On A Mission To Down- Date My Updated Kitchen With 1940's Kitchen Collectibles

My Updated Kitchen Needs to Be Down Dated: I Am On A Mission

I'm back on a retro red and white mission again. But now, I am going to do some serious kitchen collectible buying. I have made up my mind, my updated kitchen needs to be "down dated". I want the cozy forties feel back in my very own kitchen and I am determined to achieve it.

Help I Need Some Kitchen Collectibles In My Own Kitchen

Many people think that because I wrote a book on kitchen collectibles and because my shop Kitsch n Stuff is loaded with vintage kitchenwares, that I have a kitchen a ad home filled with goodies.

All The Great Kitchen Collectible Goes Into My Shop

NOPE...that is simply not the case. All the great stuff goes into my shop. But NOW, I am going into change that. I already started the process and today I will return to the search o finding great red and white (and some yellow kitchen collectibles.

Red And White Vintage Kitchen Stuff Looks Great With Granite Counters

I discovered just by pure accident that red and white stuff looked sharp in my kitchen that has a creamy yellowish painted wall and black and cream granite counters. Our appliances are all stainless steel (like everyone else who updated).

Warming Up My Kitchen...One Collectible Baby Step At A Time

But I seriously need to take my own advice and warm up my kitchen. You have no idea how many times I have written about warming up a industrial chic kitchen. Well my kitchen is far from industrial, nor chic for that matter....but it does need some more charm.
Today's Kitchen Collectibles Wish List
1. a great vintage bread box (could be red and white...could be stainless)
2. red and white pot holders
3. vintage wooden ring holders
4. great vintage dish towels
5. a big tablecloth to put under the glass of my black table (its round)
6. red and white novelty items
7. large vintage flower pot (red/yell/white)
8. vintage watering can

I thank Becky of Sweet Cottage Dreams for letting me show you her wonderful salt and peeper shakers above. The rest of the photos are from my book, Hot Kitchen 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.

Tree House Antiques in Canton, Connecticut Is Uprooting: All Antiques And Collectibles At Forty Per Cent Off Tagged Price

Peter Of Tree House Antiques Is Packing Up... Great Bargains For Collectors

Looks like Tree House Antiques is uprooting and looking for a new tree to set up shop in. This funky little shop in Canton Village, Canton, Connecticut is soon to be packing up and moving out. But where will Peter end up is not known right now. But what i can tell you is that everything in this packed shop of goodies is 40 per cent off.

Tree House Antiques Loves To Package Everything in Cellophane And Great Tags

Peter is the master of "packaging" his collectibles. I never met anyone with so much patience. He hand designs each of his tags; he wraps all of his paper collectibles in lovely cellophane bags; his vintage postcards dangle from vintage cloth pins and a laundry line; china tea cups have a candy heart alongside them.......are you getting the picture?

Everything Is Moving Out: Vintage Galore

Now Peter's shop is upside down. He is moving and everything in the store is shifting around. Any collector or dealer will have an absolute ball in this shop. At forty per cent off...you are really getting some great deals.

Tree House Antiques has some really great ephemera, lots of original paintings, linens, glassware, pottery, toys, tins, boxes, jewelry, serving pieces, lighting, posters, doll collectibles,
china, planters, furniture, primitives, kitchenwares, nursery, vanity and more.

Tree House Antiques
220 Albany Turnpike
Canton, CT 06019-2520
(860) 693-1600

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.

Nuts About Collecting Vintage Party Nut Cups

Do You Remember Party Nut Cups ?

Today everyone is understandably nuts about nuts. Everywhere you go there are warning signs
"NUTS" maybe here or there or some where. And of course I am talking about food and not people!
You hardly ever see warning signs about people who qualify as Wing Nuts.


Food May Contain Nuts Or Be Made By Nuts

Yesterday, while visiting my favorite off the beaten path eatery "The Foothills Delery" I spotted a sign that read "Food may contain nuts or be made by nuts".














Why Didn't Nut Cups Have Nuts ?

When I got home I started to think about "nuts". Vintage nuts in fact. Remember growing up and have birthday parties with "nut cups"? Yes some people called them
candy cups, but they were really nut cups.

Good Stuff in Nut Cups

But retro moms of the 1950's didn't actually put nuts in the nut cups. At least not in my neighborhood. They put good kid stuff in the nut cups, such as Hershey Kisses or M and M's.

Being A Perfect Retro Mom

No 50's mom would be foolish enough to put nuts in a nut cup. What kid wanted nuts and not candy. Than sadly all of us Retro kids grew up and now we are told that nuts are a great snack food . Goodbye chocolate ....hello nuts.

Pink Grapefruit Style Loves A Retro Party

But just when health nuts are touting nuts, gone are the "nut cups" except on Etsy and other online sites. Pink Grapefruit Style, a great shop on Etsy loves children's birthday party stuff. She has had her share of collectible nut cups, birthday candles, party goods, party favors etc..

Nut cups were actually party favors that the guest got to take home. These small "cups' could dbe made of ruffled crepe paper or handled plastic baskets. In the 1950s, pastel colors were popular and you will see man of these nut cups in
pink, yellow, light blue, white.

Boy did seeing these wonderful retro nut cups bring back fond memories. It's enough to get me to blind fold myself and play Pin The Tail On the Donkey!

Photos Courtesy of Pink Grape Fruit Style

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

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

Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com

Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com

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

Using Vintage Tablecloth Cutters To Make Colorful Pennant Banners

Charm Any Room With Vintage Tablecloth Pennants Banners

Some people cringe when they see colorful vintage tablecloths up-cycled into other stuff. But as Becky of Sweet Cottage Dreams tells me, her fabulous handmade Pennant Banners
are made from tablecloth "cutters".

What Are Cutters?

For those of you new to the world of re-purposing lingo, "cutters' are damaged tablecloths that
crafters and others use for sewing projects. Often "cutters' have big holes or stains making them hard to sell as a collectible tablecloths.
But these dry goods still have value to creative gals (and guys) who are constantly coming up with new ideas on how to salvage the best parts of these textiles. You can buy "cutters' on Etsy, eBay and from dealers who buy lots of tablecloths.

Cutting Tablecloth Remnants Into Triangles

Becky cuts old tablecloths that she cant sell, into triangles and forms Pennant banners that are simply darling. You can use several compatible tablecloths for this project. I asked Becky to explain to me how she goes about this wonderful vintage sewing project. Here is what I learned. It sounds quite simple.


Ten Easy Steps to Making A Pennant Banner Using Vintage Tablecloth Cutters

Step One: Preparing The Triangles
1. Make a triangle template out of cardboard. (7 1/2" x 9 ").
2. Cut out 11 triangles from the patterned cutter tablecloth or other fabric.
3. Cut out 11 triangles of solid triangles for the backing of the triangles.
4. Cut out 11 triangles of Pellon fabric to sandwich between the two triangles (the patterned and the solid piece)

Step Two: Joining The Triangles Together
5. Place and pin the three triangles pieces together printed (tablecloth), Pellon, solid fabric and iron. You are making a sandwich.

Step Three: Sewing
6. Sew the three pieces together 1/4 margin.

Step Four: Trim Edge With Scalloped Edge
7. Trim the edge of the triangles with a scalloped edge shear.

Step Five: Add Bias Tape
8. Using a 9 foot package of double fold bias tape, lay down triangles with 6/8 " spacing and fold over bias tape for making the banner. Pin the triangles as you place them.

9. Leave about 20" of tape on ends for banner ties.

Hang Your Banner
10. Hang banner in kitchen, nursery, porch etc.

Buying The Banners Already Made
Becky loves to make these handmade banners, so you can buy them already made from her at Etsy shop Sweet Cottage Dreams or make them yourself. (See instructions above).

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.

Antiquing With The American Pickers: No Sign Of Guilty Pleasures For These Junksters, Just Pure Joy

Is Junking A Guilty Pleasure? Ask The American Pickers

Do you think Mike and Frank, (The American Pickers) suffer from guilty pleasures when they are out junking everyday ? What exactly is a guilty pleasure anyway. Is junking a guilty pleasure? Read on and see what you think.

Is Junking A Guilty Pleasure?

A guilty pleasure is something one enjoys and considers pleasurable despite feeling guilt for enjoying it. Often, the "guilt" involved is simply fear of others discovering one's lowbrow or otherwise embarrassing tastes, rather than actual moral guilt. Fashion, music, and food (especially unhealthier foods high in sugar and/or fat) can be examples of guilty pleasures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guilty_pleasure

I would add junking to that definition of guilty pleasures. Many junksters beat themselves up mercifully thinking about how much time and money they spend on hunting for junk.

MALE Junking Genes

But truthfully, I highly doubt Mike and Frank are thinking too deeply about guilt. These guys were born with the MALE junking gene. They are not bitching about eating too much chocolate or spending too much money on way too many vintage tablecloths. Nope..these guys are not freakin over the same things we do. Do you think Mike and Frank are saying to themselves.....gee I better get home early enough from junking to make dinner ? Not a chance.

Listening To Barbra Streisiand's Guilty Pleasures While Blogging

And there are other differences between our hard core junkers and the baby boomer bloggers and softies you'll meet on Etsy. Here is where I am going with this. You know for sure, Mike and frank are not blogging while listening to Barbra Streisand's 2005 album she did with Barry Gibb called "Guilty Pleasures".
And Mike and Frank are not sipping a cup of tea while they are posting photos of their goodies online. But to give Mike a little credit where credit is due, he does have a softer side afterall. The guy has attempted to make some journal entries (at least for PR purposes, I imagine) , so we can get into his psyche.

Mike's Personal Journal Entry

Here is one of Mike's "personal" journal posts :

"when frank and I are out pickin on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere and the sun is high in the sky we both realize how incredible our jobs really are.No clock to punch,no one to answer to,Its us and our instincts that carry us through". http://www.antiquearcheology.com/journal.php?id=22

Do you hear any guilt there? Nope ....they love what they do......they do not suffer from one ounce of "guilty pleasures".

Isn't it time for all of us to learn how to junk just for the pleasure of it!

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.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.

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.

Kitsch n Sink Idea: Collecting Vintage Wooden Ring Holders

Today's Kitsch n Sink Retro Find: A Vintage Wooden Ring Holder: Don't Lose Your Ring Down The Drain

If you really want to be a terrific retro housewife, than you need to find a vintage wooden ring holder to place next to your sink to hold your rings. This way your rings will never go down the drain when you are washing dishes.

Reminders On Some Ring Holders

Often in the shape of a coffee or tea pot , the one shown here has a dutch boy and girl decal on a glossy wooden novelty coffee pot. It is three inches tall. Other similar ring holders might be painted a solid color with a little label or sign which might read:


"Let me hold your
rings for you
while dishes or
washing you do"

Lift The Lid Off To Reveal The Wooden Ring Spindle

The lid would lift off to reveal a wooden spindle inside the "coffee pot" which would hold your ring(s) in place.


These photos are from the wonderful collection of
http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetcottagedreams

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.

Rejuvenate An Old Round Vanity Bench With Vintage Barkcloth Fabric And Scalamandre Tassels

Gorgeous Shabby Chic Round Vanity Bench That
Looks Great With Vintage Barkcloth And Tassels

Even if you are not handy in the sewing room, you can rejuvenate an old round French vanity bench in a few easy steps.

The beautiful bench shown here was once an ugly ducking and now it is a Shabby Chic powder room delight. But with Cabriole legs and a lovely painted finish in excellent shape, all this bench needed was a fabric re-do! The trick was to find the right fabric that would lay nicely on the bench and allow the floral design to lay centered on the bench.

Meet my Restoration Guru, Pam of Rusty Rose Petals

Pam of Rusty Rose Petals on Etsy is my restoration Guru. She really knows how to transform a outdated tacky bench into a very pretty Shabby Chic vanity bench. With a couple of easy steps, you can change the look of most benches from tired looking to fresh and feminine.

Choosing The Right Fabric

Because this bench is round, it is important to find a fabric with a design that will work well on a round format. The vintage barkcloth chosen here has a large center rose with smaller flowers around it. By cutting the fabric in one large round piece larger than the bench, you will be able to center the design on the vanity bench.

Of course you could also use a fabric with an overall repeat pattern such as checks or small flowers and still create a lovely bench. But this Romantic Cottage Style bench features the lovely rose centerpiece and roses are adored by Romantic Cottage gals.

Tacking Down The Vintage Barkcloth

Pam added her Barkcloth fabric over the existing red velvet cusion (hard to believe). As stated earlier, you must cut out a circle larger thatn the size you need. Then you can use upholstery tacks to fasten the fabric to the bench. Upholstery tacks are very tiny with a very sharp point. These tacks are easy to use with a hammer. You could also use a Staple gun. To keep the fabric laying smoothly, Pam notched her fabric circle with a little triangle cut in about eight different places along the edge of the fabric.

Adding Vintage Scalamandree Tassels

Once the vintage Barkcloth is tacked down, the final step is to cover the tacks with some form of trim. Here pink and white vintage Scalamandre tassels are added with a hot glue gun. By the way, Pam does not suggest using a glue gun for the first step. Upholstery tacks are a better choice for adding the fabric to the bench. If you are not a tassle perosn, you could use a gimp or braided trim .

Visit Pam at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/rustyrosepetals


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.

Making A Custom Vintage Corner Shelf Unit Made Out Of Old Chicken Wire And Reclaimed Wood

Upcycle With Old Chicken Wire And Reclaimed Wood To Create A Country Corner Unit For Your Antique Shop Or Home Kitchen

Short on space in your antique shop or mall? Try creating a custom corner shelf unit made out of old chicken wire and a reclaimed wood frame. This idea is especially suited for displaying Country collectibles and kitchenwares.

Hanging Kitchen Tools On The Chicken Wire

While this clever corner unit is ideal for a shop, you can certainly use this in as rustic or country style kitchen. Not only do you get plenty of shelving space, but you can hang kitchen utensils, tools, keys or small framed pictures on the chicken wire. Utensils and
decorative accessories look lovely hung with a plaid ribbon or other country look.

Visiting The Curio Cabinet Antiques in Manchester, Connecticut

I found these great chicken wire corner shelving units at The Curio Cabinet Antiques Shop on Main Street in Downtown, Manchester, Connecticut. Mother and daughter owners brought these corner display shelves back from California where a fella they discovered makes these units out of old materials.

Contact
The Curio Cabinet Antiques
860-533-7376

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 Re-Create A 1940's Kitchen Look With The Right Shades of Blue Color

Singing The Blues in A 1940s Kitchen

You can bring a 1940's look to your kitchen by choosing just the right colors of blue. When I am poking through old home magazines, I know exactly the age of the magazine by studying the hairstyles and clothing of the "housewives" showing off the products. But I also can guess the correct age of the old kitchen advertisements by the color palettes used, often a grayed blue, red/crimson and yellow.

Not All Blues Are The Right Blue For A Retro Look

It's hard to describe colors with a word. Often paint chips and fabric samples in the earlier years might just be labeled "blue". Unlike today when you can visit your local paint store and see an entire wall of "blue" paint chip samples, in the earlier decades you had just a few "blues' to select.

Navy Blue, Air Force blue, Midnight Blue, Slate Blue

But if I had I describe the 1940s blue(s), I would use terms like "Navy blue'", "Air Force blue", "Slate blue', "Midnight blue" and even "Royal blue". Many of these blues had a lot of gray or black in them. The "blues" were more muted and influenced by the war years.

As you move into the end of the forties and into the fifties, colors became brighter. Families were returning to normal life after the war and kitchens and homes were more cheerful. Before long, pastels would be more popular than the primary colors of the previous decade.

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 Kitchen With Yellow Kitchen Housewares And Collectibles

Yellow Kitchen Kitsch For Retro Style Homes

Yellow kitchen kitsch is favored by many collectors of vintage and retro kitchen collectibles.
While red and white kitchen collectibles get scooped up very quickly, "yellow" is also a hot color. Yellow is known as a primary color and was quite popular in 1940s and 1950s kitchens. Often dubbed The Colorful decades yellow was a common color for kitchen cabinets, counter tops appliances and kitchen sets. With yellow as the foundation color in Postwar kitchens, manufacturers produced coordinated housewares and decor.

Retro Housewives Love Yellow Because It Is A Cheerful And Sunny Color

Cheerful and sunny, yellow is a perfect color to make any retro housewife happy and content. You will find plenty of yellow vintage kitchenwares available because it has always been a best seller.

What Are Kitchen Collectors Buying?

Collectors look for glassware, mixing bowls, canisters, bread boxes yellow handled kitchen tools, vases, pitchers, dish towels, doilies, salt aad pepper shakers, tablecloths etc.

Different Kinds Of Yellow

It's great to try to keep in the same color family of yellow.

There are many different kinds of yellow, such as buttery yellow, sunflower lemon, lemon yellow etc. Deeper yellows look great in retro kitchens, while pale yellows work well in Cottage style kitchens, especially mixed with aqua.

Pairing Other Colors With Yellow Collectibles

Yellow is an easy color to pair with other colors. It's almost like a neutral. You can have so much fun adding other colors to a primarily yellow palette. I adore yellow and black housewares. Another fab combo is yellow and green. In these photos, a yellow checked tablecloth is used and is just darling. Yellow and white offer a country crisp feeling and gingham creates a warm and cozy setting.

Photos are the courtesy of Retro Revival on Etsy.

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.

Fetch And Kvetch: What Does It Take To Be An Antique Dealer? Ask The American Pickers

Shlepping Along With The American Pickers

Fetch And Kvetch
"The Back Breaker" is the name of this week's episode of American Pickers on The History Channel. It seems that all that shlepping is beginning to take it's toll on Mike Wolfe. But Mike can't afford to take time off to recover and like a fool he continues to fetch and kvetch as he picks through piles of junk in old barns and buildings.

Ouch

Mike, like many of us in the biz, is constantly lifting, moving, and carrying vintage stuff. Well this week, Mike yells ouch....his back is sore! And he knows he has to seek some help....BUT not before he comes home with some more stuff.

Shop Till You Drop

And don't we all do the very same thing...shop till we drop. O'K. it is not everyday that we are going to stumble across a neat old Jukebox, like Mike and Frank did this week, but we all have had our share of heavy loads. We shlep, we move, we carry, we climb, we crawl, we do it all. We may not all be bona fide pickers, but don't we all know how to pick and pack.

Mighty Junkers That We Are

But the mighty junkers that we are.... we refuse to set limits on our capabilities. For example, I am afraid of height.....BUT I have no trouble climbing atop the last step of a stepladder to retrieve a vintage kitchen cannister or other treasure I may have discovered. Yet, if you asked me to change a ceiling light bulb, I would be shaking in my boots. It's phenomenal how much we can all compensate when we are motivated to bring home the gold.

We Fear Not...We Feel Not...We Are Invincible

Yes, as I have discussed before, when our junking engines are running, we are operating on adrenaline. We fear not...we feel not.....we simply fetch and kvetch!

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 A Baby Nursery With Vintage Nursery Rhyme Wall Pin-Ups

Decorating A Baby Nursery With Vintage Nursery Rhyme Wall Pin-Ups

Popular in the 1940s and 1950s and even continuing through the 60s, new moms decorated their baby's room with adorable wall pin-ups of Nursery rhymes or Disney characters.

Vintage Fiberboard Wall Hangings

Many of these cardboard or fiberboards were made by The Dolly Toy Company. Started by H.B. Holtvoigt, The Dolly Toy Company was originally "The Dolly Folding Kite and Toy Company", but changed their name in 1934 after their kite business faltered.

Dolly was know for inexpensive and novelty toys. http://www.antiquetoycollections.info/products.asp?cat=37

Inexpensive Novelty
Toys Beginning in 1936

Holtvoigt and his family moved into the production of fiberboard toys (heavy cardboard). You might remember many off their "Fibro Toys" which were carts designed to be filled with candy or toys.

Vintage Nursery Pin-Ups Or Wall Hangings

Dolly also made wall hangings that were used to decorate a baby nursery. Moms liked to hang these colorful cardboard plaques over a crib, changing table or dresser. Popular themes were "Alice in Wonderland", "Mother Goose", "The Three Little Kittens", "Little Boy Blue", "Jack And Jill".

Be sure your sets are complete (usually have four or more pieces) . In very good condition they sell for $25.00-45.00.

Photos 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 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.

Replacing Glass Sides On A 1930's Antique China Cabinet With Chicken Wire

Salvaging An Old China Cabinet With A Cottage Style Make-Over

If you discover an old 1930s's antique Dining Room cabinet but the glass and shleves are missing, should you buy it? Well Pam of Rusty Rose Petals on Etsy.com always rescues vintage furniture. Pam takes dark, damaged pieces and transforms them into delightful Shabby Cottage Chic gems.

Goodbye Glass: Hello Chicken Wire

This lovely 1930's antique China cabinet is missing the glass sides. But that didn't stop Pam from giving the lovely show case a re-do. She replaced the side glass with good old fashioned chicken wire. And if yu want to take the make- over one step further you can always add a tension rod and some great lace or barkcloth fabric.

Creamy White Paint

But chicken wire is not the only addition to this cabinet. Pam painted this wonderful piece creamy white with a pale pink back. She made new shelves out of plywood and painted them Robin's Egg Blue.

French Flair For A Feminine Look

These soft pale colors appeal to Cottage and pastel lovers and the feminine Cabriole legs give the cabinet a darling French flair. After the fabulous restoration, Pam is selling this cabinet for $265.00. What a great way to salvage a really sweet China cabinet.

Note: This photos were taken as work in progress. You are not looking at the finished piece. For example, when the piece was completed, the edges of the shelves are painted blue.

Photos courtesy of
http://www.etsy.com/shop/rustyrosepetals

You can find lots more of Pam's collectibles and furnishings in 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.

Queen Anne Antiques In Canton, Connecticut Is Retro, Country And Funky

You'll Love Antiquing in Connecticut

If you love retro, country and funky, you will have a nifty time at Queen Anne Antiques in Canton, Connecticut (part of The Farmington Valley Region). Take I-84 and use the Farmington exit .


Why On Earth Don't More People Antique in Connecticut?

Why on earth don't more people antique in Connecticut? We are chock full of Antique Malls and shops. Once you leave the "Gold Coast" (Southwestern portion of Fairfield County) where you will find some of the wealthiest towns in the USA (and shops that are over the top) you can actually return to the rest of the state and antique to your hearts content at all price ranges.
What i love about shopping in Connecticut is that there is so much variety for all budgets.

Antiquing In The The Farmington Valley

Take for example The Farmington Valley region (West of Hartford), this is a charming upscale area ) Avon, Simsbury, Farmington, Canton, Granby) loaded with multi-dealer Antique shops, smaller shops and my favorite kind....the so called " quasi antique-gift-second hand shop".

Whimsical Queen Anne Antiques Is Worth A Visit

Queen Anne Antiques in Canton, Connecticut is in the latter category ("quasi antique- second hand shop" ). This tucked away shop off Route 44, has one of those names that sounds like a shop that belongs in "The Gold Coast".

Not Exactly Ralph Lauren...But Still Great

You might imagine that Queen Anne is a store specializing in high end British Country antiques. Perhaps Ralph Lauren is coming to mind? Nope...not the picture you should have in your head.

Retro, Country And Funky

Think about Queen Anne Antiques this way. Queen Anne is what I would call a whimsical second hand shop (Think Vintage discount ) with a nifty mix of retro, country and funky finds. Add to this formula, a great collection of gently used decorating and cookbooks; costume jewelry; vintage and not so vintage clothing; decorative accessories; cottage style furniture; linens; ceramics and a constantly changing showroom in this small but stuffed shop.

Fabulous Finds At Queen Anne Antiques

Don't misunderstand me, there are plenty of fabulous finds at Queen Anne Antiques.....but not the Sterling Silver and Art Pottery you might find in a shop on Main Street in Greenwich. You will find all kinds of pottery and lots of treasures, but
not for a King's ransom either. Queen Anne is "the queen of thrifting".

Visit
QUEEN ANN ANTIQUES. Rear of 163 Albany Turnpike, Route 44, Canton, CT (860) 847-2094

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.