Where Have Punch Bowls Gone?

Punch bowls. For me they conjure up a beautiful set refreshment table with perhaps nuts and pretty paper cocktail napkins. Or flaming red punch at a cousin's beautifully, tacky 1950's silver tinsel Christmas party.
Punch was an adult affair. I couldn't wait until the day I could have punch. It was dazzling colors swirled with clouds of sherbet!
When I see giant punch bowls with 10 plus cups gloriously hanging I stop in awe and sadness. I know the set will likely end up at a thrift shop as it can't fetch a buyer or a decent price. Punch bowls represent times when entertaining was a thoughtful art form for housewives. It represents the people who still buy Christmas china and sterling silverware. Yes, there is such a thing as silverware. The stuff you use everyday is actually called flatware.
I still own a punch bowl and I still use it. It is more modern. A plain, deep glass vessel with simple handless cups and a beautiful glass ladle.
Last year I created a lime and raspberry sherbet punch and dutifully stood under a canopy and served my guests. I served them because I brought them to my world and I wanted them to experience something special. I scooped the dreamy liquid into a glass cup and handed them their treat with a pretty watermelon cocktail napkin as we chatted. Men and women mostly chatted about the punch! Some were so glad to see something from their childhood and others were excited to experience my world...and I enjoyed every moment!
There will always be room for punch at my home. I can't imagine a holiday, shower or afternoon party under a canopy without it. Sometimes old traditions are the most memorable traditions.

Watt Pottery

In 1935 the Watt family started producing hand painted pottery that has been highly collectible for years. Like everything with the new tech generation this pottery has slowly dropped in value. Watt pottery was produced in Ohio. The plant closed in the 1960's. The hand painted patterns were the wares I grew up scouting at flea markets for my Grandfather. He had many followers waiting for a rare piece phone call!
Many people collected the Apple and Rooster pattern. I still will purchase Watt at garage sales. I have never had an issue reselling this pottery. Usually people have know idea it's value. Many times I have picked up creamer pitchers for $1 and easily resell for $25. I once stopped at a garage sale when I was about twenty and picked up a mint condition never used large serving bowl. It was the lady's grandmother's and was stuffed in an attic. I paid fifty cents. That bowl at the time was worth almost $200. Sadly today at a high end show I would be lucky to get $75.
I have seen some poor knocks offs at country stores or like Cracker Barrel. I say poor because if you know the authentic their pretty bad reproductions. Watt pottery colors are more subdued. The apples are not fire engine red but more deep and closer to burgundy.

Right now the hard to find pieces will still hold the most value. Casserole pots with the lid and no chips can still fetch at least $100. Mugs are rarely just found. Watch EBay auction prices. Get a feel for current rates. However don't get overly hung up on auction prices if you are reselling at a show. Remember shows don't have bidding wars. Also "rare" promo pieces again are going to skyrocket in price if you get the right collectors at the right time. Sometimes EBay can be tricky because you have old dealers or hoarders throwing out crazy numbers because they are in denial...you need to watch the piece and see if; sold, any bids, bids but did not reach buyer minimum. We all wish Grandma's hutch of goodies is worth a ton but!!!
As I always say be careful when purchasing average pottery or glass like Watt. The market is down because collectors well...are dying. So the last thing you want to buy is chipped, overly crazed or missing lid pieces. This stuff does not hold it's value in these circumstances because it is not rare, important to industry or in demand.

I Feel My Health Has Been Sold to Marketing

Maybe you are like me. I have a lot of questions anymore about the science experiment type labels on manufactured food. The more I read about products I was duped into thinking were healthier than my Grandparents and Great Grandparents menu, the more I want to run from these so called fat free, low sodium, low sugar etc products. The problem is your hooked. You have to reprogram your thoughts and body.
Seriously if you really wanted to eat from the earth like your Grandparents then grocery stores would be the size of mini marts. Is that part of the answer....Too many people would lose their jobs if many of these man made, heart stopping, obesity bullets would be banned??? CEO's would no longer be multi millionaires. No more super sized products, giant grocery stores and glorified fast food family restaurants! Just think popular name brands could be beaten by locally made naturally made products. Or they would have to ditch the chemicals and make products maybe not so tastefully addictive but, still good. Do you really think that bag of your favorite chips are a sensory over load by chance??
I think we're in a sad time when it comes to health in the United States. People from afar say we are a wealthy nation who has too much food. We're pigs. However I don't believe that is the real problem. We have been told by so many people and companies that are ancestors food was bad news. They ate from the farm but, somehow Americans and the government were duped by snake oil salesmen. Or we were just hijacked by money hungry, unscrupulous people?
The latest is margarine. Real butter, from real things is bad. Margarine stuffed with trans fats has been pushed for years by health organizations. You now have generations of people who buy huge tubs of margarine every week. They have no idea the taste of real butter. Furthermore when you tell people something is healthier it's like a license to use more! Do you see where I am going with this? You have generations reared on boxed food, frozen dinners and low this and that. This is a serious health crisis for the U.S.
I was at a local food bank distribution. It is really sad the food poor elderly and children are receiving for free. It's free death. It's the stuff nobody wants or extremely cheap food. This stuff is high sugar, sodium and man made crap. You have heart patients and diabetics taking this stuff home. I know it's free but, it's another example of what is available for Americans to eat.
Have you picked up an item at the store and think oh this is not bad but, read the label and astounded? Sodium is the one that goes through the roof if it says low sugar. These companies have to figure out a way for you to buy and make the food chemistry taste good. They know if you want low sugar you won't read the rest of the label. You also need a guide to the names used on the nutrition panel!
Another culprit in this mess are health organizations and fad diets. Both are allowed to just claim stuff and confuse you more! There are some really convincing extreme and bizarre salesmen out there. There is a guy who I have seen multiple times on PBS. I even bought one of his books. He has many valid points but, his lifestyle change is extreme. He also claims a lot of healing will happen if you just stick to vegetables and nuts. It will all work out! Let me tell you I wanted this to work. However I don't have a gall bladder. But, he made claims like hey it's all in your head and your body is just in shock from the health overload. My body was in shock all the way to the bathroom a hundred times! This is real convenient for life or let's just say work!
I have realized by food diaries I have some food sensitivities. I avoid certain foods and I don't have issues. I have also realized I do need to eat from the earth and steer clear of many aisles in the grocery store. This is all a challenge. You have to reprogram yourself and you have to plan. You are busy working and trying to maintain a house. I feel your pain. Maybe you are tired from work, shuttling the kids or maybe your back hurts. I know I feel ya. We got to muster a little more effort and likely do a little more planning to make healthy eating work and pass it along. Good luck to you and keep up the good food fight!

More Products For Sale

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All Sales Final.

Limoges plate signed. Cherries. Signed B.G.H. 1911
Stamped with La Seynie Limoges, France $55 Free Shipping Intercontinental US

Limoges bowl attached with ladle.  Jean Pouyat, dated 1908 $85 Free shipping intercontinental USA.

RARE  Byers Carolers. An elderly couple closed their old card store. I was able to buy this snow globe. I wish I asked questions. I am guessing it is from the 90's.  They opened in 1985.
It is a papercraft snow globe that collapses like the old accordion decorations. The card attached says from the Byers Family. I could be wrong but, I think this could of been sent to dealers. The card on the back mentions "European Distribution." $27 Free Shipping Intercontinental USA.

Copper washing machine with lid. Heavy awesome piece. Great for ice and beer on the patio! $300 Made in Syracuse, NY. Patent 1912 PICK UP ONLY.

Deviled Eggs With Garlic Mustard

I made deviled eggs this afternoon with garlic mustard and it was so good I had to blog about it!
Put your cooked yolks in a bowl and mash up with a fork. Add the following ingredients to your liking. You have to eyeball it depending on the amount of eggs cooked and spice level.
I made 12 halves today. (6 eggs)
Salt and pepper eggs.
About 1/4 cup of mayonnaise
1 spoon of garlic mustard. I used the Walnut Creek brand for the first time and love it!!
1 spoon of ground horseradish. Be careful if you don't love hot foods. Maybe less.
Whip your ingredients until all together and not too lumpy.
Fill the eggs. Tip; Iced tea or coffee spoons are the perfect size to fill the egg holes!
Sprinkle Paprika on your eggs if you just want to be fancy! I didn't do that as this was just a quick nibble for my husband while watching the Steeler game.😀
Enjoy!

Easy Painted Cork Table Runner

I needed to freshen up a display at my old store. I was brainstorming at JoAnn Fabrics when I came across long pieces of thin cork in their loose scrap book paper aisle. I bought a few and brought them home to think about it more.
I looked around my shop table at all the loose gems and what nots. I needed an Americana theme and these glued add ons were just too fancy or kitschy. I needed straight forward color or art. I decided to paint. When scrambling for a brush I came upon my wallpaper roller. Lightbulb!!! This could give me a tye dye feel. Something unique! Something cool!
I took a paper plate and loaded the acrylic colors in the format I wanted on the cork. I gently rolled the brush up and down in the color format. Next I started from the end of the cork and started rolling out the paint. To make more color variations put primary colors next to each to blend a secondary color!
**I would recommend laying out a thicker piece of paper first and use the roller and colors for a test run.
I used this as a mat under a jewelry display. I added more touches with a gold roller ball pen. I wrote USA and similar words for the American theme.
I have also made mats with seasonal ribbon glued around the edges. They make nice runners for a coffee table or under a candle scape.

Twitter Tips For Newbies

I hope you find these basic tips helpful. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Twitter Tips For Newbies

If you don't RT people's products don't expect to be RTed.

The most successful Twitter Sellers engage their audience and are not on auto tweet.

Follow back and MUTE people who do not RT. Keeps your feed cleaned up. MUTING IS A POWERFUL TOOL. It keeps your feed focused on the content you want to see. The account WILL NOT BE NOTIFIED they have been muted.

Don't waste time following or tweeting people who are not your target audience unless their tweets hit 10,000+. Ex. If you don't ship to Australia then why are you seeking and following Australians??

Don't DM/direct message people for following you or send them spam. They followed you and know where to find you. A study showed people are annoyed by DMs and likely not to buy from you! I no longer check mine!

If you are in business then why are you using tweet validation? Do you want sales and followers or not? Don't hassle potential customers. It's just Twitter!

It's a gamble but, I do mute auto tweet companies like Round Team. Why? Because I was bombarded by Tweets not tweeted by a human decision. So I thought how many other tweeters actually mute this account and never see feed/products anyways? Twitter is an experience for me and also a tool to analyze trends. Auto tweets are the opposite of my mission.

Be careful creating list titles. When an account is added to your list they are notified. So if the title is, TWEETERS I Hate," expect backlash.

Be safe. Don't freely post personal information like where you live, where you are at minute by minute or personal photos etc. All these pieces can be put together by unscrupulous people.

Blocking an account should be used when a tweeter is harassing you or sending out offensive tweets. Sometimes muting or simply unfollowing is the best option. When you block someone they will find out if they try to RT you or look at your account. Twitter says they can still see your feed if they use a third party tool. Also don't forget they may have multiple Twitter accounts and may harass you from them due to blocking. 

More info: https://support.twitter.com/articles/117063  You can always report abusive users.