Miss Estelle

Antique Lamp Buyer’s Guide: Identifying Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Lighting (A Schiffer Book for Collectors)

Do you own an old lamp? Are you wondering what it is, how it was originally used, how you can make it better, or how much it is worth? If so, this book is written for you! Easy to read and complete with a newly revised price guide, this book answers many of the basic questions confronting lamp collectors, from “Where do I look for a manufacturer’s signature?” to “How do I distinguish reproductions from originals?” Using a combination of color photographs and catalog illustrations, here is a weal

List Price: $ 29.95

Price: $ 28.95

The Artful Bride: Wedding Invitations: A Stylish Bride’s Guide to Simple, Handmade Wedding Correspondence

Every couple wants to announce their wedding with style and aplomb. Savvy, stylish brides are looking for ways to add their own style and sophistication to their wedding without relying on tradition-heavy standards. This beautiful guide contains everything a bride needs to personalize her wedding correspondence elegantly — but also simply and inexpensively. It includes more than 20 fashionable and fun-to-make invitation and correspondence ideas.

List Price: $ 12.99

Price: $ 2.94

Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably, or How to Make Luxurious Handcrafted Soaps for Family, Friends, and Yourself

 Maybe you’ve made melt-and-pour soap and want to move on to something more challenging and rewarding. Maybe traditional soapmaking appeals to you, but you figure that working with lye is too difficult or dangerous. Or maybe you’re already doing it, but outmoded ideas and methods are complicating the process and slowing you down.  No matter which of these fits you, you’ll find “Smart Soapmaking” practical, helpful, and refreshing. Written by a former professional soapmaker, this book explodes

List Price: $ 12.50

Price: $ 12.49

O’Brien’s Collecting Toys: Identification and Value Guide (Collecting Toys Identification and Value Guide)

Since 1978, “O’Brien’s Collecting Toys” has set the standard of excellence for reference guides, and the 12th edition will be the hobby’s most anticipated release of the year.It includes 29 illustrated chapters, with more than 3,000 photographs encompassing over 17,000 of today’s most sought-after antique toys.Expert pricing and analysis will guide readers to a greater understanding of the history and current value of their prized playthings.

List Price: $ 29.99

Price: $ 16.82

The Artful Bride: Wedding Invitations: A Stylish Bride’s Guide to Simple, Handmade Wedding Correspondence

Every couple wants to announce their wedding with style and aplomb. Savvy, stylish brides are looking for ways to add their own style and sophistication to their wedding without relying on tradition-heavy standards. This beautiful guide contains everything a bride needs to personalize her wedding correspondence elegantly-but also simply and inexpensively. It includes more than 20 fashionable and fun-to-make invitation and correspondence ideas.

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List Price: $ 12.99

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by deanwiles

Guide to Antique Bedroom Furniture

Whether you’ve invested in a lovely set of antique bedroom furniture, inherited an heirloom collection or got lucky at a flea market, fixing up a collection of antique bedroom furniture presents questions that aren’t found with new furniture.

Asking Before Tasking

The first question is how much is too much? Refinishing antique bedroom furniture can reduce its value. A quick investigation into its history and worth can provide this answer. Check for the mark of the manufacturer or craftsman and any indication of the year it was made. If there is such information, do all of the pieces of your set match in this regard? If the furniture is valued because of its origin, having a matching set is that much more valuable.

How much refinishing does it need? Minor repairs shouldn’t diminish the value of the set and an ordinary cleaning won’t hurt at all. Except for the replacement of the parts that really enhance the value, restoring the furniture should be fine. If the set has faded hand-painted details, etched glass insets or one-of-a-kind hardware, think before replacing with something that matches the new lamps. If your idea was to have a bright orange bedroom set, check with an expert to make sure you’re not painting over your retirement fund.

Restore or Repair

Once you’ve established that you’re not dealing with museum quality antique bedroom furniture, decide whether you want to restore, redesign or just repair the items. Even if the furniture is not valuable now, a true collectable can increase in value if cared for properly.

Think twice about cutting a hole in the back of the armoire to run the television wires. Determine how much work the pieces need. If a leg is missing from an end table, there’s probably no reason not to replace them all. You don’t need to kill yourself matching hardware if the top of the dresser is rotted through.

If you acquired the set because you like the period look, do the work or have it done. By all means, retain the unique character of the furniture. Even if it’s not worth a great deal of money, that unique character is a kind of value that antique bedroom furniture has.

So first, determine the possible value. Second, decide how much repair is needed. Third, try to restore the antique bedroom furniture to its original glory. Fourth, if that’s not possible, resize, refinish, reuse. Although owning antique bedroom furniture is a responsibility to the ages, this stuff is yours. Enjoy.