On Collecting anything, Tchotchkes, and the Tchotchkalohic 12 Step Program

The 12 Step Program for Tchotchkaholics

1. We admit that we are powerless over Tchotchkes —that our lives have become unmanageable due to our treasured Tchotchkes image being called objects that are really . . .  Crap. Pure, unadulterated crap.

2.  We believe that there is a power greater than ourselves which allows Tchotchkes to restore us to sanity.

3. We have therefore made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to this power as it is not us who are insane, but the rest of the world.

4. We have made a searching and fearless inventory of our Tchotchkes.

5. We have admitted to ourselves, and to other human beings that one can never have enough Tchotchkes.

6. We are entirely ready to stand up and be accounted for and to show the world our Tchotchkes.

7. We humbly ask our friends and family to understand this is not a shortcoming but is saving the destiny of something that may be destined for the trash pile.

8. We have made a list of all persons who would be harmed by this, and are willing to make amends to them all by buying more Tchotchkes.

9. We will make direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others because there is no such thing as "anything you put away in a closet so no one will ever know you bought such a thing is a Tchotchke , or, "There can be, in the meaning of the word, an element of owner’s shame, or, a Tchotchke in Yiddish,  "may refer to a person who is a misfit, a nobody, a slut, an ineffectual person."

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10. We will continue to take personal inventory of our  Tchotchkes and when we feel we are missing something that will bring joy to our collection, we will promptly admit it, and immediately head for the nearest antique mall.

11.  We will seek mediation by our conscious contact with others who understand our need to amass Tchotchkes by keeping in mind that we, or one of our heirs could wake up one day and be a multimillionaire because of finding our hoard of Tchotchkes.

12.  Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we will carry this message to Tchotchkaholics everywhere in the world and to practice these principles in all our affairs. 

David MaCallum, Corn Dryer, and a Granite Funnel

It seems my weeks of cleaning, dusting, and rearranging my shop paid off. Although I make it a point to do thi several times a year and when room must be made, I tend to neglect what I call the kitchen area, that is until one surfing excursion on the internet when I stumbled upon a blog from a delighted customer who bought an unusual glass container with a Turkey stopper lid. Her comment that the piece needed a major bath chided me into some heavy duty cleaning. Now it seems that everything (almost anyway) is being seen in a new and cleaner light (all the ceiling fans and fixtures received a bath too). Three items that I have had in my shop since opening day, left the store with three different contented people. A black and white vintage Man from Uncle photo of David McCallum left first - a Christmas gift for a sister of a customer who eyed it the week before. The iron corn dryer, with dangerous points went to a collector and the funnel to his uncle who loved my shop and couldn't stop talking and complimenting - which really made my day!

Why I am a cut above the Kenos and Kovels

First my maiden last name begins with an A and is recognized in the Industry - Alderfer - a primo auction house located in Hatfield, Pennsylvania, which, also happens to be where my father resides. I am certain that we are related somewhere in my father's family's long history because he is a direct descendant of the first Alderfer to  come to America in the 1600s. I happen to own a spinning wheel which made the trip although it is now a chair and one of ten known to exist in the world.

Where do you NOT find antiques?

Trash or Treasure

QUESTION:

How old does an

antique need to be to

be called an antique?

ANSWER:

On your 100th

Birthday