ANTIQUES + GREEN + SOCIAL NETWORKING = A VERY GOOD THING!

Social networking -- everyone's doing it, right? But is everyone doing it RIGHT? And "Going green" -- everyone's doing that, too.

Here's the big question: Who is combining these multiple concepts -- green and social networking with antiques collecting and selling?

Vince and Wanda Jelenic of Greenspot Antiques are definitely doing it right, and using social networking to promote the green-ness of the antiques business by bringing shoppers and collectors together in their online-forum "Antiques Recyclers - Salvage Chic".

I have joined their innovative site, and have started a discussion group there. Called "GREEN HEIRS", it is where we will share stories of connecting someone to their lost heritage, or perhaps buying a long-forgotten piece of our own family history.

One of the nicer "green" things about selling antiques is that we help to get treasures into the hands of collectors who will be the caretakers for the next generation. I am sure we all have stories about a buyer being so thrilled to get something that relates to their family history. Or even just buying an item because it has the family name on it, even though there was no relation to that biz.

It's such a great feeling to know we found that diary or wedding photo, and sold it to someone in the family who will cherish it, and share the new addition's history with their other family members.

This group is a place where we can share some of those "feel-good" stories, and some just-for-fun stories too.

For example, I have sold many milk bottles to people just because the name of the dairy matched theirs. I have sold advertising items to people who used to work for the company, or who just remember it fondly as a part of their life. And of course, I've sold things like postcards, bottles and advertising to people who collect their town's memorabilia.




To start off the group entries, I wrote a little bit about one of my favorite treasures in my collection. My Mother's Great-Great-Aunt was a famous actress in the mid-1800's, named Charlotte Cushman. When I started collecting cigar box labels, it was so exciting to come across this gorgeous label picturing my ancestor. I told my Mom, and she instantly became a cigar box label collector too, focusing on theatrical labels. It took a while, but she managed to acquire a set of NOS inner and outer box labels. Years later, she gifted them to me, and now they have a place of honor in my collection display. Here's an article about Charlotte Cushman that Mom wrote for the Cigar Label Gazette.

I look forward to reading everyone's "GREEN HEIRS" stories -- hope you will tell me yours!

Ms. Dow Antiques Blog 'Tique Talk is published by msdowantiques.com