Play On

Not sure if there is something to it other than coincidence but I keep finding old card games lately. Last week I stumbled on an old game of Bezique. It's a french card game I'm assuming is a bit like bridge? I am typically not much of a cards player although I'd keep this one handy just because of the box. The decks appear to be unused, it likely sat in someones closet for the last 75 years.

Yesterday I stumbled onto a game of Flinch. This one is an American card game made in Michigan in which players try to get rid of their own cards while trying to keep from taking on new ones.

This box was made in 1913 which makes it 100 years old, cool!

The Purse

 "Thunk", my husband throws a worn brown change purse on the table, "I found this in the tire well" he says as he makes a rather horrified, face. I laugh, and stare down at it, and begin to notice the details. Its made to look like leather but it isn't, I can tell because I can see the frayed cloth edges in the parts worn off by fingers opening and closing the latch over the years. "Somebody used this purse their whole life" I say. "Can you imagine having one change purse for years on end? People used to do that."

 And then I'm off down a train of thought that leads me to who used it and what they bought with it and how the few coins it held were probably enough to buy supplies for a week. That's another reason why I love what I do, that moment where I travel forty, fifty, a hundred years back in time and try to imagine the life of the person who used the tarnished object I"m holding in my hands.

 She was a woman in her mid to late thirties, her skirt to the floor, pince nez half way down the bridge of her nose, holding her purse open desperately searching for the right change. "I'm so sorry Mr Cooper, I'm two cents short. You know how it is these days, everyone scrambling just to make ends meet." He gives her a knowing look, and motions to her to close the purse.

"You're not drinking your coffee?" He says to me.
 "Huh? Oh, I-I was just.., following links, in my head, (he looks at me confused) you know, remembering who had this etc, etc." I place the purse in my own bag and go back to reading the Straight.  Until the next one......

Favourites

I'm beginning a a new feature today, I've decided to start promoting friends and fellow collectors wherever they may be. I'm so happy to introduce you this week to Magpie! The newest jewel on Main Street in the hip and happening neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant.

 Darren Marshall has an eye for the sparkly, a true talent for design, and a love of all precious and wonderful objets d'art from our past and present. Together with partner Lloyd the go to guy, the man who holds it all together, they opened Magpie only two short weeks ago. 

Walking into Magpie is like walking into a giant Treasure Chest. Everywhere you look there is colour and sparkle enveloped in deep aubergine walls, lit by more sparkle. It is truly a feast for the eyes. Whether its First Nations art,  Mid-Century Hand Blown Glass,  Antique Chintz Porcelain, or  Stunning 19th Century,Vintage or Modern Jewelry, you'll find something for every taste, fancy or whim. 

Darren's Picks: 

This glowing golden mixed metal monkey sculpture, made in the fifties by celebrated Mexican artist Sergio Bustamente

This beautiful Black Opera Coat made circa 1890 is all hand sewn silk with beaded fringe. It was made locally and the beads are made of jet. 

You owe it to yourself to go and see these and the other wonderful treasures at Magpie, 3633 Main Street, Vancouver.

The 3 R's Re-use, Re-use, and, you got it, Re-use

I went to the movies at International Village last week.  It's a huge mall filled for the most part with inexpensive cheaply made junk. It was at once a good and a most disillusioning experience. It was good in that after spending an hour or so window shopping I came to the conclusion that I am definitely on the right track professionally, but bad in that I saw how much garbage we are heaping onto this already full and sagging old world of ours. I realized that I can no longer take part in this so called "Global Economy". I can't shop at Dollar stores, Wall Mart, Winners, Ikea, Superstore, or any other big box store, Canadian owned or otherwise. And that is precisely the reason why I do what I do.
  There are good things out there folks, good functioning useful things that can be used again and again.   Things to make you look pretty, things to have fun with, things to relax with, it's all here already about a billion times over. And so here are a few of those choice things:

It's astounding to me that people seem to have stopped wearing watches. I know, everybody has a cellphone which has the time on it, but a watch is more than just a timepiece, it's a piece of jewelry and some are so incredibly elegant. I wonder how many battery operated watches will still be working a hundred years from now? These two are a Lady Elgin and Crest (Hy Moser, Swiss) watches from the 40's. They look fabulous on and are comfortable to wear.

When I saw this Kilt on the hanger I bolted for it, not too many of these still kicking around. The leather straps are still soft, and the skirt, with a little dry cleaning, will look smokin with a pair of vintage boots.

And Perhaps to add a little colour a Beautiful Turkish scarf. It's an enormous (42" square) 100% silk scarf with hand rolled edges, hand sewn and absolutely stunning.

you know the drill

New Costume Pieces

Oooh I've been finding some wonderful vintage jewelry lately,  a fabulous vintage Selro Bracelet with tribal faces and faux ivory swords

a beautiful french hand painted porcelain paneled bracelet, 

Three vintage doublestrand necklaces, the first two are plastic 

and the third is glass

and this oh so cute Canadian souvenir brooch 

and finally this tribal style chunky pendant made of horn and wood

You'll find them all (except the Selro which sold in the blink of an eye) in my shop at the flea market, stall 69.

and .....

Just Listed on my eBay

This gorgeous Kramer of New York Brooch with pastel blown glass beads gently cradled in enamel painted leaves and this Subtle and Organic raw amber necklace, perfect for summer.

Click the Aunt Betty's Link in the side bar.

Flea Market Etiquette

I think it's time to have the talk. Don't be nervous, we've alll had to hear it, or learn the hard way. Myself, I learned by trial and more than a few errors. Yes, I'm talking about Flea Market Etiquette.  (You mean you thought I was talking about something else?)

All right, Rule # 1: Kind Words go a long way to getting a good deal. If you are hoping for big discounts don't start by dissing the merchandise or the seller. Telling a dealer what's wrong with their item is almost guaranteed to stall negotiations. If there are flaws (and often there are, we are talking about items that are generally 40-50+ years old),  most dealers worth their salt will point them out to you. That's a good time to suggest a small discount.

               Rule #2: Even if you are one of the appraisers from Antiques Roadshow please be humble, let the dealer tell you what he/she knows about the item first, then if you have something to add, add it with a little humility. Most dealers I know are happy to get new information if it's delivered with a little finesse.

               Rule #3: If you're planning on low balling with your offer, preface it with  a little humour at least. Re-Selling is an extremely difficult way to earn money. Few if any dealers ever get their items for free and most make only marginal profits on the majority of their sales. We are there because we love the thrill of the hunt, we love connection to the past, we love the history and provenance. And, most of us at least, like the social aspect of buying and selling in a community marketplace.

              Rule #4: Please, for the love of God, don't ask how much an item is and then tell the seller what an amazing deal you just got on the same item from another dealer.  We are happy you got a good deal- we really are, but our prices are set by what we paid for our items, which may be much more than what the dealer you bought your item from paid.

              Rule #5: Consider This; A vendor spends a good portion of their time outside the fleamarket searching for items to sell. When and if they find something worth selling they then have to take it home and begin researching and preparing it, (ie, cleaning or repairing and pricing it). This all takes much much more time than you realize. Then they have to haul their goods to the market and arrange them in a nice display. If I added up all the time I spent in prep for going to market I'm pretty sure my wage would be far less than your local Barista's. Soooooooo, please consider that the next time a vendor tells you a price for something. We are always happy to negotiate but please don't make us give you our shirts. For some of us this is our only source of income and I'm not complaining, just asking a for  a little consideration and respect.

Thanks so much to all of you who support these markets and make our work that much more enjoyable. My deepest hope is that next time you visit a flea market, you have fun and hopefully go home with some great finds and a good deal or two. Cheers.

Tick Tock

Tick Tock by Cassandre Smith

The golden pendulum sways methodically 

Demanding thought and respect for an action that should not be 

As the clock ticks, time passes unnoticed 

By those who are consumed to overflowing 

Patience, a quality once prevalent, is in want 

Whirls of color blur past, rendezvous at the grave; too late 

Too late to appreciate the simplicities 

Too late to appreciate the sensations; enveloping at every turn, breath 

Born, live, die...Born, live, die 

The pinkness of a newborn, the healthy glow of success, the grayish, earthy tint of death 

As we transition through shades, our life shortens with each turn of the color wheel 

Not enough time, never enough time 

Float on the clouds, paint the skies, glide down a rainbow 

Pause and breathe in the elements 

A pendulum's movement is not altered by one's inability to observe the fragility that is humanity 

Let each tick...tock define a moment cherished, unforgotten, frozen in time