Goodbye 2011 and Hello 2012

Well, here it is - December 31st, the last day of 2011.  Time to reflect over this past year and to think about what needs to be accomplished next year.  It's really sort of hard to believe that it is going to be 2012.  When I was a kid, 2012 seemed to be so far into the future.  I certainly can't begin to list all the things that have changed since the 1950s and 60s, but a lot of things have - some good and some not so good.
I think the biggest accomplishment in 2011 was finishing going through and cleaning out our mother's house.  After 3 years, we are done going through the stuff.  Stuff has either been thrown away, sold in garage sales, packed for online selling , sent to auction houses or split between us 3 kids.  Oh, there are a few things that we have packed to go through later - letters, papers and pictures - but the house is empty.  We are ready to close the estate, physically and mentally.

My garage is full of boxes of stuff to sell online       

And, it is all really cool stuff!

Lots of memories and pretties that I can touch and play with!  But, boy, the garage is full - no room for cars here. 

2012 is going to be a busy year.  I am satisfied with both my eCrater stores and my Auctiva Commerce store, so I won't be adding or getting rid of anymore stores.  I have a great group of friends and mentors at ESN - don't think I could live without.  And, I love blogging - just need to do more of it.  But, all in all, I think I have built a good foundation this past year and look forward to 2012.

 HAPPY NEW YEAR'S

In 1968, It Was Still "Merry Christmas"

Last year I wrote about memories about my grandmother's silver Christmas tree.  We hadn't found it yet and we knew our mother would not have gotten rid of it.  But, did my grandmother?  My sister found it, still in the box and packed.  I now have my grandmother's silver Christmas tree and it is now all decorated with the color wheel turning twinkling colors of red, green, yellow and blue.  As you can see, with the tree done, Bronx is facing north waiting for Santa.  But more about the Christmas decorating later.  Opening the box, all the branches were stored in their sleeves.  The branches were then wrapped by the color code and everything was wrapped in newspaper. 

The date of the newspaper that everything was wrapped in was Wednesday, December 25, 1968.  The newspaper was The Indianapolis Star.  The newspaper is actually in very good condition.  The front page is The Christmas Story with Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  The top of the paper it said, "The Star Wishes All A Merry Christmas." 

    It was also a time when space exploration was still young and exciting - see "Pueblo Crew United With Families."  To be honest, I was almost more excited reading the Christmas 1968 newspaper.  We really need to get back to calling it what it is - Christmas.

Flipping through my 1968 treasured newspaper, I had to look at the fashion of the day.  Love the fur collars and empire waist style.  I didn't have time to go through all of the paper, but don't think I will be rewrapping the silver tree with this paper.  Oh, the wonderful memories of the '60s.         

A Box of Marbles - A Game of The Past

I wonder if kids even play with marbles now-a-days.  We had marbles when we were kids, but I don't think people buy them for kids anymore - probably because they do not talk, sing or teach you how to do math.  Well they can teach you math, but marbles can't talk and tell you if you are right or wrong.  Oh, yeah, and I'm sure they are considered too dangerous for today's kids.

I didn't realize there were so many games associated with marbles.  Mostly, we just thought they were pretty and tried to hit the marbles and see how far we could get them to go.     

We found this box of marbles that our mother had ordered from The Great American Marble Company.  Seems they were trying to get people to rediscover marbles.  They called it a sport and said that marble-like objects have been found in 2,500-year old Egyptian tombs.  Famous Marble players include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.  From across the pond, there was a gentleman from England called "Hydrogen Thumb."  Isn't that hilarious?

If you are going to play Marbles, you will need to know the language.  Aggies, mibs, bumboozers, hunching and snoogers - what does that mean?  Oh, that information is included with the box of marbles.

There are well over 50 marbles games and the rules and instruction for several of those games are also included with the box of marbles from The Great American Marble Company.  

While The Great American Marble Company offered different size bags of marbles, they also offered this box made of white pine, handcrafted and sanded, with over 100 small marbles and six shooters.  I did count the marbles and there were 117 small marbles including swirlies, cat's eyes, clearies and solid glass.  All made in the U.S.!

Dr. Sayman and his Traveling Medicine Show

I had found a small square milk glass jar in one of my mother's auction boxes.  A tin lid with the impression of a reputable-looking man that screwed onto the jar.  Raised words around the lid say - Sayman's Products Are Supreme Dr. Sayman St. Louis.  There was no label or markings on the jar.  I had never heard of Sayman's Products before but thought that this was probably a jar for ointment or salve.  One of the things I love about selling vintage glass is the research and discovering interesting stories of past entrepreneurs of our great country.  Dr. Thomas M. Sayman is no exception.  In fact, I would have to say, he is one of the most colorful and interesting charactors I have come across.

Dr. Thomas M. Sayman was not really a doctor.  He was born around 1854.  Barefooted and dressed in overalls, he ran away from his Indiana farm home at the age of 9 to make his own way in the world.  At 10, he started traveling with a circus and medicine show.  By the time he was 11, he had organized his own medicine show and traveled through Texas in a horse drawn wagon peddling his soaps, tonics and medicines.  Just fascinating stuff! 

He developed creams, medicine salves and soaps, building a large manufacturing plant in 1912.  He had become very wealthy and employed many people.  It is said that he was very generous with giving to charities and taking care of his employees.   It seems that he was also concerned with the possibility of being robbed and was known to keep a large collection of weapons.  He had no problem brandishing a pistol in public.  Not well accepted, these incidents landed him in trouble with the police and courts over fifty times.  And, then there were the suits against his Sayman's Vegetable Liniment Compound by the US for misbranding.  The list of ailments and diseases that Sayman's Vegetable Liniment Compound was suppose to cure included just about everything known to man.  And, not only did it cure ailments for humans, but also horses and dogs.     

Mr. Sayman had three daughters and one son by his first wife, Rosa.  He divorced sometime between 1900 to 1910.  He married a second wife, Lillian and had a daughter.  Divorce was bit unusual considering the times of the 1900s.   

Thomas M. Sayman died in September of 1937.  What a character!  I just can't get over that at the age of 9, he left home to seek his fame and fortune.  

This Dr Sayman Square Milk Glass Jar that use to hold some of Doc Sayman's miracle ointment sold pretty quickly.   

Toothpick Heaven!

Our grandmother collected two different items - first being St. Clair toothpick holders.  She had Indian Head toothpicks in every color that St. Clair produced and a lot of the Holly pattern toothpicks.  When we were at her house, at some point we would be standing in front of her china cupboard and looking in awe at all her toothpick holders.  Even the older grandkids loved looking at all the toothpick holders.  The second item she collected was the carnival glass in the Harvest pattern from the Indiana Glass Company in Dunkirk, In.  Yes, this is considered the "new" carnival glass and I have to admit, growing up, this was not my favorite glass.  But what did make it special was seeing the sparkle in her eyes and how happy she was when she looked at the glass or was able to buy a new piece.  With St. Clair located in Elwood, In and Indiana Glass in Dunkirk, In, it was always a special treat for her to go to the factories with her sister, Aunt Goldie. 

Our mother also collected toothpick holders.  Her finds came from auctions, antique stores visited while traveling with my sister and me, and St. Clair in Elwood, In.  Other than St. Clair, she only looked for toothpicks that she thought were pretty.  The value really had nothing to do with her collections.  In her eyes, all glass was of value.  While I have been selling the toothpicks that were still wrapped in the auction boxes, the ones she did have displayed were included in the toothpick holders for us to choose from.       

The main thing that we did yesterday was to divide the toothpicks between the three of us.  We put all the toothpicks on a long table - there were 150+ toothpicks - St. Clair, Imperial, Fenton, Boyd, Summit, Deganhart and a few others.  Nothing high dollar, but all very special.  We decided to each pick 20 and then we would sell the rest online at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles at eCrater.  We took turns picking out our toothpicks one at a time and with so many to choose from, it took quite sometime to reach our 20 each.  As we looked over the remaining toothpicks, another one caught my sister's eye.  My brother said, "so we each want to pick another one?"  We ended with 22 each.  It was a very good day with plenty left to sell.  And, with 22 each, the grandkids are well taken care of, too.      

The Beginning Of The End Of Our Journey

My brother, sister and I have been on a journey for the past three years since our mother past away in September, 2008.  I'm sure most people can not understand why it has taken this long for us to go through the things in her house.  For most, taking a bulldozer to the house would have been the logical answer.  But for us, hidden in the stacks of newspapers, magazines and boxes, were our memories and treasures that we seem to cling onto so tightly.  Among our mother's stuff was our grandmother's stuff - nothing was ever thrown away.  To be honest, it isn't that the stuff is so valuable, it is the memories that are triggered bringing smiles, laughter and tears that have guided us for the past three years.  The stuff represents the carefree years of our childhood, the shaping of who we are, our mother's love and the love we have for each other.  

Thought you just might want to see the big house -

   
Oh, yes, there are a few additions to the original house. 

It is our goal to be done by the end of October.  This will be my last week at my mother's house and will be the week that we decide who gets what.  I'm sure there will be some things that more than one of us will want - our mother's scissors, our grandmother's big white-frame mirror, our "stagecoach" rocking chair, family-collected glassware and family mementos.  This could be the hardest part of our three year journey. 

Yesterday, we walked through the house and discussed our plan and time frame for ending this journey.  For the next five days, we will again be talking and sharing while dividing our memories.  I'm sure there will be plenty of laughter and a few tears. 

Our final plan begins today. 

A Sister's Easter Gift

My brother, sister and I split up the carnival glass, both old and new.  Old carnival glass is my favorite glass.  Everything went smoothly and we were all very happy with our picks - more on that later.  Today, we divided the Greentown glass and St. Clair/Joe Rice paperweights.  Again, another fun day!  But, there is another story that I wanted to share about the toothpicks that we divided on Monday. 

The most special toothpick we found was a beautiful blue St. Clair Indian Head toothpick.  Oh, there were prettier toothpicks, but what made it special was the note we found inside it.  My grandmother and Aunt Goldie were sisters and about two years apart.  This toothpick was an Easter present from Aunt Goldie to my grandmother.  Not sure what year it was, but I'm guessing early 1970s.  Here is the note......

Aunt Goldie was the most beautiful lady.  She reminded me of a movie star with the spunk of a Katharine Hepburn and the beauty of a Rita Hayworth.  She was the favorite of our family.  She had a beautiful smile and infectious laugh.  We loved it when she would come and visit.  She passed away at the age of 104, about a month before our mother passed away.

And which one of us obtained this prized toothpick?  Our brother was the lucky one! 

Joe Rice Art Glass

 My grandmother loved to collect the St. Clair toothpick holders made by both Joe and Bob St. Clair.  As most of these were replicas of older patterns produced by other glass companies, St. Clair is more respected for the art glass paperweights that they produced.  Joe Rice's art glass paperweights are still made in the same family traditional way, but he also likes to experiment with new techniques.  Joe Rice is the nephew of Joe and Bob St. Clair.

I have watched them make the paperweights.  It is fascinating how this glob of hot molten glass turns into this beautiful paperweight with the flowers and bubbles encased in glass so clear that it looks like they are suspended in liquid.  I can get lost looking into these beautiful paperweights.

The first time I met Joe Rice in the late 1980s, I took a Greentown chocolate cactus sauce bowl to see if he could use the glass to make me a paperweight vase.  I had dropped the bowl several years earlier and broke it in many pieces.  I was so upset when it broke that my husband tried to glue it back together.  It was really beyond repair.  Well, you can't throw Greentown glass away so I thought maybe Joe could make it into something beautiful again.  He said he could.  As I started to hand him the glued sauce bowl that had missing slivers of glass, he looked at me and said he just couldn't break it.  He handed me the hammer.  So, I broke the Greentown chocolate sauce bowl.  I went back up the next week to pick up my vase and he gave me two vases made with my bowl.  They are so pretty with the caramel flowers in the bottom.

I offer new Joe Rice "paperweight" pieces for sale at my eCrater store.  While I will purchase some pieces already made, I also request certain pieces with the color combinations that I like.  I'm especially fond of pastels on black.  The pink and black is my favorite.  Will be ordering new perfume bottles with this combination soon.  Whether you collect Joe Rice Art Glass Paperweights yourself or are looking for that special gift, please visit 

CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles for

 Joe Rice Art Paperweights                

Sadie Cat and The Cherry Pitter

Some boxes of auction items that my mother purchased, at first glance, do not seem all that interesting.  We really like the boxes of glassware or pottery, but the old iron or metal stuff just doesn't seem all that great.  We just keep pushing them to the side looking for other boxes of real goodies, but sooner or later we are going to have to go through those other boxes. 

We started going through one such box.  There were light fixtures - some of the glass globes were pretty cool.  Then we found this - looked like a sausage stuffer gadget to me.  My brother, sister-in-law and sister weren't too sure.  We just couldn't figure out what else it could be.  So it was one of the items I brought home to do a little research on.  I have a large book of old kitchen items so hopefully, I could find it.

Stamped on the item was:  New Std. Cor. Mt. Joy PA Pat Pending #70.  What was really different was that it had Left Hand stamped on one side and Right Hand stamped on the other side.  The handle is connected with a pin so you could move the handle from one side to the other.  That's cool.  I started looking through my reference book for sausage stuffers.  Can't find one that quite looks like mine.  Tried googling; not much luck; a lot of #50s but doesn't look like mine.  OK, going through the book; page by page.  You know when I start doing that, I start reading about different things that catch my attention.  This became an all afternoon process.  And, then I saw it.  It's a cherry pitter.  Back on the computer looking up cherry pitters #70.  Not many but there are a few to look at.  Looks like mine is missing the bar clamp, but I see where it would attach. 

Not too much information - looks like it was probably made between 1920 to 1930. It is just too cool! Still not too sure exactly how it works, but happy to know what it is. Laid it on my dining room table on the paper I had wrapped it in. Next thing I know, Sadie Cat is laying with the cherry pitter. Has her paw on it and is fast asleep. For several days she gets on the dining table and sleeps with the cherry pitter even when I move it around to different spots of the table. She loves the cherry pitter. 

I wonder if she is going to let me sell it!  It's hard to say "no" to Sadie Cat!

Cowboys, Indians and Pony Rides

When did the guy with the pony stop coming around to take a picture of you sitting on the pony?  We would dress up in a cowboy outfit - it was so cool.  He was still coming around in the early 1950s when my brother and I were little.  By the 1960s, I don't think he was coming around anymore.  My sister never got her pictue taken on the pony.  So, what happened that ended one of the most wonderful memory makers for any city kid?

My brother and I are only 13 months apart so we were constant playmates when we were little.  We always combined playing house with cowboys and Indians.  I'm not sure that we knew there were girl's toys and boy's toys.  We wore cowboy hats and had guns and holsters around our waist.  Dolls were our children.  We used big cardboard boxes to make a fort around our "house" which was a card table with a blanket over it that also served as a teepee when we were the Indians.  The rocker with a padded seat was our stagecoach.  The curved wooden oak arms of the rocker were our horses.  The dolls would sit in the stagecoach and my brother and I would sit on our horses.  The harder you rocked; the faster our horses would go.  We used string to tie our horses to a post (the doorknob of the front door).  In the winter time, the floor register was our campfire.  It would get pretty hot when my mother would shovel coal into the furnace.  She wasn't real happy when the clay (our food) melted on the floor register.  Oh, and the time we spilt chocolate milk down the register - she wasn't real happy about that either.

So, when the man came around and asked if we wanted our picture taken on the pony, we got so excited.  Now, we didn't have much money and mother didn't splurge on frivolous things too often, but she ended up saying we could.  And, here we are sitting on our pony.  This was taken in 1953 at our house on State Street.  We were full-fledged cowboys and our pony was the most beautiful and best pony in the world!

Sitting on the pony and playing cowboys and Indians with my brother are some of my most wonderful childhood memories.  I'm so glad that we were children in the early '50s and didn't miss the man with the pony.     

Glass Hens On The Window Sill

Although I brought back 34 boxes of "pretties" that we will be selling, there were a few treasures that we won't be able to part with.  Going through the kitchen cabinets, my sister and I found some wonderful memories - some we had forgotten.  When my grandmother moved into the house in the early '70s, she had the kitchen renovated - this is an older house so it has 10' ceilings.  She had cabinets installed all the way to the ceiling on two walls - so you can imagine all the storage space.  She even had a new modern automatic washer and dryer installed.  The wringer washer was being replaced (actually, it is still in the old garage).   The cabinets still have my grandmother's kitchen gadgets, dishes and pots & pans.  My mother didn't remove anything; just added to it.  My grandmother's glass covered hens are still sitting on the window sill in front of the sink and the kitchen clock is still on the wall - a copper teapot design.  We haven't removed them yet.

You know, it is sort of weird.....the dishes, glasses, pots and pans were the same all through my childhood and even into my adult years.  We didn't change or replace dishes like we do today.  I don't think my kids are going to have as much fun going through my things.  Here are a few things that my sister and I found.  You may find this sort of funny, but we were like kids in a candy store.

Yes, that is an egg poacher.  My grandmother would fix me a poached egg and put it on toast - it was always a special breakfast.  Luckily, we found two of them so my sister took one and I took the other.  See that rolling pin?  Yes, the handle is broken off of one side and that is how I always remembered it.  I can see her rolling out the dough for "poppie" on Sunday morning.  She worked fast, maneuvering the rolling pin around and stretching the dough until it was perfect.  Then the dough would have to "dry" before she cut it up and put it in with the boiling beef or boiling chicken.  Sometimes she would let me drop the squares of dough into the boiling water and I could watch it puff up.  And, then her egg beater with the worn green handle - another prized possession. I just loved watching her cook and bake - she always explained everything and let me help.

We found a few more treasures - the beat-up tin pie pan that she always used to flour meat.  The tin measuring cups with the beat-up rounded bottoms.  We'll wait and divide these items later after we finish going through all the cabinets.  I know there will be some flat tin lids that I will want.

In going through our treasured memories, my brother, sister and I can get a little overwhelmed at times - there is so much to go through.  But then I look at the covered glass hens on the window sill all covered in dust and see the copper teapot clock on the wall that no longer works and a feeling of peace comes over me and brings a smile to my face.  Thank you Mother and Grandma for such wonderful treasures and memories.           

Back Home To Greentown

My brother, sister and I are back in Greentown for our third year of going through our mother's "stuff".  We are trying to get it done this year but it seems quite overwhelming at times.  I am just here for a week - so it is packing a lot of pretty glass and cool items to take back home to sell on my online stores.

We go to the Subway for lunch most everyday.  It is just down at the center of town and within walking distance of the house.  Greentown is a small town, one of those picture postcard quaint towns where everyone knows everyone.  I would say most families in Greentown have been here for generations. 

On our way to the Subway, we pass the Greentown Glass Museum.  Greentown was home to the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company which operated from 1894 to 1903 when the factory burned and was not rebuilt.  This was where "chocolate" glass was invented by Jacob Rosenthal.  He was also responsible for the formula of the color called Holly Amber aka Golden Agate.  
    

Just thought I'd post some pictures of the Greentown Glass Museum which is very stunning for our small little town.  Don't you think?  Anyone coming to Greentown, has to go into the museum.  Lots of gorgeous Greentown glass.  The Greentown Glass Festival is held the second weekend of June.  This year it runs from June 10th through the 12th.  The festival includes an antique glass show, dinner for the membership and an auction.  They also have a "dig" at the old factory site for members.  Haven't been able to do the "dig" but it is on my list of things to do!  Maybe next year - as soon as we get our mother's house done.  Oh, hopefully next year!

Side Trip To The Potteries

Last week I had to travel to Garner, NC and Kinston, NC and visit customers for my real job.  Took the scenic route through the hills and countryside of the Uwharrie Mountains of central North Carolina.  With most people using I-85 or I-40, these secondary highways have very little traffic and are much more picturesque meandering through the forests and over the creeks and rivers.  Listening to the "oldies" on the radio, I feel like I'm in another world.  With just one visit Friday morning, I decided to stop at a couple of my favorite potteries in the Seagrove area on my way back home in the afternoon.  I just happened to have some empty boxes so that I could purchase some more beautiful pieces of North Carolina pottery to sell.

My first stop was Fat Beagle Pottery.  I just love talking to Charles "Doc" Tostoe.  When I walked in, Doc was sitting at his potter's wheel making some vases.  As we talked, I walked around his store looking at all the beautiful pieces he had done.  Most are utilitarian - bowls, bakers, mugs and pitchers, but he also makes some beautiful pieces using the raku and pit-fired processes.  

Fat Beagle Pottery Blue Brown Planter Attached Saucer.  This beautiful planter is blue and brown, hand-turned and gas-fired.  It's that time of year for planting flowers and plants

    Fat Beagle Pottery Blue Brie Baking Stoneware Dish.  Another beautiful baking dish in the blue with yellow painted brush strokes on the bottom - looks like a summer flower.  Another hand-turned and gas-fired piece, Fat Beagle stoneware is oven proof.

  

And, here is a beautiful vase made in the "Raku" process - Fat Beagle Pottery Raku Brown Crackle Vase.  Raku is an ancient Japanese pottery process.  Pieces using this process are for decor only, you can not use these for food preparation or serving.

I bought many more pieces from Fat Beagle Pottery and Piney Woods Pottery.  It was a good thing that I had those empty boxes in my car.  Check out more beautiful pottery from the Seagrove, North Carolina area - CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles on eCrater and CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles on eBay.  And, check in later to see what I found at Piney Woods Pottery.

Oh, Silver Christmas Tree!

Just removed my Christmas tree from the house and it is now down at the curb.  Surely, they will still pick it up.  I know, it is January 22nd.  There was still some water in the stand and you know, it wasn't as heavy as when we brought it into the house.  I just follow the saying "Don't do today, what you can put off until tomorrow."  Oh, that's not how it goes?  Sorry, too late to change now!

I'm not sure why or exactly when I started thinking about my Grandmother's silver Christmas tree, but I have been obsessing about the tree for sometime now.  Is it still in the house somewhere?  When was the last time she used it?  In Indianapolis?  In Marion?  In Greentown?  Just can't remember and my sister doesn't remember either.  (By the way, she was of no help in trying to talk me out of getting a silver tree).  We haven't gotten through everything at the house, but is it even there?  Now, my grandmother would have gotten rid of something she no longer wanted.  Just don't know.  Hmmm!  Maybe I need to start looking for one.  It would just be so cool.  Oh, I would still have to have a real Christmas tree.  Maybe I could set the silver tree up in my pretty lavender guest room - that room faces the street and wouldn't that be so pretty and festive.  Ok, searched for one in eCrater - no vintage silver aluminum trees.  Well, let's just check eBay and see how much they run.  Oh, quite a few and wouldn't you know it - lots of people are searching for vintage silver aluminum Christmas trees.  OK, we'll just put a few on my watch list and see how it goes.  I'll need one of those rotating color lights, too.

  

In the meantime, I will look through old family pictures to see if I can find any pictures of the silver Christmas tree.  Wow!  Found some pics.  Christmas at my Grandmother's with the silver Christmas tree.  This was when we lived on 34th Street in Indianapolis, In.  This must have been when I was around 15 so in the early 1960s.  My grandmother's sister, Goldie and her husband and daughter had come up from Florida to spend Christmas with us.   

My Grandmother would also decorate the fireplace, stringing lights and hanging net stockings filled with fruit and nuts.  By the way, that furniture is still in the house that we are going through.  This second picture is of my brother, sister, mother and I (sitting in the rocking chair). 

The last picture is my Aunt Goldie (my grandmother's sister), Uncle Earl, Uncle Acel (my mother's brother), my grandmother, sister, mother and me.  Isn't it weird that we use to dress up to open gifts?  I love looking at old pictures and remembering my wonderful memories. 

But, I really need to get back to cleaning up my living room and rearranging the furniture back to pre-Christmas.  Tomorrow is football!  So, I really need to get it done.  Can't put it off until tomorrow ......... or can I?