Accent Your Antique Displays with a Splash of Red

What Can We Learn From Artists

I have attended many art critiques when the instructor says to a student...you need a touch of red somewhere in your painting. Lo and behold, a little splash of red can really perk up a piece of artwork. The same advice can be offered when creating shop displays of your antiques and collectibles.

Red is a Magic Color

Red seems to be that magic color that brings life to a painting , warmth to a wall and just the right dose of excitement to a three dimensional display. Seasoned shop owners with a flair for design will tell you that taking the time to “style” your antiques and collectibles helps sales.
Customers Like Antique Dealers Who Fuss


Customers like to buy from dealers who fuss with their collectibles. Interesting and attractive shops and booths bring return shoppers. It makes sense that people like to come back to places that are always changing and freshing up their merchandise.

How to Avoid Wimpy Displays

So one secret to share with you is that when you have groupings which are too soft looking or even wimpy....add the color red. Red may be just what is needed to draw attention to a sleepy area in your store. Or perhaps you have just placed together all your pretty aqua collectibles, but notice that the table setting is very soft. Here is where adding a red object can mean the difference between walking right by the display or stopping to examine the collectibles further.

Wake Up Your Customers

Aqua is a very soothing color. So is light blue. In fact, many hospitals paint their labor and delivery suites blue to induce relaxation. But in an antique shop, you want to encourage buyers to “wake up” and spot various items on display. A touch of the color red can do wonders for your displays .

Photo shown above, courtesy of Treehouse Art & Antiques, Canton, 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 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.

Re-Upholstering a Shabby Chair with Vintage Embroidered Linens

Sentimental Baby Boomer

Like many sentimental baby boomers, I have drawers filled with older linens passed down from mom and grandma. Grandma Sophie (who I warmly discuss in my first book Hot Kitchen Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s) is very special to me. She embroidered everything, from challah covers to pillow cases. Almost everything grandma owned had her personal stitchery added.
So when I walked into one of my favorite little Shabby style antique shops this week and found two whimsical vintage chairs with hand embroidered linens that reminded me of grandma, my cottage-y heart went boom boom boom.
Getting Rid of the "Stuff"

I really wanted to buy these chairs, but there is one big dilemma, my house has just been through a MAJOR make-over. At this very moment in time, there is nothing cottage-y about my home at all. All the collections and tag sale finds are gone. ( O.K. almost all gone...still work in progress). I just finished a two year (felt like two decades) renovation, re-do and purge, dumping years of "stuff" and selling the rest.

So now that I am starting from scratch again....there is actually room in my home for some wonderful one- of- a- kind funky, shabby, chairs. Boy do I wish I had found these chairs before I painted my bedroom walls over three times (Nobody's perfect!). So let me tell you more about these chairs that I have my heart set on.
“Shabby-tized Chairs”
The chairs have been “shabby-tized” (my way of saying, they took dark old wood furniture and painted them white) and then there is a mixture of different older hand embroidered textiles forming a lovely unified look. Never, I repeat never throw out soiled, tattered or torn vintage linens, especially ones with hand embroidered detail. You can always work these charming textiles into new projects such as throw pillows, dust ruffles, chair coverings and more.

You will find lots of ways to create a cottage style feeling in my book Hot Cottage Collectibls for Vintage Stytle Homes.

The chairs shown here are from the collection at The Bleu Willow in Simsbury, 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 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.

"Roll Out” Your Advertising Ideas At The Next Antique Show Your Sell At

LOOKING FOR ZEBRAS to Help Boost Your Antique Business

Looking for Zebras in the Antique Business

This post is not what you are expecting. By now you have figured out that the Iantiqueonline.com Editor is always on the look out for " zebras" and that I pass right by the horses. In other words, I get a kick out of seeing something a little bit different. So when I saw a “horse” turned into a “zebra “ at a recent Antique Show I attended, I knew I had to tell you about what I will call a "Billboard on Wheels" .

Billboard on Wheels -
Maxing Your Advertising Potential

I was strolling down each aisle of this crowded show when I wandered into a small booth and came across an ordinary plastic rolling utility cart turned into a million dollar advertising idea.

O.K., maybe not a million dollars.....but way more than the twenty bucks or so the plastic contraption on wheels cost. Because the storage cart is made of clear plastic, the end of the unit that faces the public can be used as an advertising tool. Hang in there with me....When you slide “signs” towards the back of each plastic drawer which faces outward, you have essentially a “billboard” on wheels.

Cash In On Ideas

Not only did the vendors of “Keepsakes Antiques” convert this cart into an effective and easy way to promote their business , but these long established antique dealers also use each drawer in a very practical way. Here is how the storage cart is used. The top drawer is the “cash drawer” improvised with a compartmentalized cash and coin tray.Way Beyond the Bag Lady ConceptThen there is the “bag drawer” which hold an assortment of re-cycled bags that Marianne and Peter will offer their customers. Other drawers held receipts , business cards and paper work. Snacks and supplies also had a special place.

Share Your Zebras

To me..... this combination “billboard on wheels- utility cart” is just the zebra I am looking for to perk me up . Do you have other ideas to “roll out” or perhaps a zebra hiding in your midst, share them here.

Photos Courtesy of Keepsake Antiques, Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, 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 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.

Romantic Dining with Cottage Chic Collectibles

"Romantic Victorian Style" also referred to as "Country Victorian", is a great look for collectors and home owners who enjoy combining cottage chic with turn of the century elegance. Borrowing design elements from earlier times, the romantic cottage collector enjoys the "feminine" touches that were prevalent during the Victorian period but not the dark and heavy textiles, window treatments, and furniture.

Flowers are everywhere… as patterns on china, tablecloths, napkins, draperies, and wallpaper. Elaborate bouquets of either fresh or dried flowers in attractive vases are always present. Roses are by far the most popular motif for the romantic cottage collector. Hand-painted china, vases, gorgeous serving pieces, collections of decorative plates, figurines, and candlesticks are all very desired collectibles. Buffets, china cabinets, and dining room sets are painted white or pink and showcase lovely collections of floral teapots, cups and saucers, creamers, pitchers and other dining accessories.

Ornate crystal chandeliers, Italian tole, and decorative sconces are very compatible with divine dining. You will find fine examples of these romantic style collectibles in my new book Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

"Cottage Chic" is really a perfect choice for homeowners who want to add a little pizzazz to their holiday table without going over budget. Because "Romantic-County Victorian"allows you to blend the new with the old, you can use what you have or add a few elegant touches.

For example, set your table in style by finding a beautiful older tablecloth to overlay atop you newer tablecloth. Many hand embroidered or lace square or round cloths make gorgeous additions to you holiday table. Check for stains, holes and missing stitches when buying older linens .Colorful floral tablecloths from the 1940s-1950s with pink or red roses are also attractive to use.


This is the time to take an old silver plated pitcher or pottery vase and fill with flowers. If you have a closet of decorative plates passed down from grandma or your favorite aunt, bring them out and use them to serve condiments, appetizers,desserts etc. Mixing different kinds of china plates is fun and very "in" today.


You may also enjoy serving tea or coffee in pretty vintage tea cups. It's time to take these lovely china cups out of your buffet closet and use them! What are you waiting for ? If you need to buy a few more cups, go ahead and visit your nearby antique shop or on-0line auction. These collectibles are readily available and so easy to find.

A hand painted creamer and sugar set are also darling additions to your special table. When buying china, always run your finger around the inside of the rim to check for chips. Pass up pieces with cracks, crackling or discoloration. On the other hand if you chip a china teapot, pitcher or creamer that you have, don't despair, re-purpose them .......use them for flowers.

Suppose you break a few dishes along the way, hang onto the pieces. Broken china is very collectible. Many people enjoy the craft of broken china mosaics, also called "pique-assiette." When it comes to "cottage chic" everything can be used for something.

Photo shown above courtesy of Hot Cottage Colectibles for Vintage Style Homes

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 To Maximize Your "Real Estate" or Floor Space in an Antique Mall

In Brick and Mortar antique malls or multi-group shops where you lease space to sell your antiques and collectibles, space is at a premium. You want to get "the most bang out of your buck". This article is about how to maximize your "Real Estate" or square feet so that you are taking advantage of all selling space available to you

Getting Elephants into a Volkswagen

I rent space at The Collinsville Antiques Company in New Hartford Company. I rent a half a space which is only 6' X 9'. When I went "shopping" for spaces in a variety of shops I took into consideration how I would be able to pack in as much as I could in "smalls" in a very small space.

I actually took quite a lot of time to draw out plans and imagine my space before I moved in.

Here are Ten Practical Tips How To Maximize Real Estate or Use Floor Space Effectively :

1. Go As High as You Can With Shelves ( within the comfort zone): Either build or acquire tall shelves or stack shelves and cabinets to create height.

2. If possible ask for a corner booth so you can utilize the side without a neighbor. Position shelving so that one shelf side faces inward and then use a "back-up" shelf facing to the aisle.

3. Use sheets of plywood to "expand" your wall. Paint or cover your new wall with fabric.

4. If you have a lot of pictures to hang...look for a booth space with walls. If you have lots of pictures only...sometimes you can work out a deal to rent just a wall in a shop or antique mall.

5. Light your showcases.Customers need to see what you have

6. Glass shelves in showcases show better. Add mirror to the back of showcases. You can buy mirror squares in home improvement stores.

7. Dual purpose your collectibles: Use a vintage porcelain bucket to hold kitchen gadgets; Turn a bowl over to use as a pedestal for another bowl: roll vintage kitchen towels and stick in a vase or beverage glass: use a step ladder as shelves to hold vintage games:

8. Hang as much as you can! Hang doilies and pot holders on the side of shelves: Hang plates on walls etc.

9. Hang items from the ceiling or overhead if you have beams or rods etc. Or create a "bridge" shelf from one side wall to the other side wall overhead.

10. Use old doors, shutters, lattice to hang objects on.



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.

Freudian Slip Covers: When “Covering Up” is in Style

Did you have notice that some people like to “cover-up” everything, couches, chairs, tables. You name it and these folks have figured out a way to keep their most familiar objects “covered”! I am sure this topic will remind many of you of parents and grandparents who lived with plastic covers on their couches.
Many of us who visited relatives back in the 50s and 60s with plastic covered upholstered furniture thought these guys were a little bit too neurotic for our tastes. We could accept throwing a tablecloth on a nice dining room table to protect the wood surface, but somehow plastic covered couches went way too far. And besides it was so uncomfortable to be sticking to the couch especially during the summer months.

Well, I am here to tell you that “covering” furniture is back in style and there is nothing crazy about it. But today, home owners are not draping and accenting their furnishings with plastic, but with vintage textiles, needlepoint pillows, ruffled fabrics, antique quilts and throws, unusual textiles etc. Today’s laid back style encourages the use of mixing and matching and even adding nostalgic touches in urban chic homes.

Some call this eclectic decorating style “cottage” and other refer to it as “Bohemian”. I guess what you name this look depends on how off the mainstream decorating path you wander. I personally enjoy meeting and visiting with people who have figured out a way to live boldly and decorate their homes with a sense of whimsy, originality and comfort.
Here are some of my favorite books (older) which showcase individuals who have created their own unique styles:

"Welcome Home : Kaffe Fassett", Edited by Marjo Schafer, Martindale & Company
“House of Beliefs: Creating Your Personal Style”, Kelee Katillac, Gibb Smith Publisher
“More is More: An Antidote to Minimalism”, Mary Schoeser, Conran Publisher

Photo above courtesy of Hot Cottage Collectiles for Vintage Style Homes

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.

Vintage Cottage Style Decorating: A Remedy for "The Decorating Blues"

Photo featured in the new book Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes - Courtesy of http://vintagerosecollection.blogspot.com/

Vintage Cottage style décor is a terrific remedy for people who are paralyzed by the "Decorating Blues". Folks with this malady complain that they can't make up their mind. They have trouble with too many choices. It becomes overwhelming for them to think about colors, furniture styles, patterns etc. As I will discuss shortly, these individuals need permission to "play" with their own ideas. Here are some common characteristics of folks who are experiencing "decorating blues" (1) They a fear of making a decisions (about color, style, textiles etc.).
(2) They suffer from procrastination (putting off shopping trips to furniture stores, outlets, shops).
(3) They fear making a commitment ("everything is so expensive so I can't be wrong").
(4) They are prone to avoidance (sitting on the floor because they have no couch to sit on).
(5) They self-doubt (asking others how their own house should look).
(6) They are rigid (think the world is coming to an end if they change their mind about a color).

If you suffer from any of the above characteristics, consider "Vintage Cottage Style Decorating ". According to the author, a seasoned psychotherapist, mixed media artist and avid collector, cottage style is a perfect fit for many individuals who experience the home interior blues. The beauty of Cottage style decorating is that it is affordable, eclectic and forgiving. You really can experiment with mixing and matching eras, looks, textiles, finishes etc. This type of decorating can truly be quite helpful to those who are "afraid to make a mistake" ( which is what many decorating phobics are really worried about).

If your ultimate goal is to live more comfortably you may want to begin by taking inventory on what you want to keep, what you want to ditch, and what you can make-over in the spirit of living the cottage life. Room by room, one baby step at a time, it is helpful to make a list of what is hot and what is not. This is actually the fun part. You look at what you have and imagine it differently. Are your bedroom lamps really tacky or do they have potential if only you added some cute shades? Should you buy a new bookcase or "shabby-tize" the one you
have with a different color and finish? Once you get into the cottage mode, the sky is the limit.

Now you can look at grandma's coffee table with a whole new vision. Suddenly 1940s dated can become retro-romantic chic with the right touches or you can transform old architectural salvage into some eye-catching decorative accessories
Because decorating may be scary for the "decorating phobic", it is important to approach your goals very slowly.

Start with one room, let's say the bathroom ( a small and safe place to start). Ask yourself some key questions. What colors do you like? Is there a theme that suits you? For example perhaps you love the beach and want to create a whimsical "beachy look". Then perhaps you should decorate your bathroom close to the summer months when there a lots of beach and nautical related accessories available. You can decide upon a red, white and blue theme or perhaps a pastel color motif. Or maybe you enjoy a rustic look. You can hunt for cabin collectibles and other warm and cozy objects to create your cozy cabin style bathroom.

You can carry out a similar plan in other rooms, using something to help you focus and build in some structure for you.Fall in love with a rug and then use that rug to help you build a color palette for the rest of the room. Or consider a shape, or a pattern, or a theme and build your room around these beginning ideas.
What is so nice about cottage style decorating is that you can organize your "hunting" and "shopping" trips around a concept while at the same time leaving room for lots of flexibility and creativity. Cottage style decorating includes the following:

(1) using flea market finds, collectibles, found objects
(2) mixing and matching time periods and styles
(3) personalizing your decor
(4) layering fabrics
(5) re-purposing furnishings
(6) covering walls with textures

(7) experimenting with color, patterns, finishes etc.
(8) building collections
(9) hanging objects on the wall

Another helpful approach for the "decorating phobic" is too think about the whole process differently. Nothing in life is forever, change is healthy. If you paint a wall Provence blue on Monday, and you hate it, you can paint it Bermuda Buff on Tuesday. Chill, life is too short to fret over a paint color. Besides, the color of your walls should be the least of your worries! The key to resolving your "decorating phobia" is to be willing to go along for the ride wherever the journey may take you. Trust your instincts, after all....... it is your home, make each and every space your own!

For many more practical and creative ideas about how to "do cottage style" with ease and confidence consult my book, Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

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 to Display Collectibles and Antiques: Cottage Style

Cottage style decorating is very popular today as folks are mixing and matching vintage with new furnishings and accessories. In this article let's take a look at how to display your collectibles and antiques "a la Cottage Style".. Many flat surfaces are available for displaying collectibles and décor. Shelves, windowsills, mantles, the top of beams, on top of kitchen cabinets, tables, and chests, etc. They can be used to group collections. Collections can be arranged with objects of similar color, shape, material, era, or use. When displaying mixed objects in a collection or objects of different size, also experiment with using different levels. For example, create height by placing an object on top of a few vintage books or old tin. Another way to build interest is to have some objects come forward on a shelf and some recede behind. To accomplish this you may want to create a background object. Here is a suggestion to get you thinking about styling your collectibles. Perhaps you might take a pretty vintage hand-painted plate and set it upright on a small easel. Then you can choose a complementary object to set in front of it. This brings out the color and creates a backdrop. In my shop, I will often set a colorful cover from a magazine, vintage toy box, game board, book, or piece of vintage fabric to make an interesting display.
It's always fun to change your displays. Some people enjoy using the seasons as a time to re-arrange their collections. Pastel colored florist vases from the colorful era look so pretty grouped together and are a lovely change after the winter holiday months. White pottery of different sizes and shapes form an elegant collection in any room and any time. Candlesticks mixed and matched are also a classic way to go. These collectibles are easy to find and still reasonably priced.

There are so many ways to create shelves. Here are some ideas:

• Bookcases can be turned upside down and mounted on the wall.

• Old stepladders make adorable stands for planters and other small collectibles. Shutters can be made into very durable shelves.

• Boxes can be mounted on the wall and used as shelving.

• Painted vintage children's chairs can be mounted on the wall and used as a shelf to hold a favorite doll, a plant, stuffed animal, etc.

• Hang an old children's swing from the ceiling and use as a shelf.

• Mount a vintage doll-size dresser on the wall and use as a shelf.

• Insert glass shelves into a vintage birdcage and use as a quirky "showcase."

• An old cornice can be converted into a shelf or flower box.

• Attach a small shelf to the side of an armoire to store small items or for display.

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.

Mixed Media Art and Assemblages (Created From Flea Market Finds, Found Objects, Ephemera. or Collectibles

Many creative individuals like to take salvage, quirky items they find at a flea market, old paper, damaged or orphaned collectibles and re-purpose (re-cycle) them to make works of art. These art projects can be flat such as collages on paper supports or three dimensional in the case of sculptures and assemblages.

In the last few years there has been an increase in what is referred to as "Altered Art". This form of art grew very popular with the scrap booking craze, although artists have always "altered" art materials and flea market finds. Some very beautiful "altered art" can be found which incorporates ephemera (old paper), vintage embellishments (perhaps antique buttons or fabric remnants) and other interesting odds and ends. "Altered Art" also called mixed media uses a variety of materials and products (adhesives, paints, dry media) in several forms (shadow boxes, collages, journal books, on canvas etc),


Art From Flea Market Finds and Collectibles
Another trend which has continued to attract creative individuals is using "flea market finds" and "re-cycling" them to make "functional art". An old Pyrex kitchen bowl becomes a lampshade or a bookshelf is painted a new color and hung on the wall instead of used on the floor etc.Of course old furniture and a variety of collectibles has always been a favorite "support" (surface) for many artists who enjoy "hand-painting designs on these objects.

Functional Art
Many artists prefer to take what was once "functional" items, such as a fork or beverage glass or key and integrate these objects in an "assemblage" or wall hanging in new ways. The fork might be used as the arm of a clock or a orphaned salt shaker is re-purposed as the body of a doll figure. Vintage advertising tins are especially sought after by artists who re-use these materials to form elaborate "Tin Can Assemblages or "Vintage Tin Figures"..

Outsider Art
With the increased attention to the environment, it's nice to be able to re-use treasures from the past in new ways. Let's remember however, that for generations and generations, people found new uses for common everyday items. "Junk Art" is really not a new concept at all. Some very elaborate "junk art" is sold for a lot of money. You will seem many forms of "Outsider Art" and "Tramp Art" commanding grand prices at auction.

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 to Make "Odds and Ends" Look Fabulous and Sell Better in Your Antiques and Collectibles Shop

This article is about how you can organize the chaos in your shop by "color" and transform odds and ends into attractive store displays which invite more customers and increase sales.

Editor of Iantiqueonline.com Leaves Her Desk and is out on "the hunt".
Out antiquing a few days ago, I stumbled into a old store on “Main Street” which had just been acquired by a young couple who wanted to start selling “antiques and collectibles” (from scratch). What remained in this old, dusty, unattractive store after it was re-rented was a mish mosh of left over inventory ; orphaned kitchen-wares (canisters without lids, cute salt shakers without the matching peppers, figurines, ceramics etc. Resembling a sloppy thrift store, the remaining “junk” was spread out on a few folding tables and scattered about on some flimsy shelves.
There was a cross discussion among a few visitors as to whether the “stuff” which was left over from the previous owner was worth saving or should it be boxed up and tossed or sold in the Spring at a tag sale.


Deciding on What to Box and Dump
My first inclination was to box and dump.....but then I discovered two display areas that caught my attention. One was a book case that someone had started a fairly interesting display of ceramic planters, pottery, vases all grouped together by the same color of dark green with a touch of blue. It was a very handsome display. The second promising display section was a funky painted aqua Hoosier cabinet which was packed with odds and ends but could be attractive with the right objects displayed..


The Transformation Begins
So now I reconsidered my urge to dump (mind you ....it is not my store...I’m just imagining the possibilities). I studied the situation and took another look at the giant table that displayed the “junk”. I started picking up all the yellow and pink items on this table and showed the young store owner how these “collectibles” might look in the aqua Hoosier. She caught on to what I was suggesting and took a bunch of pink plastic flowers and added them to one of the glass canisters that was missing a lid.

Within a few minutes the young store owner was on her way to transforming chaos into organization. By grouping odds and ends together by color, displays start to make sense. Bowls and casseroles without matching lids can be turned upside down and used as a “pedestal” to showcase smaller objects. “Better junk “ can be intermingled with the bric-a-brac if there is an organizing principle.

Additional Tips About How To Use Color as an Organizer
1. Organizing by Color , Pattern, Materials: When you have a mix of unrelated objects, you can group them together by color pattern or materials or all three. i.e. all the blue polka dots and plaids grouped together; all the red jewelry together; all the wood boxes together.

2. Re-Purpose objects: Use canisters with missing lids for flowers (show your customers with example).Keep your color theme consistent.


3 Use interesting color combinations Display objects with interesting color combinations (yellow and pink objects in an aqua Hoosier).Other attractive combinations are red and yellow; black and red; pink and green; lime green and brown; red, white and blue; black and white; blue and orange.

4.Create palettes: Use a vintage tablecloth or piece of material to set your “palette". Follow the colors in that textile. Be careful, sometimes this idea is too overpowering and you need to experiment with color combinations. A white and green tablecloth with a touch of peach might look fabulous with orange objects.

5. Add excitement. Some displays look great with all the same size and color and some displays call for mixing up smalls with larger items or adding a splash of red or a surprise.. The question to ask your self is whether the display is static? boring? What does it need?

6 Keep Changing.. Once displays are organized by color it is easy to add new objects to the section. On the other hand every now and then change your color combinations and move around the objects.




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 to Be The Benjamin Spock of the Antique World

This article is about what Dr. Benjamin Spock can teach you about sharing your expertise on antiques and collectibles with your customers..Just like new parents, buyers and collectors need easy to follow and , comforting answers to their questions.

Dr. Benjamin Spock: Portable Pediatrician to Millions of Baby Boomer Parents
Surely you remember the famous pediatrician Dr Benjamin Spock. His book Baby and Child Care published in 1946 was the portable pediatrician for generations of post war parents who hung onto his every word about how to care and rear children.

Keeping it Simple Is What Folks Want
My mom kept her tattered pink and blue covered jumbo paperback book stuffed into her bedside night table. She didn’t make a move without consulting Dr. Spock.
What she and millions of young parents liked about Spock was that he was an easy and reassuring read. If your kid had “green stools” you could go to the index of Baby and Child Care and find a listing for “green stools”. It’s was that simple...parents adored Dr. Spock’s fatherly advice and straightforward understandable answers to the most basic questions.

Trust Your Instincts...Spock Advised
Spock also broke from tradition. While previous experts on childcare were strict and authoritarian , Spock would say “ Don't be afraid to trust your own commonsense…. Take it easy, trust your own instincts”, http://www.answers.com/topic/benjamin-spock


Learning From the Famous Baby Doc
So what can we learn from the most famous baby doc that we can apply to the business of buying and selling antiques and collectibles? How can you teach and reassure your customers who look to you for guidance and advice about buying the treasures they desire?
Here are four practical tips about how to share your expertise with customers?

1.Provide Simple Brochures Produce simple, very basic brochures or information sheets (can be done on your own computer) about various topics related to antiques and collectibles (“How to clean fragile glassware”, “How to Wash a Vintage Tablecloth” ) and add your company name, address , telephone number, email and website to each brochure. Remember keep it simple.

2.Mentor Your Customers : Teach your customers how to evaluate objects they are thinking about buying. Act as a mentor to your customers. Go over with them the basics. Give them the tools to help them learn about collecting so that they will want to come back to your shop and practice their skill, buying more and more.

3.Create a Resource Library Share with your customers guide books about antiques and .collectibles Perhaps have a small library available in your mall or shop. Or sell books on antiques and collectibles. The ideas is to help your customers “get hooked “ on collecting. You want your buyers to learn and get excited about their purchases.


4.Share Your Resources When you are unsure of the answer to their question(s) about a particular object, be honest and tell them you are not confident about your knowledge in that area but share resources you may be aware of such as websites, books, experts, television shows etc. Distribute a resource list on request (have your company name, telephone number, email, address, website etc.) on the fact sheet you give out.


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.

If you would like to contact Dianne, email her at Dianne@CDianneZweig.com or visit her website at http://www.cdiannezweig.com/

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

Take a Decorator to Lunch: How to Bridge a Relationship Between Antique Dealers and Decorators

Many owners of large antique stores will tell you that they have a steady flow of decorators and interior designers who shop in their stores. , It is not unusual for some consultants to keep their identity hushed because they are buying for clients and want to maintain privacy.

I remember as an older teen my parents used a decorator who was always “picking up stuff” in her travels for our home . I also remember my dad giving me some extra money when I went on my first weekend to Cape Cod with a friend. He wanted me to look for “antique” garden accessories. I brought him home a cast iron kettle which he converted into a beautiful “dish garden” . I didn’t take a commission, the decorator always did.
Decorators and antique dealers go together like a horse and buggy. Maybe I should rephrase that...anyway, if you haven’t yet thought of cultivating a relationship with regional decorators and interior designers, now is the time.

Here are some practical steps about how to bridge a relationship with decorators and interior designers.
1. Consult the ASID , American Society of Interior Designers. http://www.asid.org/about/ to find designers in you areas. (40,00 members in 48 states) as well as local directories for decorators. (Or similar professional organization).
2. Send out a mailing to decorators and designers in your area (including both ASID members as well as other professional decorators.
3. Host an open house for design and decorating consultants only.
4. Offer special discounts for consultants.
5. Exchange emails with decorators and designers and let them know when particular items have arrived. i.e. elegant sofa table, special candlesticks etc.
6. Contact schools nearby that educate designers.
7. Give presentations at regional meeting for ASID and other groups (Interior Design Society).
8. Take a decorator to lunch !

The ASID Credential
ASID membership eligibility requires that Allied and Professional members complete an established minimum of interior design education. The ASID professional track provides a pathway for Allied Members to advance to Professional membership* and each level of membership is a progressive step towards professionalism. Once achieving specific years of work experience, Allied Members can take the NCIDQ Examination and upon passage, can advance to ASID Professional Member status. As of January 2008, members are also required to take a minimum of 0.6 CEU’s to maintain their membership. Source: http://www.asid.org/designservices/credential/default.htm


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.

If you would like to contact Dianne, email her at Dianne@CDianneZweig.com or visit her website at http://www.cdiannezweig.com/

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

Oy Vey...The Stock Market is Plunging..Ten Tips to Increase Sales in Your Antique Business

What do so many people do when they feel nervous, moody, blue....they go antiquing! Yes the stock market is plunging...and yes money is tight....but guess what.....true collectors are still collecting.. Both high end buyers (people who buy $ 100,000 paintings) and everyday collectors (like most of us) are still buying. But what everyday collectors are doing is that they are buying different kinds of things then in previous seasons.

I know you will counter argue that business is off and sales are flat at times....but guess what when people are "jumpy" or down in their spirits...they like to make themselves feel better and they go out shopping or hunting for that special something to make them feel "happy". They want "comfort food" and "comfort treasures". Customers may not buy the $150.00 item, but they will buy more of the $10.00-25.00 dollar collectible.

So what does this mean for you the seller or owner of a shop or multi-dealer antique mall ?
It means that you need to provide "comfort".

Here are some practical suggestions:
1. Feed your customers...offer free tea, hot cider, coffee and cookies/cake. If you have the health department. go ahead... use some of your china, tea cups and silver to show your customers how pretty using antiques and collectibles can be.

2. Fill large old candy jars with old time "penny candy" and let your customers enjoy a bit of nostalgia. Display your country store items and vintage tins with this candy.Also consider free popcorn.

3. Consider offering a mix of collectibles and antiques to cater to all budgets.

4. Offer free gift wrapping. Can use plain shoping bag with colorful wrapping tissue.

5. Add a vintage note card to your packages. Punch a hole in a vintage card and tie to package with a ribbon.

6. Make sure all your shopping bags, paper bags etc have your store label or card attached to them.all year round and especially at the holiday time. .

7. Talk to your customers. Ask them what they are looking for. Remind them that antiques and collectibles are good gifts for the holidays. (Some people come to your shop or mall for a specific item for themselves and don't think about buying holiday gifts in an antique store. Tell them you gift wrap free!

8. Are your store windows exciting and colorful. Walk across the street from your mall or shop. Can you see what is in your windows. Create attractive eye catching displays. Use bright colors. Add punch!

9. Always put something "antique-ish" (furniture, vintage sleigh, etc) out on the sidewalk in front of the store. When cars or people pass by your shop...let them know you are an antique shop!

10. Wish list...help customers find what they are looking for. Do you have a wish list book, index file, email system?

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.

What Does Tea Have to Do With Selling Antiques and Collectibles?

One afternoon I was sending out announcements about my second book,Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes to the obvious market, "cottage collectibles dealers". (I did a Google search). Then I thought to myself, what are cottage collectibles....they can be anything from Shabby style furniture to pretty plates to tea cups. Bong....a bell went off...tea cups.....why not send my book announcements to businesses and services related to "tea"..

I picked up a copy of "Tea Magazine" and began to poke through the articles and advertisers.
There were so many brand new "markets" to tap into.....i.e. tea specialty stores to tea rooms to tea magazines and B and B networks etc.

"Tea folks" like vintage and/or Victorian items such as tea cups, silver, pretty plates, serving pieces, cake plates....etc.

The point I am making is think about what you sell...how can you develop new "markets".

So what does tea have to do with antiques and collectibles...plenty. After my first email mailing...a tea related magazine contacted me about doing an article on cottage collectibles and others visited my website or bought my book.

Helpful Hint
Add some novelty to your world view. Vist new shops, read different types of magazines, walk up and down the aisles of the library, visit different types of antque shows(that are not your usual interest) i.e. toy shows, doll shows, Modern. Get ideas.......be open to new ideas. If you prepare yourself to find the unexpected...you will bump into a new idea.

Share your ideas ...and don't worry about giving away your secrets........when you help others you help yourself!


Photo Courtesy of Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Stytle Homes

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.

Vintage Embellishments and Textiles Charm Creative One-of-a Kind Craft Projects

Handmade Pin Cushion made by Elizabeth Holcombe. See more of Elizabeth's work in Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes by C. Dianne Zweig.

Many successful home crafters are able to create fabulous usable works of art out of old drapes, embroidered towels, hankies, needlepoint, salvage, trim, buttons, and sewing notions. A little bit of creativity can go a long way. Millinery trim can be taken off old hats which are no longer in wearing condition. The author has pulled feathers, flowers, buckles, sequins, and jeweled charms off hats and used them in many new ways.

For years, I have re-cycled these vintage gems by creating very elaborate handmade note cards which feature the image of a glamorous lady with a plumed hat and coordinated shawl. At first I used old stay buttons as the face of my glamour girl, but graduated years later to having cards pre-printed with a pen and ink drawn image of a woman’s face. Colorful patterned wallpaper, velvet scraps ad other textiles are used for the upper bodice of my elegant gal. The fun part is then embellishing this note card with vintage sewing and millinery trim. For “make-up” I use colored pencils sharpened just right to give me both sharp lines when I need them and softer strokes for eye shadow and blush.

My home studio is organized with lots of small plastic boxes filled with all the goodies I have saved for decades. My neighborhood wallpaper store saves old wallpaper books for me which I tear apart during the cold winter months and use to cut out patterned hats I have designed for my cards.

I am of course, not alone in my quest for finding funky vintage and re-cycled papers, textiles and notions.One gal I am familiar with likes to use vintage cotton fabric, millinery supplies, and older ceramic novelty figurines when she creates her darling pin cushions. Embellishing a handmade pin cushion with a vintage 1940’s Scotty dog figurine, or 1950’s poodle or even an old Monopoly game piece for example, can add a touch of charm to your hand stuffed cushion.

Ceramic figurines as well as orphaned salt and pepper shakers have dozens of uses in vintage home or craft projects beyond using atop a pin cushion. Single salt shakers combined with vintage tassels make great shade pulls. I have also seen odd salt or pepper shakers glued to the center of a large plate and used to created a tiered cake and dessert platter. Single plates are fastened on top of the figurine or shaker and stacked to form a multi-level serving piece.

Just when I think I have seen everything, I discover yet another use for vintage trim, trinkets, figurines, buttons, game parts, salvage etc. Recently I have seen a much greater interest in old Mah Jongg and Scrabble tiles which are being transformed into whimsical jewelry and sold at boutiques. As many of you already know, vintage buttons are also hotter than ever as both collectibles and as for use in a variety of ways.

A true creative person learns very early on in life to never throw out anything. Many textile artists and crafters live with boxes filled with “supplies” which came from scraps, remnants, broken pieces, old games or out of stained or damaged older tablecloths and linens..

In an earlier article I talked about how torn colorful 1940s –1950s tablecloths called “cutters” are often used to make delightful pillows, window shades, handbags, purses, aprons, or linings for glass closet doors, shelves, or room screens. Barkcloth salvage with vibrant botanicals or midcentury abstracts is highly collectible. Even barkcloth scraps are in demand as designers use them for trim on clothing, pocketbooks, or artwork

When you come across old linens, doilies, lace, trim, hankies, dresser scarves, and other fabrics that look wimpy, yellowed, or have tears, give them a new life in a collage, as a background for framing, as part of a pillow, etc. I did a series of floral collages using vintage barkcloth, combining a variety of new and old materials.

With the holidays approaching, many people enjoy exchanging handmade practical gifts. In fact, not only do I enjoy sending friends and colleagues my handmade note cards but I encourage them to re-purpose remnants, papers and materials as well.

As an environmentally conscientious “craft salvaging type of person,” I ask my friends to save their wrapping paper, ribbons and bows for me to use for future projects. The trick is to fold the papers carefully and keep all your materials and supplies organized or your workspace will deteriorate rapidly. The idea is not to create clutter but to create lovely and charming one-of-a kind vintage craft and sewing projects.


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.

Decorating Your Walls With Vintage Collections

If you enjoy vintage style decorating then consider hanging some of your collections on the wall. Walls make a great "support" not only for pictures, but three dimensional objects as well.

Hanging pictures and collectibles is tricky, but once you let yourself experiment you can have a ball creating exciting displays. Unless an object is large or a painting is prominent, one small picture hung by itself looks lonely.

Pairs and groupings work better. Recently I hung four identically framed black and white pen and inks in a row on one of my kitchen walls. Mounting them in a line gave the room a more contemporary look. You can also stack pictures two on top and two on the bottom or other combinations of numbers.

When objects share something in common they form a pleasing ensemble. One collector showed me how she grouped dozens of vintage wedding pictures of different couples together. Because all of the photographs had a theme to them, they formed an interesting collection. The vintage coloration of all these older photos also served to organize the collection providing a harmonious visual presentation.

Another avid collector of 1950's "Paint By Number" pictures covered his counseling office wall with his collection of these funky colorful framed retro art pieces. Many whimsical collectibles can be found at flea markets and make for interesting "art" when displayed in groups. Consider hanging vintage pocketbooks, pot covers, mirrors, toy shovels, keys, tin ceiling tiles etc.

A large collection of small flea market paintings all with different frames can also work well if the overall look is a wall filled with similar sized frames. In this formation you are spacing pictures equally apart but arranging them together as you would a jigsaw puzzle. This type of mounting works well on the walls bordering staircases.

Three dimensional objects can be enclosed in a deep plexi-glass shadow box frame and mounted on the wall. Old chairs, boxes, miniature dressers can also be used as "shelves" and hug on walls to display collectibles and other interesting finds.

You do not have to stick to one "style" or design period. It's always exciting to mix up the look. Add vintage to modern or urban chic to antique. Older objects and pictures warm up rooms, while more contemporary accessories offer a clean crisp look. Add the unexpected to your walls and sit back and enjoy your design work. The best part of wall decor is that it can be changed so easily whenever you are ready for a new idea.

For many more creative ideas about how to use, display and hang collectibles and unusual finds, consult my book, Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes.

Photo above, Courtesy of http://www.terrysenchantedcottage.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.

Vintage Wallpaper Adds Pizazz in Today's Cottage Style Homes

Photos in this article Courtesy of Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes

Wallpaper is back in style especially vintage looks.. While wallpapering walls has been on a long hiatus, collectors have re-discovered new uses for charming and funky vintage wallpaper. Walls can become an interesting display all by themselves even without objects. Vintage wallpaper can be used to create exciting accents to a plain and empty wall.

One of the best ways to replicate a particular type of cottage style is to bring original colors, patterns, and textures into the room. You can buy vintage wallpaper or reproductions of older patterns being made for today's consumer.


Here is what you can do with wallpaper or vintage fabric.
- Frame fireplaces and window walls with wallpaper.
- Use novelty papers (lighthouses, sailboats, sea shells) in bathrooms in beach cottages.
- Frame smaller pieces of nursery themed wallpaper. Most repeats are 18" and 19" tall, within that repeat there could be several images that could be individually framed to make a grouping.
- Paper half of a wall and incorporate wainscoting or a chair rail.
- Use wallpaper in the kitchen as a backsplash accent between the counter tops and cabinets.
- Use a matte sealer to the wallpaper after hanging to protect the surface from spills and slashes. - Select vibrant botanicals from the 1950s look great in retro cottage homes or mixed with wicker. - Cover room screens with florals, botanicals, and other vintage wallpaper patterns.
- Line the drawers of vanities, desks, old dressers, etc. with small patterned papers in soft colors... very romantic cottage.


Lining Drawers, Shelves & Room Dividers with Wallpaper & Fabric



Wallpaper (and fabric) is not just for walls. Wallpaper is ideal to line your drawers, cabinets, shelves, room screens, armoires, etc. Spruce up some old drawer interiors with some pretty paper. For resources about where to find vintage wallpaper and more ideas about new uses for older textiles, consult 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.

Do You Remember Vienna Fingers ? Collectible Cookies

I was visiting my sister Susan recently and I opened up her pantry and lo and behold she had a bag of "Vienna Fingers"...................wow I had a flashback right back to the 1950's. I was so excited to be able to once again separate the cookies into two halves...consuming the white frosting first and then eating each half slowly.

The Good Ole Days
Then my husband walked into the kitchen........."oh my G-d, Vienna Fingers"......he too was so excited. So one by one family members piled into the kitchen and we had a Vienna Fingers Festival. The cookies tasted just like in the old days, but we all noticed that the packaging was different. Our cookies were wrapped in a "Keebler" package

Wasn't "Vienna Fingers" made by "Sunshine"?So when I returned home, I contacted the press relations representaive for "Vienna Fingers" and asked her for some background information: Here is the reponse I received: "Sunshine introduced Vienna Fingers in the late 1940's. Keebler acquired Sunshine in 1996, and Kellogg acquired Keebler in 2001"..

I bought my own package of Vienna Fingers the next time I went shopping...but having these cookies in easy reach is going to be a problem for me. I really need to "schedule" my collectible cookies feasts carefully. My solution was to eat Vienna Fingers only when visiting my sister (who lives almost three hours away). . Here is what happened this past weekend. I returned to Susan's house eager to discover some more Vienna Fingers in her pantry and all I found was a bag of Oreo's.......... Oreo's are NOT Vienna Fingers!Anyone ready to talk about White Castle Hamburgers?

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.

Vintage and Nostalgia Play Important Role in Today’s “Industrial Sleek” Kitchens and Restaurants

With so many people updating their kitchens and adding sleek cabinets, stainless steel appliances, industrial touches, is there still interest in vintage accessories, textiles and collectibles. You bet there is.” While the styles for home and restaurants have most certainly leaned in the direction of “commercial looks” , don’t kid yourself, retro, vintage and nostalgia still play an important part. Perhaps not necessarily in the “purest” form but certainly from a design influence. Over the weekend I had a chance to try a new upscale trendy “build your own burger” eatery, called, “The Counter” an upcoming franchise started in 2003 by Jeff Weinstein. I sat at a streamlined bar (“the Counter”) which glistened with stainless cabinets , overhead lighting and counter tops and was a contemporary version of the old fashioned drugstore counter of the colorful eras of the 30s, 40s, 50s. The “bar tender” was not only serving beer and wine, he was making a milkshakes Later I watched him make root beer floats and wondered if he could pull off an old fashioned egg cream.



Let me remind you that the surrounding of this restaurant looked nothing like an old drugstore of the 1940’s nor did the fellow look like my grandfather, a soda jerk who owned a luncheonette in Brooklyn, New York. The guy behind the bar was a twenty something young fellow who probably has never heard of egg creams or Lime Rickey’s for that matter.

While this restaurant was clearly designed with an urban chic, “industrial sleek” motif, care was also taken to bring in some subtle memories of older looks, wainscoting, chair rails, cement floors, mosaic tiles . While there was an absence of textiles, the soft blue walls evoked earlier times.
Marrying different looks is extremely popular today, both at home and in restaurant designs Home kitchens , like restaurants are also being featured with elements of earlier times blended with cleaner, “contemporized” surfaces, appliances and accessories. In fact, small appliances and kitchen-wares are being made in nostalgic colors with a kicked up design flare that seems to suggest “vintage” but is nothing like grandma. Mixing bowls, linens, dishes etc are following similar trends.

So what do today’s collectors consider “ kitchen collectibles”? Factory finds are replacing the usual vintage items and furnishings. Yes, stainless steel shelving, interesting industrial racks, metal containers and baskets as well as all kinds of urban nostalgia is popping up either in original forma or replicated as manufactured pieces which mimic factory designs.

Or course there are still plenty of folks who will have nothing to do with the industrialization of the kitchen and who still prefer warmer traditional looks. Even in these kitchens and home however there is both the influence of older looks kicked up a notch with modern interpretations. For example, not to long ago I was poking through a home magazine and drawn to a fabric by Lee Jofa, a stylish high end fabric company popular among decorators.


There was something about this fabric that reminded me of my atomic era home in the late 50’s. Yet the fabric was beautifully designed for today’s styles. The colors however and images were reminiscent of many of the patterns used on barkcloth draperies of the 1950s.
The question remains, are people still after buying antiques and collectibles? This is an important question for me to consider as I am the author of a popular book, “Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s. There are plenty of baby boomers and others e still interested in collecting and selling retro and vintage wares.

But what is also true is that the cyber generation may be less interested in family heirlooms than previous generations. You will also notice a rise in interest in Art Deco, Arts and Crafts style and certainly Mid-Century and Modern Vintage styles. You will also find that many baby boomers are cleaning out their houses and wanting to live with less “stuff” and that the newer “industrial sleeK’ look is compatible with the “less is better” trend”.

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.

DECORATING Your Retro Style Home With Hip Colors and Mod Designs

Retro. is no longer a term limited to talking about the rock and roll years of the 50s; retro. is anything cool from the past. The past can be the .40s, .50s, .60s,.70s and, yes, the .80s. Time is creeping by fast and antique dealers are catching on to the fact that .60s and .70s collectibles are now of interest to collectors.
Sneak a peek at your favorite on-line catalogs or home accessory stores and you will see what I mean. Dishes, utensils, glassware, pottery, textiles, bake and cook wares are being offered in bold and unusual color combinations.
Crate & Barrel, a trendy popular source for kitchen and home products features Ventura dish towels in colors called “Kiwi” (think 60s green), “watermelon” (think 60s red-orange), and “blueberry” (think 60s blue). But let’s not let the earth tone 1970s out of the loop. Crate & Barrel also is promoting enamel nesting kitchen bowls and a Weber outdoor cooking grill in Avocado green.

As “The Kitschy Collector” I keep up on these matters because I have learned over the years that what plays out in retail circles also influences what’s selling in the vintage world. While I have never been passionate about Avocado green, there are plenty of younger buyers who are asking for Pyrex nesting bowls in “earthy” colors.
If you study buying habits of collectors who love vintage kitchenwares you will note that color choices are more often than not related to the age of the collector. It is common to find that collectors who grew up in the 1940s and ‘50s are out hunting for treasures in reds, yellow, blues and depression era greens. These of course are the colors that were popular during the colorful eras of the 1930s-1950s and are the colors which stir warm memories for folks who grew up in the post war era.

In my first book, Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s, I describe how much I adored my grandma Sophie’s red and yellow kitchen in Brooklyn New York. She inspired my fondness for red and yellow
kitchen collectibles. Now I watch in amusement as children of the disco generation are setting up their own homes and collecting housewares that they remember. It is hilarious to observe buyers falling in love with kitchen and home collectibles in all of the colors that many of us couldn’t wait to say good-bye to. Muddy greens, browns, golds, burnt orange etc. are once again favored colors.



The good news is that today’s manufacturers are re-interpreting “retro” in color combinations that are so much more exciting than the first time around. The seventies are getting mixed with the sixties and the outcome is promising. So what would you put in a “hip” home today? For starters...think ORANGE, SUNFLOWER YELLOW, BROWN, PINK, GREEN or BLACK & WHITE. Some say these colors could stop traffic, but it is important to remember that “day glow” colors were “in” during the “hip” years. Palettes of the ‘60s were bright, bold, exciting and sometimes over the top. There are no soft pastels here...and certainly nothing muted about the ‘60s.

I recently helped a fellow antique dealer decorate her large store windows with “groovy” displays to showcase the “retro-kitsch” look. I’m not exaggerating when I tell you that the windows were so wild that many drivers passing by the store actually slammed on their brakes to catch a glimpse of these wild and funky windows. For days there was a debate going inside the store as to whether I hung the large retro abstract print featured in the window upside down. I’m telling you it wouldn’t matter. The adjoining window also got plenty of attention with an original ‘60s white apron with big brown polka hanging on the wall alongside some classic psychedelic “Hippie style” lounging wear. The chrome legged table in the window was set with flower power glassware and dishes. A Mary Quant-like daisy motif orange plastic canister set also looked amazing in this retro kitchen setting. Lets get back to how you might start creating a “hip home.” Besides wild and crazy colors, collectors also try to find objects, textiles and accessories with familiar ‘60s and ‘70s designs and styles. Patterns were often of optical illusions (Op Art), geometrics, abstracts and of course vibrant flowers. Textile designers who worked for firms such as Heal or Conran captured the attention of the “in crowd” with their screen printed fabrics of contemporary designs. Psychedelic swirling designs inspired by the mind-expanding experiences of the Hippie generation became part of the popular culture and were used on home and kitchen accessories as well as on luggage, clothing,
textiles and of course posters and even buses.

British clothing “mod” designer Mary Quant also brought her look into the kitchen where her popular daisy motif could be found on toasters and canisters. Many people remember Mary Quant cosmetics, but her brand also was found in the kitchen. Colors of orange and sunny yellow combined with earthy tones dominated kitchen cookware and housewares. Accessories also included designs with whimsical mushrooms or vegetables. Le Creuset’s cast-iron cookware in its signature orange color was found in kitchens abroad as well as in America during the “mod years.” Ceramics, glassware, pottery and textiles often featured abstracts and geometric designs and were made in bright colors or black and white. Heavy plastics was a popular material for
‘60s housewares and furnishings.

Today, colors and patterns popular during the ‘60s or “mod generation” are popping up everywhere. Designs that are clearly inspired from the Mod generation are being reproduced on everything from clothing to desk accessories and are sought after by younger buyers in America and abroad.Mixing vintage styles with newer looks is also very “cool” and a popular decorating style today.In some circles phrases like “Urban Chic” or “Fresh Vintage” are used in place of “retro.” It’s still “retro” but a different take on the past when buyers combine “edgy” vintage collectibles with contemporary style furnishings and décor. Others understand “Urban Chic” a little differently and refer to the rise in popularity of collectors who are after metal furnishing and industrial styles compatible with city living. Of course this too is a throw back to earlier times. Metal accessories and furnishings dominated mid-century homes and were used for magazine racks, telephone stands, ash tray holders, seating, serving pieces etc.

Today urbanites like buying old industrial steel shelving, vintage metal desks and chairs, old commercial desk accessories and lots of factory finds to decorate lofts, apartments and homes. This opens a whole new market to sellers who are beginning to hunt for items in unusual places. Suburban homes are featuring high-tech kitchen surfaces and lots of stainless steel. Buyers now adore vintage metal canisters from the 1950s which seem to fit right into today’s sleek kitchens. The “metro-retro” look is often combined with collectibles of the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s to create eclectic interiors which are unusual, outrageous and affordable.

If the industrial look is not your thing, there are other directions to consider. I have met many younger collectors who gravitate to “Bohemian Style.” “Bohemian Style” is what happens when you your flea market collecting is out of control but in a good way. Somehow collectors make the look pull together with unifying color schemes, themes, patterns or rhythms which organize the collections. Once again, collectors mix and match different eras, styles, textures, wall coverings, etc and like seasoned decorators, bohemian collectors tell us “it works.” This style is hard to explain, so I might suggest reading Bohemian Style by Elizabeth Wilhide, a Watson Guptill publication. While ‘60s & ‘70s collectibles have moved more slowly in brick and mortar shops than those of earlier periods, “hip collectibles” are gaining momentum as major department stores are emphasizing these styles .Designers are taking bigger risks than in the past and it seems that once again buyers are being prompted to experiment with home interiors, products and materials.

May I remind you what they said years ago “let it all hang out.” Indeed both manufacturers of new products and collectors of old products are “doing their own thing.” Numerous on-line businesses with “shaggy sixties” websites catering to shoppers who adore palettes of pink, brown and lime green as well as cutesy patterns of stripes, polka dots and swirling designs are growing. In fact there are web designers who specialize just in this style.

While “twenty- and thirty-something” buyers are getting a kick out of ordering new home and clothing related items inspired by “psychedelic” colors and designs, mature collectors
want the originals and are active buyers at flea markets, shops and shows. Colorful toasters and fondue sets, once thrift store staples, are now “cool” finds for both serious collectors and casual shoppers who are jumping on the “retro” bandwagon. Next time you turn your nose up at a set of kitchen canisters with a mushroom design,
think again, you may be passing up a real “retro” gem that even Pottery
Barn is keeping an eye on.

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 show in this article are Courtesy of http://www.dowahdiddy.com/

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.