Flashback Alley's Antiques & Collectibles Blog

Dancing Outside The Comfort Zone

Holly 03/26/2013 0

Ask any antique dealer who deals in the eclectic and I'm rather certain they'll tell you of at least one buying experience that left them saying, "What was I thinking!" When you buy on a whim with the hopes of selling for a profit, sometimes you just need to be a bit of a gambler...

Evidence of a Cat Lady Understudy

Holly 03/15/2013 0

I'm really not a crazy cat lady, but I can't remember a time in life when I didn't enjoy the intriguing company of at least one cat, and often times more than one. (During my high school years, we actually had 120 acres to roam and enjoy, with - at one point - a near dozen cats, ...

Black Duncan Miller Glass Rocket Perfume Bottle with Silver Overlay

Holly 03/10/2013 0

Years ago, I found this modernistic rocket-shaped perfume bottle at a local St. Louis estate sale. I knew nothing about it other than it was beautiful, not like any I'd seen, and... well, I just had to have it. What can I say, a sweet silver overlay on jet black glass just holds ...

Research Puzzles Made Easier With Evernote

Holly 03/10/2012 0

In the antiquing business, I seem to have a knack for being drawn to things I have no prior experience with. What can I say; I live the antiquer's creed: "Never leave an estate sale or auction empty-handed". Besides... I just love learning new things about old stuff! But what do ...

Through Helping Others, You Really Can Help Yourself

Holly 02/07/2012 0

Recently a friend of mine (who's also in the antiquing and collectibles business) asked me to take a look at an upcoming auction's online photos, knowing that my buying interests differ somewhat from hers. I said "Sure!", she sent me a link, and then I returned to the task at han...

Social Marketing - My Current Day Pac-Man Game?

Holly 08/27/2011 0

Okay, I'm probably going to be dating myself a bit here, but back in the day, I spent many an hour playing Pac-Man — you know, those multi-colored arcade video game creatures you navigate through a maze, eating up all the little dots along the way, with the hope of moving on to t...

Being a Steward of the Past

Holly 08/07/2011 0

As an online seller of antiques and collectibles, I frequently find myself needing to hunt down information on my newest old treasure. Take, for instance, this boxed set of pastel-colored glass snack sets. Thankfully the set was still in its original box marked "It's A Dilly," ...

Well, What Do You Know...

Holly 08/01/2011 0

Ahhh, finally, we were getting out of town for a long weekend to visit family. Even better was the fact that this time I was going to be a passenger, which meant I could gather up a stack of books to flip through and learn from along the way. With so many to choose from, I decide...

A Profile on Memories

Holly 06/24/2011 0

I must admit, it caught me totally off guard. While checking for upcoming events, there it was, the Facebook notice reminder that Jacqie’s birthday was just around the corner. Except this year, Jacqie wouldn’t be celebrating her birthday; the cancer finally made sure of that. But...

The Art Of Minding My Own Business

Holly 06/11/2011 0

I’ve managed to do it again. A day that started with good intentions of getting a number of things accomplished is fast transitioning to an evening of scratching my head, wondering just where the time actually went. I did get a few things photographed and a bit of research starte...

The Magic of the Green Velvet Case

Holly 05/20/2011 0

A cigar-shaped green velvet case, worn with years and thread bare at the edges, sat closed amidst a group of old dusty bottles, a lusterless arrangement from days gone by. My initial response was a quizzical frown, fearing that the morning’s trip may have been a wasted one. But, ...

And the Facebook Oscar for Best Performance goes to…

Holly 03/27/2011 0

"You like me, you really like me!" Social media marketing, just like our ability to accurately remember things, can sometimes be a bit unreliable. If you’re like me, you may have thought the opening “you like me” phrase was what Sally Field said to the viewers and fans back in 19...