Junking Along With The American Pickers: But Where Is The Powder Room?

Junking Along With The American Pickers:

Last night I watched American Pickers on The History Channel. If you have been keeping up with this series, you know that real life pickers, Mike and Frank (childhood friends) find themselves in some really Down n Dirty backyards, cellars, attic crawl spaces....you get the point.

Buying "Guy" Junk

These fellas seem to love "guy stuff" and get excited about rusty oil cans and signs, cob webbed lanterns, vintage gas pumps, crumbling posters etc.

Looking To Make A Quick Buck On Good Junk

Mike and Frank poke around in lots of creepy places searching for the kind of treasures that they know they can turnover for a quick buck. Of course the cameras are rolling and these made for T.V. pickers are on their best behavior "charming their prey" before they make their kill !

"The Pickees" Are As Savvy As "The Pickers"

But one thing seemed pretty obvious, "the pickees" were as savvy as "the pickers". Long gone are the days of clueless sellers. But even stubborn sellers didn't deter the master pickers who were always up for a good challenge. And what's up with the Tea Party ? While the curmudgeon was probably hiding the really good stuff, his daughters were serving Mike and Frank tea as a diversionary tactic. But please tell me.... don't the daughters have" gal junk" hidden somewhere?

Where is The "Girl Stuff" ?
Lets be honest with each other, didn't you really want to tag along with these guys perhaps wandering off in the kitchen or powder room while they were poking around in a backyard swamp or secret dungeon? I would have been curious to see what "gal stuff" I could find that might have been tucked away in an old cupboard or cabinet ?

Oops, The Pickers Got Their "White Elephant"

But Mike and Fran have other treasures in mind. As the show promo reads " a pickers goal is to find a diamond in a rough-a rare and valuable piece of American History" . Last night they dug out a hunk of junk that was once a bicycle, now a mangled mess. Oops..the pickers got a white elephant.....welcome to the club....next time try the jewelry box!

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Diving Into The Topic Of Freegans And Frugal Living

Freegans Compared To 1930s and 1940's Frugal Housewives

While doing research on junk collecting I kept coming across the term "Freegan" and decided it was time for me to dive right into the subject (no pun intended). Being totally clueless about Freegans, my first thought was whether Freegans and Vegans were related? In essence the words do share a relationship; both Freegans and Vegans are concerned with "excluding" certain practices. Many Freegans are Vegans who forsake all animal products. Freegans forsake "consumerism".

What Are Freegans?

Freeganism (which started in the 1990's) is an anti-consumerism lifestyle whereby people employ alternative living strategies based on "limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources".Freegans are scavengers who live off consumer waste.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeganism

Freegans are interested in eliminating wasteful consumption. They are big on rescuing, re-cycling, re-purposing and re-using everything. Advanced Freegans live totally off goods recovered from trash or thrown away. Freegaans rummage through supernmarket trash, dress in hand me down clothes and furnish their home from cast off furnish. Many items are found on the street or from groups such as freecycle.org or at so called freemeets or swap meets.

Freegan-Inspired Lifestyles

While many Freegans adopt the whole package, others live a Freegan inspired life or what some call Freegan-lite. Freegans have been compared to frugal housewives of earlier generations, learning how to conserve, save and repair. http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/10/24/103132_freegan-tips-for-the-frugal.html

Freegan Tips For The Frugal

1. Swap- organize group swaps in your home. Invite friends to exchange such items as books, clothing, art suppplies, plants etc.

2. Get Stuff For Free: Check out Craigslist and Free Cycle online.

3. Rescue Food Before It Gets Trashed. Collect excess food from bakeries, restaurants and volunteer to bring to a Shelter or Soup Kitchen. Bring containers to work...and collect extra food from group functions.

4. Dumpster Dive: While you don't have to actually go into a dumpster, you can rescue old furniture, useble household items and perfectly good trash from others, curbsides, and dump sites.

5. Host a Free Martket where everything is literally free. http://www.reallyreallyfree.org/

6. Particicpate in community gardens. Grown your own food and share with others.

7. Barter: Exchange gooods and servces.


Freegan And Frugal Resources

Freegan Info
http://freegan.info/?page_id=2

Not Buying It
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/21/garden/21freegan.html?_r=1

Freegan Meet Up Groups
http://dumpsterdiving.meetup.com/

Freegan Info
http://freegan.info/?page_id=2

Freegan Tips For The Frugal
http://www.savingadvice.com/blog/2008/10/24/103132_freegan-tips-for-the-frugal.html

Reuse Centers For Artist Supplies
http://generationgreen.com/text/reuse_materials.html

Bottom Feeders
http://home.earthlink.net/~astrology/confessi.html

Dumpster Diving
http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/dumpster.htm

http://www.thelivingweb.net/dumpster_diving_for_fun_and_profit.html
http://www.jgpress.com/IBArticles/1999/MJ%2015.htm

http://oksr.tripod.com/dive.html

Curbside Diving
http://www.angelfire.com/id/furrania/refuse.html

Garden Junk
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/junk/

Frugal Living
http://frugalliving.about.com/od/bargainshopping/p/Freegan.htm

Free Cycle http://www.freecycle.org/

Craigslist.org

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

When Offering a Good Deal May Be A Bad Idea For Antique Dealers

When Offering A Good Deal Is A Bad Idea:Advice For Antique Sellers

With everyone kvetching about the miserable state of the economy, what should worried antique dealers do? Should panicky sellers try to move their inventory at discounted prices or sit tight and calm buyers with their confidence?

Does Discounting Collectibles Hurt Sales?

Sure everyone likes a bargain, but in the antique and collectibles business does having constant "sales" or always "discounting" merchandise actually work against you? Don't get me wrong...everyone loves a bargain...but buyers are savvy these days and while you are wheeling and dealing, they are wondering if you are for real. The buyer is sizing you up and trying to figure out if you can be trusted!

Feeling Cheated

Perhaps the buyer is wondering if you are charging them too much to begin with. Or maybe the buyers secretly feels "cheated" in some way because to them your prices seem to fluctuate often. As a result of their hidden feelings of mistrust, buyers may actually shy away from buying from you.

This logic also applies when selling repaired items or undisclosed broken or damaged goods. Once a buyer feels that you have kept secrets from them once, they may doubt your overall business practices and integrity.

Watch How Many Sales You Run

If you want to convey to buyers that you have wonderful, fairly priced items for sale, avoid offering "too many good deals" and constant sales in favor of offering fair values from the get go. Staying on an even playing field will gain respect among your buyers and help you sell much more in the long run.

Practical Tips to Help You Sell More Antiques And Collectibles When Economic Times Are Tough

1. Price your goods fairly from the beginning.

2. Do not cross out prices on sales tags to show lowered price.

3. Replace or freshen up old tags, so older items don't look like they have been sitting around for a long time.

4. Refrain from too many "sales". Keep store wide "sales" limited to expected 1-2 times a year only.

5. Convey to customers that business is solid (even when it is not). People want to feel confident about what they buy and will feel nervous if they think you are anxious for their business.

6. Substitute special events to increase traffic instead of "sales". For example, offer "Victorian Days", or "Free Appraisal Day" or "Old Fashioned Nostalgia Day" etc.

7. Refrain from telling people you have been sitting with an item for a long time.

8. If an item is damaged, do not announce to them or write on a sales tag "broken" or "damaged" or "stained" use softer language "gently used"., "as found condition". A buyer can handle hearing about "blemishes" when you remind them the object is over 80 years old. When you personalize an object they are more understandable.

9.. Share information about other stores in the area. Buyers like to know you are a team player. They will trust you more.When you "give" you get back.

10. Let customers teach you. Even if you are knowledgeable about a particular collectible. People like to be heard.Listen to your customers with interest. Rapport helps to seal the deal.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Places To Hunt For The Best Junk: A Junk Collectors Guide To Getting Down N Dirty

Expanding Your junk Hunting Grounds

If you want to find great junk, you may need to expand your junk collecting hunting grounds.

You'd be surprised where you have not yet looked for goodies and hidden treasures. Let me know which of these ideas you have tried and how it turned out. Also please feel free to add a comment about additional ideas ...thanks.

Down N Dirty Ideas For Junking














1. Curbside trash

2. Underground (old battle fields, construction areas, historic sites).

3. Dump sites

4. Salvage yards.

5. Dumpster Diving.

6. Land fills.

7. Flood or water damaged areas.

8. Abandoned automobiles and roadways

Treasure Hunting Outdoors













9 Salvage yards.

10 Beach combing.

11. Metal detecting.

12. Prospecting

13. Tag or garage sales.

14. Front porches.

15 Junk markets

Junking Spots Undercover

16. Basements

17. Thrift stores

18. Attics

19. Garages

20. Rummage sales

21. Second hand stores.

22. Store rooms.

Surfing The Net For Junk And Freebies

23. http://freecycle.org/

24. Freegan.info http://freegan.info/?page_id=2

25. www.Craigslist.org

Click On The Link Below To Read More On Junk:

Where Do Junk Collectors Hunt For Freebies, Bargains And The Best Deals ?

Treasure Hunters Code of Ethics
(Courtesy of Robert Park).

I will respect private property and do no treasure hunting without the owners permission.

I will fill all holes and excavations.

I will appreciate and protect our heritage of natural resources, wildlife, and private property.

I will use thoughtfulness,consideration and courtesy at all times.

I will build fires in designated or safe places only.

I will leaver gates as found.

I will remove and properly dispose of any trash that I find.

I will not litter.

I will not destroy property, buildings, or what is left of ghost towns and deserted structures.

I will not tamper with signs, structural facilities, or equipment

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Where Do Junk Collectors Hunt For Freebies, Bargains And The Best Deals ?

Everyone is After Great Junk

With so many folks hopping onto the junk wagon, junk is becoming a precious commodity. Economic times are miserable and it seems that everyone is into re-cycling, buying on the cheap and finding fabulous JUNK.

Competition in The Junk World

Just what we all needed, competition in the junk world! This can be a real problem for those of us who turn around "junk" and transform our finds into desirable "antiques" and "collectibles'. Believe me, a lot of stuff that you see in a shop came from places you don't even want to know about. Some dealers in fact are hard core scavengers making regular trips to dumps, trash centers and their neighborhood curbs.

Soft Junking

I am what I might call a "soft junker", I'm not apt to go dumpster diving yet, but I do head for the basement or garage at a tag sale, because that is where the funky junk I like is likely to be found.

Hard Core Junking For Real Collectors
Hard core junkers are known to get "Down n Dirty". These are more risky junkers.

Regular small time junkers (like me) know the drill, going to tag sales, flea markets, off the beaten path shops etc
But if you want to step up your junking habits you need to get past the obvious places to hunt for "junk" and begin expanding your junking turf.

To Read More About Where To Find Junk Click On The Links Below:


Places To Hunt For The Best Junk:Collector Guide To Getting Down N Dirty

and

Diving Into The Topic Of Freegans And Frugal Living


Resources For Junksters

Television Shows

New History Channel Show "American Pickers in Action"
http://www.history.com/content/american-pickers

Read More On-Line

Bruce Littlefield
http://www.brucelittlefield.com/category/garage-sales/

Found Magazine
http://www.foundmagazine.com/

Flea Market Style

http://fleamarketstylemag.blogspot.com/

Books You Will Like

Tossed And Found by Linda and John Mayers

Garage Sale America by Bruce Littlefield

American Junk by Mary Randolph Carter

Big City Junk by Mary Randolph Carter

Garden Junk by Mary Randolph Carter

Kitchen Junk by Mary Randolph Carter

Treasure Hunting on A Budget by Robert Park

Treasure Hunting on A Budget 2: The Common Man's Guide to Down N Dirty Treasure Hunitng
by Robert Park

How To Be A Furniture Detective by Fred Taylor

Rescue From Domestic Perfection by Dan Ho

Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Styles Homes by C. Dianne Zweig

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

The Psychology Of Collecting: Buying Lots Of Stuff All At One Time

The Thrill of The Jack Pot For Antique Dealers:

Collectors On The Couch Series

Many collectors like to find or buy a whole bunch of stuff at the same time. It's like pulling down the lever of a slot machine and you watch with excitement as the coins come rolling out of the machine......you have hit the jackpot!. Well many collectors are after the same type of thrill....finding a treasure trove in one economical sweep.

Wow: A Bunch Of Collectibles

As any dealer of antiques and collectibles will tell you... hitting the jackpot doesn't come along everyday. But when you do strike "gold" ... it is a very exhilarating feeling. And by the way... everyone's idea of what is a "jackpot' or what is "gold" is different.

Dumpster Diving In Wall Street

My dad had a restaurant in a Wall Street skyscraper that had several levels of underground floors. He had storage space near the trash area and he became very proficient at combing through the trash bins. Dad often found boxes and boxes of old correspondence, receipts, tickets etc. Much of these finds amounted to boxes of junk, but to my dad they were treasures. To me, a child at the time, I thought my dad's poking around in the garbage was "nuts'.

Buying In "Lots"

But today, I would be in heaven to come across a box of letters from the turn of the century and delighted not to have to pay a dime for the "lot". A "lot" is a common term used in the antique industry for a whole bunch of stuff. You can buy a "lot" of postcards or a "lot of vintage kitchen tools'. Auctioneers often sell boxes of odds and ends in "lots" at the end of an auction. Enterprising dealers also like to speed up their sales by combining merchandise in groupings.

The Psychology Of Buying in Bundles

Many dealers have discovered that they make out better when they "package" their items in "lots". For example, one vendor I met a few days ago, took a large box of miscellaneous vintage linens (doilies, dresser scarfs, napkins) she bought from an estate sale and divided the contents into smaller groupings. Using pink ribbon, she bundled together 6 or more pieces at a time and priced the smallers "lots" for under ten dollars each.

"Moving" Your Merchandise Quicker

The advantage to this method is that she "moves" her linens a lot quicker and the buyer who is always thinking of getting more for less, thinks they are getting a "whole bunch".....a mini-jackpot if you will. I have also seen eBay sellers and others on-line. putting together a "lot" of "red" kitchen-wares or a "lot" of retro plastic gadgets. Buyers like this idea because they feel like they are getting "a collection" all at one time.

The Thrill Of The Bargain

Large discount stores like B.J.'s and "Sams Club" operate in the same way. They package four boxes of cereal together and the consumer thinks they are getting a bargain. During these harsher economic times, it just may make sense to offer your buyers a few "jackpots".



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

How Frugal Ladies Save Money In The Powder Room

Frugal 1940s Housewives Stretched The Dollar

In the 1940s thrifty homemakers learned how to save money, time and work in every aspect of daily life. The war years were tough and frugal housewives stretched the dollar in anyway that they could. Here are some wonderful tips from a 1940's home economics booklet on Household Hints. Be sure to let me know which of these handy hints you have tried?

1. Make your own hair curlers. use the wires from the tops of milk bottles.

2. Save that lipstick container. By removing the last bit of lipstick and packing the holder with cotton for a cushion, you can have a neat pin and needle case, to keep handy in your purse or week end bag.

3. It is good psychology to keep a box of facial tissues in the bathroom, when guests are in the house. Most women will thoughtfully use them, instead of guest towels, to remove excess lipstick.

4. How to remove lipstick.....rub with Vaseline or lard. wash in hot suds. If color stain remains, bleach with hydrogen peroxide. Do not use soap first; it may set the stain.

5. To protect your rubber swim cap, wash it. thoroughly dry and cover with a little talcum powder or cornstarch inside and out. Then store in a cool place.

6.Brassieres are easy to iron. Iron toward the center of each cup, turning the brassiere on the board until each area is smooth and dry. then iron the flat sections and the straps.

7. Wash your nylons after each wearing, use lukewarm water and mild soapsuds. rinse them well. Squeeze out the water. Make sure they are completely dry before wearing them again.


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Collectors On The Couch: Buying Your Friend's Junk

Introducing a New Series About
The Psychology of Collecting

"Collectors on The Couch"
Part I Buying Your Friend's Junk

Do you have junk envy? Do you feel like a "Desperate Antiques Dealer" constantly thinking of ways to keep your inventory fresh? If you are like most dealers I know, you have found a perfectly reasonable solution, you buy your friend's junk. And they buy your stuff and soon a twenty five cent collectible is selling for $18.00.

Keeping Your Merchandise Exciting

When you own a brick and mortar shop or you sell on-line, you have to constantly go out on buying trips to keep your merchandise exciting and crisp. Who said antiquing isn't work! And where do you suppose we all get our stuff from? Yep, we buy each other's "junk". O.K., let's not call it junk. Let's call it "collectibles'. But the truth is that we all buy from each other and sometimes even from ourselves.
Is this neurotic or the truth about our biz?

Relax...with a few exceptions your behavior is probably with in normal limits (WNL). So read on and learn more about rules of the trade.

Rules About Buying From Each Other

Most multi-dealer shops I have rented booth space in, allowed dealers to buy from each other. The philosophy was that a sale is a sale. Everyone needs a buck. The philosophy in many places is that if you wanted to mark up an item you bought from a fellow dealer and re-sell it in your booth... let the force be with you! So don't feel guilty anymore.

Tricks of The Trade

But one large antique mall I rented space in years ago, had owners that were wound too tight. They had a policy that if you bought something from another dealer you could not re-display it in your booth. So what most of us savvy sellers did was put the item(s) away for a few months and then we squeezed the stuff in when we brought in a big load at a later time. There is no need for anyone to lose sleep over this....ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

Does Anyone Really Know What Came From Where?

Believe me, if your booth looks anything like mine, there is so much stuff packed into this space that no shop manager would know what came from where. We all need to stop worrying about what others think! And who said that there is only one polka dot pig creamer in the world?
Surely one could have bought another polka dot pig creamer somewhere else and not from a neighboring dealer ?

Falling In Love With Your Friend's Junk

But the point is that we all shuffle around our inventory. We fall in love with something from a friend's shop and than put that goody into our shop and the cycle goes on and on. That is what I mean when I say that antiquing is work. All this hunting and wrapping and packing and unpacking....and worrying about etiquette...forget about it...we are all desperate collectors!


Buying Back Your Own Warped Tupperware

In fact I believe that I have even bought back some of my own things which ended up at my local Thrift shop. And you would think that the gray haired lady at the cashier desk would give you a discount when you buy back your very own warped Tupperware? No such luck. One time I shlepped in ten big black heavy duty plastic bags filled with donated stuff to our neighborhood Thrift shop. We are probably talking about five hundred dollars worth of perfectly fine merchandise.

That Will Be 50 Cents Please

As I was exiting the store, I spotted a few old greeting cards I liked. I had imagined, Shirley who was the volunteer on duty that day would say to me," go ahead pick out a few cards, it will be our treat"...no such luck... Shirley said " 50 cents please".

Photos courtesy of:

Burlington Inn Antiques
304 Spielman Highway
Route 4
Burlington, CT 860-404-1780

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

The Kitschy Collector Drops In On Three Favorite Retro Families

Dropping In On Ozzie and Harriet Nelson

I thought it might be fun to visit with some Retro families from the 1950's.I dropped in on Harriet Nelson first. She and Ozzie had just come back from a Tide Laundry detergent promotion. I imagine that over the years, that the Tide people must have given her lots of freebies, which is probably how she managed to to keep David and Ricky looking so crisp and clean.

Harriet told me that her series "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet" started as a radio program (1944) and aired on T.V. from 1952-1966.

Having Tea With The Cleavers

Next I thought I would see if June Cleaver was back from the market. Luckily she and Ward were home, but Beaver and Wally were out mowing lawns.

June was excited to show me her pearl necklace that I bet Ward bought her when they began their T.V. series in 1957. She wore that necklace everyday until the show ended in 1963.

Last Stop, Chatting With Margaret and Jim Anderson

After some lovely tea that June prepared, I headed out the door to visit with Margaret and Jim Anderson . They were eager to share with me stories about the family and how the ever popular series "Father Knows Best" began. It seems that the episodes began on NBC Radio in 1949. Jim was an insurance agent back then and known to be very paternalistic and sarcastic. He softened up quite a bit when he went on T.V. in 1954.
Although Jim had lots of rules, he adored his kids, Betty "Princess", James, "Bud" and Kathy, "Kitten".

It was getting late in the day so I wished the Anderson's well. I promised Margaret I would send regards to Lucy and Ethel when I see them next week at the "Vitameatavegamin" Meet Up.

Postscript

As you probably gathered, my blog post leaped into T.V. land where creative writing often trumps reality. For more thorough and reliable information on Retro T,V. families........visit these museums or read more:

Museums

The Museum of Broadcast Communication http://www.museum.tv/
The Museum of The Moving Image http://www.movingimage.us/site/site.php
The Paley Center for Media http://www.paleycenter.org/

FURTHER READING On Leave it Beaver

Applebaum, Irwyn. The World According to Beaver. New York: Bantam, 1984.

Golbout, Oscar. "A Gift from the Children." New York Times, 8 December 1957.

Liebman, Nina. Living Room Lectures: The Fifties Family in Film and Television. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1995.

Shayon, Robert Lewis. "Beaver's Booboo." Saturday Review (New York), 1 February 1958.

Shepard, Richard. "Busy 'Beaver' and His Brother." New York Times, 30 October 1960.

Spigel, Lynn. Make Room for TV: Television and the Family Ideal In Postwar America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.

"TV's Eager Beaver." Look (New York), 27 May 1958.

FURTHER READING On Ozzie and Harriet

Ames, Walter. "Home Life, Show Life Same in Nelson Family." Los Angeles Times, 16 November 1952.

"The Full Nelson." Time (New York), 16 February 1948.

Gross, Ben. "Ozzie Nelson Gives Secret of Happy H'wood Marriage." Sunday News (New York), 5 March 1961.

"Harriet Hillard." Variety (Los Angeles), 14 August 1938.

Holmes, John R. "The Wizardry of Ozzie: Breaking Character in Early Television." Journal of Popular Culture (Bowling Green, Ohio), Fall 1989.

"Mourning in Sitcomville." The New York Times, 5 October 1994.

FURTHER READING On Father Knows Best

Denis, Christopher Paul, and Michael Denis. Favorite Families of TV. New York: Citadel, 1992.

Leibman, Nina. Living Room Lectures: The Fifties Family in Film and Television. Austin, Texas: University of Texas Press, 1995.

Taylor, Ella. Prime Time Families. Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1989

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Atomic Era Kitchens And Homes: Shaping The Modern Era of Design With Postwar Technology

Introducing The Atomic Era

What is meant by Atomic Era Decor and Design in kitchens? When you are searching for 1950's kitchen and home collectibles you will often see the term "Atomic Era" or "Atomic Age". In fact there is a magazine called "Atomic Ranch", http://www.atomic-ranch.com/ dedicated to this Mid-Century phase in home decor. But what do we mean by this term?

Postwar influences on Design

Atomic Era Design generally refers to the postwar period (second World War) when manufacturers were introducing into the home, products, materials and patterns influenced by the war effort and wartime research. The term also refers to designs influenced by "The Space Age" .

1950's Technological Boom

There was a technological boom as state of the art materials, plastic laminates, synthetics, fiberglass, latex foam was "shaping" American homes in the postwar years. Plastics could be molded into asymmetric and organic shapes. Wires and metals were constructed to form "hair pin" legs on furnishings and used commonly in modern sculpture like design throughout the home. Aluminum and chrome dominated cookwares, barware and leisure time.

Decorative Arts 50's

According to Charlotte and Peter Fiell in their superb book, "Decorative Art 50's (Taschne), "designers were inspired by a wide range of themes such as molecular chemistry, nuclear physics, sicence fiction, African art and abstract contemporary sculpture by such artists as Alexander Calder and Hans Arp. The spiky angular forms of the early 1950's gave way to more organic and biomorphic shapes as the decade progressed".

Shaping the 50's

You will see that during the 1950's textiles, coffee tables, end tables, dinettes, lamps, housewares, wall decor, accessories etc. were designed with amoeba or boomerang shapes, geometric patterns, space age designs, star bursts and abstract motif. Cookware, coffee pots, snack sets, punch bowls, serving pieces often were designed with 'leg" or platform bases which resembled rocket design....ready to take off into the future!

Books You Will Like On The Atomic Era:

Collecting The 1950's by Madeleine Marsh

Decorative Art 50s by Charlotte and peter Fiell

Retro Style by Marion Haslam

Fifties Style by Richard Horn

Retro by Suzanne Tochne

Atomic Kitchen by Brian S. Alexander

50s Decor by Collectors Compass Martindale

Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s

Photographs courtesy
http://www.dowahdiddy.com/

http://www.kitschykoo.com/

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Are Vintage Mixing Bowls Always "Hot" Sellers? Advice From The Kitschy Collector

The Ups And Downs of Buying And Selling Vintage Mixing Bowls

It seems to me that vintage mixing bowls are sometimes "hot" sellers in our shops and at other times real sleepers. And when we are selling bowls like hot cakes, we load up on even more bowls thinking it's a good idea. But just when we have a wonderful assortment of bowls on hand...the whole cycle quiets down. And those of you who have limited shelf space know what a bummer it is to find places for "too many" mixing bowls, especially very large ones.

The Good, Bad And Ugly
So its probably a good idea for me to tell my readers what I have learned from being in the biz for several decades. The bottom line is that not all bowls are great sellers . Know your bowls!

Good Selling Bowls

1. Patterned Bowls
"Dots" (McKee, Fire king, Hazel Atlas)
"Diamonds"
"Ivy"
"Sailboats" (McKee)
"Tulips" (i.e. Fire king)
"Ribbons" (McKee)
"Kitchen Aids" (Fire King)
"Apple" (i.e. Fire King)

2. 1940's bowls in red, yellow, green, blue
( especially red or yellow) .

3. Complete nesting sets (all kinds priced reasonably).

4. Jade-ite bowls priced right.

5. Bowls with roosters

6. Pink bowls.

7. American Dinnerware (i.e. Pottery Guild).

Harder To Sell Bowls

While I find that bowls in colors such as olive greens, mushroom colors, burnt oranges, golds and browns are harder to sell, I do want to remind you that they are gaining interest.
It seems that younger collectors are re-discovering the bowls of their childhood and these Harvest color bowls are picking up a bit more interest.
How Long Does it take to Sell Olive Green Bowls?

Not too long ago I kidded a friend about how long the Olive green bowls she brought into her retro cafe-shop would sit on her shop shelves with no interest from anyone.

The Buyer Fell In Love With Her Mom's Bowl

Right after I joked about these disco era bowls, a young waitress came over to the bowls and bought them right on the spot. The young gal said the bowls reminded her of her mom's (70's) kitchen.

Proceed With Caution on These Bowls

1. 1970s earth tone bowls.
2. Very large mixing bowls.
3. Frosted bowls.
4. Common bowls which go with mixers.

Some of the photos courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroRevival


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Cottage Pink Vintage Furnishings Featured At Romantic Rose Boutique

Romantic Cottage Style

With Valentine's Day approaching, it is the perfect time of the year to talk about Romantic Cottage Style. I thought I would take you on a tour of the Romantic Rose Boutique so you can see how beautifully these gals showcase their custom decorated cottage furnishings.

Artist Judy, really pays attention to details. That is why her furnishings and accessories stand out from the rest. How beautiful Judy freshens up old chairs, tables, desks giving them a new life!

Cottage Pink Gives New Life To Old Chairs

Above, the old pressed back chair has lovely spindles and a seat cushion made form an old quilt.
The second photo shows a vintage chair with a shield back. The detail in the chair is what sets this piece apart form the rest. Judy has distressed the wood so some of the original patina comes through.

Soft, Vintage, Romantic

Painted vintage furnishings of soft pinks and creams, lots of accessories with hand painted roses or florals and pretty textiles are what my friends at Romantic Rose Boutique specialize in. You will see some of their custom work in my book, Hot Cottage Collectibles

Custom Painted Roses
Make Book Case So Special

The bookcase shown her looks like it has been lined with vintage wallpaper, but guess what...that is hand painted flowers on a cream painted background. It is simply darling.

Visit Romantic Rose Boutique at: http://www.romanticroseboutique.com/

You can see more of Romantic Rose Boutique in my book Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes (Collectorbooks.com).

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Using Vintage Wooden Boxes And Crates to Display Antiques And Collectibles

Vintage Wooden Boxes Help To Organize Your Displays And Showcase Your Antiques And Collectibles

Wooden boxes of all sizes are an antique shop owner's best friends. I cherish my vintage boxes and have a hard time passing up any of these great finds at tag sales or Flea markets.

First let's go over the common type vintage boxes and crates you will find that work well in your shop for displaying and organizing collectibles and antiques. Remember it is important to have on hand a variety of sizes and shapes. Some boxes you will sit on the floor, while other boxes might be used on a table top for use as a riser or to contain smaller collectibles such as post cards or vintage dish towels.

Types of Common Vintage Wooden Boxes Or Crates
1. soda boxes with compartments
2. soap boxes
3. fruit boxes
4. cigar boxes
5. food boxes
6. advertising boxes
7. cream cheese boxes
8. tool boxes
9. Champagne boxes
9. Milk boxes
10. Coca Cola boxes
11. Seltzer Boxes

Tips About Using Wooden Boxes Or Crates For Display

It seems that when you go shopping for old boxes the prices are all over the place. Yes indeed there are boxes and there are boxes. This article is about common boxes not the very old antique ones that have fabulous advertising and fetch big bucks. I am talking about equipping your shop for an assortment of different style boxes that are $5.00-25.00. Sometimes you have to put up with a very dirty box to get a real bargain...but that is ok...many of my lovely boxes have had a bath or two.

Tidy Up Your Boxes

So start off by cleaning your box and removing any exposed nails. Also hammer in any loose parts and inspect the box for dangerous splintering.Some boxes have metal banding which can be dangerous if not carefully secured to the box.

Vintage Cream Cheese Boxes

I use smaller boxes such as Cream Cheese boxes upside down as a "riser" to help create different levels for my kitchen collectibles. Cream cheese boxes also work well right side up or (upside down) for displaying small juice glasses such as Swanky Swigs.

Vintage Wooden Soda Boxes

Wooden soda boxes are perfect for displaying mounted vintage magazine advertisements or framed pictures. Sometimes I turn an olden wooden box upside down and use to elevate another box so customers to not have to bend so far. Besides stacking boxes is a great way to save space. Oh, I almost forgot, soda boxes stacked one on top of each other make great cheap shelves for books.

Vintage Coca Cola Boxes

Coca Cola boxes turned on their edge are charming as a smaller shelved unit for vintage tins or small advertising boxes. The yello box shown is a Cocal Cola box that has been painted. i got it that waY. Salt and Pepper shakers also work well displayed on the shelves created when you stand the box upright.

Vintage Cigar Boxes

Cigar boxes are very handy. I use smaller wooden cigar boxes for post cards. Other types of cigar boxes can be used also as riser or platforms for collectibles or with the lid open to display hankies, jewelry, scarves, textiles, doilies etc.

Photos taken at my shop Kitsch n Stuff (Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford).

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

Photos taken at my shop kitsch n Stuff (Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford).

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Adding Vintage Paper Doll Cut-Outs Or Puzzle Pieces To Transform Children's Tables And Chairs

Creating Whimsical Vintage Children's Tables And Chairs

A dated boring children's table and chairs can be reborn with a little paint and some fresh ideas such as adding vintage paper doll cut outs or puzzle pieces to the table top.

At The Bleu Willlow in Simsbury, Connecticut, I found these adorable tables and chairs which have had a charming make-over.

Mixed Media Advice For Vintage Projects

There are many ways to accomplish a transformation. Here is the way my mixed media friends might attempt a project like this.Mixed media collage artists are very familiar with layering papers and objects on "supports" and coating with a variety of products.

Well now think of your table top as your "support" (surface) which you will treat a "collage".

Preparing Your Table Top Surface

First you will may need to prepare your table top and legs with sanding and primer or a base coat of paint if the surface is not smooth and intact. Next choose a color scheme and paint colors
for your table top, legs and matching chairs.

Using Clear Self Leveling Gel

When this step is complete you can add your vintage images or game parts. The tables shown here were done as decoupage projects by artist Karen Schuler. Crafters use a variety of methods and products to stick papers and objects onto surfaces. Diluted glue, Mod Podge and other decoupage mediums work well.

For another method of adding cut outs and embellishments, you might consider using Golden's Clear Self Leveling Gel When visiting their website you will find lots of technical advice. You can also check with your local paint store for other options.

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:

. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.

Vintage Altered Art Using Old Bingo Cards And Parts

Growing Up In A Family Of Bingo Addicts

I grew up in a family of Bingo Addicts who played the game two to three times a week. My grandmother Esther, a.k.a. "Shabby Granny" (see Hot Cottage Collectibles For Vintage Style Home) decorated her entire apartment in the prizes she won at Bingo.

Bingo Prizes Are Now Kitchen Collectibles

While some of the Bingo games she played gave out cash prizes, most of the games she enjoyed gave the winners usable items such as coffee cups, salt and pepper shakers, cheese and cracker boards etc. Many of the " kitchen collectibles" we all buy and sell today, were once Bingo prizes.

Altered Art Bingo

"Bingo Games" are still popular today, but in a much different way. "Bingo" has been elevated from a parlor game to an art form. For many, "Altered Bingo Art" is the latest passion. Crafters are collecting vintage Bingo cards, tokens, markers etc. and transforming them into mixed media art forms. Many artists also incorporate sewing notions as well as vintage images from magazines or cards into their Bingo art.

Collectors And Artist Want Vintage Bingo Sets

This trend affects vintage sellers because it means that there is a new market out there for these vintage games. Even incomplete Bingo sets are of interest to altered art creators. Many artists use the Bingo cards as "supports" (surfaces) to create their projects, adding embellishments, trim, stampings, paintings, wax resistance, gold leafing, calligraphy etc. Some artists even make three dimensional assemblages out of Bingo materials. The Bird House shown here is a good example of a whimsical use of Bingo parts. Do sellers..never throw out anything!

You can find lots of vintage game parts, embellishments and completed Vintage Altered Bingo Art on Etsy.com and other on line sources.
Also keep on eye out for these items at Flea Markets, Thrift Shops and Antique Malls.

Photos courtesy of:

http://www.artchixstudio.com/
http://shessewpretty.typepad.com/
http://katiebeecreative.com/


C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of Iantiqueonline.com an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café.

To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link:
C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

Dianne is a member of:
The American Society of Journalists and Authors
The Authors Guild, Inc.