Vintage glass does not react well to sudden temperature changes and the warmth of your hands on a cold piece of Blenko may actually cause it to crack. It is always best to take your cold glass inside and allow it to warm up to room temperature slowly with as little handling as possible. Proper handling of old glass can help it stay beautiful and intact for many years to come!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
The Cold Weather Glass Blues...
Vintage glass does not react well to sudden temperature changes and the warmth of your hands on a cold piece of Blenko may actually cause it to crack. It is always best to take your cold glass inside and allow it to warm up to room temperature slowly with as little handling as possible. Proper handling of old glass can help it stay beautiful and intact for many years to come!
Labels:
Blenko,
Cold Weather and Glass,
Vintage Glass
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Vintage For The Holidays...
Looking for something different for Christmas?
Try shopping at your local antique shop for unique one of kind gifts that have timeless beauty and hold their value as well. What, your friend doesn't collect anything?? You can help them out with that by starting a collection for them with items that you think blend well with their decor or personality.
Do they like to entertain? Try a beautiful Early American Pattern Glass cake plate or pink depression glass relish tray. Are they more traditional? Then a traditional Fenton vase or old fashioned hanky might be just the right fit. Do they love to primp? Then this lovely girly-girl porcelain brush holder should be a welcome addition to their vanity.
The possibilities are endless...still not sure? Check to see if your local shop sells gift certificates! But most of all, have fun browsing for just the right gift for that special person on your list!
Labels:
antiques,
Depression Glass,
EAPG,
Fenton,
vintage,
Vintage Vanity
Monday, November 29, 2010
All That Glitters...
Love big, chunky jewelry that makes a statement? Then look no further than your local vintage shop around the corner...
Most of the fun, funky jewelry that you purchase in a mall retail shop can be substituted with a vintage piece that will most likely retain and grow in value over time. Pictured above from left to right, a blue stone brooch by Regency (circa 1940s) from my personal collection with a value of $59, an unmarked fall color stone brooch (circa 1940s) with a value of $35 and an Eisenburg Ice brooch (circa 1970s) with a value of $59 - the latter two are located in The Old Timey Shop in Milton, WV. Sooo, next time you are looking for a way to spice up an outfit - choose vintage for that 'one of a kind' look!
Labels:
antique jewelry,
costume jewelry,
Vintage jewelry
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Open House at The Old Timey Shop
...a charming oak highboy...and my favorite, LOTS of lovely vintage Blenko glass! Come and join us for some vintage therapy and some GREAT sales - that 'perfect gift' is waiting here for you...
Labels:
antiques,
Blenko,
Old Timey Shop,
West Virginia
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The Vintage Mother-In-Law...

Sunday is Mother-In-Law day, thus this vintage postcard to
celebrate our beloved MILs.
This cute postcard is available at the following Card Cow's link:
http://www.cardcow.com/181171/mother-law-but-very-nice-one-romance-love-marriage-wedding/
The Card Cow has a plethora of great vintage cards!!
Happy Mother-In-Law Day Mom!!
Friday, October 8, 2010
Fall Time Festivities

During these wonderful fall weekends, be sure to take time for some scenic drives. Check out www.midlandtrail.com for some awesome WV scenery and click on www.escapetowv.com for tips about side trips and local festivals.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Flintstones, Meet The Flintstones...
Labels:
antiques,
collectibles,
Flintstones,
vintage
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
A Cabinet Reclaimed
The key is to look for a cabinet with good structure and pleasing lines - then consider the possibilities. This cabinet caught my eye because it is horizontal in shape rather than the vertical radio cabinets that I typically find. That detail in itself held potential and promise - add in those wonderfully curved legs and it had me at hello.
I then filled in the hole in the front where the handle used to be with paintable wood putty - there is no need for a handle that has no purpose. Next, I added a piece of trim to the bottom of the front board to hide where the hinges used to be (this was a piece of trim saved from a previous project so be sure to save odds and ends that might come in handy later) which added a nice detail of interest.
Labels:
antiques,
radio cabinet,
vintage
Friday, September 17, 2010
Main Street, U.S.A.

Before I go, I check online to map out the trip to make the most of my day. I've found that most antique mall search engine websites are not comprehensive so checking multiple sites is important - such as www.antiquetrip.com and www.antiqueshoppesusa.com. I like both of these sites because they list shops in alphabetical order by the name of the town - this helps save time so you don't have to sift through lists of shops that are nowhere near your destination. You should also call the shop to make sure it is still in the location listed on the site - these lists are not always up to date and unfortunately slow economic times have taken its toll on our local small business folks. The best way to keep Main Street, U.S.A. alive and well, and enrich your own life at the same time, is to spend some quality time with the locals...
Labels:
antiques,
main street,
tourism,
WV
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Little Blenko Sunshine
With the end of summer only weeks away, keep some of that sunshine in your home by grouping some colorful Blenko glass! Pictured above are some nice vintage 1950's-60's vases designed by Wayne Husted and Joel Myers - both important designers in Blenko's history.
Not familiar with Blenko Glass? A great starting point is The Blenko Project at http://www.blenkoproject.org/ where you will also find the Heart of Glass blog by Hillary Homberg. You can connect with other glass collectors, view some fab pictures of vintage and new Blenko and learn about upcoming events at the factory. Blenko is located in Milton, WV and is one of the few remaining hand-blown glass factories left in the U.S. - they attract thousands of visitors each year to view skilled craftsmen on the observation deck.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Riding Off Into the Sunset...
This figurine is the Standing Pony #1522, or Standing Colt, and is one of several pony figurines. To learn more about Heisey glass, I recommend reading "Heisey Glass 1896 - 1957" by Bredehoft.
Labels:
antiques,
collecting,
Heisey Glass
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Lazy Days

Friday, May 28, 2010
Memorial Day...
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.
~Moina Michael, 1915
Enacted to honor those who have fallen while in military service, Memorial Day is set aside to remember and reflect on those who gave their all for our country.

Join in with the Moment of Remembrance this Memorial Day and unite as one voice in memory of these noble men and women who died to protect our freedoms and the security of our homeland. Be thankful for their great sacrifice that allows me to write this blog...and for you to read it freely.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Collecting Vintage...What's In Your Cupboard?
If you are thinking about starting a collection you might want to start with something easy to find such as vintage postcards from your favorite vacation spot or old hats you can wear to express your own sense of style. These collections will make great conversation starters and even give you opportunities to forge new friendships with fellow collectors!
Expect your collections to change throughout the years as your personal taste and life experiences evolve. My current collections lean toward vintage glass made by any WV glassmaker as well as a deep attraction to the Ohio art potteries. The pictured shelf above contains my childhood collections of my old Busy Boy clock, my Kanawha Glass mouse and Blenko owl, picture of Dad, doll made by Mom, Grandma's brooch, the handtooled leather belt of my bell-bottomed teen years, and most dear to my heart - Dad's diary - an obvious family theme that is steeped with my WV roots.
Labels:
antiques,
collecting,
vintage
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Russel Wright - Modernism In Dinnerware
The 'Martha Stewart' of his time, Russel Wright believed that art should be part of the everyday life of Americans - he is quoted as saying, " I believe with religious intensity that good design is for everyone" - and by believing in this creed, he gave us American Modern.
American Modern dinnerware was designed in the late 1930's with innovative shapes and most importantly, it was affordable to everyday folks. It brought beautiful form, function and new colors to the tables of Americans across the country from 1939 - 1959 as one of the largest selling dinnerware lines ever produced. The water pitcher, pictured above, is one of my favorite shapes.
For more information, check out Ann Kerr's book, "Collector's Encyclopedia of Russel Wright" - Kerr covers the American Modern line as well as many other creative Wright designs including glassware, pewter, furniture, pottery and aluminum.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Blenko Glass...The Historic Period
Glasshouse of New York, in conjunction with the Blenko Museum, has launched an intriguing new website focused on the historic period of Blenko Glass: 1947 - 1974. This site is an unparalleled, comprehensive resource for the collector of vintage glass.
Go to http://www.blenkoarchive.org/ for a delightful look at Blenko catalogs and colors, as well as some great cleaning tips, general information and links to other noteworthy glass sites. Whether you are a glass enthusiast, dealer or serious collector, this site has much to offer - you won't be disappointed!!
Labels:
Blenko,
Mid-Century,
Modernist,
WV Glass
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