I've moved!

I have been doing this blog now for several years, and I have learned a ton along the way.  I have now come to the conclusion that I needed a change.

With great excitement, I would love to say that I have moved!  I have a new website called wisdomlaneantiques.com, which can be seen here.

I will be leaving this blog active so that all of the wonderful posts that I have done can still be enjoyed.  I hope that I will see you at the new website!

Big Wheels

As a kid, my favorite mode of transportation my driveway was my plastic blue and yellow Big Wheel.  The Big Wheel even let you do things like spin it out very fast and go the opposite way very fast.

These were cool to have.  Even though they were made of plastic, they stood up pretty well.  The front wheel seemed to get damaged first (the Big Wheels that I had would crack along the seam and slowly become flat spotted).

I wore out at least 3 myself—pedaling until the plastic tires were so flat they no longer worked.

I have often wished for a grown-up size version Big Wheel.  No other toy offered as much speed or even freedom.

Did you own a Big Wheel?

*Picture courtesy of Wikipedia.com

The “antique bug”

When I was a kid, most of my weekends were spent with my folks at farm auctions.  At first, my sister and I would wonder the fields playing until she would give out and plop down under a tree to read.  I would head for the auction ring.

By the time I was 8, my mom was allowing me to bid for her—raise my hand and yell out her bid.  I was also allowed to bid on an item own—some robot or baseball bat—something cheap.  The kindly auctioneer would always make sure I won the bid.

By the time I was in high school, I was the bidder for the family and known by area auction goers as that “young kid.”  Mom began to ask my opinion—but question it a bit when my treasure often included a stack or two of broken dishes.

But I learned and I loved it.  I still do.  Visit Wisdom Lane Antiques to see some of the antiques that I have found.

And the search goes on…

I started attending auctions with my family as a kid.  I continued doing so through school realizing it had become more than a hobby.

About two years ago, auctions began drying up.  The auctions that were left created prices far too high for my budget.

I have since discovered estate sales, consignment sales, city-wide garage sales, flea markets, and even the occasional really good single garage sale.  I’m having a blast.

So where do you find your one-of-a-kinds or unbelievably cheap antiques?

Welcome To Wisdom Lane

I'm John, a lifelong junker.  The first time I ever bid at auction was when I was about nine years old, for a piece of graniteware—and from that moment, I was hooked.

Through my teens and twenties, I continued to collect:  Depression glass, Carnival glass, coins, prints, primitives, Fenton, lamps, games...if it had some age to it, I loved it.

Below: one of the many places I love to shop

I also read everything I could about the field; I took the correspondence course through the Asheford Institute of Antiques; I joined the American Numismatic Association and the Antique and Collectibles National Association.

I'm now making my lifelong passion my full-time job.  I'm now going to put my years of knowledge to use by selling antiques online.  I'll be showing pictures of my adventures buying up new pieces, and I'll be showing off what I've found—and what will be listed for sale on sites like eBay.

I can't wait to get started, and am thrilled to have new readers along for this ride.  In fact, I'd love to hear from you!  I want to put up plenty of informative pieces on antiques and collectibles...if you've got a piece you'd like some information on, shoot me an email (see the "Contact" page)!  I'd love to feature you and your item here on the blog.

And now, I'm off to find a great estate sale to kick off this new enterprise...More soon...