What exactly is a Napkin Doll? The first time I saw a napkin doll I had no idea what it was let alone the purpose it had. I simply thought it was a very lovely vintage figurine with slits in her dress/skirt and is purely for decorative purposes.

It wasn’t until I was in a “fancy” antique shop and saw an entire cabinets filled with vintage Napkin Dolls that I paused to stare and admire how gorgeous these were and how complete they looked with napkins tucked into the slits on their skirts.  There were Napkin Dolls made of wood and ceramic. The were some ceramic napkin dolls that had bowls and trays in their arms (for hors d’oeuvres and toothpicks) others had hats on with an opening (candle holder) there were dolls with pretty faces, bug eyes, long lashes, eye shadow and red lips. Dresses had bright colors and were encrusted with jewels and gilt. Some dolls held parasols; others had fans in their hands and flowers. There were even some that resembled Spanish Flamenco dancers.

Just like so many of today’s vintage collectibles and kitschy collectibles, Napkin Dolls were at their hay-day in the late 1940s-1960s and were manufactured in Japan and today; many of these items are highly sought after and collectible.  Many of these dolls are hand made and hand painted. Companies like Holland Mold, Kreiss, Lipper and Mann, and Davar, and Artmark are a that produced napkin dolls. Many are also made in the form of Santa and Angels for the holidays – Christmas. Prices today range from $45-$225 if you are fortunate enough to find a Napkin Doll with her matching salt and pepper shaker ladies!!

Please visit our store –

Crazy4Me Ebay

Crazy4Me Etsy

I find it’s more and more common that when I am out antiquing, thrifting, or junking I end up in conversations with folks that tell me they are Pickers. I regularly receive emails from my online stores from folks identifying themselves as Pickers. I’ve only been involved with antiques and collectibles for a handful of years and have not heard the term PICKER as often as I do now. Perhaps we have mainstream shows and television networks like the American Pickers, HGTV, A&E, Cash and Cari, Storage Wars, Bargain Hunt, Auction Kings and Pawn Stars to thank. I was even recently contacted by a casting agent to be featured on a new type of Antiques/Collectibles/Pickers television show so this tells me being a “Picker” is a very hip and happening thing these days!

I am constantly researching and learning about antiques and collectibles and am honing my skills. Since I really have a passion for antiques and collectibles I can say I fully enjoy all the learning! I have written many articles right here on my blog sharing tips with my readers about selling online, selling at antique malls, buying and selling at flea markets, antiques and collectibles shops, thrift stores etc. The best tip I can share is for you to become an Expert in whatever it is you buy/sell. You almost must have a Niche and Specialize.

5 Tips for the novice Picker:

1.    Research. If you follow my blog then you know I am always touting the term “Research” as the more you know about a variety of items the better Picker you will be and the better Seller your will be. You need to know what items are collectible, what items no one really want and what items to specialize in.

2.    Getting Dirty. Don’t be afraid to get dirty. Sometimes you have to crawl around in an attic, basement, or out-buildings to Pick the treasure. No one said Picking was easy. Heck, even at flea markets and garage sales you will find dirty or grimy items, items in need of TLC. Also, don’t overlook dumpster diving especially when you see someone is moving or being evicted (good idea is to check to make sure you have permission from the people or landlord to go through the dumpster).

3.    Learn to Negotiate. You must be respectful of other people’s stuff….they are attached to their stuff so if you want their stuff you need to learn how to negotiate. Remember “He Who Speaks First Looses” so you need to learn to get the owner of the stuff to first let you know if its for sale and then how much they want for it.

4.    ReS-elling. Pickers pick as a business and must have a way to off-load the merchandise.  Make contacts with thrift shops, antiques shops, decorators, designers, dealers (jewelry, coin and stamp), flea market vendors, online sellers etc. You can re-sell to these folks and charge a commission. Once you develop a reputation for sourcing or Picking great merchandise you can certainly make a steady and very profitable income being a picker, re-seller or personal shopper.

5.    Make sure you talk to a lawyer, CPA or account to get setup as a legal business with your state and learn all you need to learn about running a business as being a Picker is very hard work, demands many hours, and you don’t want to over-look any legalities.

What have we ‘picked’ lately, visit us here and find out:

Crazy4Me Ebay

Crazy4Me Etsy

If you are interested in starting a vintage dog figurine collection it is such a fun collectibles area to be involved in, especially if you love dogs like we do. We hear from many folks that are interested in starting a vintage canine collection or just have basic questions like “What is the Difference Between a Made in Japan Dog Figurine” and a “Made in Occupied Japan Dog Figurine” to “How do you know its Vintage” so we thought there just might be more folks out there with the same interest and questions and we hope this little guide will provide a bit of insight into this neat collectibles arena for you. The term “Vintage” references items from the1920s -1980s and typically anything at least 50 years old can be considered Vintage. An Antique on the other hand should be at least 100 or more years old to be classified as an Antique.

History

Items stamped or marked “Made in Japan” were typically made prior to the First World War and after the Second World War as Japan was much like China and Taiwan are today; countries where items can be cheaply manufactured and mass produced. The term “Made in Occupied Japan” refers to the period in history right after the Second World War when the United States, Australia, British India, United Kingdom and New Zealand were involved in re-building Japan and were a main presence. In 1951 a peace treaty was signed that was enforced in the spring of 1952 when Japan became an independent state again. Items produced in Japan during this short time frame are stamped/marked “Made In Occupied Japan” and considered more desirable and valuable by many collectors. Many of the Vintage Dog Figurines we sell are from these eras and are fun to collect as they have an appealing charm about them that comes across in the way they were molded and painted.

Collecting

So, how did these charming dog figurines become so sough after today? It is becoming more and more difficult to find these little canine treasures as many collectors are seeking them out and they are a very “hot” collectible item. You most likely will not find these figurines at too many yard sales and thrift stores any more but you may find some at auction houses and antique malls, Etsy, and Ebay. The prices these little cuties command today is still relatively inexpensive at $9.99 – $50.00+ depending on if your figurine is ‘Made in England’ by ‘Royal Doulton’ ‘Beswick’ or ‘Made in Germany’ by ‘Rosenthal’ or ‘Made in Hungary’ by ‘Herend’ so be prepared to pay upwards of $100-$1,000 depending on size and condition. Many folks seek out and collect only particular breeds and manufacturers; we have a hard time stocking Scottie Dogs, Spaniels and Poodles as many of our buyers (luckily for us) seem to particularly adore these breeds. You can find our figurines at our Etsy and Ebay stores.

In conclusion, if you are a dog lover or are looking for a fun and interesting & yet still affordable item to collect – then you might want to consider Vintage Made In Japan Dog Figurines while they are still available in the market place.

This is the time of year when folks begin having yard sales, garage sales, and flea markets are opening up. This is also the time of year when it is more important than ever to try and snag some bargains. All my loyal readers know that I am an eBay Power Seller and also sell on Etsy and I wanted to share my tips and tricks with you all when you are shopping that can save you money and get you some really great items.

Lets start right off with the “Pick it Up or Put it Down?” scenario we have all faced at some point. Today, shopping at thrift stores and flea markets is a very “in” and “hip” thing to do and we will focus our article on shopping for Vintage/Antique/Collectible items and the best part is you can actually hold these item(s) in your hands and get a really good look at them as opposed to buying online where you are taking the seller’s description and photos into consideration and not able to actually see and touch the item.

ITEMS TO PICK RIGHT UP:

• Designer & Name Brand Clothing
• Designer Accessories (Sunglasses, Handbags, Shoes, Belts)
• Limited Edition Items
• High-end Pottery and Dinnerware (Spode, Lenox, Herend, Roseville, Moorcroft, Vietri, Deruta, Limoges, Prussia) items Made in England, France, Germany and Italy.
• Collectibles with Tags and Boxes
• Singed Items With Artist or Makers Marks
• Items in Good Over-All Condition
• Items that are Strange, Unique, and Weird (these can be valuable & highly desired)

ITEMS TO PUT RIGHT DOWN:

• Items That are Dirty, Broken or Have Damage
• Items That Have Been Mass-Produced
• Items That Are “Fakes” Replicas” and “Knockoffs or “Designer Inspired”
• Books That Are Previously Loved (Ripped Pages, Stains and Damage)
• Items That Are Primarily Made in China (Lots of Pottery and Dinnerware Fall Into This Category And Are Not Vintage or Antique and are Very Common)
• Stuffed Animals (though very collectible, are not usually Clean and are Damaged)
• Items That Still Retain Their Thrift Shop or Garage Sale Tags (Look These Over Well as There May be Something Wrong With the Items Because if it Didn’t Sell at The Garage Sale or Thrift Shop You Need to Wonder Why?)

TIP:
You need to be a little cautious and Ask, Ask, Ask, when in doubt. Remember, you have an advantage when you are shopping ‘in-person’ as you can hold the item(s) in your hands and really look them over well. Hope this article is helpful to you and Good Luck at the many antique sales that are starting to spring-up now that is Spring.

It has been a rainy start to Spring here in gorgeous wine country and the vineyards are already starting to bloom so by next month it will be green and amazing. Not too many Estate sales yet or garage sales but ‘here & there’ we have been finding some treasures and enjoying the hunt. Pictured here are some recent finds and included are some Hula themed vintage ‘Harveys Lake Tahoe’ bowls, a weird bright orange one-eyed Tiki mug, some gorgeous Italian pottery items of an abstract ‘Oregano’ pot and hand painted – artist signed fish platter, an adorable Napco 1950s pink poodle momma and puppies, sweet vintage bluet bird salt and pepper shakers and a charming pair of vintage blue bird candle huggers and the neat vintage set of a drum and cannon salt and pepper shaker. So many people collect salt and pepper shakers and vintage blue birds and they are so hard to keep in stock as everyone is into collecting them and who can blame them as the blue birds are really so darn cute!! So, did you go junking or antiquing this weekend, what did you find, I’d love to hear form you.

Happy Easter everyone!! I wanted to share some vintage Easter collectibles from the 1950s-1960s. No, these items you see pictured here are not part of my collection…yet, but they are so cute and charming that I am seriously considering starting a collection of these vintage cuties. Many of the items pictured are made by the ceramic manufacturers of the time like Holt Howard, Napco, Lefton, Relpo, Relco, Inarco, Norcrest, Reubens and more. Vintage collectibles like these can be found today online on eBay, Etsy, and Rubylane as well as antique and collectible shops for $25+ and the Holt Howard, Napco and Lefton items will be priced between $35-$125+.  Do you have a vintage Easter collection? I would love to hear about your collection and see your pics too. Hope you all have a happy and safe Easter!!

It was the Hoosier Cabinet Co. that started selling these one-piece cabinets back in the early 20th century as kitchens didn’t have enough cupboards to hold cookware, bake ware and other items. Many other companies also produced these handy and sturdy kitchen cabinets and they became a standard piece of kitchen furniture for many. Today the Hoosier cabinet is very collectible and makes a great addition to a kitchen or craft room as well as makes a great cabinet to store your collections in. You can find Hoosier cabinets at flea markets, antique shops, and estate sales. Prices can range from $75-$400+ depending on the condition of the piece as well as material it is made from.

For the last couple weeks I have been super excited about the local multi-dealer antique mall here in Sebastopol, CA ‘Antique Society’ for their 24^th anniversary sale where everything is 20% off. The sale started yesterday and goes through Sunday. We stopped by yesterday at practically the end of the day with only 45 mins till they closed. We walked inside, the display was awesome and welcomed you to ‘California in the Spring’ with lots of vintage metal and wicker patio furniture, plants and antique plant stands, lovely metal and intricate birdcages. The mall was ultra clean and the dealers really cleaned up their booths.

Once you got going and started walking through the booths it quickly became apparent that the dealers didn’t feel the need to fill their booths with new merchandise. A lot of booths have so much space and not much in them. I mean, this was the mall’s 24^th anniversary sale and they had been advertising it for a while so people from all over San Francisco, Silicon Valley and wine country were going to drive up to shop. But, maybe that was the point……the sale would bring in ‘new shoppers’ that wouldn’t normally stop in so they wouldn’t know that the merchandise they were looking at had been sitting there for the past 2 years and that really nothing new had been added to the booths. But, us regulars know.

I am still so disappointed, I just so badly wanted to see some ‘new’ vintage and antique collectibles, not the same stuff I have been seeing for the past 2 years and go home with some new treasures after waiting and anticipating this sale for weeks.

From around 1890 to the early 1960s the Schafer and Vader company that originated in Germany and produced porcelains and figurals and perhaps are best know for their comical flasks and bisque eggs. Schafer and Vader items are well-known for their details and delicateness. Not all Schafer and Vader items are marked and those that do tend to have the crown and R.

Here are some rather interesting Schafer and Vader bisque porcelain eggs featuring a little black baby hatching. These ‘Black Americana’ eggs have recently been in high demand and it is not uncommon for prices to go from $300-$500 per egg. Some of the eggs may be tobacco humidors while others are match holders. Because the eggs are so delicate, look it over very carefully to ensure all fingers and details are intact. So, keep a look out at those antique shops and flea markets for a rare Schafer and Vader bisque porcelain egg and you might make a small fortune on this hot collectible.

My latest fascination is all about the colorful hard plastic kitchenware known as Lustro Ware. Just yesterday I was at Antique Society (a local multi-dealer antique mall in Sebastopol, CA) and came across a very bright yellow Lustro Ware cookie jar and a pair of bright red salt and pepper shakers and just ‘had’ to have them. I see lots of ‘retro’ kitchens decorated with collections of this bright and colorful hard plastic from yesteryear, and I set out to learn more.

The ‘Columbus Plastics Company’ was launched back in very late1939 by Gebhard W. Keny and W.J. Braley. Some 5-6 years later in around 1946 they changed their company name to ‘Lustro Ware’ and were producing some 300+ items for the home and kitchen with the ‘patent pend’ stamp under the division of the ‘Columbus Plastic Products Division of The Borden Chemical Company’ with a trademark filed sometime in 1950.

Today, Lustro Ware is very collectible and you can find all kinds of items in many colors from yellow, red, pink, green, blue and more in the form of salt and pepper shakers, to bread boxes, plates, canisters, cookie jars, trash cans, utensil holders, trays, measuring cups and spoons, juice reamers, spice racks and spice holders, recipe boxes and so much more.

Items today (2013) that are currently ‘hot’ are the spice racks and holders (Vintage Aunt Jemima especially for a complete set) with prices $200+, shakers sets $25-$50 and canister sets $250+.  Be careful with the Aunt Jemima sets as many are marked ‘F&F Mold and Die Company’ and not ‘Lustro Ware’.

Finding Lustro ware items with the letters in tact and no scuffmarks can be challenging. Do you collect Lustro ware? I would love to hear about your collection, please email me via my ‘contact’ page.