Musings from a Woodland Studio

Happy Spring, all. It is disturbing, to say the least, how negligent I have been in my blog posting. I really need to step it up. I have just been so busy! It is hard to find time to do all the things I need to do.

The weather has been amazing and still only march! Vacation is coming up in 3 weeks and we are planning all things music related. Tomorrow my antique Vara-phone motor will be on it's way back to me and I can re install it into it's case, crank it up and HEAR it for the first time! The total rebuild on the motor is costing me 306.00 but, to me, SO worth it. Cannot wait to have it back.

Having an issue with a Raccoon in the attic and now that he has been blocked out of the attic he is trying his damnedest to scrape, scratch and claw himself back in. I want to kill and taxidermy him.

So much has gone on these last months that I can't even remember them all to recap! But I will try to keep up with you all from here on. Happy Spring Equinox and a many magical, mystical, musical days ahead xoxo

Howdy, everyone! Yesterday began the special 40th Anniversary sale at Platter World and, of course, I was there with bells on, video camera in hand and ready to dig! Of course, just spending some hours with Charlie, for me, is pure magic.

That store is a crate diggers dreamland as there are records of all shapes and sizes in every nook and cranny in the store. From the tiniest Little Wonders to the largest radio transcriptions! If you are looking for CD's you're looking in the wrong place. This is Vinyl Heaven (and, of course, shellac) No digital nonsense here!

I climbed and moved and dug through piles and piles and came away with some beautiful scores. I never fail to find countless treasures even with visiting at least once a week! This overstock sale will run through Sunday and then resume again next Thursday til next Sunday. Be prepared to get your hands dirty and ENJOY!

Here is some footage I shot at the shop yesterday so you can get an idea of how much stuff is in that place!




For the record collector, you won't find more of a treasure trove anywhere if you are willing to get in there and dig for what you like!!

Last night after cleaning and playing through my treasures, in keeping with the mood, I watched the documentary Desperate Man Blues which features Joe Bussard and his outstanding collection of early century 78's. Joe swears that REAL music was over by 1955. His collection of early blues and bluegrass is remarkable. He owns one of the remaining known copies of Robert Johnson's Crossroad Blues!! A highly recommended watch! Here is an Amazon link for it:

www.amazon.com/Desperate-Man-Blues-Discovering-American/dp/B000JMK6IU/ref=sr_1_2
www.amazon.com/Desperate-Man-Blues-Discovering-American/dp/B000JMK6IU/ref=sr_1_2

Enjoy your day. It is glorious here with a bright blue sky and low humidity! And in the words of Raymond T. Vinyl, play a record today!! xoxo

Well, I knew Charlie was out of the hospital so I asked his daughter if she thought he'd be able to reopen the store next week! She said....are you kidding? He made us bring him there on the way home from the hospital!!! Business as usual for Charlie! When he was in the hospital, I called him to tell him about my transcription player and he was as excited as me about it!!

Yesterday I ventured over there totally planning to spend hours with him. When I pulled up outside he was happily sweeping the sidewalk in front of the store like he always does! He said I'm dancing with my broom! I knew he was all better!

I found a magical pile of 78's and a couple of LP's including Creed Taylor's Shock AND Panic!! Very exciting. Then Charlie gave me as a gift FOURTY transcription records so I would have things to play on my new player! It was a most magical moment! I gave him a huge hug and told him how relieved and happy I was that he was back and OK!!

Last night I started cleaning, sorting and playing those transcription and again this morning at 5am I started again! There is so much variety amongst the stuff he gave me it was fabulous! Still playing them now just taking a quick break in my Exotica Jungle space in the yard with my dog.

Another magical moment this morning when I saw a BABY praying mantis in the yard! I love them. They are so peaceful and beautiful.I always have them around here but have never seen a baby before! He was a perfectly formed praying mantis, just 1 1/2" long! Pure magic and a true harbinger of luck! Getting HOT out here! Time to go back in and listen to music. Happy Monday! XOXO

Good morning everyone and Happy Sunday! The temps have dropped dramatically and there is absolutely no humidity today. I am sitting on the deck with the laptop and feeling very relieved that my dear Charlie (of Platter World fame) has been released from the hospital and is doing well! Hopefully he'll be back in action very very soon and back in his beloved record store!

This week I have been creating a space in the backyard that I am calling the Exotica Jungle and it was fun to find little elements to add to it. It's a most magical space and it along with my reading retreat are two most relaxing places to hang on those lazy Summer afternoons.

This weekend I got my 1940's Optron TD-16 Transcription phonograph and true to the seller's word, it is mint! A glorious addition to the collection. I've been having fun playing with that as well as my favorite Granby crank cabinet player that plays both vertical and lateral cut

A new bangle bracelet was also just completed and the gems were added this morning. It has a Tiki Bar theme and is the perfect Summer piece.

Today I am enjoying the perfect weather and I think I'll drive over and see if Charlie's around. If not I'll make a quick stop in the thrift before starting up the barbeque and sipping a brew.

I hope you are all enjoying this magical weekend. Big Vinyl Hugs Out~ Tinkie xoxo

Hi everyone! Well, last week was the Fort Lee Arts & Music Festival and we were up and out bright and early to set up. The stand looked wonderful and I was so pleased with the tent canopy we had gotten. It worked out great. There were clouds around and the show was rain or shine but the rain stayed away!

Lots of people and a nice amount of sales and the temps were in the 60's as compared with a couple of days before when they peaked at 100! Here's some pics of the set up and then I'll post a little video of the day afterwards.

The Fort Lee Arts & Music Festival is fast approaching! If you are in the area, come on over, meet me & Blanca at the Tink's Atomic Universe stand and buy some art!

More copies of Spoken Word Exotica the Book now available! Book includes bonus 12 track bonus audio CD. Books are 20.00 with free shipping. Grab one now below and be sure to add autograph personalization name if you want your book signed:

Autograph Personalization

Friday the 13th just passed. Lucky 13! Skeetie went to an Estate sale on Friday the 13th. The Estate sale was in a house on a cemetery. I imagine it was the Estate of the caretaker! Skeetie was looking for tools and things of that nature for the garage and asked if there was anything in the basement. The Estate sale director said no there's just an old record player. Knowing that I collect them he asked if he could see it. It was the only thing sitting in the basement, it was beautiful and he grabbed it for me. So a beautiful 1921 Granby phonograph alone in the basement of a house on a cemetery on Friday the 13th....that thing was meant to be mine!

So Saturday morning he brings it over and I have been playing with it since. I Scott's Liquid Golded it and oiled it up. The sound quality is awesome. Yesterday morning early I discovered that the reproducer is dual, meaning it plays both vertical and lateral cut records! I was thrilled! This means I can finally play all those turn of the century vertical cut Triumph, Par-o-ket & Crescents that Charlie gave me as well as the big stack of Pathes from Raymond! What a true treasure! The ghosts are dancing around!




It is my all time favorite talking machine and I have a lot of them. This one does it all!

"Without music life would be a mistake." ~ Nietzsche

The latest Tink creation is in the Etsy Shop and here it is:




Here is the creation of the piece in time lapse:

So our local paper interviewed both me and Craig, the Record King, for upcoming Record Store Day. You can read the article here:


Record Store Day Bergen Record 4-14-11

Have a magical day, all. I am off to visit Charlie at Platter World today.