4/15/22: A Bridal Brunch

Milk Glass is HOT again!

Currently, vintage Milk Glass is very HOT. Pieces hail from as far back as the late 1800s all the way through the 1970s. Left is a table set with vintage Anchor Hocking Milk Glass pieces from the 1940s. The centerpice is a set of white pearlescent ceramic cat figures which I picked up at a local neighborhood garage sale. I think it makes a lovely Bridal Shower Brunch setting.

9/15/21: Upcycling Lampshades

Up-cycled Pendant Lamps

Around southern Arizona, many cute knick-knacks and do-dads can be found at yard sales.  I picked up several mis-matched chandelier lamp shades and turned them into Pendant Lamps. Pendant, or Swag Lamps as they were called in the 1950s and 1960s, have become a nice alternative to lamps in places where light is needed but a table is not always available for a table lamp. They are easy to make and relatively inexpensive for the parts needed.

5/15/21: The Enchanted Pixie

What about Figurines?

Figurines are fun collectibles. The market fluctuates wildly on type, era, and value. Some of the steady reliable makers to collect and that maintain their value are: Gilner of California, Goebel, Hedi Schoop, Holt Howard, Inarco, Lefton, Lenox, Napco (or Napcoware), and Treasure Craft. To the left is my Five & Dime Store (1940s) Pixie Chalkware collection which I inherited from my grandmother. I have since added several more red & white Pixies to my collection as well as a couple Pixie Planters from famous mid-century ceramic maker Gilner of California.

3/15/21: Collecting Vintage Glassware

So Many Pretty Colors!

I collect antique creamers, nineteenth century books, depression glass, anything that is mid-century modern, and Coro jewelry. So, many ask: "How do I start? What should I collect?" I will say there is an "art" to glass collecting. If you decide glass is what you want to collect, read up on the glass periods and become familiar with patterns. Like my passion for painted furniture, I love colored glass which was popular in both the Art Deco (depression era) and Mid-Century (elegant period) periods. The pink glasses (right) are my 1920s Art Deco Etched Fry Glass Pink Cocktail Glasses. They belonged to my mother.

12/15/19: Christmas Traditions

Vintage was made for the Holidays!

I love the winter holidays because they are when I have the chance to bring out several patterns of vintage and antique china passed down from both of my grandmothers and my mother to me. From my maternal grandmother, I love my Rosina-Queens Yuletide china pieces as they are perfect for serving holiday treats. From my mother, I have several pieces in the Lefton Green Holly pattern I use as accent decorations around the living and dining rooms. Finally, Christmas dinner is always served on my paternal grandmother's Noritake Holly china set. Happy Holidays from Tucson and Anderson Antiques!

8/15/19: Wrought-Iron Crafting

Up-cycled Porch Chandeliers

Have you ever wondered what in the world folks do with those short strands of Holiday Light Bulbs? I did, and somewhere along the line, I managed to acquire 3 boxes of them (probably one of those "one of the daughters put them in the shopping cart when they were younger, I purchased them, brought them home, and then said, what are these?" deals). Because, of course, they are totally useless - too short to decorate a tree with, way too short to put on the exterior of the house, so what do you do with them? Make summertime porch lights out of them, like I did. The light strands I have are 15-feet long (w/15 bulbs).