WINDFALLS

PIN IT



Don’t try to send this envelope through the mail; it’s meant strictly for pinning, not penning. A far cry from the standard cameo of vestervear. this whimsical pin is the handiwork of Knoxville, Tennessee, artist Diane Tunkel. These pins, which are made of 100 percent hand-woven silk, are available in several styles (another one resembles three different-colored scrolls stacked on top of each other) and several color combinations, mostly soft pastels (this one’s gray with a red satin tie). They’re $15 at The Ole Moon, 3016 Greenville. Mon-Fri 11-7 (Wed till 9). Sat 10-6.827-9921.



AUTOGRAPHS



It’s almost inconceivable to me that the signature of a mere mortal could be worth hundreds-even thousands-of dollars. But then, we aren’t talking about just any signature; we’re talking about an autograph, the careless scribbling of the famous and the infamous. And it makes no difference whether an autograph appears on a glossy 8-by-10 photograph or on a wadded-up ticket stub, so long as it’s there. Just ask Rex Beasley, owner of Rex Beasley’s Autographs; he’s been collecting them for about 30 years. Walk through his new autograph gallery and you begin to imagine your own signature scrawled alongside the greats (would I be worth as much as Bogey and Bacall or more along the lines of Crystal Gayle? … If only I were Abe Lincoln-I’d be worth about $3,000). Beasley’s gallery showcases 180 golden signatures, and he has close to 900 more on reserve. Other notable names from his collection: Thomas Jefferson, Errol Flynn, Fay Wray, Gary Cooper, Gene Autry, Amelia Earhart. Tyrone Power. Marlene Dietrich, Albert Einstein, Bette Davis, Ernest Hemingway, John Wilkes Booth, Princess Grace, the Lone Ranger and Tonto, Spencer Tracy, Charles Dickens, Martin Luther King. Katharine Hepburn and Woodrow Wilson. Beasley also has dedicated an entire panel to the cast of Gone With the Wind (including David 0. Selznick and a letter from Margaret Mitchell), and he’s working on a Casablanca series. Prices start at about $138 (for Ray Bolger); a lay-away plan is available. Each autograph includes a written guarantee of authenticity. Rex Beasley Autographs, 6102 E. Mockingbird, Suite 313 Tue-Sat 10-5. 824-8574.

A BRIEF TOTE



As the summer days begin to swelter, even the staunchest corporate exec dreams of shedding a drab, wintery image along with that basic navy-blue suit. Why not lighten up a bit? Ditch that clunky leather briefcase and grab this lightweight summer-white plastic tote, instead. It’ll hold just about everything-from papers to pens (hook them through the slits) -with plenty of room to spare. Even if you’re not quite that daring, the tote’s still great for the beach (or, more likely. the lake or the pool) or for carting kids’ stuff, household odds and ends, small pets-you can even use it as a purse. And at a measly $2.50, you can grab one for a friend, too. Crate & Barrel. NorthPark, Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 10-6; 696-8010. Galleria, Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 10-6; 392-3411.

SLOSHY SERVICE



Anyone who owns a waterbed knows the potential horror of springing a leak-what was once a soft, soothing sleep-in-ducer can become a sloshing, slippery pain in the back. And often, if you need the hole patched and don’t know how to do it, you have to drain the thing (not an easy task for some folks) and take it to the store where it was purchased for repairs. But not always. Steve Anderson, creator of Consumer Waterbed Service, is willing to do the dirty (or perhaps wet) work for you-in your home. Anderson says his primary function is moving waterbeds from one house to another (which involves draining them, taking them apart, transporting them and putting them back together), but he also handles installations and repairs and can replace mattresses and heaters. Appointments should be made Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., but he’s on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Consumer Waterbed Service, 819 W. Garland Ave. 350-7053.

TOT MOBILE



Ahh, for the days of makeshift lemonade stands and real wooden scooters. Childhood was just so much simpler back then. Now we’ve got scented Strawberry Shortcake, the Smurfmobile, Lando Calrissian and the Brooke Shields doll, and toys can do just about everything but think for a child. Do your tot a favor and regress a bit-buy him a coloring book and some big, fat crayons or a real wooden scooter like this one, meant for tiny tykes. Designed by Stepke (a German company), it’s natural wood with blue trim and red wheels-even a red-plastic arrow turn indicator. It’s $30 at Marshall Field’s, Galleria, 13550 Dallas Parkway. Mon-Fri 10-9, Sat 10-7.851-1000.