The Alleycat Journal: Vintage Tips & Treasure Hunting

Jeweled insect designs inspired by antique brooches
Brooches Are Back: 7 Fresh Ways to Wear a Vintage Brooch (and Why Bugs Are Everywhere)
Brooches are having a moment again. Here are seven easy, modern ways to wear one, why jeweled bugs have charmed collectors for over a century, and what to look for... Read more...
Nelson Tsosie Mighty Hunter signed bronze sculpture
Found a Signed Piece of Art? How to Research It
A signature, a label on the back, an edition number: how to learn more about a signed painting, print or sculpture you found. Read more...
Retro space girl party invitation
A Simple Kids' Birthday Party Planning Timeline
A week-by-week checklist for planning a kids' birthday party without the last-minute scramble. Read more...
Wood duck throw pillow on a cozy cabin sofa
How to Give Any Room Cozy Cabin and Lake House Style
You don't need a cabin to get the look. 8 easy ways to bring cozy lodge and lake house style into any room. Read more...
Signed handmade studio pottery mug in blue and purple glaze
Handmade or Factory-Made? How to Spot Studio Pottery at the Thrift Store
Turn it over! 8 quick clues that tell you whether a mug, vase or bowl was handmade by a potter or made in a factory. Read more...
Vintage Taschen All-American Ads of the 80s art book
How to Care for Old Books and Vintage Art Books
Simple ways to keep old books, art books and museum catalogs in great shape on your shelf. Read more...
Vintage Sorcerer Mickey Fantasia mug
Is My Vintage Disney Worth Anything? 7 Things to Check
Found an old Disney mug, figurine or toy? Here's how to figure out how old it is and what it might be worth. Read more...
Vintage Avon musical Ferris wheel Christmas decoration
How to Pack Away Holiday Decorations So They Last for Years
Pack away Halloween and Christmas decorations the right way, so vintage ornaments and keepsakes come out looking great next year. Read more...
Gifts wrapped in deep plum jeweled insect wrapping paper with twine and tags
How to Wrap a Gift So It Looks Boutique-Wrapped
Crisp corners, hidden tape and a little twine: 8 easy tricks for gifts that look like a boutique wrapped them. Read more...
Vintage New Orleans jazz print
How to Hang a Gallery Wall That Looks Collected, Not Cluttered
Mix vintage prints, original art and quirky finds into a gallery wall that looks curated, with no extra nail holes. Read more...
Vintage cup and saucer set with gold rims
Antique, Vintage or Retro? What the Words Really Mean
Antique, vintage, retro, mid-century, collectible: a quick guide to what each word means when you're shopping secondhand. Read more...
Set of four vintage cut glass champagne flutes
How to Clean Vintage Glassware and Crystal: 8 Gentle Tips
Keep vintage glasses, crystal and gold-rimmed barware sparkling without etching, chipping or wearing off the gold. Read more...
Vintage brass tulip candle holder
How to Clean Vintage Brass Without Ruining the Patina
Brought home a tarnished brass candlestick? Here's how to clean vintage brass gently, and when to leave the patina alone. Read more...
Jeweled blue topaz dragonfly birthstone ornament
Birthstones and Birth Flowers by Month: A Gift-Giving Cheat Sheet
Every month's birthstone and birth flower in one place, with what each one means, so you can find a birthday gift that feels personal. Read more...
Vintage felt sports pennants hung on a navy den wall
How Old Is That Pennant? 7 Clues for Dating Vintage Sports Pennants
Found an old felt pennant in a garage or at an estate sale? These 7 clues will help you figure out how old it really is. Read more...
How to care for a vintage leather jacket - Alleycat's Funky Finds
How to Care for a Vintage Leather Jacket: 8 Tips to Keep It Soft for Decades
Simple care tips to keep a vintage leather jacket soft, supple and looking great for years. Read more...
How to read gold and silver jewelry hallmarks - Alleycat's Funky Finds
Is It Real Gold or Silver? How to Read Jewelry Hallmarks at Estate Sales
A quick guide to the tiny stamps that tell you whether vintage jewelry is solid gold, sterling silver, or plated. Read more...
How to clean vintage jewelry - 8 gentle tips - Alleycat's Funky Finds
How to Clean Vintage Jewelry Without Ruining It: 8 Gentle Tips
Brought home estate sale jewelry? Here's how to clean it gently without loosening stones or scratching metal. Read more...
Is It Real Leather? 8 thrift store checks for vintage purses - Alleycat's Funky Finds
Is It Real Leather? 8 Quick Checks for Thrifting Vintage Purses
Spot real leather in the thrift store aisle with these 8 quick checks, no burn test required. Read more...