| My interest in marbles began as a young child.
Marble playing was a springtime tradition in our Vermont school (at that
time--about 1970--the school was one building with grades 1-12).
We only played in the SNOW! Marble season corresponded with what
was--and is--called Mud Season in New England. The subsurface ground
was frozen and there was at least some snow, but the air was above freezing,
making it possible to hold a marble in one's bare hand. The warm
air also made the snow soft and packable to give a nice slick surface for
the marbles. The best place to play was the dirt parking lot on which
the snow was kept well packed by cars and plows. The ruts and puddles
just made it more interesting! The game we played was a variation
on Conquerors, I think. We just called it playing marbles.
It was the only marble game we had. The first player would toss his/her
marble out onto the snow and the othe player would try to hit it from the
spot the first stood. If the second player missed his/her marble
was left where it landed and the first player would shoot at the second's
marble from where his/hers had landed. They continued taking turns
in this manner until one hit the other's marble. The winner kept
the marble he/she hit. We didn't have fancy "thumb" techniques for
shooting, we just used underhand tosses. When the snow melted Marble
Season was over (though Mud Season continued for a while longer)!
Sometimes we tried to play in the dirt, but it just wasn't the same!
I won more than I lost and by the time I "outgrew" playing I had about
800 marbles. I kept them and even scrounged out all the strays I
could find when my father sold the house (after I was grown).
I also took the handmade Chinese Checker board my grandmother made when
my older siblings were young. It is one of my most prized possessions--not
only because it is marble-related!
I did not ""officially" become a collector until my daughter
was 3, although when I married and all my new relations asked "what do
you collect?" I would reply, "Nothing, but I do have a lot of marbles."
My daughter was fascinated by my marbles from infancy and when she was
old enough I thought it would be a fun hobby to share with her. Now
everyone knows to give us marbles for Christmas.
When I was just beginning to learn about marbles at the
beginning of my "official" collecting I got on the internet for the first
time in my life. I found Bob Block's site and was overwhelmed by
the size and organization of the hobby. I had had no idea that there
were clubs, shows, and tournaments! I also had no idea that there
could be so many potential pitfalls for a novice: fakes, cheats,
honest mistakes, reproductions! AHHH!!!! I almost packed my
marbles away and stuffed them in the attic! But...I saw references
to marble making using beadmaking techniques. I knew someone who
made beads--it couldn't be very hard. I went to the library and found
Making Glass Beads by Cindy Jenkins. I read it. I could FEEL
the glass when I read her instructions even though I had never even held
a rod of glass, much less heated and melted one. I understood nearly
every technique she described perfectly. I DREAMED about working
glass. I had to try this. Never mind that that our car died
and we had to buy a new one. I HAD to try this! I researched
online supply companies (after finding that there were NO local sources),
and asked questions, and made a list of what I would need. Then I
bought it. The biggest frivolous expense of my frugal life!
Now I make marbles for myself, my family and friends,
and to sell! I made many bad ones--lumpy, cracked, poor color choices,
and poor designs before I developed the coordination, skill, and "eye"
to make the marbles I make now, but it was fascinating right from the start!
I'm addicted to it! I prefer making them to buying them.
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