Yay-- another special occasion day, another chance to play with my postcards. 
I wanted to put a little something about why we have the April Fool's Day tradition, and found out that no one's quite sure why, and rather than repeat all the conjecture,
here's a couple of links: Wikipedia's always helpful, and so is Info Please.
In France, it's called APRIL FISH DAY, and they had some lovely, and odd, postcards in the early 1900's. Here are a few for your amusement and entertainment.
Monday, March 31, 2008
April Fish Day Postcards
Flower Power x 100
Here's the ebay link:
BLUE FLOWER FACE Arabia Finland Plate&Mug Danish Modern
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Top 10 List - Roseville Pottery
Of course I've been looking at Roseville listings now, since I bought my beautiful Water Lily Vase at an auction the other day. So Here's the list of the Most-Watched Items in the Roseville category on Ebay:
Friday, March 28, 2008
Twice the Auction Fun
This week I went to 2 auctions. Tuesday's didn't have anything that I was really interested in. There was quite a bit of Fostoria American glassware, including a rare Crushed Fruit Jar. I have never really cared for that pattern, and there are always plenty of glass dealers ready to battle it out.There was a group of smaller pottery pieces, Roseville and Hull.
But again, nothing that set my heart aflutter, and plenty of competitors ready to bid. I mean, there are plenty of things that I would bid on if there wasn't anyone else interested. But let's just say, I prefer to pick my battles, and choose to fight for things that I really, really want.
So I enjoyed a nice visit with my auction friends, and went home early, anticipating the next auction.
Thursday's sale was much more my cup'o'tea. It was an estate from an old, well-known local Wapakoneta family, with items from several generations. They had quite a crowd.
So I had a really good time at the auction, lots more fun visiting, and I did pick up a few little knic-knacs at the end.
Tomorrow is that antique show in Findlay, so I have to set my alarm...boo-hoo. But I wonder what I'll find... you just never know!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Antique Show in Findlay Ohio This Weekend
I hope to have great things to report about tomorrow's antique auction.
Wanted to let everyone know that there's a nice little antique show up in Findlay this weekend. It's the Annual American Business Women's Association Millstream Chapter Antique Show -- jeesh, what a name, eh?
It's this Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at the Old Barn ( 10040 W. U.S. 224, Findlay, OH, 45840 (419) 422-8531 ). Sure to see some nice things there.
Can't wait-- you never know what I'll find!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
My Top 5 List: Victorian Picture Buttons Wrap-Up
Well, my button episode is over, so here's how it all went. It was a small collection, and after researching the buttons, via library books, and ebay, I found that the buttons I had were just "beginner" level. But still pretty, and they were worth more than I paid, so I listed them. I spread the listings out over 2 weeks, letting the bidders "run a tab" till they were all closed. I wound up with 104 ebay lots (most were singles, a few were groupings). I keep track of my listings, and my normal sell-through average is 75%. The buttons wound up with 80 of 104 lots selling, for a 77% average. I had 31 different buyers, from the US, as well as Belgium, Canada, and England. My total bid amount on all lots came to: $974.13, with a per-lot average of $12.17. I think it was decent, not amazing. And they are certainly easy to ship. And I learned a little more, so that's always good. And dealt with some very friendly buyers, who seem pleased with their little gems.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Auction Report - Beer and Birds
Last week I went to an auction --surprise, surprise, right? This was another one by my favorite local auctioneers, the Myers Auctions Service. It was a smallish auction, with only a few things that caught my eye.
They had some primitives, and a variety of goodies.
I did buy a couple of neat vintage beer advertising metal bar/counter displays.
There were lots of farm toys, which don't interest me, and an absolute sea of Jim Beam decanters.
I must admit a minor liking for those, as they are made in so many themes, and some are by companies that also made cookie jars, so they have a great vintage pottery look.
Now, I know I said no more chatkes, but I couldn't resist this luscious pink cockatoo decanter, to go with my other cockatoo bird figurines. 'What, another thing she collects?' you say-- yes.
And, there were these darling little gnome Christmas ornaments-- Man, I really wanted them... but alas, it was not to be-- they sold whilst I was off "powdering my nose". Whoever won them must have been thrilled to get them for such a low price... next time...
This week holds in store a couple more Myer's auctions that sound good, so I'll let you know. You never know what I'll find!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Why Easter Is Early This Year
HAPPY EASTER !!!

I love Easter, and Easter Postcards. I had to force myself to stop adding more cards here for your viewing enjoyment. I have hundreds more I could have added.
Here's the TOP 10 List of the MOST-WATCHED Easter Postcards on Ebay NOW:
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Blast from Ebay Sales Past
Monday, March 17, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
TOP 10 LIST ~ Advertising Trays
Well, "Evil Morning Marianne" won the fight with the alarm clock, and I slept in and didn't make it to the Indy Ad Show.
So I'll make my own mini-show for you here. 
When I do make it up and out, one category of advertising that I absolutely love is
"ADVERTISING TRAYS".
They just have the most beautiful lithographed images! Here's a
few that have been on ebay recently, followed by this week's TOP 10 LIST: THE CURRENT MOST-WATCHED EBAY AUCTIONS of ADVERTISING TRAYS...
Friday, March 14, 2008
New Online Antiques Mall - icollect247.com

I have been watching this new online antiques-mall site for a few months now, and since they are having a free-sign-up-in-March promotion, I figured I'd give it a try. The site's called ICOLLECT247.COM. They are really "workin' it". It has a great look, and they have spent a lot on advertising lately-- colorful ads in the Antique Week and the Antique Trader, and I'm sure other places, too.
I just got my MS DOW ANTIQUES SHOP all set up there, and have a couple items listed already, if you want to take a look. I'll let you know how it's working out...
Note added, 3-31-08: I decided not to continue with my shop, and plan to set up my own web-store. So watch for that in a future post. I'm still watching this 247 site to see how it grows, and whether or not it lasts... I think it looks absoulutely fabulous, and the people running it are really nice, friendly, and helpful. The fees are fair. But I don't think there is enough buyer traffic yet, and I'm concerned about some (just some - most do a fine job) of the other dealers, and that their unrealistic prices, & unprofessional descriptions, will turn buyers away. I hope I'm wrong, and someday will tell myself "I should have stayed".
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Postcards and Sunshine High
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Indy Ad Show this Weekend - March 15th
I am really looking forward to going to the The Indy Ad Show this weekend (Saturday March 15th). Get directions to the fairgrounds: Indianapolis, Indiana.
There's always the most amazing advertising stuff there. It's a great show, absolutely brimming over with breweriana, soda fountain, petroliana, automotive, saloon, political, and ephemera. (These pix are from their website photo album.) Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Pix of Sales Past #1
Just reminiscing a little about some of the neat things I've sold over the years. I used to put a monthly collage pic on my Ebay ME page, showing highlights from the past month. I haven't done that in a while. Now and then I will show you one of those past "Gems Sold" pix, and then after we're caught up I'll have to start making new ones. Click on the pic to see a bigger view.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Talkin' 'Tiques
I do so much on-line reading these days, but I still look forward to sitting in my easy chair and actually reading a book or newspaper. There's nothing like it. And on Monday's I look forward to reading the latest issue of Antique Week. Today's issue really "spoke" to me.

Coro bracelets, with the colorful Lucite/plastic inserts. I'll have to excavate a layer or two down into my jewelry cases, and start wearing them again. Find out more about CORO Jewelry here, and here too. Saturday, March 8, 2008
Eureka
Oh, I am so happy that I finally figured out where I went wrong with my html code. I tried to use this widget before, but just couldn't get it to work. Which is why I've been showing you the Most Watched lists. Well, this is what I really wanted to show you: The HIGHEST PRICES lists.
So, Ta-Da! Here's the current " TOP 25 List " of Highest Priced Bottles on Ebay in the ANTIQUE BOTTLES category:
Friday, March 7, 2008
All Buttoned Up

So here's today's "Top 10 List", the "most-watched" items currently on ebay, this time from the METAL BUTTONS category; followed by the TOP 25 List of CURRENT Highest Priced Buttons (in the Metal Buttons category).
Most Watched Items In Antique Metal Buttons
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Button, Button... Victorian Picture Buttons
I decided I wanted to list some items on ebay that are extra easy to ship, so I got out a small box from a large button collection that I bought at an estate auction a few years ago. About once a year I dip into a box, and have fun learning about and selling these little gems. I have had bakelites, Mother-of-Pearls, glass Calicos, and even some excellent military uniform buttons. The best one I had was an un-dug "I with Stars" Confederate officer's button. I wish I had more of those, let me tell you!
This week's little treasure box is full of Victorian Picture Buttons -- ornate metal clothing buttons with raised or cut-out scenes ranging from fables and fairy tales to operas, hunting, Orientalia, historical, and oh so many more topics. I'm not too experienced with this particular genre of antique buttons. So of course I looked them up on ebay.
Once I figured out what they are called the most often -- picture buttons -- I surfed into the button category, and used the key word 'picture', and sorted by highest prices, COMPLETED auctions, first. I always research with highest prices first because I want to see and learn about the GOOD stuff. Even if it turns out my items are common and lower priced, at least by the time I've scrolled down that far, I've already seen and learned enough to know what made the good ones good.
I haven't sorted through all the picture buttons in this box yet. These pix are just a few that I have ready to list on ebay. Also, here are some buttons that sold on ebay recently, with their prices. Let's hope I have some 'good' ones, too!
#1 brought $152.00
Here are a couple of links if you want to find out more about Button Collecting:
AntiqueButtonCollecting.com and a web ring that has many many button collectors web page links.
And because I just love this widget, here's the TOP 10 list of the Most-Watched Antique Buttons on Ebay NOW:
Most Watched Items In Antique Buttons
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Show-n-Tell Update
Just playing with some of my latest little treasures today, and thought I'd share some pix. Be sure to click on the pic if you want to see it a little bigger.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Urbana Antique Show Report
This weekend I went to the Urbana Antique Show, and had a wonderful time. I was so happy to get out, and actually see the sun. We've had such yucky snowy cold weather. Just look at this icicle curtain outside of my kitchen window... now I think they are beautiful, glistening in the welcome sun.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, there was a good vibe at this show too. Everyone seemed happy. I didn't hear any complaints about ebay, which was nice. I think people realize that shows are doing just fine, and can co-exist with ebay.

























































