Mother’s Day Gifts

Show your mom how special she is with a spectacular gift this year.  On Etsy, I have some unusual items.  Give your mom something to spruce up her table:

 How about a one-of-a-kind handmade necklace?

 Or a hard-to-find Goofus glass vase (there are lots of plates in my area, the vases seem to be rare).  You could even add her favorite flowers!

Visit my Etsy store for some more great ideas for Mother’s Day.

Auction Tip #2

So you have seen an ad either online or in your local paper for an auction, and you have just arrived at the sale itself.  You pour over what is at the sale, and you have a good idea of what you could comfortably pay for that really cool side table, or that stack of linens.

Now What?

With any live auction, you need to get what is called a “Bidders Number”.  The auctioneer will have a registration station set up somewhere on the premises of the auction.

 At this station, you show them your valid ID (usually a driver’s license), and you will need to give a phone number as well.  Once you have your number, you’re now able to bid on that really cool Fenton vase.  Just don’t get carried away.

Discounts On Items

In addition to all of the great deals that I have currently up for sale, I am also discounting some items that I have up for sale.  The first item that has a discount is this fabulous 1940's head vase on Etsy.

This deal lasts only through Wednesday.

Hey Guys—Need Your Help

Recently I acquired this eye catching bowl.  Actually it’s a mere 5 ½ inches across by 3 inches tall.

 I’m even divided as to what it might be—a bowl, nut bowl, votive, or even an art basket.  At first blush it looks to be a Fenton Open Edge basket pattern.  But —it has a Vaseline bottom and the entire bowl fluoresces under a black light.

  Anyone out there have one of these—or even knows what it is?

Shopping Tip #2

One of the best things to carry with you when you hit anything from a swap meet to an antique mall is a tape measure.  It doesn’t have to be anything outlandish, a lot of the time you could do with one that measures a couple of feet.  More often than not, I find myself needing something to see how tall a Depression glass vase is, or even what the size of a picture frame is.

 

A good motto in the antique world is, “buy the book before you buy the antique.”  In this case, “buy the tape measure so the piece can measure up.”

Ideas for Vases to Hold Springtime Flowers

This time of the year, some extremely beautiful flowers start to come into bloom.   If you get the urge to pick them and put them on your table or window sill, don’t just stick with a vase.

You can use just about anything that can hold the flowers and some water.  For example, you could use a pitcher to display the fabulous floral finds.

So have fun and get creative with all of the possibilities out there.

Happy Easter From Wisdom Lane!

I'm Live!

I'm thrilled to announce that my Etsy store is up and running.  The store features some incredible vintage pieces, as well as some original jewelry made using old vintage items.

I'm also now on Twitter.  Be sure to follow my Tweets, and to check in regularly on my Etsy store; I'll be putting up new items for sale on a regular basis.

Re-learning eBay

A few years ago, when my collections became unwieldy, I chose to sell off my less-than-favorite items on eBay.  I wasn’t in business like I am now, I was just a collector getting room and money to go shopping again.  As soon as I decided to go into business as Wisdom Lane, I immediately began listing antiques on eBay, as I did before.

And I was surprised at the result.

My antiques weren’t really getting the bids and the lookers as they did before.

So what happened?

As an experiment, I listed my original Nintendo console with eight games.  I also listed a separate lot of twenty-four Nintendo games.  I listed the two lots as auctions with the option to Buy It Now.  The two lots sold within five minutes.

Lesson learned?

eBay appears to have a different type of shopper than it did a few years ago.  The current shopper seems to be interested in collectibles rather than antiques—thirty- or forty-somethings looking to get back items from their youth.

As a result, my strategy will change as I continue to test this theory.  I’ll be selling collectibles on eBay, and I’ll look for different sites where I can sell my antiques.  First stop for some of my vintage items:  Etsy.

Anyone with great experience on any antiques selling sites (GoAntiques, Ruby Lane, etc.), weigh in by leaving a comment below!

Live Auction Tip #1

At some time or another, antique lovers, collectors, and dealers end up at a live auction.  For the first time auction-goer, the bidding process can be intimidating, simply because you’re there in person.  (Somehow, maybe because you can remain anonymous, it’s far easier to bid by clicking a mouse during an online auction than it is to raise your hand or shout out from the middle of a giant crowd during a live auction.)

 

A couple of tips: just because no one else in the crowd seems to want to bid on the item you’ve had your eye on, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t jump on it.   Conversely, don’t overbid, which is easy to do.  It’s almost hypnotic to get caught up in the action without realizing it.

Basically what I’m saying is don’t let the crowd sway you.  Trust your gut and your own knowledge.  Don’t let yourself fall into mob mentality.

Auction Highlight: Larry Tisdale Illustrated Program

Overall, I was pleased with the results of my first Wisdom Lane eBay auction—everything up for bid sold (my Buy It Now Haynes Ware Pitcher / Creamer is still available).  One item even had multiple bids.

A new week means a new eBay auction is currently underway.  I’ve got some great stuff again this week—one of my favorite items is this basketball program, illustrated by Larry Tisdale:

 

Tisdale was one of several illustrators, such as Fred Fixler and Lon Keller, who provided program artwork during this time period (this program dates from 1948).  This particular program not only advertises Coca Cola, it even features the Coca Cola Sprite Boy:

Tisdale’s artwork is really striking—and I feel certain that this program came from a local high school game.  The score card inside features “SHS Bulldogs” vs. “University City.”  Here in town, Central High used to be Springfield High School, and their mascot is a Bulldog.  So this item is a great cross-collectible: you get Tisdale’s work, a Coke ad, sports memorabilia, and a piece of local history.

More on Tisdale and his fellow illustrators here.  Be sure to get your bid in on the program or other items on eBay. 

Collecting Tip: Keep Your Eyes Peeled

Without a doubt, the fun of collecting is the hunt.  But don’t ever think that the hunt has to be relegated to thrift stores, antique shops, and auctions.  Sometimes, the hunt even comes to you.

Case in point: I was in high school when my local library retired its card catalog.  In conjunction with closing their catalog, the library offered patrons a giveaway: a free card signed by the author of the book.  The only catch was that you couldn’t request any specific author or book—it was the luck of the draw.

Not one to give up an opportunity for a collectible signature, I signed up.  And this is what I received:

I really did luck out with what I won—I’m a sports fan, and have always followed racing, so to get a card signed by Richard Petty was something of a thrill.

Now, what I have is a cross-collectible: I have a piece of sports memorabilia, a signed autograph from a celebrity, and a piece of library history (the card catalog has now gone the way of the dinosaur). 

Which just goes to show you: always keep your mind open, always be on the lookout.  You never know where you’re going to find those really cheap—or, in this case, absolutely free—pieces to add to your collection.

What about you?  Have you stumbled upon free goodies like this one?

First Auction

The first auction is officially live!  The sneak peek I offered a few days ago is actually a really great old chintz style demitasse cup.  Perfect for a coffee addict’s first morning espresso:

 

In addition for a few items up for bid, I have one really neat item up for a Buy It Now price.  It’s a Haynes Ware / Chesapeake Pottery small pitcher, or even possibly a creamer.  It has no chips or flaws, but it has some crazing to show its age.  And it really is an old piece.  More on Haynes Pottery here.

 

This little pitcher / creamer would be a great centerpiece with flowers—it’s short enough that you will be able to see your guests on the other side of the table.

To view all my items currently available, head to eBay.

Sneak Peek

I’m really excited about my first upcoming eBay auction.  I have some really great items, and am in the process of taking some pictures and writing up descriptions.

The auction will go live next week, but here’s a sneak peek:

 

Stay tuned for full pictures and a link to the auction.

John’s Shopping Tip #1

We all know that the best way to whittle away a Sunday afternoon is in an antique mall with hundreds of booths and plenty of treasures.  But did you know the best way to shop is backwards?

Simple but true: pick one direction and walk through the entire mall.  Then turn around and retrace your steps all the way back through the mall.  You are now looking at the booths at a different angle.  You will be surprised at what you missed!