Monday’s post will be up by 10 AM.

My goal is to publish new posts twice a week — Mondays and Thursdays. However, if you don’t see a new post on Thursday, it’s because I was too busy, so please look for a new one the following Monday.

Saturday afternoon in my booth

The Kansas City Antiques Expo began on Friday at 10 AM and continued until 6 PM Saturday. This was my first time at the new exhibition facility at the Holiday Inn KCI. Last year, the show was in Overland Park, KS. Our show was going poorly until we made a couple of sales on Saturday afternoon, including a Tiffany Favrile floor lamp to clients who drove all the way from Dallas (500 miles) to see us. (Thank you!!)

This Tiffany lamp is similar to the one we sold at the show

Attendance was very light the entire two days, making it difficult to make sales. Chris Miller, the promoter, is a nice guy who’s trying hard to build the show back up, but is obviously having a tough time of it. I think part of the problem is that it was the summer edition of the show. Colder weather is almost always better for attendance, interest and sales. We’ll probably try the show again in November, as the dates coordinate with our shows in Winnetka, IL and New York, NY.

In asking around, I mostly heard grumbling about the attendance. A few people did well enough to come back, including a dealer from Minnesota who especially wanted to support Chris Miller. Some people told me they won’t be returning.

Now we’re off for a couple of weeks before the big, important Baltimore Summer Antiques Show. It’s the biggest and best show of the summer, and one of the best of the year. It’s to the summer what the Original Miami Beach Antiques Show is to the winter. Buyers fly in from all over the world, including as far away as Japan. There are still great rooms available on Hotwire.com. Here are some hints. A 4-star hotel is available for $101/night. It’s probably the Hilton next door. A 4-star boutique hotel is available @ $114/night. That’s probably the Monaco Baltimore Hotel, a Kimpton hotel. A 3½-star hotel is available for $80/night. That’s probably the Sheraton, also next door. (I make no guarantees, just educated guesses.) Make your plans now to come to the show.  You’ll love the show and you’ll love Baltimore.

This fine Handel 18″ diameter Black Bird lamp is a recent purchase

Click here to view our new website and look around. We always strive to offer the finest objects for sale on our website and at every show. There are many items for sale, sold items with prices and free lessons about glass and lamps.