While most poets have to resort to vanity press to get their works printed, Marilyn Brownfield just has her book of poetry published.Entitled “Take My Hand,” it’s a collection of poems, stories and personal thoughts. Her favorite piece is “The Things My Dad Taught Me and Told Me.” She wrote a poem about every one of her family members and friends, and when she got to her father, Harold Moore, she couldn’t find the words to do him justice. One of the lines is, “My dad taught me how to bait a hook, throw a line, and sit patiently on a rock by the water…” Brownfield is a dealer at 4th Street Antiques in Temecula and recently joined the social networking revolution when she attended one of Frank’s! Digital Delights in Temecula. She started out as a Facebook skeptic, but now keeps in touch with her family by using the free site.
Category Archives: Personal
Marlena's Laser Surgery in Tijuana
Since hat lady Marlena Woods didn’t always wear hats to protect her from the sun, she is now going to get a laser treatment to remove some of the signs of her aging.At the December Rose Bowl, she announced she would be traveling to Tijuana for a “Mexico Extreme Makeover” for about 1/4 the cost of what it would be here in the United States. She expects it will cost about $2,000 as opposed to $8,000 to have the sunspots removed from her hands, face, and chest. If all goes well with her first surgery, she is hoping to boost and plump her derriere, but may require a little industry support. Mexico Extreme Makeover claims to be able to lift by 40% and inflate by 20%. ”They take the fat from your own body and inject it into your butte,” explained Woods. She is hoping to start a “Baja Butte Fund” to help with the cost of adding to her “semi-flat” derriere.
Tania performs for queen of iran
Although Tania Verafield is almost always by her father’s side before a big show, she was noticeably absent from the first half of opening day at the Golden California Show. She was performing for the Queen of Iran at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. ”She is an actress,” explained her father, Jose Vera. She played a demure and mostly-covered Iranian woman. Queen Farah Pahlavi is the widow of Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi and although the titles and distinctions of the Iranian Imperial Family were abolished by the new government, she is still called the Empress. After a carefully-planned courtship, Farah married Mohammed Reza Pahlavi on December 21, 1959, at the age of 21. She gave birth to four children (including a male heir) and she served as the Queen of Iran from 1967 to 1979. She was incredibly popular and the Imperial Government in Tehran was aware of this. Her significance was exemplified by her part in the 1967 Coronation Ceremonies, where she was crowned as the first Shahbanu, or Empress of modern Iran. It was again confirmed when the Shah named her as the official Empress Regent should he die or be incapacitated before the Crown Prince’s 21st birthday. The naming of a woman as Regent was highly unusual for a Middle-Eastern Monarchy. After the Shah’s death, the exiled Empress remained in Egypt for nearly two years. President Sadat gave her and her family use of Koubbeh Palace in Cairo. A few months after President Sadat’s assassination in October 1981, the Empress and her family left Egypt. President Ronald Reagan informed the exiled Empress that she was welcome in the United States. She first settled in Williamstown, Massachussetts but later bought a home in Greenwich, Connecticut. After the death of her daughter Princess Leila in 2001, she purchased a smaller home in Potomac, Maryland, near Washington D.C. She is now a jet setter and divides her time between Washington D.C., New York City, Paris, and Cairo.
Just a friend despite rumors
Despite rumors that have been running rampant through the industry,Old Chicago’s former owner, Greg Drumm, does not have a girlfriend. The tall dark-haired beauty that he has been spotted with at the Long Beach Show, is just a friend. ”Everybody accuses him of having a beautiful girlfriend,” said Sheila. “I am just a beautiful friend. They think because we keep company that we are a couple.” The two traveled together to Florida which then started the rumor mill churning again. ”They were saying that we went to Florida and I bought us a vacation home out there,” said Drumm. She admits to tormenting him like a girlfriend or wife, but claims it is a strictly platonic relationship that started years ago when she first became a dealer at Old Chicago. Drumm was first drawn to the quality of merchandise in her Long Beach space. At the May special show, she made $3,000. She attributes her success to hard work and aggressive selling. She feels many dealers sit around and wait for customers to come to them; she stays on her feet throughout each show interacting with prospective customers. She learned the trade from her aunt who was a dealer in Huntington Beach. She set up at all the outdoor shows: Goldenwest College, Troubleshooters, Rose Bowl, and PCC. She kept hitting the show circuit until her death two years ago, when she was in her nineties. ”Her house was like a museum,” Sheila recalled. She also prides herself on knowing detailed information about every item she has in her booth, whether it is a 14 karat gold and Chinese turquoise brooch, or glowing Vaseline martini glasses. ”There are malls filled with dealers who don’t know anything about what they are selling,” she said, adding that this makes it very difficult for a dealer to muster up the enthusiasm and pass it on to a prospective buyer.
Old Chicago owner's next chapter
Greg Drumm is currently weighing his options since closing down Old Chicago Antique Mall in Fountain Valley. Might become a representative for industrial generator batteries that power huge buildings during power outages; as an avid surfer, he is also considering a career in the water sports industry, perhaps selling paddle boards or kayaks. Like so many people who hit late middle age, he has been restructuring his life. He and his wife, Katy, divorced last year. The overhaul started when Drumm hoped to sell Old Chicago Antique Mall, but negotiations dragged on between the landlord and the potential buyer, Mike Lopez, who was also a dealer in the mall. Not wanting to leave the dealers hanging, Drumm informed them at the end of August that he was going to shut down the mall on September 28th, 2008. He informed some dealers when they were in the mall by bringing them into the back office. He let the others know by flipping through his rolodex and calling them one by one. Most of the dealers were disappointed by the news, and some dealers were even angry. They felt that 30 days was not enough time to move out. He was working with the property manager, George, regarding the rent when the property manager died and a new one took over. The new guy was unable to convince the landlord to extend the favorable rent. This new policy was tantamount to a huge rent increase. When that was announced, Drumm quickly called it quits. ”Mike (Lopez) came really close to doing it,” said Drumm. Old Chicago’s last day of occupancy was Halloween. One of his largest dealers, Scott Brake, the man’s man, took the news very well. Drumm told him in person. Brake moved his inventory into Wertz Brothers. ”He had a lot of stuff to get out of there, but he went about it in a very orderly way,” said Drumm. “He had auctioneers, friends, and trucks come and pick stuff up.” According to Drumm most of the dealer’s had no trouble vacating. They are programmed that way thanks to years of selling at shows. ”They are kind of vagabonds,” he said. “They can pack up a booth and be gone in a day.” Some of the dealers went to the Mission Viejo and Lake Forest areas. A couple of the dealers moved into Orange Circle Antique Mall; Liz Archer moved into the Antique Station, and Jim Gabriel moved into Someplace in Time, also in Orange. Before opening Old Chicago, he and his former wife, Katy, founded Orange Circle Antique Mall in May of 1980. He opened Old Chicago in a former supermarket in Buena Park in April of 1985. When he had his Buena Park location, Drumm was the king of Orange County. His only real competition was Lincoln Antique Mall. He was there for about a decade, and then moved to his Fountain Valley location in 1994. At the height of his antique mall career, he was the founding president of the California Antique Mall Association. He was succeeded by Paula Radi, owner of Sleepy Hollow Antique Mall. The only member of that group that is still in business is Janice Johnson, owner of Sherman Oaks Antique Mall. ”I would like to go into the water sports industry,” said Drumm. He has been a surfer since he was 15. He grew up in Long Island, New York. Drumm first surfboard was a 9’6″ long Bunger. ”At that point I decided I wanted to move to California,” said Drumm. “I didn’t make it out here until I was 26 though.” The 60-year-old is an avid surfer and still lives dangerously by trying to catch an occasional 10′ or 15′ wave. When it’s just him and the water, it clears his mind and he is better equipped to focus on the direction of his future. He surfs Newport Beach on a weekly basis and he is learning how to ride stand-up paddle boards, but he hasn’t tried to catch a wave on one yet.
HIgh Stakes Yahtzee
Antique Emporium manager Marty Underwood did some out-of-town entertaining at the April Long Beach Antique Market. She took her sister, Mary Lynn McKenzie, who was visiting from Ohio, for a trek around the 20-acre stadium. Their mother, who was waiting for them back at Marty’s house, was also visiting from her home state of Alaska. ”This is the first time we have all been together in 12 years,” said Underwood. It was also the first Sunday she had off from the busy Orange mall in a year and a half. After the flea market, they were all taking off for a week vacation in Palm Springs. They had big plans for board and high stakes dice games (Yahtzee), lounging by the pool, and sipping cocktails. The Antique Emporium specializes in electric trains, Disneyana, clocks and radios. It is located at 860 N. Main Street in Orange. Call (714) 363-0263 for more information.
Not named after the serial killer
Jeannie Little admits that when she wasn’t selling her vintage jewelry and handbags at the Del Mar Show, she was busy forcing neighboring dealers to look at picture after picture of her two newest grandbabies. The youngest, Ethan Payne, is only two months old and was born in Long Beach. Although his career is not decided yet, he will quickly be immersed in the world of antiques and collectibles. Not satisfied with simply having grandchildren, Little eagerly awaits the birth of her first great grandchild, Dexter Scott, in July. She clarifies that he was named after the cartoon character, not the serial killer cop in the Showtime television series.
Pentecost's Del Mar return
After a four-year hiatus, fans were thrilled to see Sandra Pentecost back at the Del Mar Show. Pentecost, who used to have an antique collective in San Pedro specializing in mid-century modern. Before the Del Mar Show, she made her antique show circuit debut at the Bakersfield show. In the interim, she had been moving seniors into assisted living facilities and helping them liquidate their cherished belongings. She found the endeavor rewarding, but had little time left to shop or sell at antique shows, which she missed.
Richardson's daughter to wed in june
No, she’s not switching careers from antique dealing to carpentry. Michelle Owens is getting married to the man of her dreams, Robert Nailer on the Newport Beach yacht, “Destiny.” Her new name will be Michelle Nailer. The date is set for June 13th, and she planned to try on wedding dresses after the February Long Beach Antique Market. Antique dealer and appraiser Owens is best known for her affiliation with the Bellflower Adult School when antique courses were taught their by her mother, Sunny Richardson. Richardson has since moved off to Oregon, but she’ll no doubt be returning home for the big Orange County wedding.
Courage after tragedy
After the tragic death of her husband Wally, the Teddy Bear diva, Linda Mullins, is back in the antique and collectible world. She is hitting the show circuit again, and started by making a triumphant teddy return by offering not only vintage bears at the January All-American Show, but a group of rare and historic Teddy Roosevelt memorabilia. Mullins is the former 20-year promoter of the San Diego Teddy Bear Show, which is still being held, and author of 19 books on the stuffed animal for which she is so passionate. At the summit of her Teddy Bear career, she produced the San Diego Teddy Bear Show, which is still referred to by loyalists as Linda’s Show. even though she hasn’t been the owner in more than five years. It has changed names and hands several times since she sold the show half a decade ago. Mullins has written books on all aspects of vintage and collectible Teddy Bears, including “Creating Miniature Teddy Bears,” “The Ultimate Handbook for Making Teddy Bears,”American Teddy Bear Artists Pattern Book,” “Steiff Identification and Price Guide,” “Teddy Bears Past and Present: A Collector’s Identification Guide,” and “The Teddy Bear Men,” which is about the two most important men in Teddy Bear history, President Theodore Roosevelt and cartoonist Clifford Berryman. After years of hard work as an author and show producer, Mullins was determined to retire, and did for a bit, but relaxing every day at her Carlsbad residence overlooking the lagoon, was just not her style. After giving up her show in 2004, Mullins had decided to take a break with her husband. But, due to the unprecedented national and international disasters that hit the following few years, she started raising money for a number of worthy causes. As founder and coordinator for the International Teddy Bear Relief Fund, she planned an auction of custom made Teddies that raised $75,000 for the victims of the tsunami that swept through Southeast Asia in 2005. She began raising money for disaster victims via Teddy auctions in 1995 when she raised $220,000 for those who lost everything in the 1995 earthquake in Kobe, Japan. Most recently, she held a Teddy Bear and doll auction that raised $35,000 to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Since the death of her husband, Mullins had been out of the antique and collectible world. She made her re-emergence at the All-American Show, and will continue to pop up at toy and teddy shows. When she is not wrapped up in the world of her favorite stuffed animal, Mullins is embracing life as a single woman. She is taking gourmet cooking classes at Legoland, teaching her Maltese dog tricks, and taking ballroom and Latin dance lessons.
