Collections need to be fun...not investments!!

There is a story on msn.com about collectibles that are basically worthless. Flooding the market is primarily the reason and the hype assuring us that we are going to make a truckload of money is the other reason.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/8-completely-worthless-collectibles.aspx?cp-documentid=26131547



I saw first hand example of this when my mother-in-law went Beanie Baby crazy. The woman waited in line, scheduled her days around arrival dates at her local store, and died with well over 100 beanies, maybe closer to 200....not counting all the ones she had given as gifts to everyone. One would do well to get a buck a piece for any of these nowadays....which if I remember correctly would be over $6 apiece lost to the wind. Ugh.


I love collecting things, but have determined that it has to have some meaning to it other than what it might be worth someday. Ultimately, it is only worth as much as you can get someone to pay for it.....which could be next to nothing! I have forced myself to come to the conclusion that just because there are a kabillion Jim Shore collectibles I don't need them all. I have some Heartwood Creek figures....but they are something I enjoy and never plan to "make money" on them.

If you don't have time to read the article at the link above, I'll give you a run-down on the items they have deemed an investment no-no......

- Of course, Beanie Babies, Precious Moments, etc (I have some Beanies....how could I NOT!!! ....Pink Ribbon Bear, Princess Diana Bear, etc.)

-Hummel Figurines (I have one.....a drummer boy that was a gift)

-Franklin Mint/Danbury Mint collectibles (I have Dept. 56 Christmas Village) What surprised me the most was that the article stated that when you walk out of the store with one of these it automatically depreciates 80 %!!!!

-Hess Trucks (I've never heard of this one....but the 60's and early 70's have value....others nada)

-Thomas Kinkade paintings (Their assessment....."they've been QVC'd to death")

-Norman Rockwell plates (Even the Norman Rockwell museum was found to be selling plates valued at $39 for $19....there's that depreciation thing again!)

-Lladro figurines (50% depreciation....over supply again)

-Cabbage Patch Kids (Never did like those things!!)



No particular reason for this post other than I have been guilty of this 25 years ago and am thankful that my criteria for purchasing a tchotchke no longer includes hopes for future return!!

Happy collecting!!
Hugs, Becky

Oh Lordy!!!

I am finally done with Libby's quilt!! I was beginning to think it was going to get the best of me. It is a twin size quilt and it is the largest size I have ever hand quilted. Also, the swirlys were a pain because I had to twist and turn the thing a kabillion times....I felt like I was wrestling with the blasted thing!

But, Libby was very patient....every time she saw it she would whisper, "MeMe, it's so beautiful!" I completed stitching down the binding this evening while watching the WVU Mountaineers play football. I decided I was going to get it done tonite, because I was so close, and, tomorrow I am going over to her house to play so she can put it on her bed.










Below, see the border of all swirlys that drove me bonkers!

I'm glad one this one is "in the books". Now on to new things....actually a couple of different things are in the hopper at present.

Blessings ,
Becky

A smiley kind of tired......

It's not unusual for me to keep Aubree and Mia. It's not unusual for me to keep Libby and Joe. What IS unusual.....rarer than rare.....is for me to keep Aubree, Mia, Libby and Joe at the same time. An overlap in schedules caused that to be the case for several hours today. They were really good.....they don't get to play together very often so it was a little tentative for about 5 minutes....then they were off and running.....and running......and running. Aaaaaccccckkkk!!!! The den and the toy room look like a bomb has gone off!


They had a tea party.


It takes a lot of energy to keep up with them. One would ask for apple juice. I would ask the other 3 if they wanted apple juice. No!!! they replied. OK....so I would go to the kitchen and get the apple juice, come back to the den and then another would would decide they wanted apple juice. Ugh.




I tried to get a pic of the 4 together.....Mia wouldn't participate and the other 3 offered minimum cooperation.




Rick came home at lunch and took them outside to play. I fixed their lunches and they ate on the porch....Rick said it looked like a feeding trough.
All in all it was a fun, but tiring day. After Chris picked up his two, Joe and Libby (and MeMe) took a 2 hour nap. They are so much joy in our lives.

Tomorrow it is back to my feverish (yeah, right) quilting. At least in my mind I am quilting feverishly! :)

Hugs, Becky

Sewing machine frustrations....

Bleh! My Pfaff 2048 has tension difficulties. It's really weird. I can sew awhile and all is good, then there are bumps on the underside. I've cleaned the bobbin area, tinkered with the top tension....heck, I even got the manual out and did all they recommended for both tensions. It should be working!!!!! I wasted most of the afternoon trying to make it work to no avail and should have just got out another machine and continued...but I kept thinking....."I bet it will work this time"......yeah, right.

I have to dial back the expectations that I have for the next month or so and get real. As always, I am the one putting the pressure on myself. I just have so many things to do and so much sewing I want to complete that it is more than impossible, therefore I am going to have a meltdown soon.
I want to avoid that because then nothing will get done. First thing tomorrow morning I am going to take a deep breath, make a list and prioritize and stop pretending I am superhuman!!!

This weather isn't helping either. Gray, dreary, damp, cold......yuck, yuck, yuck!!! Clouds and rain should move out tomorrow afternoon and I will be glad to see some sunshine!

I am headed for bed.....I am going to try to get my nerves calmed down (Sleepytime Tea) and read some. Hopefully I can get some good sleep and hit the ground running again in the morning......with a different sewing machine!!!

I'll leave you with God's quilt from the Dolly Sods Wilderness area that we took on our trip last year. I'm glad I took this picture last year.....fall color is not happening around here....leaves are mostly drying up and falling off.