Hi Purplemoon, I started replying to your having hard time on here yesterday & I suddenly was shut down & had to go off. They must have had trouble. I couldn't get on conversations for longest time!! Anyway the Antique Mall in Phoenix is almost same as ours out next to Saugus Swapmeet. "Country Antique Fair Mall" I love it!! It's been there for years & they keep it up so nicely.I always get some great stuff when I go! Antique stores on Ventura Blvd. used to be nice but have changed so much & are so expensive. But I'm like you don't go too often or I would spent a lot!!!DS got me 2 "dime" banks for xmas. I already had the Betsy Ross 1 it looks just like a spice tin except the top has the slit for your change. it held Betsy Ross tea originally. Jan

I had a booth in a coop in NH for a few years. This was in the early to mid-90's when sales were brisk. It was a lot of work keeping QUALITY merchandise in stock. We attended auctions EVERY weekend during the auction season and, sometimes, on Thursday nights. I went at least twice/week to restock the booth. In fact, it was so hard to find QUALITY merchandise that we sold a few pieces out of our collections that to this day we regret selling...no matter what price we got. Today, it's even tougher to find inventory and prices/sales are really in the tank nationwide. It's cyclical...sorta like real estate. Very high-end stuff is still selling at good prices as it probably always will; but anything less just isn't selling. By high-end...I mean 17th, 18th, & early 19th century Newport, Portsmouth, Pennsylvania, etc. furniture in original condition. My last catalogue (two weeks ago) from one of the Northeast's premier auction houses made me wonder if even these pieces aren't down. Most of the stuff that was considered "collectible" during the 90's is out-of-vogue now...example: 50's lunch boxes & Fiesta (these aren't antiques but many shops carried them). The drop-off in these items reflects a change in decorating styles...switch from "country" to "Pottery Barn" in the twenty & thirty something crowds. There are still niche markets for bottles; wine accessories; transferware; soft-paste; 17th & 18th sterling; paintings; and the other usual suspects. But, if you're considering anything other than really high quality, true antiques...my advise is: DON'T DO IT NOW! Ask around at your local coops...call a few of the high-end brokers & auction houses...they'll talk to you...misery loves company! Have you noticed how many shops have gone out of business in the past 6-7 years? Between finding good quality inventory & slower sales...it's tough. I hate to rain on your parade but we've been collecting & selling for decades & the market is going through one of it's low periods. If you're a serious collector...now's a great time to buy though! Tricia

I'm late getting here today, but just had to jump in and say what a cute storage piece you found. I love that it all looks like drawers but actually has some shelves too--and the marble top is so neat! Glad you didn't miss out on this one. I had to go all the way back to the top to look at your plates again after I read that they had acorns on them! Usually acorns catch my eye right away, but guess I was too busy looking at the pretty horse scene and missed them. Pretty angels too--you are getting quite the collection of the white/gold Mikassa pieces now. Like Jane, I will look forward to seeing them in your Christmas decorating next year. Glad you had fun with your friend on your shopping spree--but it made me feel sad! Sad that we didn't do our January trip this year so I could have headed over to Phoenix to shop at that wonderful antique mall with you again! Maybe I'll get there later this year if all goes well. Luvs

Karen, I feel like I was there with you. I understand your excitement, it's the same rush I get at garage & yard sales when I find something I was dying to have & there it sits, right in front of me. Man, those little kiddo bunnies sure got dirty before you rescued them, like them alot better all cleaned up, they are perfect with momma in your bay window. You sure did good with all your great finds and all things you loved! Amazing how much pain we can endure for our treasure hunts! LOL Some days are just like that, you come home with the car packed to the roof & other days, it's just a hit & miss so-so day!!!