4. Stories for our 1000th+ newsletter !!!

We try to post stories and comments from our readers each week. Send your
story to newsletter@tias.com and we'll publish it in an upcoming newsletter. 
Please share your story about what you collect and what got you started
collecting.  We *love* to hear your stories!  If you have a story you'd like
to share, tell us about it and if you have any photos, we'd love to see them! 
Send us an email to newsletter@tias.com so we can share your story with the
rest of our readers.
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The Sewing Machine
I had a beautiful White Sewing Machine black with gold lettering, very heavy. 
It was in my detached garage.  I was camping with my boys and my upstairs
tenant used my Smoker to cook while I was gone for the weekend.  Before he
left to go golfing, he dumped the ashes that he thought were cold into a
garbage can and left.  Within seconds my garage caught on fire, everything
burned to the ground with my beautiful antique sewing machine in it.  I lost
everything and had to rebuild.  The only thing I could not bear to throw away
is the sewing machine which was severely damaged, but it is now a yard
decoration and sits amongst my flowers.  I get a lot of comments and
compliments on it.

Adrienne Z
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The Shoe Collection

I have a miniature shoe collection which was started in 1949 when I was 13
years old.  We lived in Kansas and every summer we would go to Calif.  to
visit my dad's family.  On one of the places where we had stopped to eat, it
had a gift shop attached next to the dining room. My brother and I ate in a
hurry and went to look at all the stuff in the gift shop.  I spotted the
darling little shoe for 49 cents.  I went in to ask dad if I could have 50
cents.  He asked me what for. I told him and he told me he'd think about it. 
After he paid the bill for our meal he followed me to the gift shop to look at
what I wanted.  He told me I didn't need it.  I was crushed and went out to
the car.  Mom, dad and my brother followed me.  After we got in the car my dad
said, "I suppose I'd better go use the restroom before we take off".  He went
back in and came out a few minutes later carrying a little bag and handed it
to me.  Bless his heart, he had planned this all along as a surprise, he had
bought that little shoe for me. I almost cried.  That was 66 years ago and I
will never forget that first shoe.  Now I have well over 100 little shoes that
friends and other family members have given me.  They are all displayed in a
glass corner what-not shelf.  (Seven glass shelves with mirrors on the inside
walls.) I love my collection.  Win a blue ribbon at the fair one year when I
displayed part of them.

Bev B
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Green Glass Collection

I had my glass and foxes, my brother had his Antique/Fancy grill electric
fans.  We were checking out a store in Wells on the Post Road and I picked up
some beautiful glassware.  It was clear soft green with swirls in the glass
and what I thought was a British pound sign on the bottom [ +ú }.  During the
years I looked for more and drifted away from pretty New England to find
myself near Charleston, SC.  I again was living near my other brother who
collects license plates.  We were junkinCÇÖ when I found 4 MORE of the
glasses, only bigger!  I was then told that the CÇÿLCÇÖ on the bottom was for
LibbyCÇÖs. I was ecstatic!  I now could search for more LibbyCÇÖs glasses and
get a whole set.  I still get excited seeing clear green glass, whether its
sea glass or lamps.  I have all my glass collection in a lighted corner
cupboard in our library.  But those have a special place in my heart as I
found them with my 2 brothers in a younger time that will never come again.

Sarah B
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More stories and winners next week!

These writers of these stories are all winning one of these: htt
://on.fb.me/1BMIdwz Submit a story about your favorite antique or collectible
to support@tias.com today and you may win one as well !
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