As far as the actual selling goes, I think most did well. I know between our regular booth and the
one we set up in the ACJA area, we did very well.
Between all of the dealers, we had a wonderful display of jars and probably created some new cookie jar
collectors. Plus many of the show regular dealers knew we were coming, so they also
brought cookie jars to sell. In fact I ended up buying very well and getting some great jars at
very fair prices from people who brought them in just to find a dealer interested
in buying. I got a set of Pearl China jars, both the Mammy and Cookie, in great shape and a wonderful
Shawnee Sailor boy with gold trim.
It was wonderful meeting some of the people
I had heard about but never had a the chance to meet in person. These new friendships will last and
the sharing of our love for cookie jars was a great experience. The following people set up to sell:
Rich & Cheryl Clark, Pepper Edmiston, Andy Green, Maynard & Donna Hadley-along with their grandson, Richard & Rosemary
Ross, Al & Linda Young and us, Judy & Keith Lytle. Plus a few club members
brought several jars to be sold at the ACJA booth. Others came to enjoy the show and
many ended up working very hard to make the show a huge success. Among them were Chris & Tom Hunsaker, Nancy Allen, Mike & Cathy
Bogulaski, Sandi Phillips, Karen Petersen, Barb & Ken Jensen, Merla Davis, Darrell, and his daughter Kisa, Peoples, Robert
Barnes, Jim Crews with his buddy Jason and, of course, the backbone of this get-together, Barbara Crews. If I left
anyone out please chalk it up to a senior moment as my memory is not as good as it once was. Our honored guests
Don & Norma Winton were the hit of the show and so pleasant and friendly to all of us, as well as great
ambassadors for the cookie jar world. More about them later.
It was a very interesting experience watching all the excitement as on
Thursday, not only cookie jar dealers, but the
whole show tried to unload into the space and arrange their tables.
It always amazes me how, out of such confusion and chaos, comes
a perfect order by the end of the day.
The Palmer/Wirfs people do a wonderful job keeping order,
while assisting us all in making some sense of
what we are trying to do.
There is no set-up of merchandise or selling on Thursday, but after years of no-early off load, I can tell you
it makes Friday ten times easier.
Now Friday is the day we all can display our wares and set up our booths and maybe
even sell something. This again is worth the price
of admission just to see the many different styles and the end results each style brings.
Friday is also early buyer day
and buyers can get in at the same time the dealers do -- by paying $30. for a pass good for the whole weekend. Regular
buyers pay $5. and can start coming in at 8 am Saturday. I have found over the years that serious collectors
come on Friday and you are liable to make some very good deals both buying and selling. Of course most of the dealers, and at a show this size that is about 4000 people, shop
the show on Friday.
Friday night the ACJA held an informal get-together at their headquarters,
the Oxford Suites. It turned out to be a great
place to meet and talk jars as well as life.
Judy and I really enjoyed this and had some great conversation as most of
the cookie jar people were there for at least some of the time.
It was here we found how talented Robert
Barnes is as a songwriter and singer. We purchased one of his CD's.
Plus he is just plain friendly and he loves cookie jars.
We have been friends with Maynard & Donna Hadley for many years and had time to renew this friendship.
I think some day
I will have to write a story about their lives,
as there is so much more to them than their love of cookie jars.
Suffice to say Donna built Maynard an additional room to their home that is 1280 square feet and houses over 3000 jars. Plus Donna has a collection
of over 2000 dolls all of the highest quality, including every set of Dionne Quintuplet dolls ever made.
Now comes Saturday and the rush of people.
I believe somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 come to the show just on Saturday.
It was fun watching people enter our room and be surprised by the number of cookie jars.
We got lots of questions and many people
seemed to be interested in making cookie jar collecting a habit. Don Winton drew big crowds,
some just to see him, others to
ask questions or have him sign a Twin Winton Jar or piece.
He spent a lot of time working on a sculpture, which was very interesting
and got many comments. His beautiful wife Norma was also talking with everyone and
being a wonderful ambassador for
cookie jars.
One of the huge attractions was the great jar Don had produced for auction at this show.
You may have already read that at this auction
it went for $4000. to a young man who I knew by sight, but not by name. He is a regular at the Portland shows and has talked with
us about jars and brought from us in the past. When asked by Norma if I thought his check would be good, I said yes, hoping I was right.
Well no worry, as it turns out this very young man is the President of Nike! I told Richard to call Charlie Snyder
and tell him no matter how high he was willing to bid, he could not outbid this guy.
Much went on during the day with many little auctions and raffles that brought people into the room. There was a lot of mingling among dealers and
collectors, many new friendships made and old ones rekindled. Mike Bogulaski was giving some demonstrations and talking
about restoration, some of us did evaluations of jars brought to the show. There were even one or two jars that none of us could
identify.
Saturday is always a long day as dealers are into their booths at 7:30 am and the show is open until 6 pm. But for some reason this day seemed
to go very quickly and I thought to myself that those of you who could not make it, were really missing out. I hope the next time
we have this as a part of the July Expo, you all make plans to be here. Remember the trip from the East is no longer than the trip we made
several times from the West to Nashville. I will say right here that after doing Nashville
four times the tension I always
felt at that show between certain groups and individuals was no where in sight at Portland. It seems everyone
was just there to have fun, enjoy cookie jars and each other!
Speaking of fun, what a great dinner and party we had on Saturday night. It was catered at the
Oxford Suites and the food was great. But the company, auctions and raffles brought out the real fun. First of I think
Darrell Peoples has found a new profession. He was the auctioneer for the Don Winton jar and did such a wonderful
job, he was elected to handle the same duties at the dinner. He was so good he almost got me a divorce as I kept
bidding on an item I wanted until Judy jabbed me in the ribs and gave me that look all you women give us guys --
it said STOP NOW!
Jim and Jason were really enjoying playing the roll of either Vanna White or the Price is Right beauties.
As they paraded through the crowd displaying the items up for auction or raffle. Neither of these guys ever needs to take
classes in meeting and greeting people, they are pros. Speaking of being shy, hey Nancy Allen, do not worry you have
no problem in this area. She was great fun with her yelling out about an item or how her table was not winning
any raffles. She made us all laugh and added to the enjoyment.
Don Winton gave a very nice talk and then took questions, he gave out some great information. Also he said
the one piece he is looking for and can never find is the Gnome Sitting on a Stump, Twin Winton cookie jar.
So if you have one, please contact him.
Many people gave very generously to the raffle and door prizes, so there were many great items that
got lots of interest. Barb and Ken Jensen who run a huge onion farm in Washington brought a bag of their
Walla Walla onions for each and every person attending. Wonderful Onions! The auction I lost was for the
great ACJA wall hanging quilt done by Karen Petersen, but the winner was so thrilled I did not mind, plus
I am still married. I was also pleased to see how happy the winner of the Keith jar was (that we donated).
This night could not have gone better or been more fun and was the highlight of the weekend. So many people
can be proud of all the work they did, as it brought so many people a lot of fun, enjoyment and even a chance
to make some money selling their jars. Although as my booth was next to Maynards, I have to say I think
I saw him wince every time he sold a jar. Seems like he was saying goodbye to an old and dear friend.
Sunday is usually a day where many of the attendees are just looking and not buying, but this time we sold
very well. Plus it was another day filled with many events and more raffles and door prizes. The two big
prizes were the Beloved Belindy and the IGA Circus Train set. Jim Crews won the Beloved Belindy and Darrell Peoples
won the train, both very deserving as they had worked extremelly hard all weekend.
I was sad to see the show closing and knew it might be some time before we say many of you again, but I will always
remember this weekend and the great time we had. If we did not have a chance to say goodbye and thanks during
the hustle and bustle of packing up, I want to say it now. So long until next time.
I hope to see you all in Portland for the next ACJA get-together and the alway great
Palmer/Wirf Expo shows.
