COBAYLEY

2012-02-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

February is here...sweetheart month....and some very sweet things have been happening in the Social Media world...

One word is taking online social venues by storm.....PINTEREST....and although it's been around for two years, lots of folks, including me, have just recently found it...

Pinterest is a Virtual Pinboard. Pinterest lets you organize and share all the beautiful things you find on the web. People use pinboards to plan their weddings, decorate their homes, and organize their favorite recipes.

Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests. To get started, request an invite.

I'm using it to promote items I sell in my Ruby Lane shop. However, I'm being conservative in self promoting. One of the requests from the founders of Pinterest is that you don't overly self promote. Besides, it's way too much fun looking at all the great items and information gleaned from all over the internet. There are myriad how to helps including videos and step by step instructions on everything from boiling an egg to refinishing furniture to sewing a wedding gown.

I am using it as a respite...I love being able to sit back and look at the "pretty pictures". Once I click on the picture, I'm off on a new adventure.. for example...a picture of a how to caught my eye...there was a picture of a beautiful wreath door decoration...looked like faded roses...a closer inspection shared that it was made from paper coffee filters...Coffee Filter Roses Wreath and I was off to look at this great blog written by a very talented young lady..

And, on it goes.... so I've had to go on a Pinterest "diet" so to speak. I only allow an hour a day...now, I'm going to go pin something...and yes...I do pin favorite blogs...

Happy Pinning...

"Where do you keep all that stuff?"....

2011-12-26T13:27:00.000-08:00

We are nesting...the move is complete. We feel at home in the "new digs" and are enjoying life on the beach. Well, almost on the beach. The beach is two blocks away. We have a great view and my daily walks are very rewarding both visually and spiritually.

Operating a business out of your home can sometimes become a complicated matter. People ask me all the time, "where do you keep all that stuff?". Well, I keep it right here with me. In my office I'm surrounded by all the tools of my trade. All my old stuff. My worn and not so worn treasures of the past.

I can look around me and see the flea markets, estate sales and antique malls that I've scoured and hunted through to find my merchandise. I see the faces of the new friends I've made here on the Oregon Coast. We have a couple of favorite "stomping" grounds. Lucky Cats Antiques in Lincoln City and The Little Antique Mall also in Lincoln City. We look forward to visiting both shops at least every other week.

Organized, I am not. I leave that to Tom. He is "logistics". He respects my space however and has not offered to keep me organized in my office. I don't mess with his garage and he don't mess with my office. I love looking around me and seeing the treasures that I have for sale in my shops. I don't do displays or vignettes or cutesy arrangements. Well, maybe one. My dollies. I like the dolls and they have a spot right top of my reference book shelf. And what probably looks like a hodge-podge of clutter is in fact kind of organized.

During the big move from California to Oregon we kept the shop on Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza open except for a couple of days during the actual physical move. We lost 3 items to breakage. Out of over 1,000 items, I think that's amazing. My customers were very understanding and with the frequent posts I did to the shop front page giving updates on the move everyone was content to wait a bit extra to get their items.

So...when you wonder "where does she keep all that stuff?"...you will have a bit of a picture...there's more, but I'll save that for another post..

The "Big Move" is complete....

2011-10-18T11:28:00.000-07:00

Our new home..it does not look very fancy, but it is a castle to us. Large, roomy and oh, those wonderful ocean views.
Yes, we are all moved in...what a chore, but what great rewards. We love our new home in Waldport Oregon. We were blessed with outstanding weather all through the move and most of the transition went very smooth. The moving van arrived a day before we did. In all the inventory that we moved, there were three broken pieces. Of course, O'Bayley's law says that one of them was one that sold during our move..

Although this is not the exact view from our kitchen window...it's very close to what I can see every morning when I wake up to have my cup of coffee. We are having a wonderful time exploring our new neighborhood and meeting new people.

Here is the link to the official site of our new home town, Waldport. If you look way upper right, you might see me standing on my patio waving (just kidding). Our new home is out in the Bayshore, a community right on the beach.

http://www.waldport.org/

Moving an Antiques and Collectibles Business...what a job...

2011-07-08T15:23:00.000-07:00

For all my friends in the Antiques and collectibles business....if you ever have to move....oh my goodness.

When we listed our home for sale almost a year ago, we started making plans for the move. We knew we were moving to a different state and that the move would not be a simple throw it in the van and go. I say we loosely. Tom is the one that has planned, organized and executed this move from day one.

We have two online shops. Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza. There is a total of about 1,000 items in the inventory. Granted, more than half are pieces of jewelry, but the rest...glass, pottery, sets of silverware, dolls, linens..well, you all know...all the stuff that we buy and have in our shops. Years ago, during our last move, we were in collectives and the inventory stayed there and we moved just us...not this time. When you have an on-line business, the business moves with you.

Tom is organized and immediately started making his plan. In order of inventory number, each item is carefully wrapped and packed into a numbered box. A separate inventory of each box is listed in his master book (God help us if we lose the book)...These inventory boxes have remained open and accessible. When an item sells, he goes into the inventory, finds the item, packs it and ships it. As time has passed and it took a lot longer to sell the house than we had hoped for, some of these boxes have gotten a bit "half full"...another job for Tom...re-pack, re-number and change the inventory list.

The key to all of this madness is organization and as I've said many times before, I couldn't operate the Ruby Shops with Tom and his sense of order....

Now, the house is sold, the movers are coming and we are off on a new adventure.

COBAYLEY: Let's Go To The Antiques Roadshow!!!! Right...well, maybe not...

2011-06-05T16:48:00.000-07:00

COBAYLEY: Let's Go To The Antiques Roadshow!!!! Right...well, maybe not...

Let's Go To The Antiques Roadshow!!!! Right...well, maybe not...

2011-06-04T19:25:00.000-07:00

Our adventure began with a phone call from a good friend. She was lucky enough to win tickets to the Road Show in Eugene Oregon...well, she lives 600 miles away, has bad circulation and realized she would not be able to attend...so....we got the tickets. Don't get me wrong, I did not jump on this offer, I knew that Road Show was a physical challenge, especially for those over the age of 40...and I am, over the age of 40...
So, after the influence of a martini I agreed, we'd go. As luck would have it..Picc A Dilly flea was going the next day so we booked the trip...Lots of logistics..motel rooms and such.
I'll skip through the couple of weeks leading up to the adventure. Just picking 4 items to take was a major endeavor. After all, we are in the antiques and collectibles business and we have access to much of the same reference material as the "appraisers" have...
So, we opted for a family heirloom....2 hand carved stone faces. These were carved by the one time major of Carmel CA. Tom's Grandfather rented a home from him during the second world war. Tom's grandfather was in the navy at the time and the home suited their needs. The ex mayor, also the town blacksmith was quite talented and we had found information about him, although vague on the internet.
Here are the faces...

and, the backs of the faces

So, that was the first hurdle...we had something to take.

We arrived an hour before our entry time. (the tickets advised 1/2 hour) Lucky for us, we were allowed to enter 1/2 hour before our scheduled time. That began the slow and grueling process of line after line after line. Don't get me wrong, Antiques Roadshow is the main supply for Public Broadcasting and if everyone followed the rules, including the Antiques Roadshow, this would be a marvelous bit of Americana.
All lucky participants are told TWO items. Each. Not two of each kind, not two collections of each, but TWO items. Period
Well, I have to tell you, we watched person after person load in 6, 10 and many more items. When you got to the point in the line where you traded in your ticket for your TWO items, even the people in charge of giving you your tickets to the appraisers looked the other way.
I personally stood in appraisals where people brought out 20 to 30 pieces to be appraised by the appraiser, when there were only supposed to offer 2. Plus they had brought items for many of the other venues.

So, see how happy we are here...this was within the first hour...just kidding, we smiled all the way through.
The appraisers are harried and they are way over taxed with 1,000's of items. It has to be a real chore to remain focused after looking at 1,000's of items in a such a short period of time.
I have to edit my post. I've been advised, that yes, many people are invited by roadshow, the local press, PBS friends and family and others. They can bring items in for appraisal and they do not have to wait in line. They are automatically moved to the head of the line, BUT they waive their chance to appear on TV.... Again, that's OK by me...Public Broadcasting is one of the really good things about America...my kids grew up with Sesame Street, I loved Julia Child, on and on.
The Roadshow is an adventure. If you have a strong back and a good sense of humor, venture out there. Weak of heart...stay home and watch it on TV.

Fly Away With Handpainted Japanese Carved Wood Bird Pins

2011-04-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

I want to share the following story. I’m amazed at the ever widening circle of friends I’m finding as I sell on the internet. I was shopping at an estate sale a year or so ago and found these interesting hand carved and hand painted wood bird pins. I was vaguely familiar with Takahashi birds and since these were signed in Japanese script I decided to buy them. Besides, I thought they were beautiful and if they didn’t sell, they would make a lovely display perched in a wire tree for Easter or springtime.

It happened while listing these on Ruby Plaza that I had a customer in Japan purchase another item. I asked if she might translate what was written on the back of the birds. She was happy to help and told me the name was Nagasi and went on to explain that it was a “place name” in Japan. She shared that it was probably the family name of the artist.

I posted a picture of the birds to a help website I belong to on facebook and although many admired the bird, no one could help. Recently, I had a wonderful lady in the Minneapolis area contact me about the birds and made an offer to buy all 11. We struck a deal and also struck a friendship. My new friend is Helen Manley and she is a genealogist. She shared the history of these birds with me and now I’m sharing it with all of you. She was able to research the name on my birds by going online to different websites, including Ancestry. The name is Nagase. There were two brothers Sam and Martin. They were born in Japan, migrated to northern California and married two sisters. They owned a fruit dehydration plant in Sebastopol, Ca. I live near Sebastopol and the estate sale I purchased the birds from was in Santa Rosa, Ca. Helen happened upon an article online that told of Sam Nagase’s birds being on display at the San Anselmo Little Library. They had been given to the library by a patron. That helped Helen narrow down locations and she found the obituary of the wives of the Nagases in the San Francisco Chronicle archives.

When the war broke out the Nagases were caught up in the net that sent them to internment camps in Poston, Arizona. It happened that the Nagases were interred in the same camp as the Takahashis. Helen doesn’t feel that the Nagases and the Takahashis ever encountered each other as there were 17,000 or more internees at the Poston internment camp. However, many Japanese internees did artwork and crafts when they were given spare time. One of the products was these delightful little bird pins.

The Japanese had next to nothing in the way of art supplies and had to scrounge to find pieces and scraps of wood to make anything. Many carved and painted these little birds. They used pictures in the Audubon Bird Books as a guide for the carving and painting.

After the war, unlike the Takahashis none of the other artists sold their pins. They were given to family and friends or packed away as the memory of the camps was too painful.

And then in 2011 in Santa Rosa, CA I found these little birds. Helen is thrilled they are flying her way. They will be added to the extensive collection that she has put together over the past few years. She shares that there is a wonderful word in the Japanese language, “Gaman”, pronounced Ga-mon. It translates to “making the best of a bad situation.” These beautiful birds are certainly an example of that. Last year there was a display of some of the artwork created in the internment camps in Washington D. C. Helen and has been hooked on these little birds ever since.

Stainless Steel Flatware...The Workhorse of the Kitchen Table

2011-04-13T15:03:00.000-07:00

Tom and I shop many estate sales....I had never looked at the kitchen silverware drawers. I was more interested in those lovely sets of sterling and silverplated flatware. I love them and I love finding matches for my customers and I have received countless notes and letters telling me how thrilled a family was to be able to once again use mom's or grandma's silverware at the holiday dinner. Then, a sharp liquidator pointed me into the kitchen. She said "you know, this stainless is quite valuable". She showed me a set of Dansk Fjord. It was service for 8 with serving pieces. I immediately said no, I couldn't sell that! She talked me into it. At the time I was selling on that on line auction site. My set of stainless flatware got over 20 bids and I made a nice profit from the purchase. Well, let me tell you, I was hooked.

It still took some convincing to make me seek out stainless flatware. I tried to be choosy, but with not knowing what patterns were popular, it was like buying blind. Even though the pattern was pleasing and in good shape, if no one wanted it, I would be stuck with a set of unwanted flatware. A local estate liquidator advertised Russel Wright Stainless flatware...well, I thought, if the dinnerware is collectible, the flatware must be also. I was so, so right. I sold that set by the piece.

Now, I was getting really excited. NO ONE looked at the stainless steel flatware in my area. It was pretty much mine for the picking. The very next week we attended an estate sale and arrived well after the first rush. There in the kitchen for 12 dollars, was a huge bag of stainless steel. Even without looking it up, I knew the pattern...Jewel Tea's Autumn Leaf. The set ended up selling for well over $1,000.00.

Many young people today don't want the chore of caring and maintaining a set of sterling or silverplate. They love the easy care and casual feel of stainless steel. Many have rescued or in herited mom's or grandmothers set. If course, since it was the every day set, it was not treated so kindly. Pieces were lost, went missing at the potluck, got scraped into the garbage or ended up in the backyard sandbox. Now the hunt is on for those missing pieces. I'm always on the lookout for quality sets. Oneida was one of the biggest manufacturers of quality American made stainless steel for the latter part of the 20th century.

Reference material is limited on stainless steel and I've learned by trial and error. In 1998 Replacements published a comprehensive pattern guide to stainless steel flatware. To the best of my knowledge it is no longer being published. I'm guessing Replacements would have some copies to sell. It has been an invaluable source for me as I've matched 100's of patterns and sold 1,000's of pieces.

Now, at the estate sales while I'm looking at the silverplate and sterling, Tom is out in the kitchen digging through the drawers looking for the stainless steel. Sometimes we're lucky enough to find brand new sets, never used. Many times, I find a set in the good silverware drawer in the dining room. Many families had two sets of stainless, one for everyday and one for company.

Stainless steel is sturdy and it can go in the dishwasher. It polishes nicely using a quality stainless polish. Most patterns had many serving pieces and lots of extras like ice tea spoons, butter knives and demitasse spoons. And, if you think about it, stainless steel is what most of us grew up with. It's what brings back great memories of mealtime and conversations around the kitchen table.

Bright Retro Cheerful Anodized Colored Aluminum…..

2011-03-05T16:19:00.000-08:00

I don’t think I’ve seen a piece I didn’t like. Retro kitchen kitsch that is delightful. It is bright, colorful, sturdy and just plain happy. It came in many shapes and sizes and colors. Quality manufacturers like Bascal, Kromex and others produced this retro kitchen and bar ware. The items are sleek and stylish, mid century modern design at its best, fitting into the modernistic décor as well as the retro kitchen.

After WWII America was on a roll. Our soldiers were home and jobs were being created. Americans had energy, ideas, plans, and were on top of the world. Subdivisions were being built and along with those rows and rows of houses were backyards just screaming for a patio and bar-b-que pit. Housewives shopped with confidence and wanted fun, eye catching accessories to entertain with.

You can find any number of colorful accessories. Over the years I’ve found many, many pieces. I think my best find was a set of multi colored spice canisters in their original rack. There are pitchers, measuring spoons, ashtrays, coasters and much, much more. The most common item is the tumbler. I remember going to market with my grandmother and purchasing cottage cheese in the aluminum containers. I don’t remember the brand of the cheese, but I do remember those tumblers. My grandmother was partial to the bright blue, so every other week it was a new blue tumbler. They held up well in the kitchen as there was no dishwasher in the house. But, as they started looking worn were delegated to the laundry room (soap scoop) or to my sandbox. Made a great digging tool and you could make great sandcastles.

As with so many items from that era, these are nostalgic, bringing back many happy memories for not just a few, but for many. Sadly, that has brought on an avalanche of cheap imitations and reproductions; do a search on ebay or Amazon and you will find imposters by the car load. Don’t settle for the new ones. Enjoy a trip to your local antiques and collectibles mall or browse on Ruby Lane or Ruby Plaza. Part of the fun of finding these treasures is the trip finding them.

An added perk is that in the heat of the summer, a tall cold iced tea or lemonade tastes wonderful when enjoyed from one of these fun vintage collectible mugs or tumblers.

Who's Your Picker???

2011-02-16T11:33:00.000-08:00

The new television shows on the History channel have spawned renewed interest in the age old profession of "picker".

Early on in my antiques and collectibles career, I was a picker. It was a sometimes demeaning term and certainly was regarded as a bit less than honorable profession. I and others were out there in the trenches daily. We scrambled and grappled and dug high and low for items we could sell up the chain to shops and higher end dealers.

We had the inside scoop on what came into what thrift store, when it would be put out on the floor and what would be asked for it. We knew what time to be in what place for the best chance of finding the "prize".

As I became better at what I did, I learned how to sell my "finds" and get the best price I could. I also learned when to shut my mouth and listen to what my customers were telling me to look for. I visited their shops and the antique shows. I studied the merchandise, how it was displayed and asked questions. I came to realize that what I was doing was a valuable tool in the antiques marketplace. Without us "pickers" out there in the field, the shops would be harder pressed to find that elusive piece they were looking for.

Today, I have pickers. They help me keep my Ruby Lane shop well stocked with treasures. I rely on them to seek out the unusual and they are a lot younger than me and can move faster than me. That’s important in this very competitive business.

I try to take good care of my pickers. I'm losing one at the present time and it makes me sad. With the economy the way it has been, he is unable to continue picking on a full time basis. He is going to have to get a "real" job. I value what pickers can do for me and my business. I never hesitate to give them input or information. If they are successful, I'm successful...

Antiques and Collectibles Shopping Brookings Oregon

2011-02-11T09:08:00.000-08:00

We had extra time to spend in Brookings Oregon on our way home this February. We found the neatest shop!! "Art Walk Alley Antiques Frame Shop and Stained Glass Studio".

http://brookingsmerchantsassociation.org/members/shopping/art-walk-alley-antiques

Tony Farcello and Rosemary Stewart own the combination antiques shop and an art frame business. There are treasures galore in this small friendly shop. Rosemary was more than delighted to help us and share her views of business in the area. August past was her best month, then the highway construction began and made the street going one way the wrong way for her shop. As with any Antiques and Collectibles business, it's always a struggle and an adventure. I'm thrilled I found her shop. She is in the process of liquidating a long time Antiques Dealer inventory that has been in storage for many, many years. Her shop has everything from gorgeous bronzes to fuzzy friendly Steiffs. She has a quality selection of antique jewelry. I was in shoppers heaven. I was able to purchase a couple of items for our Ruby Lane shop.

The address of the shop is 519 Chetco Ave, Brookings Oregon. Call ahead to make sure of the hours, especially in the winter...541-469-4466.

Antiques and Collectibles Shopping in Oregon

2011-02-11T08:50:00.000-08:00

We just returned from our bi-annual trek to Eugene Oregon to do the Picc A Dilly flea market. Along the way, we stop at a number of shops and malls to search out some goodies to bring back to sell on Ruby Lane and now, Ruby Plaza. I'm always interested in asking shop and mall owners "how's business?"....I was surprised at the response I got in southwest Oregon. There is a town, Brookings. It is right on the border between California and Oregon. There is a good sized Antique Mall there that we try and stop at each time we pass through. Pacific Coast Antiques Mall is located in a small strip mall just off the main highway..97900 Shopping Center Ave, Brookings Oregon.

Pacific Coast Antique Mall Brookings Oregon

This is a multiple dealer shop with tons of jewelry and select smalls. There is a great booth with a Raggedy Ann and Andy collection that a dealer is liquidating. The dealers in this mall are faithful about adding new items on a weekly and sometimes daily basis.

Dick and Dee Stever are the owners of the mall and they are very friendly and eager to help you find what you are looking for. There has always been lots of helpful staff to open cases and answer questions. Dick relates that some shops in the area didn't make it through the recession and have been forced to close. If a shop can hold on til the summer tourist season, they will do fine. There is a great influx of travelers once the weather improves.

Oregon Bound....February 2011

2011-02-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

We hit the road early morning February 4, 2011...We are headed to Eugene Oregon to do the Picc A Dilly Flea Market. If you follw the blog, you know we LOVE doing this flea and it is more of a vacation than a chore. Of course, our goal is to SELL. We take items that have been in the Ruby Lane and Plaza shops too long and pass them on to another seller or to a collector. We price them right..we don't want to take them home.

This trip, we headed up US 101 north. Weather is always an issue on our February trip and the coast road pretty much guarantees we won't deal with snow.

Crescent City CA, in Humboldt Co is a natural stopover. It's just over 300 miles from home. That gives us time to stop in a few favorite malls and browse and then have a restful evening at the local Best Western.

There is an antique mall in Crescent City that we always try and get an hour or two in to browse. It's the Robin's Nest mall on King St. The lady that worked there advised us to visit this shop. Today, I want to talk about a new to us shop. PARKWAY DRIVE ANTIQUES 1650 Parkway Dr. 707-464-6035.

About 4 years ago, Sandra Fernandes eyed her husbands automotive repair shop, located on their property. He had decided to retire and she had no intention of retiring. She turned her husbands body shop into a 2 story jam packed, fun, friendly antique shop. Not a mall. 99 percent of the merchandise in the shop is Sandra's. She takes very few select items on consignment and she is "dealer friendly". She's bright and smart. She remembered me from four years earlier at the Robins Nest Antique mall.

The shop is packed with great merchandise. Sandra buys out whole estates. Everything is clean, organized and honest to goodness, "NO JUNK". Wonderful selection of art work. Jewelry runs the gamut from Native American to somewhat contemporary costume.

My treasure of the day was a set of 8 Barbara Willis Pottery Spice jars, original wooden lids, Fisseldink pattern...excellent condition...I'm thrilled..

Here is a link to Sandra's shop..

http://parkwaydriveantiques.com/default.aspx

Parkway Drive Antiques

1650 Parkway Dr.

Crescent City, CA 95531

707-464-6035

The shop is a short jog off 101. Use your GPS or Garmin...easy to get to.

I "LOVE" this shop....

Happy New Year...2011

2011-01-28T21:07:00.000-08:00

My Goodness....time travels quickly...I'm told that is because I'm getting old. It is late January 2011 and Tom and I are getting ready to head to Eugene Oregon to do the "Picc A Dilly" flea market in early February. We look forward to these trips. We have a lot of fun and really enjoy the people we meet and get a chance to talk to. I'm becoming a firm believer that these posts are nothing without pictures and I apologize for this one being without pics. I will try to add some.

Tom and I are in the process of trying to downsize and get ready for the "big" move. We are planning on relocating to Oregon. We love the state. It is friendly, quieter and the place we want to spend the rest of our lives.

Early January finds the shopping slim pickins....especially in the estate sale market. The holidays slow down the estate sales and the colder weather stops the regular folks from having tag sales. Flea markets are iffy at best. This past winter has been one of the wettest in our area and that makes shopping for merchandise a challenge.

If you read me or follow me at all, you know I LOVE shopping Antique Malls. The folks that rent the booths have done my leg work for me. They have gone out and trod the extra mile to find the antiques and collectibles that I need to stock my Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza shops. Do not pay attention to those that say..."they price that stuff way too high"...Well, some of them may, but on the whole, the dealers that stock Antiques and Collectibles malls are in the same business as me...they want to sell their stuff..

So, if January and February find you tapping your fingers, looking at little or no new inventory, spend an afternoon at the local Antique Mall...you may find a few bargains..don't forget your local consignment stores..they too have many consignors and new merchandise comes in on a daily basis....

Antique and Collectibles Shopping in Sonoma County California

2010-11-08T13:51:00.000-08:00

I've posted several times about antique malls and shops we've journeyed through on our travels throughout the great northwestern United States. However, I've sorely neglected my own backyard. This past month, October, Sunset Magazine highlighted an Antique Mall in Sebastopol CA. It is "Antique Society". It is a quick 10 minute drive from my front door and yes, I shop there. Not as often as I should, as every time I go there, I come home with a bag or box full of treasures. Let's take a look inside

When Tom and I first moved to Sonoma Co, we looked around for a collective to set up a small space to sell our wares. Antique Society was just the ticket. It was not too big, but it had that feeling, that ambiance, that great atmosphere that said, once a shopper gets here, they won't want to leave. That was over 10 years ago, and the same holds true today. Every booth and showcase is well stocked and most displayed very well. The owners and staff work at making the store attractive and memorable. The store has been in business for over 23 years and has 20,000 square feet packed full of every kind of antique and collectible you can imagine.

There are several booths of some really groovy mid century modern furniture and decorative pieces. I grew up in that era and I find it attractive and very, very cool.

Rest assured that those that are more attracted to the primitive style of furniture and accessories will find plenty to choose from. On any given day there are crocks galore, wonderful old wood cupboards and sideboards and vintage linens abound.

There is an area right in the front of the store that the staff decorates choosing items from all the spaces to set a them either for the time of year or holiday. When we were there to photograph it was a fall scene.

There are dolls to die for, jewelry of every vintage from the very finest estate jewelry to just plain fun old costume jewelry. The owner is very proud of her store and juries the spaces. She is adamant on vintage only. No reproductions. There are over 100 dealers stocking the spaces and every trip to The Antique Society is a great adventure. If you visit Sonoma Co California, this is a must stop and shop. It is located in Sebastopol on highway 116. The official address is 2661 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol CA. Their phone number is 707-829-1733. They are open 7 days a week 10 to 5. Here is a link to their web page.

http://www.antiquesociety.com/contactus.html

Let's Go Antique and Collectible Shopping on the Oregon Coast!!

2010-09-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

Today found us headed north towards Lincoln City. There is a well established antique mall at the north end of town that is always well worth a stop and shop. It is called "The Little Antique Mall". http://www.littleantiquemall.com/

It is loaded with some really great treasures. There are 80 plus dealers and to top it off, they have a great coffee bar right in the shop. They are always willing to brew a cup that you can enjoy while you browse the booths. There is a comfortable sitting area for those who are not as intense a shopper as you are.

Today, I want to talk about a different shop. It is located on the very southern end of Lincoln City. It is tucked away in a quirky little shopping area made up of old rail cars called Streetcar Village. It is right on highway 101. The name of the shop is "Lucky Cats Antiques".

I'm a big fan of mid century modern. This shop is packed. The shop is located near a very upscale retirement area and I imagine there are lots of estate sales to shop. Swedish, Danish, German, Italian pottery, ceramics and art abound. Take a look inside with me.

The cases are all unlocked...open any you want. And there is plenty to see. I bought some wonderful old Satsuma thousand butterfly salt dips. A great Royal Copenhangen Kaj piece and some very nice jewelry.

Can you spot that Eva Zeisel piece, the Red Wing pitcher? Brett, one of the owners met Eva several years ago. He has an extensive personal collection. Above, see the Desimone figural pitcher? There is so much to see in this shop that you need at least an hour and that will only give you a quick pass through. It is not cluttered. It is very well designed and a real treat to browse. They are closed on Tuesdays, sometimes Monday.

Sharon Cannon and Brett Harrison

541-994-0000

Selling at the Picc A Dilly Flea Market

2010-09-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

So, why would you want to load your car until it groans and drive for 2 days to sell at a flea market? Well, because I think Picc A Dilly is just about the best flea market I've ever been involved with. It is held at the Lane County Fairgrounds in Eugene Oregon. There are 3 to 4 rooms overflowing with tables of all sorts of goods. This market is not an Antique fair, but a reall flea market. There is everything from A to Z. There is a good mix of sellers. The majority of the tables do offer antiques and collectibles.

Some of our treasures, we rent 6 tables

People ask us why we come all that way just to sell at Picc A Dilly. We like the people. We like the shoppers and the staff. We make very good money and we combine our trip with a bit of a vacation afterwards on the Oregon coast.

One of my pet peeves, is to walk into an Antique shop or mall and see the same things that were there a year ago, in the same place, some added dust and the same faded price tag. I feel the same about my shop on Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza. I think merchandise needs to be turned over, often. So, twice a year, we go to Picc A Dilly. I take all my old merchandise and move it on. This is one the few things I agree with Harry Rinker about, you may sell it at a loss, but you have some of your money back and you can invest it in fresh merchandise. What didn't sell for me, will probably sell in someone elses booth or shop. And it must, because year after year, dealers come back to me to purchase my "stuff". I get calls asking when I'll be there.

This lovely lady is Suzanne, the brains behind the market

If you've never tried selling at a flea market, maybe you would like to give it a try. Before you commit, realize you are not going to get book or shop prices for your items. But, you will move your merchandise and maybe make some friends like Tom and I have. We have been selling at Picc A Dilly for over 10 years and we plan on selling there for many years to come.

Antique Shopping in Southern Oregon Continued

2010-09-21T15:38:00.000-07:00

Heading north from Grants Pass takes you to Winston Oregon, just outside of Roseburg. There you will find Winston's Now-N-Then Antique Mall. Larry Hill is the owner and he's done a good job filling the 13,000 square foot store with vendors and cases. There is a good mix of booths. There are some newer items here, making it an adventure going through. You just never know what you'll find. The shop is open daily 10 to 5 October to March, 10 to 6 the rest of the year. The mall is located in the Winston Shopping Center, 124 W Douglas Blvd (Hwy 42). The exit is well marked off of I-5.

Some beautiful jewelry

Tigger, the shop dog!!

Military and Matson items

Antique Shopping in Southern Oregon

2010-09-18T16:59:00.000-07:00

Most of the fun of being in the Antiques and Collectibles business is that it gives me a license to shop and shop and shop.....well, you get the idea. I LOVE to shop. When we travel, most of the day is spent hunting through Antiques and Collectibles malls. I love them. We used to sell in malls and I know how much work it takes to keep a booth well stocked, neat and tidy and most of all "eye catching".

Our recent trip to Eugene Oregon to sell at the Picc A Dilly Flea market lets me head to one of my most favorite malls ever. It is the Old Town Antique Mall in Grants Pass Oregon. Janice Munro and her mom, Peggy DeMarco are the owners and managers. Janice is at the shop most of the time, her mom, when she is not busy managing a wonderful flea market that we will talk about later.

Janice has a personality that just makes you want to stop, take your time and enjoy her shop and her vendors. Her bright, clean mall has about 9,000 square feet and I'm guessing about 25 to 35 spaces. There is a great selection of everything. Jewelry (my fave), native american, depression glass, pottery...well everything. Janice will also pack and ship for her out of town shoppers, a very welcome service for the traveler.

Not my best pic, but Janice looks great!

Thousands of Treasures!

Oh, the jewels...I need hours!!

And yes, I did find treasures. I could shop and shop and shop. It's a matter of running out of time and money. Hopefully on the way home, I'll be able to shop some more!! Here are a few of the treasures I found.....

Just a few, a Trifari interchangeable ring set, original box. Beautiful old enamel and pearl locket, a Coro thermoset parure (purple, mind you), an Estee perfume glace in original box and lots, lots more.

Respect for the Items We Find

2010-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, when I blog, I write for myself. It is just a gentle reminder that I need to keep focused on what I am trying to do. (basically, make money) In order to pay the rent, pay the bills etc.

However, I LOVE what I do. I enjoy searching out the unique, the obscure, the different. And, I'm very, very good at it. 30 years of success in the Antiques and Collectibles field have proven that.

This week brought a new awakening. I have a picker. He is a friend. Tom and I met him about a year ago by chance. We "hit it off". We understand each other. He is an intelligent, personable gentleman. In the last few months, his latest job has found him cleaning out a hoarder's home. To listen to his gentle rendering of the story is at times heart wrenching. As with so many of our maturing loved ones, senilty has taken the toll and the children have had to step in and take control.

The lady of the house was a lover of art, fashion, jewelry, and her Catholic faith. This past week has brought the ultimate collectible. It is a larger than life statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is probably from a church that was undergoing a restoration.

When I walked into our friends storage and saw Jesus smiling down on me, all of my Catholic upbringing rose to the surface. Yes, it is idolatry. I agree, it is "just" a statue. But, for the early part of my life, this was an important part of my spiritual foundation. And here He was. Jesus was standing in the storage locker....

There is a plaque on the bottom of the statue that leads us to believe it is Italian. As I said earlier, probably from a church or chapel that was being remodeled. I know there is a place for these wonderful aritifacts. I cannot accept the idea that this might end up in some off the wall venue or worst case, landfill.

As Antiques and Collectibles dealers, although we are all out here to "make a buck", we also have a responsibiltity to preserve some things. Respect for each other's faith and beliefs is important. We are all spouting "green"...re-use, re-furbish, -re-invent.....

We need to respect our past and do what is right. When we find that old suitcase filled with treasured letters and photos, we cannot throw it in the trash. At least make an attempt to find the family name. The internet is our friend..In this case, I am reaching out to find a reverent and suitable home for Jesus.

The Estate Sale Treasure Hunt

2010-08-02T16:57:00.000-07:00

Another weekend has come and gone. This past weekend was jammed with some pretty good and some not so good estate sales. Reading between the lines on Craigs list has almost become an art form. Once you weed out the estate sales that have baby cribs diaper changing tables, you move on to the more challenging prospect of deciding which estate sales are real and which ones are local resellers getting rid of old merchandise. That is not to say that there are not bargains to be had, but come on, as estate sale by definition is "selling the contents of a deceased person's estate".

Tom and I have come to rely heavily on emails sent from local and nearby estate liquidation firms. Most are pretty honest in their description of what is for sale. Many provide a multitude of pictures to whet our appetite. Just enough to make us wonder, is that really a piece of .......... there on the fireplace mantle?

As I shared in my last entry, we no longer are awake with the chickens to set out to be first in line on the first day. The prices are just too high for us to buy for resale. Besides, it's no fun anymore. We used to be a pretty congenial group, but with the influx of newbie eBay sellers and wanna be Antique dealers we gave up. I tired of perky young shoppers rushing around putting sold tags on everything and then going to hide under the dining room table while they decide if they really wanted it or not.

We go on the second day and if the sale is still going, we go on the third day. Our favorite liquidator has set discounts. First day, full price, no haggling. Second day, 25 percent off. Third day, 50 percent off and sometimes even more. Is that treasure still going to be there on the third day? Maybe not, but sometimes it really pays off. This past weekend was a perfect example. We went to Black Cat's sale on the second day. The estate had a huge collection of old Desert Rose dinnerware made by Franciscan China. There were many hard to find pieces, including the rare tea canister. The prices were very, very reasonable and on the second day I got twenty five percent off. I felt the tea canister/caddy for under $20.00 was a steal. We decided to go back on the third day. Lo and behold all the Desert Rose was still there. I purchased the cookie jar, large covered vegetable dish, ten juice tumblers and many more pieces, all at fifty percent off the already great prices. Desert Rose may not be the hottest seller right now, but there are still many collectors buying a piece to fill out a collection or someone doing some gift shopping. The sale was a joy to shop and I came away with many pieces that I know I'll do well with.

Quite a different story at the other estate sale we decided to wait to go to. We waited until the third day knowing that this liquidator price very high, especially on a three day sale. When we arrived, we overheard several people discussing the prices. They had been there on the first day and now, some of the prices were higher on the third day than on the first day. When I approached the liquidator about prices, he quoted me a price I felt was really high. I asked "are you sure, it's the third day"? He claimed the items were not put out for sale until the morning of the third day. I did not purchase much at this sale.

Get to know the liquidation firms in your area. Learn how they price. Talk to them about discounts towards the end of a sale. Many times they will give deep discounts if you agree to take, say, all the remaining costume jewelry or kitchenware. But, most important, keep it fun. This can be a stressful business and if going out to estate sales and garage sales becomes more of a chore than an adventure, it's time to rethink what you are doing.

Estate Sale Shopping...Ever Changing Adventure

2010-07-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Tom and I have been in the Antiques and Collectibles business for many years. Myself personally, over 30. One of our main sources of merchandise is Estate Sales.

We have found that over the last 10 years with the growing popularity of the internet, estate sales have changed, big time. There used to be a kind of protocol, a kinder, gentler way of shopping. Everyone lined up, waited for the sale to open and basically had a pretty good time talking with fellow dealers, collectors and friends. Not so today. There is fierce competition from fellow dealers and the savvy collector. The internet has educated many people in ways that were not available before the internet. We can see what an item will bring at auction, on line mall and even brick and mortar shops with just a click of the mouse.

All of this has not been lost on the estate sale liquidators or operators. Over the years, prices have escalated. Even though the market may be slow for a given item, the liquidator knows that they have a better chance of getting top dollar today than they did 10 years ago. Advice from all fronts, including Martha Stewart are educating collectors how to hunt out that prized piece for their collection. Arrive early, have loupe, cash and stamina. Know what to look for and examine your potential purchase carefully. Estate sales have an "as is" policy. Even if the item is not marked as such, it is buyer beware.

Have we given up on estate sales? Heavens no, but we have changed the way we shop. No longer do I get up at 4:00 AM to be one of the first in the door. Usually the first day prices are too high for us to purchase for resale. With most liquidators having a website and extensive email lists (some in our area send out over 3,000 emails weekly), the competitive buying sometimes reaches a frenzy. We are close to San Francisco and if the sale has certain items, the dealers from the city are there the afternoon before the sale to wait until the next morning. We wait. Yes, I may miss a piece or two, but when I go in the second and third day, I get a discount and there are usually plenty of treasures to be had.

Part of the enjoyment in the Antiques and Collectibles business is the thrill of the hunt. It is a genuine rush when you find that hidden treasure. It is particularly sweet when you find it 24 hours after every "big time dealer" has passed it by.

Lewis and Clark, Our Grand Adventure Part Five

2010-07-10T16:03:00.000-07:00

The big day arrived. We were up and ready to go early on the morning of June 24th. The long winding unpaved road to the Lemhi Pass would be the adventure today. Well, for most of the group, not me and a few other wimpy folks. John chartered a special bus to take over the pass. Our big bus would handle the road well, but it is very dusty and he was concerned about filters etc. Myself and a handful stayed with John on the Daytripping bus and had a very relaxing travel day reading, knitting and getting to know each other better. And then, there is always the gorgeous Montana scenery.

Before off loading the brave passengers, we stopped at the site of Camp Fortunate. It is now buried under water at a resevoir. Sacajawea obtained horses from her native tribe the Shoshone. Lewis and Clark were able to continue on over the continental divide.

Tom enjoyed the long drive up the pass. The group stopped and had one of Jackie's fab picnic lunches. The scenery was terrific. Here is Tom at the divide and straddling the Missouri at the source.

We joined up with the adventuresome souls outside of Salmon Montana at the Sacajawea Interpretive Center. A side note, after all the debate over how to say her name, we were advised by several docents, guides etc, say what you want. There is the Shoshone translation and the Hidatsu translation.

We journeyed on to Hamilton Montana, our stop for this night. We stayed at the lovely Bitterroot River Inn.

Very cabin motif decorating and a nice restaurant, The Edge, adjacent.

Link to the Bitterroot River Inn Website

Friday June 25th. We are up and moving. We have to be to Travelers Rest to meet our guide. This is one of the most important stops on the trip. This one site is the ONLY site that has been authenticated as an actual campsite of Lewis and Clark and the Corps. How do they know? Well, let me tell you, archeology is not what it used to be. Very high tech. Bottom line is this. Lewis and Clark and the corps were very often struck with dysentery and diarrhea. The medicine given them contained amounts of mercury. Mercury does not disappear, ever. The researchers scanned using air survey and found the latrine area with large amounts of mercury.

Detailed information was shared by a wonderful park ranger. I'm giving a link to one of the official websites for Travelers Rest, Lolo Montana. They also have a facebook page.

Travelers Rest, Lolo Montana

The alleged Latrine!!

After leaving the park, we headed towards Lolo pass. We hit the jackpot for scenic opportunity. The short blooming Camas. This was the root that helped keep the corps going. Sacajawea knew of it's value. At Packers Meadow, it was in full bloom. A very amazing site.

After gazing at the meadow, we headed on a 99 mile joy ride over one of the twistiest roads I've ever traveled. Thank goodness for Bonine!! Jackie served a wonderful lunch of chicken salad and fresh fruit. We traveled to our rest for the night, Quality Inn in Clarkston Wa. Our much anticipated jet boat ride on the Snake river was this evening. It was not what we thought it would be, but it was still a nice evening and the weather was beautiful.

Our boat pilot was also our host for dinner along with his family. After dinner on the return trip, he took us up into Hell's Canyon for more sight seeing. We did get to experience some white water and rapids. The rivers are very, very full right now because of all the heavy rain.

June 26. We head towards Walla Walla and the Columbia Gorge. Our goal this evening is Portland Oregon. We are on the last leg of our trip. We have had such a wonderful time...but the time has just flew by. A brief rest stop at Multnomah falls for the obligatory Kodak moment.

Link to the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center

We stop at the Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center and a re-enactment put on by a delightful lady, telling the story of Lucy Merriweather, Lewis's mother. She was wonderful and held our attention.The museum here is vast and has several really impressive collections. The one I would have loved to spend more time with was a collection of over 4,000 rosaries.

We are into Portland. We are staying downtown at the Hotel Monaco. We had a wonderful meal in the hotel. Great staff, very helpful. Lovely room. We really felt pampered.

Link to the Hotel Monaco's Website

Sunday morning found us on the road to the coast of Oregon and the Longview Peninsula. Very good interpretive guide gave us facts about the Dismal Nitch. This was a brief stop for the Corps before they headed down to Ft Clatsop.

Above is a picture of a magnificent bronze sculpture done specifically for the Dismal Nitch site. We headed over the bridge and down towards Astoria and a trip up to the Column.

A view from atop the Column. Tom went up, I did not.

After traveling for 19 months, the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived at the Pacific Ocean in November 1805, having started up the Missouri River in May 1804. After 10 days of scouting, they chose a site near the Netul River (now the Lewis and Clark River) to build their winter encampment, which they called Fort Clatsop for the local Indian Tribe, the Clatsop. It was a miserable winter and they were well ready to travel back east towards home when spring arrived.

This is our last official site of the trip, the Salt Works in Seaside Oregon. This is where all winter they made salt to help preserve the game they needed for food. After a wonderful day, we headed back to Portland and a lovely surprise. John had arranged for us to have Dinner aboard a Cruise ship on the Wilamette River. It was heavenly. Calm river, lovely weather, good entertainment. The perfect ending to a perfect trip. We were both sad to see it end.

We are so glad we took the trip. As I mentioned earlier, I have never been a history buff. It was difficult for me in school. I learned something on this trip. Lewis and Clark are a very important part of our heritage. If not for their perserverence, our country would a much different one today.

Lewis and Clark, Our Grand Adventure Part Four

2010-07-07T15:43:00.000-07:00

After a lovely breakfast at the Grand Union in Ft Benton, we headed into Great Falls to spend time at the C. M. Russell Museum. What a treat!! I don't know when the man had time to eat or sleep. He was very prolific and the museum is chock full of his work. Also on the grounds are the original home he and his wife shared and his studio, which I personally found fascinating. He was an artist from a young age and never stopped.

There are many displays of Indian artifacts and treasures. Note the little thimbles sewn on this child's dress as ornamentation.

Mr Russsell not only painted, he sculpted, carved and much, much more.

The fabulous bead work we saw on Native American garments took my breath away. They are works of art!

We left the museum and headed down towards Helena, Montana. We had our first boat ride of the trip. "Gates of the Mountain" boat ride on the Missouri River. Even though the weather was drizzly, it was a wonderful ride. The steep cliffs on either side of the river were amazing. Although we didn't see any bison or bighorn sheep, the wildlife was everywhere.

The boat ride was about 2 hours long and it was very peaceful and relaxing. I was finally starting to feel like I was on vacation.

We headed towards Helena to check in at The Best Western Helena Great Northern Hotel. It was a very nice property with a steakhouse restaurant adjacent. We decided to try Walleye Pike. We both got sick. Enough said.

June 23rd finds us at the Montana State Capitol in Helena. What a marvelous piece of architecture that has been lovingly restored, thanks to the Montana historical society. Every nook and cranny is exquisite and so very clean and accessible. We had a guide from the historical society show us around the rotunda and various chambers. Both the house and the senate are well decorated. The house has the larges C M Russell painting. It hangs behind the main podium. A snarling wolf appears to be lunging at whomever is speaking at the moment. Rumor has it Russell planned it that way, just to let the lawmakers know that Montanan's are watching what they do.

The Montana State Capitol

Our afternoon found us headed towards the Missouri Headwaters State Park. Lewis and Clark named the 3 Rivers which combine to form the Missouri (Jefferson, Gallatin and Madison Rivers)

The Jefferson River at the Headwaters State Park.

A nice mid-afternoon lunch at the Sacajawea Hotel in Three Forks Montana. The staff had prepared a great lunch of sandwiches, salads and iced teas. Very tasty. This is an historical operating hotel with a beautiful big veranda. I could have just sat on the porch all afternoon.

We were all quite relaxed and we loaded the bus to head for our night stop at Dillon Montana. It is a Best Western and it is not up to John's liking. It is OK. Clean and quiet. We went to a local steakhouse for dinner. Tom and I walked back to the hotel. It felt good to stretch our legs. Tom was still not feeling 100% and I'm sure the fresh air felt good.

Part Three Lewis and Clark, the Grand Adventure

2010-07-05T06:42:00.001-07:00

Sunday, June 20th. We arrived late at The Grand Union Hotel in Fort Benton Montana. Not to worry, an excellent chef and staff performed miracles and after a quick check in, we were served what was to be one of the best meals of the trip. A healthy slab of medium rare Elk was set before us with generous sides. Sumptuous wine choices topped off the meal. Link to the Grand Union Hotel Website Tom and I were given the best room in the Hotel. It sits just above the lobby and is a large suite. The hotel has been completely restored and brought up to date, but still has the look and feel of a gracious old hotel.

The lobby of The Grand Union Hotel, Ft Benton Montana

The dining room, Grand Union Hotel.

This picture tells the "Awwww" story of the trip. The sculpture is in the little park that is on the Missouri River in front of the Grand Union. It is "Shep". Shep's master, back in the 1930's died and the coffin was loaded onto a train to travel back east to family. Shep watched the train disappear. Every day for the rest of his life, he sat next to the train tracks waiting for his master to return. He greeted every train. He met is demise by falling under a moving train. On a hill high above Ft Benton, he was laid to rest and a statue was erected there. Shep, "Forever Faithful".

Monday June 21, 2010. Our first important visit to a Lewis and Clark site. We journeyed early to "The Great Decision Point". The Corps of Discovery had to decide which river to take. Not all our fellow passengers were able to make the steep climb to the overlook. But, as with all points along the Lewis and Clark trail, there were many information kiosks and those who couldn't climb, were able to experience what we saw.

The three rivers, they made the right decision. They followed the Missouri.

We left Decision Point and headed towards the Great Falls. When Lewis and Clark viewed the falls, they knew they would never be able to take the boats up the river over the falls. They realized they would have to portage around the falls. The park that surrounds the falls today is lovely. The falls are dammed and a power plant operates. There is still some of the cascades and it made for an amazing site and sound.

We felt we were into the heart of the trail now, we could see things we knew the Corps of Discovery saw, even if not in the exact same way. From the falls, we headed to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls Montana. It is a must see. It is beautifully done and has a panoramic view of the Missouri River. There are 5500 square feet of exhibits.

This life size display shows the way the Corps of Discovery had to hand drag the boats and supplies up and around the Great Falls.

This artfully painted Bison greeted us as we entered the center. Every display in the center was well thought out and I have seen some of the most beautiful Indian bead work I ever dreamed of seeing. We headed back to Ft Benton for our final evening. We had a terrific dinner again of Rib Eye Steak. The only sad thing is that the two days here went way to fast.

Lewis and Clark, Our Grand Adventure Part Two

2010-07-04T10:21:00.000-07:00

June 19th was the official start to our trip. We were to pick up the rest of our travelers and our guide, Gary, at the Spokane airport. Horizon Air, did not cooperate and their flight was delayed by more than a couple of hours. John decided we needed to see a bit of Spokane and brought a wonderful guide on board the bus. Her name was Jan and she certainly knows how to showcase Spokane to the fullest. Spokane is a beautiful town, home to over 200,000 residents. As with most towns in this area, the money goes back to mining and railroad. Our tour included Manito Park and the Conservatory of Flowers. Truly a treasure.

This is an overview of the formal gardens. I can just imagine what the display will be like when the flowers reach full bloom. Below is one of the cactus in the conservatory. This is for our friend Bobbie, from Texas. It is called the "Glory of Texas".

Our tour took us to the Japanese gardens, the lilac gardens and ended with the cascade falls that run through the city. The cascade powers a plant built in the 1800's that is still in operation.

John headed us out for Wallace Idaho, our first stop on the Lewis and Clark Trail. He will have to drive back to Spokane and pick the other members of the party up and then return to Wallace. We arrived in Wallace with enough time to take a walking tour of the old, old town. The staff at the Wallace Inn had the welcome mat rolled out for us Daytrippers.

Following is a link to Historic Wallace Idaho Website This is an old, old town just chock full of history. Teddy Roosevelt visited here. The home he visited was on our tour. The family that owns the Wallace Inn also owns The Jameson. That is an old hotel/bar/restaurant that has been restored. We dined there this evening and had a great time. We were encouraged to go to the third floor and view the old rooms, completely restored and operating. They warned that rumor has it the third floor is haunted.

Up until the 1980's Wallace had an operating Bordello. That building is now a museum. The "Oasis Bordello Museum". It was not open during our visit, much to the disappointment of some of our travelers.

After our great dinner at the Jameson, we headed back to the Wallace Inn where John and Jackie had arranged for a surprise birthday cake for Tom. It was his 69th birthday.

June 20th dawned cold and cloudy and rainy. We all donned our rain gear and headed out for the Sierra Silver Mine Tour. We were instructed about our hard hats and first up we went and then down into the mine. That jolly fellow in the blue hat was our guide. His name is Lenny and he is a kick. We had a great tour and he really helped us understand the dangers and rewards of mining. Now, because of the EPA, very little mining is done.

There is a wonderful little museum that had detailed information about mining in this area of Idaho. In the 1970's women were allowed to work in the mines along with the men. This is not an easy way of life. You were tough or you didn't survive. The mine we toured is now an operating classroom, instructing students on mine safetly and operation.

The weather the 20th of June 2010, was violent, to put it mildly. Tornados, thunder and lightning guided our path towards Wyoming. We made our way towards Missoula Montana for a Father's Day lunch. I'd never eaten at a Cracker Barrel restaurant, it is not for the faint of appetite. Friendly, friendly service and really great tasting food.

We hit the road and headed for our next stop. It would be two nights (thank goodness) in Ft Benton Montana. We are staying at the historic, fully restored, Grand Union Hotel.

Lewis and Clark, Our Grand Adventure

2010-07-03T13:59:00.000-07:00

In mid June, Tom and I set off on a great adventure. Our travel group, Daytripping, out of Santa Rosa CA had offered a 10 day trip tracing the trail of Lewis and Clark. Not the whole trail mind you, but plenty of it. We would wander through Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana and back again. It was exciting. We saw country we only dreamed of seeing and stayed in some wonderful places. Over the next couple of weeks, I will give a brief summary of our trip at the request of many of my facebook friends. There are lots of pictures. Tom alone took over 500. I'll try to provide links to some of the highlights from the trip.

After traveling this route, I came to realize how important the Lewis and Clark expedition was to our country. Until they completed their journey, it was believed the Pacific Ocean was just over those hills west of Missouri. As a companion to the journey I took a book, The Journals of Lewis and Clark, edited by Frank Bergon. It is pretty dry reading for the most part, but I'm thankful I had it with me because at each of our important stops, I could link the date from the journal with the area I was viewing. I knew exactly what Lewis and/or Clark was thinking at the same spot in 1805/06.

Some good research on the Lewis and Clark Expedition Here is a link to some great information and frequently asked questions about the expedition.

So as with most tales, we start at the beginning. June 17th, 2010. 10:00 AM we depart Santa Rosa aboard our big bus. Above is the clubhouse, the bus had not arrived yet. There would be 30 travelers. We would pick up our guide, Gary Holloway and other passengers when we arrived in Spokane. John Petterson is the owner of the company and also the driver. Jackie Kenlivort was the hostess with the mostest. She kept us well fed during transition when stopping at a restaurant was not doable. She is a fabulous chef and there were many tasty meals prepared ahead that were brought on board frozen. The coach is luxury class with a full kitchen and all the amenities. The seats are roomy and comfortable. I have a very bad back and my chiropractor was not in favor of me sitting on a bus for 13 days. My back never bothered me once.

Off we went. Our first rest was Granzanellas in Williams CA. This is a wonderful full service deli, pizza parlor and olive tasting bar. Above is a picture of me and our big bus. Hurrying up I-5, our next stop was the Sundial Bridge in Redding CA. Very impressive. John always makes an effort to make every rest stop a cut above the ordinary if he can. Our destination for this night was Klamath Falls Oregon.

We arrived in Klamath falls a bit later than planned. We had a nice room at the Shilo Inn and ate dinner at their restaurant. Nothing fancy, but it filled us up. Worst martini I've ever had.

June 18th

We hit the road moving north at a good pace. We are headed to Spokane and it is a long, long way. Our first rest was one of those aha moments. Like the Grand Canyon, John told us to follow the path and we would see a beautiful gorge. Where?...all I saw was flat. Then...there it was.

We really hustled on that date. We made it to Spokane and the Davenport Towers around 7:00. Dinner was on our own at the hotel and it was scrumptious. The chef was doin 1/2 off any appetizer or entree. The martini was big enough to swim in, a whopping 10 oz. The first time I did not finish a martini. The room was exquisite. I felt like royalty. Our only complaint that it was only for one night. Below is a link to the Davenport Towers.

Davenport Hotel Tower Spokane Washington

Middle of June...How are you Doing?? How's the traffic to your site???

2010-06-15T21:29:00.000-07:00

June 15th, summer, vacation..oh well, sales will be slow...people are busy...I can just kick back and relax, right? NOT!!!!!

This is a key time to work on your shop. If you are new to Ruby Plaza, work hard on learning the ins and outs of how the website works. Look at the other shops. See what they are listing. Click on the drop down menus and see what is new today. This is a key tool. You learn what the other shops are doing and who knows, you may even find a treasure to purchase.

One of the key tips told to myself and all other Ruby sellers, "Shop your shop". Log out and go into Ruby Lane and "pretend" you are a customer shopping your shop. Are the pictures sharp? How about that greeting at the top of the page? Does it make you want to go into the shop and look at individual items?

One of the tricks I learned early on when I started to sell on Ruby Lane was to check what was selling. I make it a point of checking in every other day or so and clicking on the drop down bar at the top of every Ruby Lane page. Look for the SELL at the top. A drop down will appear and it will have a link to "what's selling". This is a useful tool. It not only shows what is selling, but what it sold for. It is invaluable for us sellers.

This feature is not yet available on Ruby Plaza. I'm guessing it will be in the future. But anyone can go into Ruby Lane and see what is selling. You do not have to be a shop owner there to access this information.

Remember, the customer support staff at Ruby Lane and Ruby Plaza is the best on the internet. They are there to help and guide you. Just ask.

Ruby Plaza Bucks!!

2010-06-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it has been almost 6 weeks since the launch of Ruby Plaza. How are you doing? Have you had visitors?

Well, how do you know if you have visitors? A very good question. For those of us that were Ruby Lane sellers, the format of Ruby Plaza was very easy to slip into and learn the ropes quickly. For the sellers new to the Ruby World, it is confusing and sometimes very frustrating.

When you log into your sellers page on Ruby Plaza, look to the left side menu. Go down to the link that says "reports". Click on that. You will find a wealth of information there. You will get a list of links in the main area to click on. Top of the list is "Shop Visitors". Click on that. You will get a display telling you how many times items in your store were viewed in the past 24 hours.

In the columns it will tell you how many times your home page was viewed, which items and so on. You can click on each of the numbers to get a further in depth look of what was of interest to shoppers on the given day.

Do not get discouraged if the numbers seem low to you. Remember, Ruby Plaza is still in the Beta stage and things are being tweaked and nudged and worked on all the time. I'm a Ruby Lane Platinum seller and I've been with them for a bit over 2 years. When I first started Ruby, my numbers were painfully low. I worked with Ruby Lane to get those numbers to climb and I know all of you can do this also.

I cannot let this post end without bringing up a very important reminder. This is the first of the month. Every Ruby Plaza seller has some "Plaza Bucks" to spend. As a Ruby Plaza flagship shop, I get $35.00 of Ruby Plaza Bucks. I invested mine in featuring on the Jewelry home page.

I want to remind all the new and not so new Ruby Plaza sellers that Ruby Lane and Plaza offer the best customer service available. They have an in depth seller mentoring program that is stellar. Any problems you experience, contact them. They are the most gracious and are always willing to help.

Ruby Plaza Shop

2010-04-21T20:52:00.000-07:00

We are now a flagship shop on Ruby Plaza....let me tell you, it was a nail biting, gum chewing, stressful experience.

The announcement was made a couple of weeks in advance. At noon on April 20th, 250 Ruby Lane shops would be able to sign up to become Flagship shops on the new venue "Ruby Plaza". I am not a sharp reader. I missed the NOON part of the announcement.. I only saw April 20th...I considered setting the alarm for 11:55 PM on April 19th. Would that give me an advantage? I've been on the computer long enough to know whenever there is a competitive time frame, the clicking and picking gets, well, furious.

I awoke early on the 20th, knowing I would not have a chance. I had slept in til 5:30 AM...I fired up the PC and clicked on the Ruby Lane link only to have the message again say,...noon....NOON? Well, I still had a chance!!

I twiddled and fidgeted and found busy work. I am taking an online Word 2007 class and that got lots of my attention (passed my quiz)

At noon sharp, I clicked on the link.....held my breath....and.....the servers went DOWN!!!

I stayed with it...I watched as faithful frineds from the eBay PGP board were accepted and listed. Friends from Facebook and The vintage Village posted proudly..I'm there!! I have my new shop!!

I hung my head. I cringed. What if I wasn't accepted? What if my shop was refused?

Then the message appeared ( in red ) Your shop has been accepted for Flagship status, BUT it is in review. In review? So, how long can that take? I kept checking, hour after hour after hour. At bedtime I had been in review for over 4 hours and all my friends had their shops approved and I felt like I must have some terrible thing hanging over my shop.

I went to bed (a few glasses of Clos Du Bois Cabernet) and slept well. I KNEW when I woke up in the morning all would be well.

6:30 AM...I am still in review? Oh my, my shop must have terrible things! I was resigned to the fact that I would have to post to the whole internet circle of friends that I just did not come up to the standards of the new Ruby Plaza guidelines. I realized that my 1100 items certainly would have some re-categorizing to do, but my goodness, my stuff is really cool!!

I was getting ready to leave for art class and the final email message came in....

Carolyn, Thank you for your interest in Ruby Plaza. We have reviewed your shop and it will be open soon!!!

I needed to change a few minor technical things and later today, my shop was finally open.

Some of the above was written tongue in cheek, but most was very real. I don't have a clue why this was of such importance to me. I like the idea that I can purchase quality "new" items at estate sales and have a place to sell them on line. I respect the Ruby Lane principal of 20 years old. I've really tried to stick to that and I've never been tagged for violating that.

Visit us often on Ruby Lane and on Ruby Plaza

What's Selling!!

2010-03-30T07:57:00.001-07:00

When I first opened my shop on Ruby Lane, I floundered a bit. I could not decide what to put in the shop and then what to price it at. I basically pulled figures out of the air. I have a very good knowledge of collectibles and their value, but we all know that what they are worth and what the sell for are two complete different things.

Then, I discovered Ruby Lane's "What's Selling" shop. You can find it by mousing over the top tool bar "Selling" tab on the Ruby Lane pages and a drop down menu will display "What's Selling" near the bottom.

In the upper right portion of the page, you will be given a choice of viewing mode. I choose Gallery. Then every single day I look at every item that has been listed as sold. I find that if I do my research early in the morning pacific time, I have about 500 to 600 items to view. Not only do I get to see what is selling, but the price that it sold for.

This has been invaluable for me. It has given me a clear grasp on what to shop for and how to price the item. I'm inserting a link to the Items Sold shop on Ruby Lane.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/rubylane-sold

Reproductions....the bane of collectors and dealers

2010-03-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

I'm going to post a link to Ruby Lane's very informative "shop" Modern Reproductions, Fakes and Fantasies. You will not beleive what they are making that you would swear was old and authentic.

http://http://www.rubylane.com/shops/rlreproshop

December?? Where did this year go??

2009-12-02T19:34:00.001-08:00

I've been very remiss about posting to my blog. I am going to remedy that. I'll not spend so much time on Facebook and the other social networks that business involves me in. I've had some personal issues with family that have taken an emotional toll. I've been sick. Well, no more excuses. I'll keep this mini diary going. We have enjoyed many trips with our Daytripping hosts. Most recent was a trip to San Francisco to see "Cirque du Soleil OVO". What an amazing experience. I cannot even begin to describe it. If you have seen Cirque, you know what I am talking about.

We are getting excited about Tracy and the boys, Noah and Ben, coming for a quick Christmas visit. We so look forward to seeing them. I would only wish they could stay longer. It is fun trying to find the perfect Christmas gift and fulfill their "Santa" wishes. I also wish that Tommy and Bud could be with us so the whole family could celebrate this blessed time of year together.

Ruby Lane has been fantastic this past couple of months. That also has taken lots of our time. Tom is always busy with the picture taking and even though the Ruby Lane interface is an easy work through, it still takes time. I'm not complaining, mind you, just forever thankful for the great response from our customers from all over the world.

Oregon Again!! I LOVE it!!

2009-10-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

Yes, we're back again. And, we have decided, this is the place to be. We finally contacted a realtor and within the next 2 years, God willing we will be based in Oregon. In mid September we adventured up to Eugene for the Piccadilly Flea Market at the Lane County Fairgrounds. Suzanne and Peggy do a fabulous job of organizing the market. We did extremely well and we cannot wait to go back in February. We coincide our trip in February with the Copper Penny Antique show that is held in other buildings at the fairgrounds.

We stayed in Newport Oregon again and our good friend Marie Jones treated us to a great lunch at the historic Nye Beach. It was at the "Chowder Bowl"... Great "good eats".. Thank you Marie.

Picture above is of "Pirates Plunder". It's a neat grouping of shops, the largest above is an Antiques and Collectibles Mall with lots of souvenirs and gifts.

Cowabunga Dude!! Huntington Beach!! Laguna Beach!!

2009-09-19T19:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, I'm late with the post. We took a trip with Day Trippers to Laguna Beach for the Pageant of the Masters. If you have never seen or heard of the Pageant, please, Google the pageant and make reservations a year in advance for this experience. It is AMAZING!! 25 to 30 works of art brought to life on stage for 90 seconds. All the while, a wonderful master of words is giving a dialog that keeps your interest and anticipation. This event runs from late July into the end of August. On the last night of the performance, which we attended, tickets for the next years performance go on sale (to a standing line).

Besides the Pageant, we had a very special side trip to Newport Harbor for a Sunday Brunch cruise with Hornblower's. We were fortunate enough to sail on John Wayne's boat, a retired mine sweeper. I'm posting lots of pictures from this wonderful adventure. The cruise took us past the spot where Gilligan's Island lead in shots were filmed, John Wayne's home on Newport Harbor and Shirley Temples childhood home. It was a beautiful day and the weather was perfect. The crew of the Wild Goose were very professional and we enjoyed our day thoroughly.

Summer in San Francisco at A Baseball Game

2009-08-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

OK, I've never been a big sports fan, but you don't remain married to Mr O'Bayley for 36 years and not become something of at least a passive fan. We've been doing a lot of day trips with a local travel club and a Giants/Dodgers game came up.

I've NEVER been to a baseball game in my life until today.

We arrived at ATT park about an hour before the game started. I was impressed by the professional staff and the way the whole venue was run. Especially for a sellout crowd of 34,000 plus fans. It was amazing.

My comments on the game are probably really lame to some longtime baseball fans, but I felt I was watching a big screen TV. It did not seem real to me. When I watch a baseball game on television ( we have flat big screen ) the players and the plays seem larger than life. Watching it in the ball park was at least to me, unreal. The crowd at time was surreal. I found it hard to believe that a few chords from a recorded organ could bring 30,000 people to their feet to chant ..."beat LA...beat LA"

I enjoyed my first "live" ball game. What I really enjoyed was watching Tommy enjoy it. I would not trade today for anything.

Hopefully some of our pictures will follow.

Cool, cool summer in NO CA

2009-08-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been very cool. This weekend is the first "hot" we've had in a month. No tan for me this summer. I've been to the pool, maybe....5 times? That is fine by me. I prefer the cool and that is why we will be relocating in the near future to No Oregon area.

We took a trip to the De Young Museum in San Francisco's Golden Gate park. I'm sorry, but it was VERY overated. The staff at the museum did a wonderful job of showcasing the cast off remnants that Egypt decided to send our way. Several venues at the museum are shut down to accomodate the gift shops that will send thousands if not more dollars to Egypt. We purchased our token souvenir (5.00) at the museum store to make sure our money stayed in San Francisco.

The group we traveled with allowed us ample time to peruse other areas of the museum. I really enjoyed the Dale Chihully exhibit. There is a wonderful Grant Wood painting of The Threshers that occupied a lot of my time. It is fascinating. I've seen the piece in magazines and on TV, but up close to see the actual painting is a real treat.

I will try to be more attentive to this "blog". (actually, I don't like that word), sounds ....well....bloggish.

Ruby Lane Reunions

2009-06-30T19:35:00.000-07:00

I have to post a quick note. I've had several really wonderful stories from buyers on Ruby Lane. The shoppers had come to the internet looking for a particular item and I just happened to have that item. Tom and I have been able to reunite several people with long, lost momentos. Not the original ones of course, but a replacement for an article long lost. I love the personal notes that the buyers send.

Summer is here and it is HOT!!!

2009-06-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

Well, it's been awhile since I blogged/posted because I've been sick. We went to Fresno to visit Tracy and Ben and Noah and I caught a cold. It worsened after we returned home and I ran a high fever. I thought I was getting better. I went to the Dr and he said "go home and take it easy". I did. The fever returned. 103, 104. We finally insisted that the Dr run some tests. I had pneumonia. Apparently, if you are recovering from a cold or flu and run a high fever, it is an easy in for pneumonia. I took some pretty strong antibiotics and I'm feeling ok. I just get really, really tired.

I've managed to go out on a few shopping excursions and we have found some pretty neat stuff. Ruby Lane is doing excellent and I find it challenging to provide the "right stuff" to catch the buyers eye.

We took a getaway day trip early last week with "Daytripping". It was a really fun break to celebrate Tom's birthday. It was advertised as "Hog Island Oyster Picnic". It took us to Tomales Bay. The weather was PERFECT!!. You don't get to say that much here in No Cal on the coast. It's either foggy or cold or windy or all of the previous. It was 75 degrees and just a gentle breeze. Hog Island Oyster Co was the perfect host and we were privileged to hear all about Oyster farming and how they are helping to protect the environment there on Tomales
Bay. We had all the oysters we could eat, either on the shell or barbequed. Daytripping provided a fabulous picnic with everything you could possibly want. Salads, fresh cut fruit, a cheese and fruit tray, shrimp ceviche, bar b que chicken, artisan bread. And, wonderful wine and great desserts. I'm so happy we went.

New Finds For Ruby Lane!!

2009-05-30T10:19:00.001-07:00

I think that it is the hunt for treasures that keeps me in this business. I could not do it without Tom. He is "logistics". He keeps me organized and focused. I would much rather just go out and hunt for the old stuff than sell it. Keeping a shop fresh and interesting is just as challenging on line as it is in a brick and mortar shop or mall. Last weekend we found this gorgeous lithopaned Geisha Girl Tea Set. It is just beautiful.

http://www.rubylane.com/shops/cobayley/item/100-1255

April on the Oregon Coast

2009-04-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

How's that for a view out your window? Fabulous weather at Yachats Oregon on the weekend of April 18 and 19. Tom and I chose to celebrate our 36th wedding anniversary at our favorite getaway spot on the coast of Oregon.

We enjoy The Adobe Resort at Yachats Oregon. We have been coming here for years. The rooms are spacious, well appointed and most of all, reasonable. They have a terrific restaurant and lounge. We entertained a very good friend on Sunday evening. The atmosphere is very friendly and we feel right at home.

They have a very very large indoor pool, a large spacious hot tub and best of all a really well equipped excercise room.

For our Ruby Lane shoppers, this trip has been very productive. We were lucky enough to attend an estate sale on our first day in Oregon in Grants Pass. We were very lucky to find some nice mid century modern pottery from Sweden and some nice silver.

The Antique shops and Malls on the coast were very productive. We found a terrific Hawaiian Sterling Silver charm bracelet, lots of nice jewelry, some really terrific 1960's kitch and lots, lots more. It will take us a week or so to get the pictures processed and then we will start listing the items in the store. I'll be adding more to this post after we return home. Now, I'm just going to put my feet up and relax with a great glass of Maryhill wine.

More wonderful Silver for the Ruby Lane Shop

2009-04-09T21:05:00.000-07:00

A chance meeting with a fellow artist allowed me to purchaes some Tiffany Sterling Silver flatware. It is in the Renaissance pattern and it is really, really beautiful. I've listed it in the shop and I don't really expect it to sell soon, but I was truly grateful to be able to see in person the quality of the flatware. Every nuance is crafted with perfection. All the curves and lines are expertly done and even after 100 years the pieces are truly works of art.

This is just one of the many new items we are adding to the Ruby Lane shop daily. It has been and continues to be an exciting new way to do business on the internet. We are really pleased with the response to our shop and welcome all the questions and interest. For our international fans, if you see something that catches your eye and is small, please, please email and we will be happy to send you the price for international shipping. Some larger items, it is just not possible because of the prohibitive shipping fees.

Ruby Lane Update

2009-03-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is a post as a special Thank you, thank you, thank you to all you faithful Ruby Lane shoppers and friends. What a month it has been! Our sales are fantastic and I'm so excited about adding new merchandise as quickly as I can.

After many requests, we've added Money Orders to our payment acceptance. I realize that there are those folks who just don't trust on line banking. We'll wait 7 days for a mail payment before we put the item back in the store.

We are adding some exciting jewelry to our Ruby Lane shop. I've had the wonderful opportunity to buy some very nice vintage jewelry from an experienced dealer here in Northern California. There will be some nice Florenza, Trifari and many more pieces added in the coming month. Already, a beautiful Schiaparelli brooch (shown above) and Coro Duette have been added and have been put on at least a half dozen wish lists.

Spring, Again in Northern California

2009-03-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Yes, we need rain and we "ain't" gonna get it. We are being very selective in our planting and gardening this spring. We have 22 rose bushes to take care of and the fruit trees will need some deep watering to make up for what Mother Nature did not provide.

Our most recent trip around Northern California was in part a "surprise". We had booked a trip with Daytripping and were scheduled to attend a concert at the Gallo Wine Center in Modesto to hear a performance by the Dublin Symphony. Well, that was included, but surprise, surprise, we first went to Sonora Ca for the 23rd Annual Celtic Festival. We were disappointed in most of the booths, but the music, oh! what a treat. There were many folk bands and it was a toe tapping time. I swear, if I were any younger, I might have had to get up and dance a step or two. Our favorite was "The Mick Lucey Group"

I found this on the internet about the group.

"Many years ago, in a small cottage in Sliabh Luachra, on a boreen called theOld Road, a family of musicians lived and played and shared their stories."There were no musical instruments in the house, but the children learned todiddle their tunes from their father, sing the songs from their mother, andtell the stories of the rovers who stopped in for tea, or cards, or somecraic. With their father, the nine children, along with the neighbors androvers and passers-by, would gather in the humble abode and dance sets lateinto the night -- each fellow battering the stone flag by the fire as hepassed in his turn. In time the children went off to work for farmers, only toreturn at holidays with violins, accordions, and tin whistles acquired fortheir toils."Eventually some left the country, as did Mick Lucey, with nothing more withhim than his accordion and a legacy of music, songs, and recitations instilledin him since birth. From the earliest age he has instilled that legacy in histwo daughters, and in all who have come in contact with him. It is this legacywe share with you."

There is a charming man who plays the accordian/squeeze box and a group of 4 others who entertain with him. They have a CD available at the fair for $10.00. It's one of the best 10 bucks we've spent on folk music.

Apparently they are located in the Modesto CA area. If you ever get a chance to listen, do it.

Picture above is of the Mick Lucey Group.

From Sonora, we headed into Modesto and raced through dinner and then off to the symphony. What a treat! Everything you could hope for with traditional Irish music. No Americanized McNamara's band.

All in all, it was a wonderful way to celebrate the Irish heritage here in this country. To top off the trip home, Daytripping treated us to Benihana for lunch.

Ft Bragg California

2009-03-12T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well, we went back for another visit. Tom grew up in Ft Bragg and we are blessed with friends that gift us with a stay in their guest house. We have a simply wonderful time. I love to walk and early morning is my time. Too cold?....no, not for me. Winter coat, gloves and I'm off. The architecture of the mission style cottage homes could keep me walking for blocks and blocks. If you look closely on your meanderings, you can see the remnants of the first gardens and landscapes. The coastal loving perennials are abundant and there is ALWAYS something in bloom.

I could write volumes about this coastal community but I will reign myself in and address a few things at a visit.

There is a local restaurant that serves a wonderful breakfast and lunch. It is the Laurel Deli and Dessert down by the Skunk Train Depot. The picture above is of Scott, the owner and 2 of the wonderful staff. The restuarant is in a building that I was told was a car dealership many years ago. It has become a mini mall with many little shops, a wine tasting room for Pacific Star winery (good) and lots of local pictures from the years past. The food is great. Nothing fancy, just good home cooking. Many locals eat here and that should be a clue to it's great popularity. Scott and his wife make all the pastries and there is a wonderful coffee bar to satisfy any coffee craving.

It's a can't miss for breakfast. On a rainy day, it keeps the children occupied with the old locomotives and stuff to look at in the shops. There is a ride on mini locomotive for the children. Just a good fun place to rest your bones after hiking all over the beaches.

Eating Your Way Through San Francisco

2009-02-27T20:17:00.000-08:00

Being of an age that we qualify for "Senior" status, Tom and I have been treating ourselves to a day off now and then and going on a "DayTripping" adventure. This is a travel group that has a brand spanking new bus and they travel all over on day trips, overnight trips and longer.

Thursday was a real treat. We embarked on a "Taste of San Francisco" with an ethnic twist. We started at Schroeders, a noted German restaurant. On to Katia's for a taste of Russia. A slow informative trip through the Presidio to Menses for Greek fare and then on to L'Olivier for French pastries. Final stop was at the BV (Buena Vista) for a cup of Irish Coffee. It was great fun, but even though we tried to be selective and not eat too much, we were extremely full. Not uncomfortable, but really, really full.

We had a wonderful on board guide that had all kinds of wonderful tales of the city to make our adventure seem really special.

San Francisco is truly a wonderful place to visit. There is so much to see and experience. The trip over the Golden Gate is always breathtaking no matter what the weather is.

A New Adventure

2009-02-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

Warm winds and lots of warm rain bring welcome water, but our snowpack is melting away. We will still have to conserve water. ( we should be anyway, everyday)

A few recent unpleasant experiences have made our decision to no longer be a regular seller on eBay. In April, we would have celebrated our 10th year selling on ebay. There is nothing to celebrate. The changes that eBay has implemented in the past year has left sellers on an island with no support or back up.

Our Ruby Lane shop is showing promise and I will put 100% effort into stocking the shop and making it run successfully. We have decided to accept USPS money orders for payment on Ruby Lane as well as on line payments. We hope that will encourage some of the folks who are reluctant to share their information in cyber space to be comfortable shopping with us. We will be adding lots of collectibles and items that normally would have been listed on ebay for a quick auction.

Greetings from a Wet and Wild Northern California Wine Country

2009-02-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Well, we wished, prayed, girated and whatever we did seemed to work. At least for the given moment. It is down right winter again. Earlier this month we were getting spring popping up all over. Buds, downright unhealthy growth because we knew it would not, could not last. Thank goodness we were somewhat right.

We are in for a week of heavy rain and the mountains are going to get some snow. Let's say a prayer it is wet snow for the pack.

I have to add a note here for my Ruby Lane customers. As our shop becomes more popular in the search engines and we generate more customers and interest, I'm getting more and more request for "off site payments". I'm sorry, I don't do that. I use PAYPAL. Although it has it's faults, it has been flawless for me for over 8 years. I operate an aboveboard business and I follow the rules. I abide by guidelines and safety features. I wish all my potential customers would be comfortable with on line payments, but I respect their right to refuse to do business with paypal or other forms of on line payments.

Please respect my choice to do business only within these parameters.

We have added some really terrific items this week to our Ruby Lane shop and are anxious for all our regular customers to come take a look.

Rain, Rain, Come again, come again!!

2009-02-11T20:25:00.000-08:00

Finally, day after day of blessed rain. I don't think we will catch up to quota this year, but every drop helps.

Ruby Lane is exciting and I am getting to "know the lay of the land" so to speak. Tom ventured in today with 15 or so vintage fishing items.

We are not going to Picc A Dilly in Eugene this spring and he thought he'd list some of his more vintage tackle on Ruby Lane.

Estate sales are busy. Families are trying to move the items and get the properties ready for sale. We found a beautiful set of Towle Old Master Sterling Silver flatware last weekend.

Early Spring Here

2009-02-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

The birds are starting to nest. I cannot believe it. In early February. On my early morning walks I see all kinds of "nature" things going on.

The most exciting was late last week, on a very foggy morning, I was rounding the bend up at the east end of the park. I could just feel something watching. I slowed and then came to a stop. I did not want to alarm whatever mother nature had decided to share with me.

It was a FOX. I should explain, I live in a Senior Mobile Home park in West Santa Rosa California. We are right off of a 45 MPH busy, busy street. We are bordered on the other 3 sides by 2 creeks, vineyards and cattle pasture.

This lovely, small red fox was as surprised as I was by the encounter. He stared at me, I stared at him.....and, I was the first to move on. Tom said "It's a good thing". They hunt small vermin, they are omnivours just like we are and as long as no one leaves garbage out for them, they are an asset to the community. He was lovely. Long bushy tail, delicate pointy ears, sharp clear eyes. I am out very early most mornings and I see things that most others don't see. Now, I have more to look for. I spotted a fat waddling raccoon ambling between a yard and the creek a couple of weeks ago.

Drought!! Watch that Water!!

2009-02-04T20:56:00.000-08:00

Whoa!! We are anxiously awaiting rain tonight. The first in almost a month. The agriculture industry in this part of Northern California and I'm guessing all of Northern California is praying for rain. The very warm weather has caused spring to sprung. The birds are pairing off. I see the first swallow scouts coming in to look for their favorite nests. It is as if we skipped a month of winter.

The antiques and collectibles business seems to be weathering the economic calamity with it's usual hardiness. I've talked to many antique dealers in CA and Oregon and most are doing well. The folks who deal in furniture are doing VERY well.

I had a savvy dealer teach me years ago that when the economy turned down, the antique business went up. Some question whether it is the frugal shopping for a bargain or the need to find nostalgia in hard times that drives the secondary market. I don't question, I just shop for my clients.

The estate liquidators are in a quandry. The families want to dispose of the items, but they want top dollar. The market will not support that want. The smart liquidators are running 3 and 4 day sales with descending prices over the 4 day period.

We are finding plenty of bargains to entice our shoppers. We enjoyed a somewhat profitable fall and winter on Ruby Lane. We will stand the test and stick with it. We work at it constantly trying to find the right items to fit into that selling niche. Pictured below is a lovely handpainted glass ewer that I am struggling to label. It is a custard colored glass that has been rather nicely handpainted with florals. Advice from experts leads me to believe it is European.

So, again, mind that water usage. We all need to conserve and not just in these drought times, but every day.

January

2009-01-15T20:08:00.000-08:00

Hmnmm

The holidays are come and gone.....but not forgotten. What a wonderful holiday. If only Tommy and Bud had been here to join us. Northern California needs rain. The country needs a rebirth. Ruby Lane did well over the holiday. We didn't have a big lot listed, but, we did OK. eBay is eBay. We are so disappointed in their abandoment of the seller. We stuck it out with them. We stayed through thick and thin. They did not.

Christmas 2008

2008-12-30T20:47:00.000-08:00

The precious Christmas holiday has come and gone. It sailed by. I didn't miss it. I was part of it. Tracy and the boys joined us for a most rewarding and fun filled two days that I will remember for years to come. The boys had never seen the ocean, so on the day after Christmas, we all drove to Bodega Bay and Noah and Ben got their first glimpse of "OCEAN".

The Ocean was at it's best performance and it was a handfull keeping these "rookies" away from the surf. They LOVED the experience. Grandpa and Grandma are eagerly looking forward to a summer visit on the coast where Noah and Ben can play in the sand and get their toes wet.

Peace on Earth, Good Will towards Men ( and women)

2008-12-11T20:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is that time of year. I was so trying to post here at least weekly and now the months have come into play. We are so busy.....we are looking forward to family joining us for Christmas Day celebrations. Grandchildren, ahhh, the blessings of God. Who could ever not enjoy their laughter, their joy in the incredulous, their excitement about nothing. They are beautiful and I cannot wait to hug them and hold them. We have lights!!

To all you Blog Posters out there!! Kudos!!

2008-11-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Yes, this is much more time consuming than anyone could ever imagine. I want to post volumes here daily, but daily chores keep me away. Many thanks to anyone who may have viewed my blog, (I think none), but it is difficult to keep a thread going. I will persevere. Even the spell checker is rather lame.

Christmas is coming...Sooner than we think

2008-10-26T20:42:00.000-07:00

Antique and collectibles sales are picking up. I'm always encouraged by the whims and wishes of buyers to find a treasure that will have more meaning and last for more than a day or so in the heart and mind of the giftee. I've had several buyers purchase sets of vintage silverware to gift on to a soon to be surprised giftee. We are all entertaining at home more and it is important to have at least a set of silverplate to set a nice semi formal table. It gleams and glistens and has a warm inviting appeal. Above I'm showing an astounding set of "Grosvenor", a popular silverplate pattern from the 1930's. This set has all the bells an whistles. Lots of extras with serving pieces, the small carving set, individual butter knives and much, much more.
Besides the many pieces of silverplate we offer, we have accumulated a nice selection of Waterford Alana and Lismore for our holiday shoppers. You can find us on ebay under our seller name of cobayley or more importantly at Ruby Lane at http://www.rubylane.com/shops/cobayley

September 2008 in Beautiful Oregon

2008-09-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

Well it is a bit dry, but it is beautiful. We picked a hot weekend to weave our way north to Eugene and the "Picc A Dilly" Flea Market. Twice a year we adventure north and sell at the Picc A Dilly. If you are not familiar with the flea, it is held at the Lane county fairgrounds in Eugene. Suzanne and crew do a wonderful job of running the flea and setting it up so all who sell and shop have a wonderful time. I'll post some pictures in the next few days.

A Hint of Fall Is In The Air

2008-08-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

We are hoping and praying for a regular winter. We need rain here in Northern California. The past weekends have been a bit sparse for Antique and Collectible shopping. We did manage to find a few really great treasures that we will be adding to Ruby Lane closer to the holiday season. A beautiful Sterling and Enamel bracelet dating from the mid 20th century. We found a lovely set of Sterling Silver flatware in the Lyric pattern that we will break up and let families fill out those sets. I never feel sad about breaking up a set of sterling because so many families are trying to match up that piece that went into the disposer or onto someone with the leftovers. As the holiday season approaches we will be offering some really nice sets of silverplated flatware. We are leaving these as sets for the young families that would like to start a tradition of perhaps the same pattern as Mom's or Grandmother's. Included are Remembrance and Dresden Rose.

Summer is coming to a close...

2008-08-16T19:03:00.000-07:00

Even though it is only mid August, we can see the signs of fall. It has been a dry spring and fall and the hills and fields of Northern California are truly "golden". After the horror of the early fires, we all hold our breath and hope for some early rain. The vineyards are picking early and the crush is earlier than usual. Although the quantity is down, the early reports say the quality is way up. We look forward to sampling this years vintage. The shopping as stepped up at the estate sales. Some very interesting finds this weekend include a PAIR of Duncan Miller Glass Goose Bookends from the 1930's. A nice surprise to see on the second day of an estate sale in the beautiful active Senior community of Oakmont, in the Valley of the Moon, just outside of Santa Rosa, CA. Our favorite estate sale liquidators Black Cat, held another lovely sale and as predicted, the fine Mid Century Modern Swedish furniture and appointments were swept up early by the discriminating buyer. As costs for imports rise, the shopping for this quality used furniture is on an upswing.

New Items on Ruby Lane

2008-08-13T19:51:00.000-07:00

We are gearing up for the Holiday Season. We have started to add some of the vintage and antique holiday decorations that we have found over the past few months. One of the personal favorites of mine is an antique Turkey Candy Container from Germany. Yes, there are some losses, but it is a fine piece of old holiday decor. Especially in this day when so many of our treasures are being reproduced in China. The little turkeys are also from Germany, but I don't quite know what they are. They have lead feet and I'm almost positive they were not meant to be candy containers.

Mendocino County Retreat

2008-08-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

We have just returned from a wonderful mid week respite in Mendocino County. Gracious friends have a guest house and if we find an open spot, we take advantage. The weather was perfect and we took full advantage of the sights and events in Ft Bragg, California. One of the highlights (and if you are looking for excitement, click off) was the Wednesday night Farmers Market. The most gorgeous fresh produce from all around the county arrived on schedule at a corner in north Ft Bragg. Farmers and producers from Lake County, Booneville, and further stretches brought an abundance of beautiful fresh product for the locals to enjoy. Each booth had a line to enter and then you could select your produce. Heirloom tomatos, fresh squash, new dug potatoes, perfect onions... I could go on and on. This little market could rival any in the bay area for the quality and freshness that it offers. These northcoast residents don't know what they are missing if they don't take the time on a late Wednesday afternoon to come down and shop. Tom was raised in Ft Bragg and the highlight of our visit was a warm and wonderful meeting with one of his cousins. Hugs to Sandy and Larry. It was wonderful to have the few minutes of visit.

Antique Shopping in Sonoma County

2008-07-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

If you are a savvy shopper in Sonoma County, I'm sure you know about Plain Jane's Consignment in Sonoma. This shop is the greatest little resource for collectibles, decorating ideas, art and more. I probably shouldn't share that, but I also consign at Janes and new shoppers are always welcome. There is a link here to her website and she has new items come in daily. Really, daily. So many shops say that, but Jane's store is the best I've seen in many years. We found Plain Jane's by accident when she first opened and we've been faithful clients ever since. Her website has detailed directions from any point in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Antique Shopping In Mid July

2008-07-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

Whoa!! What a weekend. There was a GRAND estate sale out in the old apple orchard area of Sonoma County. The lady loved her antiques and stowed them all in the barn. The liquidators sent their usual email early in the week and they were overwhelmed by the volume of glass, crystal and china. Many lovely pieces had just sat in boxes in the barn waiting to be "rediscovered". Opening day of the estate sale found 100 plus people queing up for a chance to be the first to enter and find a treasure. We waited until late in the first day to "scope" out the sale. I purchased a Fenton Yellow Opalescent Banana Stand for $40.00. I hated to take a chance and have someone come in on the 2nd day and get it at 25% off. The real sleeper was in the kitchen mixed in the water glasses. There was a Fostoria Navarre Magnum stem for .....$3.00....Well, in No California, that paid for my gas going to and from the sale. It was a great sale. The way they used to be. Lots and lots of items, spread out over a really beautiful piece of property. Barn full, house full and lots of friendly shoppers all around.

That great picture of the glass

2008-07-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

The picture is from the Monterey Bay Aquarium. We chose to spend our 35th wedding anniversary in Monterey and were really, really blown away by the wonderful exhibits at the aquarium. Dale Chihuly glass art was one of the highlights of our visit. It is truly amazing and breathtaking. Only the natural jelly fish exhibits could out shine Dale's sculptures.

Introduction to COBAYLEY

2008-07-10T19:56:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite sure how to start this, but I find it exciting. I believe this is the beginning of my own web page. Learning my way around the internet has been one of the most difficult things I have had to do. I'm 60 and challenged by technology. I'm envious of the youth that finds ipods and iphones and gadgets so easy to maneuver. I sell antiques and collectibles on ebay. I have done this for 9 years and I love doing it. I also have opened a shop on RUBY LANE. It is an on line antique mall and it is extremely well run and very easy to shop. I'm hoping many of my faithful customers from ebay take a minute to browse my shop on Ruby Lane.