We're Growing!

We're excited about our new space at The Old Timey Shop on N. Main Street in Milton, WV - home of Blenko Glass!  When traveling on I-64 in WV, be sure to stop by and check out the shop. We're open 10 - 5 Monday through Saturday and 12:30 - 5 on Sundays.  Shop phone is 304-743-4776. 

 



Spring Fever

This mild winter has put me in the mood for an early spring. I can't wait to see the spring colors popping up in the likes of  beautiful hats, scarves, painted trunks and old picture frames for sale in area swap meets...the warm weather can't get here soon enough!

Vintage Therapy...

Rock Island Railroad LaSalle Bouillon Cup

Come and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MuddyCreekAntiques for vintage therapy!

Vintage Garden Time

I love adding vintage touches to my garden...like this sweet old green paint iron fence. It helps add a sense of timeless solitude to my favorite back yard retreat - a welcome respite from my otherwise hectic day.

Happy Birthday Sundaes...

Happy Birthday to the ice cream sundae - 119 years old today! I'll start my celebration with a little vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped topping and chocolate sprinkles in my vintage sundae dish...a classic! Yum...

Join Us...

Come and join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MuddyCreekAntiques!

Vintage Therapy for January...

A scarce 1930's Russel Wright American Modern pitcher with the elusive lid! Russel Wright is well known for his work in modernism - dinnerware, metal, wood, furniture, lighting - he was a man of many talents!

The January promo has ended and the little Fenton bird is flying off to live with Julia of Little River, SC! Smart bird to head south for the winter! Stay tuned for the next giveaway and join us on Facebook for more frequent conversations and pictures!

January Giveaway Time...

Vintage Fenton Bird Circa 1970s

It's time for a January Giveaway at Muddy Creek. How to sign up? Just make a comment on this blog or on my Muddy Creek Antiques Facebook page between now and the end of January 2011 - its as easy as that! (rules are posted on the Giveaways tab on Facebook...only offered in the U.S.)

This month's giveaway is a glass Fenton bird with handpainted violets, Sweet! Good luck and happy posting!

The Cold Weather Glass Blues...

So you're feeling pretty proud of yourself...you finally found a blue Blenko water jug to replace the one you broke last month and you know your wife is going to LOVE this Christmas present best of all! Even better, when you pull into the garage, her car is not there so you have time to get it out of the trunk and wrap it up! My best advice at this point is...DON'T!

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!

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!

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!

Open House at The Old Timey Shop

Our annual Holiday Open House is scheduled for November 26 - 28th, 10:00 - 5:00 on Friday & Saturday, 12:00 - 5:00 on Sunday. The Old Timey Shop is located on Main Street in Milton, WV. With well over 35 booths, we have a wide variety of antiques, primitives, cottage, vintage, glassware, etc...
Like this sweet rocking horse...

a delightful dressing table...

...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...

Halloween...

Vintage Card @ Cardcow.com

Happy Halloween From Muddy Creek Antiques!!

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!!

Fall Time Festivities

Hello Fall, I've missed you! Cooler days, crunching leaves and time to pull out that favorite pair of faded blue jeans. Best of all, its time for festivals and fairs - pumpkins, corn, apples, walnuts...Mother Earth celebrated as she prepares to sleep for the winter.

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.

Flintstones, Meet The Flintstones...

Happy Anniversary to Fred and Wilma Flintstone - their animated life together in Bedrock began its run on television 50 years ago on September 30, 1960. I loved growing up with Fred and have fond memories of the show's quirky characters - one of my favorites was The Great Gazoo. Yaba Daba Doo, Fred!

A Cabinet Reclaimed

My obsession with radio cabinets aside, they really can be reclaimed as unique pieces of furniture when revitalized. They are relatively small and fit into those hard to decorate places such as bathrooms and hallways while adding storage space and a touch of flair. By using your imagination, you can change the look of a cabinet to complement your decor.

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.

Note this cabinet has a top that lifts open on hinges and a front door that tilts down - typical for this style of cabinet, however, problematic for practical use. The first act of business was to secure the front door and make it stationary - I did that by securing both ends with nails that will be covered by the finish coat of paint. By securing the front and taking out the tilting hardware from the interior, I have now created a blanket chest of sorts.

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.

Next the interior was painted a satin black and the exterior a yummy milk chocolate brown. I chose to leave the original crackle finish intact that had been applied by the previous owner to give the final look a vintage texture.

The finished product can now be used as a blanket chest with shelf in a guest room, a storage trunk and shelf in a home office, or baby's room or towel storage in a bathroom - such possibilities!

Main Street, U.S.A.

I love this time of year - the cooler days bring thoughts of crunchy walks along leaf covered trails and long drives on mountain highways hugged by the brilliant color of fall. I love stopping in quaint small towns with their welcoming hospitality, local diners and best of all...antique shops!

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...

A Little Blenko Sunshine

Vase #607 in Jonquil, Vase #595 in Jonquil and Vase #64D in Lemon

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.

Riding Off Into the Sunset...

This adorable little guy was made by A. H. Heisey & Co. sometime between 1941 and 1952 - near the end of Heisey's 62 year reign as a major producer of high quality tableware in the United States. While Heisey glass is not always marked, if present, the mark is easily distinguishable as a simple capital H inside a diamond - as seen in the figurine pictured above. Heisey & Co. was purchased by Imperial Glass Corp. in 1957.

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.