What Would You Do With An Old Rusty Bed Frame: Garden Art or Junk ?

Garden Junk Art Has Lots of Possibilities

While visiting The Blue House Antiques in Canton, CT, I noticed this rusty old metal bed frame sitting in their front garden. I couldn't decide if it looked like an object that needed to be discarded or   a potential piece of garden art which had a lot of possibilities. Junk art in the garden always seems to be acceptable when there are lots of other similar pieces in the same garden area and when the object is used as a plant stand or is surrounded by colorful flowers .

Readers, what would you do with this old rusty bed frame?

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

The Story of The Junk Life Cycle

How Old Receipts, Memorabilia and Paper Junk Lives On

This is how the JUNK LIFE CYCLE works. You save decades of folders, envelopes, shoe boxes, suitcases and shoppings bags filled with old receipts, invoices, statements, photographs and memorabilia. To get them out of your way, initially you hide all this paper junk into old desk drawers, bureaus, cupboards and closets. If you are lucky enough to own your own home, you eventually transfer all this stuff  into larger boxes which find their way into an attic, basement or garage.

Liquidating Saved Receipts and Old Papers 

Next, you call upon your adult children, grandchildren and perhaps even great-grandchildren to come visit and look through the boxes and bags of stuff you have saved in the basement, garage and attic. Unable to part with too much at this stage, you cut a deal with family members to take all this paper junk back to their own homes.

Now the folders, cartons, bags filled with old papers, photographs, memorabilia end up in a new house, landing first in closets, empty desk drawers and spare bedrooms. Eventually however, the piles and collections will get re-located to a new basement, attic or garage so that "in the future" additional sifting and purging might occur.

Waiting For A Rainy Day To Unload Saved Papers 

The day of liquidation never really comes. But the stuff does get shuffled again and again when a new keeper of the old papers wants to downsize to a smaller place and unload the load.

How The Junk Story Ends

One more time, all the stuff once in closets and desk drawers, comes out of the basement, attic and garage and finds its way into the hands of a new generation of  hoarders who are happy to take custody of the paper STUFF and pack away into more drawers, corners and hiding places before transferring all this junk down to a basement or stuffing into an attic or garage.      
Readers if this sounds familiar or you wish to add your experiences to this blog, pleae feel free to leave a comment. 

Photographs taken by C. Dianne Zweig at Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT and Seymour Antique Center, Seymour, CT

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

The Easter Bunny Needs To Wear Boots With Traction Before Going Antique Picking

Antique Dealers with Frostbite

The problem with a cold and long winter is that the Antique shops and Multi-Dealer stores in colder climates are picked over for longer than usual. Dealers in these shops are known to rely on goods from outdoor sales and markets. You just can't set up a tag sale or garage sale on icy patches and left over snow on your driveway.

Out Antiquing: Looking For Some Good Egg Deals 

Antique pickers are not the only ones I am concerned about. For example,  I hope that the Easter bunny wears boots with traction when out there looking for some good egg deals because it is going to be a mightly slippery holiday.

Weeds Are Freezing Their Buds Off 

Usually by this time of the year, my mailbox is stuffed with companies trying to sell me crab grass control packages. Not this year.....the weeds are staying underground...they are freezing their buds off.

Stay Warm On I Antique Online.com

There are however a couple of enjoyable activities compulsive junkers can do during this long winter. You can head over to my social network called I Antique Online.com and enjoy the company of others. After that... say hello to the great people who are regulars on  our Facebook page .  Be sure to "LIKE" our page...it warms my heart on these cold days!

Top photo courtesy of  http://www.travelwestukraine.net/2012/04/beaded-easter-eggs-from-ukraine.html

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

Should You Take Freebies From A Friend's Loved One's Estate?

Addicted To Rummaging Through Boxes at Estate Liquidations

This weekend I relapsed and agreed to rummage through the contents of a large box of STUFF my friends brought back from a family member's Florida estate. This relative traveled all over the world and liked to collect things from every country she visited.  The "box" was in my friend's  basement with my name scribbled on it "FOR
DIANNE". My first feelings and thoughts upon seeing "the box" was a mixture of nervous anticipation and  s u s p i c i o n. Why is there a huge box with my name on it? O.K.....they got my number...they knew that I could not pass up a possible "mother load". But what exactly was in this box, I wondered to myself?

Unwrapping The Contents of Famile Estates

I peaked into the box and saw that everything was wrapped

very carefully in heavy mover paper. Perhaps there really is something worthwhile in "the  box"... at least I was hoping. So I started to unwrap a few items at the top of the box and decided that it would be far better to wait until I got home to do a more careful unwrapping job. The box was very large and very heavy, so I figured that the "good stuff" must be in the middle or towards the bottom of the box.

Is The Good Stuff Packed Into The Middle or Bottom Of The Box ?

Stay with me.....because the box was large and heavy and  I was delighted when my friend offered to ask his son to put this HEAVY BOX into my car. While opening my car trunk, my friend said...oh there are two bags in the garage you should also take. Sure I said, throw the bags in the trunk.

Stop The Blog: The Suspense Is Just Too Much

I got home and in freezing cold weather (in the dark), I started to poke through the bags and "THE BOX".  S T O P  T H E   B L O G

Readers tell me what you think was in the box and the bags........also have you ever been invited to take home freebies from a friend's family member's estate? What were your experiences?



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

Way Off The Beaten Path Looking For Antiques And Collectibles

Getting Lost When Out Antiquing

When you are out antiquing, one small move out of the ordinary and you could find yourself on a country road in new territory. Some people frown because they are not where they are supposed to be. For me, it is as blessing in disguise. I love getting lost while out antiquing and discovering the smaller shops that just may not be on "the antique maps" that so many owners get together and print.

Following The Antique Trail To A Point

Don't get me wrong, local antique maps are great for following the trail of antique stores located in a particular geographic area. But often, the maps do not tell the whole story. Shops come and go and often the descriptions on these printed pamphlets can be deceiving.

Good Junk Or A Dump

Over the years, how many of us have been burnt, holdng one of these antique maps in our hands, and showing up in person to a store which sounded good on paper but is a miserable DUMP.  We eagerly thought we would be walking into a treasure trove when in reality we walk into the equivalent of
poop palace.

Good Junk Is Appetizing

Now let's be clear...there is JUNK which is fun JUNK.  But there is also JUNK that belongs in the trash.

Here is what I call junk that belongs in the trash .... lots of wet, smelly, moldy

boxes and bins filled with dusty, rusty,  broken garbage. There is very little in the way of collectibles, vintage or desirable anything.

Orderly Junk In An Organized Shop A-1 RATING 

On the other hand, a great junk store  (or collectibles shop) has a mixture of everything and is relatively a neat and somewhat organized place that is kept up. You enjoy poking through piles, boxes and front porches.
In a great store, you are not terrfied that something "live" will jump out at you. Photos  shown are from The Junk Shop Of Canton , CT  a  shop with an A-1 JUNK RATING.

Readers feel free to  share your thoughts. Also tell us about your A-1 Junk haunts.

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

Pinterest.com: Cheaper Than Therapy And Great For Relaxation

Pinning On Pinterest.com Is Good For Your Mental Health

Now that I have retired as a psychotherapist and identify myself as an
ARTIST...and kitschy collector, I'm not thinking too much about "psych" stuff...mine or anyone elses. Hmm, I suppose there is a deeper explanation here. Perhaps making art soaks up all my crazy stuff ..... It's channeled into my work. And when I need a  break from art, schedules, family and life...than I can always count on the pleasure I get when going antiquing.

The Urge to Go Junk Collecting

Recently I have discovered  another way to feed my junk collecting urges. I can now go antiquing on Pinterest.com. Pinterest.com at this time is is not a buying and selling site. (although the site is used as a marketing tool for many businesses). Think of Pinterest.com as a super sized virtual  scrapbook that you get to create to suit your own tastes, interests and  collecting habits.
Building Pinterest.com Boards

 The member builds what are called "boards" ( bulletin ) that you "pin" photographs onto of items that you like. Photographs come from other members, your computer photo file or sources on the  internet.


Pinterest.com I s Like Children's Lotto For Adults

 I have decided that Pinterest.com is like playing lotto bingo as a kid. Remember this game, you  have a board that  you match objects to. You place the cat on the cat spot and the dog on the dog spot  etc. until you have filled the board.  On Pinterest I am building my boards, like the old fashioned lotto game. So when a vintage red kitchen bowl appears on the Main page of the site  I can "repin" that  bowl onto my "Kitschy Kitchen Bowl" board.

Pinning Boards Is Like Doodling: Mindless Relaxation

[Source: Piemouth.] This task  of hunting for collectibles on Pinterest.com and than pinning photographs on categories of  boards that I have created is like doodling......you get swept away from the left side of your brain to the right side of your brain in mindless yet satisfying constructions of virtual bulletin boards. Try pinning on Pinterest.com while pretending to be watching the news coverage you will enjoy the distraction. Pinning on Pinterest.com is cheaper and safer than an antidepressant or tranquilizer and it's FREE.


Photo credits from  http://pinterest.com/kitschnstuff/kitschy-thrifty-housewife/
Visit:
 http://pinterest.com/upnow/
http://pinterest.com/cutiepiecottage/
http://pinterest.com/cahartnell/

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

My Vintage Suburban Life: Junk In The Trunk

Suburban Antique Pickers Rejoice

I opened up the trunk of my car to unload my grocery bags from the wagon and found a few of the items that I bought at my last "pick". Nothing as exciting as what The American Pickers come up with...no, no, my picks are sweet and sentimental.

What's In The Trunk Of My Car

Currently in my trunk is a 1950's cake saver, a small pile of lace doilies, an old tablecloth, a lovely framed portrait of a Victorian Era lady, some vintage tins and an old postcard or two.

My Vintage Life

So back to unpacking my groceries. I push my collectibles to the back of the trunk to make room for my groceries and I'm warmly reflecting on the combination of collectibles and groceries. This is "my vintage life". It is so natural for me to have milk, eggs, bread and old stuff mingling together on any given day. Keeping company in the back of my Subaru, you might find some used books (crammed into the side pockets of the trunk) along with some plastic doggie poop bags and spare dog food. Life in suburbia!

Fancy Cars Are Not For Antique Pickers

This is "My Vintage Life" and I wouldn't trade it in for another life style. Last weekend a guest arrived in a tiny fancy convertible car. For fun, I asked if I could climb into the driver's side to see what it might be like to sit behind the wheel of a little tiny weenie convertible.
"No, problem, go ahead and try it", my friend said. O.k., I got my middle aged, pear shaped bod into the front seat and looked around.

Room For Kitsch n StuffI looked behind me and noticed a few overstuffed small shopping bags stuffed into the narrow space behind the two front seats. No way could I live my vintage life in this sample size car. There would be no room for my junk. Case closed.

Top car photo courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/ronnieharris/5500816378/

Photo of doilies courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/ricracandbuttons

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.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Junk Collectors Have Type A Personalities: "A" For Addicted

Collectors On The Couch Series
Kitsch n Shrink Discusses:

Are the personalities of junk collectors WNL (within normal limits) or off the charts? In a nutshell (no pun intended) junksters (junk collectors) have Type A Personalities ...and that's "A" for ADDICTED TO JUNK. Junksters like hanging out with other junk maniacs and consider themselves perfectly SANE in a crazy material world.

The Lines Of Normality Are Blurred For Junk Collectors

Lets face it , when you are talking to another dumpster diver the lines of normality are completely blurred. Come on, only a fellow junk addict could stomache hearing about rescuing an old broken, rusty plant stand from a pile of manure and not passing any judgment on this outrageous behavior.

The Sweat, The Dirt, The Cooties, The Joy

Junksters (addicts) completely understand it when another Type A collector explains the ups and downs of picking (hunting for antiques and collectibles and other valuable or useful junk). The sweat, the dirt, the cooties........the JOY!

Type A collectors immediately sympathize with other junk friends who develop a wicked Poison Ivy rash after stomping around the grounds of abandoned house looking for goodies..What's a bottle of Calamine lotion to an addicted collector who can turn a rusty pipe into towel bar?

Let's talk Amongst Ourselves

And to be totally honest, who cares what the real shrinks say? Let's just talk amongst ourselves. We love what we do, we are a creative, passionate, loyal bunch of junk collectors who would sell the shirt off our backs to the right buyer.
Photos courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/sushipot


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.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Authors Guild, Inc.

Why Are So Many Viewers Hooked On American Pickers?: Lessons From Mike And Frank About Picking Antiques And Collectibles

March 29th Episode Of American Pickers: "Alabama Bigfoot" and "Know When to Fold"

Simon Cowell of American Idol And The American Pickers

Judging American Pickers

Here is what I imagine Simon Cowell might say about The American Pickers Mike and Frank: "If I'm being totally honest ...the show is too PREDICTABLE....karaoke for Pickers...ordinary.... a couple of garden variety junk addicts who need to know when to fold".

Aside from one bright moment this week when the pickers discover a bizarre collection at the Alabama Museum of Wonder where everything--including a gigantic head from a Piggly Wiggly mascot--is for sale, the show's theme of old bikes, car parts and vintage signs continues business as usual.

Why Are So Many People Watching American Pickers on Monday Nights?

So why are so many people watching this show? Why am I watching The American Pickers show? I like the guys and so do lots of people (over 4 million). In fact the reality T.V. stars Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz are currently filming a second season. So what's up with this show ? Why are we hooked. Perhaps we are all learning a few things. Here are some things I jotted down about what I have learned so far about the American Pickers.

What You Can Learn From The American Pickers on The History Channel

1. Go picking with a television crew so sellers will answer their door with enthusiasm.

2. When you find something that looks valuable.....sneak out of the barn, attic, basement and call several expects who just happen to be standing by for your call.

3. Always have major buyers (who are as crazy as you) ready to purchase the junk you just found.

4. Have a back up truck nearby to cart off the stuff that can't possibly fit into your van.

5. Keep several changes of clothes on hand so you can always look crisp and clean despite crawling around in cobwebs, dirt and rodent feces.

6. Bring along paramedics so that when you get bitten by a poisonous snake or stung by a killer bee you have adrenaline on hand.

7. Make sure you arrange for an open credit line so that you can stay in nice hotels, eat out and maintain your Mercedes truck.

8. Hold the Wall Street journal while you are away on your picking trip, so thieves don't break into your storage shed and steel your rusty bikes and old signs.

For More on American Pickers read:

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/move-over-oprah-and-rosie-mike-and.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/five-acres-of-junk-what-do-picky.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/american-pickers-clinging-to-their.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/american-pickers-antiquing-underground.html
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/antiquing-with-american-pickers-no-sign.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/fetch-and-kvetch-what-does-it-take-to.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/junking-along-with-american-pickers.html



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.

"Five Acres Of Junk": What Do Picky Viewers Think Of The American Pickers: Is It Time To Expand Beyond The Rusty Guy Stuff?

Picky Viewers

The jury is out...American Pickers needs a revamp and soon! I picked the brains of members of Iantiqueonline.com and asked them: "What was your take on last night's show called "5 Acres of Junk" (March 15th, 2010).

You know what I got back for answers? Five acres of COMMENTS on the March 15th, 2010 show! And there indeed was a theme to all their jabber. The bottom line is that our viewers are picky and they have a lot of suggestions to throw out at the producers and writers of American Pickers.

For the sake of keeping this post neat and clean (something the Pickers are not ever going to live up to), I will breakdown the feedback I received into sections: Feel free to jump into the chatter and post your own two cents.

What Picky Iantiqueonline.com Members Had to Say About The American Pickers
Expand Beyond Rusty Guy Stuff

"The audience will tire of hubcaps, oil cans and motorcycles after a point." John
RareVictorian.com

"too much motor head stuff" Mike

"Over all the show gets old quickly" S. B.

"Yes, I watch the American Pickers. Most of the time I enjoy the show, but I grew up with antique cars, motorcycles, and bikes. I am probably one of the few women that understands the "motor" subject, but even for me it sometimes gets a tad boring. I think they really need to start focusing on some subjects that will pull in more women watchers. Even when a seller shows them something that we women are collecting they tend to blow it off and move toward a motorized item. They either need to add a woman to the cast on the road or learn something about collectibles used in home decorating. Good grief they are based out of Iowa and I have yet to see anything about pearl buttons. Come on...look around the neighborhood and check on Ebay to see what is selling out there and where the interests of the rest of the people lie. How about some vintage purses, clothing, antique buttons, or dolls? "Kim

"My husband and I love the show. Both of us are sick though of their fixation with the bikes. I would like to see them go to really well know states for antique collecting. Their betting against each other and their chemistry is a big part of the show." Lynn

"It was interesting to watch once, possibly twice, then, well...it's that same old stuff, the same old strange old men whose things they want to buy, and they always find the same old stuff. " K__

"It would be nice if it was a little less heavy on vehicles and advertising, but that's what guys in rural areas stuffed their barns with." M. S.


Show Is Too Contrived And Staged

"way too contrived and it follows a narrow theme of a grizzly old guy, a farm in never never land and some old rusty American mechanical stuff....also doorknockers get shot at once and a while in that part of the country....would be a nice touch eh? "Mike

"Entertaining, yet very staged; I work in the television industry and for the most part it is too staged", Steve

"American Pickers is way too scripted for me and becoming very redundant and I question 99% of the items they pick also their profit margin, after paying for their gas and travel expenses (if they weren't on TV) is in the negative numbers.", M.S.

Are The Pickers Ripping People Off ?

NO

This is Daryle Lambert of the Daryle Lambert's Antiques and Collectibles Club www.darylelambert.com. I have already written to the Antique Week about the Pickers show but here I go again.

I believe that the biggest winners from the show are those that would let items waste away in their barns, garages or storage units until they saw this show. Then they would think maybe I have something of value and start searching their items that were destined for the trash heap.

I get tired of the Johnnie do goods that think everybody is taking advantage of someone else. The items that the Pickers are discovering had no value until they found them and the sellers should be appreciative of that fact. The people that are crying are probably the very ones that are taking advantage of others.

It is a great show and I believe it has many years to go. Keep up the great work, go Pickers.

Daryle lambert

"Anyway I'm liking it that they are not giving the top dollar on the boob tube so the rest of us pickers can still buy it like they do. And that Phillip Morris sign they said they sold for what 1500 That should have been 3500 and up." H.M.

"We like the show. It's quite clear that they are not taking advantage of anyone - not with the haggling that is going on with most folks. People need to realize that the folks they visit don't have the customer contacts/sources to get full retail price. They are at the beginning of the food chain - not the end." M.M.R.S

YES (Are The Pickers Ripping People Off?
" enjoy watching but sometimes feel Mike and Frank are a little dis-respectful to the sellers and their prices of what they say they sell the items for are way off the market prices,just my opinion" Scott


"The Pickers trouble me. I think they exploit seniors who may not know the value of their collectibles. I think they are abusive to the woman who runs the shop they supply. Over all I don't like the show. It gives a message to people that it is O.K. to take things that seem abandoned or not of use when it may be valuable to someone. It's ripping off. Well, you asked. And that's what I think. People drive by my parents ancient farm and pilfer antique farm equipment and collectibles, just because they are not in use. These items are an historical part of the life here and should not be taken just because no one has spoken for them. ", L.F.

I Wanna Hear More About The other Side Of The Business: Selling Stuff

"I'd be interested in hearing a little more about the side of their business where they sell what they pick" Margot

"The main characters do not show how they sell the items', S.B.

Love The Show

"love the show though!!!,....but collecting is suppose to be fun and not only about money I am a little offended they did not reply to my emails,but no big deal,....I still think highly off them" Scott

"Most of the time I enjoy the show", K.T.,

"My husband and I love the show"

"They are a hoot to watch".


The Pickers Need to Come To Canada

"I want to watch American Pickers and I’d love them to come to Canada to do a little picking.
I may be jumping the gun a little, maybe we could start by having the History Channel air this show in Canada..
Lord knows we (Canada and the States) expose each other to plenty of mindless dribble, why not treat each other to some quality programming such as American Pickers?
Just my opinion but I’m sure one that’s shared by many."
Regards,
Arthur

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 Courtesy of http://www.antiquearcheology.com/


For More on American Pickers read:

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/american-pickers-clinging-to-their.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/03/american-pickers-antiquing-underground.html
http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/antiquing-with-american-pickers-no-sign.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/fetch-and-kvetch-what-does-it-take-to.html

http://cdiannezweig.blogspot.com/2010/02/junking-along-with-american-pickers.html



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.