Monday, January 14, 2008

Fun Monday #7 is a Gem




This week's Fun Monday is hosted by Ann over at For the Long Run. She is one of my favorite blog buddies, and her idea to share a website that changed our lives is so clever.

My mother is a serious collector of antiques. Red kitchen items from the '40s, old cast iron, anything related to the Oklahoma frontier, furniture, several patterns of dishes, and so many other things I cannot remember them all.

One of her obsessions is a pattern made by the defunct ceramic and pottery company, Harker Pottery, U.S.A. The company was established around 1857 in Ohio and operated until 1972. The pattern is called "Dainty Flower" and is part of the company's Cameoware line. Mama collects the blue and white version. It is a popular pattern that began with a very art deco design and then morphed into something called the shell shape by collectors.

One year, probably about ten or eleven years ago, she was looking for this pattern and having a hard time finding it. Her mother, who died when she was three, had some pieces of this pattern and my mother had decided to collect a complete set. I started looking for a nice piece for her birthday. I went to all of my usual antiques haunts, hit the thrift stores, and even tried shopping garage and estate sales in older, established neighborhoods. Nothing. Nada. Not even one piece.

My husband is a techie and he had been using the internet for a good while by this time. I think it was probably about 1997 or 1998. He suggested I go online and do a search for the pattern or any information about it. I had no idea what he was talking about. He logged on to our (incredibly slow) dial-up connection and went to a search engine to teach me how to conduct a search. I think it was Alta Vista that we used.

What he found was this little gem of a site, a virtual store on the internet that dealt solely in antiques. I was shocked such a thing existed. It was a revelation. I could shop for my mother's hard to find antique collectibles at our desk! Without leaving the house! Without wasting gallons and gallons of gas! I was in heaven.

Since then, I've moved on to an array of online businesses that range from Amazon and ebay to clothing stores, toy stores, pet stores and little tiny places that sell vintage stereos, or golf equipment, or musical instruments or theater costumes. I even have a Harker pattern of my own that I collect and use for our every day dishes.

I am the rare woman who absolutely hates to shop. But when I can do it in my pajamas from the comfort of my sofa, it's not so bad.

My husband is sorry he ever showed me how to use a search engine.

31 comments:

Faye said...

Aren't you a good daughter, Kaycie! But, you're bad to share Ruby Lane--old is always better than new. I'll go back for another visit after Fun Monday--hope I don't fall in "want".

Sandy said...

That is brilliant! I used ebay last year to find myself the dessert dishes that my mom had when I was little. I smile every time I look at them.

thefoodsnob said...

That sounds like a great site for you and your mom.
I had to laugh about the 'rare woman who doesn't like to shop' because I don't like it either. I COULD, however, spend a day shopping online (I probably save a ton in gas money, too!)

Lisa

Tiggerlane said...

That was an awesome site - I got lost for a while there, looking at a whole bunch of stuff I can't afford. MUCH better than Ebay, I must say!

Gattina said...

That's a very nice story ! and indeed it changed your life now you can shop in your pyjama, lol ! I never bought anything on Internet so far but I am sure that will come too !

Kim said...

Ah, Faye, I hope I didn't start you on a new internet obsession! I do love Ruby Lane.

It is funny how something small, like using dishes from your youth, can make you so happy, isn't it, Sandy?

I have always hated to shop. I hate crowds and parking lots, and I hate to try things on. The internet is my shopping best friend, Lisa!

I like it, Tiggerlane, because you don't have to worry about whether someone will snipe you at the end of an auction. You just buy it, and it's yours!

My parents refuse to buy anything on the internet, Gattina, and my mother is a technology teacher. Go figure. They think it's unsafe.

Joy T. said...

Ohhh I had to click away when I saw that antique store! That site is so up my alley. I have collectibles in my home...pink royal lace being one of them...and love to shop in my pj's as well! As a matter of fact I do much of my shopping over the internet.

Michelle said...

I am going to check this out. I love antiques and things of yesteryear. I love to shop online. There is just something great about being able to buy something you need while you are in your jammies!! :)

the planet of janet said...

i also don't like to shop in real life, but shopping online is an addictive habit....that i happen to have. :-)

Alexa said...

Great site, I can see why you love it.. Shopping from home is great but I love wandering round the shops (when there not busy!) too much to ever replace it entirely with online shopping.

ChrisB said...

I so enjoyed this post as I love old things and have quite a few antiques myself.

Kim said...

Ruby Lane is very cool, Joy. I can understand why you clicked away. They have so many lovely things I'd like to buy.

I hope you like it, Michelle. It's one of my all time favs.

I think I was a bit more addicted when I worked, Janet. This may sound odd, but I actually had more time to waste then!

I just hate crowds, Alix. Empty shops are cool, unless there are pushy salespeople, the second reason I hate to shop.

I am glad you enjoyed it, Chris. I don't have many antiques, unless you count kitchen things and the dolls I collected as a young girl (and can't seem to part with). Usually, I shop at Ruby Lane for my mother and for my kitchen. I tend to think of furniture when people say antiques.

-Ann said...

Glad you're participating - and such a unique site. I wouldn't have ever thought of using the Internet to look for antiques. Beats driving around and rifling through dusty shops!

Alison said...

Kaycie, I am with you ...I hate to shop, but love to net shop!! That pottery is beautiful...what a wonderful daughter you are!!

the rotten correspondent said...

I don't like to shop in person either, but I can shop my little behind off on the computer. Why do you suppose that makes such a difference?

Sauntering Soul said...

I just went to an antique show this weekend. It's one of those huge once-a-month shows and I bought a few things.

I'll have to visit your link!

Southern Doll said...

I think maybe Ruby Lane is going to be one of my new favorites.

Life As I Know It said...

I love to shop ebay for things I can't find in regular stores. I am on a quest to replace my skillets with cast iron...I've bought a few great pieces on ebay.

laurie said...

DAMN. i love those harker patterns!

now i want some!

Pamela said...

I am the rare woman who absolutely hates to shop. But when I can do it in my pajamas from the comfort of my sofa, it's not so bad.

ME2!!!!!!

lisaschaos said...

I too hate to shop, we are a rare breed indeed.

Randy and Kim said...

Shhhh. don't tell anyone, but I did most of my Christmas shopping this year, sitting in my car, outside of Poot's piano teacher's house, waiting on him during his lesson, using somebody's wireless internet. Online shopping is my cup of tea, too. Nekked Lizards

sirdar said...

My parents like antiques too and have a number of pieces. I don't have the same desire as you do on antiques but it is good that you found some place to feel your habit :-)

Monica said...

I am also a rare woman who does not like to shop...and I love rubylane too!

Junebug said...

Oh the sites I will see on my Fun Monday visits. I don't know if I should look much farther. I have got many miles to go and I keep finding good finds! I need to get my pencil out. :D

Crystal Jigsaw said...

I'm definitely with you on the shopping front. Sitting in front of your own computer, pj clad and a cuppa is definitely the way forward!

Crystal xx

my4kids said...

I love that blue pattern. My grandmother actually owns a couple of peices I think. I know I've seen it.
My mother loves to shop antique stores I wonder if she has ever thought to check online?

Cynthia said...

Oh, I hate shopping, also. Good post. I love that you could find stuff for your mom!

The Green Stone Woman said...

I shop on line sometimes, but I don't have a credit card and we have to pay for the items immediately by way of a bank draft. That's the way things go in the Netherlands. Not having a credit card means not being exposed to all sorts of temptations and buying more than I can afford. I could so very easily become hooked on shopping on line. I also don't like to reality shop that much.

Babaloo said...

That site looks cool! And I love the pattern you're collecting, it's gorgeous!

Lorena Twatwaffle said...

Hate to shop?!?! Oh, the horror! I could totally get into collecting red kitchen items from the 1940's. That sounds seriously awesome.

nikki