http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog Where Hunters Gather Tue, 08 Jul 2008 15:59:45 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Some collections cost very little, take up a small space and are easy to display. Classic cars won't fit into that category. But you may not need the budget or space Jay Leno has with his garage, to satisfy your desire. Some weeks back while driving in Western Wisconsin I ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/08/deep-pockets-collecting-classic-cars/ Sunday I gave you a (perhaps not-too) brief over-view of the history of paint by numbers. Today, I bring you the reasons why such paintings were created in overwhelming numbers and are collected today. Many will spout-off the notion that paint by numbers have always been the kitschy works of silly ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/07/the-why-of-collecting-paint-by-numbers/ Many mock paint by number paintings, saying it's-not-art-it's-conformism. "This," they say, "is not art." It's kitsch at its worst, and at its best it's a hobby. We collectors disagree. Maybe it's just 'cuz we love our paint by number paintings; but maybe it's because we know things ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/06/craft-master-the-history-of-paint-by-numbers/ For just about everyone in the 22 to 28 age range, The Batman Animated Series was our definition of ‘the who’ and ‘the what’ of the ephemeral Batman. We were too young for the campy POW! ZAP! Adam West Batman, and the comic book Neal Adams and George Perez Batmen ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/05/batman-gotham-knight-dvd/  Once again, we set up to sell at the fabulous Elkhorn Antiques Fair at the Walworth County Fair Grounds in Wisconsin. This Fair is run by N.L. Promotions, in their 27th year and it still remains the best in the area. It has kept its integrity and has not allowed ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/04/at-the-antiques-market-selling-and-collecting/ I've been amused by the names of American money for quite a while. Of course, we acquired the practice from the British, but it's what I know, so I'm entitled to be entertained the fact that the dime doesn't even say what it's worth on the back. ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/03/when-a-nickel-wasnt-a-nickel/ It’s Pez Week here at Collectors’ Quest, and I still have fond memories of the Pez Convention that I attended about a year ago. I admit that I wasn’t especially knowledgeable, or even exceptionally interested, in Pez. Of course, after a weekend where every other word is ‘Pez’, you either ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/02/my-continuing-pez-collection/ Most of my interest in old magazines reflects on the décor, fashion, and ads from the era in which they were published.  The KEN Magazine from the late 1930's, while having some advertising, was mostly a political venue for ranting against governments, social injustices, and the growing menace of Nazi ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/07/01/collecting-old-magazines-ken-part-ii/ Sooner or later it had to happen.  I've been flirting with the idea of altered art for quite sometime, toying with moving past the concept and coveting into the actual doing. The recent May/June issue of Fine Books & Collections, featuring Brian Dettmer as "The Cut-Up Artist", was the final ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/30/the-altered-states-of-altered-art/ Back in 1992, when I was 11 years old, I was falling in love with fantasy role playing games. Despite this, I wasn’t at all into Satan. The evilest thing I wanted to meet at the time was a Beholder, and only if I was holding a +6 Sword of ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/29/collecting-dungeons-and-dragons-trading-cards-unfortunately/ It’s been about a decade since I’ve played with any RC toys, because frankly, remote control things sucked when I was a kid. Like any young male, I had a remote controlled racecar or two, but while I was growing up, all RC cars suffered from Severe Battery Uselessness, or ‘SBU’, ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/28/u-command-wall-e-from-thinkway-toys/ I agree, I am guilty. I am definitely one of those folks that read the newspaper or watch TV and make comments like “When I was younger, kids never acted that way. You did not hear about all these shootings.” And “Corporate America was filled with ethical, honest managers.” And “All these ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/27/reflecting-on-the-good-old-days-a-reality-check/ Once upon a time it was unheard of to hold a rummage sale if you didn't have a record turntable for sale; I believe some families had to go down to a thrift shop and obtain one just to sell it, just to get the tag-sale credibility. For that ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/26/the-rummage-sale-turntable/ After a weekend surrounded by high priced high fashion and high priced ‘Affordable Art’, I needed a low-priced respite. I needed to be among real people, real artisans, and real things I could afford. I’m a man in love with all extremes - I’ll chase my filet mignon with a ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/25/renegade-craft-fair-2008-brooklyn/ Our cottage home has rooms decorated with period items; 1930's styles in the Deco Room, Victorian in the guest room, even using the colorations of the fixtures and tile in the main bath used in the late 1920's. And where do we find examples of these styles to emulate? I ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/24/vintage-ken-magazine-not-for-the-decorator/ On our way to Ayr, we stopped once again at one of my favorite roadside attractions. Literally situated on the side of the road in Buffalo, North Dakota, is a spectacular display of lawn ornaments. So grand, it is the sort of thing which makes me yell, "Oh ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/23/the-biggest-collection/ I've joked before that I am collecting my hometown, a brick at a time. It's not particularly serious, but I've got a couple loose bricks that came from demolishing jobs in downtown Fargo. My desire for the bricks comes from my admiration and memories of the buildings that ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/22/ayr-the-collection-of-a-town/ Last weekend, I bravely made my way down to NYC’s trendy SoHo area to visit the annual Affordable Art Fair, being held in the Metropolitan Pavilion. I attended with the hope that I’d come away with some inspiration, or maybe some ‘affordable’ art. At the very least, I’d be able ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/21/the-affordable-art-fair-2008/   We had a wonderful Father's Day celebration at our home and invited a few folks who had not been here before. So, they got the 25 cent tour (we gave them credit toward the cost of their drinks – Ha!) One of the ladies asked me about my mermaid collection ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/20/nothing-fishy-about-this-collection-mermaids/ Being a soft-hearted collector with limited space and an even more limited wallet, it often becomes necessary to limit yourself.  Failing that, it's time for the spouse to play Bad Cop and place the limits on you.  (It's OK, because I do it in return.) A recent example was a trip ... http://www.collectorsquest.com/blog/2008/06/19/how-much-is-that-doggie-in-the-window-other-collecting-tales/