Gravenhurst Winter Carnival, Antique Guidebooks

GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL - PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT - SKOKIE SCARVES MAKING MY WIFE CRAZY, AND JUST COLLECTING STUFF

IT'S LESS THAN A WEEK UNTIL THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL. I HOPE THE WEATHER PREVAILS UPON THOSE THREE DAYS…..WITH A LITTLE SNOW / SUN MIX. THE GROUP "PRESSURE POINT," WILL BE PERFORMING AT THE OPENING CEREMONIES, ON FRIDAY EVENING AT THE OPERA HOUSE (OUTSIDE). THEY WILL BE PERFORMING THEIR WINTER CARNIVAL TRIBUTE SONG, WITH SKOKIE, THE EVENT MASCOT. THE GROUP IS MADE UP OF SINGER DANI O'CONNOR, AARON BINDER, ANDREW AND ROBERT CURRIE (THE WEE LADS), WITH BACK-UP VOCALS BY RAY PARSONS AND JON O'CONNOR. ON FRIDAY, THE YOUTUBE MUSIC VIDEO PASSED A THOUSAND HITS, IN TWO WEEKS. IT WAS CREATED BY "PRESSURE POINT" AS A DONATION, IN SUPPORT OF THE WINTER CARNIVAL COMMITTEE'S TIRELESS EFFORTS, TO RE-ESTABLISH THE TOWN'S STAKE, IN THE ORIGINAL MUSKOKA WINTER CARNIVAL, WHICH BEGAN OFFICIALLY, BACK IN JANUARY 1971.

SUZANNE PICKED UP SOME WOOL, TO MATCH THE CARNIVAL COLORS, BACK IN LATE DECEMBER, AND MADE SCARVES FOR EVERYONE IN THE GROUP, WITH SPECIAL MITTS AND A HAT FOR DANI, THE LEAD SINGER. AND THEN IT WENT, AS THEY SAY, "VIRAL" WITHOUT EVEN BEING ONLINE. REQUESTS FOR THE WINTER CARNIVAL THEMED SCARVES, ORIGINALLY MADE FOR USE IN THE VIDEO, HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMING. SUZANNE'S LITTLE HANDS HAVE BEEN SMOKING, BY GOLLY, AND NOW PEOPLE ARE BRINGING HER ANY AND ALL ORANGE WOOL THEY FIND OUT THERE……BECAUSE WE BOUGHT OUT ALL THE LOCAL INVENTORY. SHE WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO KNIT SEVERAL MORE BEFORE THE CARNIVAL COMMENCES, BUT HOPES TO GET A HEAD START ON NEXT YEAR'S REQUIREMENT. ADMITTEDLY, SHE'S SEEING ORANGE THESE DAYS, EVEN WHEN SHE'S NOT STARING AT AN ORANGE BALL OF WOOL, A SCARF IN THE WORKS, AND THE GRAPHIC OF SKOKIE WE'VE PUT ON THE TABLE BESIDE, FOR SOME INSPIRATION. WENT FOR AN ANTIQUE HUNT THIS MORNING, AND THE BAG OF WOOL WENT WITH US. I HAVE A LITTLE PROBLEM WITH THE CLICKING OF THE NEEDLES, AS I AM FANATICAL ABOUT NOISES LIKE A DRIPPING TAP, AND EVEN THE TICK OF OUR KITCHEN CLOCK. I PRE-OCCUPY MYSELF THINKING ABOUT NEW BLOG IDEAS. SHE'S MOTIVATING ME NOW!

IT'S KIND OF NEAT THOUGH, WHEN SHE FINISHES ONE, AND HAS ONE OF THE BOYS MODEL IT FOR HER, TO BE SURE IT'S THE RIGHT LENGTH……ALMOST AS IF IT'S A TAILORED SUIT. AND SHE GETS A REAL RUSH WHEN SHE SEES SOMEONE, WALKING UPTOWN, WEARING ONE OF THE SCARVES. THAT KEEPS HER MOTIVATED TO KNIT A FEW MORE. BUT WITH THE CARNIVAL SONG, AND THE SKOKIE-COLORED SCARVES, WE JUST HOPE EVERYTHING WORKS OUT FOR THE COMMITTEE THIS WEEK, WITH A GOOD ATTENDANCE. AND HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE "WINTER" WEATHER, TO SUPPORT THE OUTDOOR NATURE OF MANY OF THE COMING EVENTS.

YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A HUGE COMMITMENT TO PUT ON ONE OF THESE EVENTS. MAYBE YOU'VE WORKED ON ONE HERE, OR IN THE TOWN OR CITY IN WHICH YOU DWELL…..SO I WON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU ABOUT LONG HOURS, OBSTACLES ENCOUNTERED, CHANGES IN PLANS, WEATHER RELATED ISSUES, VOLUNTEER SHORTAGES, AND IN SOME CASES, COMMUNITY DISINTEREST. HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE FINISHED UP ONE OF THESE GRUELING VOLUNTEER JAGS, AND STATED FIRMLY, TO YOURSELF ON THE WAY HOME……"NEVER AGAIN!" WELL I HAVE UTTERED THOSE SAME WORDS. MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER A FEW WEEKS REST, AND HEARING SOME OF THE FEEDBACK, FROM THOSE WHO ATTENDED THE EVENT, I JUMP RIGHT BACK ON THE BANDWAGON FOR ANOTHER GO AT IT! MAYBE YOU HAVE DONE THE SAME. I WANT TO THANK THE VOLUNTEERS OF THE GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL IN ADVANCE, THIS YEAR, FOR BRINGING BACK AN IMPORTANT EVENT, FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR TOWN, AND THE ENTIRE REGION OF MUSKOKA. EVERYONE IS WELCOME. THEY HAVE CREATED A HOMETOWN EVENT…..A FAMILY FETE. WE'VE HAD KIND OF A ROUGH TWELVE MONTHS IN THIS TOWN, HAVING TO DEAL WITH SEVERAL MAJOR FIRES ON THE MAIN STREET, SO THIS IS THE KIND OF FEEL-GOOD WEEKEND, THAT WILL HOPEFULLY GIVE US ALL A LITTLE BOUNCE INTO THE SPRING SEASON.

PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT THIS YEAR'S GRAVENHURST WINTER CARNIVAL. IT WILL BE A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THREE DAYS IN SOUTH MUSKOKA……WITH AN OTTER. IF YOU HAVEN'T BEFORE, YOU CAN CHECK OUT THE MUSIC VIDEO, IN SKOKIE'S HONOR, BY CLICKING ON….. http://youtu.be/AuwE6cFlRCg

SUZANNE AND I APPRECIATE THE VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION FROM THE SALVATION ARMY

SUZANNE AND I, AND MANY OTHER VOLUNTEERS, WHO DONATE THEIR TIME TO HELP THE GRAVENHURST SALVATION ARMY, IN A WIDE ARRAY OF TASKS, FROM FOOD BANK ASSISTANTS, TO CHRISTMAS KETTLE ATTENDANTS, AND THRIFT SHOP HELPERS, WERE TREATED TO A FINE AND GENEROUS DINNER LAST MONDAY EVENING. IT WAS WELL ATTENDED. IT WAS A CLEAR SHOW OF ENDURING, DEDICATED SUPPORT FOR THE SALVATION ARMY'S EFFORTS IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE.

SUZANNE AND I OFFER OUR EXPERIENCE IN ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, FOR APPRAISAL ASSISTANCE, ON SOME OF THEIR DONATED PIECES, AS WELL AS AUCTION-ITEM ORGANIZATION, EACH MONTH AT THE MUSKOKA ROAD THRIFT SHOP. LAST MONDAY NIGHT, THERE WAS A RECOGNITION DINNER, AT THE GRAVENHURST LEGION, TO THANK ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO ASSIST THE SALVATION ARMY EACH YEAR. WHILE WE DIDN'T ACTUALLY MAKE THE DINNER, WE DID RECEIVE OUR CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION. THIS WAS SOMETHING WE HADN'T EXPECTED, AND WAS OF COURSE, A NICE SURPRISE. TRUTH IS, THAT HELPING THE SALVATION ARMY IS A GOOD FEELING ALL ON ITS OWN…..AND WE'VE PUT-ON SIX ANNUAL CHRISTMAS SEASON CONCERTS, AT THE LOCAL OPERA HOUSE, TO HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE FOOD BANK. THERE IS A GREAT NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY, AND WITH LINGERING TOUGH TIMES, IT'S LIKELY DEMAND WON'T BE SUBSIDING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

WE CURRIES INVOLVE OURSELVES IN QUITE A NUMBER OF COMMUNITY PROJECTS, AND WE'RE PROUD OF OUR HOME TOWN HERE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WHO FEEL THE SAME, AND LIKE THE WINTER CARNIVAL AND THE SALVATION ARMY, (JUST TO NAME TWO OUT OF THE MANY WELL-SUPPORTED GROUPS), THESE VOLUNTEERS NEVER SEEM TO TIRE, LENDING A HAND TO HELP A GOOD CAUSE. ADMITTEDLY THERE ARE TIMES AROUND THIS BALLYWICK, WHEN PEOPLE WONDER ALOUD, IF GRAVENHURST WILL EVER BOUNCE BACK, AND PROSPER, THE WAY FOLKS REMEMBER IT IN THE GOOD OLD DAYS. FROM WHAT WE SEE OUT THERE, IN SO MANY DIFFERENT QUARTERS, AND THE NUMBERS OF VOLUNTEER HOURS EXPENDED BY LOCAL CITIZENS, I WOULD SAY WE ARE A DARN TOUGH ONTARIO COMMUNITY……THAT WON'T EVER GIVE UP, NO MATTER WHAT THE NAYSAYERS AND PROGNOSTICATORS MIGHT THINK. MAYBE WE AREN'T A PARALLEL TO GRAVENHURST IN THE 1940'S, OR 1950'S, OR EVEN THE 1970'S, BUT EVERY COMMUNITY HAS ITS PERIOD OF TRANSITION. INDUSTRY AND BUSINESSES COME AND GO, JUST LIKE FOLKS MOVE ON, AND "MOVE-IN" TO OUR TOWN. SOME CHANGES ARE PROFOUND. FIRES FOR INSTANCE. WE ARE SORRY TO SEE BUSINESSES RETIRED, AND SERVICES WITHDRAWN. YET IF WE LOOK CLOSELY, WE WILL STILL SEE A COMMUNITY ON THE GO, DESPITE THE CONTEMPORARY WRESTLE WITH THOSE UNPLEASANT RIGORS OF THE NEW NORMAL. ALL YOU REALLY NEED TO SEE, IS THIS AMAZING FORCE AND INFLUENCE OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS, TO SHOW EVEN THE MOST NEGATIVE AND CRITICAL AMONGST US, NO ONE IS GIVING UP ON ANYTHING. WE'RE JUST RE-GROUPING.

SUZANNE AND I ARE VERY PRIVATE PEOPLE, REGARDLESS WHAT THESE BLOGS MAY SUGGEST TO THE CONTRARY. OUR BOYS, WELL, THEY'RE GRANDSTANDERS. GIVE THEM A COUPLE OF GUITARS, SOME MILK CARTONS TO STAND ON, AND THEY'LL PLAY UNTIL THE LAST AUDIENCE-MEMBER RETIRES TO BEDLAM. OUR RELUCTANCE TO PARTICIPATE CONFUSES FOLKS WE KNOW, AND I THINK SOMETIMES THEY ASSUME WE ARE INDIFFERENT AND UNAPPRECIATIVE OF RECOGNITION. IN CASE ANYONE WONDERED WHY WE HADN'T ATTENDED THE SALVATION ARMY RECOGNITION EVENT…..WELL, WITHOUT APOLOGY, WE BOTH SHY AWAY FROM LARGE EVENTS GENERALLY….AND TRUTHFULLY, WE ARE HAPPIEST TO JUST RECEIVE A SIMPLE THANKS……BECAUSE OUR REWARD IS THE GOOD FEELING WE GET, HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

SUZANNE AND I HAVE BOTH LIVED VERY PUBLIC LIVES FOR MANY YEARS, ESPECIALLY OUR WILDLY CRAZY YEARS, INCLUDING THE PRESENT, INVOLVED WITH THE MUSKOKA MEDIA. AND WE'VE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITIES, WHETHER IT HAS BEEN AS AMBASSADORS FOR THE BRACEBRIDGE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, WOODCHESTER VILLA AND MUSEUM, THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM, THE CROZIER FOUNDATION AND EVEN AS THE FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE FOR THE FORMER HERALD-GAZETTE RINK RAT HOCKEY CLUB (NOW THE MUSKOKA RINK RATS). NOW WE JUST ENJOY BEING BACKBENCHERS, WITH THOUGHTS OF EVENTUAL RETIREMENT. THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE DESERVING OF RECOGNITION FOR THEIR VOLUNTEER SERVICES…..

OUT ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT TODAY - REMEMBER THAT GREAT OLD COWBOY, "SLIM PICKENS". THAT'S WHAT IT WAS LIKE TODAY. NICE AND SUNNY THOUGH

SOME DAYS, YOU JUST CAN'T CATCH A BREAK. ON OUR NATIONAL SYMBOL HUNT, THAT WE INITIATED A FEW WEEKS BACK, WE GOT "SKUNKED" TODAY. COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING HALF DECENT, WITH EITHER A BEAVER, A MAPLE LEAF OR SOMETHING RELATED TO THE ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE. WE'VE HAD PRETTY GOOD LUCK OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AND YOU CAN ARCHIVE THIS YOURSELF, BY FLIPPING BACK THROUGH THE JANUARY AND EARLY FEBRUARY BLOGS. WE FOUND AN INTERESTING NIAGARA FALLS CUSHION, FROM THE EARLY 1940'S, BUT THE MAPLE LEAF WAS AWFULLY SMALL AND THE STAIN ON THE BACK…..GIGANTIC. WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS HUNT AS FRUGALLY AS POSSIBLE, TRYING TO GET GOOD DEALS ON HIGH QUALITY MATERIALS. SO THE PILLOW WAS PRICED A TAD HIGH FOR US ANYWAY. THERE WAS ANOTHER FOLK-ART CREATION OF THE "BLUENOSE," WITH THE CANADIAN FLAG. THE MAPLE LEAF WAS JUST A SMEAR OF RED PAINT, SO WE DIDN'T FEEL THIS WAS A FAIR AND HONEST INCLUSION IN OUR COLLECTION. TODAY WAS A WONDERFULLY CHEERFUL OUTING, BUT WITH ONLY MODEST PURCHASES. WE DID BUY TWO SIGNIFICANT BOOKS, I WANT TO LET YOU KNOW ABOUT.

THE FIRST BOOK, IS ONE WE ALWAYS KEEP HERE AT BIRCH HOLLOW, BECAUSE OF OUR ONGOING INVOLVEMENT BUYING AND SELLING MUSKOKA HERITAGE PIECES. THE HARDCOVER COPY OF "SUMMERTIMES - IN CELEBRATION OF 100 YEARS OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION," PUBLISHED IN 1994 BY STODDART, IS A CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BOOK FOR THE "MUSKOKA COLLECTOR." WHILE IT IS, OF COURSE, THE HISTORY OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES ASSOCIATION, IT ALSO POSSESSES AN OUTSTANDING COLLECTION OF VINTAGE MUSKOKA PHOTOGRAPHS, AND GRAPHICS SHOWING SOME HIGHLY PRIZED REGIONAL NOSTALGIA…..FROM CUPS AND SAUCERS WITH BOAT AND RESORT NAMES, TO SCENIC CRUISE GUIDES OF THE MUSKOKA LAKES, POST CARDS, MINIATURE GLASS CANOES, AND FIRST NATIONS CRAFTWORK FROM THE REGION, DATING BACK TO THE 1800'S. ALTHOUGH THE BOOK DOESN'T DEAL WITH VALUES OF THESE ITEMS, (SOME COLLECTIBLES WERE FOUND AT THE MUSKOKA LAKES MUSEUM, IN PORT CARLING) IT DOES HELP THE COLLECTOR IDENTIFY PIECES THEY POSSESS, AND WHERE THEY MIGHT HAVE COME FROM IN THE DISTRICT. IT'S A HIGH QUALITY BOOK THAT ORIGINALLY LISTED FOR $50. WE WERE ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A BOOK STORE SALE, AND GOT THE ONE PHOTOGRAPHED, WITH THIS BLOG, FOR ONLY $9.99. WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET IT FROM SCOTT'S OF MUSKOKA, ON MANITOBA STREET, IN BRACEBRIDGE.

MUCH OF OUR SUCCESS, IN COLLECTING MUSKOKA HEIRLOOM PIECES, ISN'T DUE TO ONE SOURCE. THE BOOK IS HELPFUL BECAUSE IT PRESENTS SOME GREAT VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS, THAT SHOW CONSIDERABLE DETAIL….AND ITEMS WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO FIND WHILE ON THE ANTIQUE HUNT. SUZANNE AND I HAVE A LARGE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION WE CONSULT REGULARLY, TO BREAKDOWN THE ITEMS SHOWN; FOR EXAMPLE, IN GROUP "FISHING" PICTURES……INSIDE SHOTS OF OLD HARDWARE AND GENERAL STORES…..MARINAS, BOAT LIVERIES, RESORTS AND HOTELS…..STEAMSHIPS, AND OLD BOATS INCLUDED. MANY PEOPLE IGNORE THE WEALTH OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THESE PHOTOGRAPHS. FOR HISTORIANS, AND COLLECTORS, HAVING A CLOSE EXAMINATION OF THESE PICS, SHOULD PROVIDE YOU WITH WHAT CAN ACTUALLY BE CONSIDERED A MUSKOKA COLLECTIBLE……A MUSKOKA HIERLOOM PIECE. JUST BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE MUSKOKA WRITTEN ON IT, DOESN'T MEAN IT HAS LOST ITS LOCAL SENTIMENTAL VALUE. WE HAVE OFTEN BEEN ABLE TO PROVE THAT A PIECE WAS IN A RESORT, FOR EXAMPLE, BECAUSE OF ORIGINAL PHOTOGRAPHS WE POSSESSED. WIGWASSAN LODGE, ON TOBIN'S ISLAND, LAKE ROSSEAU, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE. WE PURCHASED HUNDREDS OF ORIGINAL SLIDES, SOME THAT WERE GLASS, TAKEN OF THE RESORT PROPERTY, INSIDE AND OUT. AND AS WE HAD OTHER THINGS FROM THE FORMER RESORT, WE COULD ACTUALLY FIND THE SUBJECT PIECES IN THE PHOTOGRAPHS…..WHICH CERTAINLY ADDS TO THEIR VALUE, WHEN YOU CAN ATTACH PROVENANCE LIKE THIS.

IN OTHER CASES, IF FOR EXAMPLE, YOU ARE TOLD A FISHING CREEL CAME FROM AN EARLY CENTURY COTTAGE, WE OFTEN HAVE THE CAPABILITY TO LOOK UP PICTURES, FROM THAT VINTAGE, TO DATE SIMILAR CREELS…..AS TO STYLE AND SIZE. MOST OF THESE ACCOUNTS OF PROVENANCE ARE GENUINE, AT LEAST FROM OUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. WITHOUT A CLEAR MUSKOKA IDENTIFICATION ON THE ITEMS, THE VALUE BECOMES MARKET VALUE……THROUGHOUT ONTARIO, AND CANADA. IF IT HAS AN INSCRIPTION, THAT IT BELONGED TO SOMEONE FROM WINDERMERE HOUSE, OR MONTEITH HOUSE IN ROSSEAU, THE VALUE WILL CERTAINLY INCREASE BY FIFTY TO A HUNDRED PERCENT. THE MORE IDENTIFICATION, SUCH AS THE NAME OF THE FORMER OWNER, CAN ADD TO THIS, ESPECIALLY IF THAT CREEL, HAD ONCE BELONGED TO DEPARTMENT STORE MAGNATE, TIMOTHY EATON, WHO COTTAGED AT RAVENSCRAG, IN WINDERMERE. THE PHOTO ARCHIVES CAN SHOW A LOT OF ANTIQUES, COLLECTIBLES AND REGIONAL NOSTALGIA, IN THE ORIGINAL SETTING OF COTTAGES AND LODGES, FROM THAT VINTAGE. THE "SUMMERTIMES" BOOK IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS PHOTO REFERENCING RESOURCE. THE BOOK FROM AROUND THE SAME PERIOD, BIOGRAPHICAL OF A WELL KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER BY THE NAME OF MICKLETHWAITE, (AND HIS WORK IN MUSKOKA), IS ALSO A HIGHLY VALUABLE BOOK TO THE COLLECTOR OF LOCAL ANTIQUES ETC. THE BOOK IS "MICKLETHWAITE'S MUSKOKA," BY JOHN DENISON, 1993, BOSTON MILLS PRESS. HE WAS CERTAINLY THE BEST KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER, AND HIS IMAGES OFFER A VALUABLE GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO VACATIONED IN MUSKOKA, IN THE LATE 1800'S. WE USE OURS CONSTANTLY AS A COLLECTING REFERENCE. I NOTICED THAT IT WAS ALSO AVAILABLE AT SCOTT'S OF MUSKOKA.

TEA TIME ANTIQUES

"THE ART OF TAKING TEA," 2002 HEARST COMMUNICATIONS, BY KIM WALLER….STILL AVAILABLE FROM OUT OF PRINT BOOK SELLERS….MOST LIKELY TO BE FOUND BY CONSULTING THE ADVANCED BOOK EXCHANGE, ONLINE.

THIS IS A GREAT LITTLE BOOK FOR CROSS REFERENCING VINTAGE TEA-TIME RELATED ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, FROM CHINA TEA POTS TO SILVER TEA SETS, CUPS AND SAUCERS, AND THE ENHANCEMENTS FOR THE TABLES THAT MAKES TEA-TIME SO PRECIOUS FOR US ANTIQUE LOVING FOLK. HERE'S THE THING. IF I HAVEN'T MADE THIS CLEAR BEFORE, IN THIS SERIES OF BLOGS ABOUT THE ANTIQUE BUSINESS, THE GENERALIST DEALER, AS MY WIFE AND I HAVE BEEN FOR THE PAST QUARTER CENTURY, HAS TO POSSESS A SUBSTANTIAL COLLECTION OF REFERENCE MATERIAL. I'M NOT SUGGESTING AN OVER-ABUNDANCE OF PRICE GUIDES. BOOKS LIKE "THE ART OF TAKING TEA," SHOW MANY ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE ENHANCEMENTS, IN THE PHOTOGRAPHIC COLLECTION. THIS IS REALLY IMPORTANT, FOR NOVICE DEALERS TO APPRECIATE. THESE DECORATOR, HOME DECORATING, AND ENTERTAINMENT THEME BOOKS, WITH THEIR EXTENSIVE USE OF ANTIQUES IN PLACE SETTING PHOTOGRAPHS, GIVE US IDEAS ABOUT VINTAGE PIECES WE FIND OUT ON OUR WEEKLY ANTIQUE ADVENTURES. THESE BOOKS SHOW US HOW ITEMS, LIKE OLD SILVER PLATE TEA POTS, AND TEA SERVICES, CAN BE INCORPORATED, FOR ELEGANT, HISTORIC TABLE SETTINGS, EVEN IN ULTRA MODERN HOME DECORS. THIS GOES FOR CHINA CUPS AND SAUCERS, AND EVEN COMPANION ART WORK. AS THEY SAY, "SEEING IS BELIEVING." WE ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW IDEAS, AND WAYS TO MAKE OUR FINDS MORE DECORATOR-FRIENDLY…….AS WE HAVE MANY, MANY CUSTOMERS WHO DON'T GIVE A FIG FOR ANTIQUE ENVIRONS…….BUT ADORE ANTIQUE ENHANCEMENTS, TO CREATE FUNCTIONAL, COLORFUL, AND INTERESTING DISPLAYS…..AND WE'VE FOUND A LOT OF KITCHEN LOVERS, WHO WANT TO CREATE MAGIC IN THE CONFLUENCE OF OLD AND NEW…..EFFICIENCY, WITH YOU MIGHT SAY, AN OLD WORLD FEEL. THIS TEA-TIME BOOK IS PERFECT IN THAT REGARD.

WHEN YOU GO OUT TO SECOND HAND SHOPS, YARD SALES, ESTATE SALES, AND AUCTIONS, IT IS HELPFUL IF YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS, AND WHAT CAN BE, A "DECORATOR PIECE." IF YOU GO TO SOME OF THE SECOND HAND SHOPS IN OUR REGION, YOU WILL FIND SHELVES LOADED WITH INTERESTING, OLD BUT NOT VALUABLE SILVER PLATE; CHINA CUPS AND SAUCERS, ALL FOR RELATIVELY LOW PRICES. THE PROBLEM OF COURSE, FOR THESE SHOPS, IS THAT IN THEIR MARKETING STRATEGY, OF PUTTING COMMON PIECES TOGETHER, TO ATTRACT CUSTOMERS, THE EXACT OPPOSITE CAN HAPPEN. THE SILVER JUST MERGES TOGETHER AND UNLESS THERE'S A "SHOW-STOPPER" RELIC OF SILVER-SMITHED CANADIAN OR AMERICAN TEA HERITAGE, STUCK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE ELECTRO-PLATE COMMONS, FEW DISTINCTIONS CAN BE MADE DUE TO A LACK OF SERIOUS CONTRAST. BY LOOKING IN THIS BOOK MENTIONED, YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY SEE HOW A VINTAGE PIECE OF SILVER…..WITHOUT BEING STIRLING, CAN DAZZLE TO BRIGHTNESS, OPPOSITE SIMILARLY VINTAGE, NICELY DECORATED CHINA CUPS AND SAUCERS. SO IT'S UP TO YOU, AS A COLLECTOR / DECORATOR, TO KNOW HOW THESE CAST-OFF, SOMEWHAT UNREMARKABLE ITEMS CAN DISTINGUISH YOUR VERY NEXT TEA TIME EVENT. WE DEPEND ON BOOKS LIKE THIS, AND HUNDREDS OF OTHER INTERIOR DESIGN BOOKS, WITH RETRO THEMES, TO GET IDEAS ABOUT THE PLACE AND PURPOSE TO FIT OUR "FOUND" COLLECTIBLES. SEEING IS BELIEVING. IT'S THE REASON, THAT WHILE OTHER PATRONS PONDER, FONDLE AND DELAY, WHILE LOOKING AT A DISPLAY OF ANTIQUE TEA POTS, FOR EXAMPLE, WE WILL GRAB THE TWO BEST ONES IN THE TIME IT TAKES THEM TO BLINK ONCE. WE'VE SEEN HOW SIMILAR COLLECTIBLES HAVE BEEN CLEANED UP, AND USED IN CONTEMPORARY DECORATION……AND PRACTICAL FUNCTION. IT'S THE REASON WE HAVE BEEN BUILDING OUR MARTHA STEWARD COLLECTION OF ENTERTAINING, SEASONALLY THEMED BOOKS, FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS. IDEAS. CONCEPTS WE HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT. USES WE HADN'T DREAMED OF. APPLICATION WE THOUGHT ABSURD. BUT THEY WORKED. WE ALWAYS CONSULT THESE BOOKS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROMOTE THE OLD RELICS WE POSSESS, INTO THE ENTERTAINING DOMAIN OF THIS NEW CENTURY. THAT MEANS SALES FOR US.

SOME FOLKS WE TALK WITH ABOUT ANTIQUES, ASSUME WE HAVE THOUSANDS OF PRICE GUIDES AND REFERENCE BOOKS, ON THE SPECIFICS OF COLLECTING. OF COURSE WE DO. BUT A MAJORITY OF OUR CUSTOMERS, AT SALES THESE DAYS, HAVE MORE "MARTHA STEWART" DECORATING CONCEPTS, THAN ANTIQUE VALUE INTERESTS. THIS IS THE BIGGEST SHIFT AWAY FROM OBSESSION WITH "VALUES ONLY", I'VE EVER SEEN, SINCE JOINING THE ANTIQUE TRADE BACK IN THE LATE 1970'S. I THINK IT'S GREAT, AND I'LL TELL YOU, FOR THOSE DEALERS WHO HAVE PAID ATTENTION TO THE TRENDS, MANY THAT HAVE BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE MARTHA STEWART BOOKS THEMSELVES, THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL PROFIT ATTACHED. WHILE I'M STILL AWARE OF ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE VALUATIONS, I'M DRIFTING EVER FURTHER AWAY FROM THE ANTIQUE ROADSHOW WAY OF LOOKING AT THE INDUSTRY…..AND MORE ABOUT THE WONDERFUL GOOD GRACES OF ELEGANT TABLES SETTINGS, AS PROMOTED BY BOOKS LIKE "THE ART OF TAKING TEA." MY OLD ANTIQUE HUNTING CRONIES THINK I'M GETTING SOFT IN MY OLD AGE. I TELL THEM, "I'M GOING WHERE THE MONEY IS, LADS." THESE DECORATING BOOKS HAVE GIVEN A NEW SIGNIFICANCE TO WHAT WERE USUALLY SEEN BY THESE SAME VALUE-OBSESSED CRONIES, AS "JUST OLD STUFF." WELL, YOU CAN SURE DO A LOT OF QUALITY DECORATING WITH "JUST OLD STUFF," AND I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU……THE PRICE IS RIGHT.