Hi, my name is Paula Bates, and I'm the owner of Witchy Vintage :)

I'm a third generation antiques dealer with a passion for rare and unusual pieces that hold special meaning and tell a story.

Both my grandmother and great grandmother collected and sold antiques and had their own shops. I've been finding old stuff for as long as I can remember. Growing up I dressed in vintage clothing and shopped at thrift stores, yard sales, antique shops, and estate sales. It's always been about what speaks to me. Certain things seem to tell a story, and that's what I look for.

I started selling vintage on Etsy in 2011, but it was just something to do for fun. In January of 2019, I was working as a freelance writer and transcriptionist and wanted to do something else to supplement my income. I didn't realize it would become what it did, but I was passionate about it, and eventually I stopped doing other work. Now Witchy Vintage is my full time job.

Although I am based out of Houston, Texas, I sell antiques exclusively online on Instagram and on my website, meaning every item in the shop is available to anyone, anywhere in the world.

My real interest lies in understanding the people behind the antiques that I collect and sell. Each item tells a story about the period in which it existed, and the more stories I collect, the more I can appreciate and connect with them

For more insight into my process and background, check out my interview with Eternal Goddess!