Collecting Vintage – An Interview with NeatoKeen 12

We enjoying talking to people who collect vintage treasures. In this interview, we find out more about Cindy, the owner of the vintage shop NeatoKeen on Etsy.

Why and when did you start collecting?

I started collecting vintage linens almost immediately after my dear Dad passed away over a decade ago. He had a keen mind and was a collector of many things. I had never collected anything while he was alive, so it was almost as if he transferred the collecting gene to me when he left this earth. That sounds a bit nutty, but it’s true! I think I was looking for something nostalgic and cheerful to comfort my loss. I landed upon printed vintage tea towels, tablecloths and handkerchiefs and began to amass them with reckless abandon. I managed to fill a void in my life and all my closets too.

Who or what was your influence for collecting?

My Dad was my inspiration. He was constantly searching for things that fueled his interest in a topic. He loved to research and was always eager to learn. He was also constantly looking to upgrade and add to what he already had in his collections. I didn’t understand that concept until I started collecting myself. I primarily sell duplicates in my Etsy shop of what I have in my personal collection. It’s been fun to share my bounty and to find others that enjoy the printed graphics on Mid Century linens as much as I do. I didn’t know that I would find so many like-minded people. The people I’ve met along the way have been an added bonus to selling on Etsy.

What is one of your favorite pieces and why?

My favorite tablecloth is my California Handprint cocktail cloth and my favorite tea towel is a cocktail party that is jam-packed with revelers. I also have a quirky little table topper with funny cartoon characters attending a party. These linens remind me so much of the parties my parents hosted in the 60s. I would ogle at all of the gorgeous cocktail dresses, the tall beehive hairdos and the dapper suits. Clinking glassware, swirling cigarette smoke and raucous laughter filled the house. These linens transport me right back in time.

What tips can you give us about collecting?

Look high and low, far and wide from garage sales and flea markets to estate sales and antique stores, because you never know where you will find the next treasure. If something appeals to you on an intrinsic level, then purchase it immediately because it may not be there when you return.

What would be your holy grail piece and why?

I have a couple of tea towels that I’ve seen in books and on blogs that have eluded me for years. I love anything by the Italian artist Milvia and the French artist Jacques Charmoz. I would be embarrassed to admit how many designs I have by them in my collections!

Where do you look for new items to add to your shop/collection?

Primarily in the midwest and on the web, but I’ve been known to sneak out for a few hours to treasure hunt when on vacation, too.

How has collecting changed or affected your life?

Collecting has given me purpose and drive. As a new empty nester, I enjoy pouring my energy into my Etsy shop. Searching for high quality linens, taking photographs, writing descriptions, promoting on social media, communicating with customers and making trips to the post office fill my days. My four children are grown and gone, but I have more ironing now than I ever did. Pressing tea towels and tablecloths is a joy not a chore!

Where can we find you? 

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/NeatoKeen

Instagram: www.instagram.com/neatokeen

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/neatokeenetsy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/neatokeen.etsy

Twitter: twitter.com/neatokeen