LOL COLLECTIONS

2008-08-22T18:03:00.000-07:00

ANTIQUES AND GOING GREEN?

When I was thinking about acquiring collectibles and antiques, I started pondering if collecting "stuff" could be part of wanting to improve my "going green" lifestyle.
That was when I discovered on Google the following antique shop.

'A TRUE ANTIQUES SHOP' in Strasburg, Va.

Vilnis & Co. Antiques is a Shenandoah Valley dealer in Strasburg, Virginia who sells antique furniture and accessories in "properly-restored and in estate condition," as well as period antique Federal, neo-classical, Empire, American, English, and continental furniture and decorative arts. Owner Vilnis Vitols recently talked about his shop in Strasburg.

How does Vilnis describe his shop?

This is an old-fashioned antiques shop similar to those one would have found thirty or forty years ago. Vilnis prefers to stick to the Webster’s definition of an antique, which is 100 years old. Most of the items he carries are pre 1830, although you will find an excellent selection of items from all periods. His specialty is neo-classical, city, high style, but he also carries quality examples of country furniture, folk art and a smattering of 20th century modern. Occasionally he will offer a good reproduction for sale, but it is always properly labeled as a reproduction.

What advice would he give beginning collectors?

Collecting Antiques is an acquired taste, that is - REAL Antiques collecting. Expose yourself to as many real antiques as possible. Seek out antiques professionals who are willing and excited to share their knowledge. The saddest part about antiquing today is that you could visit twenty shops today displaying a sign that reads “Antiques” and never find one real antique. This is a real antiques shop.

Vilnis & Co. sells real antiques. Plan a trip to Strasburg and be ready to discover a bounty of treasures at Vilnis & Co. Antiques. Vilnis & Co. is located at 329 N. Massanutten. (540) 465-4405 or visit him on the web at Vilnis Antiques. And don’t forget, real antiques are the epitome of “going green” and the original “recyclables!”

2008-04-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Have You Considered Using Classified Ads to Buy/Sell Collectibles?

At the bottom of this blog I have added a sample site of Classified Ads that might help you in your search to buy collectibles/antiques for your collections or to sell your own collections. I will try this for awhile to see if anyone has any success. Be sure and let people know with comments.

2008-03-06T07:43:00.000-08:00

SPRING IS COMING! What does your fancy turn to?

Depending on where you live, it is coming faster or slower than others. For those of us living in San Diego county, it is coming faster. Thanks to the plentiful rain we received last month, things are greening up almost over night. Flowers are Blooming! For those of you living in the MidWest or the East, it is coming slower. My granddaughter is going to college in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and my daughter's family live in Platteville, Wisconsin and although the temperatures are coming up; their 10 day weather forecast still includes a possibility of rain/snow showers. But I am sure that the word "showers" brings some degree of hope for Spring coming.

Regardless of your weather right now; in Spring, what does your fancy turn to? Even though I have a limited planting space for a garden, I still love collecting seed catalogues. Some of the other "fancies" I turn to include Spring baseball, one day road trips, Spring cleaning ( because I
feel like I have to--NOT because I want to), reading cookbooks for Spring and Summer recipes,
and thoughts of being outdoors more! And, let's not forget the arrival of Daylight Savings Time.

As I think about my Spring fancies, I realize that there is one that includes all the others.
Drum roll, please! Garage Sales! Not being an avid garage sale person, I find myself looking for the ads and the signs in the yards of upcoming sales. Every fancy that I have at springtime can be tickled at a garage sale. I love looking for old copies of seed catalogues, anything collectible for baseball, books and maps for road tripping, cookbooks - both old and new that generates some watering of the mouth when read. Notice, that I left out the housecleaning fancy unless I can find some old-fashioned advice or feng shui books that will make the process easier.

So, for those of you who are like me and don't have the word avid in front of your garage sale interest; I am posting some garage sale tips for you. Even if you have heard them before, you might forget some of the key ones from year to year. The following guide fits into the avid fan of garage sales: the eBay seller. Even if you are collecting for just yourself and not selling on eBay; you know that someday your collections will outgrow your space. So you might be a seller on eBay before you know it and even if not you will find some very useful tips in the following guide. The Garage Sale Guide was found on

Tips for Garage Sale Buyers and Sellersby: maxsamedia( 3372)

Find those sales. Check your local paper (also online version), those pennysaver freebie papers and craigslist for garage sales. I also find signs people put up around town in advance, which rocks! I can find out a few days ahead if I can make it there.

Courtesy and a Smile. This goes for you too! Courtesy never hurt anyone, so be nice. I always try to say Good Morning/Afternoon to the sale holder. Nice touch. Also, try not to make a mess, pick up after yourself, compliment something, help them move things, ask before going somewhere that may be private, watch your kids. Don't ever call their stuff crap, even if it is and even if you’re not buying anything. It is just beyond rude. Just look around, say thank you/good luck and leave. If you're in a small town, someone there may remember you at their garage sale and charge you an arm and a leg for being nasty. If you're nice and smiley, they'll probably give you a deal. If not, at least you were a good person.
A big sturdy tote bag, pref. canvas with short handles. VERY important. I use this as a shopping basket type thing, so I can grab what I want then check again before I buy. Hook it over your arm and you still have both hands free to rummage. A godsend! A folding granny cart is good to use at a flea market to hold your stuff, so you’re not running back to the car all the time. (also mentioned below)
Know what you're looking for. Are you just browsing, or are you looking for something in particular? Need a lamp, a blender, particular books, furniture, toys? Specific collectibles or other ebayables? Keep a little notebook with you, and write down just what you're looking for, with specifics (colors, sizes, dimensions). This way you won't forget when you see it. Some people even bring price guides with them, but this can be a bit cumbersome and makes it obvious that you're a collector or reseller.
Grab it! If you see something interesting, even if you're not sure about it, GRAB it. Put it in your canvas shopping bag. You can always put it back if you don't want it. If you then decide you do want it, it'll be gone. Mother always said: If you see it, grab it or someone else will.
Wait your turn. If the seller is dealing with someone, please wait until they are finished before asking for prices or to pay. I had many buyers come up to me and interrupt while I was dealing with someone else. Please give me a second here ...
Don’t expect freebies. If someone is selling at a reasonable price, feel free to haggle, but let them make some money. Not everyone sells books for .10. If it’s .50, fine, that’s still a bargain! True, I usually won’t pay more than $1 for a DVD or .50 for a book, but not everyone sells them for less. Have a top price, try to haggle for lower but remember that not every purchase will be a killer bargain.
Go easy on the newbies. Not everyone is a garage sale maven, they may not know how to price their stuff. If they ask you the buyer how much, be reasonable. If you pay about $1.00 for something, tell them .50 to 1.00, not .10. That may be good for you, but I totally believe in karma. You cheat someone here, and you'll get cheated somewhere else. They'll probably undercharge you anyway, and at least your conscience will be clear.
Always ask for a bulk discount if buying lots of stuff!! I cannot stress that enough. Say: What will you take for ALL this stuff (even if it's not that much)? They'll usually knock a few bucks off, just to move it all out. Always worth a try. I'll even buy a whole box of similar things (books, buttons, CDs), even if there's a few I don't want, cause I can get a better price for the whole lot then for a few cherry-picked items. The duds can be traded, donated or saved for my next garage sale.
Don't let on you're a reseller. As mentioned above, some people may not be thrilled to know you may be profiting off their old stuff. Few will ever ask outright, but avoid letting on you're an ebayer. If asked, say you know someone who loves/collects this stuff. "My brother is a DJ, so he likes lots of CDs." "My sister knits, so she'd love these vintage patterns." If with someone else, have a code: Do you think "Zelda" will like this?? (translation, "think it will go on ebay?")
Bring a buddy. Know someone who also loves to garage sale? Want to spend more time with your kids? Bring them along! You can do more in half the time. They can also scout more areas for you, advise you on purchases, and help you carry, while you do the same for them. A real bonding experience for friends or family. I bring my 4 year old son with me, he just loves going around town to other people's houses, and he loves the goodies he gets on our walks.
Check your items before you leave. Does it have all the parts? Does it work? Is the DVD in the case, and is it the correct one? Forget about returning stuff if it's broken or not right, this is a garage sale, not Sears. Also check clothing for stains, tears, does it have the buttons, does the zipper work. I bought some "brand-new" sneakers for my son, but when I got home I saw they did have a bit of wear inside. Nothing major, I guess they were worn maybe a few times, but still. (I did get an exchange at my garage sale though; a lady returned with a purse and even-exchanged it for a kid's shirt. Go figure.)
Don't turn your nose up at the clothes. I know that most people get the creeps when they think of used clothes (yarg!). That's fine, I can understand. But many times I see clothes with the tags on them, never worn! Also take a peek at jackets, vests, ties and other such "outer" items. They don't touch the skin. I do sometimes check out clothes for my son, only if they look new or almost new. I got two almost new heavy button down Gap shirts, a great almost new reversible Guess denim jacket and new Gap black jeans for him, all for $2.00 total. Perfect for school. Of course, everything went through the wash as soon as I got home. This works better for younger kids; older kids may be a bit more picky. Depends on your kid.
Gear up. Some comfy shoes, some caffeine and a very biiiiig tote bag and cart that holds everything I need. Some things I always bring:

A good map of your area. I walk everywhere, so I need to know if a GS sign I just saw is within my walking limits. My map is from my local village hall, and it's practically large print. Try there, and grab a few because they'll get tattered soon enough.
A big sturdy tote bag, pref. canvas with short handles. VERY important. I use this as a shopping basket type thing, so I can grab what I want then check again before I buy. Hook it over your arm and you still have both hands free to rummage. A godsend! A folding granny cart is good to use at a flea market to hold your stuff, so you’re not running back to the car all the time.
Money in small bills. I'd feel like a Class A dope if I just haggled for a $1 item then paid with a $50 bill.
Some water and snacks. Self explanatory, esp. in summer.
Baby wipes or moist towelettes. Easy to clean things or yourself after rummaging.
Cell phone. Honey, can you come pick me up??? I just bought 500 books ... yeah right, like THAT'S gonna happen ... But you may need a hand getting that retro couch back to your house.
Pen and paper, if person has more to sell or knows of another sale in the future, or the phone number of that cute guy also rummaging through the books.
Boxes to hold your stuff steady in the trunk of your car.
Wrapping stuff: newspaper for smalls and glassware, towels blankets for larger items and furniture.
Tape measure, to make sure it will fit in your house.
Magnifying glass/loupe, to check for cracks, damage and to read hallmarks/signatures.
Your own plastic bags, they may run out.
Some people use GPS, and also use their phones with internet access to check on craigslist throughout the day. Sounds kinda hardcore to me, but whatever works for you.

Give in to your Spring fancies; find your nearest garage sale when weather permits and most of all have fun!

2008-01-11T08:45:00.000-08:00

THE STUFF THAT COLLECTIONS ARE MADE OF!

I know that I have stuff .
I know that I have collections.
I know that I have collectibles.
I know that I have more stuff.

What happens when the line between what is stuff, what is a collection and what is a collectible blurs? Does it all become stuff? Does it all become a collection? Does it all become a collectible?
I am beginning to believe that it all becomes a giant collection of collectible stuff!

Can anyone say "Clutter"?

Once it all becomes clutter you can lose track of what is real and what is just simply stuff. I have long believed in the Feng Shui concept of clutter prevents your chi from flowing smoothly and probably can be blamed for many other mistakes, mishaps and missed "things to do".
Therefore I do hereby proclaim that my clutter is the reason that I have missed posting to this blog since August of 2007.

I also proclaim that in the true spirit of a New Year and improving my resolve to evolve; I shall eliminate the stuff, identify my collections and then determine which are collectibles. Does saying it "out-loud" on a blog make it happen? I certainly hope so.

If any of you find that you can identify with parts of this, I would like to send you to a great article that I found on one of my favorite websites, Zen Habits
entitled: The Minimalist’s Guide to Fighting (and Beating) Clutter Entropy

Let me take this opportunity to wish all of you a healthy and peaceful new year and one filled with less stuff and more collectibles and collections.

2007-08-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING TO USE

When I go to the grocery store, I always stop at the racks that hold all of these free magazines.
Most are about real estate or cars and trucks. There are ones about parenting, community college classes, local casinos, different local community weekly news, shopping and classified ads and some New Age ones. But the other day I found something new that caught my eye. It was called Today's VINTAGE Magazine, and it was Vol.1, Issue 1. I grabbed it and took it home to peruse immediately.

The Publisher and Editors had been associated with the Antique & Collectables Newsmagazine
and Antique Journal. When the company closed the California offices and moved operations back to Wisconsin, they had a chance to look around and decide what to do. Fortunately for us in California, they decided that communications was their business. So they decided that they could not "think of a better way to support the greening of America than by educating and encouraging people to research and use antiques and vintage items in their daily lives".

I am using this post in my blog to congratulate Today's VINTAGE Magazine for remaining in California and for creating this very informative magazine. You can visit them at their website which they say is still a work in progress; but it already has a lot for all.

One of the articles that I really liked and found helpful was one written by Angela Moore, Editor.

25 WAYS to USE VINTAGE ITEMS

Find yourself with family heirlooms, hand-me-down furniture, or a random collection from Uncle Fred's closet? Feel like you just can't part with Great-Grandma's handkerchiefs, but don't know just what to do with them? Truly valuable antique items should be displayed with the proper care and reverence, but there are many ways to incorporate collectibles, vintage pieces and found objects into your modern décor..

1. Sew pretty handkerchiefs together to create pillows, table skirts, or window valances.
2. Create a collage from old postcards or love letters hang them in antique picture frames.
3. Break up old dishes and china, and use the pieces to create mosaic designs on coasters, flower pots, wall plaques, memorials and tabletops.
4. Fill a clear vase or bowl with a collection of small items, like buttons, marbles, matchbooks or costume jewelry, and display on a dining table or end table.
5. Convert an old dresser into a computer desk by removing the drawers and inside framing, then attaching a prefabricated keyboard underneath the top.

To see the rest of the 25 Ways, go to the website and look for this article under Vintage Decorating

2007-07-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

COLLECTIBLE vs COLLECTION ---WHAT IS THE VALUE TO YOU?

My husband and I were having a discussion the other day about how one really knew the value of ones's collections. He has a collection of coins that he has had from when he was a child; one coin he is particularly proud of is a 1950 Denver nickel. So is the value what you, the owner of the item, place on it and how do you know that if you take it to someone for appraisal, you will get a correct value. I remember a collection of baseball cards that I had inherited and had no idea of the value. Someone who was more an acquaintance rather than a friend told me he didn't think that they were worth much. He would give me $50 for all of them. Now some 20 years later, I know that they had more value than that. It didn't help to find out later that he actually collected baseball cards himself.

So my thoughts to share with you this time is to realize that most things we have around have value to us personally, but if you have something that you think might have dollar value; please find a reputable individual or company to appraise the item for you.

The following info that I found on the internet addresses this issue quite well.

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Treasure
From Carrie Conaway, Associate Editor of the Regional Review
Jun 11 2004

What distinguishes a collectible from ordinary rubbish is not always clear. Nonetheless, there are two primary characteristics that collectible items share: desirability and rarity.

DESIRABILITY Whether it is destined for a museum or a private collection, to be collectible, an item must be desirable to someone other than the collector. So, your seventh-grade love letters probably won't qualify, unless you become famous (or notorious). But what makes something desirable?

CONDITION Condition is so important that third-party grading services have sprung up in some collecting areas to grade and validate the quality of items. The coin collecting market is one of the best-developed examples, with 70 possible grades of coin in the Sheldon Numerical Grading System.

AESTHETICS Form, color, size and materials also matter for desirability, although these preferences tend to change with popular tastes. For instance, very large items historically were not viewed as popular collectibles because of the difficulty of storing them, but this has been changing in recent years. Rudy Franchi, a vintage movie poster dealer and appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, points out, "The typical movie poster is 27 by 40 or 41 inches and is known as a 'one-sheet'. The market for larger movie posters used to languish, but people are now living in bigger homes, and so they are able to display bigger things. Now there's a big fad in buying the larger sizes, known as 'six-sheets,' that are 81 by 81 inches, as well as foreign posters, which are often larger."

RARITY "There are some books that are absolutely fabulous literature, but there are too many of then," says Ken Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston. "For instance, Shakespeare, next to the Bible, is the most commonly printed literature in the English language. It's wonderful stuff, but there are millions and millions of them so they're not worth much. You're looking for the one that's a little more unusual, that you don't see all the time." Items can be rare for several reasons: Some items are simply uncommon and irreproducible. Among those who collect materials about signers of the Declaration of Independence, for instance, the autograph of the all-but-unknown Thomas Lynch or Button Gwinnett is worth far more than the John Hancock of, say, John Hancock.

In many cases, what people collect is only in short supply because they define their collecting area so narrowly. But sometimes rarity is created by the manufacturer. In the 1980s, the Swatch Group created a frenzy by selectively releasing Swatch designs to a limited number of distributors, such that every retailer had a different selection, and by limiting sales to one per person. Swatch also launched an intensive promotional campaign touting their watches as a good investment. Swatch Fever spiked, and sales in the U.S. alone increased from $3 million in 1983 to $200 million in 1987. The same strategy applied to anything manufactured in limited edition, such as Franklin Mint plates, Beanie Babies or Precious Moments figurines.

On the other hand, it can't be too rare. "If there's only one of something, there can only be one collector," points out David Wood, curator of the Concord Museum in Concord, Massachusetts. "What fires people up is things that are relative common, so that you can get a complete collection of it in every form and every style." These sorts of items are easier to find at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales, adding to the serendipity of the collecting experience and fueling the motivation of the devoted collector to keep searching.

This article, a portion of "Objects of Desire", is courtesy of the Regional Review, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The article in its entirety, can be found on the: http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/nerr/rr2004/q1/objects.pdf

Stay Collected!

2007-06-18T22:05:00.000-07:00

Baseball Card Collecting---A History

After having a couple conversations with people after making my post on LOL COLLECTIONS about baseball and baseball card collecting; I realized that there are a lot of people who don't realize people do actually save/collect baseball cards and have for a long time.

Therefore I went on a search mission on the internet to find out about the history of baseball card collecting. As always, I started with Google. I do believe that I could spend days searching and researching on the Internet. One lead always takes you to another.

I found a great History of Baseball Card Collecting that I thought was a perfect addition to my previous post on here. Hope that you will enjoy reading it.

http://www.geocities.com/chrisstufflestreet/history.html

Stay Collected.

2007-06-15T11:38:00.000-07:00

BASEBALL! ---- Who knew that I would become a FAN

I can remember when I was in high school and we were allowed to listen to the World Series game on the radio, perhaps because our teacher/study-hall advisor was a baseball fan to the max. It was fun because we felt like we were skipping school and we would divide into sides for whomever was in the WS.

But as far as regular season went, I thought that listening to baseball on the radio was boring personified. Even after we got television, it still seemed boring to watch as well as listen to a baseball game.

But ten years ago, something magical happened. I was attending a National Conference on Aging in San Diego. At that time, the San Diego Padres were playing in Qualcomm Stadium and I had a friend who loved the Chicago Cubs. Well, she talked some of us into riding the trolley to Qualcomm and watching the Cubs play the Padres. The first time I had ever attended a live baseball game in a real baseball stadium. Well, well -- who knew.

Five years ago my husband and I moved from Nebraska to California--San Diego, in fact. I now have been to see the Padres play in the new Petco Stadium and will drop everything to listen and/or watch the Padres play ALL of their games. Yes, I didn't know -- but I am a baseball fan.

This has prompted a memory of my brothers and I saving baseball cards. I also have the memory of getting rid of them for change and realizing what some of them would be worth today. Another who knew.

So in case some of you are baseball fans and even have a baseball card collection, you may be interested in visiting the following link to a for a baseball card collecting site. Go Padres!

http://searchwarp.com/swa64941.htm

2007-05-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

WHERE DOES THE TIME GO?

I realized the other day that I had neglected my blog about collectibles and antiques. Little did I realize that it had not been just a little neglect; but a major one. Imagine my surprise when I went in to post a new message and discovered that it had been five months since I had posted last. It made me think about all the things that I have neglected. One of my major neglects this new year has been my collections. I have not dusted off my angels, and everyone knows that even angels need a periodic dusting. I have not taken my list of "wants" to any garage sales to see if I can find a good bargain. I have not gathered the collectibles that I have been wanting to sell on eBay and actually listed them.

But before I get too hard on myself, I realize that part of the reason for the overlooking my collections is that I currently have too many other things on the front burner with a higher priority. How sad it is that we have to put so many priorities in place when perhaps we should try to pay attention to all of them at least a little. So, even though it is well into 2007, I resolve to give more attention to my collectible angels, I will visit at least one garage sale this next weekend and I will list some things on eBay.

I know that a lot of collectors have been buying and selling on eBay for a long time. I have bought, but not sold. Perhaps if you are in the same place and would like to get started on eBay; you might find the information on SeniorNet.com of help to you. SeniorNet and eBay have been teaming up together to help those of us who might be a little intimidated about the whole process to provide an excellent training guide.

Check it out and see if you can't become a collector buying and selling on eBay. Good luck. And take some time this week to see what things you might have been neglecting.

http://www.seniornet.org/ebay/

2007-01-07T14:06:00.000-08:00

Even Collectors Can Use a New Year's Resolution

In an effort to try to make quality time out of the minutes that make up our brand new year, we might consider turning to a New Year’s resolution or two. Sure, giving up vices and leaving unhealthy habits behind are admirable goals, but I think aspiring to resolutions that incorporate some fun for us as collectors might be easier to stick to for any length of time. With just a little effort, accomplishing collecting goals can be a breeze.

To read the rest of this article use this link:
http://antiques.about.com/cs/holiday/a/aa122903.htm

"Side note from Carol Ann----my new year's resolution is to do a better job of posting to this blog and trying to get some comments from other collectors about tips and/or questions about collectibles/antiques".

2006-11-29T17:43:00.000-08:00

COLLECTIBLES AND HOLIDAYS GO TOGETHER!

How could this much time have gone by since I sent out a new post on LOL COLLECTIONS.
Clearly, life has a tendency to get in the way sometimes. But to allow two months to go by without sending out some of the great information I have been finding about what to do with your collectibles and/or antiques, whether you wish to buy more to add to your collection or wish to sell some of the pieces of the collection you currently have. So I will do a better job of bringing them to your attention.

Today I want to tell you about a really cool press release I discovered about possible collectible gifts for older "kids". Pretty cool for any babyboomers you might have on your Christmas/Hanukkah list. Fun to see. Check it out--you might want something for yourself.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060927/phw007.html?.v=72

STAY COLLECTED!

2006-09-07T17:32:00.000-07:00

The Passion Of Baseball Card Collecting

This is the time of year that I either thank or curse our friend who first had us go with her to a Major League baseball game in San Diego. It was the first time we had seen the San Diego Padres in action and the first time that we heard the "bells" to signal the Padres closer pitcher, Trevor Hoffman. What a thrill it was the first time and continues to be today. My husband always says, "Who knew we liked baseball?" I always respond that Laurie did. Laurie and her husband, before his death, were avid Chicago Cubs fans making the trip from Lincoln, Nebraska to Chicago's Wrigley Field every year understand team loyalty. So if our Padres lose, I know that I will never get any sympathy from Laurie. Invariably, I will always hear, "There is always another game".

My brother sent me an old Padres team baseball card and a Trevor Hoffman card. For just a brief moment I was afraid that the baseball card collecting craze had attacked me. Then my brother dampened the mood and reminded me how my Mother had gotten rid of his baseball card collection without checking into the potential value of the cards. So I decided to display my two cards and my Padres bobble head dolls during baseball season and leave the collecting of baseball cards to others. Others such as Robert Benjamin, who wrote the following article.

The Passion of Baseball Collecting
Submitted by: Robert Benjamin

Baseball card collecting has been around since the 1800's, and millions of young and old enthusiasts collect baseball cards. Serious involvement shown by some enthusiasts who invest a lot of money and some even pursue a career in baseball cards. Baseball cards are sold for as little as 10 cents while a few cards are traded for as much as hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Baseball became an increasingly popular sport in the USA after the Civil War. In those days when there were no modern printing techniques, a type of baseball card was made out of photos of baseball players or teams pasted on a small piece of square cardboard. Peck & Snyder, a sporting good company, first printed baseball cards in the late 1860's. These baseball cards carried advertisements of their products and were given away like flyers for free. The popular hobby of the 1870’s and 1880’s was to collect trade cards that had various themes including baseball and pasting those into a scrapbook.

The mass production of baseball cards started in the 1880's. Goodwin & Co. a tobacco company in New York produced these cards as cigarette pack stiffeners and to boost sales, as this became popular, others joined the competition. Allen & Ginter, Buchner & Co., Mayo and Co. and Kimball produced quality baseball cards and inserted them into the cigarette packs. After a brief lull, baseball cards again became a rage from the early 1900's. In fact, the period from 1909-1915 is regarded as the golden period in baseball card collecting. T206 Honus Wagner is one of the most famous cards that belonged to this era. The T206 Honus Wagner card is currently valued at around $500,000 and there are only 50 of them available in good condition.

Some of the popular players who adorn the earlier cards include Ty Cobb, Shoeless Joe Jackson, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson, Cy Young, Honus Wagner and Napolean Lajoie.Slowly tobacco slipped away from the baseball card scenario, and candy and gum companies filled the void. The cards produced by Goudey Gum Company of Boston are among the most popular baseball cards ever produced. The cards included pictures of famous baseball stars like: Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmie Foxx. Gum Inc produced cards that include the photo and stats of such greats as Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio.Bowman Gum Co. started the baseball card industry as it currently is. Bowman sold baseball cards with a stick of bubble gum. Topps Chewing Gum company joined the process in the 1950's, and the 1952 Topps # 311 Mickey Mantle is one of their most expensive cards. At present, other than Topps companies like Fleer, Donruss/Playoff, and Upper Deck are producing baseball cards.

Every year baseball cards hit the market featuring the top performers. A ‘rookie card’ is a first card of a player and generally costs more than other cards of the same player. However, the tobacco baseball cards are still considered the best of all baseball cards. In addition, the Honus Wagner card is considered the ‘Mona Lisa’ of baseball cards. A Honus Wagner card that was previously owned by Wayne Gretzky was auctioned off on eBay for $1.27 million. When the number of cards collected really grows big, it will not be easy to manage them. Retrieving cards at will and replacing them would require the proficiency of a library science degree holder. To solve this problem there is software available that will manage baseball card collections efficiently. There is a variety of software to choose from depending on the complexity of the collection details that needs to be stored. One program that stand's out is ' Baseball Card Collector Professional ', it is made for any baseball card collector, from novices to professionals, and it cost under $15.

' Baseball Card Collector Professional ' may be downloaded for free at this website address: http://www.rb59.com/bccp

By Robert W. BenjaminCopyright © 2006

STAY COLLECTED!

2006-06-29T13:07:00.000-07:00

AN OLD COLLECTIBLE BECOMES NEW AGAIN

Although I have talked to you in past posts in my blog about spring cleaning and using that effort to make decisions about your collectibles or just collections, it is now officially summer and I am still working on spring cleaning efforts. Part of my trouble is the pack-rat gene that I inherited from my Mother. She always saved some of the strangest things. Now I realize that her collections/collectibles were not at all strange to her. They represented things that she considered treasures. And in a child's eyeview they represented trash. Now I understand the meaning behind the saying, "One person's trash is another person's treasure". Now as I am trying to downsize, de-clutter and get organized; I find that I have a lot of "treasures" that I am sure my husband sees as "trash".

I also have found some boxes containing collections of mine that had been a passion a long time ago. For instance, one of my earlier pieces that I wanted to collect were unicorns. Unicorns of any making--statues, pictures, sun-catchers, and books. In fact, I just received a great Unicorn book from my youngest son this last Christmas. So now with my inability to stay focused on the job at hand, I find myself taking out of the boxes the unicorns that I have collected over the years.

I would love to hear from you about what some of your old collections have been and if they have become new again to you. In case unicorns are one of your old passions turned new,
I found a source for just that. Enjoy.

Unique Unicorn FigurinesFind the perfect Unicorn Figurines that will be cherished forever.www.1999gifts.com

Remember to leave a comment about your collections/collectibles/antiques.

2006-06-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

TIME TO THINK ABOUT "NEW COLLECTIBLES"

Life has a tendency to get in the way of doing the things that we "want to do" by interrupting us with all the things that we "have to do"; that I have been neglecting updating this blog and even being able to do the work I want to be doing on my collections. I did attend an eBay University held in San Diego about a week ago. I went with my reacquainted friend from grade and high school as I am trying to motivate both of us to start doing more with both buying and selling on eBay. Great learning experience for both of us. I would highly recommend it if it is in a city near you. But if not, eBay has excellent training materials and tutorials on it's website. My research into items of interest to the readers of this blog or for articles for the same did turn up a really good article about how not only have the faces of the collectors changed, but the things that they are wanting to collect has changed as well. This is a good piece about how you might process ways to find new "collectible" pieces.

Tip of the Week: The "New Collectibles" - www.WhatDoISell.com

Read and let me know what you think.

2006-05-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

HOW TO DISPLAY YOUR COLLECTIONS

Now that we have finished our Spring cleaning or at least started we need to decide how best to display our favorite things; not just for decorating and viewing by others, but for our own enjoyment whenever we look at them. I found a very interesting article about using your collection in your decorating plans. So read and start thinking about how you too can decorate with your collectibles

Making method in their menageries
Whether it's old toys, fountain pens or seashells, don't keep your collection in a closet or under the bed. But choosing how to display them is an art.
By ELIZABETH BETTENDORF Published April 21, 2006

TAMPA - Jo Apthorp's collection of vintage silver is a sight to behold: Her lovely and obsolete egg coddlers, continental baby spoons and silver tea sets preserve a lost era that Apthorp, a sixth-generation Tampa resident, can still recall. "Sunday dinner meant fresh roses, linen, silver, and afterward, hymns at the piano with my grandfather," said Apthorp, whose family lived in the Lake Thonotosassa area and on Davis Islands. "It took a lot of work and wouldn't be possible today, but those meals were so enjoyable. I will remember them for the rest of my life."

Apthorp, an interior decorator who collects antique musical instruments and just about everything else, displays her collections throughout the house. The silver, including precious Orange Blossom flatware, is relegated to the room where it might "historically have been used in the past.'' That means the dining room, where she spreads out her prized pieces with casual grace: a beautiful orchid in her grandfather's old silver horse show bowl, baby utensils on an antique high chair. "As if people were really about to sit down and eat," she explained.

Displaying cherished collections is an art form, one that design experts like Apthorp just get intuitively. But for the rest of us, it's not so easy. Many collections - old toys, fountain pens, Depression glass, miniature sailboats - take a lifetime to acquire. Amassing alike objects is one thing. Bringing them to life in a home, whether in glass cabinets or on built-in shelving, is another.

"I would say you have to edit, pick and choose what you bring out so that you don't clutter up the space and you appreciate what you have," said Karen Brown, a Tampa Bay interior designer whose clients collect everything from bottles to family photos to pillboxes. "You want a nice composition, and for things to relate to each other. Put the rest in closets or get rid of it.
"Otherwise, dusting is a nightmare." ("This was the part that really caught my eye". missylol)

Brown has collected unusual artwork during her travels, including watercolors and oils that reflect the places she's visited. The framed pictures cover the entire wall of her stairwell in "a random arrangement." An antique postcard collection she acquired in bulk now wallpapers her bathroom, with the more cherished objects in the foreground. "Now I see them much more frequently than if I had left them in boxes," she said.

In House Beautiful's Collections on Display, a book devoted to decorating with favorite objects, author Elaine Louie offers tips on creating drama with treasured objects. Collections, she said, can be displayed on walls, tabletops, mantelpieces, shelves, cabinets, even in drawers.
She recommends arranging focal points, particularly when displaying collections on tabletops, and creating a "strand of connective tissue," a relationship between collectibles arranged on a tabletop or mantel, for example.

Among her tips:
-- Isolate what's in the center and point out the levels of importance. What's highest, biggest and most fascinating is clearly the most important and goes in the center.
-- When you have lots of little things, keep them at a low angle or on a low table.
-- As you group the objects, consider height, rhythm, variation and silhouettes.
-- Think of a physical landscape with mountains and valleys. Put the flattest, smallest pieces on the perimeter. These are the supporting pieces to the central objects.
-- Natural items such as stones, seashells and fossils are obvious collectibles and are gathered by children and adults. One way to display them on a table is to center the display with a shell-framed mirror, a piece of art made of shells, or a gigantic seashell.

Apthorp has stopped acquiring items for her collections because she's run out of space, even though she does give things to her grown daughter. Still, she said, having your prized collections around you makes life interesting "and brings history so close I can sometimes feel it."
She displays her antique musical instruments around the dining room to create a feeling that it's possible to break into song once the last plate has been cleared. She uses all her silver, including her egg coddlers, which are festooned with birds. Her 1905 Orange Blossom silver is a regular staple at dinner parties.

As for all the good wedding silver you were hoarding, stop waiting for company or a holiday to bring out the best. Create a collection with what you already have by dusting it off and incorporating it into everyday entertaining. "Use your stuff and live!" Apthorp said. "It's so much more fun that way."

[Last modified April 20, 2006, 08:20:11]

2006-05-07T16:14:00.000-07:00

ANTIQUE OR COLLECTIBLE? HOW DO YOU KNOW?

I recently had a friend ask me to see what something was worth on eBay. She had inherited some things from a grandmother and assumed that because they were "old" that they were antiques and therefore valuable. Imagine her disappointment when I did find a couple of the items she has on eBay, with a price well below what she had thought it would be. This started us talking about what makes something an antique and not a collectible and what makes it valuable. The following article seems to address this issue. If you have any thoughts on this please add them in the comments.

Antiques - When Is An Object Considered An Antique And Not A Collectible?

By Peter Lim

It has always been a puzzle to me when an object, somewhat aged, can be termed an antique.
Must it be really very old- perhaps in excess of 100 years to be called an antique? Or just when can we call an object an antique?
After all, we very loosely use the term antique for any object that has lived past its popularity. A lady's coach handbag that was in vogue in summer, is now called an antique in winter!
In the days of the British Empire where the British had their conquests in far away worlds and colonised many territories, they left behind many legacies of worth. British systems of government, british designs and most of all british products and goods which now can rightly be called antiques and their systems "antiquated" at this time. Thus when I discovered a really old looking lock with the logo of the maker stamped onto it and marked "Warranted Best English Made" and " Warranted Secure" amongst some old belongings inherited from my deceased father who lived through the colonial period, I thought the lock must really be an antique.
So when is an antique really an antique?

The definition of antique varies from location to location, product to product and year to year.
In any case, universal common definitions of antiques adopted worldwide consider an item which is at least 75 years old and has unique features to enable it to be collected or kept as desirable due to it being rare, or useful is considered an antique.

Generally, cars are considered antiques in the U.S. if they are older than 25 years. In Kansas, however, I learnt that cars are eligible for an antique tag after 30 years. Guitars are only considered vintage if they were made before 1972. In the UK anything over 75 years old generally qualifies as an antique. A car is known as a collectible "classic" rather than an antique after 25 years.

There is an understood line between antiques and collectibles in the United States as well. An item is tagged as an antique by most reliable commercial antique dealers if it is more than 100 years old, even though the universal common understanding is 75 years, and anything less than 100 years is called a collectible. It is not always the antiques that carries a higher price tag. Collectibles can be worth many times that of an antique. It all depends on the eyes of the beholder.

Peter Lim is a Certified Financial Planner. For more interesting details about antiques, and how to buy and sell antiques and collectibles, visit his website on Antique Resources at http://antique-classics.revenuemonitor.biz/.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Lim

2006-04-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

ARE YOU A COLLECTOR?

If you have ever thought about that question and told yourself that you just "had" a few things that you liked and didn't think of yourself as a "collector", click on the link below and take the quiz. You might be surprised.

What a great time of year with the weather getting warmer, leaves and flower buds popping out and the sun shining in the windows highlighting some of my collections and the dust they have accumulated over the winter. I've found some great tips to share on taking care of your collectibles and your antiques; but today is Sunday and I am not in a Spring Cleaning mood. I'd rather take a fun quiz. Enjoy.

http://collectibles.about.com/library/weekly/aa022199.htm

Stay collected!

2006-04-17T16:29:00.000-07:00

How to Share Your Collectibles by Giving Them Away!

Around any holiday, I always think of family; especially my grandchildren. Living a long distance away from all of them, I think about what I would be doing if we could share the holiday together. This Easter I found a set of candy holders that I had made in a ceramics class many, many years ago. I never use them, but have moved them with me every move. I decided that it made sense to give them to a family member who would appreciate my making and saving them. I decided that that is how I will celebrate holidays in the future; start "gifting" any of my pieces of collections that I want to pass on to family and friends.

After finding those holiday candy holders and making the decision to give them away, I found the following article which is about doing the same thing for Christmas. I realize that Christmas is a long way away; but perhaps looking at your collections of collectibles early on will start this process of sharing.

I would love to hear from some of you about what you think of this very clever idea. Please leave a comment.

Sharing Your Love of Collecting by Giving Collectibles Away

From Barbara Crews,Your Guide to Collectibles.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

I love to share my collections. Both online and by having people over to see it. But one way I decided to share it a few years ago is by giving things away.
Like many collectors, when I first started, and was most passionate, I collected everything. It didn't take long for my collections to take over our house and life, so I started packing parts of it away. For years I've also rotated the seasonal items and although that helped, I still had lots of pieces that never saw the light of day. Cookie jars tucked into boxes, glass ornaments that only sparkled in the dark recesses of a closet and snowdomes that were never shaken.
That's why at Christmas time I share my jars and ornaments with others by giving them away. It was probably three or four years ago that I first gave away over two dozen cookie jars at our annual open house and when I still hear from non-collectors how much they still love and use their jars, I realized I made the right decision.
So over the years I will usually have a tree of ornaments to pick from and sometimes, like I did again this year, give away quite a few cookie jars.
The items I give away are usually extras or ones that I just don't display for one reason or another. Like any gift you might give, I would never give away anything damaged in any way. The rules are simple. It must be something that I once loved, but no longer cherish. And it must be in excellent condition. For the recipients -- once they open their wrapped jar, they have to take it! Yes they can trade or give it away later on, but if they don't like it, they still have to take it away.
This year several dozen cookie jars were adopted. All the jars were wrapped in gift sacks, with tissue paper hiding the actual contents. Each party-goer family or couple were invited to pick a sack to take with them. Of course they had the option to not participate, but no one turned down the chance to take a prize home. I'm not sure how many might have been disappointed in what they actually got, but I know quite a few folks were really delighted with their new Christmas jars.
Perhaps this is something you can adapt for holiday get-togethers, make it game by drawing numbers, or disguising the contents of a package. You'll be sharing your love of collecting and maybe even get someone started on the adventure of collecting.

Stay collected and connected.

http://aboutcollectibledeals.com

2006-04-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

After being unable once again to attend the Giant Flea Market in Pasadena with my friend, I took to the old standby of looking for collectibles/antiques at local garage sales near me. Afterwards I was pleased to see the following article at www.about.com about doing just that. Sometimes you find what you are looking for and sometimes, unfortunately, you find what you weren't looking for. Ah, yes, the start of another collection.

GARAGE SALE SHOPPING

From Pamela Wiggins,Your Guide to Antiques.

A Day in the Life of a "Saler"
Tips for Antique Hunting at Garage Sales

Remember, the early bird gets the best bargains, but swinging back by late in a sale may get you a better discount on an item that was priced way too high to begin with.
To get the most bang for your buck time-wise, consider frequenting neighborhood garage sales where a number of homes are having sales at the same time. This way, you can park at the end of a block and walk from house to house.
When you see something you even THINK you might want, pick it up and hold it. You can always put it back if you change your mind.
Carry books on favorite collectibles in your car. If you need to look something up, ask the sale's proprietor to hold the item while you "go get your wallet." If the item is not what you thought it was, you can always tell the seller you've changed your mind.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount, but be realistic.

No one wants to go half price on an item during the first few hours of a sale. Anger the seller and you may end up with no discount at all.

A Day in the Life of a “Saler”
Many antique hounds believe you can't find anything worthwhile at garage sales anymore. And I'll admit it, I've fallen into that rut a time or two myself. But just when I think I'll never find another old or collectible item at a garage sale, something pops up to change my mind.
Yes, I did have good luck at a series of garage sales taking place in a neighborhood that, quite frankly, didn't hold much potential for collectibles as far as I was concerned. The first sale I stopped at proved me wrong with a box of antique linens, and a nice vintage snakeskin purse. I didn't buy either, because they were priced a little high, but I began to hope for more.
The next street, through a series of sales, offered a porcelain souvenir shoe from the '40s, a multi-colored set of '50s mixing bowls and a snakeskin bag from the '70s. This time I walked away with the purse for $1. My mother politely yelled at me later for not getting the mixing bowls for her too. Live and learn.

Onward and Upward
By this time, I was gaining momentum. I set out for my next destination: a nice corner lot house with a garage brimming with “stuff.” Sure enough, the proprietor was offering several older kitchen items including a shiny aluminum two-piece cake carrier with a black plastic handle in excellent condition.
I knew this carrier was from the '50s because my mom had one when I was growing up. I've also seen Martha Stewart flaunting similar styles on television in the past, so it was mine for $3. I would have paid in the range of $20-30 to purchase one like it in a local antique mall. I was very pleased with my find.
At the same sale, another shopper just beat me to a nice glass refrigerator dish. I also left behind some really pretty pieces of vintage fabric. Sometimes you just have to know when to say no.
I was about to feel as if I'd used up all my luck for the day, but decided to move on to another block. Good thing I did, because my favorite finds were waiting ahead.

The Finds of the Day
I wandered up a steep driveway and my heart skipped a beat when I saw a 1920s beaded handbag lying on a table. Unfortunately, I realized that it was in pretty bad shape after giving it the once over. I still considered purchasing it for $1, but realized, like I did with the old fabric a little while earlier, that it was a repair project I'd probably never get around to completing.
I made my way next door and things looked pretty picked over. I was about to turn and go when I spotted some Christmas decorations in the back of the garage. I moved in to take a closer look and noticed some glassware, one of my weaknesses, on a table nearby.
There, waiting just for me, was a cute set of six small Fostoria American oyster cocktail goblets, and another set of eight tulip shaped fountain glasses with the Jeanette Glass Company mark on the base. I meekly asked how much the owner wanted for both sets, secretly thinking they were still there because the price was antique shop high.
Much to my surprise, she said $2 a set! These normally sell for about $5-15 per piece. Secretly pleased, I bought the set of fountain glasses to serve homemade ice cream in during the summer months and the Fostoria set to sell.

Last But Not Least
You'd think that would be about all I'd come up with for the morning, but I hit another sale or two and found a 1960s ceramic Santa Claus planter for $1.50. He looks so much like a bank my mom has had for years, I couldn't resist taking him home. There was also an older couple offering several nice Fenton Silvercrest baskets and vases at prices reasonable enough for a collector, but I decided to leave those behind for someone else.
So, after spending a couple of fun hours browsing secondhand wares and spending less than $10, I came home feeling pretty good about my finds.

Will this happen again the next time I venture out to a neighborhood garage sale? One can only hope!

2006-03-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

LOOKING FOR THE BEST COLLECTIBLE DEALS.

My husband's birthday was this last weekend. As I was thinking about what to get him for a present, I reflected back on past presents I had given him. One of the things that I really loved was the Cairn gnomes in the golf genre. Since they are now in a box, I realize that perhaps they represent what I would like to have and not what he would like to have. Since he now has a collection of 4 of them, I now have a "collection" that I will try to sell. I will probably try eBay first since I have a lot of interest in eBay. I will let you know how it goes.

Went to an estate sale in our neighborhood the other day. Huge sale, but mostly priced way too high. But I always get a lot of good ideas of what is selling and what a "going" price is for them.
Some of the pieces that I was interested in was a small collection of children's toys. Oh, how I wish that I would have saved some of the toys of my childhood. If collecting toys is your interest, I found the following resources to help you.

Also, if you are interested in finding some of the best collectible deals on ebay in currentauctions, please visit this website for possibilities. www.aboutcollectibledeals.com

Toy Collecting -- Bears, Dolls, Diecast, Plush, Tin and More!:

Toy Collectors run the gamut from McDonald Happy Meal pieces to expensive antique tin toys. If you love toys, find your particular niche and specialize!

Beanies and Bean Bag Plush (8) Doll Collecting (31) Bears and Buddies (67) Howdy Doody (9) Collectible Bears, Price Guides and Values @ RobotsTin Toys (11) Diecast Vehicles (9)

Suggested websites for finding collectible toys:

Toys From Yesteryear
Huge selection of classic toys from years past and the modern day.
www.BackToBasicsToys.com

Antique Toys
Vintage toys offered seller direct many items from around the world
www.Architecturals.net

Buy/Sell Toys- Free
Local buyers & sellers - Online Avoid the hassle & cost of shipping
www.LiveDeal.com Articles & Resources
Sort By : Guide Picks Alphabetical Recent

Puzzles for Collectors
Winter time is great for getting the family together around the table and work a puzzle or two. And it's even more fun when it's a subject that is near and dear to your hearts. These puzzles were picked for collectors!

An Excellent Book for Collectors -- Timeless Toys
This is such a cool book that it's hard to find the right words to convey how much fun it is to read. And it doesn't even matter what age you are, toys really are timeless. And this book proves it.

2006-03-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Treasure

My husband and I were having a discussion the other day about how one really knew the value of ones's collections. He has a collection of coins that he has had from when he was a child; one coin he is particularly proud of is a 1950 Denver nickel. So is the value what you, the owner of the item, place on it and how do you know that if you take it to someone for appraisal, you will get a correct value. I remember a collection of baseball cards that I had inherited and had no idea of the value. Someone who was more an acquaintance rather than a friend told me he didn't think that they were worth much. He would give me $50 for all of them. Now some 20 years later, I know that they had more value than that. It didn't help to find out later that he actually collected baseball cards himself.

So my thoughts to share with you this time is to realize that most things we have around have value to us personally, but if you have something that you think might have dollar value; please find a reputable individual or company to appraise the item for you.

The following info that I found on the internet addresses this issue quite well.

One Man's Junk is Another Man's Treasure
From Carrie Conaway, Associate Editor of the Regional Review
Jun 11 2004

What distinguishes a collectible from ordinary rubbish is not always clear. Nonetheless, there are two primary characteristics that collectible items share: desirability and rarity.

DESIRABILITY Whether it is destined for a museum or a private collection, to be collectible, an item must be desirable to someone other than the collector. So, your seventh-grade love letters probably won't qualify, unless you become famous (or notorious). But what makes something desirable?

CONDITION Condition is so important that third-party grading services have sprung up in some collecting areas to grade and validate the quality of items. The coin collecting market is one of the best-developed examples, with 70 possible grades of coin in the Sheldon Numerical Grading System.

AESTHETICS Form, color, size and materials also matter for desirability, although these preferences tend to change with popular tastes. For instance, very large items historically were not viewed as popular collectibles because of the difficulty of storing them, but this has been changing in recent years. Rudy Franchi, a vintage movie poster dealer and appraiser on Antiques Roadshow, points out, "The typical movie poster is 27 by 40 or 41 inches and is known as a 'one-sheet'. The market for larger movie posters used to languish, but people are now living in bigger homes, and so they are able to display bigger things. Now there's a big fad in buying the larger sizes, known as 'six-sheets,' that are 81 by 81 inches, as well as foreign posters, which are often larger."

RARITY "There are some books that are absolutely fabulous literature, but there are too many of then," says Ken Gloss, proprietor of the Brattle Book Shop in Boston. "For instance, Shakespeare, next to the Bible, is the most commonly printed literature in the English language. It's wonderful stuff, but there are millions and millions of them so they're not worth much. You're looking for the one that's a little more unusual, that you don't see all the time."
Items can be rare for several reasons: Some items are simply uncommon and irreproducible. Among those who collect materials about signers of the Declaration of Independence, for instance, the autograph of the all-but-unknown Thomas Lynch or Button Gwinnett is worth far more than the John Hancock of, say, John Hancock.

In many cases, what people collect is only in short supply because they define their collecting area so narrowly. But sometimes rarity is created by the manufacturer. In the 1980s, the Swatch Group created a frenzy by selectively releasing Swatch designs to a limited number of distributors, such that every retailer had a different selection, and by limiting sales to one per person. Swatch also launched an intensive promotional campaign touting their watches as a good investment. Swatch Fever spiked, and sales in the U.S. alone increased from $3 million in 1983 to $200 million in 1987. The same strategy applied to anything manufactured in limited edition, such as Franklin Mint plates, Beanie Babies or Precious Moments figurines.

On the other hand, it can't be too rare. "If there's only one of something, there can only be one collector," points out David Wood, curator of the Concord Museum in Concord, Massachusetts. "What fires people up is things that are relative common, so that you can get a complete collection of it in every form and every style." These sorts of items are easier to find at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales, adding to the serendipity of the collecting experience and fueling the motivation of the devoted collector to keep searching.

This article, a portion of "Objects of Desire", is courtesy of the Regional Review, published by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The article in its entirety, can be found on the: http://www.bos.frb.org/economic/nerr/rr2004/q1/objects.pdf

Stay Collected!

2006-03-19T12:26:00.000-08:00

TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING YOUR COLLECTIBLES.

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring! All the dust bunnies and grime that collects over the winter season is now there for us to dust and clean off and put that "like new" face on everything again.
As much as I hate to think of doing it, I always remember how good it feels to look around and see everything looking fresh and new again. So I was attracted to this article about spring cleaning collectibles. At least it is a start in the process. I will keep looking for other tips and hints and, hopefully, some time and back saving methods to pass on to you.

I know that just because the calendar says that it is Spring; Mother Nature has her own calendar. So if you live somewhere in the areas that she has a different timeframe going for you, just start thinking about the process and your time will come. Spring cleaning is also an excellent opportunity for you to closely look at your "collections" and make decisions about what stays, what is added to and what leaves. Ways to do all of the above will be explored in future updates to this blog. If any one you have any of your personal methods to make spring cleaning less painful, please add them as comments to this post. I'm sure everyone will appreciate any suggestions.

Spring Into the Cleaning Mode!:
From Barbara Crews,
Your Guide to Collectibles.
Stay up to date!

Pottery, Ceramics, China

When your home is filled with or cluttered with Collectibles, it can be a little intimidating to think about cleaning them all. And even though I never consciously think 'it's time to spring clean' -- this is the time of the year I start pulling stuff off the shelves, weeding out, and putting away. To sum it up, it's when I start looking with disgust at the layer of grime on the kitchen cookie jars. It might be the cheery daffodil blooms that set off that inner alarm clock, but I tend to think it's the prolific sprouting of garage sale signs that does it.
Most of the time a good dusting will do the job and for those days two products that I won't be without are Swiffer Dusters and Pledge Furniture Wipes. But there comes a time in the life of all collectors when dusting is just not going to cut it.

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A Touch of Italian Style
We Stock Only the Finest in Italian Pottery - At Prices You Can Afford!
www.ThePotteryCo.com Yes, that means taking those jars and figurines down from shelves and doing a thorough cleaning. It'll make you feel better, make your stuff look nicer and the chance to change the display around a bit is always refreshing.
Cleaning Ceramic, Pottery and China
Figurines -- I would never, ever, wash these in soap and water. If dusting doesn't get it, use a barely-damp soft cloth (old t-shirts are best) to clean the pieces.

2006-03-13T10:20:00.000-08:00

UPDATE ON FLEA MARKET!

I was so hoping that I would be able to write about my visit to the RoseBowl Flea Market in Pasadena this last Sunday. But unusual weather for southern California, which included rain and cold and even hail, kept us from going. My friend and I have pushed it to next month. The flea market is held at the RoseBowl every 2nd Sunday of each month. So we will be going on April 9th. This will just give me more time to do my "research" on certain pieces I have in my collections to see what the going prices are. This will include the pieces I want to sell and the ones to which I want to add.

When I was exploring the Internet over the weekend trying to find other articles and/or tips to share with you, I found a great article from Pamela Wiggans, the Antiques Guide and writer with www.about.com She posed a great question about whether one is considered an accumulator or a collector. Read it and decide which you are. (I've decided that I am both.)

Collecting and Accumulating, It's all Good

There two are kinds of collectors, at least that's what an article I ran across on the Internet told me a while back. They are divided into true “collectors” and what some people term “accumulators.”
In this sense, the term collector has a rather snobbish air that bothers me a little. Perhaps it's because some folks think that to be a bona fide collector you have to seek and find only the finest examples that complement one another to make up a collection.
I suppose this is true for that elite group paying thousands of dollars for fine art or other types of haughty antiques like American period furniture, for example. After all, it pays to be discriminating in cases like that.

Related Resources
• A Little Collection Goes a Long Way• A Primer on Fine American Antique Furniture
But if you're not an uppity collector with lots of money to spend, are you simply an accumulator?
My definition of an accumulator, which aligns closely with that article I mentioned earlier, tends to buy everything in sight when it comes to a chosen collecting field.
Whether it comes to toys, porcelain or any number of other categories, they've got stuff stuck in every nook, cranny and bucket. And, they're probably planning to hit the garage sales next weekend to make sure they don't miss something good.
Is there anything wrong with that? I don't think so. They're having fun, and as long as they're not spending the baby's formula money to buy more junk, it's a just harmless hobby. Well, as long as you're not allergic to dust.
Truthfully though, I think most of us probably fall somewhere in between these extremely defined terms putting true collectors and mere accumulators at polar opposites. Take me for example.

When it comes to vintage costume jewelry, I accumulate. It's a hard phenomenon to explain, except that the more jewelry I own, the better I feel about life in general. In other words, the glitter of rhinestones makes me extremely happy.
Of course, when it comes to other collectibles, like cookie jars, fruit crate labels or my Texas Centennial pieces, I tend to be more selective. I generally buy these things to display in my home, so I want them to coordinate nicely together. I also try to find things that are affordable, if I can.
But what about my perfectly matched set of depression era glass it took years to locate and purchase? As far as I'm concerned, that's as much of a real collection as a grouping of Picasso paintings.

I know lots of people who, like me, collect and accumulate at the same time. For a bunch of commoners, some of them have put together some very interesting and valuable collections.
In fact, I've come to the conclusion that a great collection shows the complete gamut of what's available in a field. It includes inexpensive common items and contrasts with things of a little more rare and valuable nature, but most pieces will fall somewhere in between.
I think true collectors also delight in the thrill of the chase. We're probably just as happy to find a real treasure at a bargain price as one of those furniture buffs were thrilled at the chance to bid on a one-of-a-kind highboy at Sotheby's auction house.
So, the way I see it, whether you're one of those fortunate snobs, someone like me or a tried and true accumulator, we're all in this together. And boy, it sure is fun!
by Pamela Wiggins

antiques/collectibles

2006-03-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

"INTERESTING STORY ABOUT DOLLHOUSE COLLECTIONS"!

What a fun trip this has been for me to spend time searching out articles and websites which might provide interesting information for my blog. This story is one that I found not only interesting but memory provoking. I had a dollhouse as a little girl and I now remember that the most fun I had with it was in taking my allowance each Saturday and going to Kresge's to buy a new piece of furniture. So I was a collector and didn't even know it. Please share some of your early memories of collections you had. Perhaps you will have your memory provoked as well by this story.

February 20, 2006--As a child in the gloomy days of World War II London, well-known dollmaker and collector, Faith Eaton, played with a 1940s dollhouse complete with air raid shelter, brown sticky paper crosses on its windows, and blackout curtains. The dollhouse was a small reminder of a big dilemma facing not only London, but the whole world. Antiques columnist Rosemary McKittrick of LiveAuctionTalk.com has advice on collecting vintage dollhouses. Antique dollhouses are historical records of life the way it was. Time capsules. When the small doors open, a miniature world awaits. It could be a captain’s coastal Victorian home, a French parlor, a general store, or a 1920s tin bathroom; such is the world of the dollhouse.Miniature houses date back to the 17th century. But, dolls came to live in these houses and children took them over in the mid-19th century. The word miniature house, as well as dollhouse is used. The distinction being, miniatures were made for adults. Dollhouses were made for children.Advice:• In terms of collecting, dollhouses made from the mid-19th century to about 1920 are the ones collectors usually want. Once a collector buys and fills one, another often mysteriously appears in their lives. • Age, size and type of manufacture are important. The earliest examples are the most valuable. But, condition and completeness is one of the first things a collector notices. • The quality of craftsmanship is also critical. Was the dollhouse made by a factory or by a carpenter? • There’s a big difference in price between buying an empty dollhouse and a fully furnished one.LiveAuctionTalk.com author Rosemary McKittrick has been writing weekly about the art, antiques and collectibles field for 15 years. Beyond the facts, Rosemary is a storyteller. Her fresh, lively narratives bring the world of collecting to life. McKittrick is co-author of “The Official Price Guide to Fine Art,” a 1000-page book published by Random House and co-author of four volumes of “McKittrick’s Art Price Guide.” Contact Information: info@LiveAuctionTalk.com

Stay collected!

2006-02-27T18:04:00.000-08:00

HOW DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A COLLECTIBLE?

I have had some interesting comments from my previous blog posts. Some people are finding out things about me that they didn't know and others are questioning, "How do I know if my 4-5 items I have are really collectible"? So I will just say--for the first part--keep coming back and you will continue to learn more about me. For instance, I finally got to see Chronicles of Narnia in the theatre. We were supposed to go see it when my daughter and her family (which includes my 17 year old granddaughter and 14 year old grandson) came to visit us in California from Wisconsin. From bitter cold and snow to sweatshirt warm and sun! My granddaughter got to have a surfing lesson and my grandson loved Universal Studios (as did all of us). What a collection of items for our memory banks. Got side tracked once again, but we were unable to see Chronicles of Narnia because of time but my husband and I just did. What a great movie. Sorry that it has left many of the theaters, but even on a BlockBuster rental it would be great. Made me want to read the book.

For the second part--I found an article that will give you some great ideas about how to think about judging whether you have a collectible or not.

What's a Collectible?
From Barbara Crews,Your Guide to Collectibles.Stay up to date!
The Experts Give Their Answers
The word collectible means something different to everyone who ponders the question. Ask a non-collector what a collectible is and they will probably mention little figurines that are specifically marketed as collectibles or, more likely, they will mention Beanie Babies! Sometimes the non-collector will mention stamps, coins or even rocks and sea shells. It's always a particular thing.
Ask a collector and you'll get an in-depth answer on the feelings that are evoked, perhaps the investment made or the quest to find their stuff. Although collectors always hope their collections will increase in value, that's not why they started their collection.
My thoughts have always been if it's sold as a collectible, it's not.
At a recently gathering of authors and experts on antiques and collectibles, I asked the question "What is your definition of a collectible?" Rarely did anyone have a quick or glib answer but, after a few moments of thought, would come through with their definition.
The answers:
A piece of a person's personal history that holds a special place in their heart.Dean Jutilla, eBay
Something you can't get enough of. You get one, you gotta have more.Brent Feigner, Playthings
A collectible is something made between 1963 - 1980.Harry Rinker, Rinker Enterprises
You own more than two of something that you have no use for.Denise, Doll Collecting on About
Something that brings you happiness.Susan Peterson, Peterson Consulting
Part of a group of something that I want to own.Peggy Kinstler, Informart
It's a focused and special way to connect with a part of life.Jordan Wright, Planet Collector
A collectible is anything that is non-essential that someone wants more than one of.Lawrence (eBay)
Useless stuff in lots of different colors.Jane Viator, Antiques Roadshow Insider
Anything that wasn't meant to be and is.John Bruno, Flamingo Promotions
Something that has an emotional connection to you personally.Linda Kruger, Collector's News
Collectibles are things you collect.Jim Tucker, Antiques & Collectibles National Association
Any object that has special meaning to a person. Beth Deisher, Coin World
An item that's valuable to you personally no matter what the actual value is.Cathy Clark, The Numismatist
Anything desirable that people are willing to pay money for (to add to a collection).Pam Wiggins, Antiques.About.com
Something I must have to add to other like objects.Barbara Crews

Stay collected!

2006-02-19T11:33:00.000-08:00

So You DO Want to have a Coin Collection!

I remembered in my memory collection the other day that I had a grandson who has some stamps and coins in a collection. So when I said that that was not what I wanted to do NOW, I also realized that there are others who do. I hope that my grandson, if he continues collecting either stamps or coins or both -- that he soes so because he wants to NOT because someone else wants him to. I also remembered that he has a great comic book collection of which he is very proud and keeps in protective covers in a special chest. I think that he may have the science of collections already in place. Good for him--- most of my early childhood collections ended up broken, very used and never in the original box.

I also talked with someone the other day who has a collection of coins that he has had for years and is not sure what he even has now. So I went in search of an article that dealt with a coin collection and something about tips for getting kids into collecting. I found one of each that I will share with you in this addition of the blog.

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

http://coins.about.com/cs/productreviews/gr/aapr291102.htm

As I have been exploring the ideas of collecting and looking over my own assortment of pieces that others have added to something that I just "loved" at some time, I remembered my interest also in de-cluttering my house and my life. I have two brothers who have been selling on eBay for years. I have always said----"I am going to do that myself". But like so many other things that I have said that I was going to do "someday", I never have gotten around to it. But I still have the intent and I have books, magazines and programs for doing it and I am still fascinated with the eBay experience.

Some of you might have the same thoughts---"I bet I could sell Aunt Ethel's collection of Christmas ornaments or Grandpa's set of tools on eBay". So I have decided to start sending some information on this blog about using eBay for either starting, adding to or selling your collections. The concept of doing eBay instead of having a garage sale is so much more appealing to me. So today, the information that I am sharing with you is on coin collecting and starting kids on the same. Then start looking for some resources for geting started on eBay in the future.
Get Collected!

2006-02-12T07:40:00.000-08:00

Do I Want to Have a Coin Collection or Stamp Collection AGAIN?

One of the nice benefits to me personally about doing this blog is remembering some of the forgotten pieces of my memory collection. I remember now that as a kid I had a stamp collection and my brothers had either a stamp collection or a coin collection or both. But I also remember that my Mother had both and thought that we should as well. I now believe that the reason we had those collections was because she wanted to have someone to share in the process of collecting and maintaining those collections. It is always more fun to share those experiences with other people who enjoy doing the same thing together. Which I believe is one of the reasons for the prevalence of "clubs" or associations of coin collectors or any kind of "collectors".

But the reason I don't still have that stamp collection is because that was what my Mother wanted me to have. I had no passion for it. As I said in my first blog post------if a collection is to remain with you, you need to have a passion for it and enjoy the collecting and maintaining of that collection.

I am fortunate in that one of my best friends from grade school and high school has just reasppeared into my life after fifty years. We just discovered that after all that time and several moves and different life happenings, we find ourselves living in the same community, very far from where we grew up and within three miles of each other. I have now found someone with whom I can haunt garage sales, estate sales and flea markets. In fact she, having had an antique shop for several years, has always wanted to attend the huge flea market held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. So-------the second Sunday in March we are going together to Pasadena. Yeah, a road trip with a friend! My husband said that he would like to go with us; but I am sure that it is to see the Rose Bowl not the flea market. I'll let you know how it was after we have been there.

The bottom line for me is that I know that I do like to have "collections"; but they have to be my collections, not my Mother's. So explore your memory collections and see if you want to have your coin or stamp collections or whatever you once collected again or still. I know that coins or stamps are not for me.

2006-02-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

ARE YOUR COLLECTIONS GENUINE?

My Mother always had this notion that if anything was 50 or more years old, it was an antique. She therefore thought that anything that she owned that was over 50 years old was valuable. She never had ventured into the world of collectibles and antiques, so she never knew if the piece were valuable or genuine. She died without ever experiencing the wonder of the internet world and the expanse of resources available to anyone. But the resources for checking to see if your collection or your heirloom piece is genuine and valuable are numerous. One of the sites that I just recently visited was Auction Funk. Very interesting and very helpful. They have a blog that I would recommend you visit and see if it can be helpful to you. The address for the blog is: http://auctionfunk.blogspot.com . This site is a way you can discover unexpected treasures and shed light on the collectible value of seemingly common and everyday items. So, before you throw anything away, visit Auction Funk.

Although my Mother never knew much about COLLECTIONS, she knew a lot about COLLECTING. In fairness to her, she did have one great legitimate collection--a large
collection of salt and pepper shakers. She displayed them in a glass sided etagere and would enchant anyone who would listen with the stories about each pair.......where and when she got them, what the occasion was and from whom she got them. But the majority of "stuff" that she had in drawers, shelves, and on counters was the result of her collecting (read... saving) things that she could not throw away. I must have received that gene as well, as I also have "stuff" that I have carried with me from high school, college, first marriage and on and on and on. I even have some of my Mother's "stuff" that is now my "stuff". One of the things that she always saved were all of the cards she received, birthday cards, anniversary cards and Christmas cards. I just found a box that had many of hers and now many of mine.

With Valentines Day fast approaching, I think that I might recycle some of the cards I have from that holiday and share my "stuff" with others. An article that I found about vintage Valentines was written by a writer with About.com, which is also an excellent site for finding information about your interests. Go to www.about.com and click the link for Your Guide to Antiques and find the February 3, 2006 article titled Remembering Romance. Be sure to share valentines with all you love.

Keep saving, stashing and collecting. Keep looking through what you have already and make decisions about what you want to do with them. I will keep looking for websites, articles, and resources about collections and share some of the best with you. I will also be sharing some of my collections of ideas and thoughts. I would love to have you do the same. Let's start collecting posts from each other.

Missy Carol Ann

2006-01-31T13:24:00.000-08:00

If you have three to four versions of any one kind of item, then perhaps you are a collector and don't even realize it. Over the years or decades if you ever mentioned that you really liked horses then all of your children, grandchildren, other family, friends and co-workers smiled and thought to themselves, "Good, now I know what to get her on her birthday or next Christmas".
Perhaps you need to walk through your rooms and look around. Notice how many times you see items that you have grouped together, either on shelves or on mantel, bookshelves or counters. You also did it to yourself.....at garage sales, estate sales and auctions or while on vacation as a souvenir. Buying something that you just had to have.

A real collection is important to you when you walk by and look at them and can hear the story or song that they whisper to you. If they are silent, perhaps they don't belong there anymore.

What about the boxes that are packed and stored in a closet, an attic, the garage or
basement?
How long has it been since you opened them to see what all was in them?

Pick up one of the idividual pieces and think of how you can get dispose of it. As you start to put it into a box for disposal of one kind or another, does it stick to you hand making it impossible to put it into the box? Put it back from where you took it......it belongs there. If it almost flings out of your hand to jump into the box, it belongs in a new home.

There are many ways to dispose of unwanted collections of "things" you have accumulated over the years. You can always "gift" them to someone who utters those famous words you have uttered before......"Oh, I just love horses (or whatever word you wish to insert)." Another way to donate them to a charity thrift shop. Another way is to sell them at your own garage sale, auction or on e-Bay. You can also just throw them out. This would be my least favorite way to dispose of anything that I had moved from house to house and at one time looked at fondly. "Treasures" should never just be thrown away. They should be passed on.

For those of you who have not experienced the joys of collecting and wish to start; there are many ways to do so. One such way is as I have mentioned above.....just tell at least three people how much you really love something.....they will start your collection for you. Another way is to want to be a serious collector of antiques or collectibles; perhaps because you have inherited your grandmother's collection of Hummel plates or because you, as a child, loved a certain type of dolls, which you still have. Another way is start looking at eBay, not as a seller, but as a buyer.

I plan to discuss many of these steps for buying, adding to or selling colleactions on this weblog and hope to hear from many of you as to your ideas, suggestions and tips. When I think of collections, I realize that as we age we all have a variety of collections. They come in the form of experiences, ideas, attitudes, recipes and memories. Perhaps we can share some of those collections as well.

Please bookmark this site and come back for a visit soon.