Popcorn Go to gift shops and ask for any packaging they might have left over Use coffee cans, empty tin cans, or tin canisters to place your items into then surround item with padding.material like tissue paper. A good way to tell the difference between silk and cotton is take a small piece or burn a few strands of material - if it smells like burning vegetable its cotton if it smells like burning hair its silk. Antique Linen can add to the romantic atmosphere for a table setting with old porcelain and silverware. Stain removal - great site with many tips on removing different types of stains. The worlds rich antique history.
Swedish style is simple but practical.
Use aging solutions or wood decorations that can be found at hardware stores. So when you purchase an item it might be a good idea to find out a bit of its background. Six years ago I bought an old wooden box with a lid that came from a 19th century whaling ship and may have held 'blubber candles'. I imagine that it's the ghost of a 19th century character with a peg leg or a HOOK for hand, with an eyepatch and a dagger between his teeth. Imagine my surprise when I opened the lid and only found the body of Midnight ,our beloved Cat.