Welcome New Members: OhDearWatson, AppleJar, NostalgicCollections and LeasAtticSpace

Woodland Vintage Butterfly Canisters Gare Ceramics

OhDearWatson is a lovely little shop which was opened in July of 2010 by newlywed couple Cody and Amanda. They offer a nice selection of kitchenware and decor, featuring some nice milk glass pieces. Their pieces range mainly from the 1950's to the 1970's

Cheerful Yellow Pristine Pottery Teapot Made in England

AppleJar is the combined efforts of mother daughter team Shirley and Lisa. Both are artists by trade, Shirley is a sculptor and Lisa is a jeweler. "...We also love those things of old -- those great vintage and antique things that have stood the test of time. Admittedly, we have what we laughingly call 'the vintage gene.' This is a condition where neither of us can pass up a beautiful old thing." AppleJar opened shop in August of 2009 and is based out of Nevada.

Vintage Sewing Pattern Simplicity Size 12 1976

NostalgicCollections offers a nice mix of vintage clothing and sewing patterns from the 1950's through the 1970's. The shop is run by Vicki of Minnesota and opened in September of 2009. Vicki has this to say about her shop: "I'm obsessed with clothing, fashion and style. A flair for vintage with a hint of the dramatic. My goal at Nostalgic Collections is to help incorporate vintage into a modern lifestyle. Vintage can give you that unique edge to sets you apart from everyone else."

Vintage Ice Cream Scoop Floraine Pink Pattern by A&E Lewis

LeasAtticSpace is an eclectic collection of vintage treasures run by Lea of Oklahoma. On offer is a wide mix of vintage items ranging from textiles and jewelry to pottery and glass decor. Lea's motto is "Life is a collection and I love collecting. I collect whatever strikes my fancy and often times, things that remind me of my childhood." "I enjoy collecting eclectic treasures primarily dating from the 1890’s to the 1960’s."

Living A Vintage Life: Milk Glass Mania

Living a vintage life frequently goes beyond accumulating and using vintage goods, a vintageophile's life often includes a focused passion, a drive to collect some special item that touches the soul. For many that passion is Milk Glass. Whether solidly opaque or softly translucent, it has a special place in the heart of many collectors. ‘True’ milk glass has been described to me thus: “it looks like your glass of milk after the ice cubes have melted”. Loving a cold, iced glass of milk on a hot day, I understood the description perfectly. While many discriminating collectors still accept only the subtly opalescent pieces, Milk Glass Mania has created a generation of collectors who embrace all white glass as milk glass. And you know what? That’s alright with me because I love all of it!

I found a wonderful blog called Passion of MilkglassCollecting. She loves to blend her pieces with blue, happily displaying candles and flowers, and even lining pieces alongside her tub to hold fragrant bathing products.

Sometimes entire rooms are being decorated around milk glass collections with pieces displayed against deep blue walls, scattered across chippy mantles, on kitchen shelves or behind dust-free glass break fronts. A fun trend is using milk glass to decorate bridal showers and wedding receptions – there are even businesses that specialize in renting vintage milk glass for these occasions. Bliss Magazine has some pretty ideas for reception décor featuring milk glass.

Maybe you don’t have a lot of milk glass, but you’re coveting the look? Grab clear bottles, swish some white paint inside and let dry. Voila! Instant milk glass! Beach House In The City offers great instructions and photos.

Wherever a vintage trend develops, modern industry responds with reproductions, which is definitely true of milk glass. While some conscientiously-unburdened retailers may attempt to pass it off as vintage, most are simply responding to consumer demand. While I won’t go so far as to link you to some modern reproduction goods but I’m happy to point you to the website of the National Milk Glass Society. For a visual feast of milk glass, you can visit their photo galleries.

Use the comments below to tell me about your milk glass passion!
posted by Deborah Berry ~Three Chicks Vintage

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.

Fenton Silver Crest Spanish Lace

Fenton Silver Crest
Footed Cake Stand
by Treasure Hunt Vintage

Last week I talked a bit about Fenton Silver Crest and alluded, in that blog post, to a highly sought-after treatment to Silver Crest, known as Spanish Lace.

Spanish Lace was first introduced on a Silver Crest footed cake plate in 1962.  Spanish Lace continued in production until the 1980s.  The hardest to find in this slightly common line are the footed salt & pepper shakers,  and the Gone w/the Wind hurricane lamp, a most impressive piece at 24".

Collectors can also find the hand-painted decoration, Violets in the Snow, on Silver Crest Spanish Lace, but I will talk about that treatment next week.

Fenton Silver Crest
Spanish Lace Candleholder
by Silk Creek Gallery

Spanish Lace is not exclusive to the Silver Crest line, and can be found on a number of crests, including the teal and plum crests.  Additionally, Spanish Lace can be found w/out the crest in limited supply, on lines such as carnival glass, Country Cranberry, Persian Pearl, and Ivory Satin Glass.  Spanish Lace without a crest continued in production until the late 1990s/early 2000s, with some of these lines being made for QVC.

I'm a big fan of milk glass, and think, in general, it decorates a table like nothing else, especially at Christmas & Hanukkah time.  But when you couple milk glass with a highly ornate, and sometimes hand-painted, treatment - your guests are sure to be envious of your table and have nothing more to do than shower you with complements.

This classy Fenton line looks spectacular paired w/red and green, or blue table treatments.  Even placed on the mantle or on side tables to offer holiday bon bons, Fenton Silver Crest Spanish Lace simply dazzles.

The Etsy Vintage Team offers a wide selection of Fenton - please click here to review those pieces.

Vintage Milk Glass

I love vintage milk glass so much I devoted an entire Etsy shop to it! Milk Glass is such a classic and looks great in a grouping!

My favorite milk glass bar far is Fenton milk glass hobnail! Fenton started production of the hobnail pattern way back in the 1950's and it's been going strong ever since! It's had it's highs and lows, but it's definitely back in popularity at this time!

It can also be quite affordable for the less scarce pieces, and also quite pricey for the more hard to find pieces! But it's well worth it! Fenton milk glass is high quality!

I love using my Fenton milk glass during the holiday's filled with festive Christmas ornaments for a fun and classic holiday look!

Speaking of the holiday's....Fenton milk glass makes a great gift too!

If you have never purchased Fenton milk glass hobnail pieces before, start with baby steps. Purchase a smaller less expensive piece. I think you will be hooked liked me!

Start with a smaller piece like this