Miniatures make a big impact

Ever since I was a little girl and received my first set of dollhouse furniture, I've been fascinated by miniature collectibles.
There is just something magical about tiny versions of the real thing.
I'm amazed at the minute details of well-made salesman's samples and doll-size furniture, and I always keep an eye out for unique pieces at flea markets and antique shops.
Salesman's samples were pint-sized version of products that late 19th-century and early 20th-century door-to-door salesmen would carry to so they didn't have to lug around the real thing, which, in the case of a cast-iron stove or a farm plow, could be quite heavy.
These models, generally 1/6 to 1/8 scale, were identical to the original in every way except size.
Outstanding examples can be a bit pricey. An inlaid ivory cabinet or 1890 carved drop-front desk will run you as much as the full-size pieces-- $3,250 to $3,800. I recently saw a magnificent 19th-century Abbot-Downing Concord Coach Wells Fargo Express salesman's sample for sale for $6,500.
However, if you keep a sharp eye out, there are still bargains to be found such as a Stromberg Carlson candlestick-style telephone for $145 and a 19th-century yellowware bowl for $57. I recently saw an adorable Burroughs Co. grandfather clock on ebay for $99.
If that's still too rich for your blood, concentrate on later samples created for dolls, especially handmade versions made for somebody's granddaughter out of old cigar boxes.
I've been able to snag myself some great early 20th-century miniature chests of drawers, cabinets and doll-size chairs for $10 to $30.
The big advantage in collecting miniatures is they don't take up a lot of room. I group mine in sets of three and make use of the tiny drawers to store my poodle's hair bands and barrettes.
Beware of reproductions, however. Most of the original salesman's samples were made in the United States. Don't confuse them with cast-iron reproductions from Japan, Korea and China.

Seasonal secrets

We call it the holiday shelf.
It's an antique pine wall shelf that hangs on the wall next to the front door of my home. It's where I display my seasonal antique collectibles.
You can always tell what holiday is on the horizon by glancing at my little shelf. I've got antique collectibles representing every holiday. But the holiday that gets the most shelf time, by far, is the Fourth of July. I place my Independence Day collectibles on the shelf in time for Memorial Day and they remain there until Labor Day when they're replaced with my Halloween collectibles.
Besides early postcards and bunting, you won't find a lot of early Independence Day decorations so I've expanded my collection to include a composite George Washington doll, an awesome decorative cast-iron ax bearing Washington's likeness, fireworks boxes with great early 20th-century graphics and old Washington, D.C., souvenirs.
It's a lot easier to find items for Easter, Christmas and Halloween displays.
For Easter, I display papier mache bunny and Easter egg candy holders made in Germany, chalkware rabbits given as prizes at long-ago carnivals and chenille chicks lined up in vintage Easter baskets.
Come Halloween, I pull out my papier mache jack o' lanterns, 1950s Collegeville costumes, Beistle diecuts, assortment of old plastic cake decorations in the form of witches, black cats and scarecrows and faded crepe paper party favors.
Christmas gives me the opportunity to fill my seasonal shelf with my collection of German putz woolly sheep, clay-faced chenille Santa figures and bottle-brush trees.
Valentine's Day is the perfect time to display my late 19th-century, early 20th-century diecut honeycomb valentines along with a googly-eyed composite bride and groom and an early candy box adorned with old millinery flowers delicate paper doilies.
I've also managed to put together a St. Patrick's Day display with bakelite hat and pipe pins, vintage leprechaun figurines and a wonderful Irish couple made from chenille pipe cleaners and spun cotton.
Although my Thanksgiving display lasts only a few weeks between my Halloween and Christmas displays, I've put together a great collection of papier mache turkey candy containers and Gurley candles in the shape of turkeys, pilgrims and Indians.
Since these decorations are displayed for just a short period of time, I try to keep the cost low by searching out bargains. I rarely pay more than $10 for any single item.