Oh man, it is so easy for me to become a collector. At the moment, I have 3 main collections: Milk glass, colored art glass like Depression glass, Fenton and Indiana, and American pottery like McCoy, Shawnee, Haeger, Roseville, Abingdon. Then I have my smaller but growing collections of ginger jars and original oil paintings and painted toleware trays. Oh… and then there are the snack sets. Plates from the 40’s- through 60’s usually that come with a cup that rests on the plate. I love those little things and they are pretty easy to score. I guess I like the idea of making your guest comfortable. They don’t need to worry about where they will rest their cup!
The milk glass collection started when I re-did a room in our old house painted a beautiful robin’s egg blue. I set up some white shelves above my desk and went off to the thrift store. 10 bucks later, I had several milk glass vessels to store my pens, paintbrushes and everything else I needed. The milk glass looked so beautiful against the blue. Now I have at least a hundred pieces and I have sold dozens. I am getting much more picky with the milk glass as it is so ubiquitous at thrift stores. But even the most humble piece looks charming with a daisy or a bunch of hydrangea and nothing is better for holding pens! I recently scored an Indiana milk glass punch bowl and 11 cups for $6 bucks! Now I need to have a party! Mark my word- I will use that thing! 🙂 I love the idea that milk glass was a substitute for more expensive porcelain for the average working class housewife. Plus, It is very sturdy so I often find pieces in perfect condition for under a dollar. They look lovely with tealights in them too. I have a bunch listed in my Etsy store! (https://www.etsy.com/shop/tinybirdvintagehome?ref=search_shop_redirect)
It can be a slippery slope for me when it comes to collecting but I never buy anything that I do not like myself even if I am planning on selling it. I love to shift things around when I start to get bored!
