All I Want for Christmas...

December already and I started thinking of the hours I use to spend pouring over the Sears christmas book.

What were my favorite presents as a kid?

probably a 1950's version of this superior toy printing press. I remember fighting with the small rubber pieces of type and the twezzers to set a line straight. I once visited the typesetters at a large newspaper and was impressed with their linotype machines. Of course those large papers still alive today do it all on computer.

A spiral bound book that had heads you could put onto the headless items in a toy store.

a plastic mickey mouse club belt from the 2nd year of the show.

my own tool box with a few simple tools like a hammer, screw driver, pliers and a small saw.

Color by number book of birds. These came with colored pencils and were a lot less messy than paint by number pictures.

a radio of my very own--I think it was an Emerson in a creamy tan plastic.

What did I hate: a standup walking doll and a cowgirl outfit. I wanted the cowboy outfit that came with a holster and cap gun.

Now I want books about antiques and collectibles, gift cards to the movies and a 1965 mustang convertible!

Happy Holidays to all!

Vacation was Great, here's some pix

Now what do I do with my photos? Use to be I scooped all the rolls out of the suitcase and dropped them off at the drugstore on way into work and in 2 days got great prints back. Then it became the 1 hour in store service with mixed results, then I tried the do-it yourself at the drugstore machines and waited for a free unit and stood forever. Next I would send off electonically to a drug store and just stopped by for prints--once again color is an issue. Now I can sit at my computer for HOURS tweaking each photo, cropping, sharpening, playing with color and then find there is not enough ink to PRINT!
I long for the good days when quality was better, and life less complicated and slower!
So here's some of the pix not yet printed!

ceiling from Bridge of glass in Tacoma--one of the great free sites
Jug from the Kerman Ceramics collection at the Univ of BC Museum of Anthropology
The Troll under the bridge in Fremont WA


Part of the wall in the glass bridge by Chihully!






I found a great antiques mall in Kent WA Mad Hatter Antiques.
Cloverdale Mall in Cloverdale BC was worth the stop
and 2 malls in the same parking lot in Snohomish WA

I found some bargains as did my travelling companion--thus the stop at several places!

Fall in love with antiques

I wish more traffic was coming to the antique outlet. A 25% sale earlier this month was 90% of sales and that was all small items. I'm happy to have moved something and have some room for more. What sold? A golden yellow Lipton teapot with lid intact, a decorating book, a framed needlepoint design,, a chalkware sailing ship, a bait canteen and a neat china fish figurine along with a silver plated etched fish lid for perhaps a kippers server--these 3 went to the same person! A 1971 Indy car shape bottle/decanter. A tied together packet of old and new Antiques magazines. Just weird small stuff. I wish the portmierion coffee sets would go and free up that space.

Off on vacation to the Northwest next week. Hopefully time to visit some malls and find a good buy, but schedule is pretty tight with must see museums such as Museum of Glass in Tacoma!

Have you gotten carded at your LIBRARY?

Yardsaletrail.com

The bluewater area around the thumb of Michigan's lower peninsula hosts an annual miles long yard sale along M25/M29. This the prettiest sale in America. Even prettier than the World's Longest Garage sale. Heat is the same on either trek but the amount of cool blue water can't be beat!
visit teir website at yardsaletrail.com for 2010 dates and info.

July and summer really hasn't brought the heat!

Fortunately sales are up this July over the past 2 months at the mall booth. I've had 2 mini yard sales on Sundays and got rid of 2 box loads of misc stuff plus some other knick knacks. Weather is not cooperating for weekends.
Now family illnesses hamper gadding about.
I had a meeting in a park awhile back and was able to take a short nature trail and was surprised to come upon a fawn in a meadow nibbling all the wildflowers etc



This was in a park surrounded by a city--metropolitan area!

I also found this old gate post/hitchin' post. Made me think of the framed photos I saw at the art fair "craft booth" that was selling framed photos of images looking like letters so one could spell out a name or word

Balloon Fest is highlight of outside antiques sale

June was great weather wise but sales did not pick up. Had a yard sale at spur of moment--Live on a very busy street, but lookers only. Tried the dealers outside sale on the 27th--beautiful hot day, once again lookers and few buyers--this was the consensus of at least half of us. Setup early was the best treat of the day. The 25th annual balloon fest had just started their morning launch. Driving up the expressway was glorious to get the sneak peeks of one after another. Counted over 30 aloft at once. Then most changed direction and flew over the antiques mall. WOW!

Photo isn't so great but you get the idea. I used my iPhone and was surprised what I could get. Yep all those dots are hot air balloons!

My neighbor is planning a yard sale--I hope soon, as I was too tired to take all those boxes to the basement. This may become a blowout clear out sale. Or as one dealer did a FREEBIE. Just to get space and pass on those seemingly unsaleable items.

June is busting out all over!

Well at least flower and tree wise with all the pollen! I' d rather have this than snow and cold!
The antiques and collectibles buyers aren't busting out their wallets. May was bad bad BAD! Oh yeah the antiques mall was down traffic wise and especially saleswise.
I did a revamp and stacked items higher in anticipation of a weeklong sale later this month. I'll also do the outside fleamarket for 1 day in hopes of at least getting back the gas money.
At the auctions things are going and not necessarily dirt cheap. I think some buyers are savvy to the auctions and will buy there thinking they are getting a better deal, often the knockdown is higher than I could have priced it. They are bidding against each other as I watch dealer after dealer drop out of the bidding after a short time.
The pickings at yard sales are slim too for items I can resell. If you want clothes, kitchen appliances or toddler toys you can find bargains galore.
Hopefully good weather will bring out more sales.