Gossip Page

Yes, it's 2008 and this is the first missive in, like, 2 years! In my defense, there are a few reasons. The biggest one is that I had been working pretty much non -  stop since last fall. Part of that time, maybe 5 or 6 months, I spent in NYC, working on a Hugh Jackman movie and then a TV pilot, Lipstick Jungle. Both were with the inimitable Jim Mazzola. I lived in Brooklyn, which I loved. The first time I lived in what I dubbed "The Black Box", a room with no windows that I rented in a friend's son's apartment. I took the train into Manhattan almost everyday and basically became a New Yorker. The next time, it was in a loft that I shared with a sweet girl who's boyfriend was off on a photo assignment. By this time, I was using a car service to get into Manhattan. So much easier. Boy was I becoming the cosmopolitan. While I was happy to come home, I really enjoyed my time in NY. It was fun, sometimes stressful, definitely expensive, always interesting. 

Then, I was home and worked here on a few movies. One was Our Lady of Victory, the story of basketball coach Cathy Rush, who led a non existent girls basketball team from Immaculata College to 3 national championships, circa early 1970's. Carla Gugino played Cathy and she was fabulous. I loved working on this project and hope everyone gets to see the finished product. This time, I was hired first as a set decorating buyer and then on set as the assistant propmaster. I loved being the buyer!! I found some really great STUFF for the movie and was able to feed the beast along the way. Really ramped up my 1970's stock. This comes in handy a bit later. 

Another project was The Happening, the newest M Night film. This was fun, also. It's still in post and we are eagerly awaiting it's release - I think in June or July. This one stars Marl Wahlberg, back in Philly after Invincible and Zoe Deschanel.

THEN! I went to Hawaii to work on another Toyota job which was crazy fun. Aerosmith was the headliner and Jay Leno, the host. I did Leno's dressing room, among others. Hawaii was a blast and it felt like a foreign country without all the hassle. I was in Honolulu for a time, then Kauai for a bit. FUN FUN FUN

After that was another period film, The Lovely Bones, based on the Alice Sebold book. Director was Peter Jackson and it was very cool to work with him. This was also another period film, taking place mostly in the mid to late 70's, with some earlier years represented. Lots of visual effects. Susan Sarandon and Mark Wahlberg (yet again) and Rachel Weiss are the principals. The young girl who plays Susie Salmon is terrific. The company went to New Zealand after Philly to finish and I believe they have wrapped. Look for this one in a year. I was also able to parlay some of the period stuff I found on OLV into a rental! Perfect!

And after that, I spent 5 weeks in Oregon. It was wild being on the coast for so long. I thought I might want to eventually move there, but now I'm not so sure being there during the rough months would be so great. We'll see, since I entered an essay contest to win a home in Yachats, OR. I just got my registration entry number this week. The drawing is at the end of April, so I am keeping my fingers crossed. If I win a house there - a very different story! Here, I found some pretty cool Oregonian (and general) collectibles. Namely, great ashtrays, old salesman button sample cards and a fantastic wedding cake topper from 1947.

My dog situation has changed quite a bit. Remember Lucy? She was the mean Westie and she finally did something so bad we had to euthanize her in Nov. '07. Boo Hoo....I cried for weeks, but we didn't know what else to do. We had gotten a little boy in January of 2006. This Westie is probably the cutest dog in the world. Seriously...... We named him Toby, cause he walks on his toes. It's also a reference to a line in Ghostbusters, which I was watching when trying to think of a name for him, when Egan Spengler refers to the Tobin spirit guide about a class five full roaming vapor.... hence, Toby. Well, last month I decided that The Tobes needed a buddy, since all he does all day is play and it seemed like a good idea to get him a four legged playmate. Enter, Boo. Boo is a 17 week old crazy lookin' runt of a Westie with an adorable personality and also loves to play. In fact, he plays Toby into the ground and now Toby is looking at me like, "What were you thinking bringing this little menace into our perfectly happy little home???" I keep trying to explain to him that I did it for him, so he could play all the live long day with a creature similar to himself, but, I think, until Boo is bigger and somewhat better behaved, Toby isn't believing me.

Having this little dog to train, I'm now stuck to the house for a while. Not to mention that it seems like it's taking forever for spring to arrive and I'm going A LITTLE CRAZY.

So say can you see, I've been a busy, busy bee and I kinda hate having so little to do now, which is why, and it's about time, don't you think, that I finally discuss .....

......... the site. I know I've neglected my duties, but I am going to use my time at home to really get things going. I am looking for and taking pictures to add to the listings with no photos, listing new stuff and ta da...having a sale. Now I am not sophisticated enough to have an actual SALE PAGE yet, so I'm marking things down on each page. If I figure out how to make a sale page, I'll change it. Hey, I'm not the Sundance Catalog or something. it's just little old me. So please bear with me...

Except, I'll start tomorrow.....I got my eyes dilated today and I can't see so well..... Ahhhh, another day of watching movies. 8-)

Take a look and let me know if you have any questions.

Peace to all,

Sharon

Yesterday, the temperature here was 70 degrees. Today, we are getting blasted. The temp. is 22, wind chill 12 and 2" of snow is out there blowing cruelly around and preventing me from even going NEAR the door, let alone go outside. These extremes are not healthy. There has to be a symbiotic relationship between the weather and human brain/body function. How can ANYONE be normal with all this weather! It just isn't fair I tell ya! Not fair!

Spent another restless night on the couch. Not sure how much more I can take. I need a haircut. I want to wear sandals. I want to throw my coat in the nearest dumpster and never wear gloves again. AAARRRRGGGGGGGHHH!!!....

Okay, now that that's out of my system, it's back to painting the kitchen and tending to my newly resurrected interest in tropical plants. I am trying desperately to pretend I live in a warmer clime by renovating the sunroom, a long delayed project that was recently completed and filled it with plants and breezy curtains.

I'm surrounded by a calm and inviting (according to my brother) atmosphere created in an Asian Tropical theme I call FlorAsian. I ordered a Dwarf Meyer Lemon tree to try my hand at growing citrus. So far, so good. The 2-3 y o tree arrived March 1 and seems to be continuing it's growth despite the sudden removal from it's sunny, warm California grove and thrust via UPS Air into this miserable Northeastern hell. The various palms, Bird of Paradise and bromeliads are also faring well.

So have you seen Fat Actress? The new Kirstie Ally show? I wanted to like it, I really did. I usually love Showtime stuff, don't get me started on Queer As Folk, and my favorite oldie Beggars and Choosers, but in my opinion, this fell flat. I laughed a few times, but most often it seemed kind of formulaic and ridiculous. A few stupid things were her "staff", especially the hairstylist, Kevin (or is it Kevyn?). Kirstie's hair looked silly and there was no discernible styling beyond a stupid twist on the side of her head at one point. Am I being too picky? Could be the weather. I will, however, keep watching. Hopefully, it will get better.

TATA. Off to paint.

S

January 31.2005

How do you like this? Two entries in a month. No reason to write, but I'm bored and I need something to do. Had to sleep on the couch last night due to the snorer really getting on my nerves. Didn't fall asleep until 4 am. Went back up to bed after T.S. came down to go to work, but couldn't really get any good zzz's because of the sun and Lucy having enough so by 9:30 I trudged down to let her out. Once I made coffee and took my supplements, going back to bed was out of the question. So now I'm all out of sorts and can't settle into anything properly.�

I have updated most of the listings as to what has been sold that wasn't marked as such. My apologies to anyone who sent payment for an item that was already sold. Everything should be up to date now. Since updating didn't pose any problems, and no, I didn't lose any listings this time around, I guess I have no excuse to not get new stuff on the site.

The weather here in the east has been awful. Lots of cold and snow, we got 12" in my neighborhood and it's still around. Note to neighbors who have corner property: It is my feeling that it's your responsibility to the community to clear a path from the corner sidewalk to the street. It's seriously annoying and frustrating to have to walk around trying to find a way to cross when there is no access to the street to cross after the snow plows pile the snow up on the street! Thank you for letting me have my little rant. This week will be sunny and somewhat warmer, so it'll be a bit more tolerable.�

I hate being stuck indoors, so Lucy and I walk whenever possible. Since I'm not working, I can't really go out because when I do, I spend money, so I just stay in & watch movies, read, meditate, try to exersize. I tried Pilates which I don't like very much. Seems like most women who do this are former dancers and already have flexible, lithe bodies and weird feet. So I'm still investigating.....isn't that what most procrastinators say? Walking suits me fine, it gets me off my ass and outside for a while but it's not exactly challenging or doing anything for my ever increasing flabbiness.

Funny, though, when I walk, I get my best ideas about writing, essays, listing, the house design stuff. But as soon as I get inside, I forget half of it. What to do? Get a small recorder and record my thoughts, maybe. That'll look pretty wierd, talking to myself.....

A bunch of movie girls are going for dinner tomorrow night. We are all feeling the pain of winter and unemployment so it'll be great to see some friends, commiserate and have some fun.

Well, off to the market for ginger ale, chicken broth and other clear liquids for the snorer because he has a colonoscopy scheduled for tomorrow. Fun! I can get more paper bags from Whole Foods to add to my hoard. I know the whole point is to bring back the bags to reuse them, but if i reuse them I won't get anymore and I love the Whole Foods paper bags. I use them in the house, though, so at least I'm not wasting precious pulp. I love Whole Foods, too. I've switched to soy milk and as much organics as I can. As a result, I'm very healthy this year. Be back later.
S

PS Wow! I just won 615,777 euros in a spanish lottery! Hello vacation and new house!!!� 8-)

�

January 17. 2005!

Yikes! I cannot believe it is January of the new year and I haven't written anything since last August. In my defense, I've been very busy!

Let's see - where to begin. The last I left things was about going to Las Vegas for 10 days in Sept. to do another Toyota Dealer Event - designing rooms for ALLL sorts of celebs including Rod Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, David Copperfield and more. That was really fun and hard. I got to know Las Vegas and environs very quickly as I drove from end to end over and over shopping for towels, floor mirrors and so much more. I hit every Ross and Linens N Things that I could find. (Note to Ross buyers - get with the program! Very slim pickins'!) Vegas proper was a trip, so Disneyfied these days. I tried to stay away from the strip as much as possible. You see one overweight tourist in bermudas, you've seen them all, right? The light shows at night were kinda cool, though. My utility knife was confiscated at the airport on the trip home. Bummer!

The day after I got home, it was back to work (I had done a week already before I left) on the movie Annapolis. I worked with none other than Jim Mazzola and Vinny again and we had a very good time, indeed. One of the best jobs I've done in a long time. Justin Lin directed (he's done a few things, one of which I just saw called Better Luck Tomorrow, which was outstanding. Check it out on cable.). This one starred James Franco (adorable with a 1000 watt smile. Very young Warren Beatty looking), Jordana Brewster (very pretty - an Audrey Hepburn look a like), Roger Fan (so nice and cute!), Vi Shannon (very nice/quiet) and a bunch of others. We had lots of background, like 700 or more at the end, so it was busy but fun. The Echo Company plebes were my responsibility. Hi Guys!! We had time to get in some long drawn out Scrabble games, until Janet the scenic got in trouble with one of the ADs and we had to lay low for a while. This went on until December 22! Long run!

My bedroom renovation was a complete success but I didn't have much time for decorating until the movie was over, so that's what I've been doing since the holidays. The room is, in a word, FABULOUS! There are a few things I might have done differently, but over all, FABULOUS! I'm working on trying to get the chi just right, so it's a bit of an evolving process as I sit and meditate and come up with ideas in my sleep. SLEEP! A joyous thing now compared to our old environment. Now if only I can get the snorer fixed, it will all be serene.�

I also have felt the overwhelming need to clean up the clutter and began with the emptying of 3 major closets. Can I just tell you how relieved and light I have felt since the purge has begun? I recommend the closet clearing to those of you feeling the overwhelming sense of heaviness and doom that tends to encroach during the winter months. For me anyway. Try it and see if I'm not right. Pick one closet and jump right in. The down side is coming across mementos and photos and all sorts of stuff that I had to sort through and cry over or smile about again and then decide what to keep, what to toss and what to hold over for the inevitable spring yard sale. But, oh, what a relief it is!�

In between decorating and closet clearing, I have been holed up on the Temperpedic watching movies. We got a cable box upstairs now and I can watch movies all night and day and I never have to leave the extreme cozy comfort of my Asian inspired cocoon, except to eat, walk the dog and use the bathroom. HEAVEN! I have barely been downstairs except to pass through to the kitchen.....where I have been whipping up yummy fruit smoothies and soy chai lattes - which I promptly run back upstairs to drink.

Speaking of the dog, my sweet Lucy is better than ever. Except for the occasional lip raising growls when someone teases her, she is seriously NOT the same crazy creature who came into our lives 18 months ago. She is my child. Isn't that disgusting? But now since #2 son has moved out recently, we cling to each other more than ever. Sadly, old Dodger was laid to rest late in August.�

The Ben Franklin project was shown on The History Channel in December, so look for that if you haven't seen it. It turned out really great. We are very proud of ourselves for that show. Also, the long awaited Woodsman has been released and is worth seeing. Kevin Bacon is terrific as is Kyra Sedgewick (good actress, nice boobs!). The story is a bit slow but hang in there. It's surely thought provoking, if anything. Million Dollar Baby is another exceptional film that I recommend.

KITSCHY KOO CONSUMER ALERT!!!!
Stay away from a web site called Kelly's Place - Vintage Department Store. I ordered a rattan shelf last March for $272. Hilda Kelly took my money and I have yet to see my shelf. Has not answered numerous emails and telephone calls. BEWARE! BEWARE! BEWARE! I'd be interested in any info if someone else has had the same problem. I haven't contacted authorities just yet and I might have to just kiss my money goodby. I'm very peeved about this.

So that's about it. I have no plans about the website. I have loads of things to list and I MUST fix the 1st page in Glassware that I screwed up, but I think I need to revamp my web skills. Since it's been so long, I have to kind of learn everything all over again and being the procrastinator that I am, it might take a while. Meantime, everything is there and maybe I'll be motivated very soon to get moving on the listing.�

Keep those emails coming. It's nice to know y'all are out there!

Peace,�
Sharon

One month later and suddenly, lazy, hazy days are nearing their end. Woe is me, what will I do? Must.....move.....some place ..............warmer......

I've had a fun filled, kinda lazy summer. Just enough work, the bedroom project, a trip, a concert or three and lotsa beach time.....plenty to keep me happily occupied without undue stress (except for a major family drama).

Let's talk about The Gov. Poor Jim McGreevey. So much for that!

Did I say bedroom renovation? Moving along but at a slooooowwww pace. This is my first ever total renovation of a room and while I've had some doubts about my design skills along the way, I think it's going to turn out spectacularly terrific. I'm trying not to second guess myself and to be open about suggestions from others about certain things. I have a pretty clear visual image of what I want, so I'm letting that take the lead. If my vision turns out to be flawed, oy, don't want to think about it.....a very expensive mistake. BUT.... I'm secure about my decisions....I think.....

Mr. Kitsch and I went to visit #1 son in Bend, Oregon. What a fun place! We had the best time, except for some small squabbles about me wanting to sleep in and he wanting to get out by 6 AM. Unthinkable! However, we made it through with no major problems and had a very enjoyable Bend experience. Lots of outdoor life there. We hiked all around, went up and down mountains, drove 1000 miles in all directions, ate at some great restaurants, drank a lot (of course!) and on and on.�

I was interviewed recently for a weekly publication in Montgomery Newspapers Ticket weekend section. Would it be too egotistical to say it was a great article? All about me! Here's a link to the� online version.

I will soon be working on a Disney film, Annapolis, which starts shooting in October. Before that, though, I'm off to Las Vegas to do another Toyota project! Rod Stewart is the headliner this time, along with host Ellen DeGeneres. I hope it's fun.�

Lucy is getting better all the time. She's an earthdog extraordinaire.

More later!

Sharon

Well, it's 2 months later to the day since I've last written and I'm past due to fill y'all in on what has been happenin' in my world.�

Work has been a little slow except for a bunch of commercials I have been fortunate enough to have been called upon to prop via a long ago connection. Ya' never know when the people you come across in this business will come back to hire you in the future. So my motto of being nice to everyone (with certain exceptions) has paid off this time.

We have been working with Governor Jim McGreevey, aka The Gov, for a series of commercials touting how life in the Garden State is being improved all the time. He's a nice guy and is growing ever more comfortable in front of the camera. The fact that I live in PA doesn't factor into the deal, which is a good thing.�

My connection to NJ goes way back, however, what with my family pretty much spending every summer at the Jersey shore and now owning a beach house in Ventnor makes me a Jersey Girl, I suppose. Speaking of the beach, I've been there as much as possible and have been working on my tan as much as anything else.�

Remember the big plans I had about doing the kitchen and project room? Forget that! Ever since the purchase of a new Tempur-pedic mattress (which meant we had to get a new bed) the project has been renovating our bedroom. The bed is a Tatami platform, which I love, and being that it has a decidedly Japanese style, the new room will be complimentary to that. Problem is, we contracted a neighbor in the renovation biz to do the work. We decided on a July 1 start date and it's now July 28 and he's JUST STARTED!!!! So I'm now chained to the house for however long it's going to take and what better way to relieve boredom and be productive then to start listing things!!! YAY! Finally.....

One reason for the extreme delay in listing, beyond the occasional session with The Gov and forcing myself home from sun n' sand, was my camera. I've been very unhappy with the quality of the photos I was taking with the Canon I got last summer, so I buckled down and did some research for a good camera with better macro capability and I've finally found it. So now that that's settled I have to resolve my lighting problems, but I am uploading new stuff now.�

Started with glassware because I'm surrounded by boxes of it and have to clear my workspace of all the great stuff, one box at a time. Then, it's some neat costume jewelry, then more glassware, then, then, then..... well, you get the picture.

So, go see "The Village", which opens Friday (we had a screening last night, but I'm not going to tell anything about it) and come shopping here and your life will be complete.

I'm off to put the finishing touches on a root canal, then it's home to list, list, list. It's been a while since I've done the paypal buy now button thing, so that might take a while to get back into, so if there's anything new you might be interested in, the old fashioned email thing is the way to go for now.

TTFN,
S

PS!! I'm going to Las Vegas in September to do the next Toyota Dealer show, this time starring Rod Stewart and Ellen Degeneres! Scroll down to get the story on the last job with Elton John. Fun!!!!
�

�

Hey everyone, friends and foes alike! Today is the final day of a surprise little project that came into town. I'm finishing all the detail paperwork that goes along with TV and film, so it's not quite over until it's over.

The History Channel is doing a project on Benjamin Franklin and I got a call out of the blue to Art Direct the interiors and exteriors they wanted to do all around the Philadelphia area. Of course, I said yes and it turned out to be a gratifying and fun experience.

We were a tiny crew of 10 or so, which is definitely the smallest crew I've ever worked with. But it made it intimate and easy to move around. We visited all kinds of historic houses and properties to do our recreations, of which there were so many, I lost count.�

I had an assistant and between the two of us, we were the entire Art Dept. From props to set dressing to greens to special effects, we did it all. The things we needed ranged from inkwells and quill pens to a grand French Salon dinner table, loaded with food and dressing to hand written letters & period newspapers and the list goes on and on. All had to be dead on period (18th century) because it was shot in HD format which is very unforgiving and anything wrong will stand out like a beacon. We took some poetic liberties, but overall it's as authentic as it could possibly be. I'm quite proud of how things turned out as we had only 5 days to prep.�

The production company and the History Channel loved what we did and I am a certified genius in their eyes. Mine, too! If only the rest of the world could see it!
So look for a huge advertising blitz and a 2 hour special in December to coincide with Ben's 300th birthday.�

At the same time, The Village went through some reshoots and I was called to help locate dressing for Set Decorating, did a few days with props, then went to location for 3 days. All at the same time. Needless to say, I was a bit stressed out and had to compartmentalize my brain and juggle all these different elements without making any mistakes. I'm happy to report all went extremely well and my head did not explode.

It was really great to see everyone from The Village again and since it was so hot, we had only one layer of clothing on and it was WEIRD to see that, no, everyone is not fat and lumpy, it was merely 5 layers of clothing that made it appear that way. No heaters, hand warmers or gloves. It did rain for half of one day, though, which we all thought was appropriate. What's The Village without rain and mud?

Next on the horizon is a commercial for 10 days, then a huge bedroom renovation. I cannot wait for this to happen, as we have had an inadequate bedroom space since we moved here.�

The catalyst for the change was the purchase of a Tempur-pedic mattress. People! If you have ever thought about getting one of these after seeing the commercials, run, don't walk to your nearest dealer and get one. It's the best thing we've ever purchased and although somewhat pricey, it is worth every penny. I'm a fitful and easily disturbed sleeper and I sleep like a rock on it. No more neck, back and hip pains.�

Gotta run! More later!
S

�

Decided to post today because of the cool date, 04/04/04 or 'Fo 'Fo' Fo, as Moses Malone said.

Busy, busy, busy. I've been shopping like crazy for In Her Shoes & we started shooting Thursday. Today is Sunday. It was a six day week for me and am I feeling it! We've been doing 12 - 14 hour days, which is probably how it's going to be for the rest of the shoot. We start really early, so I have to get up around 4 AM to be at work by 5:30 AM. Can you say "I'd rather be in bed?"

It's a little weird to come onto a crew that has been together for a few months as an outsider. Everyone knows one another and it's kind of a them/us situation. So the Philly crew hangs out and the LA crew hangs out. Good thing I'm with some friends or I'd feel very isolated. But it's only 17 days and I can survive almost anything for that time. And it's a paycheck, right? Stop complaining!

I haven't seen Cameron Diaz yet. Toni Collette has been the one in scenes so far, as well as Ken "The White Shadow" Howard. The director is Curtis Hanson, who directed one of my all time faves, Wonder Boys.�

Speaking of all time faves, if you haven't seen American Splendor yet, do it! It's out on DVD. It is seriously one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. Just brilliant. I smiled the whole time I was watching it and didn't even realize it until I felt my face hurting.�

Judah Friedlander plays the role of Toby Radloff. He was with us on Duane Hopwood. I hadn't seen American Splendor yet, but everyone kept telling me he was in it. I didn't even figure out which one was Judah until about 1/2 way through and when I did realize it, I couldn't believe it. His character study was absolutely genius. I'm sorry I didn't see it before shooting Hopwood because I would have liked to talk to Judah about it. See it, see it, see it!

Lucy is doing great. Spaying her was a good thing to do. She is calmer, less aggressive and much happier. Yay!

More later.
TTFN,
Sharon

03/19/04

Hoo boy! I have not been able to upload anything to my site in a while do to a security breach at my web host company. They changed everyone's password, but kind of neglected to tell me that I had to jump through hoops to get myself back online. What a pain! But all is fixed and I'm ready to rock and roll.

"Duane Hopwood " is over. I'm home and happy about it. I went from the woods to the beach. Kind of a kooky job. As it is with most low budget movies, though. We hope it's a good one.�

There has been A LOT of terrific buzz during and since Sundance about The Woodsman, which we shot here last year. The one with Kevin Bacon? Subject matter is controversial, but that's good for ticket sales. Excitedly waiting to see it.

So, what's next? There are 2 movies coming into Philly during the spring. Spring? Did someone say spring? I hope and pray it comes soon to a place near you, and especially, me. So 2 movies and a 3rd in NY that I was invited to participate in. Since I have no news yet from the local projects, I can't decide on the NY thing. It's a waiting game right now. But time is running out. I'm so curious to see how it will play out.

(Note of 03/24/04: I will be working props on In Her Shoes, starring Cameron Diaz, based on the novel of the same name by Jennifer Weiner (a Philly girl)).

To keep me busy in the interim, I thought I might paint my kitchen the same sunny yellow & white as the basement hall & stairs (which needed extensive renovation last winter, the worst winter in personal history, but don't get me started). I energetically boxed all the decoratives surrounding me - extensive to say the least. Making good progress, except it took me, like, a week, between taking Lucy for walks, reading, watching movies - all so very important to the perpetual procrastinator.�

It being a kitchen, I'm thinking I have to clean the walls. I washed the greasy residue off a ton of glassware, so it's a pretty good chance there will be crap on the walls and woodwork too, right? I got as far as bringing the portable vac in, where it remains in the middle of the floor. Sigh....what's the matter with me? So many plans, so little motivation, energy, whatever.

I also decided to rehab an upstairs sunroom and set it up as a studio for photo shoots and art projects. I'm actually pretty excited about this decision, since it will make good use of a great room that has long been neglected. For this, I need help though, which means cajoling and bribing the Hubby to get his rump in gear. I fear that if I start it alone, it will not get finished.

In washing glassware in the kitchen, however, I realized how much stuff I have to list & felt guilty about not listing new things, but because of the web host thing, I couldn't. Now that all is well, I can. So the question now is, will I? Probably. Unless I go to work or become absorbed in painting & fixing.

It actually takes me a long time to list things. I have to set up for pictures, upload and manipulate the jpgs, write all the info (which takes me a VERY long time sometimes, due to the literary nature of the copy - yuck, yuck), then upload all to the site. Takes hours and hours of sitting on my butt and feeling the spread.�

I can't even get it together to vacuum the kitchen! Who am I kidding that I'm really going to paint said kitchen and rehab a room and studio????

Anyway, none of that is your problem, you just want new stuff, right? I can use KKC as my procrastination for painting! So check back and hopefully, it won't be an empty promise this time.

Peace,
Sharon

02/15/04

Hi kids. Home for the weekend from sunny Atlantic City. Shoot is going well - no complaints about the Props Dept. - at least not yet. We are creating havoc all over South Jersey, from AC to OC and everywhere in between. Folks in these parts aren't used to film crews screwing with their plans! This is a tiny crew, however, which is nice for a change. The art dept is the best part of the whole deal, thank goodness. Not sure how I would handle things if it weren't for those guys & gal. (Hi, Ben & Mila!).

We spent the night shooting on a major thorofare in Ventnor last week, becoming very friendly with some of the Ventnor police boys. Maybe now they will cut me some slack and not bust me for breakin' the law during the summer! They claimed to be unimpressed with being part of a movie crew, but secretly, I think they were soaking it all up.

David Schwimmer is a very easy going, nice guy. Interesting to note how he has been adjusting to our low budget project compared to a nice, cushy, million dollar an episode TV show. So far, anyway. Janeane has not arrived yet. Looking forward to working with her.

To my happiness (and dismay in a way) Lucy hardly misses me at all. She buddies up with whomever is available, so I'm glad about that. She is learning how to play and finally greeted me like a normal dog when I came home. She had some issues in these areas, so I'm extremely thrilled to see her finally starting to behave like a happy pooch, instead of a sad pup.�

My latest obsession has become vintage cigarette lighters. Especially, Scripto Vu lighters. I bought one for a gift for someone, then another for a prop for a casino scene (red with little dice inside) and have become enamored in a big way. So look for some of these finds to be listed in the smoking category sometime in the future.

Sorry about the lack of new listings, but KK has to take a back seat to what really pays the bills. Just wait till you see what has been waiting in the wings for so long!

More later - tata for now,
Sharon

01/17/04

Buenos dias muchachos y muchachas! Habla un poco de espanol.
I'm practicing my limited knowledge of high school Spanish in preparation for our upcoming sojourn to sunny Meh-hee-co.�

Remember that dark cloud that was following me last winter? That I thought passed over to create havoc elsewhere? Well, it's back with a vengeance. I thought my head was going to explode this week from the stress. Things going wrong are working themselves out, though. If it wasn't for my dog's Valium prescription, I don't know what I'd do!

The reason I'm writing today is to let y'all know I have taken a job in South Jersey, starting now, off for a week of vacation, then going on through February. Funny how things come up unexpectedly in this business.�

This one, called "Duane Hopwood", is a low budget dramedy starring David Schwimmer & Janeane Garafolo. I decided to do it because the script is fun, should be low key and it will keep me busy and my mind off my ever growing troubles, even though it's going to be cold, cold, cold. The rate is horrid, but sometimes it isn't about the money. I like making movies, period.

The bad part is that I can't take Lucy so she will have to deal with me seeing her only on weekends. NOT sure how that will fly. I'll probably be staying at the beach house, but can't leave her with my mother. The last time I left her there for the day alone she ran after the roofer and bit him on the leg, then took off up the street with my 76 year old decrepit mother chasing her. No lawsuit ensued (from the roofer, not my mother) but with the way things are going, that could happen.

Anyway, I won't have much free time, therefore not much in the way of new listings, so bear with me, por favor. Eventually, there WILL be new stuff added. Also, remember that I will have no access to electricity, let alone a computer, while in Mexico, so if you place an order during the week of Jan. 24 thru Feb. 1, it will not be acknowledged until I return.�

Gracias y hagame el favor de mandar esta ropa a la lavanderia.

Sharon

�

Greetings to all. I've been away from Kitschy Koo for a while - it feels good to be back. I've retreated to the sanctuary of my room at the beach and as I sit here amidst the sites of my refuge, the sounds of Peter Gabriel’s “Up�? (which I highly recommend if you are a P.G. fan) and smells of Jewish cooking (Matzo Ball soup to be specific. Nothing better than Bubbie’s soup to help fight the post movie blues), I am reflective of the world, my life and the past year. So much has gone on that it’s really unbelievable 2003 is just about over.�

Just finished principle photography for “The Village�? (previously called "The Woods"), the new M. Night Shyamalan film. When I say this job took everything I’ve got, I’m not kidding. More on this to follow.

The year started off so badly, I was thinking I had some huge bad Karma cloud following me around. I was afraid to go out sometimes for fear something terrible was going to happen BUT, I’m happy to report, it� has finished off with a huge bang. A good bang, not a bad one. From the day after Labor Day until now, work has taken a front seat. (When I say “work�?, I’m referring to film work, not Kitschy Koo. KK isn’t work, it’s my heart) There was the Toyota/ Elton John thing first (see below for that story) and a few commercials, then I went right into the movie.�

The movie.

Started off kinda slow, with my boss, the famous (and infamous) Jimmy Mazzola, propmaster extraordinaire, finally getting that I’m a good shopper. Took a few days, but he did get it and then I was off.....Traveled all around PA looking for props, both specific and general. Time period - 1897 - so I went to antique stores, flea markets and co-ops GALORE! Was I in heaven or what??!! Of course, always on the lookout for Kitschy Koo while I shop.

Let me back up for a moment.� Allow me to give you a brief back story on the Jim Mazzola aspect. He began his career as the propmaster for, get this....Saturday Night Fever. Thus began a full and illustrious career in NY and is one of the GREATS! So when I found out, in, like, July, who was propping The Village from my scouts in the Art Department, I called him at home to feel him out about his crew. What nerve! (After we had been working together for a while, he asked me if I was the one who called him at home. Fortunately, he didn't hold it against me, but only because, I think, he forgot it was me who called.)

See, the on set dresser position was already filled and it wasn't me, yikes! So I had to, and wanted to, really, make a lateral move to props. I had read Mazzola’s filmography on� IMDB� and realized that this guy was the shizznit and I HAD to work for him. Unfortunately, Jimmy told me that he had his crew already, all NY guys, including a third, which is what I would be, so I figured that was that. Poor me, wasn’t going to work on the film...no word for 2 months about it and I was depressed the whole time.

It kind of pissed me off that he was allowed to bring a third from NY, who would get per diem and housing, as well as the NY rate, which is higher than ours in Philly (even though we’re in the same union, but don’t get me started) when there were perfectly capable locals to fill the position, namely, moi. But you know how these prop guys are, they have a crew they know and don’t want to have to start somebody new to them. I understand this, but it still annoyed and depressed me.

Anyway, my good buddy Christine was in the office everyday, periodically pestering Jim about calling me when it turned out that Production was NOT going to pay for his third to come down. Jim had started making noises about good local people. And of course, Christine told me this and I called him again, I think, like 2 more times. Still no word. I went to work on the Toyota job which was all consuming and I forgot about The Village for a while.�

Finally, he calls and could I come in to talk. Just so happened I was working about a half mile away and sure thing, I can come right now. Coolness, I was going to meet Jim Mazzola. Make sure I'm charming, make sure I look funky, but confidant, not too girlie but attractive enough that he’d want to keep me around. Breathe........

After me bringing up Saturday Night Fever, he was off and running with stories that I loved hearing. We were both hooked. I was in.

I started about two weeks later, Sept. 22, I think. I met Vinny, Jim’s stepson and 2nd. They’ve been working together for 12 years. I was mildly intimidated. Vinny was a little chilly, but okay. We cleaned out their truck, put stuff� away, organized some. Ran out of stuff to do. Vinny went out to run errands, promising something from Starbucks upon his return. He never returned, the little shit.�

There was about a week of camera tests which we had props in so I came on set with Jim while Vinny shopped. Boy, wish it was me. I wrapped a gift for one of our scenes for a show and tell with Night. Jim and Night both loved it and I was on gift detail. Yippee for me! When was I going to shop, though??? There were 2 weeks left until principle photography. Plenty of time. Just set the antique sniffing Terrier out there to get your stuff!!!

Meanwhile, Vinny goes away for a week on his honeymoon. The NY 3rd comes down to take his place. I get a real education of the workings of the Mazzola 3 thanks to Joe's inability to keep his pie hole closed.

Finally, Jim sees the light and sends me shopping. Found all kinds of great stuff, including loads of new decorated glassware for KK. Drove for miles and miles and had a grand ol’ time.�

Thirteen weeks later, I’m worn out and wanting to stay in bed. Shooting this film was difficult and demanding. Fun, but oh so hard. The weather was a huge detriment. If you know anything about me, it’s that I despise being cold. I learned (and spent $1500 on weather gear) how to layer to stay warm and dry. What a challenge.�

The biggest deal was mud. The company carved an 1897 village out of previously uncultivated farmland. We had dirt roads, of course, and the rest was grass that we had to stay off of at all times. Woods, woods and more woods. Combine that with lots of rain, wind and cold and you get The Village. We survived with boxes and boxes of hand and toe warmers. The props dept. was responsible for keeping people warm. We had these heaters on wheels, 7 of them and all their cable, that we’d hump around for others. Ironic, huh? Thank God for those heaters, though. They saved us.

But lugging around heavy cable, covered in wet clay like mud was NOT fun. After a while, we just had to go with it and not fight it. We were all covered in mud every day. The wind blew so much harder up at the village than anywhere else. 30 mph sustained winds. 40 - 50 mph gusts! All the time!�

We drove all our stuff around in 4 wheel drive gators and quads. All our chairs, heaters and supplies had to be covered every time we changed locations around the property. One day it snowed all day. Changed to sleet and rain, too, for good measure, then back to snow. That was a 14 hour day plus an hour of travel each way. I’d estimate an average week of 75 hours, some much more, some less.�

The views, sunrises and sunsets were fabulous, though, and being outside for 12� - 14 hours or more every day, although it wasn’t easy, made me a tougher person. Made all of us tougher. Yet almost everyone kept it light. Jimmy made me laugh every single day and even Vinny, who “doesn’t like workin’ wit girls�? made it fun. He has more energy than 10 people, a great personality, an incredibly keen eye on set and was a wonder to observe. The best I’ve ever worked with.

The DP (Director of Photography) was none other than Roger Deakins, of the Coen Brother’s fame (as well as his own). The principle actors were William Hurt (very handsome, intense, intelligent & moody), Sigourney Weaver (sweet, a little nerdy, very nice), Joaquin Phoenix (refused to sit in his chair, no matter where I put it until I gave up. Thinks it’s too “Hollywood�?), Adrian Brody (funny, nice, cute) and Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron Howard’s daughter) (yes, Opie) in her first feature as a lead. She is the sweetest� thing going. A real grounded girl, who made the best of her sometimes seriously unpleasant acting challenges. She was a pleasure to work with, as were all of them. (Especially William....yummmmm)

There were people in other departments I will never forget. There’s Laura (Ann Margaret� - who didn’t get off - see quote of the day above- 8-). She also made me laugh, sometimes hysterically, every day. Thank God for you, Laura! And Pam (won a trip to Hawaii, the lucky slut), who commiserated with me daily, hourly, by the minute, about our working conditions and the extreme need for and proper placement of hand and toe warmers. Stephen, the scenic who, if he wasn’t around with his comic relief, talk show and lots and lots of help way beyond his job description, I would not have endured. And so many others who helped me get through each day. Teddy the Teamster rules!

Does it sound like I’m whining...... or accepting an Academy Award? I’m not, really. Just tired...........it feels totally great to sleep late. I was way over having to get up at 4 am for a 6 am call.

So here’s the skinny on my plans for the New Year. My poor Lucy has been so depressed with me being away from home for so long, I’ll be spending some much needed quality time with her (and my family, of course), taking long power walks (well, Lucy power walks; I just try to keep up), reading, yoga & meditating. Although I’m not thrilled to be cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming again, I am glad to be home. I’m going to catch up on listings, for sure. Tons of great stuff just waiting in the wings. LOADS of great glassware. Then, the Kitschsters & B.o.b. are off to Mexico for a week of R & R, in an oceanfront Tentelapa on the Caribbean Sea with no electricity, no telephone and best of all, no shoes. (And the 24 hour honor bar!) February will bring me back to Kitschy Koo, then there are a few projects coming into town and then who knows what.

I’m looking forward to bringing you more of what I love to share, so stay tuned to all categories.
Happy, Happy 2004 to all.
Peace,
Sharon

�

09/12/03

Well, boys and girls, after a summer of loafing at the beach, the fall has come on strong, work wise. Both exciting and hard, the biggest challenge of my career finished up this week. Guess what I did????

I was called in to help decorate the dressing rooms of performers appearing at a private dealer's meeting for Toyota. The headliner was none other than Sir Elton John. The producers leased a huge star trailer for him to hang in while he was here....and he refused to go into it. Enter, little ol' me. With pointed finger, the Talent Coordinator said, "You have to go out and find furniture to make a locker room into a dressing room for EJ" (as he became known to us during the myriad of discussions about his quarters). Doiks! I have to make EJ happy????

The show was at the Wachovia Center here in Philly where the Flyers and 76'ers play, so most of the larger rooms are indeed locker rooms. How on earth am I to do this in 2 days??? Since money was no object at this point, I contacted two furniture stores that I knew would have high end stuff and would rent. Thus began a whirlwind of picture taking, consultations, shopping (I spent $1800 at Bed Bath & Beyond alone! If I wasn't so rushed, it would have been much more fun!) and pick ups of furniture, down pillows and comforters, tapestries and other fun stuff.

The room was divided into 4 different sections for different uses. Based on information from Philip, EJ's right hand man, I ordered and had hung, 200' of pipe and drape in ivory to surround the cinderblock walls with softness. We used uplights from Ikea to create dramatic and relaxing light instead of the harsh overhead lights, ordered flowers in shades of white and lavender reflecting an English country garden, brought in huge live palms and dracaena's and backlit them for drama. I had to find the PERFECT sofa for him to nap on. (You wouldn't believe what I had to go through over this sofa!) I also bought shaggy white throw rugs from Sam's Club! With Philip's additions of some rugs and fabric that he brings with him all the time ......The result?.....fantastic.�

Thank God for the helpful PA's (Production Assistants) who worked tirelessly with much needed manpower to get the job done. They were terrific and we would never had finished on time without them.

I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Sir Elton, unfortunately, but after the show, Philip sought me out to shake my hand and tell me that EJ was overjoyed with the room (which also included turning a huge tiled shower room into a massage room) and he was never so happy and relaxed in a venue before. Yippee!!

As a side note, EJ collects Bobbleheads and brings them with him to every show. The night before he was due to arrive, #2 son happened to go to the market and brought home tiny Simpson's Bobbleheads from a machine in the lobby of the store. At this point, he did not know of EJ's obsession with Bobbleheads and was just showing me his prize. I immediately thought, I have to get a set for EJ and give them to him as a gift!! I sent him back to the store, before it closed, with a jar full of quarters to try and get a complete set, knowing that the machine was almost empty.�

After spending $11 in quarters, he managed to snag all but Homer. Ok, great, but how to present them to him??? Down into the vault I go, looking for the perfect receptacle for 7 tiny Simpsons. I found a small pink jewelry box (w/ a thrift shop tag of 25 cents still on it!!), lined in pink velour. PERFECT! The Simpson's fit in just right (Thank God for Kitschy Koo!). I placed them near his telephone so he wouldn't miss them. I also showed Philip first just in case I was committing a faux pas and he laughed and said he thought they were great. I added a short note of explanation of who they were from and left to watch the show.

After the show, when Philip was telling me how much EJ loved his "salon", he also said that Elton took my gift HOME WITH HIM IN HIS PERSONAL BAG!!! Philip said he never takes gifts home, he usually just gives them to Philip to pack up, but he took mine home with him! My bobbleheads are in Elton John's home!!! How cool is that??

Since EJ was happy, everyone else was happy and all was a complete success. Relieved hugs and accolades all around. What fun! I have photos, which I will try to upload.�

Next up is a Reebok commercial with none other than Donovan McNabb of Eagles football fame and then I begin work on the new M. Night Shyamalan film called "The Woods", which starts shooting October 14. Whew!! Good thing I had 2 months to rest!

I have so much stuff to list, especially decorated glassware, and now that I'm thoroughly familiar with the new computer and camera, I have no time. But I will try, I promise, to get new things up ASAP.�

TTFN,
Sharon

So, stupid, slightly intoxicated me goofed while uploading info to the ask sharon page, published that to the Gossip page, which I hadn't backed up in too long and screwed the whole thing up. I lost 2 years of the juice up until now, so I'll be starting anew with gossip beginning today.�

I know that my life in the last 3 years has been so exciting and y'all enjoyed reading about my pursuits, trivial though they might have been. 8-) I'm sorry to have lost my musings and theatrics, so if you were lucky enough to have caught it all before I drunkenly deleted it, then I thank you for your participation. If you weren't privy to all that crap, then welcome aboard and forgive me if I mention something from the past that you don't understand. I'll recap some of the highlights without going into too much boring detail.�

Worked props on Jersey Girl, the newest Kevin Smith flick with Ben Affleck and J.Lo. Working with Kevin has truly been a highlight of my career. He's the greatest. George Carlin was also in the movie and he and I hit it off famously. He comped me into a couple of shows which was a delight and as hilarious as expected.

Number 2 son left for, and returned from, art school in Maryland and has been home ever since. Empty nest for a whole 3 months...good thing I didn't get too broken up by his leaving. He's been painting and working, though, and is never, well almost never, a problem having around. Except when he uses all the towels and doesn't do a load until I have to tell him (do they EVER get out of that behavior, Moms?) and he drinks my expensive Vodka when I'm not home. Other than that, he's great.

An old cast iron pipe from the upstairs bathroom cracked, had to be replaced all through the first floor and basement and I had a hole in my living room wall for too long. Then I had to paint the whole damned wall which, because of my obsessive watching of design shows over the winter, became the project from hell. While it is finished and looks great, the project produced a ripple effect and I was compelled to paint all the trim (which, in an 80 year old house is extensive) and that is not finished yet. This was in February and the house is still in disarray. That's because, and this is a biggie...

We, as an extended family, purchased a beach house in Ventnor NJ, which is, in a word, FANTASTIC! It's a 75 YO place that was gutted and finished by an architect and I got one of the huge upstairs bedrooms because I was the one who sweated, toiled and put up with my hysterical mother and lunatic brother until the deal was complete. I will take some jpgs of the decorating scheme, which is a fusion of esthetics that I call Jamasian, a combo of Jamaican and Asian.

So now what has happened all summer??? Where to start? I finished a film called The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon (intense, nice and fun when Kyra wasn't around) and Kyra Sedgwick (sorta bitchy but really, a good actress). Benjamin Bratt was also with us for a few days and let me tell you boys and girls, he is gorgeous! Even better in person than on film AND he's a nice guy to boot.

And all of a sudden, we have a new dog. It all started with a trip to the vet with old Dodger where I saw a notice for an adoption of a Wire Hair Terrier. I met the dog and while he was really cute, was somewhat too rambunctious for Dodger. That, however, sparked the search for a good adoptable dog. I spent days on the internet at the library and bookstores researching breeds and decided on a few different wants, mostly terriers. Happened to check out a website called� Petfinder.organd saw a photo of Lucy, a 5 YO West Highland White Terrier. I drove over to check her out and, you guessed it, took her home with me that day (to the surprise of hubby, #2 & most surprised of all, Dodger). She's not without issues, behaviorally and otherwise, but she's the cutest thing and smart as can be. She's a bit of a freak when it comes to the vet, professional grooming and other dogs in the house, but we are working through all the problems and I believe she's going to be, no, is, a great little dog. See her on the 'net at� terrierclub.com, click on New Members and go to page 96. Click on Lucy's picture. Isn't she adorable!�

Number 1 son visited from Oregon recently, where he is becoming a very knowledgeable prospector of geologic forms. He took over my meditation (& getaway from hubby) room. There were specimens everywhere I looked. He's going to start listing things on ebay as soon as he gets back the iMac I sent him that UPS basically turned to shit. (Broke it they did, so we're waiting for the claim to be processed. UPS is now officially on my shit list and I will be using Fedex from now on.)

I got a screaming new G4 Powerbook and a Canon S45 digital camera. Took me a while to learn how to operate OSX and upload and, ya know, all the tech stuff, which is why there have not been any new listings (aside from the fact that I've been at the beach all summer, practically). But I've got it all figured out and have started taking pics of great stuff. Will be listing all week, hopefully, so check in to your favorite categories for what's new.

Thanks for your patronage, as always.�
Peace,
Sharon

7/1/01
�

Just finished another film - called "The Good Thief". No major actors, but a few very good local Philly people. We are excited about it. Hope it looks good after post.

While I was working, I realized that I should let all of you in on exactly what I do when I'm not doing the "Koo" thang.

I work in the set dressing or property departments, which are both part of the general Art Department. I usually work as the on set dresser for a film, which basically means I move things around to camera. Here's a small list of my credits listed in the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com) Not everything is here, but this is a good bit of it.� � http://us.imdb.com/Name?Potts,+Sharon

All the things you see visually in the background of a movie (or a TV show or commercial) is first put there by the set decorator and the set dressers. Then the shooting crew comes in and that's where I go to work. If something looks amiss, or needs to be changed or "tweaked" as we say, then I do it. I also am responsible for moving the stuff you don't see for the lights or the camera to have some space. Then, when the camera turns around to get the next shot, I have to put back everything I moved (called "redress") and then move the other stuff out of the way. It can be very tedious and definitely hard, but I love it.�

I rehang pictures on the walls to camera, clean anything that gets dirty and try to maintain the integrity of the set. Sometimes this means that I have to be like a cop and yell at crew members who sit on the furniture, leave their water bottles behind and bring food onto the set (which is a GIANT NO NO!) I have to pick up all the trash on set generated by the crew which is usually A LOT. This makes me very cranky.

Other times I work as a "prop', which means I handle all the hand props that an actor needs to flesh out his role. On this last film, I was the Propmaster and it was a lot of fun. On small movies it is a manageable and interesting thing to do. On large films, with a lot of actors, it can be pretty stressful.�

First, you have to break down the script to figure out what is needed. Then you have to figure out all the unscripted details that might come up. The better prepared you are, the easier it is. Most propmasters have a huge truck full of stuff that they can pull from just in case. Sometimes, when you get to the set, the director has a had a bout of thinking and has decided to ask for something on the spur of the moment. This is where your preparedness kicks in. Sometimes you have to say "sorry", but it's way better to pull what he wants out of your behind. Then you look like a queen and everybody is happy!

On the last film, I had exactly 3 days to prep. All in all, I managed to get everything done, but some details had to be worked out during the filming. I had newspapers with headlines, a few different vehicles, weapons (fake), money (fake & real), many dinner and breakfast scenes....all kinds of things.

Needless to say, it's hard for me to keep up with the web site while all this is going on. While I generally keep up with email, it's quite difficult to answer all of your questions about appraisals and identifying what you have. I WILL answer all email that is an inquiry about a purchase.�

Well, the latest is over, and while I wait for the next M. Night Shyamalan film to start crewing up (called "Signs"), I will be uploading many new things I haven't had the chance to do since spring. I have goodies in just about every category waiting in the wings, so take a look and check back often.
�
�

TTFN,
Sharon

PS Don't forget to reload your pages if they are bookmarked!!! You might miss something!

My year started off with a huge bang due to my attendance at an auction of kitsch - called "The Kingdom of Kitsch". I kid you not. It was the sale of the collection of an artist and art professor from Moore College of Art here in Philadelphia. Her name was Frieda Fehrenbacher and let me tell you people, her collection put mine to shame. I managed to get a whole carload of wonderful things, which will be listed in the coming weeks. A sampling of the bounty: Clocks! Figural plastic switch plates! Unusual cocktail stuff!� Made in Japan! Vases! And so much more. Had I not run out of money, I'd have been there till the wee hours of the night.

What I'd like to do is go through the motions of an auction for you. I haven't been to one for a while and I learned a few things that I'd like to pass along.

Going to an Auction:

All auctions have a preview, either early on the day or the day before, when you can go and look over what is being offered. I recommend that highly. You can decide if what things you like (or don't like!) and figure out what you think you are going to pay for that treasure. Bring a notepad and jot down lot numbers, items and estimates that you want to stick to.

On the day of the sale, you must register and get a number. Be prepared to stay all day and into the night, if necessary. (I was there for about 8 hours and it wasn't half over when I left!) Come w/ a buddy if you can. Sometimes there is more than one auction going on at the same time. You can split up and cover more ground. Plus, it's good to have another person to bounce things off of when you are unsure of something.

If you go alone and you know there is something outside going up while you need to be inside, look for someone with a clipboard. They will start a sheet for you. You tell them what you want, give them your high bid and that person will then be your proxy bidder. Be prepared to be outbid, so if there's something you've just got to have, bid a bit higher. Don't cry if you don't win it. Let it go and move on!

Come early so you can get a good seat. Put something on your chair to save it. Golden rule - people respect that it's your spot. Bring a box, bags, paper, whatever, so you can wrap and carry your stuff. You are on your own and when your pile starts to grow, you'll wish you had brought something to carry all your loot to the car. I was able to take stuff to the car (I went early and got a close spot) periodically through out the day. It's okay to do that, so I suggest it, if you can. Makes it easier at the end.�

Okay, so you have your number, your seat, your list and your eyes wide open. The auctioneer will go over the rules of the house - it varies from place to place. (He will say he will reveal imperfections, repairs, whatever, but it doesn't always happen that way. Make sure you look closely at what you want!) The tension mounts. Word of advice. Keep your hand down unless you really want to bid. Don't get carried away. It's very fast paced and when you get caught up in the frenzy, it can get away from you.�

Each item you win will be brought over to you. Once it's in your hands, it is your responsibility! If you walk away and some unscrupulous bugger swipes it, it's tough luck and you still have to pay for it. This is especially true for outside stuff you have a proxy bid on.

Sometimes you might have to go a little higher than you expected for something you really want. No one knows what will happen until it happens. You might pay more for one thing, but get a steal on another. Hopefully, it all balances out! Pay attention! Write down what you won on your bidder card or notebook . This will make it easier to check out.

The auction is nearing the end and you want to go home. You are hungry, tired, maybe pissed that you missed something great. (Again, let it go!). It's check out time. Most auction houses will take credit cards, cash or checks. Some (most) will impose a buyer's premium on the total, usually 10 - 12%. It sucks, but them's the rools. They will give you a print out of your winnings. Cross check it with your notes - discuss any discrepancies - take your goodies and hit the road.�

One thing to watch out for which happened to me. If the auction house is an honest one, they will re-auction something you won, if, when they bring it to you, there is undisclosed damage. Bring it to the auctioneer's attention IMMEDIATELY! I made the mistake of bidding (too high) on something I wasn't going to. I didn't check it over before or when it was brought to me. When I got it home, I realized there was a huge, very noticeable repair that was not disclosed. Tough luck on me, I was stuck. Live and learn!

Hope this little lesson will be helpful to you next time you want to go to an auction. Feel free to email with questions or even your own experiences. Maybe I'll add them to the Gossip Page.

Tata for now,
Sharon

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Read what customers & visitors say about Kitschy Koo!

Jen D. says :�
"......will definitely keep an eye on KitschyKoo, one of my favorite web sites ever!"�

And listen to Starr L..�
"Thanks so much.� I really love it...... "�

This is what David& Erika S. think...
"thank you for the extremely thorough packing job...not only could they�
not break...but they couldn't procreate either..."�

"Just thought I would take the time to say my� wife and I love your site. Very nice." Rod and Christina W.

Here's the link to my Ebay feedback page:
� http://cgi2.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=iamkitschykoo
(Don't pay attention to the 1 negative. This was from a newbie to ebay who uses AOL and there were email glitches. She tarnished my reputation, but I'm not bitter about it - honest!)�
(I even tried to call her to rectify it, but she was too cowardly to return the call, but I really am over it) (Really)


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� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Feel free to email with your own tips to add here!

Useful tools for cleaning:

Toothbrushes: perfect for getting into crevices�
Handi- wipes:� soft & disposable�
Cotton diapers: soft and useful for almost anything, but best for polishing & buffing post cleaning. Sometimes you can find these cheap at thrift shops.�
Toothpicks : good for digging out crud from creases and tight areas.�
Cotton swabs: good for testing chemicals on small areas to be cleaned.�
Sharp knife or razor blade: Good for lightly scraping away stuck on goo, especially something that is hardened. My Spyderco is my most valuable cleaning tool! The sharper the better, but carebeeful! Slow and steady wins the race!�

TRY THESE TRICKS!

Old Glasses:� Pour a small amount of ammonia into warm soapy water. Rub w/ a soft cloth, then wipe dry with a clean cloth. Sparkly!!�
Also try white vinegar to remove mineral deposits in glassware (then do cleaning method above).�
Price Stickers:� Dab a bit of peanut butter on a clean cloth and rub lightly on a washable surface. Rinse and voila! No more gooey sticker! (Note: Use creamy !)�
Copper & Brass: To revive copper & brass accents, cut a lemon in half, pour some salt on a plate, then squeeze some lemon juice onto salt. Dampen a clean cloth, then dip cloth into salt /lemon mixture & rub lightly on metal. Buff with clean dry cloth.
Rust on metal: Pour some vegetable oil on a plate. Using semi fine steel wool (not Brillo!!!), dip in oil then lightly rub on rusty area. Wipe w/ clean dry cloth.�
Stained enamel: Using a small amount of baking soda, rub stains lightly with a clean, damp cloth. Buff with clean dry cloth.�
Yellow or brown stains: A soaking in a light bleach / warm soapy water mix will remove stains and crud from vintage textiles and melmac. You can even do a straight bleach soak with melmac to get out that ground in dirt in cut marks. Just observe as you do it so it doesn't soak too long because it CAN yellow some white melmac. Experiment on stuff you don't care about.�

Sometimes, you have to resort to nasty chemicals to really do the trick. Below are some of these I find very useful. But, please be careful when using these if you haven't before. Make sure you are in a ventilated area and use gloves and eye protection if you tend to make a mess!! Make sure to read directions and warnings before using!!!

� � � � � � � � � � � � **TEST**TEST**TEST**

PLEASE don't blame me if you try one of these products and ruin your item. ALWAYS test first if you aren't sure. I have, on occasion, ruined my own things. This is just how I learned what to do (and what NOT to do!) So do your learning on things you don't care too much about. Buy some cheap thrift stuff to practice on if you have to! Test in an inconspicuous area first!

Lighter fluid: Good for removing stickers on paper and other porous materials because it contains no water so it dries very quickly. Drop a few drops on the sticker to make it wet. Lift a corner, then drop more as you carefully peel the sticker off. You might want to do a test on an inconspicuous spot because sometimes LF can cause fading.�
Armor All: Excellent for polishing melmac or other plastic and vinyl. (Make sure you wash off if you are going to eat from it, though!!) Found at auto supply stores.�
Goof Off: Excellent remover for tar, old paint drips, grease, lipstick, ink, wax and more. This stuff is REALLY toxic and it stinks! Be sure to read directions first! This can be found at Home Depot.�
Plastic Polish: Be sure to test this first, because it does contain abrasive. Good for cleaning and polishing plastic, glass and metal. Use to brighten the painted designs on decorated glassware. RUB LIGHTLY or it could take the paint off, but if used correctly, it will clean off years of oxidation making the decoration look new!�
Bleach: I use bleach often, but take care to test first to check for color changes, especially on colored plastic. (Wear gloves if doing a lot. My hands smell like bleach for days sometimes!) Dip a cotton swab in some diluted bleach to clean out dark crud from hairline cracks in ceramic, plastic, whatever. Fill a sink with warm, soapy water and a couple caps full of bleach to soak old dishes before using them. Great sterilizer. Rinse well before using!�
Murphy's Oil Soap: Great for old wooden ware. NEVER soak wood in water! It will fade and get whitish looking. Make up a sink full of Murphy's suds. With damp cloth, wipe wood with the suds, rinse with clear water and let dry thoroughly.
Lexol Leather Cleaner: Another product found at auto supply stores, this is great for restoring and softening old leather.�
Old English Scratch Cover: Excellent for blending scratches in old wood. Don't use this on very expensive furniture, but great for the piece that is scuffed up and ratty looking! Apply with clean cloth to areas that are scratched, blending into surrounding area, then buff with clean cloth.�
Nevr-Dull: Great for removing rust, cleaning� and polishing various metals. One can lasts forever.�
Cameo Aluminum & Stainless Cleaner: Terrific�for cleaning and polishing chrome & stainless steel.�

DO'S AND DON'TS�

DO: Read all directions when using unfamiliar products.�
DO: Wear protective gloves and eye wear when using chemicals.�
DO: Open a window or door to ventilate area if using toxic products.
DO: Test first before using an unfamiliar product.
DO: Research (in the library or on the net) when in doubt about cleaning old fibers.
DO: Save old flannel shirts and cotton T-shirts to use for cleaning cloths. Useful and cheap!�

DON'T: Soak cold painted items in soapy water. Paint will flake off!! You can tell if something is cold painted if the paint has a matte finish with no over glaze.�
DON'T: Try to touch up painted surfaces, unless you are skilled at painting and color matching. Sometimes these look just fine as they are and will look worse if repainted. If there is something you are compelled to paint - take the item to get a computer color match.
DON'T: Use paper towels to clean scratched plastic like the lense of a clock. They are somewhat abrasive and could scratch it worse. Use a diaper or flannel instead.