Posts by Katherine
The Antique Collector’s Resource Library
You don’t have know everything about antiques and vintage curios, but you should know where to look for the answers! Whether you’ve spent years developing your knowledge base about decorative arts through formal education or you are new to the field, every collector and seller needs a group of resources to turn to when they…
Read MoreThe Antique Collector’s Tool Kit
Just 4 little things are essential to help you authenticate vintage and antiques! Sometimes our senses are not adequate to determine what a curio is, its date, or what it is made of, so we need the right tools to use when examining it. I recommend keeping a tool kit with you when you go…
Read MoreAn Eye for the Good Stuff
Tips to develop your eye to find quality antiques and vintage amongst the topsy-turvy hoard in thrifts, consignments, and estate sales! This can be such a frustrating maxim that experts in the antiques field throw out like confetti. As frustrating as it may be to hear when you start out collecting or selling antiques that…
Read MoreNightstand Swap & Round-Up
Check out my new nightstands in the master bedroom + I’m sharing a round-up of affordable nightstands! Nightstand Swap & Decorating Tip Ummmm….ick! Yep, that was my initial reaction to the new nightstands I put in our master bedroom. At first I was not happy with the swap. The description said “antique white” so I…
Read More2025 Summer Reading List
15 books to help you while away a summer afternoon from mysteries and romance to new parenting philosophies and historical deep dives! There is nothing I enjoy more than reading for some quiet “me” time. Getting lost in a good book is my ideal relaxation activity. I usually have more than one book going at…
Read MoreSetting the Table for Independence Day
Are you ready for some fireworks, BBQ, watermelon, and all the red, white, and blue? I sure am! It also feels like a particularly poignant moment to revisit and reflect on our nation’s founding. While it is our nation’s 249th birthday, marking the day the Declaration of Independence was adopted, it is not the 249th…
Read MoreChina Patterns: The Rare & Valuable
Hello Lovely Peonies. Which china patterns are rare? Which are popular? Which are overdone? And how do I know if a pattern is valuable? My e-mail has been flooded with these kind of questions lately as well as requests for plate identification help (see this post on ID and this post for determining value). I’m…
Read MoreFinishing Our Master Bedroom Decor
Explore our plans to finish our blue and green master bedroom decor! I am determined to complete at least one decorating project this year at my house! Up to bat: our master bedroom! This room is so close to being finished. I just need to pull together all the design elements and find a few…
Read MoreOn Motherhood
May 2023 after a successful IVF stimulation cycle, we had one viable embryo to transfer. ONE! One chance at having our own baby. That’s him right there. Our miracle baby! Can you believe it? Sometimes I can’t! I can’t believe I’m celebrating my second Mother’s Day as a mom! We got lucky in so…
Read MoreWhat’s My Antique Dish Worth?
5 Tips to help you determine the worth of your antique or vintage dinnerware! Today, I wanted to share some of my advice on collecting and/or re-selling antique dishes and determining the value. Obviously, the first step in determining value is to identify the maker and pattern. My process for plate identification is detailed in…
Read More