Hummel "wanna-be"

I bought a couple of these cute Christmas figurines at the flea market a couple weeks ago, and I just got them out in the shop today. That made me think of the history of these Hummel wanna-bees as I fondly call them.
Many dealers incorrectly tag them as mid century to rival Hummels when German imports were banned during the war; however, the company behind the figurines, Arnart imported porcelain art.
Erich Stauffer designed fake versions of Hummels and Kalk figurines for Arnart from 1953 to 1970 under the brands Arnart Imports, 5th Avenue, ArMark, Royal Carlton, Royal Chintz, and Royal Crown.
Some researchers speculate that Erich did not even exist, but that he was a fictitious character. Erich Stauffer, a traditional German name, may have been invented to make it seem as though the Arnart imports were from Germany. The paper labels that indicate Made in Japan are not often found on the figurines. But, this could explain why it is so hard to find out information about Erich Stauffer, the designer.

When we occupied Japan, we allowed many of these import companies to gain a major share of the import market which is no different than the Chinese imports of today except I daresay the quantity and quality of some of those imports pales in comparison to the mid century Japanese imports.

And, that brings me to a key point for the beginning of December and the spirit of giving. Can you imagine how many of these figurines were given as gifts to Grandmothers and Mothers in the 1950s and 60s? I remember going with my father the day or two before Christmas to buy some gifts for my Mom. We headed to the local 5 & 10 (now known as the Dollar Stores), and I usually went for some figurine or rhinestone jewelry. I still gravitate towards those displays in the department stores! So, as the season of gifting begins, remember...


Cheerful givers do not count the cost of what they give.Their hearts are set on pleasing and cheering the person to whom the gift is given.
Julian of Norwich

Star light, star bright, drunken paper whites!

Last Sunday of the month...the months seem to be only a few days long lately...maybe it is the mixture of life that makes time whirl by...not sure though that I would want dull moments anyway.

So, I am finally starting to think winter...holidaze...chilling out even though the semester is ending, research papers coming in, finals and grades to plan. But, I am always into multi tasking...if you are reading this, I am sure you are also!!!

Anyway, this year I am trying the paper white routine. Years ago I tried them, but I was not impressed by their so-called perfume; however, the woman at the garden center at Terrain assured me that these would be fragrant. (Side note here...many of you know of my appreciation of the retailer Anthropologie...well, they have a garden center in PA...showstopper to say the least--Terrain . Maybe I can get back there and do a show and tell on that place. You can find them at
www.Terrainathome.com if you want to take a look.)

So, in anticipation of late December bloom, I have started the sequence. They take 3 weeks.
Now, it seems simple enough...just add water...Paper whites are the original “Just Add Water” plant. While paperwhite bulbs can be planted in soil, more commonly they are grown in pots or dishes with some stones or marbles to anchor them in place and a little water. Here are directions...

1.Select a container that is about 3 - 4 inches deep (8 - 10 cm) and that has no drainage holes.

2.Spread an inch or 2 of stones, marbles or even gravel, along the bottom of the container.

3.Position your paper white bulbs, pointed end up, on top of the stone layer. Go ahead and squeeze them in. They not only look better in a large group, the tight fit will help keep them from toppling over.

4.Add another layer of stones to fill in any gaps and cover the bulbs up to their shoulders. The pointed tips should still be showing.

5.Add water so that the level just reaches the base of the bulbs. Allowing the bottom of the bulb to sit in water will stimulate growth. Covering the entire bulb with water could cause it to rot.

6.The bulbs don’t need light at this point and they prefer to be kept on the cool side, at about 65 degrees F (18 degrees C.)

7.Check your bulbs daily to see if they need more water.

8.When you see roots developing, move the container to a sunny window. The sunnier the better, but try not to let them get too warm or they’ll grow leggy.

9.Once the plants flower, they will last longer if moved out of direct sunlight, to a cool spot with indirect or diffused light. You can start pots of paper whites every couple of weeks, for a continuous display throughout the winter.

Now here is the kicker...get them drunk and they will be even better. One of my customers recommended vodka in the water, but, after doing some more research, I found these guidelines.

How to Stunt Paperwhites with Alcohol...
















1.Pot your paperwhites in stones and water, as you normally would.
2.Once the roots begin growing and the green shoot on top reaches about 1-2", pour off the existing water.
3.Replace the water with a solution of 4 - 6% alcohol, as described below.
4.Continue to use the alcohol solution for future watering.
You should see results in a few days.

How to Make the Alcohol Watering Solution
•The alcohol content needs to be less than 10%, or your plants will overdose and severe growth problems will occur. Many liquors are only labeled as "proof", not percentage of alcohol. Don’t confuse the two. To determine what percentage alcohol you have, divide the proof in half, So and 86 proof bourbon is 43% alcohol.
•You can use any hard liquor (vodka, tequila, whiskey...) or rubbing alcohol. Don’t use wine or beer because they are too high in sugar.
•Check the bottle for the percentage alcohol.
•You will have to do some math to get the different concentrations of alcohol down to 4-6%.
To convert your booze to 5% alcohol, just divide the percentage alcohol by 5 and then subtract 1. That will tell you how many parts water to mix with your 1 part alcohol. Ex: 40 divided by 5 = 8: 8 minus 1 = 7... 7 parts water to 1 part alcohol.

Now, I would do the math before you start mixing in case you take a nip along the way!!!

Of course, I am going to use vintage pieces for their growing season, and I will post their progress.

How special a gift this would be for someone. Since they take 3 weeks to bloom, you can time it so that the blossoms are open for the holidays. what a neat hostess gift. Tuck a special book on gardening or a journal with the greenery.
It shows more imagination and the true spirit of the season...after they bloom, they can be kept in a cool, dark place, and then planted outside in the spring. They will take 3 years to recover, but they will bloom again in their natural habitat.

Not yesterday I learned to know
The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow....
- - - Robert Frost "My November Guest"

Sweater, n.: garment worn by child when its mother is feeling chilly.

So said Ambrose Bierce, but the weather here is getting chilly...after all, it is the end of November so let the sweaters begin!

What caught my eye this week was a picture from this a fairly new TV show, Glee. Although I usually watch shows that have teaching as a plot line, I have missed this one, but the magic of internet TV will allow me to catch up. Anyway, this picture of a character who is the guidance counselor at the school made me take notice.I think the setting is modern, but she has a sweater clip on!!!! These are so retro 50s! I have had women who did not even know what they were for! If for no other reason, I have to watch to see what trends may be on the move if this show is as successful as it seems to be.

I actually ended up with a stash of these clips in an auction lot the other night.
Some of the older ones have rather nasty looking alligator clips on them while others appear to be simply tie clip styles.



It appears these may have evolved from the European chatelaine pins. These were pins with chains enabled women to keep their needlework scissors and needles handy. Originally chatelaine dates to the middle ages. The name was given to the keeper of castle keys (usually the lord's wife) which were worn on a chain like a belt. Eventually, keys were replaced by magnifiers, sewing kits, and even books! It was streamlined to the pins with small chains as castles fell out of favor as the family homestead.


But, as Fran Lebowitz says, "If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater suggest that he wear a tail."
Happy Thanksgiving, dear readers!

South Jersey Glass

Despite the fact that we were almost blown out to sea this past week, South Jersey is an amazing potpourri of places and people. We do have beaches, boating, and beauty, and a little bit of attitude thrown in.

At auction Friday night, I bought some fun glass items. South Jersey housed the first successful glass manufacturing company, Casper Wistar in Alloway, 1739-1781.

Glassmaking was prolific from 1830-1890 until automation came to the industry. Although traditional items were produced...pitchers, bowls, salts, ink wells, scent bottles...some unique products were also designed. These whimsies included toy drums, canes, swords, and real oddities like the hammer here, not to mention the hatchets. The one is dated from the 1893 World's Fair. There is also a gavel...talk about fragile justice!

Then I bought this glass hat...
not to mention top hats in glass.














I did see an article on the web that called these top hats celery vases although I would think it would be pretty fancy for celery! I can see them used as floral vases. They are in the glass whimsy family though!

The most common color was aqua since it required no coloring agents...all the canning jars were produced that way. Amber, green, glue and clear are readily found, but ruby and amethyst require gold and quartz or gems to produce the color. These balls are variations of witch balls. The witch's ball date back to 18th century England.

They were hung in a window or in the house, or even given a place on a velvet pillow. They were thought to trap negative energy and prevent it from impacting the household. We need to hang some of these balls throughout the world, don't we!!!

Or, perhaps all we need is to fill this giant wine bottle and pass it around! "“We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine.” (Eduardo Galeano)

World Kindness Week...

I told you last week that we needed to be nice to November, and, in doing some research, I found that this is World Kindness Week with Friday the 13th being World Kindness Day. I keep thinking if we could just "be nice" that this would be a better world. You can disagree with someone nicely if you think about it, but it seems like name calling is in vogue these days, and, if people do not agree, they do not talk it through. Anyway, I appreciate those of you who come here to read and, hopefully, learn, and I am thrilled by the kindness that you show in your responses to my posts.

Now a book I bought at the flea market this week is the inspiration for today.

The editor of the book, published in 1919, said that Roosevelt said, "I would rather have this book published than anything that has ever been written about one." The letters were messages of "constant thought and love," and, before the children could read, he would send "picture letters."

Now, this new tech world has replaced much of our letter writing...and, so many will say...who has time to sit down and write a letter? Just email!! But, there is something about getting a card or a letter...there is the envelope...the stamp...not the forever stamp, but one of the neat postage pieces...and the joy of sitting and reading.

Letters used to be the main link to the outside world, and the written word provides records and history. What will remain for future generations? Text messages, emails, tweets? They get deleted. Anyone have a stash of printed emails tied up with a ribbon in an old candy box anywhere?

Ancient Egyptians wrote letters to the dead, not to keep in touch but for help. These were mostly done on pottery. The Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology at University College London preserves two such pieces. One is a letter from Qau, from a man to his parents (father on the inside, mother on the outside) and a letter from Hu, from a woman to her husband. In Qau's letter, he asks for help in a dispute over property. He writes on the inside of the bowl to his father, with a shorter message on the outside to his mother. Guess he thought Dad could handle the issue better!

In the 1600s the Dutch painter Vermeer did a series on woman writing, receiving, and reading letters.Victorians were known for decorating their envelopes, and letters were decorated with illustrations, and it is in that spirit that I had Sherri of Punk Rose Designs create some special cards for the shop...we have holiday as well as everyday cards.


Handcrafted and far more affordable not to mention special than Hallmark. How neat would this be for a thank you card for a dinner invite?

Or, this card for a special sleepover...or even to frame and put on a nightstand?

So, it is in the spirit of being kind and celebrating random acts of kindness, drop someone a note...one that you write...handwritten...don't worry if you are not a calligrapher...it is still you...because "Never get tired of doing little things for others. Sometimes, those little things occupy the biggest part of their hearts."

November...be nice to it...

November...although the 11th month, the name actually derives from the Latin, meaning nine. When the Romans added January and February to the calendar, they did not bother to rework the months. I feel sorry for November because it becomes lost in the rush to the December "holidaze." Even 18th century English author Joseph Addison maligned November..."The gloomy months of November, when the people of England hang and drown themselves."

November is the month that calls us inside...the leaves are turning...for us at the shore here, the tourists are dwindling...the temps are dropping. But, I find it full of odds and ends. So, in honor of November and moving indoors, here are some interesting odds and ends from the store.

I have several glass knives. They are from the Depression era, and I have one that is in its original box.
The inside of the box provides excellent directions for its use. As a composition teacher, I am amazed by the confusing sentence structure in many of today's guides compared to the precise directions on these types of items.


Obviously the owner of this knife did not follow the directions above...it is a tad ragged.
But, I guess they did not have the 17 cents to send it off to Atlantic City to have it resharpened.
And, the owner of this one was not going to lost it at the church social! Her name is engraved on it. I would imagine this was a shower or wedding gift.

Another item that is fun to collect is the napkin ring. The Victorians did not launder frequently so that each person had his or her own napkin ring which held the napkin for the week's dining. It is rare to find matching sets unless they are engraved. I am fascinated by the intricacy of the simple silverplated rings. Although many search for sterling silver rings, I like the less expensive but no less decorative plated ones. Here are a couple I have in stock now.


Maybe, if you start now, you could find unique rings to put out on the holiday tables.

So, welcome to November! And, in addition to Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving, there is Sadie Hawkins Day, Military Family Appreciation Month, National American Indian Heritage Month and National Pomegranate Month. Also, you can celebrate National Family Week, Cookie Monster Day, National Men Make Dinner Day, International Tongue Twister Day, Marine Corps Birthday, and Buy Nothing Day (I have issues with that...chuckle), and, above all, a celebration for World Kindness.

The last rose

of summer in the last week of October...from my garden...I happened to think of this since I was pricing some "moss rose" items for my shop.

The real moss rose was introduced in 1854 by the breeder Leveque, but the first cultivated Moss Rose was mentioned in the literature as far back as 1696. Breeders now think that moss roses were most likely around long before that.
The moss roses are “sports” according to my research, meaning they are natural mutations. The Victorians loved its intense fragrance.

Kovel’s Price Guide describes moss rose china as common from 1808-1900. “It has a typical moss rose pictured as the design. The plant is not as popular now as it was in Victorian gardens, so the fuzz-covered bud is unfamiliar to most collectors. The dishes were usually decorated with pink and green flowers.”
Most of the china seen today is from the 1940s-50s era and was made in Japan. All of these pieces are familiar in any resale shop, and they should be reasonably priced since they are not from the Victorian era.
Some people do not recognize the difference, but the later china is brighter white and may have remnants of the Japanese paper labels or no label at all. Most Victorian moss rose is marked and the china is heavier and duller.

For those whose souls are truly romantic not just because that is the decorating trend here is Thomas More's poem about the last rose of summer. He was friends with Byron and Shelley so you can imagine what they discussed as they sat in the inn!

Then again, Mary Shelley, author of Frankenstein was married to Percy Shelley...so maybe there are some tales to be told!

’TIS the last rose of summer
Left blooming alone;
All her lovely companions
Are faded and gone;
No flower of her kindred,
No rosebud is nigh,
To reflect back her blushes,
To give sigh for sigh.
I’ll not leave thee, thou lone one!
To pine on the stem;
Since the lovely are sleeping,
Go, sleep thou with them.
Thus kindly I scatter
Thy leaves o’er the bed,
Where thy mates of the garden
Lie scentless and dead.

So soon may I follow,
When friendships decay,
And from Love’s shining circle
The gems drop away.
When true hearts lie withered
And fond ones are flown,
Oh! who would inhabit
This bleak world alone?

“The most incomprehensible thing about the world

is that it is at all comprehensible.” (Albert Einstein)

We just “celebrated” Columbus Day…a.k.a. day off, no mail, mattress sales! But, the world is still full of discoveries yet to be made despite how far we have come, and one only needs to look at some old geography books to see that.

I bought a stack of them…and a globe…and a framed map last week.
Geography is one of those lost subjects in today’s school sytems when it should be a top priority. Ask someone where Afghanistan is, and you may get “over there.”
It used to be taught...a few of these books are from a "normal" school...now Rowan University.


Interestingly, geography come from a Greek word γεωγραφία, meanng to describe or write about the Earth which was formulated by Erathosthenes (276-194 BC) …I am always fascinated in this research how much the Greeks had to do with our society’s foundation, yet we seem to think we are the center of the universe. We are babes in these woods!



Some people think that if a book is old, it is valuable. Not really. First editions may have some value, other things include if it is signed by the author, owned by someone famous, or owned by someone famous who perhaps made notes in the book, or a book with interesting art, design or type.

Condition impacts value, which always makes me crazy…a book whose spine has never been bent may be worth more than one that has been read. So, why buy a book? Pile them on the coffee table or line them up like toy soldiers on shelves!

That truly is the one aspect of this business that boggles my mind…don’t use it…keep it pristine…I would rather have a book that looks as though someone loved it enough to read it over and over…

But, back to my geography books…or any old textbooks…beng a teacher, I cannot resist them, and, if you are in the area, I can offer you the world...for a price...and, remember, as Jimmy Buffett once said…"Without geography you're nowhere."

A charming woman...

doesn't follow the crowd. She is herself. (Loretta Young)

Charm is one of those multi-tasking words…a woman’s charms, a charming day, fall under a charm, lucky charms…gambling and cereal…candy charms…and, in keeping with our Octoberfest, charms as incantations for bewitching.!
If you are a Harry Potter reader, you will recall the class in Charms. Rowling described the magic spells as being able “to give an object new and unexpected properties.”
Well, that is what my newest shop artisan has done with some chain bracelets I purchased at auction. With baubles and beads and buttons, Sharon has transformed the simple chains into charming bracelets.

Interestingly the Egyptians wore charm bracelets to help the Gods guide the wearer and his/her possessions to the proper status level in the afterlife. Charms served as IDs for quite a while in history, from the Christians and their fish symbols during Roman times to the Knights of the Medieval times.

Queen Victoria brought the charm bracelet into fashion, moving it from practical to fashionable.

Then, WWII created a market for trinkets for soldiers to bring home while stateside, the kids were using the gumball trinkets to create charming creations!

By the 1950s, charm bracelets were in vogue and that continued throughout the 1960s. I remember getting a charm bracelet from a high school boyfriend, and then I added to it as I traveled the world as a young woman. This is one of those from many years ago...
So, if you want to be a charming woman or charm a friend or a significant other…check out these unique bracelets! Remember, these are truly unique...and made in America...and quite affordable! Sharon has created some wonderful bracelets for you as she blends the old into a new artistic interpretation for truly...one of a kind!

“In two decades I've lost a total of 789 pounds. I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.” (Erma Bombeck)

The circle of life...

represented in bangle bracelets...and staying with our welcome to fall, "orange" you glad you stopped by?
Ouch! Bad pun! But, I have some wonderful bangles in stock to complement your fall wardrobe. And, of course, a little insight into bangles. It seems based on my research that India made the bangle fashionable, and that women wore the bangles to indicate they were married. Prior to that, the bangle did exist as "cuff bracelets" worn by men as raw materials were hammered, carved, or molded into the shape desired by craftsmen working over wood fired furnaces in central Asia.

Victorians wore bangles accented with jewels. I saw an 1888 article that mentioned a bangle being stolen, and it obviously was a diamond studded creation. I have a rhinestone jeweled bangle in my stash, but it is plastic...

Today, Bakelite comes to mind when people think of bangle bracelets. A Belgian scientist named Dr. Leo Baekeland was responsible for the invention of Bakelite. In 1889 he immigrated the the United States, and in 1907 while working as as independent chemist he accidently discovered the compound of carbolic acid and formaldehyde. When he tried to reheat the solidified compound he discovered it would not melt, no matter how high the temperature.

The butterscotch colored bangle at the top is bakelite. When the Bakelite patent expired in 1927, it was acquired by the Catalin Corporation that same year. Bakelite-Catalin was sold mainly to companies like Saks Fifth Avenue, Bonwit Teller, Woolworth's, and Sears. Much of the wealthy society fell into difficult financial times during the Great Depression and could no longer afford Tiffany diamonds or Cartier Jewelry.

Bakelite-Catalin took up the market slack with its colorful carved jewelry adorned with rhinestones. This jewelry was within the reach of all, and its popularity grew from the poorest to the wealthiest in society.

In 1942 Bakelite-Catalin stopped sales of their colorful costume jewelry in order to concentrate on the nation's wartime needs. By the end of the World War II, new technologies for molded plastics had been developed. These new products consisted of plastics such as Lucite, Fiberglass, Vinyl, and Acrylic - all which were could be molded.

There are many "fakelite" bracelets around, and it can be difficult to recognize the original plastic. Some common ways to check involve looking for mold lines...Bakelite has none...it is heavier that celluloid, lucite and all modern plastics. It makes a lower pitch when tapped together. You can dip a q-tip in 409 Cleaner, and it will turn yellow if it is bakelite, but there are exceptions if the piece has been highly polished.

Another bangle style in stock is cinnabar so called because of its resemblance to the mineral and the way it was carved in ancient times. These are made from heavy, molded polymers. Genuine Cinnabar, which derives its name from its cinnamon–to-scarlet-red color, contains Mercury. Carved Cinnabar bracelets are a traditional Chinese handicraft dating back hundreds of years. Crafted in red, black and a striking combination of red and black Cinnabar resin, Cinnabar bracelets feature traditional Chinese motifs such as dragons, phoenixes, bats, and Chinese characters, and are available in a variety of widths.

So, round and round it goes...there are, of course, all kinds of other bangles, but I love my fall colored ones...