Saturday, April 19, 2014

Where Would You Rather Be: Outdoors Mulching Or Junking At A Juicy Flea Market ?

What Is The Mulch Phenomenon: And How Does It Impact On The Antique Shopper ?


If you own an Antique shop or are an Antique dealer in an Antique Mall or outdoor Flea Market, do you notice a drop in business during the early Spring weeks when  people are outdoors cleaning up their property?

I call this the Mulch Phenomenon, a noticiable dip in biz when the snow is gone and the yard needs work. You would think that the warmer weather ( especially in the Northeast) would bring hunters and shoppers out of their caves and into our stores and markets, but that is not always the case.

Time To Go Out Antiquing...The Lawn Can Wait
I chuckle everytime someone makes a promise to try to deal with their lawn and flower issues earlier each year than they actually do. Kinda hard to split Hosta plants with a blanket of snow...do ya think?    

And will someone please tell me the purpose of blowing off the leaves from your  lawn when leaves from your neighbor's lawn come right back over to your lawn to take the place of your blown off leaves.

It's Flea Market Time

O.K., it's time to go antiquing.....readers where would you rather be outdoors mulching or browsing an exciting   Antique Mall or outdoors at a juicy Flea Market?  



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

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Is Manischewitz Downsizing Their Passover Desserts: Honey They Shrunk My Macaroons And Mandel Cuts

Oy Vey: Manischewitz Is Downsizing Their Mandel Cuts and Macaroons 

You've heard about downsizing a home, but have you read much about downsizing Passover? Imagine my surprise Monday evening when I opened a box of Kosher for Passover Manischewitz Mandel Cuts ( biscotti like cookies)  and found that these favorite desserts of mine had shrunk in size. Then, I opened up a container of Macaroons and oy vey, these delights also were smaller than I have ever remembered.

Be Careful About Dipping Your Downsized Mandel Cut Cookies In Hot Tea

After I poured my guests a cup of tea, I took my seat at the table, but I was still ruminating about the  downsized look of my Passover desserts. Truthfully,  I was consumed with laughter and nearly fell off my chair when I had to point out to my friends that they should be careful about dipping the Mandel cuts into the hot tea, because there wasn't much of a cookie to hold onto! 

How Small Is Small For These Passover Manischewitz Cookies ?
 After calming down from my shock after seeing these itsy bitsy cookies, I sprung out of my chair, and wondered aloud... just how small exactly had these Passover goodies gotten ?   My dear friend Larry and I decided we needed to set the record straight and get a scientific answer.

Measuring Passover Mandel Cut Cookies With A Ruler 

So Larry and I decided to reach for a ruler in a nearby kitchen drawer to capture the exact dimensions of these miniscule but tasty products. Larry carefully held the ruler close up to these downsized sweets, while I focused in on their petit presence. The news is not good, our ruler measured just about two inches long.

Downsized Passover Macaroons: The News Is Not Good

And don't get me started on the Macaroons. Yes, we also photographed these dwarfed desserts as well. I'm embarassed to report that these babies came in measuring about one inch in diameter.  I know times are bad and every business is taking a hit. But next year if this downsizing contines I'll need a magnifying glass to serve dessert.

 QUESTION FOR MY READERS 
Does anyone have any vintage (past season) Macaroons or Mandel Cuts hanging around that they could measure so we can keep tabs on the severity of this matter?

As usual, I ask my readers to leave comments, schmooze and enjoy your holidays.

Teacup image with tea courtesy of  http://teawithfriends.blogspot.com/2010/10/pink-glass-discoveries-old-and-new.html

Other photos taken by C. Dianne Zweig

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

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Shabby Chic Featured at Antiques On the Farmington, Collinsville, CT

Vintage Cottage Style Decor at
  Antiques On The Farmington 


"Antiques On The Farmington", a huge Multi-dealer shop in Collinsville, CT now has a delightful Shabby Chic dealer on the second floor. Her booth is simply darling and cottage style lovers are keeping her busy. You will find sweet accessories, pillows, shelves, lamps, dressers,  vanities,  textiles and more. The booth is meticulously arranged so that you will get great ideas of how to display and decorate cottage style collelctibles in your home.
For more information visit  http://antiquesonfarmington.com/ .


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