Tag Archives: antiques

Police Find Ancient Bible in Raid

If you have ever watched “Antiques Roadshow,” you may know that family Bibles from the 18th and 19th century, while beautiful and priceless to the family to which it belongs, aren’t going to be a big payday. The experts on the show say that unless a Bible predates 1550, it isn’t worth much monetarily. However, the police in Cyprus may have found a Bible that would make the “Antique Roadshow” experts quake in their boots. The police in northern Cyprus raided the hideout of suspected antiquity smugglers and found a Bible that has excerpts written in gold lettering on vellum. … Continue reading →

Simple Solutions for a Nondescript Room

You can give your room a bit of personality without being bold or brash or a design star. Just a little fabric switch or moving a new piece into a room can change the attitude of the room and give it a new look without the need for a major makeover. Here are some simple solutions that will help you make your nondescript room more inviting. I am familiar with the nondescript room, since both my husband and I tend toward neutrals when it comes to decorating. Too many neutrals can make a room boring. We also suffer from the … Continue reading →

Job Highlight: Antique Dealer

Do you love scrounging through your grandmother’s attic? Are you a history buff? Were things simply made better 100 years ago? If this sounds like you, then an antique dealer could be a fine job! The main skill in antique careers is all about knowing details. Knowing what items are worth, how to market them and sell them is the key to success. Having some background in sales and a passion for historic relics is the perfect makeup for this profession. There are tons of options and specialties too – vintage clothing, art, rare books, jewelry and collectibles to name … Continue reading →

Affordable Travel Options in New York and Massachusetts

Would you believe me if I told you that you could stay at a hotel in Manhattan for less than $100? No, it doesn’t require sharing space with rats or a dozen other strangers. In fact, you’d be lucky to fit more than yourself and a couple of duffel bags in the room. The Jane, New York’s newest budget hotel, has 200 rooms to offer cash-strapped visitors to the Big Apple, but spacious they’re not. The word tight might not even do them justice. Most of the rooms are as compact as old-time railroad compartments and the shared bathroom is … Continue reading →

Americana and Antiques

The Americana theme often injects traditional, rustic, antique, and country elements along with muted shades of red, white, and blue. These colors are usually toned down a bit from the vivid colors found in the American flag, and they are given an aged feel. Stars, stripes, and images that depict the entire flag are popular in this kind of setting, and anything that feels all American is game. Denim is as American as apple pie and works perfectly in an Americana themed space. Pillows made from denim make adorable accents and look great against distressed furnishings. A bandanna, especially one … Continue reading →

Frugal Alternatives To Expensive Household Decorating (2)

Yesterday I provided several ideas for decorating with what you might already have in your home. Using what you have is always the cheapest alternative and you’d be amazed and how you can spurce items up and make them look more expensive than they are. Here are a few more additional ideas to get your creativity flowing. Vases Vases hold flowers, an absolute given. But they can be used for many other things too. Cut holes in a clear or white plastic lid and place flowers in a vase. The candles fit snuggly in the holes and won’t tip and … Continue reading →

My Brother’s Brush With Fame

Have you ever watched the PBS show “Antiques Roadshow?” The television hit has become a cult classic in the decade it has been on the air. The show features appraisers who assess the value of people’s belongings–from family heirlooms to just plain junk (some of which turns out to be relics worth thousands of dollars). It’s what you might get if you were to cross the lottery with a treasure hunt, only in a garage sale/circus-type of environment. Now that you know what the show is about you may be better able to appreciate my brother’s experience with it. A … Continue reading →

Awaiting Company: It’s All In The Details

Things will happen and you-know-what will hit the fan with or without the arrival of company, as that is what life and its challenges are all about. Arriving guests guarantee that affairs will take on a hectic pace, but surely there must be some things that can be done to ease tension and dispel anxiety. Here are a few thoughts about that. 1. Put away fragile antiques if at all possible. Why ask for trouble? If you can store these things away, guests won’t ever break anything precious and no host or hostess need freak over minor mishaps. (The other … Continue reading →