Quirky Finds

Queen Elizabeth II Commemorative Coronation plate Canadian

The British Royal Family: Memorabilia and Collectibles Mania

by Deb C April 30, 2023

The Mania for British Royal Family Memorabilia

Note: This post is based upon my personal research and previously published trade article, not generated by AI.

Maybe it was the small red oblong tin with Queen Elizabeth on it that my Mother kept her bobby pins in. Or, maybe because my Grandmother Helen also had that tin, and was Canadian, but I was aware of Queen Elizabeth II from an early age.

The British Royal Family fascinates the world, and particularly Americans. With each Royal event, there is a deluge of news coverage and memorabilia to feed the “Royal Watchers” mania and the collectibles market. As I was growing up, there would be mentions of what the elegant Duke and Duchess of Windsor were up to, and that she was always on the “Best Dressed” list.

Even before Diana, Princess of Wales, wed Prince Charles, the sales of merchandise, books, and items related to “The Royals” had a niche in the American marketplace. The Diana fascination and merchandising was a continuation of generations of interest in the romances and escapades of British nobility.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the future Edward VIII was hailed the most popular and charming Prince of Wales ever. His love for an American, Wallis Simpson of Baltimore, his abdication, and their life as the Duke and Duchess of Windsor long fascinated the world. Copies of his abdication speech are now collectible ephemera.

Events and activities of the Duke of Windsor’s brother, George VI and his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II, can be documented through the china, cookie tins, and various souvenirs created celebrating special occasions.

British Royal Giveaways Now Collectibles

Collectibles related to royalty fall into two basic categories: personal/ historical and mass merchandise.

For centuries nobility would bestow personal items upon favored courtiers. Gifts of clothing were common, as fine fabrics, embroidery, and lace were prized possessions. Queen Elizabeth I’s wardrobe and gifts and losses are documented in Janet Arnold’s books Queen Elizabeth’s Wardrobe Unlocked and Lost from Her Majesty’s Back.

James II gave his 1683 wedding suit to a couple who aided him before he became King. In 1992 it was offered at Christie’s London with an estimate of over 200,000 British pounds. Passed at auction, it was later sold privately to a British museum.

Queen Victoria gave presents to favored individuals. One was a parasol commemorating her coronation in 1837. It turned up at an Antiques Roadshow appraisal day in the 1990’s and valued at $2,000 – $3,000.

Why so many British Royal collectibles and commemoratives

Mass marketed royal articles are usually made and purchased because of public interest and sentiment or dissatisfaction with Royal Family members. During the Georgian Period, disenchanted Englishmen showed their distaste by buying and circulating caricatures of royal and British upper class romantic and military misadventures. Such caricatures by Hogarth and Cruikshank are still famous and prized.

The reign of Queen Victoria saw the rise of the middle class with unprecedented disposable income. The British expressed their affection for their longtime Queen by buying decorative and ephemeral paper items associated with her reign and family. Traditionally, commemorative items have been created to celebrate Royal events: coronations, Jubilees, anniversaries, births, royal visits, and weddings. Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II lived so long that they had several Jubilees each as well as other special events. All were celebrated with commemorative trinkets and china.

You can purchase and download these images of Queen Victoria and her family at my Etsy shop, GrandmothersTrunkUS.

Typical British Royal collectibles and memorabilia

Mugs, plates, and tins with official portraits are typical items. Commemorative china dates from the 1600’s and transfer printing of Royal likenesses from c. 1780. Commemorative pieces commonly have either a portrait or silhouette or royal symbols such as crowns, swords, scepters, and initials, plus a date. The earlier ones associated with George IV, circa 1820-1830 command prices in the hundreds to thousands of dollars. (George IV, formerly the Prince Regent when his father, George III was mentally incapacitated. He sometimes pops up in Regency romances and may be referred to as “Prinny.”)

China from Queen Elizabeth II – on is common and at popular prices: a wide selection under $50. Many items have the Royal sanction and are sold in Royal castle gift shops. (When Charles and Diana divorced, the Queen ordered all Diana merchandise pulled from the shelves.)

In recent generations dolls, stamps, videos, and books are commonly produced and eagerly purchased. You can amass a significant collection of Diana books and materials at reasonable prices. I’ve found a number of books and magazines in thrift and consignment shops. I found a kerchief commemorating Charles and Diana’s marriage at a rummage sale in Maine.

Popular magazines such as People often have photos and articles about the British Royals. You can quickly accumulate a collection of those, either buying new, or scouting library magazine swaps, like I do.

Most of the illustrations in this article are photos of items I’ve seen at my favorite consignment shop, Classic Consignments, in Sudbury, Mass.

Of course you can also do your hunting online on ebay and other virtual sales platforms.

A unique auction of British Royal collectibles and memorabilia added to the mania

In 1998 Sotheby’s, New York, auctioned off the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Everything was special, limited, and personally connected to British Royalty. Many had true historic relevance and of museum quality. It took nine days to auction the 40,000 articles from the Windsor’s Paris mansion. The collection included photos, books, furniture, clothing, and royal family treasures documenting the life of the abdicated King Edward VIII.

The Duke was allowed to take historical family items following his abdication. He had the George III “Abdication Desk” on which he signed away the throne, a banner that belonged to his grandfather, Edward VII, and the red leather dispatch box stamped “The King” used to deliver state papers during the brief time he was Edward VIII. He also helped himself to a number of royal heirlooms, portraits, and personally inscribed historic photographs.

The Duke of Windsor also owned pieces of commemorative china passed down from Royal ancestors, as well as those of his own likeness before he abdicated. There were 10,000 photographs of the Royal Family from 1860s onward. Their wedding album with photos by Cecil Beaton, a piece of wedding cake, love letters and private letters, and their stylish clothing were all auctioned. Even their pugs’ silver-plated bowls were sold.

Before the auction, the collection was recorded on film and in an archive. It was also documented in the book The Private World of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

The catalog of the auction is also a record, as well as collectible. I cherish my copy that Sotheby’s sent me as I was a journalist writing about auctions, particularly those involving vintage clothing.

A mania for British Royal fashion collectibles

What British Royals wear, as well as what they do, is also an intense subject of interest. An area that the British Royal Family consistently influences is fashion. Queen Victoria made white gowns, lace veils, and orange blossoms for brides fashionable. Her son, Prince Albert, later King Edward VII, was a fashion trendsetter as well. Among other things, he made leaving the bottom button of a vest unbuttoned fashionable. Victoria’s great-grandson, The Duke of Windsor, popularized Fair Isle sweaters, plus fours, looser suits, and the Windsor Knot. He also designed jewelry for his Duchess. While much of the Windsor’s wardrobes went to museums, several items were auctioned and purchased by major fashion houses and designers. Gowns owned by Diana that have been auctioned have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charity.

Feeding a mania for British Royal memorabilia and collectibles

Collectors can choose several approaches to building a collection: by person, special occasion, material, or form. Quality ranges from tacky to upscale. I’ve found thrift and consignment stores to be good in-person hunting grounds for reasonably priced items. If you like reading about the Royals, libraries are great for free reading and book sales, as well as magazine swaps. You can find books devoted to British Royal memorabilia in libraries and online.

Just as “There will always be an England,” there will always be collectors of Royal memorabilia. In spite of over two hundred years of independence, the British Royal family still holds sway over the minds, hearts, and wallets of Americans. The family itself may be faltering, but its influence in the collecting marketplace is still strong. The Royal Outcasts: Diana, the Princess of Wales, the Windsors, and more recently, Harry and Meghan, Duke and Duchess of Essex, have seen to that.

Please note: I found many of the British Royal commemoratives pictured in this post over a span of 2-4 years at Classic Consignments in Sudbury, Mass. They often, but not always, have some item related to British Royalty in stock.

Do you collect British Royal memorabilia? What and where have you found your more interesting pieces? Please comment below.

See also my post about collectible comic books.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

Want or need help with your blog or website? I’ve found inexpensive help on Fiverr.

April 30, 2023 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts Family Fun Nostalgia Quirky Finds

7 Reasons Why I Love Consignment Shops and not just for saving money

by Deb C February 28, 2023

Why I love consignment shops

There are so many reasons to love consignment shops and shopping, but here I am narrowing them down.

Shopping at consignment stores is more than about saving money. It’s also a fun and entertaining hobby. Each consignment shop has its own personality, partly from the owners, the policies and pricing, the ambience, the consignors, and the shoppers. Shopping at consignment shops is a hobby for people of all ages, incomes, and lifestyles.

I’ve listed the reasons I love shopping at consignment shops. They are in no particular order.

Reason 1 why I love consignment shops: Free entertainment

Not only do consignment shops save you money, but they also offer free and fun entertainment. I may not buy anything during a visit, but I am usually entertained, one way or another.

Most of the shops I go to have a great play list of background music, which, for me, is mostly classic rock music.

Sometimes the people, either in front or behind the counter, are the entertainment. As you are browsing, you may hear the most intriguing stories, or gossip. Then there are times I feel sorry for the owner or employee. They get trapped by a customer who pours out their health, marital, or other woes.

Once at my favorite shop, Classic Consignments, a long-time fixture in Sudbury, Mass. I overheard a a particularly annoying browser. She let everyone within hearing know, that she had been living in Asia for years. She kept insisting that the hand-painted Japanese china was priced too low for the work that was put into it, not knowing the going rate. She treated the employees as if they were volunteers in a charity thrift shop who didn’t know what they were doing. She was the ignorant one.

Sometimes I meet someone I haven’t seen in years. A few times I discovered someone who remembers the same shops I used to go to when I was growing up. We have several pleasant moments mentally traveling down memory lane.

Then there’s the times when there are items that stun you, amuse you, or educate you. You may not want to take them home, but they make for an interesting visit.

Reason 2 why I love consignment shops: Education

This relates to Reason #1: Consignment shops can be educational, as your world is expanded by the eclectic nature of the items on display. You may get glimpses into high end tastes and designs you might never otherwise experience. The closest I chose to get to new high-end merchandise is through the windows in the mall. At some consignment shops I can handle lots of items up close.

The sheer variety of items I never knew existed and can study up close is incredible. Some shops which lean towards antiques and collectibles, can resemble mini-museums.

Reason 3 why I love consignment shops: Adding to your collection at reasonable prices

At some shops, you have a chance to add to your collection at a significant savings, rather than buying at an antique mall or shop, or on eBay. The owner of the consignment shop doesn’t wait for the top dollar and most shops have an automatic markdown system, so you may find some great items at reasonable prices. I buy vintage photos and ephemera and many times I have picked they up after their final markdown.

Reason 4 why I love consignment shops: Finding old favorites and repurposing

If a shop has a blend of eras, you may find items of character and design that are better made of better materials that suit your taste and living space. And, you can find items to repaint, refinish, and repurpose. You might also find a replacement for something that you loved and wore out. I am searching for some kitchenware that were my favorites. I don’t like the design or feel of some of the utensils available today.

Reason 5 why I love consignment shops: Better goods at lower prices

I touched on this before, but it’s not just saving money, it’s also having opportunities to buy higher quality gently used items for the same or less than those of much lower quality. We recently bought a piece of furniture at a well-known online retailer as a requested gift. We assembled it in the recipient’s home. Some components didn’t line up as well as they should have. And it was smaller than expected. It was definitely not designed for long term use. I would have rather put the money into a slightly used solid wood, better constructed item with some character.

I pick up charming English porcelain plates and pressed and lead glass dishes and serving ware for use when we have company. I also use vintage damask cloth napkins and tablecloths when entertaining.

Reason 6 why I love consignment shops: Learning the value of heirlooms

Consignment shops can also give you an idea of the value, or not, of your family heirlooms, or your household goods. You might think, or hear “Oh, my grandmother had one of these!”

But, as a sign that I have seen in some vintage and collectible shops says: “The only one who’s interested in what your grandmother had, was your grandfather.”

While a lot of “yesterdays” items are interesting or durable, or usable, like old Federal bureaus, only a fraction have any significant value. I owned an antique and collectibles consignment shop for 12 years. A memorable consignor insisted on discussing each item he consigned often saying “Now, this is really old,” expecting a high price just because it was old.

Well, it is true that sadirons like the one he had are old. But, unless the example is unusual in some way, and even then, they are common and not particularly sought-after.

Every winter I see vintage wooden sleds like Flexible Flyers, at consignment shops like Classic Consignments, but I also notice that they either don’t sell, or are coming to the end of their consignment period without any takers. They just give the shop a seasonal ambience.

So, either I see something my mother or grandmother had, and get a sense of the going prices, or if I try to sell something they owned, the market tells me what is valuable, and what isn’t.

Reason 7 why I love consignment shops: Make money

While it may not be, buy low, sell high somewhere else, sometimes I have made money doing just that. Either I bought an item at a consignment shop and sold it at another place, or online on eBay or Etsy, or bought an item at a yard sale and sold it on consignment.

Sometimes, it’s just easier to have someone else do the pricing and selling for you. I bought a group of vintage Easter postcards at a thrift shop. I scanned them and created a digital product and sell the images for download on Etsy. I also created a book for scrapbooking, junk journaling, and crafting that you can buy here on Amazon. Then, I consigned them in groups four to eight and most of them sold. I made back my investment and more just from consigning them. However, I do have a lot of sweat equity invested in the scanning, layout, and design of the digital and physical products sold on Etsy and Amazon.

Above are the main reasons I love consignment shops. They offer so much, as far as entertainment and education and they don’t cost you anything until you buy something.

Why do you love consignment shops? Leave your comments below.

Also visit my other blog posts about collectibles and consignment shops:

Clear your clutter and cash in with consignment shops

The British Royal Family: Memorabilia feeds collectibles mania

I talk about other ways to save money on my blog. Here is a post about it.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

February 28, 2023 0 comment

Craft Beer Adventures Family Fun Museums New experience Nostalgia Outdoor Activities Quirky Finds Travel in the United States U.S. History

Fun Things to Do in Greenfield Mass.

by Deb C September 30, 2022

There’s many fun things to do in Greenfield, Mass.

We had never been or heard of Greenfield, Massachusetts. It’s out near Amherst, Mass, off of Rt. 91, along the Mohawk Trail. When we looked for things to do one weekend, we came across “Greenfield Vintage Days.” We unexpectedly found many fun things to do in the city of Greenfield, Mass.

Greenfield Vintage Days, Greenfield, Mass.

Greenfield Vintage Days event was on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We went on Saturday as there were the most things to do. The core of the event, and where we started exploring Greenfield, was in Court Square. Free parking was available in nearby city lots. Several of the shops lining Main Street had Sidewalk Sales. It’s easy to navigate across streets with pedestrian traffic signals. We hopped a free Trolley Ride to visit historic and vintage places around the city.

The Farmer’s Market is a fun thing to do in Greenfield, Mass.

The Farmer’s Market boasted several stalls of freshly harvested local produce as well as crafters. The Taco Food Truck attracted a long line of customers. During Greenfield’s Vintage Days, a group of vintage tractors attracted a lot of interest. There was also a blacksmith demonstrating his craft over an open flame. Members of the Historical Commission were in period costume.

Finding art on Main Street is a fun thing to do in Downtown Greenfield, Mass.

The Downtown is alive with color: sidewalks, parking meters, the sides of buildings are all brightened by vivid paintings of all kinds. Even parking meters pop with color.

Chairs in the park offer a bright rainbow of seats:

Then there’s the sidewalks. Here’s one with a bee theme:

The sides of buildings with wide alleys beckon the eyes with their murals:

A Fun thing to do in Greenfield, Mass. is to “bee” on the lookout for bees in painting and sculpture

Why bees? Greenfield was the home of Lorenzo Langstroth, pastor of the Second Congregational Church during the mid-1800s, who is known worldwide as the “father of modern beekeeping.”

Reverend Langstroth was the inventor of a revolutionary moveable-frame beehive, patented in 1852. The hive made it easier to inspect the hive and harvest honey. He wrote the first American manual on honeybees and beekeeping. First published in 1853, and reprinted multiple times since, it’s still considered the “Beekeeper’s Bible.”

We discovered that a Langstroth Bee Fest is celebrated downtown with a parade, children’s activities, bee-related displays and talks, and more fun. In 2021, six large bee sculptures painted by local artists were installed around the downtown area and were unveiled during the Bee Fest. More have been added since then.

Here’s the Celtic Bee:

There are other bee-related features, such as the cross-walk shown earlier in this post, as well as paintings like this incorporating bees:

Browsing vintage, secondhand, and thrift shops is another fun thing to do in Greenfield, Mass.

There are several vintage, secondhand, and thrift shops within walking distance of each other in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Many are on Main St. Each of them has their own personality. During Greenfield Vintage Days, many had sidewalk sales and specials. They all had unique personalities and plenty to browse. One, John Doe, Jr. specializes in vintage vinyl records.

Down on Hope Street, which is off Main Street, you will find a Salvation Army Thrift Store and Innovintage, a woman-owned vintage and artisan collective. Innovintage is located in an old brick mill complex. The vendors offer a variety of vintage and antique furniture and furnishings, vintage accessories, upcycled wedding decor, and handmade items. Unfortunately, the trolley tour we were on only allowed us time for a brief peek at the goodies. We thought the prices we saw on vintage wooden items along the deck were very reasonably priced. There was plenty of parking and the day we were there there were also several vendors set up in the parking lot.

The Historical Society in Greenfield, Mass. is a fun place to stop in

The Greenfield Historical Society is housed in a well-kept Victorian building. The displays are well thought out with lots of informative signage. For a small museum, it packed in a lot of items. I’ve owned a vintage shop, bought and sold antiques and collectibles for decades , attended auctions since I was eight, and I saw things there I’ve never seen elsewhere.

This self-propelled wheel chair, circa 1890, is unique in my experience.

One room is devoted to children’s items and pastimes. They are invited to sit at a wooden desk and look at stereoscope slides.

Here’s a few other displays at the Historical Society in Greenfield:

The Museum of Our Industrial Heritage is another fun thing to visit in Greenfield, Mass.

The Museum is rather small, tucked into one part of an old mill building, but makes good use of the space with family friendly displays.

Call ahead as it’s open Summer Saturday afternoons and by appointment. Visit industrialhistory.org for information and group programs. The museum has a library of past technology that researchers may request access to.

Dining out is a fun thing to do in Greenfield, Mass.

Some restaurants in Greenfield, Mass. may have bee or honey-themed art or specialties. The ones we saw popped with personality and pride.

There’s Bonnie B’s Restaurant:

It was hard not to stop in at the colorful Rise Above Bakery and Cafe, but we wanted to be on time for the Trolley Tour:

We did end up having bread from the Rise Above Bakery when we had a late lunch at The People’s Pint, a family-friendly brewpub, on a side street in Downtown Greenfield.

They offered sidewalk seating, as well as indoor booths. Sorry that the sun was so bright that day, it affected my outdoor photo. Here’s some photos of the interior, food, and a beer flight:

They brew their own beer, bake their own desserts, and source from local farmers and suppliers. They are very environmentally conscious, not using disposable plastic, minimal paper goods, composting or recycling everything they can. The brewery grain is fed to pigs and goats in Gill, Mass.

So many fun things to see and do, you’ll “bee” sure to have a fun time in Greenfield, Mass.

Know before you go:

We went when there was a special event and many venues were open for it that have limited hours. We also went in early fall on a bright warm day. The Trolley Tour was a special part of the event and not regularly offered. Greenfield Vintage Days was a brand-new event and it will probably return with many new features. For those who like old fire department equipment, Greenfield is planning on a museum and raising money for it.

Check the City of Greenfield’s website for any events. Also be sure to check this website: Visit Greenfield, MA.

Plan ahead by checking to see if the places mentioned in this post are indeed open, or schedule an appointment, if they offer that option.

There are many more things to see and do than we knew about, or had time for. OH, and the Franklin County Fairgrounds are nearby, so you could coordinate a trip to the fair and the city. See also Wikipedia for more information about Greenfield, Mass.

Also check the local newspaper, the Greenfield Recorder, for information about special events and venues.

If you go…please let me know and leave a comment below.

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

Keeping Track of Craft Beers

While many use an app for tracking their brewery visits, physical journaling is very popular, too. Consider: Keeping Up with Craft Beers: A Journal for Your Tasting Adventures, for yourself or for a gift for a friend. You can keep more detailed records of where you went and what beer you enjoyed. You can list up to 100 beers, as well as list breweries and brew pubs you liked as well as beer festivals.

September 30, 2022 0 comment

Budget-minded Discounts Nostalgia Quirky Finds

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, You’ll Love Classic Consignments

by Deb C August 31, 2022

You don’t have to be 50plus to love shopping in consignment and thrift shops, but you tend to have more time to do so. Also, you may have more reasons to do so, like new hobbies, stretching retirement funds, and people to buy for, like grandchildren.

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, You’ll Love Classic Consignments, a shop on Rt. 20 in Sudbury, Massachusetts.

I love shopping at thrift and consignment shops, and Classic Consignments is my favorite. It ticks all the boxes.

Note: It is not a clothing store, but might have vintage and quality fashion accessories.

If You Like Collectibles and Consignment Shops, you’ll love the selection at Classic Consignments

The sandwich board sign reads: “home furnishings, jewelry, etc.” Well, the “etc.” is a bland word for what you may find at Classic Consignments. Unlike some shops, that limit themselves to recent decades, or to mostly furniture, or to antiques and collectibles, or a niche, items hundreds of years old may be mixed in with items across the years to today. The items range from practical to whimsical, from paper to chrome, and cover a broad range of interests and collecting niches. And it’s just plain fun hunting for collectibles and antiques there.

You may find items about British Royalty:

to immigrants:

What kind of collectibles might you find at Classic Consignments?

One day when I walked in, I was greeted by several boxed dolls circa the 1950’s. One of the boxes had a note that said something like “to Gramma, love from xxxx.” Evidently it was time for the collection to be disbursed and enjoyed by new owners.

It often seems that way, as you might see a large grouping of items, like miniatures, such as Sebastian figurines, or Longaberger baskets, Flow Blue or Dedham pottery, or its re-iteration of style from The Potting Shed.

Some shelves and cabinets are designated areas for things like linens, quality handbags, pottery, and vintage kitchenware and glassware.

The linen corner.

Long view of kitchenware, vintage cans and bottles, and utensils etc.

Handbags and totebags.

Close up of jugs on kitchenware shelf.

Here’s some Hall’s and Fiesta-style ware:

If you like British Royalty memorabilia, they often have something or other in china, tin, or paper.

They occasionally have comic books and usually have ephemera, from postcards to early advertising.

The walls and floor space offer an ever-changing cornucopia of visual and collecting delights.

What I also like about Classic Consignments is their pricing and mark down policy.

The staff at Classic Consignments work with their consignors to price their items fairly, given local and online markets. They urge their consignors to point out anything that will indicate what their expectations are and what characteristics might influence the price. They also have a computerized ticketing program showing automatic markdowns at dated intervals. If you are a buyer, this may influence your buying decisions. I know I am more likely to buy something if it’s marked down. Sometimes I pass on an item at full price, because I don’t NEED it, but figure if it’s still there the next time I visit, I can (sort of) justify buying it.

Here’s a ticket example on a Boyd’s Teddy Bear:

The original price is on the bottom and the markdowns with dates appear above the barcode.

What I also love about Classic Consignments is the staff and ambience.

The staff members are always pleasant and helpful. The employees are also very patient and tactful with customers and consignors. They wrestle with all kinds of calls, sometimes those that are all about the would-be customer’s needs and wants and last minute, that kindly, but firmly have to be told, “No, we can’t take…or you need an appointment…or just sorry, but no.”

They really should keep a journal of some of their stories. I know when I had my shop, I should have written down some of them.

One time when I was shopping, a woman who I gathered had been living in Japan for quite some time, and was now returning state-side, was particularly showing off her knowledge of Asian china to a friend. She insisted to the staff that some of the china should be priced higher, because she knew it was all hand-painted. She also talked down to one of them, as if the shop was a charity shop and the woman behind the counter just a volunteer, not a knowledgeable employee. The atmosphere in the store changed for the better once she and her companion left. I went over to the employee and made a commiserating comment and we both had a chuckle.

If you love jewelry, you will love Classic Consignments

David, who is their jewelry expert, and from what I gather, truly trained and certified in fine gems and jewelry, is particularly friendly and ready to share his expertise and recent consignments. He made a point of showing me a particularly unusual neck ornament, I would call it, that had just come in. It has a wonderful story, too.

According to him, the jewelry was consigned by a woman who was an Olympian in Paris in the 1970’s. Someone there gave her the neckpiece in honor and memory of her being an Olympian. The owner is moving away from the area and was downsizing. David noted that the style was “kind of Twiggy-ish” and that you would have to have a long neck to wear it. He said it is made of chrome, a mirror, and with sterling chain links. It came in the box he is holding. I looked up the name and it is of a chic hair salon in Paris.

David sang the praises of a particularly lustrous string of Mikimoto pearls. David also pointed out this custom-made shade to refurbish a period lamp. They used Czechoslovakian beads and re-purposed some embroidered linens and Chintz fabric.

David and I have discovered a common bond. Not only are we from the same hometown, we share our first childhood experience – I was probably 8 – of visiting a consignment shop. Our mothers both took us to a shop that we recall as a maze of piles of stuff and was only open at night. Hence, it’s name, The Owl Shop. When I cleaned out my Mom’s house a few years ago I found something that I bought there . It still had the faint consignor number and price written in pencil.

What the bargain-hunter in me really loves about Classic Consignments

The bargain-hunter in me really loves, not only the mark-downs, but the “back room.” As unsold items enter their final month of their consignment period, the staff move them to a back area of the shop. I generally save that section to browse in last. There I have picked up some great pictorial or coffee table books that were marked down to $2. I also find items that I hadn’t noticed before, as well as some that are marked down to what I am willing to pay. (Or justify buying.)

Here’s a few photos of the back area from a recent visit. There had been a round table there that they kept marking down. (It seems they sometimes keep furniture past the sell buy date and drastically mark it down.) I don’t know why, but I liked it, but had no use for it. Even at I think $10. I was glad when it wasn’t there anymore.

If you love collectibles, some final reasons to love Classic Consignments

With some exceptions for holiday weekends, Classic Consignments is open seven days a week. Yes, seven days to feed your browsing, collecting, and bargain-hunting soul. It’s a collector’s paradise.

Classic Consignments can be the best free entertainment if you like a fun, eclectic shopping experience with nostalgia and history thrown in.

The inventory is ever-changing as new consignments are going on the floor with regularity. Appointments are booked up months ahead.

The employees are continually moving and removing items, and rearranging so that browsers have a great experience as well as get a sense of how an item might look at home.

Finally, the consignors, customers, and staff are all interesting and entertaining in and of themselves. There is that saying: “You can’t make this stuff up.”

And you can’t. The synergy of the shop comes together all on its own.

—–

Do you have a favorite consignment shop? Do you love browsing thrift and consignment shops?

Please share below.

Also visit my other blog posts about collectibles and consignment shops:

7 Reasons why I love consignments shops and not just for saving money

The British Royal Family: Memorabilia feeds collectibles mania

Want to learn how to start a blog?

Here’s some courses to get you started: Start A Travel Blog

or Start A Blogging Business.

August 31, 2022 0 comment

New experience Outdoor Activities Quirky Finds Travel in the United States

Picnic with a million dollar view in Lubec Maine

by Deb C July 30, 2022

Picnic with a Million Dollar View in Lubec Maine

Thanks to Cobscook Shores, you can picnic with a million dollar view in Lubec, Maine. Cobscook Shores is a series of 15 parklands along Cobscook Bay near Lubec, Maine. They are privately owned by Cobscook Shores Inc., a family funded Maine charitable foundation. The park areas offer free public access for walking, picnicking, hiking, biking, camping and paddling in Cobscook Bay.

A delightful aspect of this park system is that amenities including picnic tables, screened picnic cabins or pavilions, a restroom, shore paddle access, and walking, hiking, and biking trails. A least one park includes a “loner” stroller. But it’s all done carefully without commercialism, respecting the ecosystem.

The Butler Foundation, behind the founding of Cobscook Shores, created the network of parkland. In addition to conservation, the intent is that everyone can enjoy this wild beauty, not just those who have the where with all to buy waterfront property and build on it.

Don’t just take my word for it. The Boston Globe featured an article recommending that you visit Cobscook Shores, noting that The New York Times ranks it among the best 52 places to travel to in 2022.

Cobscook Shores provides Picnic Spots with a Million Dollar View

Cobscook Shores park system includes an area along South Bay Narrows that features Shoreline Trail and picnicking spots.

Cobscook Shores provides plenty of signage along Lubec roadways to guide you to the various parklands and hiking trails.

One of the first Cobscook Shores trails that we explored was by South Bay and isn’t far off Rt. 189. You take Crows Neck Road, take the first right, and follow the signs.

There’s a parking lot just off the access road. There’s one of the cleanest port-a-potties you may ever find by the gate. A kiosk provides a map and information about use of the trails and park.

Discovering a Place to Picnic with a Million Dollar View in Lubec Maine

When we first explored the Narrows Trail we noticed a small well-kept screened-in building with a table and four chairs. You can enjoy a comfortable and bug-free picnic and equipped with a dustpan and broom for users to sweep out any crumbs after their meal. It’s a great idea and addition to any hiking area.

It’s placed so that you can enjoy a great view east across South Bay with Red Point in the foreground and Scrub Island in the distance.

From the Narrows Trail by the Picnic Pavilion, as we learned is it’s name, we took the South Bay Loop Trail The trail which took us by the water access area and then inland through a maple-spruce forest and old apple orchards looping back to the Narrows Trail near the parking lot (0.4 miles). It’s an easy and beautiful walk/hike.

Note: The area is peaceful but do be aware that you are entering the domain of wildlife including bear, deer, moose, fox, porcupine, and insects. We visited in mid-July and weren’t particularly bothered by bugs. We wore long sleeves and pants. We saw a variety of birds, in and over the water, but no other wildlife.

Picnic in Lubec Maine Bug-Free with a Million Dollar View

A few weeks after the first anniversary of the opening of Cobscook Shores (which was Memorial Day 2021) my husband and I were discussing what we were going to do for dinner. There aren’t a lot of dining options in Lubec and we often have a simple dinner at our cabin, or have dinner at a friend’s house.

Sometimes we happen to be in Lubec when there’s a bean supper at the West Lubec Methodist Church or the Mason’s have their Thursday night BBQ. An alternative is a stop at the IGA, our go-to place for freshly made salads from their deli. We often make a meal of them, with or without a sandwich from McFadden’s, a gas, deli, and convenience store.

We do like to enjoy the fresh Maine air as much as possible. While we do have a deck and may eat outside, sometimes it gets a bit too buggy. Suddenly, I remembered the Picnic Pavilion and we had plenty of daylight left to be comfortable venturing into that wooded area, which isn’t all that far from the parking lot. So, we packed the cooler with salads bought earlier and some water and seltzer. I also gathered napkins, paper plates, utensils, sanitary wipes, and a flannel-backed tablecloth, and off we went.

Picnicking with a Million Dollar Ocean View without being a Millionaire

Up to now, I haven’t mentioned that Lubec is a neighbor to the Bay of Fundy. Its shoreline is part of the Bold Coast, and is the Easternmost town in the Easternmost part of the United States. It’s rural, it’s scenic, it’s unspoiled seacoast, and full of breathtakingly beautiful vantage points. The Picnic Pavilion sits on one of those points overlooking South Bay.

The Picnic Pavilion was clean and the furniture not very dusty. There is a local maintenance crew that we figure regularly checks it. It’s expected that before you leave, you clean up, sweep, and take all your trash with you.

We wiped the table, installed the tablecloth, and sat down to a memorable dinner with a great view and the sounds of birds and waves. We really were away from it all – no people, no insect pests, no manmade sounds, no traffic, no artificial lighting.

It was one of the most memorable experiences in our life. Simple and serene. While Cobscook Shores is still new, more people will find it as the word gets out. Still, we think that there’s enough area to explore that it will never get crowded. At least not anytime soon.

If you want to read more about Cobscook Shores, here’s an article in The Boston Globe.

To find out more about this particular picnic spot and trail, as well as other Cobscook Bay parklands, visit Cobscook Shores.

Have you visited any Cobscook Shores parklands? Your thoughts on them? Comment below.

Related: Lubec Pirate Invasion

To find out more about Lubec, the Easternmost town in the U.S. and town events and festivals, visit: https://www.visitlubecmaine.com/

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July 30, 2022 0 comment