Marble (toy) conventions. Additionally, many glass artisans produce art marbles for the collectors' market only, with some selling for thousands of dollars. Marbles are made using many techniques. They can be categorized into two general types: hand-made and machine-made. Marbles were originally made by hand. Stone or ivory marbles can be fashioned by grinding. Clay, pottery, ceramic, or porcelain marbles can be made by rolling the material into a ball, and then letting dry, or firing, and then can be left natural, painted, or glazed. Clay marbles, also known as "crock marbles" or "commies" ("common"), are made of slightly porous clay, traditionally
American Specialty Toy Retailing Association to be observed on the second Saturday of each November. American Specialty Toy Retailing Association The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association, or "ASTRA", is an organization of manufacturers, manufacturers representatives, distributors and retailers of specialty toys (as compared to mass market product). The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) is a non-profit association that provides leadership and resources to grow the specialty toy industry. It is the largest association serving the specialty toy industry. ASTRA members build their businesses around specialty toys, which generally are designed with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy