Kitsch n Stuff: The Best Source of Retro and Vintage Home Decor in Connecticut

 Gallery of Retro Home Decor 

at Kitsch n Stuff

Kitsch n Stuff is a shop located in The 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 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

Did You Ever Just Need A Hot Dog Binge?

Baby Boomers Unite: It's Time To Bring Back Hot Dogs In Our Diets 

I know a lot about hot dogs. I grew up in New York, and ate my share of hot dogs on the streets of New York. Our family also spent plenty of time at Nathan's and indulged in a variety of hot dog adventures throughout my childhood. My dad even sold hot dog in many of his coffee shops, shopping mall kiosks and restaurants. So frankfur

ters are in my genes. So is saurkraut, mustard and Heinz baked beans. But my generation (baby boomers) have been brainwashed to stay away from hot dogs, high in all the bad stuff which we are told will come back to haunt us. But every now and then one gets a crave for a hot dog. My binge came after Thanksgiving. I finished the last dog in the package a few minute ago...... I don't even feel guilty...I feel fabulous!

Vintage image courtesy of http://mattsko.wordpress.com/2012/11/15/hot-dog-bbq-1950s/
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

Recovering From Thanksgiving: Post Holiday Confessions

Post Thanksgiving Secrets 

I'm happy to report that I am almost completely recovered from Thanksgiving. I celebrated my post Thanksgiving holiday by doing very little of everything. That would include:

1. staying out of any grocery stores.
2. not cooking anything more sophiticated than scambled eggs.
3. avoiding any foods that reminded me of Turkey...that would include anything from the poultry family or light in color.
4. closing the door to the laundry room for days.
5. not tidying up unless it was critical.

I'm happy to report I am totally over it.....I just defrosted a breast of turkey I bought as back up in case I needed more turkey on the big day.  I never made it...but it's defrosting as we speak.

Readers, please share with us your Post holiday experiences.

Vintage image from the collection at http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/gallery-view?year=1954

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

Celebrating The Holidays With 1950's Cracker Appetizers

Retro Cracker Party Appetizers: When Cream Cheese Was Welcomed

Crackers....I'm thinking about the holidays in the 1950s when my dad would decorate crackers and serve as appetizers. I can picture him taking a pastry sleeve filled with cream cheese and applying the creamy spread ever so carefully to the crackers. Next he would cut pieces of lox and dress up a few rows of the cream cheese crackers. He might add cut up olives on top of the lox or leave a few plain ones for me (I'm not an olive lover).

After the cream cheese crackers, we would have the tuna fish crackers topped with a little tomato garnish. Another favorite was egg salad with a dash of Paprika.

Today, my party kitchen is loaded with Hummus and Avocado dips. My grown kids would never touch dairy and have an aversion to anything with Mayo.
Oh, how I long for some 1950s nibbles.

Vintage image from the collection at http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/gallery-view?year=1954


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 Silver Care And Restoration Group Forum Featured On I Antique Online.com

Jeffrey Herman, Nationally Recognized Silver Expert Moderates Group Forum On I Antique Online. com 

I wanted to tell my readers about a great resource for care and restoration of antique and collectible silver on my site I Antique Online.com. We are delighted to have Jeffrey Herman , silversmith of Warwick Rhode Island, a nationally recognized expert and craftsmen on silver restoration and conservaton moderating a terrific group on this subject. Jeffrey covers discussions on the care, restoration and conservation of silver holloware, faltware and jewelry.

This group forum is free and you can visit the group by clicking on this link: http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/caring-for-silver

Here are some of the topics you  will find in our silver group on I Antique Online.com

Restoration of Georg Jensen Tankard

Started by Jeffrey Herman Apr 10, 2013.

Restoration of Sterling Ball, Black & Co. Coffeepot

Started by Jeffrey Herman Jan 21, 2013.

New Silver Polish Abrasion Ratings Guide!

Started by Jeffrey Herman Sep 18, 2012.

Repair of Cast Iron Match Safe 2 Replies

Started by Jeffrey Herman. Last reply by Jeffrey Herman Jul 14, 2012.

Don't Buy This Product!

Started by Jeffrey Herman Feb 3, 2012.

Precious Metal Fraud

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 28, 2011.

Buyers of Chinese "Sterling" Beware!

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 25, 2011.

Dangerous & Destructive Chemical Dips

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 23, 2011.

Keep Silver out of the Dishwasher!

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 22, 2011.

Candles and Weighted Silver

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 22, 2011.

Don't Trust all Silver Polishing Videos!

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 21, 2011.

Removing Dried Polish

Started by Jeffrey Herman Nov 21, 2011.

 


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

Could My Vintage Red and White Enamel Soup Pot Really Be A Chamber Pot?

How Can You Tell If Your Vintage Red And White Enamel Pot is For Soup Or Really a Chamber Pot? 

I recently posted this red and white Soup pot on   my I Antique Online.com Facebook page and I was amused to see a comment asking if it was indeed a chamber pot and not cookware.

Clearing Up The Poop Versus Soup Dilemma?

Curious about this delicate matter myself and frankly grossed out by the possibility that one would make soup in a poop pot, I did a little homework on the subject. My, my there are a lot of Chamber Pot collectors and sellers out there so it was easy for me to get to the bottom of this query (no pun intended). This post explores the red and white enamel pot or pail, not the more decorative or humorous earthenware or porcelain pots.

Chamber Pots Were Made To Fit Under The Bed During The Victorian Era 

My conclusion is that the original post I made on my Facebook page (see photo above)  is a soup pot or cooking pot and now I will explain my reasoning. Chamber pots are generally found either with only one or no handle and a flatter tub to to be able to fit under the bed in a Victorian Era home. The deeper handled, covered pot is a utility pail, which was used for a variety of purposes and may have also played a role in household ddisposal of waste before the flush toilet.

Go "Potty" A Children's Term Derived From Chamber Pot Era 

Today we use the term "potty" when talking about children's toileting, aterm derived from the chamber pot era.

Postscript: Want to know what you can do with a chamber pot? Read http://revisionarylife.blogspot.com/2013/10/seven-things-to-do-with-vintage-chamber.html

Read More About Chamber Pots:
http://blog.wellcomecollection.org/tag/chamber-pot/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamber_pot


PHOTO CREDITS 
Top photo of Soup pot photographed by C. Dianne Zweig at Kitsch n Stuff.

Covered Chamber pot photo courtesy of :
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kanawha-Fletcher-White-Porcelain-Enamel-w-Red-Rim-Chamber-Pot-Lid-Orig-Label-/191437378227?

Child's uncovered Chamber pot photo courtesy of  https://www.etsy.com/listing/185580388/1930s-chamber-pot-enamel-ware-enamelware?ref=marketpt=Antiques_Decorative_Arts&hash=item2c928e92b3

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

"I'm Freaking!, I'm Freaking My Mom's Gone Antiquing"

Fabulous Christmas Holiday Displays At The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford, CT    

I confess I was guilty of shlepping my kids when they were tots (and beyond) to way too many Antique stores and shows, Vintage shops and more. They were not happy campers when the destination was antique related.  They would protest by singing a line from "Sad Underwear" a Judith Viorst poetry book:   "I'm Freaking!, I'm Freaking My Mom's Gone Antiquing" 

 I'm not a big fan of bored kids trailing along mom and or dad in any store for too long, but i will make an exception this holiday season. YOU must bring your children and grandchildren to see the fabulous  holiday displays at The 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 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

Doodle A Star For Your Christmas Tree Or Holiday Decor

Doodle A Kitschy Holiday Ornament For Your Christmas Tree 

If you have a lot of energy you need to use up, try spending some time doodling on a star to use as a kitschy holiday decoration.
You can buy cardboard stars in most craft supply stores or cut out your own form.  The star shown was colored with Sharpie markers, paint pens including metallic gold as one of the colors.
Both sides of the star were worked on. It takes a lot of time to doodle but it's fun and it's good therapy!

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

Making Handmade Christmas Tree Themed Holiday Wrapping Paper

Handmade Christmas Wrapping Paper You Can Make With Your Kids

Why buy holiday wrapping paper when you can actually make your own. This is a great family project for all age groups. While this demo utilizes a tree motif, you can certainly experiment with many holiday symbols and a variety of festive colors.  In these photos, a green and red palette is used with a Christmas tree design. Feel free to experiments with lots of different materials, colors and designs.



Materials

18 X 24 Canson Recycled Sketch or Drawing Paper (comes in pads of 100 sheets).
Acrylic paint
Do-A-Dot Art Markers
paint brushes
crayons, markers, color pencils
stamps (can find ad craft stores)
textures for printing i.e. bubble wrap, corrugated paper




Thanks to Ginny August  from the Farmington Valley Arts Center for demonstrating this project.


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

Kitschy Collector's Vintage Holiday Gift Suggestions

Shop Vintage And Retro: Old is Kitschy And Collectible 

Ho Ho Ho, it's that time of the year when cute Santa's are snoozing almost everywhere you look and Christmas songs are still playing in your head even when you do not have the radio station turned on.
I'm not even Christmas if you catch my drift, but I sure have a great time shopping...anytime!  Yes, I have been to Home Goods and Marshalls more times that I would like to admit this past week, but there is nothing in my mind more exciting like buying VINTAGE. Here is a list of great gift ideas that you can easily find for fair prices at Antique Malls and group shops.

 Kitschy Collector's Vintage Holiday Gift Suggestions 

1. Glass or silver entertaining serving dishes.
2. Wine glasses, barware, decanters
3. Antique or collectible jewelry
4. Vanity sets or perfume bottle(s)
5. Vintage handbag, clothing, scarves
6. Children's books, puzzles, toys
7. Holiday ornaments and decorations
8. Aprons, potholders, dresser scarves
9. Cookie jars, ovenware, pyrex
10. Art books, Coffee Table books, art, phootography, prints,  globes, desk accessories  

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