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Author: Toma Haines Spanish Porcelain09/20/2009 01:45 am Category:  Antiques & Shopping
Perhaps no object-of-every-day-use can communicate the history of a nation
(and thus their antiques) as strongly as the mere dinner plate does for
Spain. Pottery has been a Spanish staple for over... 09/20/2009 01:43 am Category: Antiques & Shopping
Did
you know you could own a Picasso? At a
recent Christie's auction house sale, some of Picasso's works sold for as low
as 300! Yep, I'm talking
about Pablo Picasso - this isn't a Pascale or Perry ... 09/03/2009 00:43 am Category: Antiques & Shopping
Nearly
a decade ago - just before moving to Paris - I gave my hand-me-down American sofa-bed
to the Goodwill, and the first item on my European shopping agenda was a new
divan! I wanted something F... Author: Toma Haines European Fabric09/03/2009 00:40 am Category: Antiques & ShoppingAn
item almost every client returns home with when taking an Antiques Diva Tour is
European fabric. Few clients come with
fabric on their list of "must buys'" but when clients see the selection of
si... 07/24/2009 02:02 am Category: Antiques & ShoppingThe smell of ham mixed
with hundreds-of-years-old antiques is in the air! In most countries this isn't a natural
combination automatically going hand-in-hand, but in France La Foire Nationale la Bro... 07/24/2009 02:00 am Category: Antiques & ShoppingAs The
Antiques Diva I have more than my fair share of antique silver lying around
the house. While I'm fortunate that I actually like the look of tarnished
silver, from time to time I feel obligated ... 06/30/2009 23:27 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
Research says we spend one
third of our life in bed - thus, putting your money in the mattress isn't such
a bad idea if you want to get a good night's sleep! First off, I love American retailers su... 06/30/2009 23:25 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
I have a confession to make. Before I moved to Europe a decade ago, I
didn't realize that all the countries in the world were not actually named what
we call them in English. France was easy
as in... Author: Toma Haines TIP-Entryways06/30/2009 23:23 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
First impressions count - there
are no ifs, ands or buts about it. The
entry is an ideal place to make a grand statement in your home! Take time to think of the message you want
your home to conve... 06/01/2009 17:51 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
Parlez-vous brocante? Do you speak French flea market? While the "Armoire" is the best known piece of French furniture, did you know
that if an armoire only has one door then it is not an "Armoire... 06/01/2009 17:50 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
At
French flea markets you see a variety of collectibles you never knew were
collectible! You find old (and by old I
mean really old) mustard pots, tin boxes and yogurt jars. "One man's trash i... Author: Toma Haines TIP-Currency Exchange06/01/2009 17:48 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
If you're
planning to travel abroad this summer, it would be a wise idea to know the
local currency exchange rate for your country of travel before you go. The best currency convertor website is ht... 06/01/2009 17:45 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
While
you normally find me talking about antique shopping and traveling in Europe,
today I'm feeling nostalgic and find myself thinking red, white and blue
thoughts. In this month's special
Antique... 06/01/2009 17:43 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
If
you're planning to take a European vacation this summer, look online at the
museums to see if you can pre-book admission tickets to the exhibitions to
avoid waiting in lines. While some
museums ... 06/01/2009 17:41 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
Are
you planning a summer road trip?
Interested in taking a driving tour from your home town but don't know
where to go or how long it will take to get there? Perhaps you've been dying to go to a ... 04/15/2009 02:03 am Category: Antiques & Shopping
Have you been to the Goodwill lately? Not
only is it the perfect place for The Recessionista to shop, but you can take pride
in living a greener life when you shop at the Goodwill. Their green mot... Author: Toma Haines Transferware04/15/2009 02:01 am Category: Antiques & Shopping
When
I got my first apartment and needed to outfit my cupboards with cups and
saucers, plates and serving dishes, I ventured into the local Goodwill shop
looking for a bargain that was both bright a... 04/15/2009 01:58 am Category: Antiques & Shopping
"Recycling"
is the watch word for Green Living. Did
you realize that buying items for your home from antique shops, flea markets
and garage sales is the essence of recycling and reusing? You can ... 04/15/2009 01:55 am Category: Antiques & ShoppingHave
you ever wondered why you find china, glass and leather goods with stamps
reading "Made in Germany", "Made in Japan"
or "Made in France" written in English instead of written in their local
lang... 03/11/2009 21:03 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingSome of the main concerns clients new to antiques ask are "Will an antique
match my present-day dcor? Can you put
an antique armoire across from a Pottery Barn couch? Should I stay true to a particu... 03/11/2009 20:59 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingSometimes all it takes to create a period feel in your home is the appropriate
use of fabrics and color. For a
Victorian feel use heavy drapes combined with lace sheers then lather on strong
colors a... 03/11/2009 20:54 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingWhen I first became
interested in antiques, I read an article on "Antique Shopping Do's and Don'ts"
from a prominent antiques specialist. It
advised, "Never show a vendor that you adore an item for s... 03/11/2009 20:51 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingWhen I learned this
month's Chat Chew and Chocolate theme was "I'm Woman, I'm Fabulous and I Need a
Day Off!" I was immediately transported to a time in my life when a series of afternoons
devoted to ... 03/11/2009 20:46 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingA CCC member recently
emailed, "When is the best time to visit Tuscany
for antique shopping?" In my opinion it
SHOULD BE the summer months when all the tourists descend on the heart (or
rather the "s... Author: Toma Haines TIP-1st Dibs03/11/2009 20:35 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingA trip to the Paris
flea market sounds divine, but with the economy the way it is, those traveling
luxuries aren't always possible to add into the budget. Without leaving the comforts of your couch,... 03/11/2009 20:32 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingWhen shopping for antiques there is one easy question that even people who hate
to bargain can easily ask. After the
vendor has given you the price on your desired item ask, "Is that your best
price?... 03/11/2009 20:27 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingIf I were a magician, I would wave my wand and excitedly exclaim, "Prepare to
be enchanted for you are about to enter the dazzling world of The Antiques
Diva!" As I'm not a magician, just an antique-... 02/03/2009 16:06 pm Category: Antiques & Shopping
Perhaps it's
the new year, or the fact that I've recently moved, but my motto of the moment is
"Give It, Flog It or Throw It Away to Allow Room for Something New!" The Japanese believe you should ... 02/03/2009 16:01 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingPerhaps I
have an affinity for anything described as "little" ... when we lived in Boston, our weekends were spent in Little Rhodie's Newport - and when we moved to Holland, "Little Belgie" beckoned ... 02/03/2009 15:56 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingRotate your
collections with the season. If you're a
collector, it's easy for your house to become overwhelmed with clutter. Any good Interior Designer will advise you to
"edit each room carefully, ... 02/03/2009 15:54 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingWhile traveling
the globe hitting the world's best flea markets and antique stores is exciting
and fun, the internet has made travel shopping something you can do without packing
a suitcase one. In a... 02/03/2009 15:49 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingThe best
souvenirs are free. This might sound
like blasphemy coming from someone who runs a European antiques shopping tour
company (whose very business is based upon tourists buying their memories),... 01/06/2009 18:23 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingFun & funky collections of vintage and new handbags make great bedroom or
dressing room decor and serve a dual purpose when used as both a home &
personal accessory. Line bookcases with
artfully arra... 01/06/2009 18:20 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingA great way to incorporate your travel memories into your home decor is to shop
for a particular item while on holiday.
I dedicate a long hall wall in my home to antique maps of each country I
visit ... 01/06/2009 18:18 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingGroup your collections on one shelf or in one room to get the full impact of a
collection. Clusters in even numbers
tend to look odd. Always group
collections in groups of 3, 5, 7, etc unless you ar... 01/06/2009 18:16 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingHave you seen the t-shirt which reads, "Been there, done that, bought the
t-shirt"? Next time you are on vacation,
rather than buying tourist tack, shop instead with purpose -- choose something
you a... Author: Toma Haines TIP- Antique Tasting12/23/2008 20:37 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingThe
best thing someone interested in antiques can do is to go frequently to museums
& high-end antiques and art sales. Going to these places educates
your eye so you recognize quality when you see i... 12/23/2008 20:36 pm Category: Antiques & ShoppingI grew up home on the
range going to rodeos and high school football games. While I had a great
childhood, it always felt more foreign to me than strolling along the Seine or
scooting on a Vespa acro... «Back
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Ahhh the life in Amsterdam! Toma share stories, advice and tips on shopping and antiquing in foreign lands.
Toma is out of Amsterdam.
In a life-story sprinkled with Cinderella dust, Toma grew up dreaming of global adventures. While other children drew houses with picket fences, Toma drew gondolas with men in striped shirts. After studying abroad in London, Toma returned to Oklahoma, married her college sweetheart and immediately began whispering of far-away places. Her dream became his and when a serendipitous opportunity arose, they moved to Paris, then Amsterdam followed by Berlin. Having lived in Europe for almost a decade, Toma has traveled and antique-shopped in over 30 countries. Turning her hobby into a career, she became The Antiques Diva, CEO of The Antiques Diva Exclusive European Shopping Tours. She works with 3 international guides offering "antiques, vintage, home decor and lifestyle shopping tours" in 5 languages and 4 countries. Toma is an international public speaker and writes regularly about antiques and travel shopping. http://www.antiquesdiva.com http://www.antiquesdiva.blogspot.com Website: wwww.antiquesdiva.com |
