Amid all the doom and gloom and dire prognostication, there is a solid group of you who continue to realize that even in bad times, one needs hyacinths for the soul . I appreciate each and every one of you who continue to buy from me and leave feedback that indicates that you appreciate the love and care that I put into every item that I list on eBay.
God Bless you all, and I look forward to the day when we can all exclaim with sincerity, "Recession? What recession!"
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Out of the BLue?
I got a call this morning from someone who genuinely believed that I had emailed him out of the blue to offer him 3 spoons. He was ready to buy, and I am so grateful that he chose to call me first, rather than just sending money to someone.
First off, I do not not email people I don't know offering them a good deal on silverware, or anything else. Secondly, I do not sell off eBay. Thirdly, I do not even have the "offered" items in my inventory at this time!
Obviously, this was a scam. I have a pretty good idea who is behind it, and this person is building up some really bad karma.
If you ask me to find an item for you, I am happy to do so, but I will list it with eBay and let you bid on it, or put it in my store as a BUY IT NOW. That way we both know the deal is legitimate, and we are both protected.
So, if you get an email through eBay that is supposedly from me or any other reputable eBay seller, asking you to buy an item when you did not previously send that seller an inquiry, please notify the seller, then report that message to eBay. You'll be doing yourself and all other honest sellers a favor.
First off, I do not not email people I don't know offering them a good deal on silverware, or anything else. Secondly, I do not sell off eBay. Thirdly, I do not even have the "offered" items in my inventory at this time!
Obviously, this was a scam. I have a pretty good idea who is behind it, and this person is building up some really bad karma.
If you ask me to find an item for you, I am happy to do so, but I will list it with eBay and let you bid on it, or put it in my store as a BUY IT NOW. That way we both know the deal is legitimate, and we are both protected.
So, if you get an email through eBay that is supposedly from me or any other reputable eBay seller, asking you to buy an item when you did not previously send that seller an inquiry, please notify the seller, then report that message to eBay. You'll be doing yourself and all other honest sellers a favor.
J C Penney Jubilee pattern silverware 1953
J C Penney started his chain of department stores in Kemmerer, Wyoming. When the Jubilee Anniversary of the business neared in 1953, the chain commissioned a silverplate pattern called Jubilee for the occasion. It was, of course, available in all the J C Penney stores and catalogs.
Julilee is a fancy Art Deco pattern that looks more like a 1930s offering that a 1950s one. The motif reminds one of the decor of an Art Deco cinema. This pattern is enjoying a renaissance in popularity, as many whose parents were married in the early and mid 1950s, and who chose this as their wedding pattern, are leaving sets to their children and grandchildren.
I once worked for J C Penney in the early 1970s. I was working in Interior Design at the time, and I went out to people's homes to sell custom window treatments, carpet, and furniture, as well as accessories. I considered myself lucky to have a job that took me out of the depressing, windowless, and rule-bound store itself. I met a lot of people, many of them very interesting, such as one of the first transgendered persons from Denmark, or the former silent film actress, who had her condo done up in 1920s Hollywood style. I also met a lot of people who were perfect candidates for the Ideal Loon Exhibit. None of them was as difficult to tolerate, however, as the higher ups in the store, who seemed to be totally lacking in spirit, imagination, and initiative. I was very happy when my 2 years there ended, and I went back to having a life again.
I did enjoy going to the anchor store in Wyoming when it was still a going concern. Originally, many of the stores had a complicated system of baskets that would carry cash from the customer up to the tills in the office, and send change back. Other stores used a more common practice of employing boys as young as 7 or 8 to run back and forth with money. The sales clerk, having collected money from the customer, would yell, "CASH!", and the child would run forward, take the money, and return the change with great speed.
I heard many a story about old J C Penney when I worked there. The most interesting was that he would, when hiring for his first store, take a prospective employee out to lunch. If the person salted his/her food without tasting it first, the individual was automatically a no hire!
If you want to know more about the working conditions in department stores in the 19th and early 20th centuries, I recommend the novels of Horatio Alger. Many are about the struggles experienced by youngsters in this harsh environment.
Julilee is a fancy Art Deco pattern that looks more like a 1930s offering that a 1950s one. The motif reminds one of the decor of an Art Deco cinema. This pattern is enjoying a renaissance in popularity, as many whose parents were married in the early and mid 1950s, and who chose this as their wedding pattern, are leaving sets to their children and grandchildren.
I once worked for J C Penney in the early 1970s. I was working in Interior Design at the time, and I went out to people's homes to sell custom window treatments, carpet, and furniture, as well as accessories. I considered myself lucky to have a job that took me out of the depressing, windowless, and rule-bound store itself. I met a lot of people, many of them very interesting, such as one of the first transgendered persons from Denmark, or the former silent film actress, who had her condo done up in 1920s Hollywood style. I also met a lot of people who were perfect candidates for the Ideal Loon Exhibit. None of them was as difficult to tolerate, however, as the higher ups in the store, who seemed to be totally lacking in spirit, imagination, and initiative. I was very happy when my 2 years there ended, and I went back to having a life again.
I did enjoy going to the anchor store in Wyoming when it was still a going concern. Originally, many of the stores had a complicated system of baskets that would carry cash from the customer up to the tills in the office, and send change back. Other stores used a more common practice of employing boys as young as 7 or 8 to run back and forth with money. The sales clerk, having collected money from the customer, would yell, "CASH!", and the child would run forward, take the money, and return the change with great speed.
I heard many a story about old J C Penney when I worked there. The most interesting was that he would, when hiring for his first store, take a prospective employee out to lunch. If the person salted his/her food without tasting it first, the individual was automatically a no hire!
If you want to know more about the working conditions in department stores in the 19th and early 20th centuries, I recommend the novels of Horatio Alger. Many are about the struggles experienced by youngsters in this harsh environment.
Have you met Pablo Rodarte?
If you haven't, here is what you are missing. A Denver native, Pablo started his career as a tap dancer and then switched to ballet. After graduating from high school, he fulfilled the dream of so many young and aspiring artists: he went to New York City, where he was accepted into a ballet company.
Though he was successful, busy, and happy with his new life, there was still something missing. He had seen Jose Greco, and from that moment on, he wanted to be another kind of dancer. A flamenco dancer. Trusting to both talent and luck, Pablo set sail for Spain.
He arrived with only a smattering of Spanish, but with a solid basis in dance. He also could, thanks to his tap dance training, REALLY hit the floor. His teachers were fond of bringing others in to see the American dance. Now this was in the 1960s, when foreigners rarely studied flamenco, and seldom succeeded to a professional level. For those of you who have never attempted flamenco dance, it is probably the most difficult dance form on any planet.
Pablo worked hard, and studied with many maestros. It was not long until he was performing professionally. He continued to take lessons to perfect his craft. He took a sabbatical to open and run a dance school in Australia for 2 years. He toured the world and performed in such diverse places as Bagdad and Jerusalem, as well as Toulouse, France. I could go on and on documenting his success. When Pablo returned to the states after 20+ years of world travel, he joined the faculty of the dance department of the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, where as a teacher, he turned out many a fine dancer and created much innovative choreography.
Now, you might ask, why is a silver dealer rhapsodizing about a flamenco dancer? Well, this silver dealer is also an aspiring flamenco dancer, and a pupil of Pablo at his dance academy here in Denver. He is a fine teacher and I am honored to have him as my dance mentor. But there is more.
Pablo Rodarte is also an artist in metal sculpture and a costume designer. When he produces a show or production, the fabulous costumes are often his own designs and hand made by him.
When he lived in New Mexico, Pablo became interested in the Santos, the folk art images of saints. He began creating marvellous sculptures in metal, some almost life size. When he relocated to Denver, he designed metalwork for a room in his house which recreates the feeling of the elaborate walls of the Alhambra. When the job was done, he had scraps of metal and glass jewels left over. Then he had an inspiration to create lamps which could hold candles, and which would evoke the art of Andalusian Spain.
Now the good news. One of these hand crafted, one of a kind lamps can be yours.
Though he was successful, busy, and happy with his new life, there was still something missing. He had seen Jose Greco, and from that moment on, he wanted to be another kind of dancer. A flamenco dancer. Trusting to both talent and luck, Pablo set sail for Spain.
He arrived with only a smattering of Spanish, but with a solid basis in dance. He also could, thanks to his tap dance training, REALLY hit the floor. His teachers were fond of bringing others in to see the American dance. Now this was in the 1960s, when foreigners rarely studied flamenco, and seldom succeeded to a professional level. For those of you who have never attempted flamenco dance, it is probably the most difficult dance form on any planet.
Pablo worked hard, and studied with many maestros. It was not long until he was performing professionally. He continued to take lessons to perfect his craft. He took a sabbatical to open and run a dance school in Australia for 2 years. He toured the world and performed in such diverse places as Bagdad and Jerusalem, as well as Toulouse, France. I could go on and on documenting his success. When Pablo returned to the states after 20+ years of world travel, he joined the faculty of the dance department of the University of New Mexico at Albuquerque, where as a teacher, he turned out many a fine dancer and created much innovative choreography.
Now, you might ask, why is a silver dealer rhapsodizing about a flamenco dancer? Well, this silver dealer is also an aspiring flamenco dancer, and a pupil of Pablo at his dance academy here in Denver. He is a fine teacher and I am honored to have him as my dance mentor. But there is more.
Pablo Rodarte is also an artist in metal sculpture and a costume designer. When he produces a show or production, the fabulous costumes are often his own designs and hand made by him.
When he lived in New Mexico, Pablo became interested in the Santos, the folk art images of saints. He began creating marvellous sculptures in metal, some almost life size. When he relocated to Denver, he designed metalwork for a room in his house which recreates the feeling of the elaborate walls of the Alhambra. When the job was done, he had scraps of metal and glass jewels left over. Then he had an inspiration to create lamps which could hold candles, and which would evoke the art of Andalusian Spain.
Now the good news. One of these hand crafted, one of a kind lamps can be yours.
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