Renningers Extravaganza Nov. 2009

Went to the extravaganza weekend before Thanksgiving but with the holiday and being under the weather I hadn't posted.
Met bear artist, Jane Woodard and bear collector and writer, Beth Phillips for lunch. They had already been exploring just like me! It was a great day, there were some old bears out there but the prices were pretty up there too. Not much luck on old toys either. One vendor had a sampleman's piano bench but I couldn't see paying $125 for it when another vendor had a regular child size one selling at just $36. So you just have to be aware and look around. So what did I find? Ahh!



Vintage bottle brush trees








Buttons, buttons, buttons! To sew on and to pin on!


Doll clothing that will show up on character bears soon.


A 1934 Popeye card game, cause as a kid Popeye was my favorite cartoon.








And just a sampling of the old prints I was lucky enough to pick up. If you get the chance - Go! Your lucky find is waiting for you, and maybe we'll meet for lunch!

Final TBAI Photos 2009

Binghamton, NY is a very old town where the TBAI show is held and I try to let you see some of it. This shop is on Clinton street #284 and is called the " Mad Hatter".

It is owned by JoAnn Scott. It has three floors of nooks and crannies all artfully displaying things of bygone days. That would be great antiques folks! The one problem I have is that a lot of the great pieces I want won't fit in my suitcase and you know how the airlines are, only two carry-ons!

But do stop in when you are there and might I suggest driving a big truck?!

And last, part of my set-up at the show.


Now truly, get ready for next year it's going to be a blast.




This year was TOBY awards, John Lamb signed copies of his new book, "The Treacherous Teddy" just out and it mentions yours truly along withPam Kisner,Martha Burch, Donna Nielsen,Pat Berkowich and Ginger Brame.

So much excitement. A big thank you to artist Cindy Malchoff who organizes this every year on behalf of the show's founder, the late artist Millie Gage.

Looky What I Found!

Now you know I didn't go to a doll show and not look for things to use with my bears!
This lovely bed actually folds up, and that great print is on both ends of the bed.












A Red theme here it seems. Found this old edition of The Little Brown Bear by Johnny Gruelle and those red shoes are going to have to go on an really large bear, for me anyway.







And these are a peek at a couple of the doll dresses and aprons that I picked up. You'll see them all put together soon in some character pieces. What fun.

Antique Fair April 2009

I went up to Mt. Dora in Florida on Sunday to the antique fair. Was expecting to see way more dealers than there were, it had fallen off quite a bit. The buyers weren't really there either, but that just gave me more elbow room and ease in which to look. And lucky me I was able to find a vendor who offered the most wonderful buttons from the 1930's. I got a rather worn copy of Raggedy Ann and Andy & the Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, but aside from a few crayoned spots the illustrations inside are mostly intact. So, a happy adventure and the' new' circus buttons will make an appearance soon!