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Wedding Song Sheet Music

On January 17, 2012, in celine Dion, by Luke Judge

Why trudge off to a music store to search through scores of sheet music for just the right piece or handful of songs for your wedding? Search on-line wedding song sheet music instead. some songs are quite difficult to find, but an on-line search can turn up that song right away.

Wedding song sheet music offers you free previews of thousands of songs on-line. Then you can download the song you want instantly and print it out on your own printer. no more going to a store and no waiting for the mail delivery This process enables you to print just the pieces that you want, too. no more buying big books of wedding song sheet music just to get a song or two.

Do check your printer setup before you purchase a piece on-line. usually you have only one chance to print your music after you have purchased it. If it doesn’t work, you’re out of luck. be sure to check out eBay and Amazon for wedding song sheet music, especially older pieces that might be out of print.

Voice with piano or organ is the obvious wedding song ensemble, but voice with guitar is an alternative choice that is equally beautiful. It’s an even more appropriate choice for an outdoor wedding, beach wedding, or anywhere without an accessible electrical outlet.

The specific songs you select can vary from timeless classics to contemporary favorites. the music should reflect your tastes, sentiments, and the memories you have already created. Keep in mind that in a religious ceremony, you need to stay within the bounds of the church’s guidelines. in any other setting, your preferences (and good taste) rule the day completely.

When should the soloist sing?

1) During the prelude

2) At the end of the prelude before the mothers are seated

3) after the mothers are seated

4) During the candle lighting

5) after the vows/exchange of rings

Wedding song sheet music selections include.

Classics.

Entreat me Not to Leave Thee

Contemporary pop songs.

Love me Tender – Elvis Presley

I Can’t Help Falling in love with you – Elvis Presley

We’ve only just Begun – Richard and Karen Carpenter

For All We know – Richard and Karen Carpenter

My Heart will Go on – Celine Dion

I will always love you – Whitney Houston

Songs from Disney movies.

The way you Look Tonight

Can you Feel the love Tonight (The Lion King)

A whole New World (Aladdin)

Tagged with: ebay • mail delivery • music 101 • printer setup • sheet Music • wedding song

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Antique Toy Soldiers

On January 8, 2012, in elastolin, by Luke Judge

Throughout the past 200 years, toy soldiers have been long the prized possessions of little boys the world over. Children love to stage make believe battles and wars on their bedroom or kitchen room tables respectively. Boys have always had considerable fascination with soldiers and armies alike.

It’s interesting to know that those that do much of the purchasing of toy solders today are in fact adults who collect these antique toy solders as part of a wider collection. It is these collections that can be worth a considerable amount of money. They have become highly prized as antique toy soldier transactions world wide have reached epic proportions. The trading of antique toy soldiers has been fueled by this increased demand which has also been reflected in the prices that some adults and children alike are paying for them.

The best place to get an indication of how popular the trade is, is to jump online to some of the leading collectible auction houses, such as eBay. The most highly prized toy soldiers are ones manufactured in the 19th and early 20th centuries. They depict a culturally significant and different time and this fact alone helps fuel the demand for such toys.

Most of these highly prized toys were manufactured in Germany predominantly with some being made in the United States. The value of these toys can vary widely from costing a couple of dollars up to several hundred thousands – depending on such factors as age, condition, manufacturer or identity. Complete sets of toy armies and their respective boxes will achieve higher prices naturally as most enthusiasts love these additions.

Consult reference material found online or monitor some of eBay’s transactions to get a better understanding of what’s valued and what’s not if you’re interested in getting starting in the hobby of collecting antique toy soldiers.

Tagged with: adults • antique toy • ebay • kitchen room • room tables • toy soldier

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Sell Vintage Collectable Dog Collars on eBay

On December 28, 2011, in wigtownshire Collectables, by Luke Judge

Dog has long been man’s best friend and many popular collectibles have developed from their relationship. one of the most highly priced and highly prized on eBay is dog collars.

The rarest and most expensive British collars date from the 15th to 18th centuries and were usually made from iron with spikes to protect working and hunting dogs from being savaged by wolves and boars. these collars were highly unattractive, more functional than decorative, but can be worth up to $2000 each. Compare this with collars made in Austria and Germany which were ornately carved from precious metals and packed with rare jewels, serving mainly as status symbols, and worth many thousands of dollars today.

Like almost every old and modern canine collectible you’ll rarely find dog collars going unsold on eBay, even at grossly inflated prices, making this a great product to target individually or as part of an overall doggy-related venture selling vintage canine memorabilia or modern items like dog beds, kennels, more recent dog collars for practical or decorative purposes.

Despite the fact some early specimens are valued in hundreds or thousands of pounds, they can sometimes be found at offline auctions, especially country sales and auctions disposing of farming and family estates over several generations.

A dog collar I saw recently at a country house sale in Darlington went for just the equivalent of $50 against a possible value of several hundred dollars ( equivalent) for similar items spotted in Miller’s Collectables Price Guide.

Sadly I knew nothing of the collar’s potential that day, which went to a dog loving individual, not a dealer, and doubtless a far higher price could be achieved by targeting a world packed with dog lovers, on eBay, where in the past few weeks:

* an Antique English Dog Collar from Cromer Hall in Norfolk went for 77.55. The seller added a neat touch that must surely have increased value and interest in the collar by mentioning Cromer Hall as the place Sir Arthur Conan Doyle visited while researching The Hound of the Baskervilles and apparently he also used Cromer Hall as the backdrop for the book. consequently the collar appealed not only to dog lovers but also to Conan Doyle devotees and topographically to Cromer Hall and Norfolk enthusiasts.

* a sterling silver dog collar engraved ’1938′ and apparently used for Greyhounds fetched $356.99.

* a leather dog collar with pouch for messages carried by dogs on active service during World War II fetched $246.50.

* Even books about collectable dog collars fetch staggering prices on eBay in the UK, notably ‘Four Centuries of Dog Collars at Leeds Castle’, published in 1979, which recently fetched 123, 100, and several lower but nonetheless very attractive prices. If you can afford it the book is well worth buying for a wealth of fabulous pictures and articles to help you describe and value dog collars on eBay. In itself the book can only grow in value should you decide to sell it later, making it a very good alternative investment.

* Premium prices are fetched for collars with names and other engravings especially for well-known owners and rare accomplishments, as well as of local topographical interest. Collars engraved with local place names and well known owners fetch highest prices at auctions close to home. So a collar engraved, for example, ‘Towser, William Jones, Gateshead’ bought in London might be expected to fetch more when re-auctioned in Tyneside in the UK (yes, you should consider selling at local auction as well as online), but it should fetch even higher profits on eBay.

* many early collars are decorated with motifs and symbols pertaining to a specific era which greatly benefits the dating process.

* Dog collars are often wrongly identified as collars worn by prisoners or slaves which are actually much rarer and valuable than collars worn by dogs. But there’s good news here for anyone able to identify the more uncommon slave and prisoner collars from items selling mistakenly and undervalued as dog collars which can be resold with more accurate description on eBay.

* Leeds Castle in Kent has the world’s largest collection of vintage dog collars and is a great place to learn more about this tight niche market and to help value your acquisitions.

* Keep your eyes open for antique dog collars selling on the Internet outside of eBay where you will be guided to price potential and may even find suitable items for resale. these items are often offered as jewelry and bought to be worn by humans (and modern day Mutts), thereby adding another selling category – jewelery – to your eBay listings.

Tagged with: dog beds • dog collars • ebay • germany • specimens • spikes

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Buying Stamps? How to Save Postage by Printing Stamps Online

On December 26, 2011, in samoa Stamps, by Luke Judge

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Share WiFi With Your Neighbours – Setting Up a WiFi Internet Hotspot in Your Neighbourhood

On December 25, 2011, in cables & Connectors, by Luke Judge

Most of the time your Internet connection is not being used to it’s full potential. Increasing cable and DSL speeds allow home Internet connections to support many more computers than you have connected. If you just use you computer for a few hours each day you may consider sharing your Internet connection with family and neighbors to maximize its use and reduce your cost.

Strong signal – A good external antenna

The most important aspect of running a Hotspot is getting a strong signal to your neighbors. the best option is to mount an external antenna as high as you can on your property. Antenna can be expensive so it’s worth shopping round for a good deal on Ebay. I would recommend a 6dB External Omni-Directional Antenna for most people.

Be aware of the different type on antenna connectors. I like the RP-TNC connector that is found on Linksys WRT54GL routers, as it’s more durable than the little RP-SMA connector used on other kit. If you do not yet know where you customers will be connecting from it’s best to get an omni-directional antenna. If you know where they will be connecting from you could get a directional or patch antenna.

Strong Signal – A short antenna lead.

When you designing your system you need to have the shortest possible lead between the WiFi Hotspot Router and the Antenna. For good signal strength try to keep the lead less than 6′. A good solution for this is to install the WiFi Hotspot Router in a weather proof or Tupperware box and mount it on the antenna post. You will then need to run the power and network connection up the pole but I find it gives the best overall result. the safest way to run the power up the pole is to keep the wall wart inside the house and splice in a section of low voltage cable to run up to the pole.

Choosing a router – the Awesome Linksys WRT54GL

The WRT54GL WiFi Router can be purchased for as little as $50. It can easily have it’s firmware replaced with OpenWRT or DD-WRT both tiny versions of Linux which allows you to run your own software directly on the router. then you can install Hotspot Management software on the router and in under 5 minutes you can have a powerful WiFi hotspot for less than $100.

How to control access to your WiFi Hotspot.

The nicest thing to do is to leave your WiFi router open with no encryption. then anyone can use it for free. If you want some control over who uses your system or if you want to make some money from your system these are the main options:

MAC Address Filtering. A MAC address is a unique number that every network and wireless device has. A MAC address look something like this: 01:23:45:67:89:ab Most WiFi routers have the ability to only allow certain MAC address access to the network. You could set up MAC filtering on your WiFi router then speak with your neighbours and if any of them wanted to share the cost of your connection then you could add them to the list of approved MAC addresses.

WPA Key. Another approach is to set up WPA encryption on your router. When you set it up you’ll be asked to enter a WPA Key, which is like a password. You could then give then give the key to any neighbours who wanted to connect to your Internet connection.

The Captive-Portal. Nearly all commercial Hotspots are Captive Portals, this appears as an Open or Unencrypted WiFi signal but then redirects any traffic to a specific web page called a Splash Page where your often asked to login or purchase internet access. Your splash page will be an advertisement for your WiFi service, so you would want to list how much you charge for access. A captive portal is great, as you don’t need to visit your neighbours to see who wants to connect; anyone connecting to your WiFi Hotspot gets redirected to your splash page. You can even set up an automated system to take Pay Pal payment for Internet access so you would not even need to be home to be making money.

Good luck with your new WiFi Hotspot.

Tagged with: dsl speeds • ebay • external omni • linksys wrt54gl • patch antenna

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Sure Cuts a Lot Cricut Software

On December 22, 2011, in sizzix Shapes, by Luke Judge

Recently we came across an amazing piece of software for the Cricut called sure Cuts a Lot by Craft Edge. It is simply amazing since it solves two of the only problems we have with the Cricut Machines: Expensive cartridges, software doesn’t run on a Mac.

Cricut cartridges can get pretty pricey, running from $50-$100 (unless you shop on Ebay). That is enough to put a dent in anybodies wallet these days. The sure Cuts a Lot program solves that problem beautifully instead of paying top dollar for each and every cartridge, you could instead buy one piece of software and never have to buy another cartridge again oh, and the software costs roughly the same price that a single cartridge would cost

Sure Cuts a Lot lets you use all the regular true type fonts that you would normally use on your computer. almost any font that will work on your computer will be able to be printed and cut out with your Machine. all you have to do is hook up the little bug to your computer, Apple Macintosh or PC, with a standard USB cable.

The software also comes with a massive library of images you can use. The best part is that you can even create your own custom shapes and designs and import your own SVG files with a little bit of work You design your shapes on the screen. You can weld, flip, stretch, or modify the shapes as you want. now literally the whole world of scrapbooking is open to you This software really unlocks the full potential of the Cricut Personal, Cricut Expression, and Cricut Create Machines.

So if you were holding back from buying one of these scrapbooking dream machines because of the high cost or due to the fact that it’s not compatible with a Mac, you will want to think again The sure Cuts a Lot Cricut software unlocks the true potential of the machines.

Tagged with: apple macintosh • cricut cartridges • ebay • images • massive library • type fonts

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Which OBD II Scan Tool Supplier Should You Choose?

On December 19, 2011, in diagnostic Tools & Equipment, by Luke Judge

If you’re in the market for an OBD II scan tool, you may have considered hitting the search engines to find an online supplier. doing so has obvious benefits, such as shopping from the comfort of your own living room, as opposed to driving around trying to find one in a local store. The only difficulty involved with the online process is choosing who you’ll purchase your OBD 2 scan tool from. look for someone who meets the following criteria in order to obtain the best buying experience.

• BBB Member-When dealing with an online vendor, you should only deal with Better Business Bureau members. why? Because their BBB rating is the best proof of quality customer service that you can find anywhere. And if something goes wrong, the OBD II scan tool provider who is a BBB member will have an extra incentive to rectify the situation, because they won’t want anything to negatively affect their BBB rating.

• eBay Power Seller-Even if you aren’t planning on making a purchase through eBay, it’s a good idea to do business with an eBay Power Seller. They will have loads of positive feedback from customers on their eBay page. They’ve proven themselves as reliable vendors. And what you want is reliability.

• Possesses various other certifications and verifications-When you scroll down to the bottom of the OBD 2 scan tool vendor’s website, you should find evidence of other various certifications and verifications. for instance, a verified merchant badge from Authorize.net is especially attractive because it guarantees you’ll receive secure credit card processing. Or a badge showing certification from Squaretrade.com means you’ll have access to the best warranties on the market. So make sure you look around and checkout all of the OBD II scan tool supplier’s credentials.

• Offers closeout deals-Does the supplier you’re currently looking at have a closeout deals section on their website? If so, lucky you you never know what sort of bargains may lie behind this link. even if the deals aren’t specifically for an OBD II scan tool, you might be able to find some other related product you need but didn’t think you could afford. a supplier who offers deep discount deals is a supplier that puts customer satisfaction first. even before profits.

• Pays shipping costs for you-Shipping costs can get pricey. it almost defeats the purpose of buying online. why not just go find a store on the street and save yourself exorbitant shipping prices? well, once you come across the right site, you’ll have found yourself a vendor that offers you free shipping. That means they pay it for you. And if you’re really lucky, they’ll offer same day shipping as well. So you can say goodbye to the wait time too.

• Generous return policy-Finally, before you order an OBD 2 scan tool, take a look at the company’s return policy. what happens if you aren’t happy with the product when you get it? make sure they allow a 15 day return period. This should be unconditional. Meaning that if you aren’t happy with the products, you get your money back. Period.

Purchasing an OBD II scan tool online shouldn’t be a scary experience. find a supplier who meets the previous qualifications and experience the ease of Internet shopping.

Tagged with: bureau members • ebay • ebay power seller • living room • quality customer service • tool provider

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WorthPoint Launches iPhone and iPad App

On December 6, 2011, in clocks Watches Electrical Collectables, by Luke Judge

ATLANTA–(BUSINESS WIRE)–WorthPoint Corporation launched its new iPhone and iPad application today, giving collecting enthusiasts anywhere, anytime access to the ultimate online resource for art, antiques and collectibles. Now they can access WorthPoint® from the palms of their hands to obtain sales records and reference information on virtually any collectible item, as well as locate the nearest shopping venue.

“This app puts millions of prices in the palm of your hand. no one can know everything in this business, but now there’s no excuse for not knowing where to find it.”

The new iPhone and iPad app is perfect for people who frequent antique shops, flea markets and estate sales because it provides on-the-go pricing data from WorthPoint’s Worthopedia® on items they might buy or sell. Worthopedia is the world’s largest online price guide with more than 100 million sales records from leading auction houses, virtual marketplaces and eBay. soon, people will be able to post digital photos of their items and request valuations from WorthPoint’s subject-matter experts – Worthologists – through the ask a Worthologist® service.

The iPhone/iPad app is free and available for download at the Apple® iTunes Store®. Individuals who are not already using WorthPoint services can sign up for a free trial subscription to make full use of the app. Consistent with WorthPoint’s international commitment, the app is equipped to provide price points from the United Kingdom as well as the United States and accommodates subscription purchases in U.S. dollars, pound sterling and euros.

The iPhone/iPad app is the first in a series of new offerings that provides access to WorthPoint from a user’s platform of choice. WorthPoint will leverage the unique functionality of each new access channel to add value for users, such as the iPhone/iPad’s GPS capability to locate shopping destinations for those seeking specific types of items.

“More and more people are using mobile devices for just about everything these days, from banking to making restaurant reservations, so the need for a mobile WorthPoint application in this space was clear,” said WorthPoint CEO will Seippel. “The collector community is always on the go, and people must have the ability to retrieve collectible information when, where and how they need it. Having ready access to sales records, reference data and expert appraisers can make a world of difference to anyone who is buying or selling, from hobbyists to professional collectors. This app is the first step in our effort to make WorthPoint available through multiple access points so everyone in the collecting community can use whatever method they prefer, whether it’s a mobile device, auction platform or social network.”

Walt Kolenda, licensed auctioneer, antiques appraiser and otherwise known as AuctionWally online, beta tested WorthPoint’s iPhone/iPad app. “If you tried to carry around a hard copy price guide for every type of antique and collectible out there, you’d need a trailer to carry them,” he said. “This app puts millions of prices in the palm of your hand. no one can know everything in this business, but now there’s no excuse for not knowing where to find it.”

About WorthPoint

Founded in 2007, WorthPoint is an international, online information and media company that has quickly become the world’s largest resource for researching art, antiques and collectibles. It helps people accurately value, preserve, buy and/or sell items. The company’s core feature is a vast database of sales records aggregated from eBay, virtual marketplaces and leading auction houses. This repository is called Worthopedia and now exceeds 100 million items. The company has offices in Atlanta, Ga.; Dublin, Ohio; and Dublin, Ireland.

Twitter: twitter.com/worthpoint

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/companies/worthpoint

Facebook: facebook.com/WorthPoint

Tagged with: ebay • million sales • online resource

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Frontlines – The Irish Times – Sat, Nov 19, 2011

On December 6, 2011, in tuscan, by Luke Judge

The Irish Times – Saturday, November 19, 2011

A round-up of today’s other stories in brief

Kitchen classic reprinted by popular demand

Kate Madden was stopped a few times on the Luas as she carried the project she was working on into the office. People of a certain age would grip her elbow and ask hotly, “Where did you get that book?” The book was Deirdre Madden’s All About Home Economics, the Inter Cert textbook first published in 1983. Its practical how-to advice about cooking, sewing and home-making meant it lived on past its life in the schoolbag. Student digs, halls of residence and first homes were often furnished with a dog-eared and butter-smeared copy. like Soundings, the Leaving Cert poetry collection, the book tapped into schoolday nostalgia when a caller to Ryan Tubridy’s radio show rang up appealing for a copy. Copies of the book had been selling on Ebay for a number of years.

Madden’s daughters Kate and Aisli (left) decided to self-publish the book, using the same cover design. one of their strongest childhood memories is being brought into the home economics room of Loreto Abbey Dalkey as toddlers, to sit quietly down the back as their mother baked for her class.

Deirdre Madden was a full-time teacher and also wrote 12 textbooks. Sadly she did in 1999 at the age of 56. Part of the proceeds from the book will go to the Irish Cancer Society. All About Home Economics by Deirdre Madden (€16.99) is in bookshops, and can be purchased online at deirdremadden.ie.

Catherine Cleary

Chic and cosy cheer

The Swedes are just so stylish about Christmas, so why fight it? The simplest place to get the cheery cosy red and white look is at Ikea which, right now, is coming down with oh so tasteful decorations. We’re talking tiny knitted toadstools, white, jewel centred puff balls to suspend over the dinner table, origami birds to perch on your dining chairs, elegant storm lanterns. and throws and cushions festooned with fashionable snowflake designs. and then there are those extremely handy Christmas tins of ginger thins. ikea.ie

Index

WHAT’S HOT

Penneys chinos At €5, how cheap and cheerful is that?

Book clubs go viral With Irish clubs meeting as far away as the south of France, they seem to provide the perfect excuse for just about anything

Kristen Stewart a terrific modern heroine in Breaking Dawn

Coconut oil For frying, for roasting. You get used to it. Long chain fatty acids make everything right

Drawing classes very now in adult education

Sequins for daytime why reserve your best bling for Saturday nights? Team with opaque tights, ankle boots and knits for unexpected glamour

Affordable Christmas glitz At Dealz in Blanchardstown and Portlaoise everything is €1.49. Beat that

Bieber baby drama has someone been a bad boy?

Ireland Inc no longer the poorest country in the EU

Starbucks red cups The special Christmas blends such as the gingerbread and toffee nut lattes are yum

WHAT’S NOT

A weight traitor Nigella Lawson lets us all down by losing a couple of stone on the quiet. Shocking

Kylie’s pillow face Stop using it, whatever it is

Group appointments Is it fair that doctors book a dozen patients for the same time slot? We have lives too

School skiing holidays Holding up, even in recession. could it be anything to do with the fact that accompanying teachers travel free?

Pre-Christmas shopping holidays why go abroad when you can do all of your shopping at home? Buying Irish has never been so fashionable

Empty coffee cups left in your bike basket It’s not a wheely bin, bud

Moisturising overload Serums, primers, SPFs, highlighters, mattifying creams . . . for overloaded skin, a return to a simple vitamin-E cream proves a blessed relief

Diet jeopardy You know the type – comes over with a box of biscuits but doesn’t eat any herself because she’s “on a diet”. Enabling is never sisterly

The Oscars now that Eddie Murphy is no longer hosting, comic genius is needed to spice up the ceremony

Budget time It’s on its way and will be very depressing, but hey, it’s unavoidable

‘The Ides of March ’ We expected more after the hype

With contributions from Transition Year students

Dervla Hughes, Emily Grimes, Shauna Donnelly,

Darragh Shevlin, Scott Doyle, Luke Sharkey and Cathal Fahey

Art and cake

An exhibition of Noreen O’Hanlon’s paintings, Symphony Of Colour, is showing at the Dún Laoghaire Art Gallery, Brian S. Nolan Interiors, 102 Upper Georges Street, Dún Laoghaire from next Thursday until December 1st. You could combine a viewing with a tasty snack in White Tea, the cafe in the same building.

Songs of the heart

Ten-year-old Emma McCarron’s CD, a Lighter Heart, is a musical treat with a difference. McCarron underwent extensive treatment for more than two years at Crumlin Children’s Hospital when she was diagnosed with a rare children’s cancer, Neuroblastoma. This year she decided she wanted to do something for the hospital and collaborated with some talented relatives of hers to record a CD. The result is four beautiful songs sung in McCarron’s unique sean-nós style. All the proceeds go to our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. It can be purchased or downloaded for €5 at emmamccarron.ie.

Irish jewellery that is about to take off

Angela O’Kelly’s bold jewellery, call it large scale wearable art, is fashioned from paper, fabric and precious metals. “I’m attracted to clashing colours in nature,” she says. Inspired by boglands and seaside rock formations, her textured pieces, usually one-offs, are made from lightweight materials. She is one of the 16 Irish jewellery makers exhibiting in Dublin Airport’s Terminal 2 – and occasionally giving demonstrations of their work – as part of the Crafts Council campaign to encourage passengers to support Irish designers in the run up to Christmas. O’Kelly also collaborates with the London-based Iranian designer Shirin Guild, designing pieces that counterpoint Guild’s understated clothing for the Japanese market. You can see the jewellery in House of Ireland, Terminal 2, Dublin Airport.

Deirdre McQuillan

Fashion and toys at Rathfarnham Castle a unique private collection of 18th-century costumes and toys, including many lavishly embroidered silk dresses, most of them Irish, goes on display tomorrow in its new home, the magnificent neo-classical interior of Rathfarnham Castle. The Berkeley Costume and Toy Collection, started more than 20 years ago by Countess Ann Bernstorff of Berkeley Forest in Wexford (the ancestral home of philosopher George Berkeley), covers a period of some 80 years from 1740 and is a fascinating insight into social history and fashionable taste of the time. The exhibition will be supplemented in the coming years by costumes from later periods, including some early 20th-century wedding dresses. Bernstorff is a well-known artist and collector, and is also one of the prime movers behind the Ross Tapestry, one of the largest series of embroidered tapestries ever made in Europe. also opening tomorrow in Rathfarnham Castle is 21st-Century Icons, an exhibition curated by Ann Mulrooney in which 21 Irish jewellers revisit the torc for present-day neckpiece inspiration. The exhibition opening times are Wednesday to Sunday and bank holiday Mondays, 10.30am to 5pm. See heritageireland.ie.

Deirdre McQuillan

Collectable furniture a smaller version of the celebrated Enignum table made by Joseph Walsh in Cork that made headlines when it sold to the South American architect Rafael Vinoly for $145,000 last year, is one of 17 pieces in the Irish furniture maker’s first solo show, which opened in Dublin on Thursday. Walsh has been working on this exhibition for the past year and sees this furniture, all made in native Irish or French ash, as using the same language and concept but interpreted and executed in different ways. “The whole series is about the elasticity of the material – we are creating compositions relative to the material’s elasticity,” he says. “Ash is a humble timber with great properties and is great for bending.” The pieces range from large dining tables to wall pieces and individual chairs. The exhibition is at the Oliver Sears Gallery in Molesworth Street, Dublin 2, until January 27th. Deirdre McQuillan

Drinking lessons Victoria Moore’s new book is called How to Drink at Christmas, but it is more about what to drink than how. Her little red book is full of tempting seasonal cocktails, both classic and contemporary. Catering to the requirements of larger parties gets its own chapter, and there are some lovely recipes under “Drinks for Drivers”, too. there is advice on wine matches for traditional Christmas foods, and a fascinating chapter devoted to ice cubes, which are not at all as straightforward as you might think. You can join Victoria Moore at Fallon Byrne, 11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2, on Wednesday, November 23rd at 7pm as she demonstrates how to make the perfect winter warmers and festive favourites, as featured in the book. Tickets cost €12 and can be purchased in the shop or you can email events@fallonandbyrne.com to reserve a place. Marie-Claire Digby

More Downton than downtown for shopping Longueville House in Mallow, co Cork becomes a mini department store next Thursday night (November 24th), when a carefully edited selection of vendors set up shop in the hotel’s bedrooms, restaurant and public areas. Jewellery, fashion for adults and children, millinery and accessories, antiques and interior design products, and lots of artisan foods will be on sale on the night, giving you the chance to do your Christmas shopping in civilised surrounding, without traffic and parking woes. The retailers invited to take part have been selected for their “quirkiness, innate style and unique quality items”, and there will be special offers and discounts to tempt guests to loosen their purse strings. there will be a party atmosphere in the house, fuelled by mulled and sparkling wines on offer, and the €35 ticket price covers canapes on arrival. Chef proprietor William O’Callaghan will be selling his seasonal food hampers and home-made apple brandy and cider. Tickets should be pre-booked by telephoning 022-47156, and doors open at 7.30pm.

Marie-Claire Digby

Word on the street, Merkozy

What it means: Aieeee! run away! There’s a two-headed monster running rampage through Europe, and there’s nowhere you can run or hide. It has already laid waste to Greece, stomped Portugal into the ground, and squeezed Ireland to near-suffocation. Its next target is Italy – so terrifying is its roar that even Silvio Berlusconi, usually impervious to attack, has gone running for the Tuscan hills and sits cowering in his bunga-bungalow. Scarier than Godzilla, uglier than King Kong, Merkozy will not stop until it has brought Europe to its knees, and forced us all to swallow its vile fiscal solution. You thought Brangelina was scary – just wait till you meet Merkozy. Where it comes from: With the euro on the brink of collapse, and the European economic dream hanging by a thread, the time is right for a superhero to save us all from the abyss. instead, we have the doom-namic duo of Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, a terrifying tag-team that’s set to wrestle all resistance to the ground. The German chancellor and the French president have been calling all the shots, laying down the law and bullying the smaller countries into bowing down to their every economic whim. and all that kissing in public – even Batman and Robin kept that in check. Nic and Angela are now Europe’s number-one power couple, swanning around Europe hand in hand while Carla stays at home and does the dishes. be afraid, be very, very afraid. How to say it: “ We had Merkozy over to dinner last week – we had to hand over all the family silver just to get rid of them.”

Tagged with: ebay • home economics room • leaving cert

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Newbies’ Guide To Selling Disney Collectibles On eBay

On November 24, 2011, in 1980s Collectables, by Luke Judge

On eBay, Disneyana covers hundreds of different product types, both old and used or brand new and in mint condition, modern and vintage, categorised as Disneyana or as specific product types such as Clothing > T Shirts, sometimes both.

Choices have to be made by people listing Disneyana on eBay and those choices must be made carefully or you will waste money listing items that just won’t sell.

From my own research of Disneyana and eBay I recommend you stick with rare items, not mass market products like CDs and videos, modern clothing, recently published books and posters. Rare is always better, rare and vintage much better still.

Focus on items made between 1928 and 1967. these items, classed as ‘Vintage’ are much rarer than their later counterparts when the Disney Corporation really got to grips with mass market production. Vintage items were made to be used or played with, and few survived the decades intact. Any that do still exist, in relatively good condition, are worth a premium over similar items created by companies less collectable than Disney. low price early Disneyana is almost always worth risk buying at auctions and flea markets for reselling on eBay. Be careful how you treat your buys: surface dirt can be removed with gentle washing up liquid and water but never use abrasives like Brillo or Vim or you could remove what detail and colour still exists and reduce your profits significantly. Of course you should not use liquid of any sort on paper or other delicate materials.

* Don’t mask flaws with paint or take photographs from an angle that hides faults and broken or missing parts. The first is unnecessary, most collectors expect a little wear and tear, the second is unethical and contrary to consumer trading laws and likely to attract negative feedback and refund requests.

* If you find a Walt Disney autograph which you believe is genuine, it’s worth having it checked by an expert. at between 50 and a few hundred pounds, cost of having it authenticated is insignificant compared to the difference in finishing prices of a genuine signature (generally 2,000 plus) and 100 or so for a non-proven signature.

* Start selling one specific high demand collectible, such as pins or artist originals, and grow niche market expertise rather than tackle all things Disney related and risk losing money on items that collectors don’t want or which turn out to be fake.

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