Hi!
I am having a hard time readjusting to the workweek. I think I need another vacation. 
And on top of my regular eBay duties, I am deep in the thick of writing my 3rd 100 Best Book!
- Special Announcement: We had a great teleconference!
- Feature Article: The Victorian Era Rocks!
- The Queen’s Update: Our 3rd 100 Best Story from YOU!
- Lynn Recommends: Growing your eBay business with Mike Enos
This ezine is now published once a week.
February 22, 2007, Volume III, Issue 8
Dear friends,
For some strange reason, I could not think about what to write for this week’s ezine. I had serious writer’s block. Maybe, just maybe, it is because I have been writing two stories per day for my next 100 Best Book (#3!) that needs to be to the publisher by April (so that I can launch it at eBay Live and Book Expo America in June.) Two stories per day is a tall order but I have been muddling through (and having a great time!)
I have twelve stories completed and as it is whenever I write a new book, I always wonder, ‘Is it as good as the last one?’ When I was writing the 2nd 100 Best books (Money Making Madness) my editor Susan emailed me and said “This is not as good as the first.” I was crushed!
She said that I needed more backstories. More information from the people who had actually purchased the items. Good criticism, but criticism nonetheless. So, I had serious doubts about these first twelve stories. However, I emailed them to my circle of family and friends and immediately got an email back from my mom who said: “it is every bit as good as both 100 Bests and in fact the story about my dad made me cry.” Thank you for including him. Aaahhh! Goosebumps!
And by the way, I have heard from many of you that the 2nd 100 Best was even better than the first. So, I am hoping that the 3rd 100 Best exceeds those accolades. Wish me luck!
So, having writer’s block, I looked at what had sold last week on eBay. A really neat piece came to mind–a Victorian beaded fireplace screen–that had sold for quite a bit. A light bulb went on and I decided to cover the Victorian era! So this week I’m writing about a different grandma. Please read on for this week’s feature article–especially if you don’t know what a fireplace screen is.
We also got another great story from one of you that I am going to share in The Queen’s Update. You won’t want to miss this one. It is from one of my favorite ecourse students, Janet King. She has made a killing selling belts. Yes, belts as in something you would wear around your waist.
Finally, my friend Mike Enos has a special offer to help you grow your eBay business. Check it out in the Lynn Recommends section.
Here’s to Successful eBaying!
Lynn Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions,’ Creator of the best-selling eBay Boot Camp in a Box.
We held our teleconference for purchasers of Boot Camp in a Box last night. Mo came over to help out and we had a great time! It’s always fun to hear about you guys putting into practice what you are learning and building your eBay businesses. This teleconference is full of great information, but I’m not going to offer this one for sale. This recording will only be available as part of the bonus package for anyone who purchases eBay Boot Camp in a Box. Read more about it here.
‘Victorian Era Rocks!’
by Lynn A. Dralle, ‘The Queen of Auctions’
When I was looking back at my last week’s auctions, something really stuck out in my mind. It was a piece that–to be honest with you–I can’t even remember where I bought it from. My best guess is that I got it when I bought three tables full.
Well, it just doesn’t matter where I bought it because I probably only paid $1. What does matter is that I was able to describe it successfully, title it well and get it to sell for a great price?
When I first looked at it, I just didn’t know what to call it. Then I remembered that my grandmother had a similar item that stood on her fireplace mantel. She had explained to me that it was an antique Fireplace screen and these lovely beaded pieces would often cover an ugly fireplace opening.
However, my item had been cut out from a larger piece of cloth. It was just the cutout portion, not the entire beaded screen. Still, the beadwork was incredible and the angels/cherub helped to sell it.
Here is a picture of the item.
Click here to see what it sold for!
These pieces were very typically Victorian in nature so I thought I would write about the Victorian era this week.
1837 to 1901 were the years. The Victorian era was named after Queen Victoria who took the throne in 1837 and ruled until 1901. Wow–she was queen for 63 years, 7 months, and 3 days. I think that she is the longest-reigning Queen in History! Did you know she is called the Grandmother of Europe? Her children and grandchildren married into royal families throughout the Continent so she really is a grandmother to a lot of European royalty. England went through many changes during her lifetime and the tastes of the country reflected this.
This era was known for its over ornamentation. This was a time of intense creativity, nostalgia, exaggeration, and experimentation. During this period, many artisans turned to past styles, such as Gothic, Rococo, Byzantine, Romanesque, and reworked designs of earlier eras.
These revivalists and their wares all became lumped under the heading “Victorian.” Some examples include the use of garnets, cameo jewelry, gaudy furniture, and elaborate vases.
Back to the woman for whom the era is named and her history. Queen Victoria’s cousin Prince Albert came to visit in 1839. Victoria immediately fell in love with Albert and although he initially had doubts about the relationship, the couple were married in February of 1840. During the next eighteen years, Queen Victoria gave birth to nine children. Wow!
After her husband Prince Albert died of typhoid fever in 1861, Queen Victoria went into mourning for the rest of her life. She went into hiding and would not even open Parliament in person.
She wore mostly black, and this influenced much of the art and antiques of that later time period. How depressing! Victorian mourning pieces are quite collectible and include things such as hair jewelry and ornate, lavish funeral-remembrance pieces.
This is a Victorian mourning piece woven from a beloved’s hair.
The Victorian period epitomized the Queen’s personal tastes and ethics–those which really mirrored the Middle Class. Victorian is a great term to use in your eBay auction titles–but please make sure that your dates correspond accordingly!
It is funny, but I just went back and reread my auction description for the fireplace screen and I forgot to mention Victorian! Yikes. Sometimes I try to be so conservative with my years and date ranges that I miss out on a great keyword like Victorian. Oh well. It sold for an incredible amount of money regardless.
For more information on other eras and how they relate to eBay, please check out How to Sell Antiques & Collectibles on eBay and Make a Fortune.
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR ON YOUR WEBSITE? Yes, you may – just as long as you include this complete blurb with it: The Queen of Auctions and eBay Power Seller, Lynn Dralle, publishes ‘eBay Tips & Tricks’ a weekly ezine with 8000+ subscribers. If you’re ready to jump-start your eBay business, make more money and have more free time, get your FREE tips now at www.thequeenofauctions.com
I am happy to announce our third story for The 100 Best Things You’ve Bought or Sold on eBay! This week’s story is by Janet King one of my favorite ecourse students! (eBay ID: ffzool). Another amazing story about an incredible find. Thanks for sharing, Janet!
Click here to read the story…
Please patronize Janet’s auctions (ffzool) and her eBay Store (Fasta Fa Zool) and make her business this year even better. Thanks!
eBay Power Seller and third-generation antique dealer, Lynn Dralle, is the creator of Boot Camp in a Box, the home-study course where you can learn to implement the Dralle Method to maximize your eBay profits.
If you liked today’s issue, you’ll love this step-by-step course that is guaranteed to be the most complete and enjoyable guide to selling on eBay that MAKES YOU MONEY.
Read all about it here.
The Queen of Auctions also offers free articles, teleseminars, how-to books, tracking guides, DVDs, eBay Boot Camp training, and other resources to help entrepreneurs make their eBay business a six-figure sales machine. Click here to learn more.
The Queen of Auctions/All Aboard Inc.
PO Box 14103
Palm Desert, CA 92255
760-340-6622
Lynn@TheQueenofAuctions.com
Have you ever wondered: “How can I get started with eBay fast, where do I find products to sell, and how do I do it step-by-step?”
My good friend Mike Enos has released a 2 CD set that will give you all the details on how to start and grow your eBay business. What’s included? The first CD contains more than six hours of audio training, taking you from beginning to sell on eBay all the way to product sourcing and creating multiple streams of income. The second CD contains an 80-minute interview with Mike’s personal importing guru and how you can work with him too in importing products from China to sell on eBay. There are also bonus copies of two eBooks Mike created to help increase your eBay profits, training videos, videos from eBay LIVE 2006, and software to add audio to your auctions!
Get the details here.
Happy eBaying!!
Lynn
Visit my eBay Store.
Visit my eBay auctions.
For more great eBay tips and stories, visit my website at:
Lynn is an experienced eBay Power Seller, author, and teacher. If you want to know the eBay tips, tricks, and tools that Lynn uses for buying and selling at an online auction click here.