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The Maplewood Rose Festival & Rose-Related Collections

What a beautiful day for the Maplewood Rose Festival.

Spring may have been late to arrive in Western New York this year—and my roses are certainly taking their sweet time to bloom—but the inherent joy of a festival puts everyone in a good mood.

That’s especially true when the event includes opportunities to shop and add to our collections—or simply to learn more from vendors and other collectors, which should be the case today at the Maplewood Rose Garden—where, I should add, they do a fine job of curating their living collection.

The event there is scheduled to include a variety of vendors as well as informational booths that we can visit while we meander through Rochester’s historic rose garden.

And a trip to the annual rose fest wouldn’t be complete without stopping by the tent staffed by members of the Greater Rochester Rose Society. Needless to say, their experienced gardeners can answer our questions about growing roses, but they can also help with just about anything else in our yards and flower beds.

Over the years, I’ve learned that the members of the local Rose Society not only collect roses, but many of them also collect dahlias and hostas and other perennials as well, so most of them seem to have been born with two green thumbs.

Curiously, though, many of them don’t think of themselves as collectors. Most of them have dozens of rose bushes, and some of them even have hundreds—but they simply consider themselves gardeners, not collectors.

Oh, have I got news for them.

Over the years, I’ve heard a few figures that determine whether you have a collection or just a number of things. One source says you need six of something to call it a collection, but another says if you have only four or more of something, you have a collection. Either measurement, therefore, makes most of the members of the local Rose Society collectors over and over again.

You see, once you fall in love with roses—and their colors, their fragrance, and their beautiful blooms—you’ll be hard pressed to limit yourself to only three rose bushes.

What’s more, you might just start collecting things related to roses, such as…

• pictures, paintings, and photographs of roses
• calendars, note cards, and stationery with illustrations of roses
• china, glass, or ceramic rose figurines
• blouses—or neckties—made of rose-print material, sweaters embellished with roses, and jewelry in the shape of roses
• rose hip teas, rose petal jams, and rose water recipes
• tablecloths, curtains, and tea towels bedecked in roses

As you can see, the lovely rose has inspired a wide array of rose-related collectibles that run the gamut from high art to housework, so there’s probably something in the field that will tempt you.

Of course, the only thing better than a representation of a rose is the real thing, so come out to the Maplewood Rose Festival, meet the members of the Rochester Rose Society, and see what’s blooming.

Happy Gardening!

Patti
The Committed Collector

So which are you—a collector or a gardener? Or are you, like me, both? Admittedly, I’m a much better collector than I am a gardener, but I just can’t manage to limit myself to one lilac or two peonies or three roses or…If that sounds like you, please leave a comment and let us know about your collecting-gardening connections.

© 2019 The Collectors of Western New York Museum
All Rights Reserved

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Seven Things You Don’t Know about the Rochester Bottle Show

Even though many of us are busy this holiday weekend, committed collectors are already thinking about what next Saturday or Sunday will bring to the Rochester area.  I myself have been looking forward to the 50th Genesee Valley Bottle Collector’s Association’s show and sale, which is set for Sunday, April 28, at Roberts Wesleyan College.

This will be only my fourth year shopping this annual event, so I’m still something of newcomer; however, we’re fortunate to have the show’s chair, Aaron Weber, share his expertise in a guest post.    

According to Aaron, some say this antiques show is the region’s best kept secret, despite being 50 years old.  In fact, he says, this bottle, paper, and tabletop sale will truly amaze you, especially if you have never been—and I have to agree.

So, without further ado, here are Seven Things You Don’t Know about the GVBCA Bottle Show & Sale:

1. The Extensive Size of the Show and Sale

If you are reading this blog post, I’m sure you are no stranger to antiques shows and sales.  Many of you have probably been to several of the local shows held throughout the year in the greater Rochester area.  Most of these feature 20 to 30 dealers.  The GVBCA Bottle Show, however, is a little bigger.  This year we have 125 dealers, who have rented 234 eight-foot tables to display their wares.  What’s more, these dealers are from all corners of New York State, as well as 11 more states, representing almost a quarter of our nation. 

2. The Super-Friendly Atmosphere

If you don’t collect bottles, you might be hesitant to attend a show that’s new to you.  However, you’ll be heartily welcomed here.  Several years ago, a colleague mentioned that “Bottle people are the friendliest of all antiques dealers.”  This seems like a weird thing to say, doesn’t it?  Well, as a “bottle guy,” I feel there isn’t a truer statement.  As our show has grown and diversified, our dealer base has maintained this core value of ours, and they become our family, as you will too.

3. The Wide Variety of Collectibles

The Genesee Valley Bottle Collector’s Association has a motto that says, “We’re Not Just Bottles.”  These words represent our show and sale, too.  Our show, as mentioned above, has diversified over the years.  We are now comprised of about 50 percent bottle dealers, who sell $1 bottles all the way to high-end examples, as well as something for everyone’s taste and level of collecting.  Oh, wait, though.  There is much more!  The show also features paper, postcards, Depression Glass, stoneware, advertising signs, posters, early American glass, military items, toys, books, and so much more.  I could go on and on, but I have been given only so much space.

4. The Incredible Facility

Our show and sale is held at Roberts Wesleyan College in the Voller Gymnasium.  You will not find a more spacious, well-lit room in all of Rochester.  Trust me on this; it was my job to look.  And look I did, until I found this place.  “Wow” sums it up.  Add to that some incredible lunch options served up by the college food service and a great college staff, and you really could not ask for more—except maybe for free parking, which is also provided.

5. The Impressive Displays of World Class Collections

By now, you have probably wondered why we call it a show and sale, right?  That’s a good question, and I have a good answer.  Traditionally, bottle shows feature educational displays of folks’ collections, and we are proud to say we keep this tradition going strong.  This year, we have displays that range from Rochester Stoneware, to insulators found on a specific rail line, to items from Buffalo and Rochester druggists, and, of course, great bottles!  Even our displays represent collections from three states, so this may be your only chance to see them.

6. The Low Admission Fee

Unlike other shows and sales that have higher admission fees, we charge only $5.00 to enter our event, and we admit those 17 and younger for free.  We do what we can to keep our costs down, so you have more money to spend on things you want.  In addition, as part of our 50th anniversary celebration, we’re going to be holding drawings for “show money” that can be used to buy even more treasures.  And it wouldn’t be a real 50th anniversary celebration without cake, so we’ll be serving that, too, to everyone there.

7. Your Enthusiasm for Attending Next Year’s Show

Once you check out everything the GVBCA’s Bottle Show and Sale has to offer, you will be hooked.  I was—24 years ago—and I haven’t missed one since.  Ours is a one-day event, so you might want to make plans now.  The early birds will be there when the doors open at 9:00 a.m., and the die-hards will still be shopping when we close the show at 3:00 p.m.  After that, we’ll all be looking forward to next year’s show.

Until then, you can learn more about the Genesee Valley Bottle Collector’s Association’s show and sale by visiting our website at www.gvbca.org.  While you are there, check out our monthly meeting schedule, and, if you are a collector, consider joining. 

We GVBCA members collect many different things, both as individuals and as a club, and we love to share our passions and hear about each other’s collections and the adventures we embark upon to add to our collections.

Now that you’ve discovered some things you probably didn’t know about the bottle show, Aaron and I hope to see you there.

For now, though, enjoy the weekend—and save up for next Sunday’s show and sale.

Patti
The Committed Collector

So…are you a fan of the local bottle show like Aaron and I are?  Have you been before and were dazzled by the vast array of wares?  If so, please leave a comment and let us know what treasures you found there.  We’d love to hear about them.

© 2019 The Collectors of Western New York Museum.
All rights reserved.

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Santa’s Helpers Share Love of Depression Glass

Some of Santa’s little helpers were busy here in Western New York even before Thanksgiving, on the day when we happened to have our first snow of the season.

They had gathered to spend a Sunday afternoon prepping dozens of pieces of sparkling glass to be used as prizes at the upcoming holiday party for the members of the Depression Glass Club of Greater Rochester.

What’s more, it’s obvious these elves are all committed collectors of vintage glassware.

Apparently, most of them have been assigned to the glass club party detail for years, so they know how to operate among the “organized chaos” of the event, which was a revelation for the rookies.

First, furniture has to be moved and tables set up in the hosting helpers’ home.  Then the larger elves lug in cartons and cartons of glassware that has been collected since the club’s last holiday party.

Once the glassware is unpacked and spread out on the tables, the helpers (who are seeing the pieces for the first time) spend some time oohing and ahhing over the beautiful choices, which have already been washed and dried by the chief elf so they glisten.

The expert elves then assess the prizes and divide them into everyday Depression Glass (which will be the prizes for the steal-a-gift game) and Elegant glassware (which is the better glass that has to be earned in bingo).

The experts deliberate to decide which is the very best piece of glass, and that one is designated as the prize for the winner of the hardest round of bingo—cover-all—which is one of the highlights among the more competitive partygoers.

Another lovely piece is set aside for the winner of a special drawing.  Club members and party guests can donate non-perishables for a local food cupboard, and they receive a ticket for each item contributed.  The winner of this drawing then goes home with a pretty piece filled with chocolate, which is as much of an enticement for this crowd as the glassware.

Back at the wrap party, the rest of team gets to work fitting the pieces of glass to the dozens and dozens of small boxes that the elves have stockpiled over the year, which is easy to do when they themselves frequently shop on eBay and have things—like glassware—sent to them.

Stockpiling boxes is easy, but finding enough in just the right sizes and shapes for the candlesticks, pitchers, vases, and other glass prizes is a real challenge.

Once swathed again in packing paper, and then boxed securely, each individual prize has to be beautifully wrapped in festive paper and properly identified: bows for the bingo prizes and curly ribbons for the steal-a-gift game—or was it bows for the stealing game and ribbons for the bingo prizes?

Then the bedecked presents are boxed up into the cartons again and hauled away and temporarily stored until the big party, which happens to be this Friday, Dec. 7.

Once the scene has been cleared—and some order has been restored to the host helpers’ home, which happens to have several amazing collections of glassware fit for display at The Collectors museum—the elves line up for a buffet of snacks that’s enough to fuel them back to the North Pole.

With 14 or so glass-loving elves together, the conversation naturally revolved around the prizes and the holiday party and the Depression Glass Club’s programs for next year.  The talk also went back to the food a time or two since collectors love their refreshments almost as much as their collections—almost.

For members and guests of the Depression Glass Club holiday party, winning one of these prizes might be the inspiration for a new collection.

Come Friday, the festivities will begin with a buffet of heavy hors d’ouvreurs and desserts, followed by the steal-a-gift game that gets everyone up and moving and laughing at whose stealing from whom.

Then we’ll get down to the bingo, which includes a half-dozen or more variations, and some serious prize winning—and maybe a little envy and a few reasons to start a new collection or two.

Here’s to the beginning of the holiday season and all the ways our collections help us celebrate.

Patti
The Committed Collector

     If your collections are a part of your holiday traditions, please leave a comment.  We’d love to hear how your treasures fit into your celebrations.

 

© 2018 The Collectors of Western New York Museum.
All rights reserved.

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What Else I Collect

I was able to attend the monthly meeting of the local Depression Glass Club this past week, and discovered yet another reason to enjoy the organization and appreciate its members.

The group doesn’t meet in November because we’re all busy using our best china and glassware to serve our Thanksgiving dinners. We don’t have a formal meeting in December either because we’ve set aside an evening of holiday merrymaking that includes feasting, playing games, and winning glorious vintage glass as the prizes, of course.

With no more formal meetings this year, the club had to consider its programs for 2019 this month. When the president asked for suggestions, the members came through a number of popular kinds of Depression Glass, including the following:

  • salt and peppers
  • pitchers and beverage sets
  • kitchenware
  • elegant stemware
  • candlesticks
  • dresser pieces
  • children’s sets
  • glass animals
  • holiday pieces
  • Vaseline glass
  • teacups

As a teapot collector, I’d readily vote for a program on vintage glass cups and saucers any day. When another member suggested including teapots, too, I voted with both hands.

(Unfortunately, I don’t have an antique glass teapot, so I’ll have to ask Santa to include a gift certificate for a shopping spree, which means I’ll have to work hard to stay on the nice list until then.)

In the meantime, I can take solace in the fact that the very first suggestion for the glass club’s 2019 schedule was “What else I collect,” which was met with a rousing round of applause.  Okay.  Maybe I just imagined that part.

Even so, I love it. I absolutely, positively love it: People who are dedicated to collecting glassware of the Depression Era area also crazy about other collectibles, too. Just like I am.

They’re my kind of people through and through, and I appreciate the time and effort, knowledge and talent they all put in to building their intriguing, impressive collections.

Why not check out the Depression Glass Club’s Facebook page and then join us for a meeting in 2019? You’ll probably like the group as much as I do.

Patti
The Committed Collector

How about you? Do you have multiple collections, too? If so, please leave a comment and tell us about the things that attract your fancy.

© 2018 The Collectors of Western New York Museum.
All rights reserved.

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12 Tips for Collecting Antique Postcards

If you haven’t heard, the Western New York Postcard Club has been holding its show and sale for 40-some years, and this time, it’s moving closer to Rochester, so it should be more convenient for many of us hunters and gatherers.

With the sale running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 21, I thought it would be a good idea to review my strategy for making the most of my time and money. I thought my plans might be worth sharing with you, too.

To enjoy the event, score some deals, and come home with a few (dozen) more treasures for a (growing) collection, follow these tips:

1. If you already collect postcards, and have the time, look through your collection or your inventory to remind yourself of which ones you already have. (Okay. If your collection is already huge, you might not have time to do that.)

2. If you know you’re looking for something particular, like cards by a certain artist or the last in a series, spend some time searching the Internet first (if you don’t already do that regularly). If what you want is available online, you can do some comparison shopping.

3. If you have a small collection or a small series to complete, consider filing these cards in a pocket photo album and bringing it along with you. That way, you can make sure that your new purchases are indeed new to you or fit your collection. There’s rarely reason to duplicate cards or buy the wrong ones.

4. If you have identification guides, try to find the time to flip through them or bring them along, so you can remind yourself of different series, styles, and features that make some postcards worth more than others.

5. Plan to spend a few hours (or more) at the postcard sale. You probably won’t look through all of the hundreds of thousands of cards for sale, but if you stop at each dealer and look through each category you’re interested in, you could be there for a long while.

6. Remember to ask each dealer about the topics that you’re interested in. In addition, ask if the subjects you want might be filed under related categories. Each dealer knows his or her filing system better than anyone else, so they can direct you to the boxes that are most likely to have something you’ll like.

7. In addition, ask each dealer if he or she specializes in any particular subjects or has a particularly large number of a certain category. Sometimes dealers are drawn to specific topics, have access to certain postcards in their area, or recently acquired a particular collection. Knowing this will often allow you to choose from some special cards or ones that are scarce in your area.

8. If you think you’re finished at a booth, take the time to browse through the category cards and consider what similar subjects there are (or discover some new ones). Chances are a category or two will surprise you.

9. If you find a lot of postcards you like from one dealer, but know you really shouldn’t buy them all, find an area in the booth to spread out your choices and compare them to each other. Seeing them side by side often makes it easy to determine which ones you simply can’t live without.

10. If enough postcards have caught your eye in one booth, and you have a nice stack, ask the dealer if he or she can give you a bulk discount of sorts. When it comes to antiquing, we all believe in the more the merrier.

11. If a booth has some cards that are your second choices, write down which dealer, which category, and which cards have tempted you. Then, after making the rounds, and if you still have time and money left, swing back to the ones you left behind earlier. With your notes, you’ll be able to find them quickly and easily.

12. Most important, talk to the dealers. Ask about their interests and their suggestions. Listen to what they have to say about the artistry, style, or history of the postcards you’re interested in. The dealers are experts and can be a wealth of information to us.

Well, I think I’ve managed to talk myself into going to the postcard show (as if I needed to do that).

Of course, I’m planning to go, even though I’m still a beginner in this field and my postcard collection is still minuscule by most standards—all the more reason to go to the show, right?

I have to admit that I’d love to find more postcards with classic renditions of roses and some with handsome portraits of dogs as well as a few more pastel Easter cards and then a few more Christmas cards in red and green and maybe even some…

Hopefully, I’ll raise my head from the boxes of postcards long enough to see you there.

The show and sale is being held tomorrow, Sunday, Oct. 21, at Perinton’s James E. Smith Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Fairport.

Admission is $3 a person, but free for members, so you should probably think about joining the club. For more information, visit the club’s website at www.WNYPostcardClub.com.

Patti
The Committed Collector

So will we see you there? Is ephemera a category of collecting that interests you? Do you appreciate graphic arts or the nostalgic sentiments of snail mail? If so, please leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you.

 

© 2018 The Collectors of Western New York Museum.
All rights reserved.

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Glorious Glass

I’ve forgotten if it was the year we moved to the Rochester area or the following one when I discovered the local Depression Glass Show & Sale.  I’ve also forgotten what the display theme was that year and what I bought.

What I remember, though, is how entering  the auditorium was like walking into a wonderland and how the Eisenhart shone with all the sparkling glassware.  What I also know is that this weekend’s glass show will be just as magical–because I’ve gotten a sneak peek.

As a member of the Depression Glass Club of Greater Rochester, I was at the RMSC this afternoon setting up my display and checking out the sales booths.  Now, I can’t wait to get back tomorrow morning to start adding to my collections (even though I don’t officially collect Depression Glass, you see).

In addition to the thousands of tempting pieces of beautiful glassware are just as many other treasures, for the sale has been expanded to include vintage china and pottery, linens and silverware, buttons, jewelry, books, and other small antiques.

With all that to choose from, I might just be able to find a few new pieces for myself and a few gifts for family and friends.  Who needs to wait to dream of sugar plums when the glass show is in town!

I hope to meet you there!

Patti
The Committed Collector

 

© 2018 The Collectors of Western New York Museum & Gallery.
All rights reserved.

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Shopping at Home

A few months back, during the socializing part of the local Depression Glass Club meeting, another avid collector and I were talking about the upcoming weekend and where we were thinking of going to look for more treasures for our collections.

We talked about the estate sales listed in the classifieds and whether they would be worthwhile. We wondered about the possible finds at the newer Henrietta Mall Antiques, which we were both interested in visiting again.

I eventually confessed that I still needed to finish my inventory of some recent purchases, and my collecting colleague admitted that she should just stay home and go through some of the boxes of things she’d already purchased. Hmm. I had to agree with that.

What’s more, writing my last post—which itemized where collectors can find more pieces for their collections—reminded me of that conversation and the truth of it.

Committed collectors like I am already have houses and attics and storage units full of wonderful finds. Those of us who have extensive collections have often been forced to pack up and store away some amazing things.

Rather than go out and add more to our existing collections (which would likely be packed up, too)—or, God forbid, risk finding different things to collect—we could just go through the things we already have.

  • We could venture into the basement or attic and go through storage tubs or packing cartons and see what we wrapped up ages ago. Maybe we’ll find a charming old teapot or a rare medicine bottle.
  • We could spend some time at the mini-storage unit, open a few boxes, and find treasures to bring home or mistakes to donate or sell. Perhaps there’ll be an unusual advertising sign or a box of holiday decorations that we’ve forgotten about.
  • We could reach up to the highest shelves in the kitchen or closets, or back down into the recesses of desks and dressers, and wherever else we store the excesses of our collections and discover what we’ve hidden away there. In such places, we might find Mid-Century Modern martini glasses, Aunt Bea hats, commemorative stamps, or Bakelite jewelry.
  • We could even rearrange the pieces we have on display in our curio cases and china cabinets. By taking everything out and seeing each piece anew, we can put our treasures back on display in fresh ways that showcase different aspects of our collections.

Although there are many, many fruitful places to go antiquing in Rochester, “shopping” at home is a gratifying option, too.

Since we longtime collectors probably already have many, many treasures in our own homes, rediscovering them is a thrill in itself. It’s a trip down memory lane and a chance to make better use of what we already acquired.

In addition, “shopping” our own stockpiles and storehouses not only saves time and money; it also conserves space because we’re not bringing in more things to house and we might even end up relinquishing a few items we no longer desire to keep.

Over time, our talents improve and our tastes change, so we might find we own things that make us ask, “What was I thinking?” so we can let go of them now as we review our collections.

If we’re serious about collecting, spending time on our current possessions helps us keep our collections organized. It allows us to appreciate what we’ve already collected, and it asks us to consider whether we still value pieces as much as we did when we bought them.

What we value—in other words, why we collect—is an essential aspect of collecting, and it’s the topic of my next post. Until then, I think I’ll stay home this weekend and see what I can rediscover in the attic.

Happy Curating!

Patti
The Committed Collector

If you’ve rediscovered something wonderful among your own collectibles, please let us know. Leave a comment, so we can share in your joy.

© 2018 The Collectors of Western New York Museum & Gallery.
All rights reserved.

All this talk of glassware reminds me that we’re fortunate to have a glass club of our own right here in the area.

The Depression Glass Club of Greater Rochester meets year-round and welcomes guests at its meetings, which also include educational programs and accompanying displays of glassware.

In addition, the club holds an annual show and sale, which is set for Sept. 15 and 16 at the RMSC Eisenhart Auditorium. The 2018 display will feature depictions of nature in antique American glass, and the sale has been expanded to include china, silver, linens, and other vintage collectibles.

For more information about the club or its show and sale, send an email to dgclub@rochester.rr.com or check out its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DepressionGlassClubRochester/.