November's show schedule

In keeping with the disappearing act that local outdoor antique shows have been doing, we opted out completely of the local indoor show at the Coliseum. The promoter had sold it to someone else, it dropped suddenly in its prominence amongst long-standing dealers of repute, and we decided that the angst - the sheer angst that we have gone through each time we've participated, virtually chewing our fingernails as we wonder if the expense and effort has been worth it - is not for us.

Nothing scheduled for the rest of this month. (I'm busy restocking the jewelry cases and still trying to sort out the inventory boxes, a hangover from my agenda of the past summer.)

November will start out with our local community garage sale. Scheduled for November 5th, it's an opportunity for us to get that Last Gasp, as I refer to it, from the items that don't come up to scratch in my book as acceptable items for inventory. NOT BECAUSE of quality, but because we don't consider them to collectible (hello!) nor antique. The people who shop the garage sales seem pretty happy with what we have. We are (again) happy to find the right home for the items. What is left is taken to the only local charity that I regularly donate to, CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse). This year we have the added interest, we're hoping, of some select furniture items left over from the downsizing that the in-laws went through in their move across state earlier this year. Anybody want a CD rack? Or 3?

Antique Alley's fall show, in Bellair Bluffs, is scheduled for November 13th. It can be a very popular show, and has been in the past. Since I obviously don't know how shows "go" these days, I am going to try to be ready for what is demanded of us. If we need a $5 table, then we'll whip one up. I have experimented with bargain tables in the past, and perhaps their time had not yet come. On the other hand, I don't want to rely on that particular setup if this show remains a genuine Antique show. (Up to and including the show in Dunedin, bargain tables and sale tables have been not only frowned upon, but disallowed by show organizers. Like I said, I had thought being in the loop had something to do with careful review of our contract, but I guess I was wrong last time out!)

And now, time for a photo. It's been too long since I posted any here: this necklace is from Senegal, Africa. It's made of Murano glass slubs and fashioned into a bridal necklace with the addition of brass elements. We found this treasure on our trip to Sante Fe, NM. Talk about a Statement piece of jewelry - this is a substantial necklace, weighing heavily and drawing everyone's attention the moment it's slipped over your head. (The earrings shown, silver and lapis, sold at an earlier show.)