Six Tips About Buying Vintage Tin Kitchen Canister Sets

What You Need To Know When Buying Older Metal Kitchen Canisters 

When you buy and sell kitchen collectibles for a long time you get smarter and smarter about the purchases that you make. Here are some tips about metal buying kitchen canisters.

1. Almost all sets have four containers.
2. Check metal canisters for dings and dents.
3.Take the lid off the canisters and look inside for rust.
4. Look at the colors and designs on the canisters, checking for brightness, fading, peeling.
5. Be sure you have a real set of  matching canisters with the same background color etc.
6. Make sure the lids of the canisters really fit.


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

Collecting Vintage Novelty Plastic Salt And Pepper Sets

Adorable Collectible Plastic Teapot Salt And Pepper Set

I just had to share this photo with you. I love everything about this sweet vignette that I spottted recently at an antique show that I attended in Madison, CT which is on the shoreline. I adore the colors yellow and red ... I love teapots and I really like how the plastic salt and pepper set is displayed on a blue and white check tablecloth. Do you like this too? Why on earth didn't I buy it?

These type of plastic collectibles in prime condition have climbed in price since I began collecting kitchenwares. Once an under $10.00 item, I now see them for $18.00 to  $25.00.
What do my readers say, what is your experience?

If you love plastics visit my Pinterest board http://pinterest.com/kitschnstuff/1950s-plastic-kitchen/

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

Collecting Vintage Polka Dot Kitchen Collectibles

Are You Ready For A Vintage Polka Dot Kitchen?

If you like changing your vintage kitchen once in awhile, perhaps you are ready for a new theme to inspire you. How about adding polka dot kitchen collectibles to your repertoire? Polka dots are very retro and can add a whimsical flair to your vintage kitchen theme.

Spice Up Your Kitchen Collections With A New Twist

Many collectors like to spice up their collections with a new twist on an old theme. Many folks find that after awhile they get tired of collecting the same old thing and that they need to give themselves a bit of a challenge when they are out hunting.

Narrowing Your Search

For example, a tea cup collector might want to look be more selective about the kind of tea cups they collect. So instead of bringing home every tea cup they see, they begin to set goals for themselves, narrowing their search to certain types of tea cups.

The Harder The Item To Collect: The More The Challenge

Every collector knows what I mean when I say, that every now and then you need to modify your collecting habits to keep life interesting. Collecting Polka dotted housewares and kitchenwares may just be the challenge you are looking for. Unlike other kitchen items, it is not that easy to find polka dot designs. Don't get me wrong, they are out there, but collectibles with polka dots get scooped up real quickly.

A Variety Of Polka Dot Collectibles

If you look hard enough you will find polka dots on vintage beverage glasses, ceramic planters, kitchen mixing bowls, aprons, canisters, pot holders , tablecloths and more. Filling a glass cabinet with all your polka dotted collectibles could be quite fun. Or how sweet would a shelf be with your collection of polka dotted kitchen-wares?
In addition to shopping in all your favorite stores and online shops, be sure to visit I Antique Online.com as well. You can also let members at IAO know what you are looking for and they will come up with lots of options.

Photo of bowls courtesy of: http://sadiesaid.blogspot.com/2009/05/its-spring-and-with-spring-comes.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.comVisit my website, CDianneZweig.comDianne is a member of:The American Society of Journalists and AuthorsThe Society of Professional Journalists

Antique Booth Display Ideas: The Importance Of Color And Charm

How to Make Your Antique Booth Shop, Kitchen Look Attractive

Every now and then you have to mix it up and change your displays in your antique shop or mall. But what do you do when you sell lots of the same colors or types of collectibles? How do you stir the pot (no pun intended) to make things look different? This post will help you begin to imagine some changes you could make to impove your antique booth space displays.

Kitsch n Stuff Kitchen Collectibles

At my humble little ole booth (kitsch n Stuff) at The Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford Connecticut you will find plenty of kitchen collectibles in red, yellow, blue, green or some combination of those colors.
By far I have more red and yellow or red and white items than other color combination. And after a while the displays start needing a punch in the arm to wake them up. So here are some tips to help you improve the look of your displays.

Add The Color Turquoise Or Aqua To Red Kitchen Collectibles

Believe it or not turquoise (aqua) looks great with red and yellow objects. In fact you can pair turquoise with just yellow or just red or as part of a vignette of red, yellow, white kitchenwares. And as you can see in the photos shown, the turquoise (aqua) planter sitting on a kitchen canister has a plate propped inside it. And the cornucopia planter has a colorful red and yellow hot pad tucked inside. Remember to make your collectibles do double duty!

With 1940s and 1950s Kitchen Collectibles Go For The Charming Element

This may just be my personal preference, but it has served me well. After I create a new display for my kjtchen collectibles, I stand back and look table top display or shelf that I have just completed and I ask myself, "Is it charming?" That is when I look around my booth and pull out an adorable planter or figurine or object that completes the "Is it Charming ? " test.

Use A Colorful But Not Too Busy Tablecloth Or Fabric Remnant As A Shelf Liner
When I am out shopping for kitchen collectibles, I always keep my eye out for 1940s or 1950s remnants or tablecloth cutters that could be re-cycled as shelf liners. I keep a special box of such cloths handy and bring them to my shop when I am re- decorating. This is one area that you have to experiment with your ideas.

It Doesn't Always Have To Be Matchy Matchy
Sometimes a cloth may have a color that you thought would work but ends up looking too drab. Or, if you get too matchy matchy, your display is drabby. As I have talked about before....fool around with ideas....let things happen on their own.

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