Scoop

'Hope it was great, Scott!!!

I've taken grief for fixing spelling error's before and I can handle it!!! LOL Gotcha covered, Jack!!!

OK, now I'm gonna jump the fence to the other side.... I disagree... I don't think anyone who has a large investment needs to worry about restored marbles... The restoration, in itself, is a part of it's history and will reflect in it's value. It will never compete with an all original... Just as it was suggested that it's OK to refinish or restore cars, toys, furniture, etc... Sure!! It's OK to restore a marble... The fine line comes along when a marble that has only minor damage goes to be restored, because the owner wants it PERFECT... That's where the trouble always ends up... There are people who feel strongly about doing it and there are people who feel strongly about NOT doing it... In all of the above examples, a lightly damaged original finish will always have more value than a restored finish... How many times, on the Antique Road Show, has the appraiser said, "Well, it's beautiful. But, it would be worth double that if it hadn't been refinished." A fabulous, fully restored 1954 Corvette on Barrett-Jackson will pull in HUGE money!! HOWEVER.... The same car in original paint??? To the MOON, Alice!! To the MOON!! So, this is where the battle lies... The people who will pay the "To The Moon" price, DO NOT want to see prime, lightly damaged examples restored. So, they fight it.... OTOH.... When that appraiser on the Antique Road Show makes that comment, he has no way of knowing the condition of the item BEFORE it was refinished... Just as we look at the marble above... For years to come, it will get the comment, "Too bad it's been polished".... What that really should mean is... "Too bad that NEEDED to be polished." I think most anyone who sees the "Before and After" will come to the conclusion that it was the best alternative.

I'm no expert here... But, I think it's just the variations of the play on words that Akro used in their logo, "Straight As A Kro Flies" (So, I guess.... Technically, the w should be eliminated from the Krow? LOL)

Hope You have a "Hunk a Burnin'" Birthday, Rick!!!

Hopin' you have a wonderful day, Edna!!!

LOL.... There's been a couple I'd love to have, at least, fostered... But, Wally isn't into the idea of strange animals in the house and most of the dogs I've fallen for would probably clash in an ugly way with my chinchilla (mostly pits... which amazed me, when I learned I had a weakness for them... Not what I expected... They are really incredible when you get to know them)

Thanks guys!!! There's something that is so peaceful and calming about working with these animals... It's not work, it's therapy!!! LOL

It's a little tough to get started in selling contemporary marbles, until your name gets "out there." There are a lot of collectors that keep a close eye on ebay. It might be interesting to put a few up and see what they do. If it's economically feasible, try starting them at $9.99 (Listing fee goes up at $10.00) If you should decide to try it, be sure to post a link and let us know... One thing that is very important is roundness... It may be the photo, but a few of those look a little out of round? A great site to stop in and chat with both artists and contemporary marble collectors is... Glass Addiction!! Good Luck!! They look great!!

Every Sunday night I spent about 3 hours doing laundry, washing dishes, walking dogs, sweeping and washing kennels at the Salem Animal Rescue League, of Salem NH. Last week, we made the news!!! People Pets Thanks to Katherine Heigl of Grey's Anatomy, 25 Chihuahuas were spared uthanasia and shipped to New Hampshire for adoption. SARL received 5 of these little guys... I've never been much of a Chihuahua lover... I always thought of them as yippy little rat dogs... But, after meeting 4 of these 5 dogs, my attitude has changed. All of them were in very tough shape. Picked up right off the streets of LA.. The reason I only met 4 was because one had to be cared for in foster by a volunteer who was able to treat it's urgent medical nutritional needs. A couple weren't much more than little skeletons... Yet, they were all very sweet and affectionate. Apparently, there are skads of them put down every day in the LA area. We're hoping this will be the first of many transports from LA. We've been regularly receiving dogs from Georgia, Mississippi and Kentucky. Most of those dogs are bigger and they are readily adopted. But, we have quite a demand for small dogs. All five of these little pups were adopted in no time at all, with many turned away. It's wonderful to hold one and feel it lean in close to you and doze in your arms grateful to finally be safe, in a warm soft place, with a full belly. You know you've been a part of saving a life and it feels great!!! Thanks Katherine!!!

I want Sir Richard Branson to start "Virgin Auctions!!!" Not only is he the coolest man on the planet, but he knows how to "Keep it Real" in business... The saddest part is, he's probably a wise enough businessman to know better than to "Go There!!"

Are you kidding me??? I don't know about Gene's situation, but I used to work with some guys that contracted to the State of Massachusetts... They used to LOVE the snow!!! They'd be out there in a nice warm truck, with a couple of six-packs, listenin' to tunes, with no family hassles... All the while rackin' up HUGE bucks!!! There's a spot under a bridge, in a remote part of Lowell where they can all get together for hours at a time and hang out, waitin' for the accumulation, rather than quit ('Seen it many times!!) It's a tough gig, but somebody has to do it!!! LOL

As a seller on ebay, I could type all day about the ridiculous rulings they have (Not even touching on the fees and forced Paypal stuff) They try too hard to keep too tight a leash on too many things, without committing to pay the manpower to enforce these rules effectively..... Case in Point... I have a Lenox China Ornament on at the moment... It is from a collection called "Lenox Pierced Ivory Ornament Collection." If someone searches for one of these ornaments, it only makes sense that they will search the collection title, yes??? WELLLL, I can't list it by that title, because Ivory is a controlled substance and dispite the fact that this is made of china, not ivory, the listing mechanism kicks it out and won't let me list it... So, I changed it to Ivori.... Needless to say, it hasn't got much attention (It's not so hot that it would anyway... But, I was hoping!!) The kicker is... There are over 66,000 auctions currently on ebay with Ivory in the title!! Many of them include items that may be considered illegal... However, by changing the title to include the word faux? with the question mark, bone?, or antique, it allows the auctions to reach the people who know, by sight, what they are buying.... Go Figure... OK... Another... I just got a negative from a woman who has given out 7 negative feedbacks in the last 2 months... She wants a return and says she will reverse the negative if I take the return... She is very tough and just may be able to do it!! However... As the feedback rules are written, she shouldn't be able to remove it... Her leaving me a negative without previously contacting me (I'd have taken the return anyway...) is not following ebay's "advice" to buyers... I cannot leave a negative to a buyer for not following "advice.".... I considered leaving a positive, but stating my feelings about this situation... Only to find that if I leave a negative comment in a positive feedback, ebay WILL remove it.... BUT, so far, they will not remove my negative that my buyer SWEARS she WILL get removed (Gotta love her attitude!!) If we can't leave a buyer anything but positive feedback, how tough would it be for ebay to set up a glitch that forces the buyer to contact a seller BEFORE they leave the negative?? But, no.... It's all about not inconveniencing the buyer and the seller can go fry. And, it goes on and on..... However, we are locked into it, as it is still the best selling resource out there...

We woke up to a "Wiener Wonderland!!!" From my office window, it's not too deep... But, since I didn't get to the PO yesterday to ship ebay stuff, I sure wish I had my van in the garage, instead of all that antique collectibles crap!!! LOL They say it's supposed to turn to rain later.... Oh Joy!!! water on top of 6-8" of snow.... Geez... As I typed that the power went out for about 5 seconds... I better send this quick!!! Steph.... You know the next step after wearing sandals in the snow!!! LOL Dirty Jobs was great last night!!!! Though, I was hopin' they'd introduce the investors... Jo.... What a great looking couple!!!

Mannnn, I hate it when someone asks a question like that and we have to say... "Uhhhhhhhh, Maybe not such a good deal...." But, it's a trial that every single collector has to go through... Consider it the price of an education... In that light, $15.00 wasn't as bad as many I've seen!!! LOL

I think there's a point where a little damage is OK, in order to keep the integrity of the original surface and the pontils... But, once the damage has stepped over the line of making the marble look bad, no matter how you look at it, then there's no longer much point of saving that integity... It's already ruined!! In this case, it woulda been an easy call for me!! Awesome work, Leroy!!!

WOW!!! Just when you think you've seen about everything.......... Those a very cool!!!

Really COOL!!! And then, what is done with it??

She doesn't look a day over 21!!!! Have an awesome day, Dani!!

Oh Maaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!!!! Lou, do I have to delete YOU, too??? Ooooops, that's right, your the "Spotted Dictator!!" You can say what you want!!! ROFLMAO!!!!

I've been trying to track down info, Marie.... Not having a lot of luck. I sure hope he's OK.....

Wow!! You guys are FAST!!! LOL

COOL!!!! Thanks Duff!!!

DAMN!!! I missed another one!!! 'Hope it was awesome, Steve!!!

Cool Mibs!!! 'Sorry Jack, I've been buried in ebay work since I posted the December thread (Gotta make hay while the holiday sun shines!! LOL) I'm gonna try to connect this to the color of the month thread...