I'm a person with a performer's background - music and theater. I guess I'm sort of a natural storyteller. I found myself haunting antique malls, flea markets and estate sales and creating stories around the things that caught my eye. Probably came home with waaaaaay more of these things than I needed, but - by golly - they make me happy!
I got into the tobaccania almost by accident. In one of my thrift store visits, I came across a box of old pipes. They smelled nice (if you like the sweet smell of good tobacco) and somehow, when I held them, they made me imagine the slow deliberateness of times past. I bought them and then looked up how to clean and restore them. During my research I found that I apparently had an "eye" for these things since I had inadvertently bought three very high-end antique English pipes. I've tried to select nice pipes that I can restore and still sell at reasonable prices. I get the added benefit of how relaxed I am while working on them.
As for the dishes and jewelry - well, that just a natural extension of my personality. I love celebrating, giving parties, dressing up and showing off. Naturally beautiful table ware and sparkly jewelry fit right in!
I love everything that I have for sale. That is my criterion for my shop. I couldn't offer something I didn't believe was beautiful in it's appearance and it's story.