Friday, April 6, 2012
We're selling on Bonanza now - Opening Shop Soon
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest.
Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
We're selling on Bonanza now. Check us out for all the one of a kind, unusual, quirky, fun, whimsical, vintage items you've come to know Dragonflies Antiques for.
http://www.bonanza.com/booths/bonzuser_adfaw
Dragonflies Antiques will be opening May 1, 2012
In the meantime we'll be spending warm days out in the barn cleaning, dusting, gardening, prepping, pricing and otherwise getting ready for our opening.
Hope to see you soon. +Peace
Friday, November 11, 2011
iGoogle
November 9 and10, 2011 - Iowa / Illinois / Colorado
Well we’re finally out of the cornfields tonite. Now we’re seeing cattle and big, huge, mega ranches. Much of our destinations are chosen by the RV campsites we can find. We’ve found 3 State Parks, last night was a paid RV Park and we’ve also stayed at 3 or 4 WalMarts. Guess lots of people don’t know that WalMarts allow RV’s to set up in their parking lots. It creates an extra layer of security apparently that works well for them and is good for the public.
Last night was the Holiday RV Park and we loved it. Showers, laundry, wi-fi, vintage metal swings and lawn tables painted in bright colors all made for 2 happy campers. Back on the road this morning, $35.00 lighter we stopped to get gas at Sinclair. Sterling didn’t realize Sinclair Oil and Sinclair Lane in South Wolfeboro, NH were one in the same at one time. He liked the dinosaur.
So after we got yet another tank of gas, we were sucked in to the Gift Shop disguised as a free museum. But surprisingly it was a lot of bang for our buck. I loved the giant Buffalo Bill Cody statue and the story at his feet. Again, the LeClaire Iowa connection rears it’s head. Apparently, he is the king out here. Everyone wants to lay claim to him, and this town of North Platte, Nebraska was no different claiming it as his “home town”. LeClaire was his birthplace, and I suspect there will be shrines to him in Denver too as the place he peed or died or something.
Anyway, back to the free Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. Son Sterling and I enjoyed looking at the honest to goodness antique artifacts and fortunately for me they weren’t for sale because they truly were impressive. All sorts of taxidermy, cowboy chaps, Indian dress, 1950‘s kitch Buffalo Bill BB guns, and so much more. The real deal which was nice after all those crappy antique malls we’ve had to endure.
The most amazing part here was the hand carved and painted miniature circus made by Ernie and Virginia Palmquist. Made up of a whopping 20,000 hand carved pieces, all painstakingly hand painted this minature reproduction circus of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is simply astounding. It took more then 12 years for this couple to make it and then they toured throughout the US in the 1960‘s and 1970‘s finally making Fort Cody it’s permanant home. Check out the picture montage we put together on YouTube - it was very cool and a nice start to our day.
More gas, more miles today. Seems like we’re filling up often but we only have a 15 gallon tank and a short fuse for sitting too long so it’s ok. Between changing time zones and day-light savings we both are fighting to be the passenger so we can catch some extra zzzz’s. I won today. Sterling drove after we had a little mishap. Not sure if I hit a orange cone or if my holding tank nozzle got caught on something or what but BANG, the holding tank was gone and at 60 miles per hour it cleaned out quite nicely and we got to see a orange cone in flight.
Sterl got me out of the rolling hills of Iowa and the flat flat flat lands of Nebraska and right on into Colorado this afternoon. He found another Sterling on the map, this one in Colorado so our afternoon was spent in this town which was fun. Our first stop was a really terrific Antique Shop by the name of Eastmans. It was an old warehouse with tons of space all on one level. It was huge and filled with good quality Victorian era and newer antiques. Loads of Oak, glass, an extraordinary number of small decorative items. The dealer definately loved the period from the 1860‘s through the 1920‘s and had a wicked extensive inventory all clean, priced and for the most part pretty reasonable prices. I pointed out 3 or 4 things I would have bought, if I was in a buying mode but am starting to wonder if it might be worth it to be a picker out here where people don’t know me. Might be a good competitive edge. It’s refreshing to be myself and enjoy Son Sterling.
The draw in the Town of Sterling was a carver by the name of Bradford Rhea. They bill this town as the City of Living Trees and Sculptures. They have raised up their local son and embraced his work. The two sculptures we saw were the Skygazers which was located in a beautiful Town Park with a Veterans Memorial and a nice walking path with benchs and play areas. The Skygazers was a bronze of his original Tree Sculpture of 5 giraffes looking towards the heavens. It was beautiful so we sought out another of his works at the Welcome Center and found one called Metamorphosis which was also interesting, albeit a reproduction. Reading his marketing brochure and map the local prison prints for him, I found it wonderful that the Department of State commissioned a staff for President Clinton to present to Pope John Paul II in 1993. I wonder if that guarantees him a place in carvers heaven. It sure should.
We’re finding Colorado hospitable tonite. Cheap Chinese Buffet and free hook ups in a state park right at the road side in Fort Morgan. Everything is beautiful but it smells like, what else, manure. My allergies cleared up just in time for this evenings smells. Can you just imagine when we’re able to transfer smell over the internet?
The next few days we’ll be slowing down in Denver and then heading out into the Colorado mountains to see a friend and spend a few days while we wait for our new license plates.
Well we’re finally out of the cornfields tonite. Now we’re seeing cattle and big, huge, mega ranches. Much of our destinations are chosen by the RV campsites we can find. We’ve found 3 State Parks, last night was a paid RV Park and we’ve also stayed at 3 or 4 WalMarts. Guess lots of people don’t know that WalMarts allow RV’s to set up in their parking lots. It creates an extra layer of security apparently that works well for them and is good for the public.
Last night was the Holiday RV Park and we loved it. Showers, laundry, wi-fi, vintage metal swings and lawn tables painted in bright colors all made for 2 happy campers. Back on the road this morning, $35.00 lighter we stopped to get gas at Sinclair. Sterling didn’t realize Sinclair Oil and Sinclair Lane in South Wolfeboro, NH were one in the same at one time. He liked the dinosaur.
So after we got yet another tank of gas, we were sucked in to the Gift Shop disguised as a free museum. But surprisingly it was a lot of bang for our buck. I loved the giant Buffalo Bill Cody statue and the story at his feet. Again, the LeClaire Iowa connection rears it’s head. Apparently, he is the king out here. Everyone wants to lay claim to him, and this town of North Platte, Nebraska was no different claiming it as his “home town”. LeClaire was his birthplace, and I suspect there will be shrines to him in Denver too as the place he peed or died or something.
Anyway, back to the free Buffalo Bill Cody Museum. Son Sterling and I enjoyed looking at the honest to goodness antique artifacts and fortunately for me they weren’t for sale because they truly were impressive. All sorts of taxidermy, cowboy chaps, Indian dress, 1950‘s kitch Buffalo Bill BB guns, and so much more. The real deal which was nice after all those crappy antique malls we’ve had to endure.
The most amazing part here was the hand carved and painted miniature circus made by Ernie and Virginia Palmquist. Made up of a whopping 20,000 hand carved pieces, all painstakingly hand painted this minature reproduction circus of the Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show is simply astounding. It took more then 12 years for this couple to make it and then they toured throughout the US in the 1960‘s and 1970‘s finally making Fort Cody it’s permanant home. Check out the picture montage we put together on YouTube - it was very cool and a nice start to our day.
More gas, more miles today. Seems like we’re filling up often but we only have a 15 gallon tank and a short fuse for sitting too long so it’s ok. Between changing time zones and day-light savings we both are fighting to be the passenger so we can catch some extra zzzz’s. I won today. Sterling drove after we had a little mishap. Not sure if I hit a orange cone or if my holding tank nozzle got caught on something or what but BANG, the holding tank was gone and at 60 miles per hour it cleaned out quite nicely and we got to see a orange cone in flight.
Sterl got me out of the rolling hills of Iowa and the flat flat flat lands of Nebraska and right on into Colorado this afternoon. He found another Sterling on the map, this one in Colorado so our afternoon was spent in this town which was fun. Our first stop was a really terrific Antique Shop by the name of Eastmans. It was an old warehouse with tons of space all on one level. It was huge and filled with good quality Victorian era and newer antiques. Loads of Oak, glass, an extraordinary number of small decorative items. The dealer definately loved the period from the 1860‘s through the 1920‘s and had a wicked extensive inventory all clean, priced and for the most part pretty reasonable prices. I pointed out 3 or 4 things I would have bought, if I was in a buying mode but am starting to wonder if it might be worth it to be a picker out here where people don’t know me. Might be a good competitive edge. It’s refreshing to be myself and enjoy Son Sterling.
The draw in the Town of Sterling was a carver by the name of Bradford Rhea. They bill this town as the City of Living Trees and Sculptures. They have raised up their local son and embraced his work. The two sculptures we saw were the Skygazers which was located in a beautiful Town Park with a Veterans Memorial and a nice walking path with benchs and play areas. The Skygazers was a bronze of his original Tree Sculpture of 5 giraffes looking towards the heavens. It was beautiful so we sought out another of his works at the Welcome Center and found one called Metamorphosis which was also interesting, albeit a reproduction. Reading his marketing brochure and map the local prison prints for him, I found it wonderful that the Department of State commissioned a staff for President Clinton to present to Pope John Paul II in 1993. I wonder if that guarantees him a place in carvers heaven. It sure should.
We’re finding Colorado hospitable tonite. Cheap Chinese Buffet and free hook ups in a state park right at the road side in Fort Morgan. Everything is beautiful but it smells like, what else, manure. My allergies cleared up just in time for this evenings smells. Can you just imagine when we’re able to transfer smell over the internet?
The next few days we’ll be slowing down in Denver and then heading out into the Colorado mountains to see a friend and spend a few days while we wait for our new license plates.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Google Maps
Google Maps
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest. Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
November 3, 2011 - New York
Our day started out once again at McDonald’s. They have free wi-fi, free re-fills, a clean bathroom and they’re warm. We still haven’t found a generator in this land of the Northeast which just had 3 million people out of electricity so we indulged in Breakfast out. Sitting beside Sterling this morning as he loaded video’s to You Tube, I noticed a picture on the wall which was an old menu board with 1970‘s prices. Since this trip is in many ways all about Nostalgia, I told Sterling about McDonald’s in our family.
I grew up in Melrose, MA in the 1960‘s. My family summered on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro NH and on Friday nights we’d stop at the McDonalds near Pease AFB, in Newington, NH. My Dad would feed our family of 6 on $5.00 and get change. Cup of tea and 2 hash browns was $3.48. here in Kingston, NY this morning. Gas was $3.79 per gallon.
Kingston, NY is a fairly large city which has grown up in the center of an otherwise rural area. This region of NY is known as the Catskills. It was the birthplace of FDR and where his Presidential Library is located. As you drive through Ulster County the countryside is dotted with beautiful, antique, stone homes built by the Dutch who settled the Hudson River Valley during the early to mid18th century.
Set among the bucolic countryside and stone houses we drove down a back country, tree lined, winding road not far from Woodtock New York coming upon Kat O’Sullivan’s house which is situated on 16 acres and sticks out like a bright red, sore thumb among her neighbors who live in their monochromatic stone houses. Kat’s house is exuberant, fresh, exciting and exudes all her creative passion which just can’t be held back. Like the bright gem encrusted star necklace she wears around her neck, she is a brightly shining star.
When you you pull in, the yard, her two, fully decorated, art car, school buses sit. The larger of the two she lived in during her Dead Head period and then when she was in college in Santa Cruz, studying Anthropology. The smaller of the two buses is a shorter version she parks right outside the front door to her house. Her front door is painted bright green with faux oversize grains which are almost Flinstone like. The ceiling is painted in a round rainbow design.
Kat O’Sullivan greeted us at the door with a warm welcome hug and invited us into her inner sanctum. It was such a privilege and a genuine treat going into her environment. The element of surprise just goes on and on. Every surface is covered with chachkas. Her front hall is decorated with framed bug and butterfly specimens. Her refrigerator pantry is plastered with Luis Miguel paintings of Jesus. Her kitchen counters are covered with $100 worth of pennies. The morning glories grow in through her kitchen window which overlooks a pond. Every corner is filled with stained glass and guest beds with brightly colored crazy quilts. Her personal space which is shared with her mate Mason is high energy but she is very calm. She smiles when she shares that Mason indulges her impulses to be creative. The wrought-iron head board turned upside down and painted bright red shines like a masthead on the front of her house.
She developed her aesthic sense while following the Grateful Dead in the early 1990‘s for the 5 years just before Jerry Garcia passed away. Someone had asked her to a concert when she was 14 and she was so turned on by what she saw she decided to triple up on her classes and graduated from high school at 15. The daughter of a Long Island lawyer, she is well heeled and quite articulate.
I found Kat to be wise and compassionate beyond her years. Her sense of community, morality and hard work is well developed. She is very thoughtful and understanding about Outsider Artists and does not consider herself to be one, explaining that Outsider Artists can’t control what they do and don’t care about the “outside machine". She admits to having bought into the system when she and Mason purchased their home 2 years ago and their hard work is very evident at every turn. She did go so far as to admit to being obsessive when she starts a project and that she can’t or won’t let it go until it’s finished.
But all of this aside the most amazing detail about Kat is the totally awesome folk art, sweater coats makes. The are wonderful creations of coats, mittens or scarves made from recycled sweaters. She makes between 30 and 40 coats each month and lists them for sale all at once on the website http://www.etsy.com Search Katwise to see all her new sweaters on November 7th.
Priced between $250 and $400, they sell out within 15 seconds after they’re listed. She also has her own website at http://www.katwise.com/ which is cool but doesn’t provide a place to buy.
I saw a quote someplace I really liked which fits Kat like a glove “I’m an artist, I’m hear to live out-loud!”
For more information go to www.Katwise.com and don’t forget to watch the YouTube Video we’re posting in the next day or so.
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest. Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
November 3, 2011 - New York
Our day started out once again at McDonald’s. They have free wi-fi, free re-fills, a clean bathroom and they’re warm. We still haven’t found a generator in this land of the Northeast which just had 3 million people out of electricity so we indulged in Breakfast out. Sitting beside Sterling this morning as he loaded video’s to You Tube, I noticed a picture on the wall which was an old menu board with 1970‘s prices. Since this trip is in many ways all about Nostalgia, I told Sterling about McDonald’s in our family.
I grew up in Melrose, MA in the 1960‘s. My family summered on Lake Winnipesaukee in Wolfeboro NH and on Friday nights we’d stop at the McDonalds near Pease AFB, in Newington, NH. My Dad would feed our family of 6 on $5.00 and get change. Cup of tea and 2 hash browns was $3.48. here in Kingston, NY this morning. Gas was $3.79 per gallon.
Kingston, NY is a fairly large city which has grown up in the center of an otherwise rural area. This region of NY is known as the Catskills. It was the birthplace of FDR and where his Presidential Library is located. As you drive through Ulster County the countryside is dotted with beautiful, antique, stone homes built by the Dutch who settled the Hudson River Valley during the early to mid18th century.
Set among the bucolic countryside and stone houses we drove down a back country, tree lined, winding road not far from Woodtock New York coming upon Kat O’Sullivan’s house which is situated on 16 acres and sticks out like a bright red, sore thumb among her neighbors who live in their monochromatic stone houses. Kat’s house is exuberant, fresh, exciting and exudes all her creative passion which just can’t be held back. Like the bright gem encrusted star necklace she wears around her neck, she is a brightly shining star.
When you you pull in, the yard, her two, fully decorated, art car, school buses sit. The larger of the two she lived in during her Dead Head period and then when she was in college in Santa Cruz, studying Anthropology. The smaller of the two buses is a shorter version she parks right outside the front door to her house. Her front door is painted bright green with faux oversize grains which are almost Flinstone like. The ceiling is painted in a round rainbow design.
Kat O’Sullivan greeted us at the door with a warm welcome hug and invited us into her inner sanctum. It was such a privilege and a genuine treat going into her environment. The element of surprise just goes on and on. Every surface is covered with chachkas. Her front hall is decorated with framed bug and butterfly specimens. Her refrigerator pantry is plastered with Luis Miguel paintings of Jesus. Her kitchen counters are covered with $100 worth of pennies. The morning glories grow in through her kitchen window which overlooks a pond. Every corner is filled with stained glass and guest beds with brightly colored crazy quilts. Her personal space which is shared with her mate Mason is high energy but she is very calm. She smiles when she shares that Mason indulges her impulses to be creative. The wrought-iron head board turned upside down and painted bright red shines like a masthead on the front of her house.
She developed her aesthic sense while following the Grateful Dead in the early 1990‘s for the 5 years just before Jerry Garcia passed away. Someone had asked her to a concert when she was 14 and she was so turned on by what she saw she decided to triple up on her classes and graduated from high school at 15. The daughter of a Long Island lawyer, she is well heeled and quite articulate.
I found Kat to be wise and compassionate beyond her years. Her sense of community, morality and hard work is well developed. She is very thoughtful and understanding about Outsider Artists and does not consider herself to be one, explaining that Outsider Artists can’t control what they do and don’t care about the “outside machine". She admits to having bought into the system when she and Mason purchased their home 2 years ago and their hard work is very evident at every turn. She did go so far as to admit to being obsessive when she starts a project and that she can’t or won’t let it go until it’s finished.
But all of this aside the most amazing detail about Kat is the totally awesome folk art, sweater coats makes. The are wonderful creations of coats, mittens or scarves made from recycled sweaters. She makes between 30 and 40 coats each month and lists them for sale all at once on the website http://www.etsy.com Search Katwise to see all her new sweaters on November 7th.
Priced between $250 and $400, they sell out within 15 seconds after they’re listed. She also has her own website at http://www.katwise.com/ which is cool but doesn’t provide a place to buy.
I saw a quote someplace I really liked which fits Kat like a glove “I’m an artist, I’m hear to live out-loud!”
For more information go to www.Katwise.com and don’t forget to watch the YouTube Video we’re posting in the next day or so.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Day Two - New Hampshire to Panama
ZigZagExpress.com
Day two under our belts, but it wasn't too fun or too easy. We realized by 4:30 am we desperately needed a heater and a generator so we spent the better part of the day looking at Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, Auto Zone, Etc. Etc. Etc. for a new tire, and a generator. We also needed a camera cord to download all the fabulous photos we were taking. We also needed a Verizon store to stop the FIOS account for $60 a month. When I signed up two years ago it was needed but now there is WI-FI just about everywhere.
I thought the women we were supposed to meet, Kat O'Sullivan of Katwise.com, lived in Woodstock, so we headed from Orange down to Woodstock, NY which was about 3 hours during which time Sterling passed out in the back of the RV because the heat finally came on. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny fall day and I enjoyed the boutiques, galleries, head shops, java stops and historical buildings. Great picture opportunities abound in Woodstock on a beautiful day.
Late in the afternoon we decided to skip Katwise and headed south to Kingston, NY which is a megatropolis in this area. Every store imagineable! It was actually kind of fun since we live in a rural area and don't get out often. I guess this will soon be the norm not the abnorm. Yeha!
For now I'm posting our photos on Facebook each day until I can figure out how to load them here. Keep tuned.
+Peace We lost our back plate today! :(
Dragonfly Cathy & Son Sterling
Day two under our belts, but it wasn't too fun or too easy. We realized by 4:30 am we desperately needed a heater and a generator so we spent the better part of the day looking at Lowes, Home Depot, Sears, Auto Zone, Etc. Etc. Etc. for a new tire, and a generator. We also needed a camera cord to download all the fabulous photos we were taking. We also needed a Verizon store to stop the FIOS account for $60 a month. When I signed up two years ago it was needed but now there is WI-FI just about everywhere.
I thought the women we were supposed to meet, Kat O'Sullivan of Katwise.com, lived in Woodstock, so we headed from Orange down to Woodstock, NY which was about 3 hours during which time Sterling passed out in the back of the RV because the heat finally came on. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny fall day and I enjoyed the boutiques, galleries, head shops, java stops and historical buildings. Great picture opportunities abound in Woodstock on a beautiful day.
Late in the afternoon we decided to skip Katwise and headed south to Kingston, NY which is a megatropolis in this area. Every store imagineable! It was actually kind of fun since we live in a rural area and don't get out often. I guess this will soon be the norm not the abnorm. Yeha!
For now I'm posting our photos on Facebook each day until I can figure out how to load them here. Keep tuned.
+Peace We lost our back plate today! :(
Dragonfly Cathy & Son Sterling
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I finally succumb and put on long pants and a sweater this week. Last night my son Sterling asked when we can start using the heat? What a crazy man - it's only September.
Been very busy in the shop recently. The weather switch has really brought out lots of people. Today I had people in from Australia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Pre-leaf peepers I guess.
Sterling and I had a nice housecall in Alton NH last night. A nice older couple came into the shop yesterday with some bottles. I was interested in seeing how a few would clean up so I asked permission to put them in the dishwasher. The pepper in the shaker had turned one bottle a very interesting shade that looked more like curry.
Anyways, the said they were downsizing which was my opening. We started in the garage where Sterling climbed up into the lofts. If he hadn't been with me I certainly wouldn't have gone up there but he was successful in picking an old, old wheelbarrow with a wooden wheel and an oak commode which had been painted at some point white. We broke the ice with a $75 offer for those two items and then headed for the house.
The house was neat as a pin - just amazing! This particular couple was preparing to sell their Alton house and head permanently to Florida. Slowly, they took us room by room through the entire house. In each room I'd tell them I was interested in something for later, once the house sold and the Mrs. would put it on her list, or if it was something they could let go right away I'd put it on my list with a price.
The thing that amazed them was the diversity of things I was interested in from 1960's Teak Moderne Chairs to a framed Civil War Family Deguaretype of their family. They knew I'd like the Hoadley & Plymouth Tall Clock but were totally surpised I'd be interested in her pitcher collection. What fun we had surprising one another. From old stock certificates to a cast iron pelican bottle opener we all talked and laughed for several hours until dark was closing in on us.
I left with a list of things to research such as the stock certificates and tall clock but also some Albrecht Durer prints circa 1500 and many other interesting things to research. Google has certainly changed the research world for the better. Maine Antiques Digest also has a terrific price data base. So stay tuned.
I'm continuing to put the badge collection on eBay for the Tuftonboro estate and I will also be listing things tonite I bought in Alton last night. Stay tuned. Cathy Dragonfly
Been very busy in the shop recently. The weather switch has really brought out lots of people. Today I had people in from Australia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Pre-leaf peepers I guess.
Sterling and I had a nice housecall in Alton NH last night. A nice older couple came into the shop yesterday with some bottles. I was interested in seeing how a few would clean up so I asked permission to put them in the dishwasher. The pepper in the shaker had turned one bottle a very interesting shade that looked more like curry.
Anyways, the said they were downsizing which was my opening. We started in the garage where Sterling climbed up into the lofts. If he hadn't been with me I certainly wouldn't have gone up there but he was successful in picking an old, old wheelbarrow with a wooden wheel and an oak commode which had been painted at some point white. We broke the ice with a $75 offer for those two items and then headed for the house.
The house was neat as a pin - just amazing! This particular couple was preparing to sell their Alton house and head permanently to Florida. Slowly, they took us room by room through the entire house. In each room I'd tell them I was interested in something for later, once the house sold and the Mrs. would put it on her list, or if it was something they could let go right away I'd put it on my list with a price.
The thing that amazed them was the diversity of things I was interested in from 1960's Teak Moderne Chairs to a framed Civil War Family Deguaretype of their family. They knew I'd like the Hoadley & Plymouth Tall Clock but were totally surpised I'd be interested in her pitcher collection. What fun we had surprising one another. From old stock certificates to a cast iron pelican bottle opener we all talked and laughed for several hours until dark was closing in on us.
I left with a list of things to research such as the stock certificates and tall clock but also some Albrecht Durer prints circa 1500 and many other interesting things to research. Google has certainly changed the research world for the better. Maine Antiques Digest also has a terrific price data base. So stay tuned.
I'm continuing to put the badge collection on eBay for the Tuftonboro estate and I will also be listing things tonite I bought in Alton last night. Stay tuned. Cathy Dragonfly
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Summer coming to an end
Well the kids are back in school and I get to look out my office window and see the K-3 kids come pour back into Carpenter School. I love the smiles and gigles and even an occasional yell or cry. This is my first year in the past 22 that I didn't even think "back to school". My family is grown now and I'm left with the memories. Favorite among them was the time I sent Sterling to kindergarten and cried for 1/2 a day. Well that same kid is 22 now and just returned from backpacking through Europe for 10 weeks this summer. Shows how much I know.
So today was so hot I couldn't open. We are experiencing our 24 day this summer being OVER 90 degrees. It's been so, so hot people haven't been in the shopping mood. But today I got a call from Tampa asking about a Moose Head I have in my inventory. It is a 16 point bull moose from Canada - it's huge head measuring about 5' tall and about 4' wide. Again Sterling had to manuevre the ladder to make this happen. I sure do hope he sells or the photos are headed to Craigslist. The consignor recently came in and marked this piece down to $1,750 which is a virtual deal since most moose heads sell in the $3,000 to $4,000. range.
I'm contemplating eBay again especially this week since they aren't charging for listing fees until after September 7th. Smart marketing plan for eBay to redirect all those parents who now have a minute to breathe since their kids are back in school. It's Halloween and Christmas and I just pulled out a Peter Pan costume and an antique clowns costume as well as a huge vintage tablecloth with a red and green christmas design printed on it just in time for the holidays.
I'm sure looking forward to some cooler days when I can get in my sweatshirt and jeans and enjoy being out in the barn again. See you soon - Dragonfly
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Exciting things happening at Dragonflies Antiques
It's been a huge, busy and successful week. These are what we live for.
2. LL Bean came in and they were doing a photo shoot here in Wolfeboro for their spring catalog. They wanted to rent some boat cushions for color. Yeha! Another rental $60 per day.
5. I bought a sign which had stood near the border of Wolfeboro and Mirror Lake and the Libby Museum for years. I bought it from the signmaker who was replacing the sign and I placed it as high up in the barn as my son could reach. Well of course, a young man came in and bought it. The young man turned out to be Blake Marriott who is taking the sign to his Tuftonboro estate. Yeha! Another good sale.
Within a 24 hour span I got a great shot in the arm which I can only guess is because the universe aligned and things fell in place.
1. A women contacted me about making a Horror Flick here in Wolfeboro. Well I just happened to have the most beautiful Victorian wedding dress with lots of lace which will be just perfect for a horrific bride locked in a celler. Better yet was a young girl happened along who looked beautiful in the dress so we had all sorts of fun dressing her up and playing with her hair and taking pictures. A perfect size 5 doesn't come along too often. Sold dress for $100 and then I found the veil which will be another $100 and that's just rent. I get the items back - yeeha!
2. LL Bean came in and they were doing a photo shoot here in Wolfeboro for their spring catalog. They wanted to rent some boat cushions for color. Yeha! Another rental $60 per day.
3. Then the third call was the best potential. A casting company for a major television network contacted me regarding a new pilot program they are working on that needs an appraiser. It's called Estate Disputes and the premise is that they bring in an appriaser and mediators and help a family settle whatever disputes might exist. Has an interesting base so I thought it might actually be something worth doing. More later if it blossoms.
4. Someone came in who had looked at a postal sorter we have from Penn Terminal which was marked $2,500. You can see it to the right of the photos. They had offered me $2,000 which I declined even though I paid $800 for the piece about 15 years ago. The problem for me was that it holds all sorts of ephemera and I can't figure out how to replace it. Anyways, they came back to me with another offer which was great because I thought I had lost the sale but their house is moving along and 4 weeks has passed and now they wanted it more. We have a sale for $2,250 and we're both happy. I get to pay the mortgage another month. Yeha!
6. The Town of Wolfeboro is celebrating 250 years this year and they had an encampment from the French and Indian War of 1750 ish. The encampment was disappointing but the press it garned attracted all sorts of people across the street from me who happened to be history lovers. Unfortunately, the vendors were selling new necklaces from China or some other cheap labor force. I had a great day in sales from it and today is raining which is a golden opportunity to open in the Lakes Region because tourists can't be on the lake, the golf course or the tennis courts. Better get open!
It's been one busy summer! So much going on here at Dragonflies Antiques
I haven't exhibited at this show for about 15 years, taking a hiatus to start my own show and then got off doing other things like raising the kids and buying and selling some property, but this year was a sad not for many. The economy is just beating the life out of the secondary market. There were a few HIGH END dealers who did ok because they can sell one or two pieces and make a years living but not me. I had about 10 sales - only one of which was over $1,000.
I was going to do an in-depth study of the costs of doing a show and then show the profit or lack there-of and I may still but to get on with my summer posting I need to move beyond that week.
So here are a few pictures of Mid-Week and I'll fill in the details at some other point when I discuss exhibiting at shows - the good the bad and the ugly. Why do them?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Huggins Hospital Street Fair
It has certainly been a busy week for me here at Dragonflies Antiques. My daily blog is turning into a weekly blog but that's ok. Daily my life can be boring or a whirlwind. You never know in my life.
The first full weekend of August each year the Huggins Hospital holds a Street Fair which is put on by hundreds of volunteers selling all sorts of donated goods, plants, bakery, toys, sports, white elephants, electrical, high style boutique clothes for each sex as well as regular casual clothes. It attracts thousands of people right across the street from me pushing my numbers from 50-75 people per day to 300+ in a day. Sales were good over the weekend. I get the most fascinating people through my door, like the History Professor from PA who told me Wolfeboro is not 250 years old like we're celebrating but rather 251 or 240 depending on if you use the year 1759 or 1770. A couple from France who just knocked on my door and asked for an apartment - we both got lucky on that score. It's amazing what $100 will do. Opens the door right up. :)
But the most fun was meeting Brian Miller and the Grand Prarie Band from Scotland. Their band of 5 players had been flown to the US for an all expense paid trip to play at a private party. They had no idea who was having the party but Brian and I had a great time talking about the Beatles and an old postcard we had once which I sold for $800. It was signed by 3 of the Beatles and someone standing in for Ringo while he had his tonsils out. Brian knew right away it was from 1965 Australian tour and the guy standing in was Jimmy Nicols.
Well Brian came back the next day with a few more band members and invited me to Garwoods Resturant to hear him play. He told me the party was the annual bash at Bob Baher's Mansion. The guest list include 400 people and no Dragonflies but the secret musician this year was Willie Nelson who played for about 1 1/2 hours. How nice! Bob Baher is the ex-owner of Loudon Intnl. Speedway. I did get the opportunity to listen to them and Rob Wilson who is a famous race car driver and instructor in England. They played at our local pub and did a bang up job. It was lots of fun and reminded me once again why I love living in Wolfeboro.
It's been lots of fun this week having so many quirky people come in. The costumes on some of these kids now-a-days amazes me. I feel like my mother - you'd never think of me as an ex-hippy but these kids really can blow my mind. They give the word creative a new meaning with their body art and style.
Unfortunately the Beer Wolfe which I put out on the corner of my property got beat up and got his nose broke. Guess I'll have to build a concrete wall to eliminate the pest who keeps breaking my things!
H
The first full weekend of August each year the Huggins Hospital holds a Street Fair which is put on by hundreds of volunteers selling all sorts of donated goods, plants, bakery, toys, sports, white elephants, electrical, high style boutique clothes for each sex as well as regular casual clothes. It attracts thousands of people right across the street from me pushing my numbers from 50-75 people per day to 300+ in a day. Sales were good over the weekend. I get the most fascinating people through my door, like the History Professor from PA who told me Wolfeboro is not 250 years old like we're celebrating but rather 251 or 240 depending on if you use the year 1759 or 1770. A couple from France who just knocked on my door and asked for an apartment - we both got lucky on that score. It's amazing what $100 will do. Opens the door right up. :)
But the most fun was meeting Brian Miller and the Grand Prarie Band from Scotland. Their band of 5 players had been flown to the US for an all expense paid trip to play at a private party. They had no idea who was having the party but Brian and I had a great time talking about the Beatles and an old postcard we had once which I sold for $800. It was signed by 3 of the Beatles and someone standing in for Ringo while he had his tonsils out. Brian knew right away it was from 1965 Australian tour and the guy standing in was Jimmy Nicols.
Well Brian came back the next day with a few more band members and invited me to Garwoods Resturant to hear him play. He told me the party was the annual bash at Bob Baher's Mansion. The guest list include 400 people and no Dragonflies but the secret musician this year was Willie Nelson who played for about 1 1/2 hours. How nice! Bob Baher is the ex-owner of Loudon Intnl. Speedway. I did get the opportunity to listen to them and Rob Wilson who is a famous race car driver and instructor in England. They played at our local pub and did a bang up job. It was lots of fun and reminded me once again why I love living in Wolfeboro.
It's been lots of fun this week having so many quirky people come in. The costumes on some of these kids now-a-days amazes me. I feel like my mother - you'd never think of me as an ex-hippy but these kids really can blow my mind. They give the word creative a new meaning with their body art and style.
Unfortunately the Beer Wolfe which I put out on the corner of my property got beat up and got his nose broke. Guess I'll have to build a concrete wall to eliminate the pest who keeps breaking my things!
H
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Summer had finally arrived!
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| Some mean spirited person took their temper out on my flower pot. They were going to be gladiolas - oh well! |
This has been a long, slow summer. The heat has kept people and sales going very slow. Tourists seemed to arrive late and the July heat kept people in the water and on the lake - NOT antiquing. But one week ago, the weather changed, the tourists arrived, the sales arrived and life is looking good.
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| So I got mad and put my Coors Bear Wolf out on the corner of my courtyard instead! The funny thing is someone came along and put a gummy worm in his mouth. Well that made me laugh! |
I reconnected with a girlfriend from Framingham North High School on Facebook, like where-else now-a-days. I meet Alice in high school art class. We became fast friends but lost track over the past few years as we each moved. More then any other person in my life Alice understands my crazy folk art world and I wad so glad to share with her. We reminisced and caught up on our kids, our siblings, our parents, our husbands, our jobs, our girlfriends and thoroughly enjoyed each other's company as well as an ice-cream from Bailey's Bubble. Alice arrived with her bright smile and genuine good nature and left me with more inspiration then I've experienced since my trip last winter. A friend hears the song in your heart and sings it to you when you memory fails. That's Alice.
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| Interior shot of Dragonflies Antiques |
That was Thursday into Friday and then the weekend arrived with a bang and a ton of tourists. Thank Heavens for little favors as my Mom used to say. I jumped from 50-75 people a day up to 150-200 a day. I had a very frank conversation with my friend Don Pingree from Butler's Antiques on Route 4 in Northwood. He confirmed the kinds of numbers that I do although he did say he no longer does these kinds of numbers in Northwood. We talked about the dwindling business, aging dealers, the ebb and flow we've both seen over the past 25 years. Don and his wife Colleen have a thriving eBay business with both Don's records and Colleen's general line of neat and sweet antiques and collectibles.
I stayed open late Saturday night and got a walk in who asked me to come for a house call, so I packed up Auntie Sue and we headed off in my 1980 Dodge Pick Up and left for Bedford, NH. It's about 1 and 1/2 hours south of here. Sunday is my day off but it's a great opportunity for me to spend time with my Aunt and she just loves going on house-calls with me. It was a pleasurable time all around, we even stopped at T-Bones for salad and a clam basket.
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| Look at all these plates! Fresh from a local barn - years and years of NH 9593. Now that's a collection! |
On the way home from the house call I stopped at a yard sale and it was the end of the day so they had free things. I was lucky enough to score a box of 45 rpm records. I was happy with that - they make great decorations. But more interesting to me was the man who was having the yard sale was an iron worker and he reveled in my new cast iron table teaching me about the particular square bolt pattern as being from the Carnegie Foundry and dating to 1890-1910.
I was thrilled to make score and happy to pass that information on to several dealers who have come by the shop this week. It's all those little things, we as antiques dealers learn, which make us professionals. We spend our entire lives constantly learning little tid-bits of history, art and about different cultures. It's one of the more wonderful things about being in this business.
Sales have been very erratic this summer. Some days I do $5.00 and some days like today I had nine sales totaling approx. $700.00. Now $200 of that was a consignment item from someone who was eligible for my friends and family consignment rate of 25%. So I only make 25% on that item, but there were others like old keys which I buy by the bucketful and sell for $5.00 to $10.00 each. I guess Tiffany & Company put out a line of key jewelry so all of a sudden we're having a rush on them. Two of the ones I sold today I got $25.00 a piece for while others were the $5.00 version. Oh well - it's all in fun and the girl and mother who bought them today had a great bonding moment in my store. There's little doubt they won't be back! I got to hold a baby today too. Her name was Gabby and she was about 1 and chubby as all get out. Her Dad came in to buy a lantern from me for his porch at Brewster Academy. Another highlight was to talk with a couple from the Netherlands about the differences in antiques shops here vs. there, the basic difference being they have antique furniture and little else in their shops. It's been a great long weekend.
I'll try to post more often during the busy time so the blogs aren't so long. Hope you liked to read it if you got this far. Don't forget to leave some comments please, especially if they are nice ones.
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Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Interesting day in the shop
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest. Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
Today was odd in the sense the people came in fits and spurts. We probably had in around 50-60 people and I grossed a grand total of $78. . . plenty to feel blessed about because I went grocery shopping after work and even had enough money to stop and get my car washed. The Suncook Valley girls softball team was giving car washes just outside town hall. They were trying to raise money to make it to the Regionals in Pittsfield, MA. What a cute bunch of teenage girls. They had raised just shy of $1,000.00 in just 3 1/2 hours. You go girls!
Fiddlehead Farms has recently expanded from Dover to Alton and I love their market!!!! Strawberries were $1.00 and fresh local peaches were just 50cents per lb. Lots of both organic and gourmet foods, nice deli, bakery, etc. and a very nice selection of local produce.
Brian Stockman, local carver and woodsman dropped by for an hour or so. Our family loves Brian and so we had a nice hour long visitor. One of the families who came to visit bought 2 milk McClure's pint size bottles - each with it's original cap or pog on the top. I charged her $5.00 each but then she wanted to buy a super ball. Remember those from when you were a kid? I keep them in a bowl just because they're pretty and colorful and a young local man needed some money so I bought them from him. Good to support the locals.
Well this very attractive brought forward the largest and most colorful super ball and when I said it would be $5.00 she went back and told her son he had to pick out a smaller, less colorful super ball. He came forward with a slightly less expensive one and made an offer of $2.00. The damn kid was so cute I couldn't so no.
So I walk outside with them as they were leaving so that I could pick up my open sign at the end of the driveway. There were a 1/2 dozen or so people just milling around looking at things. Anyways, I notice a beautiful, bright, red convertible this young family was getting into had a MA license plate that said US19. I asked the father of the group, what the plate was all about. Low license plate numbers are VERY desirable especially in MA and DEL. So he says it's my mother's. Always wanting to meet all the townsfolk I asked who his mother was. He answered a modest "Ann" and I of course said "Ann who?" and he replied Ann Romney. In case you didn't know Mitt and Ann Romney have a substantial waterfront home here on Lake Winnipesaukee. I'm so glad Mitt's grandson bought a super-ball from me. It made my day today.
As I later relayed this story to my former husband Frank he said "Well it's good to know they are true fiscal conservatives!!!!" Too funny! :)
Today was odd in the sense the people came in fits and spurts. We probably had in around 50-60 people and I grossed a grand total of $78. . . plenty to feel blessed about because I went grocery shopping after work and even had enough money to stop and get my car washed. The Suncook Valley girls softball team was giving car washes just outside town hall. They were trying to raise money to make it to the Regionals in Pittsfield, MA. What a cute bunch of teenage girls. They had raised just shy of $1,000.00 in just 3 1/2 hours. You go girls!
Fiddlehead Farms has recently expanded from Dover to Alton and I love their market!!!! Strawberries were $1.00 and fresh local peaches were just 50cents per lb. Lots of both organic and gourmet foods, nice deli, bakery, etc. and a very nice selection of local produce.
Brian Stockman, local carver and woodsman dropped by for an hour or so. Our family loves Brian and so we had a nice hour long visitor. One of the families who came to visit bought 2 milk McClure's pint size bottles - each with it's original cap or pog on the top. I charged her $5.00 each but then she wanted to buy a super ball. Remember those from when you were a kid? I keep them in a bowl just because they're pretty and colorful and a young local man needed some money so I bought them from him. Good to support the locals.
Well this very attractive brought forward the largest and most colorful super ball and when I said it would be $5.00 she went back and told her son he had to pick out a smaller, less colorful super ball. He came forward with a slightly less expensive one and made an offer of $2.00. The damn kid was so cute I couldn't so no.
So I walk outside with them as they were leaving so that I could pick up my open sign at the end of the driveway. There were a 1/2 dozen or so people just milling around looking at things. Anyways, I notice a beautiful, bright, red convertible this young family was getting into had a MA license plate that said US19. I asked the father of the group, what the plate was all about. Low license plate numbers are VERY desirable especially in MA and DEL. So he says it's my mother's. Always wanting to meet all the townsfolk I asked who his mother was. He answered a modest "Ann" and I of course said "Ann who?" and he replied Ann Romney. In case you didn't know Mitt and Ann Romney have a substantial waterfront home here on Lake Winnipesaukee. I'm so glad Mitt's grandson bought a super-ball from me. It made my day today.
As I later relayed this story to my former husband Frank he said "Well it's good to know they are true fiscal conservatives!!!!" Too funny! :)
Monday, July 26, 2010
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest. Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
The sun caught my Dragonflies sign just perfectly tonite.
It was an exceptionally busy Monday for some reason. There were probably 80 or more visitors today vs. the 30 I normally have. I noticed a change from the parents with young kids to parents with teens and grandparents today.
Not many sales though - only one $35.00 souviner gun which I sold to a youngster who was thrilled to have it and was plotting ways to ship it home to California because he knew it would never make it on the plane. The mother seemed chagrined, but the kids enthusiasm won the day.
Thank God for rental units on a day like this. No leaks, rent coming in. It was a good day.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Inspiration At Last
Dragonflies Antiques reporting from the nest. Fly on over and join us for the latest antiques buzz . . .
It was a very busy day in the shop today which inspired me to get my act together and my butt back in gear. I've been in a fog since Frank left May 1st and I've been trying to re-establish my independence, and reconfigure the business - I'm short - he is tall. I'm small - he's big. We're still best friends and activce in the business together. Look for us at Mid-Week in Manchester in NH and Brimfield MA show.
The Craft Fair was on the green across the street from me at Brewster Academy yesterday and today. It brings in with it hundreds of tourists but unfortunately a slow day on the sales front. At the 200 mark I had only sold one book for $35 to my neighbor across the street, however I pulled out the day at 5 minutes before closing and sold 2 carriage lanterns for $75 each.
Hardly worth sitting here for the day but I'm grateful for every sale I have every day in this economic climate and I had lots of interesting visitors. Friends, family, neighbors, fellow dealers, auctioneers, musicians, artists, tourists, repeat customers, family's - it was a beautiful day all in all in the shop - although it got hot again this afternoon. Shoppers were dragging their hind ends today.
Yesterday wasn't quite so grim, I had 9 sales and got a house-call from it. Hit a modest yard sale and picked up some old paint supplies. Oils in tubes don't go bad. They're always good to have around for touch-ups. Crayons work well too. A warm finger over a wax crayons melts away minor blemishes. Do it in small doses for best results.
This evening was spent in an inspired state and got me back to thinking about marketing, my blog, selling on ebay, my website etc. I've made recent changes to all of these networking opportunities and hope someone out there in cyber-world appreciates it. If so please say so.
Antiques Week in New Hampshire is fast approaching - August 10 is Nan Gurley's show and then August 11 & 12 is Mid Week in Manchester followed up by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association Show which opens on Thursday morning. These are all wonderful shows to find the best Americana in the United States of America.
It was a very busy day in the shop today which inspired me to get my act together and my butt back in gear. I've been in a fog since Frank left May 1st and I've been trying to re-establish my independence, and reconfigure the business - I'm short - he is tall. I'm small - he's big. We're still best friends and activce in the business together. Look for us at Mid-Week in Manchester in NH and Brimfield MA show.
The Craft Fair was on the green across the street from me at Brewster Academy yesterday and today. It brings in with it hundreds of tourists but unfortunately a slow day on the sales front. At the 200 mark I had only sold one book for $35 to my neighbor across the street, however I pulled out the day at 5 minutes before closing and sold 2 carriage lanterns for $75 each.
Hardly worth sitting here for the day but I'm grateful for every sale I have every day in this economic climate and I had lots of interesting visitors. Friends, family, neighbors, fellow dealers, auctioneers, musicians, artists, tourists, repeat customers, family's - it was a beautiful day all in all in the shop - although it got hot again this afternoon. Shoppers were dragging their hind ends today.
Yesterday wasn't quite so grim, I had 9 sales and got a house-call from it. Hit a modest yard sale and picked up some old paint supplies. Oils in tubes don't go bad. They're always good to have around for touch-ups. Crayons work well too. A warm finger over a wax crayons melts away minor blemishes. Do it in small doses for best results.
This evening was spent in an inspired state and got me back to thinking about marketing, my blog, selling on ebay, my website etc. I've made recent changes to all of these networking opportunities and hope someone out there in cyber-world appreciates it. If so please say so.
Antiques Week in New Hampshire is fast approaching - August 10 is Nan Gurley's show and then August 11 & 12 is Mid Week in Manchester followed up by the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association Show which opens on Thursday morning. These are all wonderful shows to find the best Americana in the United States of America.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Olympics
Well for those of you who follow the blog - and I know there are many more then it appears because I hear personally from you - please forgive me for not chatting recently.
After the Watts Towers, we started east again. Somewhere along the line I lost the cord which connects my phone and computer so with it I also lost my interest. I tried several times, unsuccessfully to find a cord at several Best Buys to no avail.
So now that we've been to The Watts Towers, Salvation Mountain, Slab City which is the last free place, Santa Fe, and criss-crossed the country, we're one day from home and I can't wait to get back to Best Buy in New Hampshire to straighten out things with my phone. I've taken fabulous notes and pictures and will return here in a couple of days once I'm home in Wolfeboro again.
We went to Don Scotts Antique Market in Columbus Ohio today and bought a few paintings, a tray with a hockey player and Frank bought a few pulp paper pamphlets about Blacks and the Pope from the 1940's which he's excited to put on eBay. I wouldn't necessarily buy a tray with a Hocky Player but we have three hocky players who love hockey collectibles so I know I have a sale even before I get home.
Go Bodie - you deserve that Gold ! New Hampshire is proud of you!
After the Watts Towers, we started east again. Somewhere along the line I lost the cord which connects my phone and computer so with it I also lost my interest. I tried several times, unsuccessfully to find a cord at several Best Buys to no avail.
So now that we've been to The Watts Towers, Salvation Mountain, Slab City which is the last free place, Santa Fe, and criss-crossed the country, we're one day from home and I can't wait to get back to Best Buy in New Hampshire to straighten out things with my phone. I've taken fabulous notes and pictures and will return here in a couple of days once I'm home in Wolfeboro again.
We went to Don Scotts Antique Market in Columbus Ohio today and bought a few paintings, a tray with a hockey player and Frank bought a few pulp paper pamphlets about Blacks and the Pope from the 1940's which he's excited to put on eBay. I wouldn't necessarily buy a tray with a Hocky Player but we have three hocky players who love hockey collectibles so I know I have a sale even before I get home.
Go Bodie - you deserve that Gold ! New Hampshire is proud of you!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Frank and his food - Purple Neon Mary & Crooked Jesus
Another of Frank's favorite places was a place with a huge sign that said MENUDO. He slammed on the brakes and did a 360. Menudo is a Mexican soup which is tomato base wi trpe and hominy. GROSS. However, Frank loved the diner because of the very loud Latin music, the purple neon Mary, the crooke Jesus over the coffee statin and a pictre of Selena.
We’ve tried very hard not to eat in any fast food places and have been lucky to find all sorts of interesting meals. We also have bought lots of fruit and yogurt to keep us going.
As we left Las Cruces with new hope and new health we decided to again take a more scenic route so we dropped down to Route 8 which takes you into San Diego. The San Diego coast road which runs along the Pacific looks very much like Route 1 which runs along the Maine coast. The architecture looks quite similar and except for the Mexican places with Spanish signs you’d never know you were in SanDiego or Maine.
We headed north to Los Angeles which was our destination.
The Watts Towers = aka Mecca for folk art lovers - more tomorrow.
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