No matter how much your Mother or Grandmother used her crystal, it probably still looks like new, especially since she washed it by hand and stored it away very carefully! If you are lucky enough to inherit some of this beautiful sparkling crystal, count yourself lucky.
I know many of the younger generation is not interested in fancy glassware - they are more "into" pottery items that can be used every day and they prefer casual entertaining. But still it is good to add some sparkle to your table at the holidays! And one pattern that just keeps on being the most popular is Fostoria Glass Company American pattern!
It was made between 1914 and 1986 and in various colors including clear, amber, blue, green, yellow, pink and even purple. The most popular is the clear - it is heavy and durable and because of the block pattern it reflects the light whether it be sunlight, a chandelier, or candle light!
It is being recycled and recollected even today! Many people who got it for wedding gifts back in the 1940's and 50's are aging and not entertaining anymore, or they are downsizing and need to get rid of it. They would give it to their children, but some are not interested.
There are new collectors made up of mostly people who have inherited the pattern and wish to add to their collection! If you have never owned any crystal or are interested in purchasing some for your home, this would be a very good choice of vintage crystal. The pricing is fairly reasonable, and certainly less than most "new" quality crystal you could find - and it is good to recycle for so many reasons! It also would make wonderful gifts and perhaps get someone interested in starting their own collection!
Be careful when you buy that you know that it is indeed Fostoria - there are some reproductions that are not the same quality. In general, you can look for three seams (where the molds come together) rather than two - and generally the base is ground instead of formed in the mold - and check the glass for clarity. Most dealers will be sure to have any reproductions clearly marked.
Close your eyes and imagine your Christmas table set with a beautiful deep red tablecloth, your favorite Christmas china, and sparkling American Fostoria crystal water goblets, iced tea glasses, juice glasses, sherbets, and all the beautiful sparkling serving pieces available! Now get ready, go out looking, and start your collection of sparkling American Fostoria today!
Think of your favorite antique store as a matchmaker - helping someone find a new owner for their "treasures"! At Memories, we are full to the brim with treasures, including over 150 pieces of American Fostoria! We can help you put together a beautiful holiday table, all from vintage treasures in our store! Your Mother and/or Grandmother would smile if she saw you using vintage items on your table!
You can take a peek inside our store no matter where you live at http://www.hendersonmemories.com/
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Recycle Old Christmas Cards!
If you are like me, I never like to throw beautiful cards away - especially Christmas cards! They are so colorful and meaningful to me, I want to find a project to use them in sometime in the future. So there they are, all piled up in a drawer ......... waiting for my inspiration! Well, here's just a few ideas off the top of my head that maybe you will find useful!
First off, they could be used again for new cards - just cut the front off and glue to nice index paper folded in half and write your own personal message inside! This would be great for a Christmas note to a friend or relative!
Another idea would be to decorate a Christmas tree with them. Just use your hole punch and punch a hole in the top left corner - tie on a pretty ribbon - and hang on your tree - add a little tinsel for sparkle and it will be beautiful. This is a very inexpensive and creative way to decorate a tree for your family room or guest bedroom. The cards will remind you of all your friends each year who have remembered you at Christmas!
Under the tree they can be used as gift tags - again cut off the front and punch a hole in it and tie it on your package for a beautiful decoration with the TO and FROM written on the back side.
If you like to create your own cards on the computer and you are equipped with a scanner, you can also use the beautiful artwork on the cover or inside the card to scan and print your own individually created card! The art can be saved on your computer and used time and again!
If you have a coffee table with a glass tray top, they can be placed under the glass and maybe paired with some lace doilies or family pictures for a beautiful addition to your Christmas decorations in your living room or family room. Also think of framing them with a background of a solid color or wall paper print! This could be used as a framed picture to hang on the wall during the Christmas season, or better yet, use it as a tray to serve tea on! Or just stand up the cards in a display cabinet where you have your sparkling crystal to add some Christmas cheer!
I know these ideas have sparked some ideas of your own - so get out those old Christmas cards and start making plans of how to use them this year! What's old can be new again - with just a touch of creativity! Please feel free to share any additional ideas you have here on this blog! Merry Christmas!
First off, they could be used again for new cards - just cut the front off and glue to nice index paper folded in half and write your own personal message inside! This would be great for a Christmas note to a friend or relative!
Another idea would be to decorate a Christmas tree with them. Just use your hole punch and punch a hole in the top left corner - tie on a pretty ribbon - and hang on your tree - add a little tinsel for sparkle and it will be beautiful. This is a very inexpensive and creative way to decorate a tree for your family room or guest bedroom. The cards will remind you of all your friends each year who have remembered you at Christmas!
Under the tree they can be used as gift tags - again cut off the front and punch a hole in it and tie it on your package for a beautiful decoration with the TO and FROM written on the back side.
If you like to create your own cards on the computer and you are equipped with a scanner, you can also use the beautiful artwork on the cover or inside the card to scan and print your own individually created card! The art can be saved on your computer and used time and again!
If you have a coffee table with a glass tray top, they can be placed under the glass and maybe paired with some lace doilies or family pictures for a beautiful addition to your Christmas decorations in your living room or family room. Also think of framing them with a background of a solid color or wall paper print! This could be used as a framed picture to hang on the wall during the Christmas season, or better yet, use it as a tray to serve tea on! Or just stand up the cards in a display cabinet where you have your sparkling crystal to add some Christmas cheer!
I know these ideas have sparked some ideas of your own - so get out those old Christmas cards and start making plans of how to use them this year! What's old can be new again - with just a touch of creativity! Please feel free to share any additional ideas you have here on this blog! Merry Christmas!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Selecting Vintage Wedding Gifts
Many people can't imagine giving something that is not "new" for a wedding gift, but we have a lot of experience here at Memories with people who are looking for exactly that! They don't want to buy the regular, off the shelf gift that just anybody can buy.
It's easy, really! If you know anything at all about the couple or even their parents, you can come up with an idea whether it be a certain color scheme, pattern of old glassware, or anything that might "bring back memories". I recently had two sisters in my store who spotted a large pressed glass bowl that they remembered their Mother having one like. Well, they each wanted one so we went in search of others. It ended up that they found four different bowls that reminded them of their Mother's bowl, so they bought all four! One for each of them, and one for each of their children for future wedding gifts so that their children would remember their Grandmother and use the bowl for fruit salad like she did! How thoughtful of a gift - unlike any other they will receive.
Another idea is to buy a particular item for its collectible value - such as a piece of Fenton art glass, American Fostoria crystal, antique lamp, vintage crystal stemware, EAPG compotes, antique china, vintage hand crocheted bedspread, discontinued collectibles, etc. These items can encourage a lifetime of collecting that can bring much joy! We have sold vintage crystal stemware instead of "new" simply because it is uniquely beautiful and not something that will be duplicated among the wedding gifts.
I have been told that many brides are now electing to have a Victorian wedding! Everything was so elegant and formal back then! In the day of jeans and T Shirts, it is exciting to think of getting dressed up in fancy vintage dress and jewelry. From the antique china used to serve at the reception to the sparkling crystal punch bowl - all of these items can be found in antique stores all across the nation.
One of my customers said once "A gift from Memories is a gift they will always remember!" Think outside the norm and shop in antique stores for your next wedding gift - at Memories we can help you pick the perfect item that the couple will always treasure!
It's easy, really! If you know anything at all about the couple or even their parents, you can come up with an idea whether it be a certain color scheme, pattern of old glassware, or anything that might "bring back memories". I recently had two sisters in my store who spotted a large pressed glass bowl that they remembered their Mother having one like. Well, they each wanted one so we went in search of others. It ended up that they found four different bowls that reminded them of their Mother's bowl, so they bought all four! One for each of them, and one for each of their children for future wedding gifts so that their children would remember their Grandmother and use the bowl for fruit salad like she did! How thoughtful of a gift - unlike any other they will receive.
Another idea is to buy a particular item for its collectible value - such as a piece of Fenton art glass, American Fostoria crystal, antique lamp, vintage crystal stemware, EAPG compotes, antique china, vintage hand crocheted bedspread, discontinued collectibles, etc. These items can encourage a lifetime of collecting that can bring much joy! We have sold vintage crystal stemware instead of "new" simply because it is uniquely beautiful and not something that will be duplicated among the wedding gifts.
I have been told that many brides are now electing to have a Victorian wedding! Everything was so elegant and formal back then! In the day of jeans and T Shirts, it is exciting to think of getting dressed up in fancy vintage dress and jewelry. From the antique china used to serve at the reception to the sparkling crystal punch bowl - all of these items can be found in antique stores all across the nation.
One of my customers said once "A gift from Memories is a gift they will always remember!" Think outside the norm and shop in antique stores for your next wedding gift - at Memories we can help you pick the perfect item that the couple will always treasure!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Bring Vintage Linens Back to Life!
I once had a craft/antique shop in Cocoa Village, Florida - a quaint shopping village located on the Indian River in Cocoa, Florida. I had a customer who was enthralled with vintage hand embroidered linens of all kinds with hand crocheted edges. She had an inspiration to put together quilt squares using bits and pieces of these old linens. She would cut out her 12" X 12" muslin square and start working with her linens, cutting and arranging them on each unique square until she got it just right. She brought her works of art into my shop to share with me one day, and I've never seen such a beautiful collection. She then put them together into a quilt for her bed.
This would be a wonderful use for any old crocheted doilies or hand embroidered linens from your family (or you could purchase and collect them as she did). We always have a great selection of linens at Memories for you to browse. Once her quilt was finished, she also made pillows for the head of her bed - so romantic and beautiful!
I have also seen ideas for using vintage hankerchiefs the same way by using one hanky for each square of a quilt and trim with crocheted lace or doilies. Another way to use old hankies is to hang them from corner to corner on a curtain rod to make a valance - so sweet for the bathroom or feminine bedroom.
I have used old embroidered pillow cases and inserted an 18" X 18" pillow form, folded down the embroidered edge of the pillow case for a lovely pillow for the bed or bedroom chair!
Of course, you can always use the doilies and linens on your furniture and chair backs as they were designed for - for a romantic look that softens the decor of your home! The ideas are endless! Think outside the box when you are browsing in the linen section of your local antique store or when you are going through your Grandmother's hand stitched treasures. Reuse and recycle - that's what we do here at Memories Past and Present! It's a fun and unique way to decorate!
This would be a wonderful use for any old crocheted doilies or hand embroidered linens from your family (or you could purchase and collect them as she did). We always have a great selection of linens at Memories for you to browse. Once her quilt was finished, she also made pillows for the head of her bed - so romantic and beautiful!
I have also seen ideas for using vintage hankerchiefs the same way by using one hanky for each square of a quilt and trim with crocheted lace or doilies. Another way to use old hankies is to hang them from corner to corner on a curtain rod to make a valance - so sweet for the bathroom or feminine bedroom.
I have used old embroidered pillow cases and inserted an 18" X 18" pillow form, folded down the embroidered edge of the pillow case for a lovely pillow for the bed or bedroom chair!
Of course, you can always use the doilies and linens on your furniture and chair backs as they were designed for - for a romantic look that softens the decor of your home! The ideas are endless! Think outside the box when you are browsing in the linen section of your local antique store or when you are going through your Grandmother's hand stitched treasures. Reuse and recycle - that's what we do here at Memories Past and Present! It's a fun and unique way to decorate!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Creative New Uses for Old Frames
I had a customer in the other day who works in a framing shop, and she told me that she will never look at framed prints and pictures the same way again! She has a renewed interest in just the frames - and not particularly the pictures in them. After you read this blog, you will have a new interest in frames!
One creative use for old frames is to take out the picture and insert vintage photographs, wedding invitations, special greeting cards, your Grandmother's hand crocheted or tatted doilies, old music, old decorative hankies, or whatever strikes your fancy. Place them on a background of fabric that matches your room or even wallpaper or wrapping paper. These can either be fixed to hang on your wall just like you would a picture - or you can purchase two handles at your hardware store and mount them on the ends of the frame, and you will have a beautiful tray on which to serve your next cup of tea.
These look so pretty just sitting on your coffee or side table for a place to sit your coffee or tea when you are relaxing to read a book and sip your tea! Another way to make your tray even more special is to purchase little decorative brass or wooden legs and affix them to the bottom of the corners. The ideas are limitless and are guaranteed to make you never look at antique framed pictures in the same way ever again. Also, this would be a perfect, one of a kind, gift idea!
Another great idea is to hang an empty frame on the wall and inside it hang a smaller picture or even a pretty vintage plate! If the frames are damaged when you find them (and many of them are in antique stores), just paint them in whatever color you want, or paint them white and then sand lightly to give the cottage or shabby chic look. If you are looking for the perfect mirror for your bathroom and just can't find it - check out your local antique store for old framed prints and take the frame and get a mirror placed in it.
I promise you that you will never look at pictures at antique shops, garage sales, or flea markets in the same way again. What's Old can be New Again!
One creative use for old frames is to take out the picture and insert vintage photographs, wedding invitations, special greeting cards, your Grandmother's hand crocheted or tatted doilies, old music, old decorative hankies, or whatever strikes your fancy. Place them on a background of fabric that matches your room or even wallpaper or wrapping paper. These can either be fixed to hang on your wall just like you would a picture - or you can purchase two handles at your hardware store and mount them on the ends of the frame, and you will have a beautiful tray on which to serve your next cup of tea.
These look so pretty just sitting on your coffee or side table for a place to sit your coffee or tea when you are relaxing to read a book and sip your tea! Another way to make your tray even more special is to purchase little decorative brass or wooden legs and affix them to the bottom of the corners. The ideas are limitless and are guaranteed to make you never look at antique framed pictures in the same way ever again. Also, this would be a perfect, one of a kind, gift idea!
Another great idea is to hang an empty frame on the wall and inside it hang a smaller picture or even a pretty vintage plate! If the frames are damaged when you find them (and many of them are in antique stores), just paint them in whatever color you want, or paint them white and then sand lightly to give the cottage or shabby chic look. If you are looking for the perfect mirror for your bathroom and just can't find it - check out your local antique store for old framed prints and take the frame and get a mirror placed in it.
I promise you that you will never look at pictures at antique shops, garage sales, or flea markets in the same way again. What's Old can be New Again!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Owls Popular Again - Who Gives A Hoot?
Again, I will mention the 1970's as I was a young married woman, just out of college and starting housekeeping. I remember the avocado green, harvest gold, mushroom cookie jars, and owls - owls were everywhere! I'm sure you've noticed that lately, there are those "hoots" again - everywhere!
My daughter has recently had a new beautiful baby girl - while she was expecting, she was working on a theme for the baby's room and she would chat with me on facebook and send me links to decorating ideas she found that she liked. I couldn't believe it when the theme she chose was these cute little owls sitting on branches in trees. I mentioned it to the lady next door to my shop who operates a kids clothing store, and she said when she went to market that was all she could see - owls everywhere!!! And so I helped my daughter decorate little Sadie Caroline's room in pink, green and brown owls sitting in pink polka dot trees! And, believe it or not, it is so cute and feminine - there's even a soft owl pillow in the rocking chair.
Young girls have come in my antique store (girls in their teens) and gotten so excited over my owl jewelry and anything else with owls on it. I asked them if they knew that owls were popular 40 years ago?!? One punched the other and said "I TOLD you it was the 70's" like that was so long ago - I mean ancient! Hmmm....I smiled.....doesn't seem that long ago to me!
Well anyway, when you are going through your Mother's or Grandmother's things, don't discount anything as being old and silly and outdated - you just never know what trend will come back around and be the next, new hottest thing. So at Memories, we are seeing vintage owl items make an appearance - necklaces (those big ones with the bright colored beady eyes), brooches (even one from Avon that holds solid perfume), needlepoint purse, crystal paperweight, salt and pepper shakers, figurines, and more! There you go - what's old is new again! Who woulda' thought - owls!
My daughter has recently had a new beautiful baby girl - while she was expecting, she was working on a theme for the baby's room and she would chat with me on facebook and send me links to decorating ideas she found that she liked. I couldn't believe it when the theme she chose was these cute little owls sitting on branches in trees. I mentioned it to the lady next door to my shop who operates a kids clothing store, and she said when she went to market that was all she could see - owls everywhere!!! And so I helped my daughter decorate little Sadie Caroline's room in pink, green and brown owls sitting in pink polka dot trees! And, believe it or not, it is so cute and feminine - there's even a soft owl pillow in the rocking chair.
Young girls have come in my antique store (girls in their teens) and gotten so excited over my owl jewelry and anything else with owls on it. I asked them if they knew that owls were popular 40 years ago?!? One punched the other and said "I TOLD you it was the 70's" like that was so long ago - I mean ancient! Hmmm....I smiled.....doesn't seem that long ago to me!
Well anyway, when you are going through your Mother's or Grandmother's things, don't discount anything as being old and silly and outdated - you just never know what trend will come back around and be the next, new hottest thing. So at Memories, we are seeing vintage owl items make an appearance - necklaces (those big ones with the bright colored beady eyes), brooches (even one from Avon that holds solid perfume), needlepoint purse, crystal paperweight, salt and pepper shakers, figurines, and more! There you go - what's old is new again! Who woulda' thought - owls!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
The Colors of Fall
When the seasons change, it is always a time of reflection and new beginnings. We start to think about changing out the decorations in our homes to prepare for the coming season. When I think of Fall, I think of colors - red, orange, gold, green and brown, that represent the colors of the leaves as they turn and start to fall to the ground.
When I was a young married woman in the 1970's, the "in" colors were avocado green and harvest gold - all the really modern homes had these colors in their carpet, kitchen appliances, and accessories. Today we would say "yuk" because the trends are different and these colors are not in favor. But when it comes to decorating for Fall - there they are - and we need to be able work them into our home to reflect the season.
I remember in my dining room in the 70's I had a large bay window with glass shelves - they were covered with sparkling glassware in green and gold - I had little bells, bowls, toothpick holders, etc. in those colors proudly displayed all year long for the sunlight to reflect through. One of the favorite patterns of that time was "Moon and Stars", a lovely glassware pattern that came in all colors - it is still popular and collectible even all these years later. Another beautiful idea for Fall is amberina glass - it is a beautiful glassware that blends from red to orange to yellow - each piece is unique and the colors are vivid.
When thinking about decorating your kitchen and dining tables, consider these items from long ago as your accent pieces and centerpieces! At Memories we have a multitude of beautiful items to choose from, including sugar and creamers, baskets, banana stands, compotes, bowls, and more! Think outside the box this year, and consider the idea of decorating with someting "vintage" rather than purchasing new! The glassware is durable and will give you pleasure for many years to come. Stop in for some great Fall decorating ideas at Memories this season!
When I was a young married woman in the 1970's, the "in" colors were avocado green and harvest gold - all the really modern homes had these colors in their carpet, kitchen appliances, and accessories. Today we would say "yuk" because the trends are different and these colors are not in favor. But when it comes to decorating for Fall - there they are - and we need to be able work them into our home to reflect the season.
I remember in my dining room in the 70's I had a large bay window with glass shelves - they were covered with sparkling glassware in green and gold - I had little bells, bowls, toothpick holders, etc. in those colors proudly displayed all year long for the sunlight to reflect through. One of the favorite patterns of that time was "Moon and Stars", a lovely glassware pattern that came in all colors - it is still popular and collectible even all these years later. Another beautiful idea for Fall is amberina glass - it is a beautiful glassware that blends from red to orange to yellow - each piece is unique and the colors are vivid.
When thinking about decorating your kitchen and dining tables, consider these items from long ago as your accent pieces and centerpieces! At Memories we have a multitude of beautiful items to choose from, including sugar and creamers, baskets, banana stands, compotes, bowls, and more! Think outside the box this year, and consider the idea of decorating with someting "vintage" rather than purchasing new! The glassware is durable and will give you pleasure for many years to come. Stop in for some great Fall decorating ideas at Memories this season!
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