collecting blogs

Buying china figurines at auction, and indeed other antiques and collectibles, can be an exciting and rewarding experience. It can definitely become something of an addiction and the chance of finding something unusual, beautiful and possibly valuable usually compensates for the numb feeling you often experience in the posterior from sitting for too long in one place!

I am, of course, talking here about the many commercial, auction rooms that hold regular sales of antiques and collectibles. In many countries, on most days, you will usually find an auction being held somewhere.

But the ‘traditional’ auction sale is, in my view, a great place to buy and I would like to present here my ’5 Golden Rules For Buying At Auction.’

You can agree or disagree with them and, in my defence, I can only say that they have proved their value to me over the years.

1. Decide Upon Your Budget – What is the maximum amount that you intend to spend on auction day? Write this down and stick to it and when you’ve spent up to your limit, it’s time to go home.

2. Give Yourself Time to View the Items for Sale – Never rush into a sale and start bidding on items that suddenly take your fancy. Always attend the ‘viewing day’ if you can and have a good look at the items that appeal to you. Inspect their overall condition carefully and don’t be afraid to ask questions about a piece. Jot down the lot numbers on a piece of paper of those items that you intend to bid on.

3. Pre-Auction Preparation – At the top of a large sheet of paper, write the maximum figure that you have decided to spend on auction day. Remember to take into account buyer’s commission and other charges that the auctioneer may apply. You don’t have to be too exact here but just a general percentage to give you an idea of when you might reach your spending limit. Rewrite the lot numbers, lowest to highest, of the items you intend to bid on and make a decision about how much you will bid for each item. Take this sheet with you to the auction.

4. Reach the Auction Thirty Minutes Before It Starts. You then have time to find a comfortable place to sit, to check that your items haven’t been withdrawn for any reason and buy a cup of tea or coffee.

5. Make Clear Bids – When you want to bid, raise your hand clearly. Don’t be timid. Just focus on the bidding values and signal your intentions. If prices become too high, a shake of the head from you will indicate to the auctioneer that you are out of the bidding. Remember, you are not in a race or competition. You are aiming to keep cool, buy sensibly and act in a professional, detached manner.

Auctions can be great fun, very profitable and if you follow the procedure above then you should not overspend or pay too much for a single item. And always remember that if you couldn’t manage to buy that china figurine that you really wanted for your collection then there will always be a next time.

Believe me, there will be another auction when you will probably find something even more interesting. So be patient and don’t get disheartened.

About the Author

Frank Lomax is a freelance writer with a specialist interest in antiques especially china figurines.

http://www.chinafigurines.net

There are many different types of ship bells. The ship bell has employed a large number of uses, such as: for keeping track of time, for ceremonies, and for alarming the crew. The ship bell is a great nautical decor item because of its long affair with the nautical culture. Model ship bells have been known to be cast from brass or even chrome. The ship bell is a significant part of nautical culture, and remains a symbol of tradition to this day.

The ship bell was used for keeping time aboard the ship before the chronometer was developed. A half-hour glass was used first for this purpose. The next half-hour was signaled by the sounding of the ship bell whenever the half-hour glass was turned over. Completion of a full hour meant the ship bell was struck twice. Every hour after that saw two additional bell strikes added on. The watchman served a four hour shift, and afterwards the process would begin anew. The ship bell is still incorporated into the United States Navy’s daily routine.

Another use for the ship bell is for serving in religious ceremonies. The start of this tradition is traced to the British Royal Navy’s traditional practice of baptizing children under the ship bell. Commonly, the ship bell would also be used as a christening bowl for the ceremonial proceedings. After completion of the baptism, the child’s name was engraved on the inside of the ship bell. The Royal Navy saw this role of the ship bell as a significant part of this ceremony. At the end of the ship bell’s life, it would be stored in the Department of the Navy. Ship bells have an even more religious background, as sometimes these types of ship bells would be loaned to churches. However, in modern times these bells are stored with municipalities or museums instead.

Model ship enthusiasts are attracted to the history and tradition behind the ship bell. The completeness of a model ship/nautical decor room revolves around historically relevant items such as the ship bell. The ship bells used as nautical decorations comes in several different types. Brass anchor bells, chrome bells, aluminum bells, bracket bells, and hand bells are just a few of the many times of ship bells.

The British and American navies owe a lot to the ship bell. Even today the ship bell remains and important aspect to the navies around the world. Due to its historical and traditional relevance, the ship bell is here to stay.

About the Author

George is an avid collector and connoisseur of all things nautical- nautical decor, model boats, historical artifacts, etc. He has written articles for several large manufacturers and retailers of model ships, and he is a master ship builder himself. He brings a unique perspective from both the retail and the consumer side of the nautical decorating and model boat building markets.

When we were kids, we’d all die for toys. Barbie dolls, robots, stuffed animals, name it. Every kid has a memory of crying in a mall wanting to have those standing in toy stores. Every child is attracted to those colorful mini playthings, and would forgo dinner just to do silly ideas on these cute and cuddly beings.
To the grown-ups they seem boring and repetitive, but to the young ‘uns they think they should have this latest this and latest that to brag to their playmates. But what is hip and trendy among kiddos right now, is actually very simple and unsophisticated grown-ups would wonder why are they gaga over with. This is the ‘in’ thing among kids right now: the crazy bands.
The crazy bands or silly bands, are simply rubber bands but with definite shapes. Not just a boring circle.
Now, an ordinary rubber band is anything but a toy. They’re used to tighten leaking faucets and showers, but not silly bands. The amazing thing about them is that they shaped like animals, candies, cars, stars, moons and all that kiddie brouhaha. What’s more, for guaranteed kiddo satisfaction, they come in different colors. Yes, as in the whole spectrum of rainbow! Some crazy bands seem out-of-this world, because they glow in the dark! It’s amazing, really.
The weird thing about them is that even if one stretches them to their breaking point, silly bands would still be in their original shapes. It’s really tempting for a grown-up to count how many stretching they need to finally become an unidentifiable objects. But one mustn’t do that in plain sight of kiddos, they will get tantrums.
How to play and enjoy them, well, it’s very simple. Kids ages 6 to 9 would usually make out a drama out of these crazy bands, like Wally the Whale saving Patrick the Penguin from being eaten by Sammy the Shark. Silly stuff like that. Babies should stay away from silly bands, because they might think they’re sweet candies and eat them.
For kiddos a little older, ages 10 to 13, they make look ridiculous in making an animal farm drama out of these crazy bands. They simply wear them as accessories, for fun. Adults and the young at heart can also wear them, because they also look cool. Especially if they’re glow-in-the-dark.
Some shapes of silly bands are little bit hard to find and more expensive, so it adds to the excitement of collecting them. Wally the Whale may be rarer than Patrick the Penguin, and Sammy the Shark probably costs seven dollars. That sort of stuff.
Crazy bands can be bought at any small gift or novelty stores, costing at around four dollars for a package of 24. The biggest maker of these rubber bands is the Silly Bandz, and one can also order from their website http://sillybandz.com. Other online stores are http://www.squishiesandmore.com and http://www.coolzips.com. These stores also sell squishies, another kiddie fad, in Zoo Mania, Jungle Mania and Sea Mania collectible series.

About the Author

Mother of three, business woman, and wife of 12 years sharing my experiences with all three

A 1955 Topps Baseball Card Set is perfect for any baseball fan and enthusiast. Collecting baseball cards has been a hobby for children and adults for generations, and when it comes to these collectible cards Topps is the best. The enjoyment that a collector will get from 1955 Topps Baseball Cards will equal none. The 1950′s were a epic time for baseball with legendary players. What baseball fan wouldn’t want to remember those times?

The Topps company is the best in the business of sports trading cards. Even back in the 1950′s they were the number one producer of trading cards. So it is obvious that they would have the best trading cards from that era. Anyone who knows about baseball cards can tell you that any 1955 Topps Baseball Card is priceless. So is the thought that you own these fantastic collectibles.

The 1955 Topps Set is complete with the best players of those days. From the experienced veterans to the newest rookies to the big leagues, they have it all. The 1955 Topps Baseball Cards consist of baseball greats like, Ernie Banks, Ted Kluszewski, Yogi Berra, and Roberto Clemente. Who could forget guys like Jackey Robinson and Willie Mays? The names say it all, these cards are the best around.

With the 1955 Topps Set you will feel like you own a peace of history, and in a way you will. Owning these 1955 Topps Baseball Cards can also be a wonderful investment. Baseball cards are worth more every year, especially the cards of the really great players. Considering the age and condition of the cards, another collector may be willing to buy them from you for a good amount! You could even put them on display in your home or save them for you children and grandchildren to marvel. Who knows how much they could be worth by that time!

There are tons of baseball cards out there, but none quite like 1955 Topps Baseball Cards. The best trading card company there is producing collectibles of the best players who ever lived. You will not be disappointed when you hold these cards in your hand and look at your favorite players of all time. Just look at the stats and it is a no brainer, 1955 Topps Baseball Cards belong in the hall of fame.

About the Author

If you have ever wanted to relive the good old days of baseball, then 1955 Topps Baseball Cards are for you. They were the best cards then and they are still the best cards around today. The same can be said for the players who are immortalized on these cards. Adding 1955 Topps Baseball Cards to your collection may be the best choice you will ever make.

So what exactly is a beekeeping suit? Well obviously, you need a type of suit that protects you from bee stings, but what suit and materials can you trust with your well being? Plainly speaking, it is a cotton and/or polyester jump suit that fits loosely on the beekeeper. Perfect seal is a must to prevent bees from going inside and stinging you eventually so even though it fits loosely on your body, the ends fit snugly on the arms and legs. A glove is required although wearing a glove also hinders movement and makes it harder for the beekeeper to work on the hive.
The color of the suits is the biggest difference to whether a bee attacks it or not. Bears and skunks, are usually dark colored and furry, and these feast on the bee honey. So in order for the bees not to attack the beekeeper, the suit is colored white or a very light color and very smooth on the outside.
Probably the most important part of the beekeeping suit is the veil. It’s a hat with a veil around it that allows the beekeeper to see everything without optical distractions. There are many styles of veils that are being sold today. Some are incorporated into the suit itself as a hood with the veil around it, some are fencing style masks, or wide brimmed hats with veils, etc.
This suit has to be thick and strong enough to withstand the bee stinger and light enough not to be a hindrance to mobility and yet cool enough so that the beekeeper does not suffer from heat stroke at summer time when the temperature soars.
Prices of these suits vary widely according to cloth type, thickness, veil design features and go from $89 to a hefty $180+ for the sheriff model (£114++). This is only the suit, the gloves, the veil also have to be purchased as well plus if you decide you need elastic bands that fit over the cuffs of the hands and legs to prevent bees from getting in through there.
There is also a half suit that fits like a jacket with a veil on top and half to three quarter sleeves with cuffs on the end. Experienced beekeepers often wear these types for easier working within the confines of the hive.
All in all you do not really need to buy the most expensive suit that you can buy. An effectively designed suit will more often than not compare favorably with the most expensive model. It is just a matter of looking for quality suits that fits your budget that is more important than price.

About the Author

Ryan Knox is the owner of SecretBeekeepingCourses.com, a site dedicated to sharing a love for one of the world’s more unique hobbies.
For more information on the beekeeping suit and your own hive, check out the site at http://secretbeekeepingcourses.com
Everything you need for your very own Happy Healthy Hive!

This past month I had the pleasure of meeting Leonid Gusyatnikov. All I knew about Leonid before I met him was that he was some sort of collector. So, I did not know what the afternoon had in store for me when I went to his home to meet him.
Leonid Gusyatnikov lives in a small village called Ustinka, which is located 30 kilometers from Belgorod and a few minutes away from the Ukrainian border.
Leonid worked most of his life as a geologist, up until the early 1990′s when he became unemployed in that field. He then started making his living as a carpenter and metalsmith.
Leonid built his home, which he calls a “Hut”. His home is built in the same Russian traditional style that homes were being built a century ago. Leonid was born in this style home. This style of building is rare to see in Russia today, because new and remodel homes are designed in a modern euro style. Leonid’s home has wooden windows and floors. The walls are painted white. The brick fireplace is an oven/stove, which is used for cooking and warming the house in winter. There is no bathroom in the house only an outhouse, which is located in the backyard.
All of the hinges and locks on the doors and gates Leonid made himself. He used sliding dovetails on the doors he made to keep the vertical boards from spreading apart.
Leonid has a Russian oven/stove, which is in workshop. This is a unique type of fireplace, which first appeared in the 15th century. The oven is used for cooking and heating the home. Pine is the main source of wood that is burned in this region. This oven is designed to retain heat for long periods of time. Several pipes are used to channel hot air and smoke, which warms the brick. The flue is usually designed to warm the attic. The second photo is also part of the oven, which is in the next room of the workshop. The top space of the oven can be used for people to sleep on during the winter to stay warm.
When Leonid was working as a geologist he traveled all around Russia. He worked in villages that were far away from cities and towns and was experiencing the real Russian culture, which is different from living in most cities in Russia. While traveling to these villages Leonid was learning about the history of the people and their culture. He started buying household items, which were used in past generation and are not being made today.
Leonid has an interesting collection of samovars, bells, wooden spoons, artwork, baskets, women and men’s costumes, World War II items, ceramic flutes, which are all incredible to see.
The quilt on the bed with its beautiful patchwork tells its own story with each piece of fabric that was used to create it. It is the history of a lifetime from the woman who made the quilt. There are pieces made from an old soldier’s uniform from the husband that came back from war, pieces from baby clothing and from the dresses that she no longer wears.
In the front room of Leonid’s home he dedicates a corner to religious icons. This is a Russian tradition for people who are religious. On important holidays or during a prayer a candle is lit.
Leonid has a collection of chests of various sizes and decoration. These chests are made out of wood and hand painted. Large chests were used to store clothing, canvases, house utensils. Smaller chest were use to store valuable belongings.
Leonid enjoys reading and has a nice library of books. He knows a lot about Russian family tradition, which have been past down for centuries.
Leonid stated the following about family relationship: ” Let wife be sure that her husband wants her to keep company with the guests she invites, or the people she calls upon. Let her put on the best garment, if she receives guest or herself is invited somewhere to dinner. By all means let her abstain from drinking liquor, for a drunken man is bad enough, but a drunken woman has not place in the world. A woman ought to talk with her lady friends of handiwork and housekeeping. She must pay attention to any good word that is said in her own house, or in that of her friend; how good women live, how they keep house, manage their household, instruct their children, obey their husbands, and ask their advice in everything and submit to them. And if there is anything she does not know, let her politely inquire about it. It is good to meet such good women, not for the sake of eating and drinking with them, but for the sake of good conversation and information, for it is profitable to listen to them”.
It was wonderful to see Lenoid’s various collections and to hear the different stories about his collections. I was surprised to find out that Lenoid was a craftsman and I was interested in some of the different designs and techniques that he used with wood. Many of the homes that I see here use metal gates and metal front doors due the cold weather and maintenance. Being a woodworker myself it was nice to see the large wood fence and the beautiful designs of the locks and hinges used on the doors and gates and the handmade lights.
To see photographs of Lenoid’s home and collection visit my web site at http://www.paulinrussia.com

About the Author

I am currently a resident of Belgorod, Russia and a former resident of Northern California. I was born in San Francisco and grew up in Marin County, California. I am currently building a home with my wife Natasha in Belgorod. I am also photographing and writing stories about Russian life, religion and travel in Russia.

Coin collecting is a rather simple and popular hobby which requires a small capital and much care. There are not big expenses associated with this collection hobby, as in most cases, the most expensive item could be the coin itself. Most of the coins though, found in retail or antique shops are relatively cheap. Only coin aficionados that look for something really rare and unique, such as vintage bank notes, might need to spend more money, but for most people a coin collection requires little money indeed.

When collecting coins, there are a few supplies you need to have, because these items require preservation and attention. In any case, coins are a kind of investment and need to be taken care of.
Coins are considered to be a small treasure. Most people opt for the proper tools and supplies so as to maintain the originality and reliability of their collectibles. Let’s see some of them:

Coin tweezers: these are little items that look like gloves and are used by many collectors and antique sellers. They have plastic tips so as to prevent any kind of damage and can be easily found in coin stores and online.

Cleaning Supplies: coins tend to gather mould or metal stains, thus you need to keep them clean and shiny; in order to do so, you can use a mild soap and soft fabrics in combination with water.
Coin Mats: the coin mats are necessary so as to place the coins, whether you are examining them, cleaning or simply showing them to someone. Mats protect coins from several damages, that can damage their surface and diminish their value.

Coin boards: if you want to expose your coins, you should definitely consider buying the proper coin boards; they are cheap and they can be found in several different sizes.

About the Author

Sturat is article marketer, copywriter and enjoys writing on topics like Collecting Coins and Vintage Bank Notes . For more information on these topics, please visit us.

Wouldn’t it be fun to have a dollhouse and then furnish it with items that you have made yourself? Some dollhouse lovers simply want to collect and display them, but others want to experience the joy of building a dollhouse themselves and then making miniature dollhouse furniture to match. While there is a wide range of choices for dollhouse furniture in craft shops and even online, it is still a whole lot better to make your own miniature furniture in order to give your dollhouse a more personal touch.

Individuals who are naturally interested in arts and crafts are often the ones who prefer making their own dollhouse furniture. But, even if you are not really the arts and craft kind of person, you shouldn’t find much difficulty in making dollhouse furniture. This project does not require specialized skills and its biggest advantage is that you can usually make the miniatures from readily available resources and unused materials right in your own home. You can even turn this project into a memorable bonding activity with your family.

Instructions on making miniature dollhouse furniture can be found easily on the internet. All you have to do is read, understand, and follow the instructions to the letter. Dollhouse furniture can be made in a variety of sizes, depending on the size of the dollhouse itself. The standard scale used in dollhouse furniture making is 1:12. It is important that you make the furniture in the right scale so as not to make it look out-of-place in the dollhouse.

The materials you need in making dollhouse furniture depend on the type of furniture that you want to make. For example, toothpicks can be used as chair legs whereas stir sticks are better for bedposts. In general, though, you will need to have glue, craft knives, miniature drills, fine sandpaper, and paint on hand. Always allow glue to set before you add another piece to whatever furniture you are making. You need to form strong bonds in order to keep the furniture from falling apart easily.

Once a piece of furniture is finished, you may give it a finish by sanding any rough edges and then applying a coat of paint. You will need tiny brushes and paint of good quality. Be sure to mix a little thinner with the paint so as to prevent paint build-up on your dollhouse furniture. When the paint dries, you may apply polyurethane to protect the furniture from wear and tear. If you decide to add accessories to your dollhouse furniture, be sure to pay close attention to details.

A lot of everyday items can easily be transformed into miniature dollhouse furniture as well. One good example is a pizza box support. Notice that little white plastic thing in the middle of a pizza that keeps the box from sticking to the toppings? You can transform that into a miniature table with just a bit of accessorizing. Small hairspray tops can also be used as dollhouse trash cans. If you have small school pictures being kept somewhere, you may take them out and convert them into dollhouse wall decor. These are just some examples, but where dollhouse furniture is concerned, you can really let your creativity run wild!

About the Author

I have enjoyed writing for many years. Most of my pieces are the result of whatever catches my fancy at the time. Please visit to read my latest articles about cats, the cat drinking fountain, and more.

Teapots are one of the most popular collected items. I found that most people that have teapot collections, started them way back when they were children. If you want to start a collection, where do you begin? With so many styles, shapes and sizes of teapots, it can become very overwhelming! There are novelty teapots which are very fun. They come in such shapes as dice, animals, birds, insects, birdhouses or castles.

If you want to collect this type of teapot, I would choose a niche that you already enjoy. For example if you have a thing for frogs, then by all means start with a frog themed teapot. If you want to collect miniature teapots, then find a pattern or shape that you like such as a chintz or toile pattern and star there. You may want to collect teapots based on what they are made of rather than the decorative design. There are ceramic teapots, porcelain teapots, glass teapots, stoneware teapots and bone china teapots. You should do a little research and explore the different styles that are available to you.

Once you have purchased a few teapots, of course you need a place to display them somewhere in your home where your guests can admire them. They can be quite the conversation piece. Some people use special glass fronted cabinets so that the teapots are protected from both dust and breakage, but can still be seen. Or, if you want, you could arrange your teapots in groups around different areas of your home, and let the colors and shapes speak for themselves.

You may want to put a couple on shelf in your bedroom that match the decor, for instance if your color scheme is burgundy, a couple different shaped red toile teapots placed around the room would be beautiful. A shelf in the dining area or kitchen would be a nice place to display them. I prefer to see them placed around different rooms and blend in rather than a cabinet full of them in one place.

Don’t forget, it’s even okay for you to actually use your teapots for a party or other get together if you like! A collection is meant to be enjoyed – not always closed away behind glass and not touched except to be cleaned.Tea Parties are very popular and you can use a variety of your teapots when entertaining.

About the Author

I have always loved to drink tea and a few years ago I started a teapot collection. I now have one of the largest retail teapot stores online at http://www.EverythingTeapots.com. I have recently added these flowering tea blossoms to my website.

A major pitfall of new reborn artists is getting the weight of the doll wrong. It may look the part when its on show but as soon as its held the magic is gone. It is a very important part that can change your reborn doll completely yet it is so simple.

A lot of reborn dolls are filled with fiberfill or sand, which is readily available from most craft shops or even builders yards. Fine sand is good to use because it is easy to distribute the weight evenly.

However it also has its own drawbacks. As anyone who has been to the beach will know, sand can and will get everywhere. This means that it will leak out of the smallest of holes and can end up inside the doll in areas it should not be in. That, and it will also create a horrible mess!

Polypellets are also used instead of the above as well as glass beads. Both of these are easy to come by and just as easy to work with. This is the preferred options at the moment from most reborners. They are also cheap to use and will not end up leaving a l trail behind.

In some special cases baby fat pellets are used which can have amazing results. The only problem here though is that they are a lot more difficult to work with. The main problem is that some doll parts may not take very well with the pellets, and a bad reaction can lead to marks on the doll. If you keep the pellets in a fabric bag and make sure it is secure then this should not happen though.

If you need to calculate the weight of the baby then you should consider the following. On average, babies gain about 1-2 pounds (1/2 to 1 kilogram) per month for the first six months, and an average of one pound (1/2 kilogram) per month from six months to one year. When deciding on the age of the baby add this to the babies starting weight. You can also find the average weight of babies for the first 36 months at various websites which are a good indicator too. It is even better of course if you have first hand experience from holding a baby.

About the Author

I am an expert on reborn dolls and have been making them for a a couple of years. I would suggest visiting my site and for new artists starting with reborn doll kits