One of the things I'm trying to keep up on is the blogsphere. Not the entire thing, but definitely the things I love. I recently added my blogroll to my little spot here. I wanted to introduce you to the ones I follow right now.
The first is a big "duh" as to why I'm interested. When I changed the name of my blog last year, I actually Googled "suburban treasure hunter" - there's a million "urban" hunters out there, but no one turned up at all on my search with anything but a passing reference (three). I thought I'd coined a phrase. Then I did it again a week or two ago (just after my post about buying a metal detector ... seriously) and bam! - Suburban Treasure Hunter turned up. What a great site! I tried the Coin Roll hunt he suggested (but with quarters and dollars since my daughter needed laundry money). I didn't find anything of note, but I've started a President collection of new dollar coins for my grandkids, and made the resolution (goal!) to sift through the huge bean pot full of pennies my husband has on his dresser during the next snowstorm. This blog has some fabulous reference links, too (including a really cool coin grading site) and all the posts have taught me something in a very complicated and potentially fruitful area I know very little about (and will leave mostly to the experts). Definitely a must-go, especially if you have kids, or you're hunting with a tight budget - metal detector is optional for some of it.
On the flip side of hunting reality are the fantasy kinds of hunts on Treasure Trove. This guy tracks really amazing finds world-wide, from shipwrecks off our own coasts to relics in Britain to mosaics in Egypt and Turkey, and links them to his site. It's just fun seeing what's turning up with the pros - or, in one case, with the farmer tilling his field.
Artsy-Fartsy is all about envy. My sister is a fantastic painter and photographer. My brother can do the most amazing things with wood, glass, and electrical wire. Somehow the only vaguely artistic thing I can do is cook well (with few ingredients and no time, anyway - my bro kicks my butt in the more gourmet ways). This woman picks up stuff I'd never even notice in a thrift shop and turns them into sweet, funky, really fun things. I'm now on the lookout for a pirate chest to put in my office - the better to store my treasures, right?
Write on Track is for the recovering perfectionist ... uh, the writer in me. She's battling the same kind of block that I've been fighting for years, and I know that if one of us can do it we all can do it. Come on Diane! I want to read those books! (Especially the one with the grandmother!)
Last (but hardly least) is a blog I discovered purely by accident but one that I love - almost an anti-me in some ways (she is learning to divest the material while I positively embrace my inner Diva) but mostly we're not that far apart. Like her, I find ways to cut back (working my way completely out of debt), like her, I prefer the recycle-reuse-repurpose mind-set (how do you think I discovered all of this, anyway?), and, like her, I took my first critical steps when my kids were at home. Hers is the site I go when I'm spiralling into gluttony, or finding myself too often in upscale shops, to remind myself of my original goals. This is a determined, resourceful, and clever woman who writes warm, funny, and very grounding posts.
So this is it so far. I am going to try to beef up my blog over the next few months with more on the blogroll, more pictures, more links to faboo instructional and reference-worthy sites, places to share your stories and show off your finds ... anything I can think of to make my place one that's useful, fun, interesting, even interactive.
Good hunting!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Listening
When I changed the blog's name, I decided (obviously) to shift focus from money accumulating to treasure hunting, to up the ante with technical aspects (I'm on my phone right now), and to change from two posts a week to one. Except when something cool happens.
Yesterday, the Big Lug and I went to drop watches off with our repair guy. It's a long haul, but every other Friday is our day-trip time. On the way, we stopped for lunch at one of our fave places, passing an antique mall ("and flea market") we keep saying we'll investigate. After the remaining 30 miles, after the watch-drop, my companion-for-life asked if we should hunt the thrifts here or go home. I thought about the stores there, the weather possibles (icy rain was forecast), but "my gut" told me something illogical, and for the first time in weeks, I listened to it. I told the Lug, and, with shrug of acceptance, off we went to the new place.
It was exactly what we like - a mix of old and new that is well-kept and stocked but doesn't take itself too seriously. And, in a tray full of silver earrings, I found a pair of heavy-for-their-size, priced-as-silver, figural conch shells, marked "Bahamas" ... and "14 K".
Welcome back Mama Angel.
Yesterday, the Big Lug and I went to drop watches off with our repair guy. It's a long haul, but every other Friday is our day-trip time. On the way, we stopped for lunch at one of our fave places, passing an antique mall ("and flea market") we keep saying we'll investigate. After the remaining 30 miles, after the watch-drop, my companion-for-life asked if we should hunt the thrifts here or go home. I thought about the stores there, the weather possibles (icy rain was forecast), but "my gut" told me something illogical, and for the first time in weeks, I listened to it. I told the Lug, and, with shrug of acceptance, off we went to the new place.
It was exactly what we like - a mix of old and new that is well-kept and stocked but doesn't take itself too seriously. And, in a tray full of silver earrings, I found a pair of heavy-for-their-size, priced-as-silver, figural conch shells, marked "Bahamas" ... and "14 K".
Welcome back Mama Angel.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Signs
Thursday I searched the jewelry cases at three different thrift shops and came away with a great tablecloth I don't really need (linen, I think, and humming with lace) with 8 matching napkins ($10). Friday after pricing the (overpriced) gold and silver at two more stores I walked away with a book (The Thirteenth Tale) boasting a virgin spine and the price still on it for $1. Saturday I got caught up in my bill-paying and dinner-making before a meeting with my writing partners took over my day and my brain (happily); one brief stop at an estate sale up the street on the way home yielded a total of ... nothing. Sunday was preparation for both of my two scheduled classes, and then actually teaching the two classes (one of them new). And Monday I somehow got distracted from the one and only sale I saw on the way to another appointment - took a different route from the location and ended up in an endless look-for-parking loop at my favorite thrift store, which added to my great load of diddly.
It's a sign.
Oh, for nothing so exciting as "the coming apocalypse" or "my impending post-menopausal state." No, this is a sign of a different kind of change.
One of my fall resolutions was to have more adventures. To me, that means facing my fears and taking risks and not being afraid to spend a ton of time somewhere without anything but memories to show for it. That's what this week has been - but too much like ... a job. Yuck!
It's time to break from (momentarily) my familiar charity shops and antique malls. It's time to add to the treasure mix - and add to my bottom line at the same time. It's time to begin a new hunt - for a fabulous (and cheap) metal detector.
Indiana Jones, move over!
If he ... you know ... actually used a metal detector.
It's a sign.
Oh, for nothing so exciting as "the coming apocalypse" or "my impending post-menopausal state." No, this is a sign of a different kind of change.
One of my fall resolutions was to have more adventures. To me, that means facing my fears and taking risks and not being afraid to spend a ton of time somewhere without anything but memories to show for it. That's what this week has been - but too much like ... a job. Yuck!
It's time to break from (momentarily) my familiar charity shops and antique malls. It's time to add to the treasure mix - and add to my bottom line at the same time. It's time to begin a new hunt - for a fabulous (and cheap) metal detector.
Indiana Jones, move over!
If he ... you know ... actually used a metal detector.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Proof
Sometimes, when I return from a trip, I make the transition into my usual rut ... uh, routine so quickly that the time away feels like a dream. I love having tangible evidence that I did, indeed, go to those too-soon-hazy places.
Not that I took pictures in the malls, which I really did intend to do - to show the scope of some of these places. I forgot I had the camera until we came out of the endless snow. See how crazy it makes me?
Proof of crappy weather. The white is salt and sand and heaven knows what else. Seriously, when we finally ran it through a car wash (the super-duper-everything wash) we drove about five feet before the hidden stuff started streaking me up again.
These are my banks. The one on the left (log cabin) I bought two years ago. The one on the right is from the trip. (I have a Set!) I have a better picture from the front but it doesn't show the unbroken slot. This view, at least, gives you a glimpse of it inside the chimneys. That tiny sliver of unbroken glass adds value, as do the labels still on the bottoms of both (touting its contents - prepared mustard, a very cool thing in the Victorian Era).
This is a neat pair. The creamer is indeed Portieux pattern - Louis XV. It was $3 at a thrift shop. The Santa was at a small antique place we found just after we returned to dry roads - a rare Robed Santa attributed to Dobson & Co. (patent, 1901). The runners are both chipped off in the back (can you see it?), but even so it's worth more than I paid for it.
Here's my pins. From the sterling silver (upper left) to the gold plated (mostly upper) these are lots of fun. The skinny one up by the airplane is for BP, but I don't think it's the gasoline company - seems to be pipe. My favorites are the music teacher (the colorful one at the top) which is written in German, not English, and the Masque and Gavel, which I'm still researching. Both tested out as plated but I think the jury's still out on the latter. It's flawless, yes?
Then there was the little bit of gold I found (that I wanted to pay their prices for). The peridot ring is a bit fuzzy in the picture, but that's okay - it's very pretty - and the earrings are fabulous (and were fairly cheap). But my favorite here is the wedding set (top left). The fused wedding set. I wear it on my right hand even as I type. It's a lovely, creamy old gold, and the 25 point (or so) diamond in the center is flawless. It puts out such happy vibes that I smile just to wear it.
I did a bit of hunting once I got home, but mostly I've just been catching up on things. What I have found here were prices mostly at scrap value (when gold). That makes them not great bargains but since three were chains, which I desperately need (and which were still less than I'd find at an antique mall or retail) they were worth it. I also discovered a decanter, standing like a custard glass beauty queen in the middle of a shelf full of plaster Dollar Store figurines, coffee cups, and floral-ware giveways. A couple of bucks later, she was mine. I think it's Imperial (which would make it rare) but her neck isn't quite right. When I do the research I'll report back on that.
I'm finding myself spending more than I should lately, and I know it. I need to work on the house for awhile, or on the writing project that has come my way. I won't neglect this - I truly love the hunt - but I will confine myself to rare, oh-my-God pieces or amazing bargains (preferably both!) for awhile. At least, I'll try.
And then, come Spring, I'll divest again. It's the Circle of Life.
At least it is in my house.
Not that I took pictures in the malls, which I really did intend to do - to show the scope of some of these places. I forgot I had the camera until we came out of the endless snow. See how crazy it makes me?
Proof of crappy weather. The white is salt and sand and heaven knows what else. Seriously, when we finally ran it through a car wash (the super-duper-everything wash) we drove about five feet before the hidden stuff started streaking me up again.
These are my banks. The one on the left (log cabin) I bought two years ago. The one on the right is from the trip. (I have a Set!) I have a better picture from the front but it doesn't show the unbroken slot. This view, at least, gives you a glimpse of it inside the chimneys. That tiny sliver of unbroken glass adds value, as do the labels still on the bottoms of both (touting its contents - prepared mustard, a very cool thing in the Victorian Era).
This is a neat pair. The creamer is indeed Portieux pattern - Louis XV. It was $3 at a thrift shop. The Santa was at a small antique place we found just after we returned to dry roads - a rare Robed Santa attributed to Dobson & Co. (patent, 1901). The runners are both chipped off in the back (can you see it?), but even so it's worth more than I paid for it.
Here's my pins. From the sterling silver (upper left) to the gold plated (mostly upper) these are lots of fun. The skinny one up by the airplane is for BP, but I don't think it's the gasoline company - seems to be pipe. My favorites are the music teacher (the colorful one at the top) which is written in German, not English, and the Masque and Gavel, which I'm still researching. Both tested out as plated but I think the jury's still out on the latter. It's flawless, yes?
Then there was the little bit of gold I found (that I wanted to pay their prices for). The peridot ring is a bit fuzzy in the picture, but that's okay - it's very pretty - and the earrings are fabulous (and were fairly cheap). But my favorite here is the wedding set (top left). The fused wedding set. I wear it on my right hand even as I type. It's a lovely, creamy old gold, and the 25 point (or so) diamond in the center is flawless. It puts out such happy vibes that I smile just to wear it.I did a bit of hunting once I got home, but mostly I've just been catching up on things. What I have found here were prices mostly at scrap value (when gold). That makes them not great bargains but since three were chains, which I desperately need (and which were still less than I'd find at an antique mall or retail) they were worth it. I also discovered a decanter, standing like a custard glass beauty queen in the middle of a shelf full of plaster Dollar Store figurines, coffee cups, and floral-ware giveways. A couple of bucks later, she was mine. I think it's Imperial (which would make it rare) but her neck isn't quite right. When I do the research I'll report back on that.
I'm finding myself spending more than I should lately, and I know it. I need to work on the house for awhile, or on the writing project that has come my way. I won't neglect this - I truly love the hunt - but I will confine myself to rare, oh-my-God pieces or amazing bargains (preferably both!) for awhile. At least, I'll try.
And then, come Spring, I'll divest again. It's the Circle of Life.
At least it is in my house.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Diary of a Hunting Trip
Day 1: Drive, drive, drive. No stops to hunt, just to eat. Wanted to get here - biggest antique mall in the country (or so they say). Got to the hotel, have the whole leg-buzz thing going. And it's really cold. I'm going to bed now.
Day 2: It's really, really cold. Slept late. We forgot a few things, and by the time we caught up it was lunchtime. We ate near the mall. Thought it would take two days to go through, but we did it in six crazy hours. The Big Lug bought a fabulous watch. I lusted after an amazing milk glass bottle (a polar bear and lamppost which I don't remember), but since I didn't have $795 to spend on it bought several little service pins and a diamond-and-peridot ring instead. I wanted more, though - this and this and especially that. Now I remember why I prefer flea markets and thrift shops - I don't drool as much, and I can afford the things that make me that crazy.
It snowed two inches while we were inside, but it's so cold there's no ice or even slush in the parking lot. Sounds like cornstarch when I walk on it. Glad I didn't buy glass, though, because I'd be afraid of slipping and breaking it. My ears are numb. My toes are numb. I should wear my boots.
Day 3: First stop, thrift shop - found a creamer, think it's Portieux. Two other antique malls in the area. We hit both or them today. Found a Westmoreland schoolhouse bank (mustard container from 100 years ago) with an unbroken coin slot, no chips or flea bits on the rim, much paint still on it, original label, half the price of the one I bought several years ago ... wait, do I have a log cabin at home or another schoolhouse? Duplicate or pair? I can't remember since the twin/mate is in a box until I can get my office set up with display. Scored a Deco watch, too (needs cleaning) that said "14K Gold" inside the case. Got excited until I got it back and found the next line - "Supported By Metal." New way of saying "plated." I'll add it to my list. Also dug through some costume jewelry and found a tie tack I think is gold. Had a lot of fun. Can't get a ring set out of my mind from yesterday, though. Maybe we'll stop by and get it on our way out.
My skin is crumbling in this dry, frigid air. My car is covered with salt. My hair looks like a haystack. We're supposed to go north tomorrow.
Day 4: Over my dead body. We haven't had a clear day since we got here, and it's worse around the Great Lakes. We headed south instead, straight south, as soon as we snagged our "haunted-by" finds - he got another watch (okay, three) and I am now the proud owner of a fused wedding set (which I'd never heard of anyone doing but it makes a really fantastic single ring). Roads were icy for awhile, then switched to wet thanks to the salt, and all the time snow, snow, snow. Spending the night in the mountains - couldn't really make it farther. And though it wasn't supposed to be this bad, even here, it is. I want to go home. Next time I decide to travel in winter, I'm headed for Florida.
Day 5: Three hours getting out of the mountains. I almost cried when we hit sunlight, and I went limp with the first stretch of dry road. Still cold, but I can travel without clutching either steering wheel (when driving) or panic bar (when passenger). Stopped at three more places. Found a very old Santa in sleigh (chipped on the sled runners, but at only a tenth of the price a perfect piece would bring, not bad), and a sterling ID bracelet (engraved on the back from the boyfriend, in 1947) in a thrift shop for a dollar. I love shopping cheap, and unexpected.
Last night on the road. Still cold, but almost home. Pictures later.
Happy New Year.
Day 2: It's really, really cold. Slept late. We forgot a few things, and by the time we caught up it was lunchtime. We ate near the mall. Thought it would take two days to go through, but we did it in six crazy hours. The Big Lug bought a fabulous watch. I lusted after an amazing milk glass bottle (a polar bear and lamppost which I don't remember), but since I didn't have $795 to spend on it bought several little service pins and a diamond-and-peridot ring instead. I wanted more, though - this and this and especially that. Now I remember why I prefer flea markets and thrift shops - I don't drool as much, and I can afford the things that make me that crazy.
It snowed two inches while we were inside, but it's so cold there's no ice or even slush in the parking lot. Sounds like cornstarch when I walk on it. Glad I didn't buy glass, though, because I'd be afraid of slipping and breaking it. My ears are numb. My toes are numb. I should wear my boots.
Day 3: First stop, thrift shop - found a creamer, think it's Portieux. Two other antique malls in the area. We hit both or them today. Found a Westmoreland schoolhouse bank (mustard container from 100 years ago) with an unbroken coin slot, no chips or flea bits on the rim, much paint still on it, original label, half the price of the one I bought several years ago ... wait, do I have a log cabin at home or another schoolhouse? Duplicate or pair? I can't remember since the twin/mate is in a box until I can get my office set up with display. Scored a Deco watch, too (needs cleaning) that said "14K Gold" inside the case. Got excited until I got it back and found the next line - "Supported By Metal." New way of saying "plated." I'll add it to my list. Also dug through some costume jewelry and found a tie tack I think is gold. Had a lot of fun. Can't get a ring set out of my mind from yesterday, though. Maybe we'll stop by and get it on our way out.
My skin is crumbling in this dry, frigid air. My car is covered with salt. My hair looks like a haystack. We're supposed to go north tomorrow.
Day 4: Over my dead body. We haven't had a clear day since we got here, and it's worse around the Great Lakes. We headed south instead, straight south, as soon as we snagged our "haunted-by" finds - he got another watch (okay, three) and I am now the proud owner of a fused wedding set (which I'd never heard of anyone doing but it makes a really fantastic single ring). Roads were icy for awhile, then switched to wet thanks to the salt, and all the time snow, snow, snow. Spending the night in the mountains - couldn't really make it farther. And though it wasn't supposed to be this bad, even here, it is. I want to go home. Next time I decide to travel in winter, I'm headed for Florida.
Day 5: Three hours getting out of the mountains. I almost cried when we hit sunlight, and I went limp with the first stretch of dry road. Still cold, but I can travel without clutching either steering wheel (when driving) or panic bar (when passenger). Stopped at three more places. Found a very old Santa in sleigh (chipped on the sled runners, but at only a tenth of the price a perfect piece would bring, not bad), and a sterling ID bracelet (engraved on the back from the boyfriend, in 1947) in a thrift shop for a dollar. I love shopping cheap, and unexpected.
Last night on the road. Still cold, but almost home. Pictures later.
Happy New Year.