Granted the same walnut wash stand would bring more money in Winnetka than it would in a little shop in rural Missouri, but then so will a dozen eggs from organically fed free range chickens bring more in the fancy food store than it will form the stand at the end of the farmer's drive way. It has to do with the rent, the taxes paid, the cost of manning the store and the transportation. That's not a "fixed" auction....that's just the way it works. A dealer always bids on an item based on what they think they can sell it for. This is getting into a macroeconomics discussion, lol. Of course things like rent and transportation factor in for a dealer! As it does for anyone who is in business to sell wares. But I was talking about what can define "worth" as it relates to dealers bidding at auctions and how it can swing the direction of the sale. And how what a dealer bids is not necessarily an accurate reflection of an item's true worth. Ultimately, all things considered, a vendor's retail still has to be in a range their customers will pay. Doesn't matter if it's an egg at the end of a guy's driveway in Bugtussle or a Stickley table on the north shore. ;) Anyway, to clarify my illustration wasn't an inference by any means that it was a 'fixed auction'. Certainly not! I was simply relaying a story about how a handful took the fun out of it for many. But it is what it is. Urban chic dealers have to get their goods from somewhere too and if they want to travel down this way where the demographic meter changes, get in bidding wars with each other to the point they become the entertainment, more power to 'em if they can recoup the $ and then some. ;) filix, I gather you have a space to fill to sell your finds? Do you hit garage sales, too? My best scores, without question, are all happenstance garage sale finds. Wasn't even intentionally going to any of the sales, just happened to see it and stop. No doubt you've seen the Antiques Roadshows incidents where someone has a piece that is valued in multiple thousands or more and it was a garage sale find? Makes my heart race when I see that, lol. I'm still waiting for that kind of score to fall in my lap!

i'm a homemade paint girl myself, and i use plaster of paris in mine as well, only because it was easier to access than the calcium carbonate and has served me well! i noticed there's one key tip missing from this thread and wanted to throw it out there. if you're painting mahogany, particularly old mahogany, especially old mahogany with that cherry red stain color... you'll want to seal the entire piece first, else the wood will bleed into the paint. it sounds like a lot of work and it sounds like it takes away the benefit of no prep work with chalk paint, but it's a miracle worker. i use zinsser shellac, and after experimenting with both, i prefer the clear formula - it's less gloppy. again, not primer, but SEALER. it keeps the stains and who knows what from bleeding through into the paint. it would bleed through any type of paint, not just "chalk" paint. and i've not ventured into the fancy waxes yet. i usually finish with water based poly. Varathane Matte stays really really matte. otherwise if you don't mind more of a satin finish, i like minwax polycryllic.

Thanks, molly! :) When it first came to my attention, I chalked (ha, ha) it up to just another fad in blogland .... destined to become as hated and looked down on as sponge painted walls. :-D But it's really just the name that is new (20 yrs or so), while the look/technique/mixture are ancient. Not our mixes, since we use latex, but the lime, silica, chalk, etc used then. I also started researching painted antiques (painted back then, not current), and saw many similarities. It's always been around, and many stunning pieces still exist. I'm picky about my goals: to paint pieces that I hope will stand the test of time, and NOT look like a cliche someday .... to take something very unwanted, destined for trash pick-up, and bring out it's beauty for many more years ... and, I will not paint just for the sake of change. I absolutely love wood finishes, but there's certainly room for painted pieces, too. :)

I saw the newest Wolf induction cooktop and I was impressed with its versatility. Specifically, I am speaking of model CI365T/S. I really like the burner layout with the four burners that can be bridged on one side and a larger oval burner on the other side. It offers what seems to be the most flexible layout. There are other induction cooktops with "flexible" zones but they are in a layout that is less versatile, most commonly with a large round hob in the center and the flexible zones on either side. My building does not have gas so when I upgrade, I will be looking at induction. As of now, I think the Wolf is my favorite but I am a year or two out and something new may change my thinking.