I've been collecting all my life, starting in coins in elementary school and stamps by early high school. As a child, I also played marbles for hours every day.
I moved into the commercial side of collecting in 1981, when I began selling stamps and coins in monthly mail bid auctions. During the next two decades I was doing this as a way to relax and regenerate from the pressures of ministry. I was in campus ministry for 15 years, and parish ministry for 12 years after that.
In 2000 I expanded to a full range of antiques and art, setting up in several antique malls. 2006 brought a big change when I left ministry as the recession bore down on us, and moved to an acreage in the middle of nowhere. Starting a full time antique business during a full-blown recession was a tough move, but I loved the freedom of being my own boss and the beauty of living in the country. My acreage was a piece of wounded land, so there were lots of opportunities to improve the site. I planted 3 acres of native prairie, worked on an acre of woods introducing native woodland flowers, and began planting hostas.
I began doing farmers markets, and today grow a full range of garden produce, 200 varieties of hostas, and 20 varieties of garlic.
During this time I began doing antique shows and flea markets around the Midwest, attending as many as 50 in a year, but averaging 30+. You can also find me online on Ebay, Etsy, and Ruby Lane.
I am a perpetual student and spend hours each day researching items online. I have a large personal library to help with identifying antiques. Finding the history behind an item is a real joy.
Today I specialize in marbles, stamps, coins, seed sacks, and postcards. I do a full range of antiques, collectibles, and art, however, looking especially for quirky and oddball items not often found.
Find me also on:
http://www.ebay.com/dayspring-collectibles
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dayspringcollectible
http://www.rubylane.com/shop/dayspring-collectibles