Depression Glass

Depression Glass in a color called Amberina.

   Once I was bitten by the depression glass bug, I was easily pulled into a glass world with a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns galore. The experience was at first just curiosity, then it became like taking a step back into time, in the late 1920's and 1930's. Depression Glass is called such because collectors generally associate it with mass produced glassware made the years surrounding the great depression. The glass at this time came in pink, yellow, crystal or green. The majority of business that made this glass had been established well before the depression set in. Names that you may recognize, such as Federal Glass, Hazel Atlas, and U.S. Glass are just a few that were already in business. In the late 1890's some of the smaller glasshouses formed a consortium that combined factories, companies and the technologies for producing glass.

Carnival Glass by Northwood.

Automation processes and advancements in glassware technology increased production of many depression era patterns and allowed the creation of inexpensive and quickly made colorful glass pieces, Even in an era when economic times were harsh. Sears and Roebuck offered these inexpensive glass pieces in the publics favorite patterns packed in boxes of soap or as premiums given at movie theaters "dish nights" Other companies soon followed when there was a particular pattern found pleasing to the public and created a host of their own interpretation of the pattern.

Top of a Depression Glass oval footed fruit bowl.

Emerging from the great depression, more elegant shapes in glassware became popular. The new glass was aptly named elegant glass and often made by companies such as Fostoria and Heisey. The consistency to the glass was much better and these pieces were largely finished by hand. This raised the quality and the price. Macy's was one department store that carried this finer glass, although now when talking about depression-era glass elegant patterns are also included in depression era glassware.

Iridescent Jeanette glass candy dish

Reuse Vintage Pot Holders!

You know I like to use vintage items all over and its even better when I can use them in other ways than intended, so below here are some ways to reuse vintage potholders!

Use as coasters!

Add a brownie mix and some kitchen utensils to a vintage potholder and you have a cute gift.

Cute Vintage Pot Holders Here!

Use as a gift card holder.

I added decorative wrapping paper to a canvas and used carpet tape to attach the vintage pot holders to make an inexpensive wall decoration.

A unique way to hold utensils!

Use as a place setting.

Find Vintage Pot Holders

Using Doilies in a Fresh Way

I inherited quite a few doilies and am always trying to figure different ways I can use them. I don't want to harm them so Hodge-podge or sewing them to pillows is out of the question. The photos I took in the house didn't turn out well, so I took some of these ideas outside to photograph.
I like to use doilies as a valence over windows or doors. It's nice to change up the colors for different seasons or for your mood. I lover cheery yellow and have a lot of those! Using these for a half curtain also works.

 Make a quick and easy party bunting using similar colored doilies or add many different colored ones for a birthday celebration.

Use doilies as wall art. This simple yet striking piece is very elegant.

This wall art can go with many styles of decor. You don"t have to drape all of your furniture with doilies in order to use them. Get creative, step out of the box and find interesting ways to use doilies!

Gorgeous Fall Window Box

Uses for Tiny crochet teacups!

I keep catching glimpses of these mini crochet teacups around the shop and it got me started thinking, "What are other ways I can use these adorable little teacups?" I've seen them used as little snack cups (using tiny liners to keep everything clean!) which are adorable. I've come up with some other uses as well. Unfortunately it wasn't as easy as searching the internet-- I only found loads of free crochet teacup patterns. I had to get creative on my own, but eventually I found nine new uses!

1. Teacup Tree

I did a couple different versions of these using my favorite teacups. The great thing about this project is that you can display your favorite teacup as a base, and use the tiny teacups as decorations on the teacup tree. This could also be a year around decoration, or you could "Christmas it up" for the holidays. I used foam 3 dimensional squares from my scrapbook supply to attach the teacup to the saucer. You could also use hot glue because it comes off when it gets wet, so when you are finished with this decoration you can go back to using your teacup. I like it when projects are sturdy, yet not permanent. I am a firm believer in no harm to vintage items!

 The crochet pattern provides perfect places to stick the twigs through. I hung most from the handles but at least one in each tree I sat in an upright direction, using the holes in the crochet saucer to stick the twigs through.

2. Indoor Fairy Garden

 

Add miniature items to the crochet teacups to create an indoor fairy garden. A perfect rainy day activity! The mushrooms are from the floral supply section and I just raided the kids toys for the basket, white chair and wheelbarrow. You could probably find those in the miniature section too.

This also makes a nice centerpiece for a tea party!

3. Wall Art

Cover a canvas with decorative paper using a tea theme. This paper is by Cavallini and is very beautiful and rich in color.  Attach the crochet teacups with pins and you have a piece of unique wall art for your kitchen or for your tea party.  Inexpensive crochet teacups available here

4. Tea Centerpiece

Using a candle holder as a base, stack china then add crochet teacups to the top for an instant centerpiece for your tea party.This is  quick and easy to do from items around the house!

5.Holiday Decoration

Use the teacups as I have shown or add a small gold thread to the handle and use them as ornaments on a counter top size tree.

6. Organize Jewelry Drawer

A perfect and pretty solution to keep your rings, necklaces and earrings organized.

7. Pin Cushion

Make a pin cushion, it's easy to do and very cute! You can even use a mesh shower scrubbie under the cloth and scrap fabric. Quick to make and would be a very cute gift!

8. Buffet Table Decoration

Create a beautiful buffet table decoration any sort of stand and cloche would work. This one features a bird at the top, so I added one egg in the top teacup, this bird likes to keep her egg safe!

Inexpensive crochet teacups available here 

9. Snack Cups

I know this is not a new use for these teacups, I thought I would include it though because if I had not seen them used like this I wouldn't have thought of it either. Before I saw this, I just thought these little crochet cups were only to look at!

Doily Decor!

 I've been a little obsessed with doilies lately, layering vintage doilies over paper ones and adding doilies with some color to brighten up the table. I have used vintage hand crocheted white or ivory colors in the past but I am tired of that solid color look.

The pink rose doily above is a vintage one on top of a plain white decorative paper doily. (The paper ones are mostly used on a tray underneath my homemade brownies!) The yellow and pink ones are also just decorative paper ones.

This yellow rose doily is one of my favorites because the roses are three different colors and the green leaves pop with the yellow. These doilies can be found in my etsy shop here.

 These vintage blue and white crocheted doilies add just a little bit of color to the table. They rest on top of paper doilies. This is normally paired with

fresh white roses in an old milk jar in the center. It covered up the doilies too much for the picture though, so had to go!

Another of my favorites, these doilies are called crinoline ladies or southern belle doilies. Their large dresses and small crocheted hat on top is adorable. I have a few colors left if you've been looking for some unique doilies for your collection. Click here.

This ivory crocheted fan doily (complete with two tassels) below is the only one I have like this. I have never seen another one, although  I'm sure it's not the only one out there! The shape, the points at the ends and the tassels make it special for any doily lover!

 

The close up shots are my favorite photos of these pink doilies. The pink and white are vintage crocheted and the yellow underneath are paper doilies. The pink flowers in above picture are a lovely tri-color, and are surrounded by green. More doilies here!

An easy and inexpensive way to create a base for your centerpiece is to layer decorative paper doilies on top of a lace tablecloth. If you don't have enough crocheted doilies or if they don't match your table colors, using the paper ones as a base is a great alternative!

Have any unique uses for doilies? Let me know!