Blue Mountain Pottery

I'm a fan of Blue Mountain Pottery, and love coming across it. It's not as popular as McCoy or Roseville, I've seen it mis-identified a few times. Since it was a Canadian Pottery company, that might be the reason for some of the confusion. Unfortunately, it closed it's doors in 2004, a victim of cheaper imports. It was a popular pottery company, and there are plenty of pieces in good condition, as well as fan clubs that can help you should you have any questions. However, as time goes on it will become more unique.

The glaze always catches my eye, and I check the item out. If it's the real deal, the glaze is thick, and Blue Mountain Pottery did a double glazing with two different colors known as "reflowing decorating." Some of the pieces with a closed bottom are marked BPM, but other marks existed. The most popular color is the greenish shade(s), but they also did other colors, such as reds and golds. They did figurines to serving ware. Below are a few pieces from my own collection, and they aren't for sale.

This is an example of the open bottom, it won't be marked. One of my pieces still has a paper label, but just because it isn't marked doesn't mean it's not Blue Mountain Pottery. As with anything, there are fakes, so be cautious and know the dealer.

This cat is approximately a foot tall, I couldn't get him in the entire photograph. Please note the label. With vintage, it's not tacky at all to leave the label on, and it increases value.

The deer was being sold as a Frankoma, and I got the dog rather cheaply because they didn't know what it was. Fortunately, I did.

Vintage French Sofa

I love treasuries on Etsy, and I love it whenever I'm featured in one. I discover new shops and items that I wouldn't have found on my own. I do think the treasury system is a little flawed in that I would love to see different shops and items picked for more variety on the front page, but I digress. Etsy didn't ask me.

I was featured in a French themed treasury by BirdsChasingBugs. I was checking it out and clicking the pictures, when I noticed this couch, or rather it "jumped out" at me. My family had one similar when I was growing up. I remember when I went with my mom and sister to someones house to get it re-upholstered. I'm not sure what happened to the couch, but the fabric on the one below looks great. It's for sale by bohemiennes on Etsy. Not only do I love the item, but the staging is perfect, in turn making it the perfect picture. I bet your neighbors don't have this couch. My parents did, once upon a time.

New Uses for Elegant Depression Glass Compotes

I love Elegant Depression, but as anyone who tries to collect it knows, if it was a popular pattern, there are sometimes hundreds of pieces to collect. This is part of the fun and challenge, but why were there so many pieces? They had a compote, also know as a comport, for everything.

Jelly, it gets an elegant compote. Honey, yep, also slice off that cheese, it gets a flat one to go into. If you can think of it, it has a piece for it. Remember this when people talk of consumerism being a new thing, I can see housewives competing by setting tables. Who had the most elegant table, you or the Joneses? I have to admit, I would love to eat at these tables, but not set them up. I have enough to do just by cooking the Thanksgiving dinner, let alone getting a compote ready for everything.

I'm not trying to sound dismissive or harsh of the by-gone era by any means. That's why I love older glass, and vintage in general, there is a quality and elegance. If you're not a collector of Elegant Depression patterns, you can use some of the deeper compotes as pretty candle holders. If you don't need a comport for your jelly, why not add some water and add a tea light. The picture below if for sale at Modred12 at Etsy, and I think it would be a lovely centerpiece. Surround it with flowers for a wedding, or just do a simple votive. The glass is striking on it's own, and with some additions it can be a standout.

By the way, if you are setting any Elegant Depression glass table for any occasion, feel free to invite me.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

Since I'm back from my vacation I started listing some new items at both of my stores. In the next week or two, I'll start listing my vintage Christmas items. Too early you say? I can't be the only early Christmas shopper. I've found that if I plan out my shopping instead of waiting until the last minute Christmas is more affordable.

I'm also going to offer mailing directly to the gift recipient. You buy from me, and if you would like it mailed elsewhere just let me know know in the notes to seller when you check-out. I hope to start this in the next month or two, but I need some gift tags or mini cards, and haven't been able to find something I like. The black cat is my brand, so I need a realistic looking black cat with a holiday theme. If there are any card stores that you could recommend please put them in the comments. I'll be happy to take a look, and I prefer supporting small businesses like myself.

I have tried Alchemy on Etsy in the past. I was pleased with the product I received, I just didn't like telling the people that I didn't pick that I turned them down. I felt like a meanie, it's not like they did anything wrong. So, after doing that once I'm not a fan of the Alchemy format on Etsy. I may try the Zibbet forum if I can't find what I want, but hopefully one of my blog followers can help me out.

In the meantime, here's a couple of new items that I've listed, and much more on the way. It's time to get ready for the holidays.

I love the condition of this vintage Rival Juice O Mat juicer. It's for sale at Modred12 on Etsy.

These Fire King small bowls are for sale at my ModredVintage Zibbet shop.

I'm Back

I have returned from what was a mountain heavy vacation. My husband and I met each other in Denver, and would head for the mountains as time allowed. We now live in a prairie state, but miss the mountains. For our trip, we visited Jackson and Yellowstone in Wyoming, then headed up to Glacier National Park in Montana. We then visited the Canadian Rockies outside of Calgary, Alberta (and avoided the Stampede). We have plenty of mountain pictures, even though they never do nature justice.

Random Updates, Trades and Zibbet Shoping

My shops will be closing tomorrow, I'm going to be heading out on vacation. I'm looking forward to it, my husband and I will hit the Jackson Hole area, then up to Calgary. I'm will be seeing relatives and friends, and am glad my parents were so nice and agreed to watch our children. As much as I enjoy my Zibbet and Etsy stores, and my blog, breaks are always nice. I will still be in contact via the convo/contact system, but will be checking less frequently. Before I go, here's some of my pre-trip shopping and trading that I did.

I never have traded before, but I always wanted to try it. When HamsaHealing on Etsy contacted me, how could I refuse? I love the fingerless gloves and hat I received, and the process was easy. I adore the quality of handmade, and wish I had the talent for it. I "almost" can't wait for winter so I can wear them.

I needed some soap, so I got a four-pack from ForgetMeNotSoapShop on Zibbet. The wooden soap dish is from YourTime also on Zibbet.

One of my favorite jewelry shops is on Zibbet. It's called FeroshKittyDesigns, and since I'm going on vacation, I of course needed a new necklace. Isn't it pretty?

80s Flashback-The Facts of Life

I'm a little embarrassed to admit this, but I used to love The Fact of Life. I was there from the beginning, the days of Molly Ringwald and when Tootie wore skates to try to hide the fact that Kim Fields was so much shorter and younger than the rest of the cast. It started as a group of girls at a boarding school, but soon became about four young girls and Mrs. Garrett.

Jo was by far my favorite. She was a "bad girl" because she rode a motorcycle, although now that I think about it they never actually showed her riding the motorcycle, it was all off screen. She got the other three in trouble and they had to work in the school cafeteria with Mrs. Garrett to pay off the damages they did to the school van. They came from fairly well-to do parents (except Jo), especially Blair, why did they have to work it off? Wouldn't they have been bailed out? The Facts of Life work plot lines work better when you're a kid.

Jo was from the working class, Blair the rich girl, and then there were Natalie and Tootie. They weren't focused on as much, and I can't think of any defining trait of either. They were both nice girls that would deliver a joke. The show seemed to go on forever, Edna was at the school, then opened her own catering business, which makes sense, and they all moved with her, which doesn't make as much sense. After the catering business burnt down she opened a trendy store. This one doesn't make any sense either, but the store seemed to do fine no matter how the economy was. They added characters, there was a boy and even George Clooney as a young handyman. Mrs. Garrett left, her sister came in. At this point I was long gone.

I went back and watched it when I was older, and it just isn't that good of a show. Why do these four always stay together? It's like Laverne and Shirley, when all their friends and family moved with them to California. This doesn't happen in real life, no one moves when you move unless you're married with children. The plots were very formulaic and nothing really groundbreaking happened, and I can't tell you a joke from the show. Oh well, it was the 80s, and it fit in well with the times.

Hazel Atlas State Glasses

Today I woke up to rain, not the best way to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday. However, in honor of the birthday of our country, I decided to focus on Hazel Atlas State Glasses. They are very collectible, and who doesn't love learning a little fact about the state you live in? They're also known as map glasses, as this was how they were advertised.

There are a variety of designs, variations, and colors. They are frosted, with greens, pinks, blues, oranges, or yellow. They are vibrant colors. They were made during the 50s and some are marked HA for Hazel Atlas, some aren't. Please note that Imperial Glass also made a line of state glasses during the same time period, and I've seen them mis-identified. In my experience, the Imperial Glass line is also frosted, but done with a red, and it's not as neon as the Hazel Atlas line is. If anyone else has something to add about the differences please do.

The glasses from the western states tend to see higher demand. There were also glasses done for souvenir spots, such as Pikes Peak. They are cool glasses, I like them. If you price them within reason they do sell, as they are unique and you don't see glass items like this today. I've included a couple of examples below.

This Nevada glass is for sale in my ModredVintage shop on Zibbet.

Here's a Nebraska glass I have my eye on. It's for sale on Etsy by FreshPikd4u. I better not wait too long, with vintage, when it's gone, it's gone.

Vintage Fashion-Vintage Swimsuits

In honor of the upcoming summer weekend, I'm doing my vintage fashion a little early and focusing on the swimsuit. Any woman who has any "problem areas" doesn't relish swimsuit shopping. It seems that most of the swimsuits I come across today don't hide any of the problems. I think the 50s/60s had it right when it comes to swimsuits. They were sexy, showed a little skin, but not too much. I've pulled out three swimsuits from the time period that are unique, cover, but are still fun for summer.

This one dates from the 1960s and has boy shorts underneath. It's for sale on Etsy by 2blackbirds.

This one is from Planetclairvintage on Etsy. It dates from the 50s, and also looks like a fun dress.

Check out this Red Plaid Swimsuit for sale at Glamoursurf. It dates from the 50s as well.