The Origins Of Mothers Day
December 15, 2007
Today Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday is celebrated all over the world. For florists and card shops the event is one of the highlights of the year, but the roots of Mother’s Day are not commercial.
Motherhood has been celebrated since ancient times. The ancient Greeks paid homage to Rhea, the Mother of Gods; and there are records of the ancient Romans worshiping a mother Goddess known as Cybele as early as 260 BC. Festivals took place in the spring which was the most fertile time of the year.
The more modern way of honouring mothers began in England in the 1600s where Mothering Sunday was observed on the fourth Sunday of Lent. This day is also known as ‘Refreshment Sunday’, the only day when you are allowed to eat or do whatever you have given up for Lent. Not surprisingly, families came together and took the opportunity to party with a big meal at which mother was treated as the guest of honour. Traditionally, mothers were given posies of flowers and a cake.
The term ‘Mothering Sunday’ is now falling into disuse and has mostly been replaced by ‘Mother’s Day’, which is used the world over.
The Most Powerful Attribute in Antiques and Collectibles
December 14, 2007
What can increase your sales volume and make you more productive day in and day out? You’ve probably heard this three word statement that seperates those who wish they could do better,from those who really do.
Knowledge is power!
This three word statement is more than just a great philosophy. The more knowledge you have about antiques, the higher the increase in your overall profitability…as long as you use that knowledge. Knowledge can literally make or break your antique business.
Here’s a difficult lesson that was taught to a high-minded museum by a shrewd, savvy antique buyer with knowledge.
I love this story! It vividly illustrates the difference between knowing and being in the dark about antiques and their value. I was browing in an antique shop a number of years ago, when I struck up a conversation with the owner. We talked about incredible finds that we had stumbled across over the years. Her story topped anything that I had ever done…hands down!
The Beginner Buyers Guide To Digital Cameras, Or The Ins And Outs Of Megapixels
December 13, 2007
The most important part of buying a digital camera is making sure that the one you select meets all of your needs.
Digital Camera 101
Better digital cameras uses a chip called a “Charged Coupled Device” (CCD) instead of film. Light enters the camera, through the open shutter, and strikes the CCD where it is converted to digital data before being stored in the camera’s memory.
While that is the simple description, things can get pretty complicated from there.
Megapixels & Resolution
Resolution is a measure of how many pixels are used to make a digital copy of an image. Pixels are tiny dots of light that make up a digital image.
The quality of a digital camera’s image is usually measured in ‘Megapixels’ where each megapixel represents one million pixels.
Here’s how to determine how many megapixels you’ll need depending upon the type of photos you will be taking and what you intend to do with them.
1 megapixel
Almost obsolete, you might still find these in cell phones, PDAs, and desktop “web” cameras. They’re OK if you only intend to email pictures to other people and those people aren’t going to be printing them.
Antiques From Europe…Is It Really The Goose That Layed the Golden Egg?
December 12, 2007
Many dealers and auctioneers have been bringing container loads of antiques from Europe for years now. The lure of getting “fresh to the market” antique furniture and “smalls” is something that can bring renewed excitement back into your antique business.
Buying antiques by the container load can be a mental “rush”, but is it the business builder some have made it out to be?
Back in 1998, while I was still in the antique and estate auction and liquidation business, I decided to purchase a load of antique furniture and smalls and have the container shipped to my facility in New York State.
I’ll spare you the details of how exactly this is done during this article.
I received the load buy tractor trailer, and had friends help me unload the container. It was packed full and tight, and the furniture was quite impressive to say the least!
I was impressed by the high quality and good prices, and by the fact that I could have the load delivered right to my place of business.
There were twist leg oak hall trees, high relief wardrobes, dining room suits, chairs, bureaus, desks, marble top stands, dressers and much, much more. And that was just the furniture!
A Valentines Day Story
December 11, 2007
Valentine’s Day…the day of love right? Many years ago, 22 to be exact, I was a senior in high school. Just prior to Valentine’s Day our student council representative got on the intercom during morning announcements and told us about an upcoming fundraiser. Student council was going to sell carnations for an entire week.
It was further explained that there would be three colors available: red, pink, and white. Red was to signify love, pink said, “I really like you” and white was for friendship. The carnations could be ordered ahead of time but wouldn’t be delivered until Valentine’s Day during homeroom.
The whole school buzzed with excitement over the prospect of it. Everyone discussed it but the girls couldn’t contain themselves as they wondered which lucky girl would get the most red ones. Little snippets of conversations could be heard floating through the hallways:
“I bet she will send some to him!”
“I am going to send her six red ones!”
“Do you think he will send one to me?”
“I am going to get a white one for each of my friends.”
“Do you think he will send her a pink one or a red one?”
The Power of Eating Disorders
December 11, 2007
I want to get close
I am afraid.
Afraid of what you might see.
My eyes.
My thoughts.
My dreams.
My heart.
My soul.
Everything that makes me who I am.
My feelings.
My emotions.
The truth of my own reality.
The reality that I am scared.
Every second.
Every minute.
Every hour.
Every day.
Scared of not being perfect.
Scared of looking stupid.
Scared of being in the way.
Scared of getting comfortable.
Getting comfortable means stability,
Stability means forever.
I dread forever.
So, I am ready,
to move on,
to continue my journey,
To continue my life….
I AM READY!
Mary Pat uses her gift of poetry in hopes to help others find their own special gifts. http://www.reflectingrace.com
Where Antiques Originate and How You Can Find Them
December 10, 2007
It’s important to understand where antiques originate. Many antique buyers make the mistake of mis-understanding the process by which antique items are found. Many collectors and dealers waste valuable time searching in places where they believe that these items are in great abundance. But a true understanding of where antiques originate seems to have eluded many well meaning antique dealers and collectors.
It’s elementary Watson!
If you want to find fresh-to-the-market antiques and collectibles, you need to go where they are in great abundance, and where they originate! Antiques do not orginate at auctions, or at flea markets, or at antique shows. Antiques originate in people’s homes. This is a fundamental truth for 99% of all antiques that you will ever see.
Another truth that many people overlook.
The other simple fact, is that most antiques that you are most likely to get a great deal on reside in the homes of people who are older. Young people do not, as a general rule have antiques in the abundance that older people do. Why? Because older people came from a generation that saved everything, and you will find that a majority of the time they have kept it all! From the 1950’s toys in the closet to the old toaster that was just too good to throw away, older folks still have most of everything they ever owned.
Who Had The Better Brushes Leonardo or Michelangelo?
December 9, 2007
Ordinary photos of dull subjects do actually sell, but the dramatic shots generally have an unusual element that makes them stand out from the crowd. They are well-composed and they carry no excess baggage.
One of the best photos I’ve seen was taken many years ago in New York Central Station (1928) It’s quite famous and you’ve probably seen it. Sunlight streams in through the windows dominating the scene, while people mill about the expansive floor in a hustle-bustle atmosphere.
Photographers of yesteryear were past masters of judging the best exposure for a dramatic shot, without the benefit of modern gadgetry. I just wonder about that when I hear the death knell being tolled on the use of film.
We’re told that 60% of the income of Kodak UK came from digital cameras last year, as Kodak announced big job cuts. Immediately, the media produced a knee-jerk reaction that claimed film is dead. True the public are totally won over by the short-term gains of the digital camera, but what about the professionals?
Many studio photographers may well switch to fitting a digital back on to their Mamiyas, but what about fieldwork? Big shots with view cameras and 6′9’s, not to mention the use of long lenses for wildlife and sport, will still be dominated by film rather than digital.
Baby Boomers Need Creative Practical Hobbies
December 8, 2007
“Well how are you really enjoying your retirement?” I asked out of interest, “it was great to start with” he said, but lately, I’ve just become kind of lost… I don’t really know what to do with all the spare time I have, “and there’s only so much golf you can play, you know”? “then he said”, “I’d love to do all of the things you do in your home workshop.
I said to him, well, you know mate it’s never too late to learn, Why don’t you come over one day so that I can show you around my workshop, and give you a few ideas, you’ll love it.
I guess if your’re retired like Jim, you’ll probably understand what he’s talking about.
The baby boomers, i.e. anyone born from the mid 1940s to the mid 1950s, are now approaching, or have allready opted for early retirement.
Retirement presents great changes in lifestyle’s, which will have a profound effect on the way many choose to fill in the lazy days of retirement.
A hard working company executive generally has little time during his busy career to find the time to develop or establish an interest in practical hobby pursuits.
The History And Origin Of Valentines Day
December 7, 2007
The oldest Valentine card still in existence was sent in 1415 by Charles Duke of Orleans, at the time a prisoner in the Tower of London, to his wife. The Duke’s Valentine’s card is now preserved and displayed in the British Museum.
However, the origins of Valentine’s Day lie in ancient Rome. Over the years the ever expanding Roman empire became more difficult to police and there was an increasing shortage of soldiers. Believing that married men were too attached to their families and unlikely to sign up for active service, Emperor Claudius II banned marriage, thinking this would increase the number of quality recruits.
The story goes that a Christian priest by the name of Valentine, seeing the unhappiness and trauma that resulted, secretly married couples in defiance of the new law.
It wasn’t long before Emperor Claudius found out about Valentine’s actions and the priest was imprisoned and eventually executed on February 14, 270.
