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Gift Giving with Vintage Glass and Candy, Candy, Candy

It is Christmas Time, let's have some fun with vintage gift giving. One of my favorite "go to" gifts is candy in a vintage glass dish. It seems so much nicer than just a dish, or just candy. The two together 
seem like a party.

Sometimes you luck out with one that is specific for your occasion. I found the perfect little glass candy tray for a gal who loves 

vintage decor.

It makes much more sense, and is more fun, to find vintage dish or item to hold candy and other gifts, like cookies, or pens, than to grab 

something cheap.

There are a plethora of these clear inexpensive vintage glass dishes. It is no wonder they were (and are still) so popular, because they just make everything a bit better.

It does not have to be a candy dish either. I acquired a passle of Anchor Hocking Ruby Cups, that would make lovely little gifts filled with candy for teachers. They are easy and decorative when tied up in a small cellophane bag with a fetching bow.

We have a family member who collects glassware, and loves Hershey Kisses. It does not get any easier than this.

Most folks do not use celery dishes any more. Did they ever? What we do need though, is something to corral pens and pencils. Using a vintage or antique celery or pickle dish is a classier option than a pencil tray you can find at an office supply store. Here is a gift the insurance office secretary could really use and enjoy.

This porcelain Vintage Christmas Tree Dish by George Good is being included here with the vintage glass dishes, because it is shows just how perfect they are for gift giving.

I like it so much, that I am tempted to give it to myself.

A classic color for Christmas is Forest Green. There is an abundance of shapes and sizes of Vintage Forest Green Glassware available. This dish is a nice sturdy piece by Hazel Atlas, that you can use in a high traffic area. It is a perfect gift to use at work. We all love the office candy dish.

This Fire King Forest Green Charm Bowl has an entirely different look. You can see how I simply scooped all of my candy samples in to it. I could make the whole family happy by setting this out here at our place. Just think of the smiles I would get if I gave it to a family full of young folks. The bowl would also make Mom happy.

It has been fun sharing some fun ways to use candy and vintage dishes for gift giving. If you find the perfect piece with the Etsy Vintage Team and use it be sure to share it with us. You can never have too much inspiration.

Thank you for joining me. My name is Mary, and I run Mary Wald's Place, an Etsy store, where Antique and Vintage plus Knowledge and Care promise a great vintage shopping experience. It is a privilege to be a member of The Etsy Vintage Team. We are having so much fun this Christmas Time.

Meet our Members - Susan of T Party Antiques

Can you tell us how you came to sell vintage?
It all started with a large and lovely collection of Lu-Ray Pastel dinnerware. Before we had children, my husband and I used those vintage relics as our everyday dishes. After the birth of our first child, we needed something more practical. Plus, space was at a premium in our tiny first home, so I decided to rent a small space at a local antiques shop. My huge Lu-Ray stash sold quickly and before I knew it, I was looking for more items to fill the space. Fast forward 10 years to when I opened my very own antiques shop and tea room which had a successful 5-year run from 2003-2008.

How did your Etsy shop begin?
When my tea room closed (my landlord planned to tear down the 1890 farmhouse that I rented and I was unable to find a suitable new location), I had a small amount of remaining inventory. So in October 2008, I decided to open an Etsy shop.

  What is your favorite era?
I gravitate toward colorful, whimsical items from the 1930s and 40s.

What is your current favorite Vintage find?
My favorite vintage find is a Home Sweet Home embroidered picture of a sweet little cottage and garden. (I'm partial to cottages as I live in one myself!) I use the piece on the header photo of my Etsy shop, blog, and even on my website's home page. Plus, I had a friend draw up an embroidery pattern for the picture that I sell on Etsy.

Where do you like to hunt for your treasures?
Here, there, and everywhere! I love to go to estate sales where the house is chock full of a messy jumble of old stuff. It's such fun to root around and find a treasure! I also like to go to the Elephant's Trunk Flea Market in New Milford, CT on summer Sunday mornings. 

What advice would you wish someone had told you when you first started selling vintage?
Hmmm, good question. I wish someone would have warned me how addicting it can be! ;)

and anything else you want to add??
Just that items filled with vintage goodness have good karma and imperfections that come from being well loved. They have loads of life left and I am thrilled to be able to pass them along to someone who will enjoy and appreciate them.

Meet Our Members - Carla from Nuggest of Goodness

I began collecting vintage jewelry and handbags when I was in high school. Time went by and there so many pieces that I didn't wear, I decided to rework them into something new! As a jewelry maker it was a natural transition to combine the two passions, and Nuggets of Goodness was born!

My favorite era? I adore Art Deco, but my true love is Mid-century Modern! *swoon*
My current favorite Vintage find is a stash of 1950s French fashion magazines. The ads are AMAZING!

Where do you like to hunt for your treasures?

 Thrift stores, antique malls, flea markets...every once in a while I run across a surprise at a garage sale. I'm not patient enough for auctions, although I've gotten some really great pieces that way!
What advice would you give anyone starting out?

 Educate yourself. I worked for an appraiser for many years and he encouraged me to go to antique stores every chance I had just to look at everything and learn. Notice the decorative details, study in person how pieces are made. If you keep at it, eventually you will begin to recognize styles and spot reproductions.

And it's really fun :)