Good Things by David

  It's Thanksgiving, a day to be thankful for what we have. I have my health, as does my husband. Our baby cat is healthy and happy. The house is warm and our plates are never empty. Mom, dad, my brothers, sisters-in-law, my niece and nephews are all healthy (they're  celebrating the holidays responsibly). Every day I am thankful for this. My family are never taken for granted.  Peace and love to you and your cherished ones. Happy Thanksgiving,  David

In the latter part of the nineties (late twentieth century), the L.E. Smith Glass Company of Pennsylvania manufactured a special shade of glass, called caramel glass, for the Martha by Mail catalog.  This particular color was used on a limited number of glass items that were already being produced for Martha Stewart Living, back when their exclusive catalog was in business.  The production run for this shade of glass lasted for less than a handful of years. Many of us collectors tend to classify this particular opaque glass as 'slag glass', while others label it chocolate glass, brown glass, and of course, caramel glass or caramel slag glass.  Make a note of it while searching for pieces online.  Not everyone is going to call it caramel glass. Slag glass is characterized by swirls or whorls of cream or white glass mixed in with the dominant color portion of the dish.  Antique slag glass was actually made by combining molten metal ores with molten colored g...

Every Thanksgiving table should have a centerpiece, whether it be fresh flowers, a cornucopia of fruits and nuts, or a crafted arrangement of seasonal items.  I have been wanting to make a simple centerpiece using sheaves of wheat, and this year was the perfect time to do so.  Nothing could be easier than tying up a bundle of wheat for an earthy table arrangement. Preserved wheat bundles can be purchased from many different sources.  The stalks lend themselves to so many uses for table settings, and if you want to get really crafty, you can even make a giant wreath. If you buy a small sheaf, the bundle can quickly be assembled into a festive centerpiece for Thanksgiving.  You can, however, break up the bunch and make many smaller sheaves for individual place settings, or to place down the length of your dining table. These beautifully preserved wheat stalks sitting next to my collection of Martha by Mail caramel glass are ready for assembling. ...

It's not a coincidence that I ardently began to collect jadeite several years ago. The color green has always been my favorite color since I can remember, and the tones of my vintage jadeite, along with the variations found in the Martha by Mail  jadeite, fit in nicely with my color of choice.  Collectors will probably agree with me when I say that the cool, opaque-green nature of jadeite soothes as well as brightens any kitchen, cabinet or table top. Like those collector friends of mine whom I keep in close contact with whenever I have a jadeite question (they know who they are!), this glass gets used periodically in my home.  It's never far out of reach or tucked away in the attic where it's inaccessible.  The glassware is proudly displayed somewhere when it's not in use, and when it is being utilized for a particular task, then it's on the counter.  On any given day, I may use one of my restaurant ware cups by Fire King for my afternoon tea, and...

I love using my Wedgwood on a weekly basis and I take great care in cleaning and storing it in my home. If you’re like me and like to mix and match your china patterns for table settings, then you probably have a good idea of what a ‘collector’ goes through when displaying and using what one has.  When I say collector, I mean it in the lightest sense.  Although I do have a good amount of certain items, like china & silverware, I wouldn’t say that I’m a devoted collector of one thing.   The several dozen pieces of Wedgwood that I do own are among my favorite types of china patterns.  When it comes to this china I make sure to keep it protected at all times whether it’s being used for a no-fuss lunch or a gussied up dinner, or being stored in a cabinet.  My love affair with Wedgwood china stems from its inherent beauty in the clean lines of each piece and its practical virtues.  I am always on the lookout to add to my existing collection.  J...