January 17, 2003
Greetings Accumulators!
Okay - I've had enough! It has been frigid in New York City for too long, and no end in sight. I think bears and groundhogs have the right idea - just sleep through it, wake up in April, and go out and bask in the sunshine. If my brother in Southern California is reading this, Oh shut up and wipe that grin off your face!
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF EARLIEST POSSIBLE BABY PORTRAITS
Women in Germany are flocking to artist Anja Hoeppner of Berlin for artistic souvenirs of - their pregnancies. Hoeppner, 35, makes plaster casts of their abdomens and swollen breasts (well, okay, I could see some people wanting to commemorate those) and then paints them. The casts, not the abdomens. Said Hoeppner, "The best time to do it is just after the seventh month of pregnancy". Oh joy - something to take your mind off the varicose veins. Cost for the artwork is $60 for one color and about $340 for a full color artistic work. I suppose the artist determines the motif, but I'd think a cow or moose would be appropriate, no?
NOT THE SHARPEST CRAYON IN THE BOX DEPARTMENT
Chris Shields of Maine found a $200 off coupon from a Portsmouth, New Hampshire car dealership in his local paper and figured out that if he collected 200 of them he could get a $40,000 Toyota free. Dealership owner Jim Boyle broke the sad news to Shields. Nice try, Kid. Get an attorney, 'cause it isn't happening. Shields claimed nothing in the ad limited customers to one coupon per car. Mr. Boyle said, "The ad ran as it was supposed to run, and there was nothing misleading or deceptive about it. No reasonable person could possibly expect to piggyback coupons like that and walk away with a new car." Mr. Boyle contacted the state attorney general's consumer protection office, but it doesn't look good. Looks like he'll be driving that Yugo for a few years longer.
A NEW WAY TO EAT YOUR WORDS
Thomas Imm of Berlin is making a great living selling engraved toothpicks. He uses a laser to engrave up to 48 letters on each toothpick. Folks are snapping them up as company giveaways, wedding favors and restaurant promotions. "You could use the picks", says Inn, "but actually, they are meant as decoration or for advertising. I don't know. There are some weddings I've been to where, by the third hour or so, I would not want to give anyone a pointed object as a party favor.
He Who Is The Light Of My Life is back from work. Here's my chance to warm up. This is a knock around weekend for us. I've no idea what we will be doing, but I hope there is a movie in there somewhere, and of course, antiquing. Time to go finish my AntiqueWeek column and start dinner. Have a great week, Accumulators. And stay warm wherever you are. Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 2003 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #205
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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