2016 I am Glad You Are About Over, 2017 Makes Me Nervous

Howdy All,

It has been a pretty shit year and I had quite a few drafts of posts but not one that was finished so I decided to update all the antiques and collectibles folks that might read my blog.

First; my antique shopping website is still not up and running but I might be getting a bit closer to have it up and running. When we were cleaning up after a foot of water shot up through the basement floor drain in June, I came across more of the Inspiriter Figurines so please give me a call my number is on the website and I will get you hooked up.

Anywho, what a year! It has been filled with my father being ill then having a couple of falls. He is doing great now. One of my daughters was severely beaten by an ex boyfriend, husband was diagnosed with leukemia, he is also doing amazing now. The basement flooded and the camera showing a video of water blowing out of the drain in the laundry room was stolen by a temp worker from Labor Ready. She was dumb enough to pawn it in her name but the pawn shop deleted all the photos Minor illnesses popped up here and there but we all survived. In the midst of all the chaos I have managed to hit quite a few antique shops, thrift stores and various sales which means I have some new inventory for the shop.

With all the website issues I am going to be posting some items on Etsy and will put up a link when I get some goodies uploaded.

I just wanted to let anyone who reads this know that I am still around and will have some good vintage items up for sale soon.

If you want to read more details on the events of the year visit my other blog listed on the sidebar - Life In Suburbia.

Cheers!

So Much Has Been Going On, A Brief Update

Howdy All,

It has been quite a while since I have posted to the blog. Gosh, there has been so much going on lately I don't know where to start.

I think I had told y'all about my Q&A column for Discover Vintage America I am really having a great time writing the column and some of the questions that come in are amazing.

About the middle of last year I began going out to antique shops who advertise in the publication and doing on site appraisals. It has been a blast! I have also made appearances at several antique shows. The downside to this is that it has taken a lot of restraint to keep from making purchases wherever I go.

In March I will be in Grapevine, Texas at an antique show.

You can visit my new antique appraisal page Michelle's Antique Appraisals to see when and where I will be appearing and you can also get an appraisal online for a nominal fee.

If you would like for me to come to your location for an appraisal event please let us know. There is no cost for my appearance unless I have to travel outside of the KC metro area.

Having on-site appraisal events is a BIG customer draw, especially with the prices I charge, people come in for an appraisal and then spend time in your shop. It is also good for fundraising events, festivals and any other event where you need and want high attendance.

As you know, I have been around for quite a few years but you may not know that I still love what I do and spend a great deal of time researching the market for trends and values. Finding an appraiser who you can trust is a difficult task and finding one with great people skills and good at what they do is almost impossible..... that's where I come in.

Drop me a note to say hi or better yet attend one of the events that I will be appearing at or have me come to your event.

Thanks to all,
Michelle aka Granny

50 Years Ago The Beatles Changed American Music and Changed Us

Granted, I was only 4-years-old the night The Beatles stepped on the stage for the first time on the Ed Sullivan show but I do remember watching that evening.

I became a Beatles fan on the spot. I was in love with Ringo and wanted to own every song they put out.

John Lennon's music has always touched me. He had such passion for peace and love. I still tear-up when I think that this beautiful man had his life cut short because of one sick person with a gun.

Eventually I did have all of their music and many wonderful Beatles memorabilia items. It was one of those "who knew" situations when my mom sold it all at a garage sale before me moved to Singapore.

I do still have a couple of albums and a few 45s left and I have always said that if my some chance I win the lottery I will get another Beatles lunch box and the nodder dolls.

Please enjoy my most recent article for WorthPoint.com on The Beatles.

Share with us your memories of the Beatles and whether or not you still have any of the early memorabilia.

The Holiday Season Can Be Painful for Many Reasons

For many the holidays are the best time of the year. They look forward to all the cooking, baking, family time and finally gift giving. Not me so much anymore. If I had my way we would just straight from October to January.

I see my family once a week a family dinner. When it comes to baking, well my family would rather that I didn't. I am not much of a shopper unless it is an antique shop or flea market.

Things weren't so bad until my mom passed away 4 years ago this coming January and that just seemed to have sucked a lot of joy out of Christmas. Mom loved Christmas. She loved everything about it. Some years ago my brother and his family quit coming up to spend Christmas with us and that took a toll on her but otherwise she was jolly and ho, ho, ho.

My recent article for WorthPoint.com was written in memory of my mom.

Christmas Memories of my Mom; Antique Dealer, Collector and Family Historian

I hope that you enjoy it.

Merry Christmas to All

Looking For a Reasonably Priced Antique Appraisal?

All collectors of antiques, collectibles and other vintage wares are curious as to the value of their items.

Antique appraisals can get very expensive so one of the companies that I write for has made it possible to get a low cost personal appraisal on just about anything you can think of and I will be doing the appraisal.

It is a very simple process, just go to "Ask Michelle" on the Discover Vintage America Website, follow the simple instructions and within a week or less you will receive an email from me with all of the information you are requesting.

Since you and I are in direct email communication you can ask for additional information on your item, clarification on the information I have given you or anything else that comes to mind in regards to the item.

Here is my online video debut telling you how simple it is to get a low cost personal appraisal. Yep, this is me in the video. Enjoy!

Great Information on a Garage Sale Find Piece of Vintage Glass - Original or Fake Glass?

I found a wonderful blog on antique and vintage glassware. I thought you might enjoy this post.

Glass Lovers Glass Database Blog: Who Made Me? What am I? Original or Fake Glass?:

'via Blog this'

Share Your Halloween Memories With Us

My mom always spent months crafting Halloween costumes for my brother and I but one year something went terribly wrong. We ended up looking something like this photo, except he had a tie around his neck.

It was all good. We had a great time as usual.

I would love to see your Halloween costumes both past and present so please be sure to share photos or stories.

Enjoy my Halloween article for WorthPoint.com

BOO

A Great Gift Idea or Extra Income

Jewelry Candles, yes there is an actual piece of jewelry inside each candle and the neat thing is that when you order your candle you specify the ring size that you want. 

The candles smell amazing and you get the added bonus of a beautiful piece of jewelry.

If you are looking for an extra source of income I highly recommend the Jewelry Candle Co. I am not one that gets involved in selling items through companies such as this. 

The main reason I joined the Jewelry Candle Co. is because I LOVE quality candles and IT COSTS YOU NOTHING TO BECOME A DISTRIBUTOR. Let me repeat that, there is no start-up costs to you. You get your own website, free of charge and there is no out-of -pocket expense.

I am an antique dealer and have family obligations. Money is tight too but I saw this as the perfect opportunity to earn some extra income... at no cost to me and enjoy wonderful candles in the process.

If you are looking for a great gift or need extra income I highly recommend these guys.

An Opportunity For YOU To Be On an Antique Hunt Reality TV Show

To all collectors and antiquers on the West Coast ** I was contacted by phone last night and asked to spread the word about a great opportunity to participate on a new Reality TV show. Here is the link for additional details - The Big Deal

Please pass this on to anyone you know on the Western side of the US who might be interested.

They are moving quickly with casting so time is of the essence.

This is not a hoax, I, Michelle, actually spoke with someone on the phone and received an email with the details.

Here is the casting blurb that was sent to me:

**THE BIG DEAL**

Teams of 2 scour the country for the highest valued rare finds, antiques, and collectibles for a shot at a major cash prize.

TREASURE HUNTERS, BARGAIN SPOTTERS, FLEA MARKET LOVERS, SAVVY PICKERS, and CASUAL COLLECTORS – if you love the thrill of the chase to find a hidden treasure, if you spend weekends meandering through flea markets, if you have a sixth sense for worthy collectibles or can sniff out a bargain or a hidden Gem from miles away, we want to meet you!  We are currently searching for teams near or in California.

A major cable network has launched a search for pairs of treasure hunting enthusiasts to participate in a fun new series. Couples, friends, colleagues, siblings – any duo that shares a passion for their hobby and knows how to do it better than anyone else – is who we’re looking for.

Remember, this is MORE than being able to find the best bargain for a dress at a thrift shop.  We want people with a good eye for rare finds, those hidden gems, and people that often find valuable stuff and buy it at great prices! Have you found an old $5 candle stick that is actually worth way more???  We want to know about your finds!

Candidates may be any combination of men or women of any age who have fervor for finding and an undeniable will to win! Sorry, professional buyers/sellers are not eligible – this opportunity is for weekend warriors who do it purely for the love of the hunt.
 

Keep me posted if any of you who read my blog make the show. GOOD LUCK!!

How To Sell Your Antiques, Collectibles and Memorabilia

Are you interested in information on the various ways to sell your antiques and collectibles? 

Read my latest article on Worthpoint.com 

http://www.worthpoint.com/article/sell-antiques-collectibles-vintage-items

Something that I did not include in the article is to peruse Craigslist "Wanted" ads. You might just find people who are looking for the item you have for sale. I have sold a number of items this way.

Feel free to post your favorite suggestions on selling your items. What venues have worked well for you?

My Interview With Steve Santini of "Deals From the Darkside"

Steve Santini

Finger Vise - OUCH

If you watched "Deals From the Darkside" you are going to love my recent article for WorthPoint.com where I interviewed Steve Santini. Steve is a collector of ancient devices of restraint and torture as well as an extreme escape artist and curator of RMS Titanic artifacts. 

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/steve-santini-collector-dark-side

A few photos of items in Steve's collection -

Fingerscrews

German Witch's Gown

* All images were provided by Steve Santini and are his property. Use of these images without his expressed written consent is prohibited.

Latest Article on WorthPoint.com - Architectural Salvage

Jeff's Architectural Salvage in Weston, MO.

Not only is Jeff's business great but the historic location, including the town of Weston, Missouri, is worth a visit.

http://www.worthpoint.com/blog-entry/michelles-antique-road-trip-shopping-gem-missouri-river

I love architectural salvage and when you can purchase it at wholesale prices it just ups the ante a big.

Here are a few other photos I took on my recent visit to Weston.

One of many Antibellum Homes in town

Paper press

An etched glass sign on a store front

Yes, I am still alive and kicking

Gosh I didn't realize it has been so long since I posted to my blog. Shame on me.

So many things have been going on the past few months that it is hard to keep up with everything. I am still trying to get inventory sorted for the newly redesigned website. What type of smalls are people buying these days? It would help if I had some input as to what you are looking for.

I do have another Hermes Jr. typewriter and a blue Royal typewriter, sterling silver picture frames, a Tiffany sterling award bowl that is precious, loads of ephemera such as old bills (scrapbookers would love it), a beautiful set of blue glasses and ice bucket. The list is never ending.

I am really excited about a new opportunity. I will be writing the Q&A column for Discover Vintage America  and soon I will post details on how to get your questions to me. They are also creating a page where, for a nominal fee, you can ask me your antique, collectible or vintage questions and I will respond within a max of 48 hours.

I am finally making great progress on my Pixie, Elf and Gnome Price and Reference Guide. It will be available as a download, e-book or old fashion book format. My book about my haunted antique shop experience is in the early stages.

I have a load of photos that I want to share from my travels the past year and hope to get those loaded before next year.

That is my life in the past couple of months in a nutshell. Oh, we just had kittens too.

I'll be back soon with more information on the new opportunity that came my way.

Thank you for reading, Michelle aka Granny

I Am in Shock

I simply cannot process the evil that hit Connecticut yesterday.

Remember how Bush Jr. sprang in to action and declared war after Sept. 11 and the 'terrorist' attacks on our country? What do you do when the terrorists are living in your neighborhood, are American's and are only 20-years old?

My prayers, love, thoughts, tears and comfort are with all those impacted by the heinous evil act.

What Christmas Traditions Does Your Family Have?

My family has a few Christmas traditions that go back generations and we have almost an equal number of new traditions.

Since we moved to the Kansas City area going to the Country Club Plaza and taking a carriage ride has become a tradition. All of us girls get dressed in our finest and go see the Nutcracker ballet

A few traditions passed on when my mother passed away 3 years ago.


Here is my newest article for WorthPoint.com - Baking Cookies, Making Paper Chains, Family Traditions .

I would love to hear your holiday traditions.

As always, thank you for visiting.

Is Your First Edition Book Worth Money?

"The Great Gatsby" is one of my all time favorite books and a first edition, first printing, 1925 published by Scribner's, with the original dust jacket and in excellent condition can bring up to 6 figures.

Did you know that there are a few things you can look for in the text of the book to determine if what you have is a true first?

You want to look for "chatter" on p. 60, line 16, "northern" on p. 119, line 22, "it’s" on p. 165, line 16, "away" on p. 165, line 29, "sick in tired" on p. 205, lines 9-10, and "Union Street station" on p. 211, lines 7-8. The dust jacket will have a lowercase "j" in "jay Gatsby" on the back panel that has been hand-corrected in ink.

The art on the jacket was designed by artist Francis Cugat and is called "Celestial Eyes". Fitzgerald fell in love with the cover design and liked it so much that he incorporated parts of it in to the story.

Here is my WorthPoint.com article on First Edition Books.

As always I appreciate your feedback and comments.

I Love This Funny - The Antiques Roadshow in 1540

You Aren't Going To Believe This - YOU Need To Take Action

March 25, 2013 - UPDATE - Yes, the little people can fight city hall and win. When you read the article below about Bright's Antique World and the injustice or abuse of power they experienced there is a silver lining. The law was changed and they are pursuing civil action. See the below link to read the article http://www.franklinfavorite.com/articles/2013/03/15/news/doc5141e8c1debd5862179835.txt


A Call To Action


There are a couple of items that I recently became aware of which could seriously impact all of us who deal and dabble in antiques, collectibles and vintage wares. I am asking for your help to see that these wrongs are righted and that our voices are heard loud and clear.

While on my recent excursion, you will hear more about that shortly, I picked up one of those free publications that advertises area antique shops “The Busy Bee Trader”. I came across an article that blew my skirt over my head.

Riley Bright and his wife Linda have owned Bright's Antique World in Franklin, Ky for ten years. For ten years they have sold a variety of animal mounts all of which are professionally taxidermied and manufactured or crafted by licensed professionals. Not one of the mounts that they have sold or currently have for sale is an endangered or protected animal.

The Bright's business was raided this past February by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife for illegally selling 'protected' wildlife. They were charged with 31 felony counts under a law written in 1942. So far this has cost Mr. Bright $2,000 and the case has been deferred for 24 months. Please read the full article.

I felt compelled to call Mr. Bright to hear the story firsthand and he assured me that the mounts they sell are no different than those you find in any antique shop or flea market around the country.  The Ky. 1942 law says nothing about selling or transporting animal mounts that are not on the protected or endangered species list.

The manner in which this law is being interpreted does not affect only businesses it impacts anyone who owns an animal mount whether it is Grandpa's trophy fish or your Dad's prize buck. Under this interpretation you cannot take the piece across state lines if you are moving or sell it if downsizing. You would have to donate it or burn it.

The Brights are asking for our help. They have a petition in their shop and one online that we all need to sign to show our support. Here is the online petition.

I am also being published on storagetreasures.com

Yep, I have hit the big time. Due to my work with WorthPoint.com I have had an article published on another website they are affiliated with, storagetreasures.com.

You can read that article here - http://www.storagetreasures.com/profile/blog/5a2b4f4c67ee6dba3fd5b1f75d2fed96/1335 it is an article that should interest anyone who buys and sells antiques and collectibles because it deals with those dreaded reproductions. Items that come up often and unless you know what to look for it is easy to get duped.

As always I welcome your feedback and suggestions for future articles.

A recent comment indicated an interest in knowing how and where to research antiques and collectibles. This is certainly a topic that needs to be covered. My first suggestion on this topic is to sign-up with WorthPoint.com, they offer a trial subscription, and it is a great place to find information and descriptions. I will get to work on an article that covers this very topic.

Thank you, Michelle

My Most Excellent Road Trip through Texas and Oklahoma

My Grandchild and one of my dogs

Are you ready for another one of my travel articles for WorthPoint? Here is the latest on my Texas trip. Enjoy! http://www.worthpoint.com/article/michelles-antiquing-road-trip-tour-texas-oklahoma

I have quite a few photos from this trip that I am working on getting uploaded. It was a fabulous trip with many sights to see and antique shops to visit.