right side of page) and and then an address popped up repeatedly in front of the screen that gave the option to continue or cancel.
Not sure what you did but it’s not there anymore so thank you! Now I can enjoy the FUN new site! It’s awesome!
Hi, think this is a great idea! I sell some vintage items on Etsy and would love to post a few items from time to time on yours, but I noticed that you ask for a website and the only site I have is my Etsy shop to show the item. As I read further you would not want anyone promoting a site and I not sure if that would include having a link to my item on Etsy. I don’t want to break any rules and I clearly understand why you would have limitations, so I guess I’m asking if it is alright to use the link to my Etsy shop or do i need to have separate webpage for this. I guess I’m a little confused!
Yes, you can list your Etsy shop as your website. You won’t be breaking any rules. 🙂
How clever! I love it!
Thanks.
Just an idea, but if we could search by state too…I think that would be awesome. 😉
I am thrilled to have this venue. I’ve been thinking of selling some of my depression era quilts, but didn’t want the trouble of Craig’s List or eBay. I would rather put them someplace I know someone will appreciate them — and their value.
Now… If my cell phone camera will cooperate, I’m there!
(Upper Marlboro, MD!)
Love this addition to your blog. How about a section for vintage linens; not just table linens.
This is lovely news! Is there anyway that one can search for items just in their state/city?
I’ve been using the MSP for two days and for me it’s a success. I’ve sold several pieces and sent them on their way to new homes and even found some gems I’d like to grab up. Categories I think would be helpful are bed linens, housewares or kitchen wares, and a place for ceramics/dishes that aren’t Ironstone. Thanks for your help with this!
I do not know my access code for an item I listed – an ironstone chamberpot. I have since sold the item from my etsy shop, but I cannot access my item on your page to remove it. I asked for the code, and it was supposed to be sent to me, but I have not received it. Thanks for your help.
Marion – I am wondering if you could post some of this FAQ type information for listing items on the classifieds on The Mustard Seed pages? Thank you!