Designer Susan Driscoll: Patterns Inspired by Vintage Fabrics and Mid Century Modern Design

Kitschy Pattern Designs on Pinterest.com 

Visiting Pinterest.com is like having your very own reference library filled with books, illustrations and magazines. One of my favorite boards I have created on the site is called "Kitschy Pattern Design". I like to "collect" images of patterns inspired by vintage fabric and Mid Century design.

Here is a preview of my "Kitschy Pattern Design" board.

This image is from designer Susan Driscoll who named her studio "The Print Tree". Susan, based in Liverpool, UK is a freelance designer influenced by vintage textiles, nature, mid centrury design and contemporary illustration.

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 I Antique Online 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Antique Booth Ideas: Painting A Display Shelf In Bright Periwinkle Blue and Yellow.

Colorful Painted Shelf Gets The Attention of Shoppers In An Antique Mall 

I just had to share with you this photo of a colorfully painted cabinet which was recently posted on my site I Antique Online.com. For sure this photo caught my attention as it was uploaded in our phoot gallery on the site. You can also imagine that this shleving unit would catch the attention of buyers who were strolling an antique mall. The whimsical shelf displays collectibles for sale in a multi-group antique shop . Antique dealers...painting one of your cabinets or shelves a bright color is a sure way to bring  more customers to your antique booth!


Photo from Judy Jordan collection: http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/photo/very-vintage?context=latest
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 I Antique Online 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Tips When Determining If Grandma's Antiques and Collectibles Are Worth Anything?

How To Begin To Sort Through Grandma's Antiques and Collections


As the editor of I Antique Online.com, I am often sent photos of antiques, collectibles and trinkets and asked "Is this worth anything?". Or "What should I do with my mom's collection of salt and pepper shakers?". Usually when I get an email with these types of questions I ask the sender first if they have a photo or two for me to look at. To be honest, I'm curious myself. I want to see a preview of what they are talking about.

Finding The Special Collectibles

Can you imagine if the person who is contacting me had a HUGE collection of  McKee or Tipp range set shakers? Or if the shoe box of old jewelry they found in a dresser drawer was packed with beautiful highly collectible Bakelite pieces ?

Usually after I get a chance to see a few photos, I write the sender back and suggest to them that they visit my site "I Antique Online.com" and post their question in the group "Whadja Find" as well as in any of the many collectible groups on the site such as "Furniture" "cookie jars" , "Depression Glassware", "Bakelite" etc. Our Depression Glass group is moderated by famed author Barbra E. Mauzy  who has written many books on Depression Glass.

I Antique Online.com Is A FREE Social Network To Help You Figure Out What You Have 

I Antique Online.com is a social network made up off over 14, 000 members who bring to the community a lot of both personal and business expertise. There is no fee to be part of this community and there always is so much to learn from so many members of IAO who enjoy helping out new members. I like the idea of using I Antique Online.com for feedback because, you will get lot's of advice and the community will self monitor the responses.

Many people will advise you to seek out an appraiser or auction house, which is also a good idea, but how do you know who to go to? On I Antique Online. Com we can help with that process as well. Be sure to visit the group "Estate Liquidation" on I Antique Online.com.

Tips When Determining If Grandma's Antiques and Collectibles Are Worth Anything?

1. Look at the item. To your eye does the item look old or new?
2. Is the item attractive?
3. How is it made? Does it look well made? Is it plain, ornate, stylish? Is there a lot of detail and workmanship?
4. Are their any markings, labels, signatures, numbers?
5. Is anything chipped or broken or repaired?
6. If you had to guess what era the item was, could you? Do you remember what years grandma had the item?
7. What is the item used for?
8. Is the item common or  quite unique?
9. Does it look like a fake or does it show signs of age and use?
10. Where did grandma keep it in the house? Was it cared for? Was it on display? Was it used?

Photos are from I Antiqe Online.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 I Antique Online 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Shop Handmade Gifts For The Holidays at Farmington Valley Arts Center New Gift Shop and Gallery

 CHOOSE HANDMADE FOR YOUR HOLIDAY GIFTS: VISIT THE DREZNER HOLIDAY GIFT GALLERY AND SHOP at the FARMINGTON VALLEY ARTS CENTER, AVON, CT

Drezner Holiday Gift Shop Gallery open Wednesday through Friday 12:00-4:00pm and Saturday all day 

Visit  http://artsfvac.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 I Antique Online 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Mixed Media Colors: When You Just Can't "Own" The Palette

Painted Papers For Collage With Colors That Scream Help!

This post is for my Mixed Media followers who will know exactly what I am talking about when it comes to falling into just the right palette. Well let's say the last palette I fell into I just can't own. I  am trying to like it, but it doesn't work for me. Remember the Bravo T.V. show "Work of Art" ? One of the art critics, I think it was Jerry Saltz, would often say "it just doesn't work for me". Well that is how I feel about the colors on the papers I painted for my current series of collages. What do you think....are these colors working
for you?


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 I Antique Online 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 Society of Professional Journalists

Holiday Decorating With Fresh Greenery: Getting Ready For Shopping in a Winter Wonderland at The Farmington Valley Arts Center

The Only Holiday Greens I Knew About (Until Yesterday) Were Spinach and Kale 
I am very proud to announce that yesterday marked the first time I helped decorate for Christmas. I've had a lot of experience with blue and white banners, dreidels and this year Thanksgiving latkes, but not much floor time with greens and wreaths. In fact, the only greens I really know about are spinach and kale. 

Decorating The Farmington Valley Arts Center For Winter Wonderland 

So please understand  it was a big deal for me to show up at holiday workshop to help make holiday swags to adorn the outside posts and doors at The Farmington Valley Arts Center in Avon, CT. where I have my art studio (Studio 9B). 



Getting To Know My Holiday Decorating Greens 

I arrived to our beloved classroom in 3A ( a place I have taken many classes before I became "a real artist" LOL). It was there that I was introduced to a whole new variety of holiday "greens" gathered from the landscape around the art center and brought in from our artist's gardens.  I learned that you can use, White Pine, Virginia Pine, Junipers (fragrant), True Cedars, Firs, Spruce, Ivy, Holly (green and variegated) and many Evergreens such as Hemlock. 

Making Holiday Swags Is A Hand's On Experience: Protect Your Hands

By the end of the afternoon, I had a whole new appreciation of the bounty that was available for FREE. But let's get back to the actual hands on experience. You need to be prepared for working with your hands and protecting your hands. Old gloves are helpful. Forget about using the thin surgical gloves that many of us Mixed Media artists use in our studios. You will never be able to wrap wire around your bunches of greens with rubber goves on. You'll get all jammed up, trust me!

Making Holiday Swags

So what actually is a holiday swag? It is an arrangement of greens bound with wire, a colorful holiday ribbon and dressed with embellishments such as coloroful ribbons and bows, berries or  acorns if you wish. After the first four swags I made...the rest were a piece of cake. Making the bows was another story. 

You can see our holiday swags this Friday night, December 6th, 2013 at The Farmington Valley Arts Center Open Studios and Shopping in A Winter Wonderland 6:00-9:00 pm. Sample chocolates in each of the studios and visit The Drezner Holiday Gift Gallery and the Fisher Gallery for a wonderful glimmering exhibit.

For more information visit: http://artsfvac.org/37th-annual-candlelight-opening/