Kitschy Collector Mourns Her Hard Drive: Time To Go Out Antiquing

Retro Blogger Exhausts Her PC

Say goodbye to my hard drive. I believe I killed the poor thing. How this unfortunate untimely death occurred is beyond my clueless computer mind. But my techy son returned from college last night and made the pronouncement. A new hard drive with a much larger storage capacity is on it's way.

Kitschy Collector Mourns Her Blogging Friend

What went wrong? Did I tucker this three year old computer out with all my blogging? Heck I was just getting started ? Was this event a message from above that I was spending too much time on-line and not antiquing enough ? Or perhaps my "mother board" and hard drive weren't getting along. (Welcome to the family).


So Many Kitsch n Collectibles

The truth is I had so many photographs of kitsch n collectibles stored on the computer that signs of overload were starting to emerge. Essentially my computer was suffering the equivalent of Congestive Heart Failure.

When You Feel Lousy: Go Antiquing

Oh, dear me, I feel terrible. And when I feel lousy, I just want to go out antiquing, like I have been doing all week while I have been waiting for a diagnosis.

CODE 7 : Very Bad News

But the diagnosis came last night, CODE 7. My son broke it to me gently....."mom it is not good news.....". I have not gone into panic mode (yet) because I had a back up hard drive. I am trying to work a little from my husband's computer....but all the goodies are on my computer. May she rest in peace.


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

http://www.etsy.com/shop/PreserveCottage

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.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Authors Guild, Inc.

Are Vintage Mixing Bowls Always "Hot" Sellers? Advice From The Kitschy Collector

The Ups And Downs of Buying And Selling Vintage Mixing Bowls

It seems to me that vintage mixing bowls are sometimes "hot" sellers in our shops and at other times real sleepers. And when we are selling bowls like hot cakes, we load up on even more bowls thinking it's a good idea. But just when we have a wonderful assortment of bowls on hand...the whole cycle quiets down. And those of you who have limited shelf space know what a bummer it is to find places for "too many" mixing bowls, especially very large ones.

The Good, Bad And Ugly
So its probably a good idea for me to tell my readers what I have learned from being in the biz for several decades. The bottom line is that not all bowls are great sellers . Know your bowls!

Good Selling Bowls

1. Patterned Bowls
"Dots" (McKee, Fire king, Hazel Atlas)
"Diamonds"
"Ivy"
"Sailboats" (McKee)
"Tulips" (i.e. Fire king)
"Ribbons" (McKee)
"Kitchen Aids" (Fire King)
"Apple" (i.e. Fire King)

2. 1940's bowls in red, yellow, green, blue
( especially red or yellow) .

3. Complete nesting sets (all kinds priced reasonably).

4. Jade-ite bowls priced right.

5. Bowls with roosters

6. Pink bowls.

7. American Dinnerware (i.e. Pottery Guild).

Harder To Sell Bowls

While I find that bowls in colors such as olive greens, mushroom colors, burnt oranges, golds and browns are harder to sell, I do want to remind you that they are gaining interest.
It seems that younger collectors are re-discovering the bowls of their childhood and these Harvest color bowls are picking up a bit more interest.
How Long Does it take to Sell Olive Green Bowls?

Not too long ago I kidded a friend about how long the Olive green bowls she brought into her retro cafe-shop would sit on her shop shelves with no interest from anyone.

The Buyer Fell In Love With Her Mom's Bowl

Right after I joked about these disco era bowls, a young waitress came over to the bowls and bought them right on the spot. The young gal said the bowls reminded her of her mom's (70's) kitchen.

Proceed With Caution on These Bowls

1. 1970s earth tone bowls.
2. Very large mixing bowls.
3. Frosted bowls.
4. Common bowls which go with mixers.

Some of the photos courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/RetroRevival


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 Vintage Kitchens With Retro Housewares

Fruit Themed Housewares

Fruit themed kitchen-wares were very popular during the colorful eras of the 1930's 1940's and 1950's. Housewares such as kitchen canister sets, pottery, glassware, wall decor, tablecloths, textiles, bowls etc were adorned with images of fruit.

Popular Vintage Fruit Images

Buyers wil find vintage kitchen accessories decorated with cherries, apples, pears, pineapples, bananas and grapes. Fruits represent sweet and pleasant times and are viewed as warm and home centered.

The Meaning of Fruit Images

Every culture has given meaning to particular fruits. The apple may be a symbol of temptaion, but it is also a symbol of life, ass it is a perfect fruit that carries its won seeds of renewal.

The Hebrews view the pomegranate as a symbo of fertility. The Chinese accept the orange as a sign of good luck. Pineapples were symbols of hospitality in Colonial America. Fruit is celebrated as a luscious gift from Mother Nature and has always been a familiar image in kitchens.

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.

Retro-Redheads Featuring Vintage Style Linens, Housewares and Home Accessories

Introducing Retro-Redheads
An On-Line Store For Retro Collectors

Retro Redheads is a kitchen and home on-line store that sells both originals and reproduction textiles, glassware, housewares, pottery, cookware and more. Barbara and her daughter run Retro-Redheads and are well known among "the trade".

This afternoon I chatted with Barb about all the new items she was now carrying in her on-line store. Over the years she been ordering more and more "vintage style" linens and accessories and integrating them with her originals (she is a hunter-collector just like the rest of us).

Textiles that Look Like Originals

I wondered how her long established customers felt about her carrying "repros". She said she sells a lot of "vintage style" and her customers are buying more and more.

Companies That Sell Vintage Style Home Accessories

ModaHome
Bethany Lowe
Dolce Mia

Many of the kitchenwares and textiles she has in her inventory come from very fine design houses such as Moda Home (http://www.unitednotions.com/un_main.nsf/mf_new), Bethany Lowe designs (http://www.bethanylowe.com/) and Dolce Mia Designs (http://www.dolcemia.com/).

According to Barbara, the quality of the retro inspired lines she carries is excellent. She herself uses many of these textiles and decorative accessories in her own home and is delighted with the durability.

I have to admit, the tablecloths, towels and napkins look fabulous. It is really hard to tell these newly manufactured pieces from their 1940 and 1950 cousins.

Here is the link to Retro-Redheads: http://www.retro-redheads.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.

Retro Rubbish: An Etsy Shop That Re-cycles Vintage Style

Re-Cycling Vintage Style

How could you not love a website called Retro Rubbish: Re-cycling Vintage Style? What a brilliant name, I wish I though of it. This Etsy shop is a goldmine for the vintage hip who love the excitement and playfulness of the Flower Power days.

Funky Finds of the 60's and 70's

Retro Rubbish is a shop on Etsy specializing in glorious funky finds from the sixties and seventies. Colorful Vera textiles, ceramics of mushrooms and owls, wild and colorful abstract housewares and textiles and so much more are for sale on the Retro Rubbish site.

No Longer Thrift Shop Bric- a-brac

Once considered thrift shop Bric- a -brac, 60's and 70's treasures are very desirable as younger collectors and major designers are re-discovering the patterns, colors and styles of the psychedelic and disco generations.
Department Stores Featuring 60's and 70's

Visit any major department store today and you will see dishes, cookware, housewares, storage containers, accessories, pottery, wall decor etc. in eye catching combinations of pink, orange, yellow, green or brown. Bold florals and colorful geometrics are back in style. Say goodbye to your neutrals and tone on tones.........groovy is here again.

Visit retro Rubbish at http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorubbish

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.