OCSFA86

Folks: Beautiful marble!! Does it have a name attached other than baseball, lol. .62" Mint. Thanks, Bill

I'll take Arko, blended cork gone wrong, lol.

Folks: Here is a closer look at the bead.

Folks: Who's has a yard sale in dead of winter in 25 degree weather, lol. Stumbled on these this morning. Such to my surprise I found a bead in the group, never actually held one before, lol. There was a pee wee cat eye just a hair over .45" (sweet) and a group of cat eyes uniformly smaller. Not my area but love them for their size. There were several more surprises. My lucky day!!!! Bill OCSFA86 Life is a Journey Not a Guided Tour.

Folks: Hard to say which is my favorite but this one ranks right at the top. This was commissioned from Doug Ferguson for my wife to celebrate her promotion to LTC. Took him several tries but the end result was a 2" beauty!! Enjoy, Bill OCSFA86 LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR

Hi Folks: Got a sec? Checkout this listing: http://www.ebay.com/itm/LARGE-LOT-OVER-175-ASSORTED-OLD-MARBLES-ESTATE-FIND-MM1-/121548918835?pt=Marbles&hash=item1c4ce15033 I've looked, something there???? I see things haven't changed much when it comes to bidding, lol. Thanks, Bill OCSFA86 LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR

Hi Folks: Here is a mug that Del Morgan had Bob Powers make for me back in 2003. Met Bob once at his home, a very gracious host, we ate crab and drank wine, lol. Thanks, Bill LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR!

Hi Folks: Jumping in with both feet I'll go with Akro, lol. Here is an my favorite red slag, the matrix is incredible! Bill LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR!

I don't believe it's a CAC either. Frankly, it looks modern and possibility lightly buffed. He obviously doesn't have a clue as all his other listing are much more detailed and he isn't willing to risk his reputation on mis-id'ing it; better for him to leave it up to the individual bidder to make some kind of assumption as to the maker. Nice looking marble but without having it in hand I wouldn't take the chance. Just another opinion, good luck! Bill

Hi Folks, My name is Bill and have been seriously collecting both Contemporary and Machine Made Marbles for almost 20 yrs. My passion for marble was lit but many other collectors but none more than Alan Basinet, whom was not only my friend but my mentor. I have been away from the community for at least 5 years but recently felt myself being pulled back to a true love for the art which is marble collecting. My wife (Sue) and I are both retired military and reside in NC. We have been here for 4 years now which ties the longest time we have every live in one place during our adult life, we have no plans to move, lol. It feel right being back, thanks. Bill

And finally Dec. Thanks for letting me share this!!! Bill LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDE TOUR!

Here are June through Nov. Will have to add Dec's (Mark Capel) in another reply not enough space. I don't know where Lonnie's original artwork for the 2003 calender ended up but believe she gave them to the respective artist. I was lucky enough to purchase 4 of her originals that she used in the 2004 calender, I will post them as well. Where the 2003 was focused on contemporary marbles the 2004 depicted machine made. Enjoy, Bill BTW, hi Scoop!! Been at least 5 years since we last saw each other in Ma. , I clearly remember you introducing me to Burt (what a wonderful man, I know you two were close) whom will also be sorely missed in our community. And Steph, I have known about you and your study halls since you started it, the pleasure is mine to have finally met you. LIFE IS A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDED TOUR!

Hi folks: Many may not remember me but I have been a part of the larger marble community since 1997. Life pulled me away years ago but now with my wife and I are fully retired from the military I find myself being pulled back to a love I have for marbles that no one other than the marble community can fully understand. As a way of saying hello and as a tribute to a dear friend (Alan Basinet), I would like share a story with all of you. Come back with me to May 2002, Lonnie Rewa was just finishing up the artwork for her 2003 Contemporary Art Calendar and was taking I believe pre-orders. Allen was running his weekly charity auctions as usual. And I had idea (Allan could really rub off on you) and after discussing it we crafted a plan to raise more money for the charities. The plan was simple he would contact Lonnie and request 6 copies, have them sent to me, make contact with each Contemporary Marble Maker, ship each individual calendar sheet to the respective artist, have them signed, returned to me to be re-assembled and then mailed back to Allen so he could list them in Dec. Simple enough, lol. Lonnie was on board immediately and sent the copies to me, the calendars were sort and prepared for mailing to Daniel Ambrose, Eddie Seese, Bo Stiff, Boyd Miller, Jerry Capel Doug Ferguson, John Hamon Miller, Steve Davis, Andy Davis, Teri Conklin and Mark Capel (in order as they appear in the calendar, oh Lonnie signed her 2 pages as well). The true key to our success was the communications, I personally didn't know any of these artist (at the time) but Alan did and with the talent of a master pulled it off. The key was catching up with all of them but somehow it all came together after many hours devoted to this by so many individuals working together. Again, I thanks all them for their part in making it all happen especially Allan, Lonnie and Bo. I can't remember how much money was raise but believe that was only part of what was achieved that year. The marble community including those who helped create the calendar and all those who bid in support of the charities came closer together, frankly it was a lot of fun!!!! In a final jester of friendship Alan gave me the 6th copy which I would like to share over the next two days (with the moderator's approval). Again, hi folks and thanks for letting me share! Bill AKA: OCSFA86 LIFE A JOURNEY NOT A GUIDE TOUR!

Folks: Can anyone tell me the best way to tell if a handmade has been buffed as opposed to polished and the benefit of doing one instead of the other. Thanks, Bill

Folks: I vote that we appoint Steph as the President of the NTM (Name That Marble) Association with Bo as the Vice President responsible for screening all names and pictures to assure they meet the high standards already established within the hobby and Zaboo as the reviewer of all proposed names to assure no duplications. With this structure in place we can be assured that the hobby will re-frame from any more silly names that appear to have flooded the hobby over the past several years, lol. Bill BTW I am appointing my-self as the designated smart @$$ of the hobby incharge of reading and adding worthless responses to any post associated with marble names, lol.

John, Wow! That is super but please don't ask me what it reminds me of, lol. Bill

He is one of the best, no doubt about!! I have several he did for me many years ago when we lived in Omaha Ne.

Sue, You need to send that puppy to me and let me try and spend the next two years trying to figure out how Richard did it. Bill

Bob, I thought the name rang a bell: Richard Clark glangley, I too love those colors...they never run. Bill H. (Retired) U.S. Army Field Artillery BTW.....the price is a little steep in my book.

Here are a couple of my favorite that have a trace of purple. I will use any reason to post a pic, lol.

Hi Folks: Just joined your board and can't think of a better way to say than this: I haven't posted on a marble board for about 5 years so please bear with me as I get back into taking and posting pics. Thanks, Bill