Sunday, February 20, 2011

Cafe au Lait Sunday...and Dreamy Vintage Milk Glass

Sipping on a latte...slowly waking up...and looking forward to a Sunday that's wide open for me to do whatever I want. 

I can be very productive, or very lazy - and nobody will know which I choose to be today.  One of the luxuries of living alone...


Java Homage to Seurat - Artwork by CJK - Copyright 1995 Interface Interprises

Today I thought I'd share with you some of my milk glass collection because it kind of fits with my dreamy state.  And it definitely fits with my love of adding lots of frothy milk to my espresso each day! 

I can imagine a few of you are rolling your eyes at the mention of "milk glass."  I used to turn up my nose at it too.  No wonder, since many of the newer pieces from the 60's and 70's, the stuff you and I run into most often, has a flat chalky look - and can be downright ugly, and old-fashioned in a tacky way.

But some of the glass, especially the older milk glass, has a beautiful depth and fire to it.  And there are an endless variety of designs and patterns to capture your imagination!

Look at these milk glass treasures that I found on Etsy.  Milk glass comes in several colors, including a soft blue and pink - but my favorite will always be white...

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

'A Splash of Milk in Your Morning Coffee...' by SarsaparillasBoudoir

My mornings aren't complete without a bit of white milk in my dark coffee. I think it's the combination of colors I enjoy more than the taste. In the same way, you can add a splash of white to your home with milk glass pieces - and get the thrill of white against dark woods or bright spring colors.

Vintage Westmoreland Lattice...

$30.00
Large...Vintage...Fire King....

$28.00
Vintage Hobnail Milk Glass P...

$17.50
decorative small milk glass ...

$4.50
Vintage Milk Glass Hobnail V...

$14.95
Fenton Hobnail Creamer - Vin...

$15.00
Vintage pink milk glass comp...

$27.00
8 Vintage White Cut Milk Gla...

$22.00
Vintage Milk Glass Compote P...

$8.99
Vintage Milk Glass Candy Dis...

$24.50
milk glass platter

$
Dreaming of Spring . large w...

$14.00
Vintage Rustic Milk Glass We...

$92.00
Fenton 4 Horn Milk Glass Epe...

$189.99
Vintage Westmoreland Milk Gl...

$99.50


I'm pretty new to the world of milk glass, so I'm not going to attempt to give you an overview of the Who What When and Where of milk glass collecting.  But if you're interested in exploring further, here are a few links to articles and websites that might be helpful:

Article: A Menagerie in Milk Glass
Milk Glass (lots of good stuff here)
National Milk Glass Collectors Society
Glass Encyclopedia
National Westmoreland Glass Collectors Club

In the meantime, I view my job as simply providing you with some visual candy, and hopefully persuading you that milk glass can be beautiful.
 
Here are some favorites from my own collection that I thought you might enjoy...



This lacy milk glass centerpiece bowl was produced by Westmoreland Glass Co. in the 1950's, and is in the gorgeous Doric pattern (D-19).  Offering this one for sale on Etsy, if you're interested...





And these are some pieces from my collection that I'm not quite ready to part with yet...



I'm keeping this set of six milk glass plates because I am envisioning how lovely these would look topped with pretty slices of celebratory cake and buttercream frosting.  My daughter and/or son are bound to get married someday down the road and will need an engagement party...


I love the pretty "Forget Me Not"  and lattice border on these plates.  These are unmarked, but look very much like Westmoreland plates I've seen.  Mine have age cracks on the base of the plates, which I think adds to the charm!




I purchased this beautiful compote years ago in a local antique store - back in my married days when I had enough "play money" to be able to occasionally afford antique store prices.  

I fell in love with its elaborate swirls and scrolls.  Quite elegant, don't you think?

Until just recently, the maker of this compote was a complete mystery to me.  But I've discovered that it was likely produced by the French glass company, Portieux Vallerysthal.  I'm still uncertain of its age.  Whether new-ish or antique, I think it's gorgeous.




I bought this milk glass compote just this past summer.  I haven't yet had time to research it, so the glass maker and pattern is still a mystery to me.

It's a large compote - about 9" tall - and quite heavy.  I think that it's so majestic looking.  Right now, it's sitting on top of my antique upright piano - which is the place of honor in my home for all my favorite vintage finds.  I like the way the light comes in through the old 1920s piano window and makes all of my antique glass look so bright and cheery!

So have I piqued your interest in milk glass...just a bit?   I hope so...

And now it's time for me to head downstairs and make myself another dreamy latte.  What's your bet on the kind of day I'm going to have today - lazy or productive?  I'll never tell!

Monday, February 14, 2011

A Romantic Fool...




Happy Valentine's Day to you! 

"Have A Heart--It's Leap Year" illustration by James Montgomery Flagg, from 1920 calendar, copyright Judge, New York


I love Valentine's Day for some odd reason.  I say "odd" because based on a pretty pitiful history with this day, and an unlucky love life in general - I really should hate Valentine's Day. 

But I don't.  Because I am, and probably always will be, a romantic fool... 

Just look at what greets visitors when they enter my front door and step into the porch - a 1950's wedding dress!


The dress is sort of there by accident.  I keep my mannequin in my front porch because that's where the best light is for taking photos.  And the last clothing item that I photographed in December was the wedding dress.  It looked so pretty, I decided to keep it there...

Do you think I've been frightening away potential suitors with this dress?  Haha...never thought of that...

Other than my wedding dress, I don't get too carried away with Valentine's Day.  All I've got displayed in my home right now is this sweet little ceramic made-in-Japan heart, which is perfect for holding old Valentines...




...and an old Fanny Farmer heart-shaped candy box under my...



...Christmas tree! 

Yes, I will sheepishly admit that although I put away (most) of my Christmas decorations a couple of weeks ago,  my 1960's silver aluminum tree is still up.  So, not only am I a romantic fool, but I'm a procrastinating romantic fool!

I've had a lovely start to my Valentine's Day so far...   My daughter called at 6:30 this morning asking me if I would please, please, please consider driving her to work today so that she wouldn't have to rush to take the bus.  Since I only get to see her about once a week these days, I happily said YES.   Then when she got to work (she works at a coffee shop) she happily treated me to a yummy mocha-hazelnut latte.  

That little exchange of mother-daughter love may be my only Valentine gift today - but it's plenty for me!

How did you celebrate Valentine's Day today? 
I hope that I'm not the only romantic fool in Blogland...

♥ x ♥ x ♥ x ♥ x ♥

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Lipstick on Your Collar...

All of you Mad Men fans out there are probably familiar with the Clorox ad that was created for the show’s second season DVD. The ad features a lipstick mark on the collar of a Draper-style white shirt. The headline says Clorox has been "getting ad guys out of hot water for generations."

Well, back in 1959 Connie Francis had a hit song about a guy who was in hot water because of a telltale lipstick stain...

















Here's adorable Connie and "Lipstick on Your Collar." Sorry the sound quality is occasionally spotty - but I thought you'd get a kick out of seeing Connie singing live.


I haven't been running into very many men lately who have inspired me to leave my own lipstick mark. But a girl's gotta be prepared for that possibility down the road...

I adore the vintage lipstick case I currently own (a $1 find at an estate sale) - mainly because it's so practical. The enamel decoration has a texture that makes it easy to find in an overstuffed purse. But it's definitely seen better days.



I deserve something a bit more glamorous - don't you think?  So, I did a bit of shopping on Etsy and eBay, and discovered a wonderful world of vintage lipsticks, cases and vanity holders.   If money were no object, here are a few that I'd be drooling over.


















Lipstick Hanky with Kitty - Etsy: CarpeBellus



So...are you drooling yet?  Which one is your favorite?

My favorites: the Revlon Advertising Pin!  Also the lineup of Revlon, Coty and Bishop lipstick tubes.  Why? Because I can imagine an intriguing collection of vintage lipsticks displayed on a pretty shelf above my bedroom vanity - and at just $7.99 (opening bid) this would be a thrifty way to get started on the collection.   But I'm not planning to bid - so grab it for yourself if you'd like!

Enjoy your weekend!  And don't forget - Valentine's Day is just around the corner... 
Make sure those luscious lips of yours are ready for a little action. :-)

Trumpet Advance Lip Flexibilities - Etsy: AnotherWomansTreasur


Sunday, February 6, 2011

The Color of Love

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon (probably shouldn't be, but I've chosen to make it that way) and I've been having some fun collecting vintage fashion images that make me smile.

In honor of Valentine season, I bring you...
The Lady in Red

Vogue - January 1953



- from a 1959 issue of Vogue,  herecomesthesky


1940's Carnival Chalkware - Snow White  (from my collection)



Pictorial Review magazine, April 1933  (from my collection)


Late 1950's "Plastichrome" Postcard    (from my collection)



Illustrator, Gil Elvgren - via Coca Cola Art Gallery




Vintage Coca-Cola ad - via PictureStore

sparkling vintage Coca-Cola ad, via The Mad Jewess


Hope you all have a little red dress, or a little red something that makes you happy when you wear it...

Have a lovely week,
Sarsaparilla
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