How will you wrap your Christmas gifts this year: in cellophane, bags or foil bows?
Becky Johnson, an organizer of Toronto’s annual City of Craft show and sale, will use none of the above.
“It seems strange to me to buy something for the purpose of being garbage,” Johnson says.

It’s not a wrap…read the whole article on theStar

ps, why not take a look at our eBay store and choose some of those fantastic vintage linens to wrap some gifts?

photo credit: Max Braun

Technorati Tags: christmas wrap, vintage linen

This dish is in our eBay Store!

For a fast & easy centerpiece fill a basket, crystal dish/tray, vintage plate or vase with fruits, nuts or Christmas ornaments, or pine boughs.

Use a table runner down the middle of the table and put different ornaments in a variety of textures and shapes along the runner as decoration.
—-example use a decorative plate (our deep pink James Kent plate would look stunning) with silver Christmas tree ornaments laid out.

—-the blue Bermuda shell bowl would look lovely with red balls as a contrast.

—-you don’t have to just use Christmas decorations you can use any decorations/accessories that you have in your house, mix and match colours, textures, old and new. Walk through your house with fresh eyes and you will be surprised what you will see and have ideas for.

These days anything goes, use your imagination, think different and you will have everyone raving about your decorating prowess.

—-use candles and some of our Blue Mountain Pottery as candles holders.

— keep the ornaments low down so that if people are reaching across the table they won;t be knocking them over.

Technorati Tags: christmas decoration

I am not a craft person. I actually always hated to do crafts, even as a kid. But, I love to own and look at some of the very imaginative craft articles that some people can create. I found out about this, for instance.

Do you own, or do you see a vintage dinner plate on my eBay? Maybe even one that has a special meaning to you, or someone dear to you. Well, don’t hide it any more. There is life left in your plate. And, there is a place for your plate. And no, it’s not on the table. Take some time out of your busy day …and turn it into a wall clock. Now, if you are not a crafty kind of person, like me, how about your kids? Your grand kids? Would they enjoy doing this?

Do you children want to give mom and dad something special…then take a plate and make a clock. A great family project.

Have you ever seen a dinner plate wall clock hanging in someone’s kitchen?

Well, you can make it yourself. It’s not that hard. So they say.
- you need a drill, which you probably already own.

- you need a battery operated clock mechanism, numbers for the face, a ruler, a protractor, some all-purpose glue.

If you don’t want to hang the clock, you can always buy a small stand for it. You’ll have a beautiful conversation piece or a wonderful gift for someone special in your life.

Come on over to our eBay store and see if we have a “special” vintage plate for your wall clock.

Technorati Tags: dinner plate clock, vintage dinner plates

Do you have a beautiful vintage bowl?  Or do you see one on eBay that you would like to own, but do not want another item to just collect dust? Try using your favorite bowl as a flower arrangement container.

Use a “flower frog” and then insert seasonal flowers and twigs, top this with decorative pebbles and keep watering.

And, you have a beautiful, cheap, and unique flower arrangement.

This works great for any season…Use Mums in the summer, Asters in the fall, pussy willows in the spring, poinsettias in the winter. Well, you get it, right

Or, if you know a special upcoming event…go to eBay, get an unique bowl, make the arrangement, and bring it with you as a gift.

Technorati Tags: uniqe bowls, Vintage Bowls

Here is a blue, floral Cloisonne tooth pick holder we carry in our eBay store

Cloisonné, an ancient metalworking technique, is a multi-step process used to produce jewelry, vases, and other decorative items. (The resulting objects can also be called cloisonné.) The technique can be used either for enamel, today much the most commonly found, or for gemstone inlays. In either variety a shape making part of the design is surrounded by a thin metal edge, forming a compartment. With enamel liquid enamel is poured to fill the compartment; with gemstones a pre-cut matching piece of inlay is hammered and perhaps glued into it. Continue reading 'Floral Cloisonne Tooth Pick Holder'»

Advertising: Vintage Postcard Business On Ebay

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Guest Article from Ezinearticles

Numerous collectors are interested in collecting albums and old postcards. Antique postcards have gained popularity in the past few years because those kinds of messages and layouts have almost disappeared. Most collectors see to it that they store and display their collection in the best possible way. In the process of doing so, however, they sometimes cause serious damage to their antique postcards.
Continue reading 'Antique Postcards'»

http://stores.ebay.ca/Postcards-And-Collectibles

Come and see the beautiful vintage plate we have from Haliburton Ontario Trillium Flower.

Time To Start Again…O Well, At Least I can