2021 Nutcracker Convention

2021 Nutcracker Convention

Oct 02

 

 

Congratulations to Mike and Linda Pickwick for hosting a great Nutcracker Convention last weekend!

 

As always, it was great to see old friends, meet new ones, and get an opportunity to buy pieces for our collection.

 

The whirlwind of a weekend started off Friday evening with Mike and Linda graciously opening their home to everyone for up close personal tours of their collection and  a nice Italian dinner.

 

The convention was held at the Hampton Inn Danbury on Saturday. There were lots of great pieces available to bid on in the silent auction in the morning:

 

 

 

 

 

A couple people brought their collections to show off as well as sell outside the auction:

 

 

 

After the auction and meeting at the hotel, everyone was invited back to Mike and Linda’s to spend some time before going to dinner.

Here are some pictures of Mike and Linda’s fantastic collection:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the day at Armando’s for dinner. Said our good byes to everyone and headed back home to Ohio Sunday morning.

 

We had a great time and can’t thank Mike and Linda enough for their hospitality and for hosting such a great event!

 

Cool Stuff

Cool Stuff

Jan 29

 

Today was moving day for Joe Leonard’s Griffin and Pegasus.

He got a call last week letting him know the Mythical Creatures Museum exhibit is going back on the road.

 

So we had to pack up the Pegasus and Griffin for their first stop in Minnesota for the Mythic Creatures exhibit that opens February 3rd.

 

Here are some pictures I took while we got them all packed up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of work, but definitely worth it to get these two back out on the road!

 

Recent Acquisitions

Recent Acquisitions

Jul 09

 

In this business I get to work on some really great pieces for Nutcracker Collectors’ Club members and other clients.

 

One of the things that fuels my passion to rescue and restore damaged pieces for people is that I’m also a collector. I understand each piece’s value and the historical significance to fixing it right.

 

Compared to most, I don’t have many pieces; but the pieces I do have are good ones I bought reasonably and restored for myself, or are ones I really liked and/or admired the carving or style.

 

I bought two pieces at the 2016 Nutcracker Collectors’ Convention. They both are pieces that caught my eye and I really liked them.

 

What’s most important is, I don’t have to fix them. Just wax them and set them out for display.

 

 

 

 

 

I’m very happy with my new acquisitions.

 

Coming soon — The original pieces I took to sell at the convention (spoiler alert! – The ones I didn’t sell are currently for sale on Ardoria).

 

—– Brandon

 

2016 Nutcracker Convention – Day 2

2016 Nutcracker Convention – Day 2

Jul 02

 

As promised, here are some pictures of the second day at the 22nd Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention.

 

The meeting and auction were held at the Holiday Inn Express in Lexington Virginia.

 

A club member from Lithuania presented the history of Josiah Pratt (1767)  brass nutcrackers and other notable makers (Edward Grouttage (1770), William Ward (1770), Rob Moor (1770), and Richard Eades (1770)) .

 

 

 

 A few collectors brought pieces from their collection in for display

 

 

 

 

  Others brought in some great pieces to sell

 

 

 The Silent Auction was in full swing and had a lot of great pieces available to bid on. Here are just a few of the tables

 

 

 

 

 

 

 CBS (WDBJ-7) came by and did a lot of filming and interviews. The news story can be found here – Nutcracker Collectors Gather in Lexington

 

 

 After the convention, everyone had a little free time to wander before meeting for dinner. We went antiquing a little, then downtown to a couple galleries.

 

 

 

 

 Everyone gathered at the Southern Inn for a great dinner and to say goodbye to fellow collectors and great friends til next year.

 

 

 

 Missy and I had a great time. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed getting to see everyone.

 

We can’t thank Lynn and Ann enough for doing such a fabulous job hosting this year’s convention.

 

 Stay tuned for pictures of the pieces I took to the convention to sell and pictures of the pieces I bought.

 

2016 Nutcracker Convention – Day 1

2016 Nutcracker Convention – Day 1

Jun 27

 

This year marks the 22nd annual Nutcracker Collectors’ Club Convention which was held in Lexington Virginia.

 

First off, I have to say Lynn and Ann did a great job putting this year’s event together. I can’t imagine the time and work that goes into this. They really did a fantastic job!

 

Here are some pictures from the first day of the convention. This is where the Nutcracker Club members get to visit the hosting member’s home and see their personal collection first hand.

 

Lynn and Ann provided local beer and wine, delicious home cooked food, local fried chicken, and decadent deserts to die for.  All this was provided as we toured their home, viewed their beautifully displayed collection, and visited with members and friends we haven’t seen for a while.

 

Everything was beautifully displayed. Their home and their collection are absolutely spectacular!

 

Click on the pictures for a larger view.

 

Arriving at the convention host’s house

 

 

The fireplace mantel

 

Display case full of metal nutcrackers

 

 

Close up #1 of the wooden nutcrackers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Stay tuned for Day 2 to see the great pieces members brought to show off and/or sell.

More importantly, stay tuned to see what great items I came home with!

 

Apple Pie!

Apple Pie!

Sep 19

 

 

Ah yes, It’s Fall. The nights are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. Time for a trip to Monroe’s Orchard for just the right blend of tart and sweet farm fresh apples for my wife’s fantastic homemade apple pie.

 

We’ve been going to Monroe’s Orchard since Dane was in grade school. Yes, their apples are that good.

 

Here are some pictures of our visit: