3. This Week's Stories Every week we post stories and comments from our   
   readers.  Send your story to phil@Bignews.biz and I'll publish it in an   
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   Hello, I am a brand new member of The Collector Newsletter and I am already   
   enjoying reading through the pages.  Since you have invited members to tell a   
   bit about themselves...I am happy to take advantage of that offer.  I have   
   experienced many fun hobbies in my 82 years of a long life ( rag doll/ art   
   doll designer and creator of national figurine line) ...however, my latest has   
   been the most enjoyable.  That is being a maker of vintage style mannequin   
   heads.  The part I love the most is the number of interesting people I have   
   met.  Among my customers are vintage clothing shops, antique shops, jewelry   
   makers, milliners, art directors from at least four Hollywood movie sets,   
   photographers, interior decorators and last but not least...plain ole folks   
   who simply want to display a favorite hat they love.  Customers become friends   
   as they share their plans for their mannequin purchases.  Many send pictures   
   of their artistic creations...which I appreciate much.  My heads are cast in a   
   Resin Porcelain mixture in North Carolina, USA...  hand painted, cured and   
   signed and packed in styrofoam for safe arrival to their new homes.  A "one   
   man operation", I have a selection of over 21 different mannequin models and I   
   go to great lengths to mimic the exact image of the rare original antiques in   
   my personal collection.  When a customer has their heart set on an original   
   antique manneqin head...I make an effort to discourage such a purchase.  An   
   original is VERY expensive and always delicate and most often has flaws or   
   cracks which distract from your display.  Customers may be tempted to touch or   
   pick up your original and that is a disaster waiting to happen...so I usually   
   convince them to go with a reproduction mannequin head which mimics an   
   original.  One of the problems I would like to voice before I close is: when   
   customers make a purchase...most of them do not share their sources.  Most   
   customers do not want anyone else to have a head like they have....  so they   
   do not tell anyone where they purchased it.  I stress the fact that the way   
   each person dresses the same head will give it a completely different look.   
   That there is a knack to dressing a mannequin head and the "look" you give her   
   will be your own.  More importantly, the small business you purchase from may   
   soon become a "NO" business, if customers do not share their source....  since   
   most small businesses can not afford to advertise and depend on "word of   
   mouth" advertising to promote their growth.  Thank you...I appreciate this   
   opportunity to tell you a bit about my Crunkleton Mannequin Company .   
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   Editor's note -- We have been told that some of your emails have not been   
   getting through to me over the past few weeks.  If you have not heard back   
   from us after sending an email, please resend your email to phil@bignews.biz.   
      
   Also, check out our facebook page for some interesting updates. Here's the   
   link: https://www.facebook.com/TIASAntiques If you have photos of items you   
   would like to share you can post them there as well.   
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