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The Collectors Newsletter #586 -- January 2008

The Collectors Newsletter #586 -- January 2008

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1. Featured Collectors Club
2. Stories From our Readers
3. Antique News
4. Your Classifieds
5. Newly listed items
6. Funny Old Stuff
7. Wanted ads. Can you help?
8. A Vintage Recipe
9. A Vintage Recipe Request from a Reader
10. New On line Merchants
11. Helpful Resources For Collectors
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1) Featured Collectors Club
Highlighting clubs of interest to collectors.

Cartoon Art Museum
In 1984, a group of cartoon art enthusiasts began organizing exhibitions by using art work from their own collections. For several years, the Cartoon Art Museum was a "museum without walls", setting up shows in local museums and corporate spaces. In 1987, with an endowment from Peanuts creator, Charles M. Schulz, the museum established residence in the heart of San Francisco's new vibrant art center, Yerba Buena Gardens.

For more information, Click Here:
http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi?OIKey=2227&listByKey=2227&groupKey=1

Are you interested in comic books? Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/showcase/1/Comics/1.html

If you are a member of a collectors club or you are looking for collectors with similar collecting interests, check out our new Collectors Club Directory at: http://cache.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi
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2) After you read these stories, tell us your interesting story. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here . We want to hear any interesting or unusual stories you would like to share with us
that are related to collecting or anything vintage.
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A while back there were dumpster diving stories in the newsletter. I sat down and wrote one and before I could send it off my husband became ill. Just today I was cleaning out old files in my computer and I found this letter that I had never submitted to your newsletter. I know it's way after the dumpster stories but I would like to submit it anyway. I collect FABRIC.

One day while on my way to the ladies room I saw the trash piling up at the freight elevator. It was over flowing the container there. On my way past it I noticed a handsome looking binder of some type. I picked it up and thought it would make a very nice home for my photos. Sticking it under my arm I continued on my way. After I returned to my office to pull and toss the pages from inside the binder I noticed that they contained some very beautiful fabric swatches. They were 100% cotton. I've always wanted to make a quilt this might be just the shot in the arm I needed to do so. I put the whole book in my tote bag and went about my workday routine. Then on a second trip past the freight elevator I noticed boxes and boxes all piled up in front of the dumpster. Upon further inspection I found they contained many different types of printed cotton and silk material. As I opened up each box my excitement grew and grew. I spent my entire lunch hour digging and bringing it back to my office. Before long I could hardly get into my office (those were the days of offices not cubicles). That night I stayed late and sorted. I tossed the boxes and binders, since they now only contained the true prize. My coworkers laughed to see all what they considered to be rags. To me it was like finding gold. It took several weeks of toting shopping bag after shopping bag on the commuter bus from Manhattan to Staten Island. That weekend I went to the local craft store and got a few booklets on how to crochet with fabric and the basics of quilt making. I made several rugs and most of all I crotched baskets, hundreds of baskets in all sizes. Oh I did make quilts too, and still do, I can't say hundreds yet for the quilts but it's almost into the triple digits and I make baskets when the need arises. When I brought one of my baskets to work one day and put it on my desk I got many complements everyone wanted one. I got to be known as the basket lady. As it turns out there were some manufacturing companies on that floor that made men's clothing and ties. Before any of the sample makers would toss their sample yardage they would give me first pick. In turn I would make them a basket. This was 18 years ago and most of that bootie is gone and I am retired but I still have a good feeling whenever I pass a dumpster.

Before I end this I want to thank you for this wonderful newsletter. When I see this newsletter in my mailbox I get all excited and can't wait to open it and read it. My thanks to everyone for contributing and sharing.
..Mary in PA

--Another Story--

I have enjoyed reading the letters about people's snide remarks about personal collections.
For nearly all of my 56 years of marriage, I have collected. Don't ask me how many different collections I have accumulated, but I do so enjoy. Our home is comfortable and welcoming and with wall-to-wall early attic, built from tag sales, antique shops, garage sales, estate sales, as well as those inspired family hand-me-downs, the ones with pure sentimentality. To some, it is boring. To some, it is like a museum. To some, mod is the word. To some, it is intriquing.

One evening, my youngest daughter had her church Fellowship Group over to our home for soft drinks, chips, dip and whatever. With both males and females attending, I had the biggest giggle from a young fella who came over to me, leaned over in confidence, and said, "This is all so very interesting. It would take a while to go through it all. BUT .........WHO DUSTS IT? Dee - Memphis, TN

--Another Story--

It seems like we are reading a lot about what happened many, many, many years ago from people who are grandparents or more and how nice it is that we have kept those pieces from so long ago. But, other than catering to a nostalgia blog for people over 67, I can't recommend your newsletter to anyone today that is interested in buying or selling antiques today.

I think we need to show the value for someone today buying a great antique or making a "find" -- in short, we need to inspire people to look for the fascinating items that are unique and show the value of the past. If we don't enlarge and captivate a new audience, our audience will expire.

Is there a fascinating piece or two in your collection and a crucial piece missing from your collection? What piece have you searched for but never found? The designs, the detail and the craftsmanship of yesterday made pieces that were actual art that is timeless and unlikely to be seen again because of the artisianship needed. Those pieces will endure, not just because it was a rare color of some glass or pottery, but because they are objects of beauty and beauty will always entrance. I have never met a person who will admit that their "rare" piece is anything more than an "example" of something that was once actually common (expensive maybe but common.). There is no mention of the aesthetic beauty of the piece. No, it just a McCoy red or a haviland blue or a grape jelly jar. Simply put, who is buying this? Can pottery and glassware show a future, and if so, is it someone under 50?

Lets look at what is needed to bring every person into collectible and antiques. As always, the items are a study in supply and demand. To the best of my knowledge, there is nothing here or on the internet that encourages a person of today to seek their past or the past of theier millenium.. In every other country, the significant past has a value to be sought and preserved-- but not here, here we are still a disposable society.

Immediately, and for the next 20 years you will see a steadily decreasing value to everything that has been collected or is on the Antigue Roadshow or in any other forum. Unless we rekindle a link between the craftsmanship of the past with the the under 30 crowd, there won't be any treasures, any antique stores, any Ebay finds or any connection to the value of the past.

This is the edge between what is repected and what is cast of our culture. Terry

--Another Story--

Thanks for an interesting and educational newsletter. I printed out the tip about the silver polishing tip and put it in my silver chest so I would have it the next time I had to polish. Would love to see more tips on caring for our treasures.

With regard to the cemetary collectors, I, too, own up to photographing and meandering through old cemetaries. Jean and Judy have the right idea to preserve what is becoming harder and harder to preserve of the beauty and history, not to mention the genealogical value of these stones. Keep it up and know that you are not alone!

I have a request regarding saving the engravings on the backs of some of these old stones. My great, great grandfather and mother have long engravings on the back of their white limestone headstones that are decomposing rapidly. I tried doing a 'rubbing' but couldn't read it well enough. Is there another method to save these engravings? Great job, Tias! Betty in Boston
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SEND US YOUR VINTAGE STORIES OR COMMENTS ON THESE STORIES! Send them to newsletter@tias.com
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We collect interesting stories about collecting. Things like your best find, unusual collections, bizarre collectibles. Anything and everything that is interesting that has to do with collecting. We may publish it here. Send your story to newsletter@tias.com
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3) Antique News
Here is the latest news about antiques and collectibles from http://www.News-Antique.com

1. Rare Georgia flag to be auctioned Feb. 21-23 by Hatch
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783578&keys=georgia-confederate-flag-infantry

2. SALVADOR DALI GIVES THE FINGER TO A CHESS SET
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783577&keys=Dali-Duchamp-Simbari-Buddha

3. “New Horizons: Stunning Acquisitions for the New Year”
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783576&keys=Poster-Gallery-Exhibition-Vintage

4. Record Results at January, Smythe, Autograph Auction
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783574&keys=Smythe-auction-autograph-Lincoln-letter

5. Antiques Auction Houses tap into online tools to increase revenues
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783573&keys=Marks-antiques-auction-consignor-collectible

6. Special Exhibit at Country and Folk Art Antiques Show in Southern California
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783571&keys=antique-country-folkart-americana

7. Samplers, Sevres urn do well at Ken's Auction, Jan. 1
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783570&keys=sevres-chippendale-samplers-case

8. Art Market Blog - Art Collection Update 1
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783569&keys=art-market-art-art-news-art-blog

9. Lotton Art Glass Takes Flight at Chicago Auction
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783565&keys=Lotton-artglass-Ebay-silver

10. Art Market Blog - Art Market Facts and Figures from 2007
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783563&keys=art-art-market-art-news-art-blog

11. Pook & Pook, Inc. Sets Record for Sgrafitto Redware at Auction
Click here: http://www.news-antique.com/?id=783562&keys=Auction-Redware-Clock-Nautical
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MANY more stories are added several times a day. You can read the latest news now at http://www.news-antique.com
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Put the latest DAILY news about antiques and collectibles on your Web site. It's easy to do. Go to: http://javafeed.news-antique.com/ to get the code.
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4) Your Classifieds...

THE JEWEL BOX BOOK Nouveau Trinket Box ANTIQUE CASKET
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1363738/PictPage/3923219404.html

FOSTORIA AMERICAN GLASS HURRICANE LAMPS
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1442533/PictPage/3923213029.html

Do you have antiques or collectibles you are just itching to sell? A simple classified ad in this newsletter might just be your answer. Over 17,000 readers subscribe to this newsletter. One of them just might be able
to help you out. Place your ad today at: http://www.tias.com/classifieds

Want to know what our advertisers think? Check out the testimonials at: http://tinyurl.com/8xqyw
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5) Newly listed items for your online shopping pleasure for Friday, January 25, 2008 Stop by and check out today's fresh inventory at:
TIAS - http://www.tias.com/showcase
CollectorOnline - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=7
AntiqueArts - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=3
Earthling - http://cgi.tias.com/showcase/?groupKey=6
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6) Funny Old Stuff
This is our humor section. These are humorous family stories and comments that are sent in by readers. If you have a submission you would like to share, please send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may run it in the next issue.
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When my now 23-year-old daughter was just a toddler, she, my parents and I were visiting my Aunt Ruth. While the adults chatted around the dining room table, my daughter, Erica, played quietly on the floor with her toys. Suddenly, she exclaimed “Kitty Cat!” We were startled because my Aunt didn’t have any cats, but Erica insisted “Kitty Cat!” and kept pointing underneath the table. When we looked, sure enough, my Aunt’s dining table had “Kitty Cat Feet” (better known as Lion’s Paw legs). When my Aunt passed away in 2000 my parent’s inherited that aptly named “Kitty Cat” table. My Aunt had inherited it from my Paternal Grandparents and it will continue to be lovingly used and handed down through the generations (along with the story of how it was humorously named as well). Teri
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We need stories for our humor section. Tell us some funny, family related stories and we'll share them with our readers. Send them to newsletter@tias.com
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Do you have a funny family story you would like to share? Make someone feel good by sharing it with us. Send it to newsletter@tias.com and we may publish it here.
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7) Wanted ads. Can you help?
Here are the latest wanted ads from the TIAS Exchange. Can you help someone out?

WANTED: OLD GUITARS
http://pages.tiasexchange.com/1355837/PictPage/3923215166.html

If you are looking for something, let us help you find it! Our wanted ads are affordable and they work! go to: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/submitClassified.cgi
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Looking for something? Place a "Wanted" ad in this newsletter. Over 17,000 subscribers will see it. It's easy, go to: http://www.tias.com/classifieds
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9) A Vintage Recipe
Be sure to check out our NEW! vintage recipe archive online at: http://www.tias.com/newsletter/topics/A%20Vintage%20Recipe.html Over 1200 wonderful vintage recipes are listed.

In the last issue, Judy requested a recipe for "Weight watchers no crust cheesecake". Here are the responses that were sent in.
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Mocha ricotta cream 6 points

1/2 cup part skim ricotta
1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package of sugar substitute
Dash of espresso powder or instant coffee granules that
you crush
5 mini chocolate chips
I used my blender or food processor for this. Blend together the
first 4 ingredients. Chill for at least a 1/2 hour. Upon serving dust with espresso powder and
chocolate chips.
There are other flavored ricotta creams:
Lemon zest 4 points
instead of the cocoa powder use 1/4 tsp of lemon zest and of course
don't use the espresso powder and choc. chips.
Almond (one of my favorites) 4 points
1/4 tsp of almond extract instead of vanilla
When ready to serve sprinkle 1 tsp of slivered toasted almonds on top
vanilla 4 points
subtract the cocoa

These are healthy because there is a lot of protein in them. I usually feel this is a lot to eat. Each one is one serving so you can make it two servings if you wish.

--Another Recipe--

WEIGHT WATCHERS RICOTTA LEMON CHEESECAKE

9 graham crackers, crushed (2 1/2 sq.)
1 c. 1% cottage cheese
3/4 c. skim ricotta
1 c. nonfat powdered milk
3/4 c. egg substitute
1/4 c. sugar
3 tsp. lemon juice
Sweetener (Equal) to equal 3/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray 9 inch glass pie pan with Pam and sprinkle graham cracker crumbs on bottom.

In blender or food processor, combine remaining ingredients and mix for 1 minute. Pour into crust. Bake 50-60 minutes. Cool on rack. Refrigerate covered. Makes 6 servings ( 1 serving = 1/2 M, 1 1/2 P, 1/2 B, 40 O.C.)

--Another Recipe--

What's the secret to our version of cheesecake? Whipped fat-free ricotta cheese.

Ingredients

* 2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
* 1/2 cup fat-free egg substitute
* 2/3 cup sugar
* 1 Tbsp lemon zest
* 6 oz pie crust
* 4 medium peach(es), peeled and sliced
* 1/4 cup E.D. Smith (Canada) Peach Jam
* 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
* 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Instructions
* Preheat oven to 350°F.
* Place ricotta, egg substitute, sugar and lemon zest into a food processor and process until smooth. Spoon into pie crust. Bake until set, about 45 minutes. Cool to room temperature; refrigerate until cold.
* To make topping, stir peaches and jam together in a small saucepan and place over low heat. Cook just until warm, about 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice and nutmeg. Chill.
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If you enjoy these vintage recipes, you should buy an old cookbook from us. They make great gifts too. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cookbooks
Buy a Vintage Kitchen collectible from us. We've got lots of them here: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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10) A vintage recipe request from a reader
As with collectibles, people also have very strong feelings about foods from their past. Sometimes these special recipes get lost. This section is to help people who are looking for lost recipes from their past. If you
submit a request, please include the geographical region where you had this recipe.
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My husband's been reminiscing about old favorites and remembers something his mother made called "Depression Cake" - he thinks it contained raisins, maybe molasses, and was "spicy." My grandmother was a prolific baker but I can't recall any dessert with that name, and I'm thinking perhaps it WAS just a spice cake of some sort.....if there really is such a cake, I'd appreciate being able to surprise him with it for Valentines dessert......look forward to this newsletter every week and have tried many past recipes! Thanks so much, Belle.
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If you can help this reader with this recipe, please forward it to recipes@tias.com . If you have a vintage recipe request send it to recipes@tias.com and we might just publish it here.
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Be sure to check out our vintage kitchen collectibles section online at: http://www.tias.com/kitchen
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11) New Online Merchants
Be sure to check out all of the fresh inventory offered by these new merchants at TIAS.
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Cowboychubby's Mercantile
http://www.tias.com/stores/cowbc
Ours is a unique building in the historic district of Ruston, Louisiana dating to 1923. We house an ever changing inventory. Drop in and visit often.

Midwest Sales Court
http://www.tias.com/stores/midwestsalecourt
We have an assorted inventory including Avon, Books, Bottles, Collectibles (Primitive, Antique, Vintage, and Modern), Clothes, Dolls, House Decorations, Linens, Movies, Records, Tableware, and Toys.

Maria's Vintage Watch Collection
http://www.tias.com/stores/lauragerman
We have womens and men watches and a small line of costume jewelry. Included in our inventory is Maria's closet with a children's collection. Many of the watches are vintage but we also have new models.
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This year, open your own online Antique & Collectible Shop. If you have one or a few items to sell, try our classifieds at http://www.tiasexchange.com. If you have more than a few items to sell, open your own store at TIAS. It's easy and fun. Over 225,000 customers visit us on an average day. It costs you nothing to get started. Take a look at: http://www.makeashop.com
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12) Helpful Resources:
1. Find an antiques or collectibles club. Nearly 2000 different clubs listed. Take a look at: http://www.tias.com/cgi-bin/clubs.cgi

2. What's it worth? Try Kovels' free online price guide to over 600,000 antiques and collectibles. It can be found online at http://www.kovels.com

3. Make money with your Web site. Join the TIAS.com affiliate program today. Go to http://www.tias.com/affiliates/

4. Looking for prices for antiques and collectibles? PriceMiner.com has millions of them. Most items listed include color photos as well. Sign up today at: http://tinyurl.com/c6oqc (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)

5. Get an online appraisal. For just $9.95 from "What's It Worth To You?" http://www.whatsitworthtoyou.com/tias.htm (Not affiliated with Kovels.com)

6. The Latest News regarding Antiques & Collectibles Take a look at http://www.news-antique.com
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Thanks for reading. Feel free to forward this to a friend. To subscribe to this newsletter go to: http://www.tias.com/subscribe Please note that stories and recipes from readers are not checked for accuracy. They may be edited prior to publication. For questions or comments, you can reach us at newsletter@TIAS.com ©1995-2007 TIAS.com Inc.

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