Seems Like Old Times

25% OFF New Years SALE at Seems Like Old Times

2006-12-30T22:20:00.000-05:00

Take an Additional 25% OFF your Entire Purchase at Seems Like Old Times, http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com!

Choose from 1000s of items, including our Christmas ornaments which were recently featured on the cover of GOURMET Magazine! See the Vintage ornaments and decorations from the early 1900s as well as newer Hallmark Keepsake and Old World Christmas ornaments.

We have figurines by Sandra Kuck and others, vintage books, artwork, china, victoriana, beautiful bowls, vases, decanters, stemware, sterling and silverplate, decorative bells, mirrors, linens, and much much more! Dozens of items added to our site in the past month.

Save on our huge selection of limited edition plates by Norman Rockwell, Hummel, Donald Zolan, Gregory Perillo, Lena Liu, Bing and Grondahl, Royal Copenhagen, Royal Cornwall, Reco, Edwin M. Knowles, Hamilton Collection, W. S. George, just to name a few.

Click on http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com and use code NEWYEAR to receive the 25% OFF discount. Offer ends January 5th, 2007, so stop on by today!

More information on our December Sale

2006-12-06T20:57:00.000-05:00

Put on some holiday tunes and forget about fighting the crowds. Relax and save at Seems Like Old Times, http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

Save 15-35% OFF our already reduced prices from now until Christmas! You can even take a discount on sale items! We are adding new items every week onto our site, to our 1000s of vintage Christmas ornaments, angels, elves, santas, reindeer, bells, glass balls, starbursts, figural ornaments, you name it! We also have an extensive collection of Old World Christmas Inge-glas ornaments as well as 1000s of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments! This in addition to our limited edition collector plates, figurines, dolls, books, and much much more!

Take an Extra 15% OFF any order up to $50.00 with coupon code DEC15.

Take an Extra 25% OFF any order between $50.01-100.00 with coupon code DEC25.

Take an Extra 35% OFF any order of $100.01 or more with coupon code DEC35.

Come by now for the best selection! These savings are not too good to be true, we will be closing our cyberdoors this summer. If you have been a longtime customer, you probably have noticed our prices have been getting lower and lower these past few months, which means HUGE SAVINGS for you! Right now we have 1000s of fun collectibles just waiting for you to enjoy them.

We ship Worldwide in time for Christmas, and can wrap your order in paper and send it directly to your loved one! See our site for details
http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com, stop on by today!
Sale ends Christmas!

Huge December Sale

2006-12-05T21:31:00.000-05:00

Visit Seems Like Old Times for vintage ornaments and decorations, santas, angels, reindeer, elves, glass balls, stripes starburst and more, as well as Hallmark Keepsake ornaments from 1973- 2004 and Old World Christmas ornaments. See our huge selection of limited edition collector plates, figurines, dolls, and much more, 1000s of items in stock! We ship worldwide in time for the holidays!

Take 15-35% off of our already discounted prices! Click here and then on any category.

November Sale!

2006-11-29T20:15:00.000-05:00

Relax with a cup of hot cocoa and don't worry about parking while you shop and save at Seems Like Old Times, http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

Save 10-30% OFF our already reduced prices from now until November 30th!

Take an Extra 10% OFF any order up to $50.00 with coupon code NOV10.

Take an extra 20% OFF any order between $50.01-100.00 with coupon code NOV20.

Take an extra 30% OFF any order $100.01 or more with coupon code NOV30.

We ship Worldwide in time for Christmas, and can wrap your order in paper and send it directly to your loved one! See our site for details
http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com, stop on by today!
Sale ends November 30th!

October Newsletter

2006-10-26T18:17:00.000-05:00

In this issue:
1) Greetings and History of the Jack-O-Lantern
2) What’s New
3) Quote of the Month
4) Special Newsletter SALE
5) Recipe of the Month

1) Greetings! The leaves are beautiful colors here in southeastern PA and the air is turning that wonderful degree of chilly that makes you snuggle up at night.
This weekend we went to a pumpkin patch in our area, which we will carve with the children next weekend. I looked up the history of the jack-o-lantern and thought I would share it with you:

The Irish brought the tradition of the Jack O'Lantern to America. But, the original Jack O'Lantern was not a pumpkin. The Jack O'Lantern legend goes back hundreds of years in Irish History. As the story goes, Stingy Jack was a miserable, old drunk who liked to play tricks on everyone: family, friends, his mother and even the Devil himself. One day, he tricked the Devil into climbing up an apple tree. Once the Devil climbed up the apple tree, Stingy Jack hurriedly placed crosses around the trunk of the tree. The Devil was then unable to get down the tree. Stingy Jack made the Devil promise him not to take his soul when he died. Once the devil promised not to take his soul, Stingy Jack removed the crosses and let the Devil down.

Many years later, when Jack finally died, he went to the pearly gates of Heaven and was told by Saint Peter that he was too mean and too cruel and had led a miserable and worthless life on earth. He was not allowed to enter heaven. He then went down to Hell and the Devil. The Devil kept his promise and would not allow him to enter Hell. Now Jack was scared and had nowhere to go but to wander about forever in the darkness between heaven and hell. He asked the Devil how he could leave as there was no light. The Devil tossed him an ember from the flames of Hell to help him light his way. Jack placed the ember in a hollowed out Turnip, one of his favorite foods which he always carried around with him whenever he could steal one. For that day onward, Stingy Jack roamed the earth without a resting place, lighting his way as he went with his "Jack O'Lantern".

"On all Hallow's eve, the Irish hollowed out Turnips, rutabagas, gourds, potatoes and beets. They placed a light in them to ward off evil spirits and keep Stingy Jack away. These were the original Jack O'Lanterns. In the 1800's a couple of waves of Irish immigrants came to America. The Irish immigrants quickly discovered that Pumpkins were bigger and easier to carve out. So they used pumpkins for Jack O'Lanterns.

2) Well, last spring we thought we were going to close, but here we still are. We have gradually been discounting everything in our store from 25-75% OFF. We are listing new items every week because we still have so many vintage items left! This month we listed vintage art deco lamps and mirrors. Be sure to see original artwork, including etchings by Robert S. Austin, antique prints and more. Vintage dolls have been listed as well as figurines and books. Over the next few weeks, be on the lookout for over 200 more vintage Christmas ornaments and decorations!

To see our most recent offerings, visit http://pages.seemslikeoldtimes.com/cgi-bin/inventoryBrowser.fcgi/stores/oldtimes/new-items/1.html?catId\u003dnew-items&pageNo\u003d1

3) Quote of the Month:

If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be.
Now put foundations under them.

~Henry David Thoreau

Be sure to see more quotes on our site, http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

4) Fall Harvest SALE! We are having an UNADVERTISED SALE!
at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com
15% OFF Your Entire Order
for anyone receiving this newsletter (or anyone you forward it to). Just use code HARVEST in the coupon box, to receive the discount. Sale ends Oct. 31, 2006. Good on already reduced items, but cannot be combined with any other discount. 1000s of plates and ornaments, vintage items and collectibles to choose from, visit us at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com .

5) Recipe of the Month! This is a new feature. Do you have a great recipe that you would like to share? If so, send it to us, and if we use it in an upcoming newsletter, you will receive a $25 Gift Certificate to use towards anything in our store, http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com. We look forward to hearing from you, just email us at oldtimes@tias.com .

Thanks for reading and have a great October!
~Seems Like Old Times

Beauty of Bouguereau Plates by Royal Cornwall

2006-04-12T21:30:00.000-05:00

The Beauty of Bouguereau series of plates by artis William A. Bouguereau and maker Royal Cornwall were released in 1979 and 1980. Each plate is 8.5" in diameter and was made in an edition limited to 19,500. Created from master works of the French artist, who lived from 1825 to 1905.

The six titles in the Beauty of Bouguereau series are:

Lucie
Madelaine
Frere et Soeur
Solange et Enfant
Colette (pictured)
Jean et Jeanette

Four of the series are still available in our store!

Mother's Day Plates

2006-04-04T18:50:00.000-05:00

We have a wide variety of beautiful limited edition plates that make great gifts for your mother on her special day! From Norman Rockwell annual Mother's Day plaets to Donald Zolan miniatures you are sure to find something that suits your mom's tastes. Don't forget the other mothers in your life - sisters, grandmothers, aunts, wives, and friends.

The plate depicted here is titled Abby and Lisa and is from the Premiere issue in the Hibel Mother's Day Collection of plates by artist Edna Hibel for Edwin M. Knowles and Edna Hibel Studios. This 8 1/2" diameter gorgeous plate, uniquely created in layers of pigment & 22k gold accents depicts a mother & child, 1984. Plate is in Excellent condition, no box or cert. #84-k41-9.1. Plate value of $300.00, but we are offering it for $76!

Love's Precious Moments Plates by Royal Cornwall

2006-03-29T20:52:00.000-05:00

The Love's Precious Moments series of plates by artist Robert Gunn and maker Royal Cornwall were all released in 1981. Each plate is 9 1/4" in diameter and was made in an edition limited to 17,500.

The six titles in the Love's Precious Moments series are:

Love's Sweet Vow
Love's Sweet Verse
Love's Sweet Offering
Love's Sweet Embrace
Love's Sweet Melody (pictured)
Love's Sweet Kiss

Five of the six titles are currently available at 46 to 54% off our regular price.

Birds & Flowers of Beautiful Cathay Plate Series

2006-03-29T19:52:00.000-05:00

The Franklin Mint released the Birds & Flowers of Beautiful Cathay series of plates between 1981 and 1983. Each plate is 7.5" in diameter and features a handpainted 24 karat gold border. Each of the plates is hand stamped on the back with the artist Wei Tseng Yang's "chop".

Each Birds and Flowers of Beautiful Cathay plate represents one of the 24 separate periods of the Chinese Year. They are painted in the Nanpai style.

There is one certificate for the entire series (not individual ones for each plate) and they were originally only available through supscription at a cost $39.00 per plate.

The titles in the Birds & Flowers of Beautiful Cathay plate series, many of which are available for purchase in our online store, are:

Beginning of Winter
Big Snow
Ching Che (Awakening of Insects)
Ch'ing Ming (Pure Brightness)
Ch'un Fen (Division of Spring)
Cold Dew
Hsia Chih (Arrival of Summer)
Hsiao Han (Small Cold)
Hsiao Man (Ripening Again)
Hsiao Shu (Small Heat)
Ku Yu (Corn Rain)
Li Ch'iu (Beginning of Autumn)
Li Ch'un (Beginning of Spring) - pictured
Li Hsia (Beginning of Summer)
Limit of Heat
Mang Chung (Grain in the Ear)
Scarlet Finches and Chrysanthemums
Small Snow
Ta Han (Great Cold)
Ta Shus (Great Heat)
White Dew
Winter Solstice
Yu Shui (Rain Water)
Unknown

Floral Fantasies by Anna Perenna

2006-03-21T20:14:00.000-05:00

The Empress Gold Floral Fantasies plate by artist Carol Burgues is so stunning I just had to feature it on its own! Made by Anna Perenna, Empress Gold is the First Companion Art Plate made in 1978 in an edition limited to just 5,000 plates.

This 9 3/4" diameter plate depicts garden flowers and is accented in 24k gold speckles. The issue price was $110.00, but we have this plate in mint condition in box with the certificate for just $39.30 - 42% off our normal price! Don't miss your chance to own this beautiful limited edition plate.

Bashful Bunnies by Anna Perenna

2006-03-16T20:45:00.000-05:00

The Bashful Bunnies series of plates by artist Mary Ellen Wehrli and maker Anna Perenna are perfect for Easter, although there is one plate for each season. Each Bashful Bunnies plate was made in an edition limited to 15,000 between 1981 and 1983. The plates are 8.5" in diameter.

The four titles in the Bashful Bunnies series are:

Spring's Surprise (pictured)
Summer's Sunshine
Fall's Frolic
Winter's Wonder

We have all four titles available in our online store!

Toby Plate Collection by Davenport Pottery

2006-03-09T22:15:00.000-05:00

The Toby Plate Collection by Davenport Pottery features six whimsical titles in 3-D. The first plate, Toby Fillpot, was created by artist Wilfred Blandford. The other five plates were created by artist Douglas Tootle. Each plate was made in a limited edition between 1984 and 1986. The Toby Plate Collection titles are 8 3/4" in diameter.

The plate titles in this series by Davenport Pottery Co. are:

Toby Fillpot
Falstaff
Jack Tar (pictured)
Mr. Pickwick
Friar Tuck
Long John Silver

These limited edition plates are available at 46% off by clicking here.

Great Stories From the Bible by Reco Collection

2006-03-07T19:34:00.000-05:00

The Great Stories From the Bible series of limited edition plates features artwork by Garri Katz and were made by Reco International. Each plate is 9 1/4" big and was limited to an edition of 14 firing days. There are eight titles in the Great Stories From the Bible series of plates.

The titles in this series by Garri Katz are:

Moses in teh Bulrushes
King David and Saul
Moses and the Ten Commandments
Joseph's Coat of Many Colors
Rebekah at the Well
Daniel Reads the Writing on the Wall
The Story of Ruth (pictured)
King Solomon

We have five of the eight titles left at 48 to 55% off!

The Canterbury Tales by Longton Crown Pottery

2006-03-01T20:56:00.000-05:00

The Canterbury Tales series of plates are by artist G.A. Hoover for Longton Crown Pottery with the Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies. There are four beautiful plates in this series, with the first released in 1980 and the other three in 1982.

Each plate is 8.5" in diameter and in an edition limited to 90 firing days. The Canterbury Tales plates are made of genuine Baronet Bone China.

The four titles in G.A. Hoover's Canterbury Tales series are:

Man of Law's Tale (pictured)
Franklin's Tale
Knight's Tale
Wife of Bath's Tale

Check out our online store today for your favorite!

Tribute to Love - The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam

2006-02-27T19:45:00.000-05:00

Tribute to Love - The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam series of plates was made by the Porcelaine Ariel and artist Mossan Eskandar in an edition limited to 17,500. There are twelve plates in the series issued between 1980 and 1982. Each plate is 9 1/4" in diameter.

Tribute to Love plates were each inspired by the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. These plates are beautiful pieces of artwork with incredibly vibrant color.

The titles in the Tribute to Love series by Mossan Eskandar are:

A Shaft of Light (pictured)
A Jug of Wine
Sultan After Sultan
The Bird is on the Wing
If Today Be Sweet
Flower That Once Has Blown
Door to Which We Have No Key
Ah, My Beloved Fill the Cup
The Moving Finger Writes
The Nighingale That in the Branches Sang
Yon Rising Moon
Turn Down an Empty

Visit our online store to buy your favorites today!

Beauty of Polar Wildlife Plates by Royal Grafton China

2006-02-25T21:08:00.000-05:00

The Beauty of Polar Wildlife series of plates were released between 1990 and 1992. Each plate depicts a different polar animal and were created by artist Mike Jackson. The edition was limited to 150 firing days by Royal Grafton China.

There are eight plates in the Beauty of Polar Wildlife series and each plate measures 8.5" in diameter.

The plates in the Beauty of Polar Wildlife series include:

Baby Seals
Polar Bear Cubs (pictured)
Arctic Fox Cubs
Arctic Hare Family
Arctic Wolf Family
Dall Sheep
Emperor Penguins
Reindeer Young

We have three plates left from this series - each at 32% off!

Vintage Russian Glass Christmas Ornaments

2006-02-21T20:52:00.000-05:00

One of the things I love about vintage Russian glass Christmas ornaments are the fabulous colors! In addition to traditional shapes like Christmas trees, eggs, starbursts, and balls there are a variety of unique figurals like fruit and animals.

These delicate glass ornaments are embellished with hand-painted accents and features, glitter, and frosting. Such a cute addition to any Christmas tree!

Check out our selection of Russian Christmas ornaments before they are gone. All of these vintage glass ornaments are currently marked down 34%!

30 to 75% Off Everything in Our Inventory!

2006-02-19T18:15:00.000-05:00

Our entire inventory has been marked 30-75% OFF!!! Visit http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

Plus, if you spend $100 or more, you will receive Free US shipping when you put in code FS100!

We have 1,000s of items in stock including a huge selection of limited edition plates from 100s of makers such as Artaffects and Bradford Exchange, Donald Zolan and W.S. George, Franklin Mint and much more!

1,000s of vintage Christmas ornaments from Angels and elves to Reindeer and Santas, plus Old World Christmas collector ornaments and Hallmark Keepsake ornaments from 1975-2004. Not to mention collector figurines, dolls, china, pottery, glassware much much more!

Please stop by http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

Little Girls Collection of Plates by Pemberton & Oakes

2006-02-14T19:38:00.000-05:00

Pemberton & Oakes, a family-owned business opened in 1977, specializes in collectibles featuring children and inspirational themes. Although many of Pemberton & Oakes' products feature the artwork of Donald Zolan the company has issued a variety of series by other artists.

One popular limited edition collector plate series by Pemberton & Oakes is the Little Girls collection. These plates, released between 1985 and 1987, depict beautiful scense of young girls by artist Robert Anderson. Each plate was made in an edition limited to 15,000.

The plates in the Little Girls collection by Pemberton & Oakes are:

Curious Kitten, 1985
Making Magic, 1986 (pictured)
Sunny Umbrella, 1986
Apple Blossom Time, 1987

We currently have all four plate titles in our online store - don't miss your chance to own one today!

Alice in Wonderland Plates by Historic Providence Mint

2006-02-11T18:20:00.000-05:00

The Alice in Wonderland Series of plates was made by Royal Wickford Porcelain and distributed exclusively by the Historic Providence Mint. Artist George Terp based the plates on the TV movie version of Alice in Wonderland.

Each plate in Terp's Alice in Wonderland series was made in an edition limited to 45 firing days in 1986. Check out our online store to find your favorites.

The twelve titles in the Historic Providence Mint series of plates depicting scenes from Alice in Wonderland are:

The Tea Party
The Caterpillar (pictured)
The White Knight
The Duchess and Cook
Off With Their Heads!
Red and White Queens
The White Rabbit
Talking Flowers
Tweedledee-Tweedledum
Walrus and Carpenter
Lion and Unicorn
Humpty Dumpty

Grimm's Fairy Tales Plates by Konigszelt Bayern

2006-01-06T21:54:00.000-05:00

The Grimm's Fairy Tales series of plates are made by Konigszelt Bayern of Bavaria, Germany. There are eight plates in the series all by artist Charles Gehm. One plate was released each year from 1981-1988.

The plates in the Grimm's Fairy Tales series are:

Rumpelstilzchen
Rapunzel (pictured)
Hansel and Gretel
The Shoemaker and the Elves
The Golden Goose
Shoes That Were Danced
Sleeping Beauty
Snow White

We have a variety of Konigszelt Bayern plates available from the Grimm's Fairy Tales series of plates as well as titles from Konigszelt Bayern's other series including Sulamith's Christmas and Hedi Keller Christmas.

Huge After Christmas Sale!

2005-12-30T15:43:00.000-05:00

ALL Christmas ornaments have been marked down to 30-45% OFF! Vintage santas, reindeer, elves, angels, glass ball ornament, figural ornaments, ornaments from Poland and Russia, all on PERMANENT DISCOUNT! at Seems Like Old Times. We have 1000s of Hallmark Keepsake ornaments from 1973-2004, and collectible Old World Christmas inge-glas ornaments! Stop in today for the best selection, because once they are gone, they are gone.

Not interested in Christmas? Then take 10% OFF anything else in our store. We Marked everything down in November, and will be continuing to lower our prices until ALL OUR INVENTORY IS GONE as we are going out of business this spring. USE CODE DEC10 to take an extra 10% OFF any item in stock at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

Take 10% OFF your order items that are NOT in our holiday section. Coupon will appear as -$.01 on your order (due to our online limitations), but will be updated with correct amount when you place your order and receive confirmation with shipping charges. Coupon only good for new in-stock orders (not previous orders or special orders), and cannot be combined with any other discount. Offer ends January 2, 2006.

Old World Christmas Ornaments

2005-12-22T22:08:00.000-05:00

The Merck Family's Old World Christmas ornaments are miniature works of art!

Old World Christmas ornaments are made in the old European style using the same techniques from the 1800s. This style involves mouth-blown glass, intricate molds, and liquid silver on the inside. Each ornament is hand-painted and decorated for an exquisite finish!

From 1984 through 2000 the ornaments were made by Inge-Glas of Germany and distributed in the United States by Old World Christmas. Each of these Old World Christmas ornaments are made of glass and feature the famous "star cap" topper. Since Inge-Glas and Old World Christmas ornaments split in 2001 Old World Christmas' ornaments no longer feature the "star-cap."

If you want to expand your Old World Christmas ornament collection (or start one!), visit our online store today for a great selection of these retired ornaments.

Holiday Special - 35% Off One Item!

2005-12-20T20:43:00.000-05:00

35% OFF Any Item at Seems Like Old Times Take 35% OFF one item of your choice from now until December 26th. Offer is good on any item listed in our store, including sale items, but not on special orders or previous purchases. Discount will be taken off of highest priced item. You MUST use code 35DEC when ordering, or you will not receive the discount.

Because of the limitations of our online store, the discount will appear as $.01 when you order, but will be updated to the correct amount when your UPDATED ORDER CONFIMATION is sent to you, AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE COUPON CODE. Cannot be combined with any other offer.

Use coupon code 35DEC when ordering for 35% off one item!

An Old Time Country Winter Plates by Danbury Mint

2005-12-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

There are eight titles in the An Old Time Country Winter series of plates made by Danbury Mint. Each plate by artist Charlotte (C.J.) Sternberg has a 23k gold rim and was made in 1990.

The plates are each 8 1/8" in diameter and were made in an edition limited to 14 firing days each. Danbury Mint is based in Norwalk, Connecticut.

An Old Time Country Winter titles are available for purchase in our online store. The series includes the following titles:

What a Ride
Snowy Friends (pictured)
Tapping the Sugar Maples
Snow Forts
The Race Through Town
Skating on the Pond
Chittendon's Place
Tree Lighting

Elvis Presley Collector Plates by Delphi

2005-12-17T21:47:00.000-05:00

Delphi is especially known for Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe plates as well as other series based on famous people, events, and media.

Delphi and the Bradford Exchange have released a number of series featuring the King. Back in Tupelo, 1956 from the Elvis Presley: In Performance series is pictured at right.

Commemorating the King by artist Mark Stutzman plates were all released in 1993 in an edition limited to 95 firing days each. The titles in the series are as follows:

The Rock and Roll Legend
Las Vegas, Live
Blues and Black Leather
Private Presley
Golden Boy
Screen Idol
Outstanding Young Man
The Tiger: Faith, Spirit, and Discipline

Elvis on the Big Screen by artist Bruce Emmett was released in 1992-1993 in an edition limited to 150 firing days. The titles in this series are:

Elvis in Loving You
Elvis in G.I. Blues
Viva Las Vegas
Elvis in Blue Hawaii
Elvis in Jailhouse Rock
Elvis in Spinout
Elvis in Speedway
Elvis in Harum Scarum

Other Elvis Presley plate series by Delphi include: Elvis Presley Hit Parade, Elvis Presley: In Performance, and Elvis Presley: Looking at a Legend. Check out our online store for a wide selection of Delphi Elvis Presley plates!

Bing & Grondahl Christmas Plates

2005-12-15T19:49:00.000-05:00

Bing & Grondahl's annual Christmas plate series is the oldest annual collector's series in the world. The first plate was released in 1895 and have been a popular collector's item since. These limited edition plates all blue and white with decoration under the glaze.

Bing and Grondahl was established in 1853 in Copenhagen, Denmark by sculptor Frederik Vilhelm Grondahl and two brothers M. H. and J. H. Bing.

Recent artists have included Henry Thelander (1963-1983), Edvard Jensen (1984-1994), and Jorgen Nielsen (1995-present). The 2005 Christmas plate marks the 111th issue of the Bing & Grondahl series.

We have a wide variety of these Christmas plates available in our online store, particularly those issues in the 1970s and 80s.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments from 2004

2005-12-13T19:21:00.000-05:00

Hallmark Keepsake ornaments are such a popular collector's item and with so many styles there's bound to be a series that interests just about everyone!

Hallmark first introduced Keepsake ornaments in 1973 with designs ranging from traditional Christmas themes to popular movies, cartoon characters, and sports figures.

We have hundreds of Hallmark ornaments currently in stock, with plenty to choose from for 2004 including miniatures, Spanish, Barbie, American Girls, Winnie the Pooh, Star Trek, Peanuts, and Commemoratives.

Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments as far back as 1979 and prior are also available in our online store.

Holiday Special - 30% Off One Item of Your Choice!

2005-12-06T19:43:00.000-05:00

Don't want to fight the traffic and the crowds at the malls? Pull up a seat and a cup of hot cocoa and shop with Seems Like Old Times! Visit our online store today at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com and know you will get your order in time for the holidays. 1000s of vintage Christmas ornaments and decorations (perfect to remind Baby Boomers of their childhood Christmases), plus retired Hallmark Keepsake ornaments from 1973-2004, and charming Old World Christmas ornaments. We also have 1000s of limited edition plates, and other fun vintage collectibles! If you ask, we can even wrap wrap your gift and put a note in for you to send to your loved one.

Special this week! Take 30% OFF one item of your choice from now until Dec. 10th. Offer is good on any item listed in our store, but not on special orders or previous purchases. Discount will be taken Off of highest priced item. You MUST use code 30DEC when ordering, or you will not receive the discount. Because of the limitations of our online store, the discount will appear as $.01 when you order, but will be updated to the correct amount when your UPDATED ORDER CONFIMATION is sent to you, AS LONG AS YOU PUT IN THE COUPON CODE, which is 30DEC .

Visit http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com

American Adventure Plates by Endre Szabo

2005-12-02T16:23:00.000-05:00

The American Adventure series of plates by artist Endre Szabo was released by Lynell Collector Plates and were made in the United States. Each plate is 10 3/8" and has a gold rim - made in an edition limited to 7,500 plates.

Each American Adventure plate depicts a pioneer man (or woman!) and the series includes six titles:

The Whaler, 1979
The Trapper, 1980
The Forty-Niner, 1980
The Pioneer Woman, 1981
The Wagon Master, 1981
Wagon Ho!, 1982

Check out our online store for these exceptional Endre Szabo American Adventure plates!

Donald Zolan Collector Plates: About the Artist

2005-11-27T14:12:00.000-05:00

Donald Zolan began drawing and painting as a child and began his formal studies at twelve at the Art Institute of Chicago. Zolan also attended American Academy of Fine Art after high school.

In the late 70's Donald Zolan was approached by John Hugunin, formerly President of the Bradford Exchange, who had just formed his own plate company - Pemberton & Oakes - who asked him to create a new painting as the first collector plate release.

Zolan's first plate, Erik and Dandelion, depicted his young son and was released in 1978. A second plate called Sabina in the Grass, featuring his daughter, was released the next year. This plate was given the honor of "Plate of the Year" - an unprecedented honor for a second release.

Donald Zolan's plates most often feature beautiful scenes of children and his art comes alive with the wonderment and magic of each child depicted. The love Zolan feels for children shines through so brightly in each painting that it's no wonder his plates are so popular with collectors.

We currently have a number of these lovely plates in our online store, don't miss the chance to fill out your collection or start a new one.

Royale Blue Winter China by Reco Plates

2005-11-25T15:43:00.000-05:00

Royale Blue Winter China of Germany is a division of Reco International. These elegant plates are blue and white porcelain in relief.

Royale's popular Christmas series includes nine titles and first debuted in 1969 - with one plate released per year through 1977.
Designed by factory artists the Christmas series of plates ran in editions from 5,000 to 10,000, depending on the plate.

The plates in the Christmas series by Royale Blue Winter China include:

Christmas Fair, 1969
Vigil Mass, 1970
Christmas Night, 1971
Elks, 1972
Christmas Dawn, 1973
Village Christmas, 1974
Feeding Time, 1975
Seaport Christmas, 1976
Sledding, 1977

Edna Hibel Studios Plates: About the Artist

2005-11-22T18:59:00.000-05:00

Edna Hibel was born in 1917 and grew up in the Boston area. She began painting in elementary school and was educated at the Boston Museum School of Fine Arts from 1935 to 1939. Edna began making stone lithographs in 1966 and soon moved to Switzerland. Hibel innovated a method of lithograph (a type of drawing) that includes up to thirty-two colors which is now called lithographs on porcelain.

Many of Edna Hibel's popular limited edition plate series were created using this lithograph on porcelain technique. Often the editions are segmented by colors or the use of gold. For instance, the Taro-Kun plate from the Arte-Ovale series was created in an edition size limited to 2,000 total plates. This included 300 with a 24k gold background (pictured), 1,000 with a cobalt blue background, and 700 with a white porcelain background.

We currently have this extremely rare plate in our online store, in both the gold and white backgrounds. The white Taro-Kun Edna Hibel plate is one of only five unnumbered plates in existance. We also carry a wide variety of Edna Hibel's other plate series.

America's Indian Heritage Plates by Artaffects

2005-11-20T10:27:00.000-05:00

America's Indian Heritage series of plates by artist Gregory Perillo and maker Artaffects were released in 1987-1988. The series has eight plates, each in an edition limited to 10 firing days. Each of Perillo's plates depicts a different Native American Nation.

Artist Gregory Perillo first became a plate artist in 1976. Although he lives in New York, Perillo is a western painter and sculptor who studied under William Leigh for five years.

Perillo's popular America's Indian Heritage series of plates includes the following titles:

Cheyenne Nation (pictured)
Arapaho Nation
Kiowa Nation
Sioux Nation
Chippewa Nation
Crow Nation
Nez Perce Nation
Blackfoot Nation

We currently have five of the America's Indian Heritage plates available in our online store, as well as other Perillo series including Chieftains, Council of Nations, and Maidens.

Legends of West Lake Limited Edition Plate Series

2005-11-17T20:34:00.000-05:00

Legends of West Lake is one of maker Imperial Ching-Te Chen Porcelain's popular limited edition plate series. These plates are all by Master Artisan J. Xue-Bing and are each. 8.5" in diameter. All of the Legends of West Lake series of plates were made in an edition limited to 175 firing days. The first plate, Lady White, debuted in 1989. There are twelve plates in this series.

The titles in the Legends of West Lake series by Imperial Ching-Te Chen Porcelain are as follows:

1. Lady White, 1989
2. Lady Silkworm, 1990
3. Laurel Peak, 1990
4. Rising Sun Terrace, 1990
5. The Apricot Fairy, 1990
6. Bright Pearl, 1990
7. Thread of Sky, 1990
8. Phoenix Mountain, 1991
9. Ancestors of Tea, 1991
10. Three Pools Mirroring/Moon, 1991
11. Fly-in Peak, 1991
12. Parrot Maiden, 1991

We have several plates from the Legends of West Lake series, as well as Beauties of the Red Mansion series and others, available in our online store.

Storing a Vintage Christmas Ornament Collection

2005-10-29T14:07:00.000-05:00

Do you collecte vintage or antique Christmas ornaments? If so, here are some tips on storage and care that will help keep your ornament collection in the best possible condition.

Wrap ornaments in acid free tissue paper
Place ornaments in stiff cardboard containers made especially for Christmas decorations
Do not place too many layers of ornaments on top of each other
Do not use bubble wrap or other plastic materials (including plastic boxes) for storage purposes as plastic doesn't offer enough ventilation
Never wrap vintage or antique ornaments in newspaper because the ink can rub off!
Store your packed cardboard containers in a dry place that will not be exposed to water, sun, or fluorescent lights
Never store Christmas ornaments with the hooks - these should be removed first to prevent scratching
Small craft, paint, or make-up brushes work perfectly for careful dusting before displaying your Christmas ornament treasures!

Legendary Ships of the Seas Royal Cornwall Porcelain Plates

2005-10-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

Collector's Spotlight: Legendary Ships of the Seas Series of Collector Plates

These plates were released by Royal Cornwall in conjunction with the Calhouns Collectors Society in the early 1980s. There were ten plates in the series by artist Alan D'Estrehan. The edition was limited to 19,500 sets and each plate is 9 1/4" in diameter with a 24k gold rim.

Alan D'Estrehan created these works of art especially for the Legendary Ships of the Seas series of plates. His paintings of sailing ships have been exhibited around the world. D'Estrehan apparently spent two years doing research to create these pieces of art which feature sailing ships of history and fantasy.

Each plate in Royal Cornwall's Legendary Ships of the Seas series is hand-numbered on the back in gold and includes the artist's signature, plate title, and name of the collection.

The plates in the Legendary Ships of the Seas series are:

The Flying Dutchman
The Refanu
The Gaspe Bay
The Rescue
The Copenhagen
The Palatine
The Pride
The Foochow Sea Junk
The Roth Ranbach
The Frigorifique

UNICEF Our Children Series of Plates

2005-10-18T20:27:00.000-05:00

Collector's Spotlight: UNICEF Our Children Series Information

The UNICEF "Our Children" collector plates were the second series made by Heinrich Porcelain in conjunction with Villeroy & Boch. These plates benefited the UNICEF Children's Fund and seem much harder to find information on.

The titles of the plates in this series are as follows:

Russia
Tibet
Peru
France
Afghanistan
Greenland
Spain
Argentina
Kenya
Hungary
Morocco
Canada

UNICEF Children of the of World Series of Plates

2005-10-12T12:00:00.000-05:00

Collector's Spotlight: UNICEF Children of the World Series Information

The UNICEF Children of the World Series of Limited Edition Collector plates are made by Heinrich Porcelain in conjunction with Villeroy & Boch. These plates benefited the UNICEF Children's Fund and the various plates in the series were made in the late 1970's through the mid to late 1980's. No certificates were issued with these plates.

The titles of the plates in this series are as follows:

Europe
Asia
Africa
Malaysia
India
Mexico
Lappland
Japan
USA
Yugoslavia
Egypt
South East Asia

We have one of these gold rimmed plates, India, still available in our store. Next time, learn more about the second UNICEF series called "Our Children."

Caring for Damascene Plates by Reed & Barton

2005-10-10T18:56:00.000-05:00

If you collect Damascene silverware plates, you may be interested in learing how to care for them. Maker Reed & Barton suggests the following:

"...first polish with a good copper cleaner; then apply a fine silver polish. Rinse off in warm water and dry with a soft cloth."

These simple instructions should keep your Damascene silverware plates in great condition!

Help Hurricane Katrina Disaster Relief with your purchase!

2005-09-15T19:02:00.000-05:00

From now until Sept 20th, 10% of every sale at Seems Like Old Times will go to the AMERICAN RED CROSS to help with humanitarian aid for this national disaster. Please visit http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com . If you were considering buying something soon anyway, now is the time.

If you don't want to purchase anything, please consider giving to the Red Cross at http://www.redcross.org . As I am sure you must know, thousands of families need our help.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow countrymen and their families.

Newsletter - Insuring Your Collectibles

2005-09-02T13:06:00.000-05:00

In this issue:
1) Monthly Story - Insuring Your Collectibles
2) We Want to hear from YOU!
3) What’s New
4) Quote of the Month

1) Insuring Your Collectibles. I am sure where ever you are on the globe, you have heard of the huge fires in Southern California. Having lived out there, it is amazing to watch the television, and then call my friends who tell me of not being able to go outside due to all the smoke. One big fire is right outside of the San Fernando Valley, home to 100s of 1000s of people, if not millions, whom I am sure never thought they would be so close to such a huge fire (we lived in the middle of the Valley ourselves). But the stories that struck me were the interviews with people who lost their homes. Men and women in tears as they sifted thru the ash that used to be their homes, wavering between despair that they had lost all their possessions, and gratitude that they were safe, and they had their pets and family photos. Over and over again I heard “At least we have insurance”, “I lost all my collections, but at least they were insured”, or in one sad case, “I rented, so I never thought about getting insurance”.
Here are some good guidelines on keeping records for insurance:

Keep sales receipts and attach to your personal property inventory list.

Keep a video inventory or photographs of your personal property in addition to your inventory list.

List any serial #’’s that may be on your personal property Engrave your own serial # into items that are of value.

Keep your personal property inventory list, along with photos and/or inventory videos, in a safe place away from your home such as a bank lock box.

Do YOU have a collection? Or possibly, do you have jewelry, or some other valuables. Many people don’t realize that in a normal policy there are limits to how much you are insured for in a given category. If your collection is over the limit, you will need to get a Rider to cover that collection. Please do yourself this one favor this week, or set up a time to do it soon. Call your insurance agent to go over your Personal Property coverage and make sure it is current and reflects the true value of your items.

Take it from me, I learned it the hard way. When we moved from LA to PA I forgot to get a rider for my wedding rings. Beautiful early 1900s platinum engagement ring with engraving. I lost them during a bad bought of eczema when I was wearing medicated cream. I was heartbroken to lose my rings, and even more heartbroken to discover we didn’t have insurance and would not be able to afford a replacement. You never know when a loss will occur, just be ready.

2) We want to hear from YOU! Specifically, we would like to hear about your collection, whatever it is that you collect. Why do you collect it? How did you get started? Is there something special in your collection that stands out? Send your stories to oldtimes@tias.com.

This reader’s collection has a special family meaning for her...

My son and wife got a divorce when their child, our grandson was nearly 2 years old. I was wondering what I could do so that he would remember his grandma and grandpa since his mother had custody of the grandson, Kyle. I decided that I would buy a Hallmark Christmas ornament for a grandson every year until he becomes 18 and when he marries, he will then have these ornaments to trim his Christmas tree and remember grandma and grandpa. I did not have his first year ornament and I ran across the website, seemslikeoldtimes.com and they supplied me with the l986 ornament which was his birth year. Needless to say, I broke one this year as I was "undecorating" the tree and again I turned to "seemslikeoldtimes" and again, they supplied me with the ornament I had broken. Now I very carefully pack them in a box marked, Kyle's ornaments and will give them to him on his 18th birthday! God Bless! Edith M

3) New Items - We have been adding items to our store over the past week and will continue to add almost 2,000 more before Thanksgiving, most of them Vintage Christmas Ornaments and Decorations. Here are some of the catagories:

Santas

Angels

Elves

Reindeer

Bells

Check our Our Most Recent Items by clicking here.

Plus MANY other holiday items including 100s of Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments!
Over 6,000 items now in online in our store. If there is something you would like us to carry, please let us know!

4) Quote of the Month ~ We have 100 different inspirational quotes on rotation in our store to enjoy at your leisure...

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fall. ~Confucius

Visit us on the web at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com or write to us at oldtimes@tias.com

Thank you for reading and HAPPY COLLECTING!!!

Newsletter - Displaying Your Collection

2005-07-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

In this issue:
1) Story of the Month
2) We Want to Hear from YOU!
3) What’s New
4) Quote of the Month
5) Displaying your Collection

1) Each month we ask folks to send in a story about their collection. This beautiful story tells of one readers meaningful connection with her collection of Angels...

I always wanted to be a Mommy, from the time I was a little girl. I suffered 11 miscarriages before having my first child, two more after that. The worst thing that happened was my son, Christopher, dying at birth and burying my baby. Part of me died that day too. My other son looked like his Daddy, but Christopher was pure ME! I came across an angel holding a baby and who did it look like? CHRISTOPHER.........thus began my collection of angels!
One day, Jacob, my son, tossed a ball and knocked down Christopher (the figurine) and broke him. I was so upset, but I finally found peace in it. This angel holding my baby represented my baby to me, but I realized through the breaking of the figurine, Christopher was not meant for this world. That broken angel brought me acceptance and peace. I continue to collect angels and am fascinated by even the thought that I have so many little angels in Heaven. I have a collection here, and there! AMEN!
Cindy M.

2) We want to hear from YOU! Specifically, we would like to hear about your collection, whatever it is that you collect. Why do you collect it? How did you get started? Is there something special in your collection that stands out? Send us your stories! Send your stories to oldtimes@tias.com.

3) New Items - We have been taking it a little easy this summer in adding new items to our store. But still have some great items listed here.

Addtionally, we have been getting in items that were currently out of stock, which you will not see listed on the New Items page, but will show up in SEARCH.

Imperial Jingdezhen Plates (Beauties of the Red Mansion and Flower Goddesses, Legends of West Lake, and Summer Palaces)

Franklin Mint/ Franklin Porcelain Plates

1997 Hallmark Ornaments

Hutschenreuther Ornaments

W. S. George Plates

Over 6,000 items now in online in our store. If there is something you would like us to carry, please let us know!

4) Quote of the Month ~ We have 100 different inspirational quotes on rotation in our store to enjoy at your leisure...
God, help me bloom where I am planted.

If you have a quote to add, send it in to us.

5) We bring you the following courtesy of our friends at Good Buy Girls, specializing in ways to display your cherished collectibles.

What’s the best way to display a collectible plate on the wall? There are many ways to do this, from using a simple and inexpensive vinyl-coated wire hanger that stretches around the edge of the plate and is then simply hung on a picture hook, to securing the plate within a glass and wood enclosed frame, encircled by a fabric background (optional color choices) that the plate fits into. Individual plate frames come in several shapes –– round, rectangular, octagonal and square - and are available in a variety of woods to complement that special plate. A metal wall hanger that allows the plate to rest on it is another option –– particularly for plates you use regularly. These are available in a variety of designs, from simple to exquisite, and in several materials, such as brass, wrought iron, and painted metals, and are designed to display 1 –– 4 plates. Once you have decided on the kind of display you will use, remember to pay attention to how you secure the display to your wall.

Keep in mind the weight of your display, together with your plates. If possible, use an appropriate sized nail and position the mounting hardware so that the nail goes into a wooden stud in your wall. If that isn’’t possible, check with your local hardware store to see what they recommend for your particular wall material and situation –– drywall, plaster, paneling, etc. In some cases, you may want to substitute heavier mounting hardware than what is included when you purchase the display itself. To see examples of some of the displays to choose from, use the following links.

Plate Wires
Simple Plate Hangers
Decorative Plate Hangers
Plate Frames

Visit us on the web at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com or write to us at oldtimes@tias.com

Thank you for reading and HAPPY COLLECTING!!!

2005-05-11T20:14:00.000-05:00

In this issue:
1) 5 Great Lessons
2) What’s New
3) Quote of the Month
4) We want to hear from YOU!

1) This was sent to me by a reader and I thought it would be great to put in the newsletter. If anyone has any stories they would like to share, please email them to oldtimes@tias.com!

5 Great lessons

1. First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady.
During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?"

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello."I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain.
One night, at 11.30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rainstorm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read:Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others."Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole

3. Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn't have the sundae because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip."

4. Fourth Important Lesson - The obstacle in Our Path.
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand. Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5. Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts.
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained her situation to her little brother and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a ! trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"! Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister !"

2) New Items ~ It has been awhile since our last newsletter and we have added TONS of great stuff! Remember the 500 item collection we got in? Well they are all now added to our store along with 500 More items! Franklin Mint, Hamilton Collection, Bradford Exchange, Imperial Jingdezhen, and more. Many plates that we have never carried in our inventory, plus over 100 beautiful figurines and dozens of holiday ornaments and decorations! We will continue to add items 3 times a week for the next few weeks. Remember, if you don’t see it in our store, just drop us a line to see if we have it or can get it in for you. See our latest additions by clicking here or go directly to the following individual sections:

Franklin Mint Plates

Hamilton Collection Plates

Russian Music Boxes

Over 6,000 items now in online in our store. If there is something you would like us to carry, please let us know!"

3) Quote of the Month ~ We have 100 different inspirational quotes on rotation in our store. Normally I print one of the quotes here in our newsletter, but this month I thought I would pass on a really nice site. Visit this link and enjoy:http://www.theinterviewwithgod.com/

4) Each month we say a few words of what is happening with us, or what is on our minds. Now we want to hear from YOU! Specifically, we would like to hear about your collection, whatever it is that you collect. Why do you collect it? How did you get started? Is there something special in your collection that stands out? Send us your stories! Send your stories to oldtimes@tias.com.

Don't forget to visit our store at http://www.seemslikeoldtimes.com