Three Ladies Antiques, A Collection of Quirky Antiques And Collectibles in West Hartford, Connecticut

The Kitschy Collector Visits "Three Ladies Antiques"

Like any addicted junk lover, I'm in heaven when I find a shop that is stuffed with everything but the Kitsch n Sink! And "Three Ladies Antique" on Park Road in West Hartford, Connecticut was the perfect place for the Kitschy Collector to hunt for Kitsch n Stuff.

Lots To See At Three Ladies Antiques

This is a very large store which has Oriental rugs on one side of the store and antiques, collectibles and good junk on the other side of the shop. On the side with the rugs, you will find a funky collection of artwork displayed on the walls. The owner likes to buy artwork and also has lots of buyers looking for old frames so she often buys older pictures, just for the frames.

When You Are Hunting For Treasures You Have To Look Everywhere

But it is the other side of the shop that will keep you busy. The best way to describe this store is to say that there are treasures buried under the bric-a-brac . You really have to browse this store carefully. My suggestion is to walk around the shop several times. Try to get past the "tag sale reject" stuff because than you will find some really nifty things.

Retro Furniture And Vintage Decor

And before I forget, there is also furniture, but it comes and goes very quickly because the prices are very fair.There is also a basement and I mean basement loaded with used books and other odds and ends. This is one basement I'm not too fond of. BUT you have to be brave when you are junking.
But lets get above ground again. On my trip to Three ladies Antiques today, I did find a lot of Flower Power collectibles in their back room.

Religious Kitsch

Now I should mention that across from the 1960s and 1970s "STUFF" was a few bookcases with a collection of religious items. I remember thinking when I was photographing these shelves that I wanted to describe these section as "Religious Kitsch" but I worried about whether that was a kosher way of describing religious items. So perhaps I should refer to this area of the store as religious collectibles.

Wonderful Hand Carved Sea Captains

Not to far away from the "religious collectibles" in the main room, was one dealer (there are a few other dealers besides the owner) who had some very interesting collectibles in his showcase. I loved the collection of hand carved sea captains shown above. In fact, I bought the entire set. And I do have my eye on some other things.

Three Ladies Antiques
328 Park Road
West Hartford, CT
860-231-1678


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.

Collecting Colorful Vintage Kitchen Towels 1930s-1960s

From The Collection Of Yvonne Barineau , Author Of "Colorful Vintage Kitchen Towels"

Vintage Kitchen towels from the 1930s-1960s with colorful and whimsical designs and graphics are very collectible and climbing in price everyday. It is a fun hobby to hunt for towels with certain themes or colors or from a favorite decade. There are plenty of passionate collectors out there so be prepared to see some wild prices for these charming collectibles.

Vintage Kitchen Towels At Kitsch n Stuff

In my shop, "Kitsch n Stuff", I divide my vintage kitchen towels into two different categories. There are the "average" towels which might sell for $8.00-10.00 and than there are the very collectible towels which often sell for $32.00 (set) and more such as these P & S Creations shown in this post.

Common Manufacturers Of Vintage Towels

Common manufacturers of kitchen towels were Startex, Wilendur, Martex. Broderie, Bucilla and P & S. It's always a treat to find the original tag still fastened to the towel when you are lucky to discover an original unused.

When searching for kitchen towels online also check other names for these dry goods such as "tea towels", "dish towels", "utility towels", "bar towels". "Hand towels' and "work towels".

Introducing Yvonne Barineau the author of Colorful Vintage Kitchen Towels

A wonderful website to visit to learn more about vintage kitchen towels and linens is http://www.finevintagelinens.com. This site is owned by Yvonne Barineau, the author of Colorful Vintage kitchen Towels (Schiffer Books). You will find plenty of beautiful linens for sale at Yvonne's online shop.

Yvonne is also the author of Colorful Tablecloths 1930s-1960s (Schiffer Books).

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.

Antiques And Social Networking

What Would The Kitsch n Shrink Say About Antique Social Networking?

I bet you didn't know that there is a lot of similarities between managing an Antiques Social Network and leading a Group Therapy session. And I have done both over the years. When I first got involved as the Editor of I Antique Online.com, I was really in a new world. I bought lots of books about Social Media and Social Network Marketing. I also read books with titles like "Search Engine Optimization For Dummies" and books about blogging.

I was eager to learn as much as I could about the topic of Antique Social Networks. But a lot of my questions weren't being addressed in these "How To" manuals. Some would say that the nitty gritty of managing people is a bit more challenging than learning SEO. And then again some might say that mastering SEO is the kicker.

Antique Social Networks And Community Dynamics

All I can say when describing what is was like to become immersed in the dynamics of an Antique Social Community is Oy Vey! Before long, I thought I was back in my role as a Group Therapist. "This one was getting into a tangle with that one"; "another fella felt left out"; "this member felt rejected; " that member felt bullied" and on and on and on..

Yeeks.......whats going on here in the Social Network universe...it's Group Therapy all over again and I was retired! But I was ready for "Community dynamics"...I was prepared...I could tap into my group dynamic theory and make some head way.

Driving The Group Leader Crazy

For example, one of the first lessons you learn when training to become a Group Therapist is that the old members will want to keep the group the way it is and will often give a new member a hard time. The group will also test out the Group leader to see how far they can go giving a newbie a hard time before the group leader intervenes.

Poof You Are Banned

Well the same thing happens on Social Networks,the administrator functions like a Group therapist keeping everyone civil.But the beauty of managing a Social Network on antiques and collectibles is that it is NOT a Group Therapy session...when a member is annoying or too much trouble and you have tried multiple times to keep peace. All you have to do is press the delete button and poof they are banned!

Reading "The Theory and Practice of Group Therapy" (5th Edition)

So if you want to learn more about how to manage a social network or survive in a social network, you really need to reach out beyond the typical books that you will find in the sections on Social Media. You need to read books about group theory. I'm not kidding when I suggest that you order a copy of a classic called:
"The Theory and Practice of Group Therapy" (5th edition) By Irvin D. Yalom. This is where the action is, thinking outside the box of social media.

Photos of collectibles courtesy of http://www.etsy.com/shop/kelleystreetvintage

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.

Antiques Blogs: How To Find Antique Blogs You Will Enjoy

Antique Blogs: The Newest Way To Read All About Antiques And Collectibles

Reading Antique Blogs is a wonderful way to read more about the antiques and collectibles that you love. There are blogs on every subject matter related to antiques and collectibles. If you are new to the blog world you might want to find groups of people that share your interests.

How To Find Antique Blogs You Will Enjoy

For example if you love "Cottage Collectibles", you will find an entire "Cottage Community" of Cottage bloggers. Once you read a few of these blogs, you can look at their blog roll (friends who also blog) to find other "Cottage" blogs. Usually, links on a blog roll are folks who like the same kinds of topics. Bloggers tend to hang out with other bloggers who share the same interests.

Blogs.com Posts Ten Best Blog Lists On A Variety of Topics

Perhaps you are more apt to adore Retro Style living., you can look for blogs about "Retro", "1950s", "Atomic Era". Or venture into the world of "junk" blogs. See my list on the right hand column about the Ten Best Junk Blogs. Blogs.com does lots of Ten Best Lists on a variety of topics. You can become a guest editor for them and come up with your own Ten Best List.

How To Search For Blogs On Google

When searching for blogs on a particular subject you may want to use "Google" or "Yahoo" and do a search using the word "blog" in your search phrase. So that if you are looking for blogs about "Vintage Costume Jewelry", you would search for "Vintage Costume Jewelry Blogs" .

Google Alerts On Antique Blogs And Collectibles Blogs

I subscribe to Google alerts for "collectibles' and for "antiques". Everyday, I receive an email alert with the latest blog entries on "antiques" and "collectibles". You can choose the topics you want to receive alerts about.

For more resources on Antique Blogs see; http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/group/favoriteantiquesandcollectibleslinks

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.

Antique Social Networks

Learn More About Antique Social Networks Such as I Antique Online.com

If you are new to the world of Antique Social Networks , you are not alone. Many antique dealers enjoy antiquing and doing shows more than they do fooling with the internet. But savvy buyers, sellers and collectors know that antiquing online is becoming a big deal.

Selling Antiques Online: The Value Of A Social Network

A few years ago, I joined Scott Liscomb who founded I Antique Online.com , a Social Network that has now become the Facebook of the antique world ( growing everyday as a major community for antiques). I serve as the Editor In Chief and now co-own the site with Scott.

Buying And Selling Antiques On Antique Social Networks

On I Antique Online.com , we have almost 6000 members with over 150 group forums on every topic your can imagine related to antiques and collectibles. And we have so much fun on this site. The community has a lot of energy and is very welcoming. You will also find over 37,000 photos posted on the site.

I Antique Online.com is now the number one Social Network for Antiques And Collectibles. As editor, I have learned a lot about how Antique Social Networks can help buyers, sellers and collectors of antiques and collectibles. First of all like all internet communities, an Antique Social Network helps you meet people from all over the world who share similar interests. This is a GREAT way to search for information about antiques or to find buyers and sellers. And when it is freezing out or way too hot....you can go antiquing online. Now that is fabulous.

Antique Social Networks Let You Hunt For Antiques And Collectibles On The Internet: A Dream Come True For Collectors

For collectors, an Antique Social Network is a dream come true, because now you can share stories, resources, references etc. with others who are passionate about their collectibles.
Some people join Antique Social Networks because they like to schmooze ( interact) with others who have a similar hobby. While others join this type of network to do business. And of course many people become members to do both.

Getting The Most Out Of A Social Network On Antiques And Collectibles- Buying-Selling-Collecting

If you really want to use an Antique Social Network to increase traffic for your business or to meet others here are some tips.

Tips On Using Antique Social Networks Such As I Antique Online.com

1. Post photos and always add tags and descriptions.
2. Write blog posts (articles about antiques and collectibles).
3. Write articles for the various collecting groups forums.
4. Share a news article that you have read on antiques and collectibles.
5. When a new member joins that shares common interests, tell them about groups that you belong to.
6.Post articles to share what you have learned over the years to teach new collectors.
7. Tag all your posts.
8. Post a badge of the Social Network site on your blog or website and exchange links.
9. Review a book on antiques and collectibles and post your reviews on the Social Network site.
10. Add a video and tag.

Please post and share other ideas that you may have..

Visit http://iantiqueonline.ning.com/

Photos courtesy of :

J.P. Finishing Touches Antiques
1 Depot Place
Unionville, CT
860- 798-2198

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.

MIXUS Mixed Media Exhibit , Gallery On The Green, Canton, Connecticut,, November 13th -December 19th, 2010

MIXUS GALLERY ON THE GREEN , CANTON, CT OPENING NIGHT
November 13th, 2010

If you love Mixed Media Art and Collage, you will really enjoy MIXUS, a group of Connecticut artists who are exhibiting their work during the Annual Holiday Show at The Gallery On The Green, Canton, Connecticut.

Today, I previewed the show before it's opening tomorrow, Saturday, November 13th, 2010, from 6 to 9 P.M. and can report that Mixed Media enthusiasts will really be treated to a wonderful exhibit.


How Mixus Got Started

As one of the founding members of Mixus (now I'm busy writing and not making too much art) , I can tell you about this wonderful group of creative women from Connecticut. The group met while taking art classes and workshops at The Farmington Valley Art Center in Avon, Connecticut with Debi Pendell. When Debi left the area to relocate her studio to North Adams, Massachusetts, the gals decided to continue meeting as a group to discuss art matters, show collectively and share their art experiences.

Starting off as a small group, other collage artists in the area joined the group and it now has a very lively group of 12-15 members who all work quite differently but share the love of Mixed Media.

Gallery On The Green, Canton, Connecticut

The Gallery On The Green is a wonderful venue for Mixus. The Mixus exhibit is on the second floor of the gallery, while the Holiday show is on the first floor. If you are in town Saturday night, be sure to stop by the gala opening. The Mixus group always offers lovely refreshments at all their shows. The show runs through December, 19th, 2010


Mixus Members

*Judy Cantwell
*Elaine Edelberg
*Joy Floyd
*Betty Friedman
*Vi Joshua
Lynn Gall
*Hannah Libman
*Bunny Curtis Millan
*Jill Henderson Pasanen
Debi Pendell
*Thelma Pierce
Alberta Richetelle
*Cynthia Root
*Carolyn Q. Tertes
*Lonny Wilhelm
*Susan Williams
*Gretchen Wohlgemuth
C. Dianne Zweig

*Exhibiting In Gallery On The Green Show
Gallery on the Green, located at Route 44 and Dowd Avenue in Canton, is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m.
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.

Collecting Everyday Vintage Kitchen And Pantry Advertising Collectibles

Vintage Kitchen Advertising Collectibles Featured At Kitsch n Stuff

My shop Kitsch n Stuff at the Collinsville Antiques Company of New Hartford is loaded with retro pantry items from the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. I have such a good time finding vintage products that still have the labels intact and even may have the contents inside.

Cozy Red And Yellow Or Red & White Kitchen Advertising Collectibles

Retro Baking Powder Tins, Spice Tins, Pantry, Laundry, Cleaning etc.

And of course whenever I find red and white or red and yellow kitchen kitsch, you know it will be hard for me to turn it down. So right now in my shop you can find plenty of advertising tins, pantry collectibles, spice tins, baking soda tins, laundry detergent, soaps, cleansers etc. Spice tins are really in demand these days and the prices are climbing!

Kitsch n Stuff Is a Great Resource For Vintage Kitchen Advertising Collectibles

Kitsch n Stuff has everything to equip your retro kitchen with the best of The Colorful Eras of the 30s, 40s, 50s. Some of these original items are even featured in my book, "Hot Kitchen and Home Collectibles of the 30s, 40s, 50s (now in its second edition).

Old kitchen products from the Mid-Century years are generally very reasonably priced so that this is really a great collecting hobby for limited budgets. People always ask me about my kitchen -wares collection, and the answer is that I built it one item at a time. You have to start somewhere.

Tips About Buying 1930s, 1940s & 1950s Pantry Products And Advertising Products

1, Consider having a theme such as "baking powder tins", "spice tins', "coffee tins".
2. Be ultra careful about cleaning jars that have paper labels, wipe with a damp cloth ever so carefully, avoiding the paper label.

3. Don't mess with the inside of the jar. If possible keep the contents intact (unless there is a science experiment going on or bugs".

4. 1930s collectibles will fetch more money than later decades. Gorgeous graphics and calligraphy increase the price on older paper label and tin collectibles .

5. While there are plenty of kitchen themed advertising items that can be found for reasonable, prices, it is best to get acquainted with the subject matter. Some items are in a class by themselves and are more competitive collectibles such as Campbells, Black Americana, Cream of Wheat, "Borden's Elsie The Cow" , "Jello". etc.

Resources

Advertising By Dawn E. Reno (Older book but a good primer)

Pop Culture Memorabilia by Ted Hake

Ted Hake Website

Country Joe's Stuff

Antique And Vintage Advertising Group

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.

Creative, Affordable Store Displays Using "Tree Branches" And "Logs" For Jewelry, Eye Glasses And Hats

The Kitschy Collector Visits ODDZ, A Clothing Boutique in Westport, Connecticut For Hip Young Shoppers

Of course the Kitschy Collector would love a store named "ODDZ". So I wandered into this cool sounding clothing store in Westport, CT. only to discover it was for young hip people, not Retro baby boomers like me.

Tree Branch Displays

But what I did find was some groovy displays made out of tree branches. O.K., I may not be able to wear most of the clothing in the store, but I sure can take pictures of nifty displays to show my kitschy readers who adore funky ideas.

Creative, Affordable Store Displays

It seems that the owners of this shop on Main Street in Westport, Connecticut wanted to come up with some affordable ways to show off their accessories. So a "tree' motif was developed throughout the store. Branches, tree bark, logs and more are all used as store fixtures.

"Hanging Tree"

My favorite idea was adding nails to a large tree branch creating a "hanging tree" for sunglasses. Then there was the "hat tree" and "the jewelry log". It all made sense in this tree inspired boutique. But upon leaving the shop I spotted the " driftwood staircase railing" and I wondered if this was just a bit too much on the tree theme.

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.

"Auction Hunters" A Show About Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions Premieres On Spike T.V.

"Auction Hunters" On Spike T.V. Hunting For Treasures (Guy Stuff)

Meet Clinton "Ton" Jones And Allen Haff

Here we go again, another new reality T.V. show called "Auction Hunters" with stars hunting for buried treasures. This new kid on the block is on the Spike network, Tuesdays at 10:00 P.M. EST. The show revolves around two guys, Clinton " Ton" Jones and Allen Haff who make a living attending auctions of abandoned storage units.

I guess I never realized it before that there are storage units all over the place loaded with STUFF that people or businesses never come back for. According to the Spike network promo, there are 10,000 abandoned storage units a day that are put up for auction.

What Can You Find At Abandoned Storage Unit Auctions?

The drama is built into the show because unlike a regular auction that you generally have a chance to preview, these auctions are held on the spot and you only have a chance to peek into a unit and get a quick idea of what might be buried inside. "Each unit has the potential to be a goldmine or a bust for those who make their living hunting unclaimed property."

More Rough And Tough Reality Stars

Last night was the premiere of this show which once again features a pair of rough and tough guys who get their kicks out of finding an historic gun, rumbling around in piles of metal junk factory equipment and discovering a vintage cash register with a big pay off.

The early scenes of the show were fast paced and exciting. I was getting hooked and decided to stay with the show, even though Pawn Stars was on another channel and competing for my attention. But as the show developed, I started to find myself getting a little sleepy.

It seems that all these new reality T.V. shows about hunting for antiques and collectibles are
all created with identical formulas, a cast with at least one or two nice looking fat guys, a better looking skinnier guy, a few staged treasures that are worth something and lots of dust, grime, cob webs, rust and good and bad crap. Hmm......sounds familiar.


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.

Collecting 1950's T.V. Lamps

Kitschy 1950s T.V. Lamps For Your Retro Style Home

Talk about kitsch...what do you think of these whimsical 1950's T.V. lamps? And what about the cheesy (but adorable) combo T.V. lamp and planter (shown below) ?

T.V. Lamps History
Indirect Light Used In 1950s Living Rooms

Back in the fifties when watching T.V. was becoming a household leisure activity folks generally gathered in the living room to watch T.V. on small sets with hard to see pictures.. It was believed that watching television in a darkened room would hurt the eyes, so many families used T.V. lamps that were "backlit' to add some soft light to the room.

Adjusting The T.V. Lamp Antenna

My friend Cindy who owns The Collinsville Antiques Company Of New Hartford convinced me that the T.V. lamps were needed because you were always playing with the antennas and you needed to see what the heck you were doing.

Whatever the reason for the popularity of T.V. lamps in the 50s, there were oodles of them made, Now there are plenty of passionate collectors who want to get their hands on these indirect kooky lamps which can sell for $25.00-85.00 and higher depending on rarity, theme, condition, region.

Many of these lamps had ceramic bases that were also planters or clocks (See Green lamp shown) from http://www.etsy.com/people/AriesgirlVintage .

While most lamps are made of ceramic, you wil also find other materials such as Chalkware, Plaster and China.

Styles of 1950's T.V. Lamps

You will find ceramic T.V. lamp planters in a variety of styles such as panthers, poodles, roosters, fish, stallions, birds, deer, nautical, dancers, swans, flowers, fruit, shells, plant life, fish, bulls, ducks,owl, dogs, musical themes, trains Oriental themes, Western themes , and more. Read http://www.tvlamps.net/category.html
Meet T.V. Lamp Collector Mark Stevens

Avid collector Mark Stevens was interviewed by Collector's Weekly and is convinced that the panther and exotic designs back in the 50s. He states: "I have a theory as to why those were the most popular. In the 1950s there was a good deal of interest in anything that had a touch of the exotic. Part of this had to do with an influence from soldiers coming back from World War II. So in the 1950s you have people all of a sudden interested in Oriental, Africa, Polynesian, and French motifs, basically anything that represented a foreign culture became very popular. A panther kind of fit in with all that, an exotic animal from a foreign land."

Indirect Light And T.V. Lamps

Typically the base is made out of high gloss ceramics and the bulb is hidden behind the base or in a attached cylinder .Unlike a regular light that had a shade, often these T.V.lamps/planters gave off a soft glow to protect the eyes from bright light.


T.V. Light Manufacturers

According to the website http://booksfyi.blogspot.com/2009/07/collectibles-corner-vintage-tv-lamps.html"it is estimated that there were 75- 100 manufacturers of these kitschy lamps including Haeger, Kron, Lane of van Nuys, California Originals, Gonder, Maddux, Hollywood Ceramics, McCoy, Treasure Craft, and others". For an extensive list of manufacturers click here: http://www.tvlamps.net/manufacturers.html
The T.V. lamp was generally placed on top of the T.V. set or on a nearby table.

Collector Mark Steven suggests reading:

Turned On: Decorative Lamps of the 50s by Leland and Crystal Payton, has been out of print for years but can be found on eBay. Other TV Lamp books are, 50s TV Lamps by Calvin Shepherd, and one called TV Lamps: Identification and Value Guide by Tom Santiso. Both those books were written in 1998 or 99 and there is one other book that is newer called TV Lamps to Light the World by John A. Shuman.

Resources

You can find Steven's interview at http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-1950s-tv-lamp-collector-mark-stevens/

Read More at: http://www.tvlamps.net/blog/category/lamp-history/

Collie lamp and Oriental Theme photos courtesy of http://booksfyi.blogspot.com/2009/07/collectibles-corner-vintage-tv-lamps.html

http://www.1950sretro.com/1950s__lamps/tv_lamps/tv_lamps.html

http://hubpages.com/hub/Collecting-Mania-50s-TV-Lamps

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.

Autumn Light Studio And Gallery Opens in Avon, Connecticut

Christopher Hayes Opens A Contemporary Gallery Featuring Local And National Artists In Avon. Connecticut

Stained Glass artist Christopher Hayes has taken the big leap and opened "Autumn Light" a beautiful Contemporary multi-media art gallery and studio on Route 44 in Avon, Connecticut.
Formerly the home of a longtime paint and wallpaper store, "Autumn Light" has been completely remodeled and transformed into an upscale gallery featuring Blown glass, Fused Glass, pottery, Metal craft, Wood craft, Textiles, Jewelry, Collage, Photography, Mixed Media and more.

Featuring Local And National Artists

Christopher has filled the gallery with pieces from his own collection as well as consigned work from local and National artists. With a knack for styling and interior design, Christopher has created an exciting gallery showcasing a fresh array of artists, may who have not exhibited in this area previously.

Art Workshops Planned

While the main gallery is complete, plans for ongoing workshops and art classes are underway and will be held at the same location in specially designed classroom areas, Christopher hopes to involve the exhibiting artists in conducting programs on painting, pottery, crafting etc.

Christopher Attends Savannah College Of Art

Christopher attended Savannah College of Art and design. where he studied Architecture, Interior Design and Historic Preservation. With a a desire to study Building Preservation and restoration he transferred to Belmont Technical College in 1996. It was at that time that he developed a passion for Stained Glass arts. In 1997 Christopher was the recipient of the prestigious Dorothy l Maddy Scholarship from The Stained Glass Association of America.

The Gallery is still accepting applications from artists who may wish to exhibit

Autumn Light Studio & Gallery
304 west Main Street
Avon CT, 06001

(860) 674 - 9869
Monday Closed
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10 - 6
Thursday 10 - 7:30
Saturday 10 - 5 Sunday 11- 4

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.

Where To Buy Nostalgic Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper

Holiday Kitsch Klatch on Etsy Is Your Source For Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper

For a real nostalgic Christmas, how about wrapping your gifts in vintage wrapping paper from the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. Or you can up-cycle your favorite vintage papers making them into lovely holiday decorations and table accessories.

While there are many shops online that carry Retro wrapping paper from time to time, I fell in love with an Etsy shop called Holiday Kitsch Klatsch, a shop with a very large inventory of Christmas themed wrapping papers and a great source for vintage paper goods throughout the year.

This shop specializes in all the holidays (Halloween, Easter, Valentines Day, etc.) as well as special occasions (Bridal, Shower, Birthday etc.). At this time you will find a wonderful selection of vintage Christmas gift wrapping paper in very good condition as well as other holiday decor. The colors are vibrant and the papers appear to be unused.

Christmas Themes

While their inventory is always changing, common Christmas themes include Christmas bells, snow scenes, Pointsettas, candles, Santas, Candy Canes, Ornaments, Reindeer, holiday scenes and more.

Retro Ideas Using Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper From The Kitschy Collector

Laminate Vintage Christmas Paper and Make Placemats

Use Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper in Retro Mixed Media Collages


Laminate Vintage Wrapping paper and cut into 3 inch squares for beverage coasters.

Cover a piece of foam board with vintage Christmas wrapping paper and use as a bulletin board.

Cut vintage wrapping paper into strips and weave or make into a decorative chain.

Besides Wrapping Gifts With Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper Here Are Other Ideas

1. Make Cute Christmas Tree Ornaments

2. Recycle Cards And Wrapping Paper

3. Woven Heart Baskets

4. Decoupage Picture Frame

5. Star Paper Topiary

Read More About Vintage Christmas Wrapping Paper at : http://1950satomicranchhouse.blogspot.com/2009/12/vintage-1950s-christmas-wrapping-paper.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 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.