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.

Living A Vintage Life: In Shades Of Avocado

Take a trip back in time with me - a time when Tiki Gods, Harvest Gold and Avocado were staples of home decor; when double-knit polyester and mutton chops were stylish! Dig out your leisure suits and disco shirts and stroll along with me through 'Wes Clark's Avocado Memories'. I don't know how I ever found this delightful capsule of 1960s-70s California suburbia but it's one of my favorite sites on the whole internet and I'm tickled to have a chance to share it here. WCAM isn't just any vintage website - there's nothing girly or fashionable here. Nothing for sale. Just pure reminiscing about a time period that many of us vintage lovers and folks deep into their 40s can relate to.

Spanning 1966-1980, Wes shows us with bare honesty and humor his childhood in Burbank, California, the changes inflicted upon their little ranch home and the suburban lifestyle of the era. A period when a true patio was decorated with Tiki gods, whether it be in Burbank or Honolulu, and family dens were decked out in drinking memorabilia and anonymous farm gear.

Leafing through WCAM will not do it justice - you must slowly journey through, as though walking through a long buffet line. Scroll to the bottom of each page, click every link and taste every morsel Wes has to offer: the 8mm movies, the school cafeteria recipes, the locomotion, Kraft cheese and more! It will take days, and you may need to take a break just to check the calendar once in awhile, but the journey is worth it. Fortunately he started adding more pages after the initial site was built - there's enough here to keep you busy the rest of the summer so slather on some Coppertone (or baby oil with iodine for dark, homemade 'tan'!) and grab a glass of Tang and start your Avocado vacation!

Ignoring the Decades

1980's Panetta Necklace offered by popgoesmyvintage

When my wonderful Grandma passed on, my aunt & Mom went through her items, selecting what pieces they wanted. The remaining items were spread out on blankets throughout the house. My brother & I, the only grandchildren, were told to take what we wanted. My mom and aunt were born between 1939-1942. To my surprise, I found they left most of the items from the 40's, 50's, and 60's.  I remember my Mom saying that the brightly colored California pottery from the late 40's was tacky.

1985 Breeders Cup Book offered by goodlookin

I have found this true ism applies to most people. No one seems to value items from the decades they've lived through. I have encountered this time and time again in my estate liquidation business. I've found this to be true of myself: I can't imagine wanting to wear a 1970's dress, much less sell it!

1980's Kinetic Earrings offered by mascarajones

That said, I know I need to remain open minded. I see other shops doing quite well with things from recent decades. But to be honest, I have a hard time accepting that vintage now applies to 1991. Due to this bias, what are we overlooking as sellers? What high ticket items are we passing by?

Jointed Ceramic Snoopy 1970's Ornament I sold

Would you think Snoopy is worth anything? Many sellers just consider Peanuts a modern cartoon, not recognizing Charles Schultz has been gone for 11 years now and Peanuts was introduced 61 years ago. Pieces from the late 70's and mid 80's can be very valuable. I sold a jointed Snoopy ornament from 1979 recently for several hundred.

1970's Wayfarer Sunglasses offered by dahlilafound

I saw a mid 1980's Atari game sell for almost $1200. I almost fell over. I never knew Jessica McClintock dresses from the late 70's were desirable. I found calculators from the early 1980's selling for strong prices-for way more than I ever thought any such device could go for! Now you likely don't sell these things and are asking yourself, why should I care? Because you're out there. You're at sales. If I placed $500 in a box for you, you'd take it. So why pass by recent vintage that will provide more spending money for the real vintage you love?

One of the rarest games from the 1980's, worth a mint

The trick is to educate yourself. Yes, eBay can help a little, but dig. Prices are variable and you'll need to have several examples before settling on a price you can depend on. I prefer looking at collectors websites and reading blogs. Look at shops on Etsy that specialize in the recent decades. I've been amazed by what Etsy sellers are able to get for 1980's pieces. Way to go Etsy sellers!

1980's Valentino Sweater offered by hillbillyfilly

Be flexible. Be open minded. Embrace change. Next time you walk into an estate and only see recent vintage, embrace it. Don't run because you don't see classic pieces. Look with a sharp eye and nab those items that are the modern collectibles of today.

Fenton's Violets in the Snow

Fenton Silver Crest
Violets in the Snow Vase
by MyMilkGlassShop

To continue my series on Fenton Silver Crest, this week I will discuss the decoration, Violets in the snow (VITS). VITS is the first Louise Piper decoration, and was first seen on Silver Crest in 1968.

Louise Piper is a renowned Fenton artist who came to the company in 1968 and was a beloved fixture in the decorating rooms - many artists expanded their skills under Louise's tutelage.  Fenton glassware with Louise's name on it are highly sought after and extremely collectible.

Louise's gorgeous decoration of delicate purple flowers graces more than the Silver Crest line, and first appears on Spanish Lace in 1974. VITS was discontinued by the end of 1984.

The hardest to find pieces include the ashtray, the candy box, the table and classic lamp, the pitcher, and the square planter.

This glassware makes a stunning, everyday decoration. I'm especially fond of the Silver Crest Violets in the Snow Handled Bon Bon, which I use to offer small treats on the coffee table.

It is with a sad heart that I end this article w/the notation that Fenton will be shutting down its main furnace and discontinuing its traditional glassmaking business.  We are witnessing the end of an era and the disappearance of US made decorative glassware.