The Story of The Junk Life Cycle

How Old Receipts, Memorabilia and Paper Junk Lives On

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

Liquidating Saved Receipts and Old Papers 

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

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

Waiting For A Rainy Day To Unload Saved Papers 

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

How The Junk Story Ends

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

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

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Hop Along Over To The I Antique Online.com Facebook Page

Have You Landed On I Antique Online.com's FACEBOOK PAGE Yet ?

A funny thing happened on the way to trying to tell people about my site I Antique Online.com....I build a Facebook page for I Antique Online.com to get the word out about I Antique Online.com and now the Facebook page is catching on and people are landing there and getting cozy. Wait to see the photos on that  page.....you will LOVE LOVE LOVE the eye candy!

Antique Social Networks For Clueless Collectors

Now, you may think that because I run the largest FREE social network on antiques and collectibles that I know something about social media. Nope...nope...nope. I am so behind it is seriously ridiculous. Yesterday my son caught me up on Instagram. I haven't even tackled Twitter yet.

I'm still learning the ropes on our  Facebook I Antique Online.com fan page. But oane thing is ceertain ...there is a great crowd forming on the Facebook page. If you haven't dicovered the our FB page yet hop along over and LIKE us at  https://www.facebook.com/iantiqueonline 

Readers, when you stop over and LIKE us tell me yu saw this blog....Ill try to take some time and schmooze with you.

Photographs by C. Dianne Zweig. Taken at The Stratford Antique Center, Stratford, CT

Visit www.facebook.com/iantiqueonlineand "LIKE" our page

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Antique Therapy: Shopping at The Stratford Antique Center, Stratford, CT

Do You Feel Better When You Are Out Antiquing?  
 
We have all heard of retail therapy when you feel better shopping. I feel better antiquing. Don't get me wrong, I can always use a whopper dose of shopping, but for me the best medicine is not found  in a clothing store but in a junk shop or outrageoulsy large and stuffed antique center with 100-200 dealers.

Multi-Dealer Antique Centers

Multi-dealer Antique Malls are heaven for me. When I step into the door of these antique palaces, I get lost in my hunt and all the crazy preoccupations I had before entering this zone seem to melt away. My thoughts shift to looking for Mid-Century pottery or another attractive set of 1950s kitchen canisters or a colorful tablecloth without stains.

Visiting The Stratford Antique Center, Stratford, CT 

One of my primary mood boosting, cure all maladies and escape from crazy life type of places to visit and enjoy is The Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT.  This 16,500 square ft. building with approximately 200 dealers according to their website is AMAZING.

If you are in need of some serious antique therapy, let me suggest that you plan a trip to this popular Multi-Dealer Antique Center located off I-95 in Stratford, CT.  

More Multi-Deale Antique Centers in Connecticut

Other great LARGE Multi-Dealer centers to visit in Connecticut are The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT  and Antiques On The Farmington in Collinsville, CT

Readers, if you can suggest other great places to visit in Connecticut for some great antique retail therapy, please be sure to leave a comment. 

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

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

Antique Dealers with Frostbite

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

Out Antiquing: Looking For Some Good Egg Deals 

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

Weeds Are Freezing Their Buds Off 

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

Stay Warm On I Antique Online.com

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

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

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

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

Addicted To Rummaging Through Boxes at Estate Liquidations

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

Unwrapping The Contents of Famile Estates

I peaked into the box and saw that everything was wrapped

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

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

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

Stop The Blog: The Suspense Is Just Too Much

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

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



C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists

Let It Go...Let It Go...Let All Your Junk Go

"Let It Go".......Getting Rid Of Stuff We Hang Onto

"Let it go", "let it go"....oh I'm not speaking about the lyrics to Idina Menzel's song from Disney's "Frozen"....I'm talking about LET IT GO....of all the stuff  that all of us hang onto. At least that is what I thought about when I first heard this song.

What's Stuffed In Your Drawers And Cupboards That Your Can Let Go Of ?

I thought about the plastic bags of socks I have stuffed into my drawers. I'm talking about so many T-shirts accumulated over the years that I could truly cut them
into strips and make enough rag rugs to last a century.  I'm talking about closets filled with so many old blankets that the entire town could sleep over in a power outage.

De-Junking Your Junk 

I'm not done yet. Let it go...let it go.....how about purging spices in my kitchen closet that have no fragrance whatsoever. Or isn't it time to toss the containers of Matzah meal that should have been let go five Passover's ago?  While I am on that subject......when you have lived in the same house for so many decades.....you probably have to go no further than your very own kitchen to find all the collectibles you could ever want!

Set Yourself  Free...Let It Go...Let It Go

Moses commanded by G-d said to Pharaoh..."let my people go"..... and I say to you.....you will be set free if "you let it go" .......if you let all your old socks, old T-shirts, old blankets go......LET IT GO...LET IT GO!

Readers please share your confessions about what you need to let go of......junk stuff that is!

 Photos taken at Never Say Goodbye Antiques, Middletown, CT

C. Dianne Zweig is the author of Hot Kitchen & Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s and Hot Cottage Collectibles for Vintage Style Homes. She is also the Editor of I Antique Online an actively growing internet based resource community for people who buy, sell or collect antiques, collectibles and art. You can find Dianne’s fabulous retro and vintage kitchen, home and cottage collectibles at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT, a 22,000 feet antique emporium with an in-house retro café. To read more articles by C. Dianne Zweig click on this link: C. Dianne Zweig’s Blog Kitsch ‘n Stuff Email me at dianne@cdiannezweig.com Visit my website, CDianneZweig.com Dianne is a member of: The American Society of Journalists and Authors The Society of Professional Journalists