I love glass. I love it for the same reason birds love it, it’s shiny. Cleaning the glass around my house, including my windows, mirrors, and the glass on pictures is one of my chief (and some would think, strangest) decorating tips for the holidays. Glass makes the perfect palette for candlelight and twinkle lights to shimmer and shine which does a lot to make magic in any room. Like the trail Tinkerbelle leaves as she flies by. ♥
Receiving this dish in my early 20′s was probably the thing that alerted me to the possibilities with glass and started the obsession. It was a gift from my Aunt Maroline and Uncle Bob when I got married. When I first saw it, I didn’t know what it 
was or what I would DO with it; there were no bananas in it when I unwrapped it, so I wasn’t sure what its purpose was. I love things with a purpose, so when my aunt told me it was to hold bananas, I jumped for joy. It had a reason to exist! I could have it! The pure charm and whimsy of the thing took hold of my heart, and this banana dish has been on every kitchen table, island, or counter in every kitchen of my life. It is a mainstay. I would be bereft without it. We are never without bananas in our house. ♥
Inspiration is funny. You never know when it will hit or what form it will take. One summer afternoon, many years ago, we were sitting at the picnic table in the backyard belonging to a French man we know here on the island. He spread a white table cloth over the wood table, brought out beautiful cheeses on a board, and served us cold white wine in short, straight-sided thin glasses like these, while French cafe music drifted out the open French doors to his house.
I thought, oo, la, oui! How continental! How adorably foreign! How Charles Trenet! I must have this!
And so it began, the glass collection that will never end. Because
it was becoming obvious that to lead an original romantic life, on the model of the early Zelda Fitzgerald, where dreamy French music and entertaining would take place, I was going to need to gather the ingredients (props); these glasses looked like a good place to start.
We’ve collected ours mostly one at a time. We’ll see one on a shelf in an antique store, it will cost a dollar, and we will jump on it like it’s a trophy. Our eyes narrow and shift around the store, to see, does anyone else notice this wonderful thing is only a dollar? And they don’t, so we grab it and run. What is a dollar these days? A candy bar is a dollar.
Because we find them one at a time, our collection of these little glasses is very mix and match. We’ve found them in pink and green depression glass, etched with fruit and flowers, swirled, and hand-painted.
We have found them etched with the Lord’s Prayer.
We have found ones that we can’t believe have survived so long!
Some of them could definitely tell a story. We found this one from the first Queen Elizabeth in the little antique store on board the QEII. It was not a dollar. But it had our name written all over it. The Finding-Nemo seagull word formed on the lips, “mine” it said, irresistibly, as in take me I’m yours.
Over time, we realized that others, with slightly different shapes, make wonderful water glasses. I know some of you understand this love of pretty glasses, because a couple of weeks ago we put three sets of these little glasses, colored and etched, in the Vintage section of our website, and they were snapped right up! Sets are really hard to find but Joe and I got them out shopping as we were crossing the country! So happy you (whoever you are) got them! I will keep looking, when I’m out and about, for more.
We have found them in all colors . . . and have broadened our definition of “what is acceptable” to include different shapes. We had to, there was no choice; do you look at these yellow jewels and say, oh dear, no, the ridges just won’t do? No, you do not. You don’t even think it.
Setting the table can be like putting together a puzzle, a little of this a little of that. But, for better or worse, however it turns out will be very unlike anyone else’s, because, as you know, you can’t walk into a store and just get this stuff any time, it takes a long time to gather this, a person has to be choosy and get just what she loves. ♥
Glass obsession knows no end. It graduates from wine glasses, and gets its wings with serving bowls, candle sticks, and cake plates. It was probably thirty years of antiquing before I found this at a price I was willing to pay for it. I’m just not paying $200 for a cake stand, but I will pay $56. Yes, I will. Here it is, home at last! Holding my mom’s famous Coconut Circus Cake with pink sugar frosting. ♥
Pitchers and ice bowls call my name too.
Early morning light comes in through the windows and falls across the dining table, and this is what we get, free of charge.
Glass star bobeche and colored-glass votives are perfect for the holidays.
Yellow makes a fresh Springtime table!
Old glass sugars and creamers make wonderful votives and leave pretty patterns on the table cloth!
I think I learned to cook mostly because I loved setting the table! But I discovered very early that no one was interested in my table settings unless there was food to go with them! Secretly still “playing house,” happy to cook in order to do it! Finding your things at flea markets and antique stores is not only inexpensive and “green” it also means your table will never look like anyone else’s — 100% Original You.
I love glass very much. Your collection is gorgeous!!! Wow!!
I do agree that the light coming through the cuts of glass make everything in life more special, more brilliant, a magnificent splendor fills a room when the sun pours in. Thanks for all the photos of your glasses!
You are so welcome Jill! Fun to find kindred spirits, even for the little things!
When I read this the first time it was the day before my anniversary trip. I am lucky to have a husband who loves junk and antique shops. So,inspired by you, I purchased two sets of sundae glasses, big ones and smaller ones. Thanks for making our ice cream taste sooo much better than it ever has before!
Hard to take credit for that, but thank you!
I have to agree, a sundae in a sundae glass just does taste better!
I was searching for info on the frozen flower bowl mentioned in your 2012 calendar but couldn’t find it. What category would I find it under?
BTW, I am totally enamored by your calendar . . .I sat down and read thru every month; laughed lots and even cried, too (at quotes that brought back so many memories). It is just a rare jewel & creative masterpiece! I thank my beautiful daughter for giving me such a lovely and thought-provoking gift! God Bless you!
What a sweet thing to say! Thank you Shenna! We will have all those recipes up as we get closer to the time . . . haven’t quite gotten around to it yet, but we will!
Hello Susan, since I have caught up on the blog comments (Congrats on so many)…I am just having fun looking at some of your other sites and when I saw glass I just had to look. I wrote you once in comments when you gave away the banana dish how much I adore glass and I have my Grandmothers’ pink/green depression pieces…since we moved in our “cozy” home I just do not have the room to display anymore and that makes me sad…I do have a corner shelf display and put a few pieces here, most are at our farm house or packed away. I think it is so sad to pack away antique “keepsakes” that I looked at for decades in curio cabinets; but, the homestead is being closed (180 yrs.) and no longer safe to live in so we packed things away. I truly hope that the daughters will display them someday in their homes. I know we can’t take things with us it just makes me happy to know someone will enjoy them. You have a lovely collection and the etched glasses I remember seeing at my Grandmother’s. Do you remember your Grandma getting things from the Jewel T truck that came around or when they put glasses in laundry powders?? I barely remember that as a very young child. Glass is truly a treasure to be enjoyed and used. I love all your drawings it just brings back my childhood and all things old fashioned.
Kindred spirits Deborah!
Dorothy, I know what you mean about being sad packing things away. My mother moved to a senior apartment a couple years ago and we packed up much of the glassware that had come from my granmothers’ houses. Unfortunately my own house is small and I dont have much room to display these treasures. I even sold a few because I thought they should go so someone who loves them and can display them, but now I am wish I had not… Makes me sad …
OBSESSED—-with glass, (and pottery) Love my table done up in my wonderful finds… AND the wonderful odd pieces are a wonderful conversation started!
Need to have a room to store all my treasures!!! My cupboards are full!!!
I understand the problem!!
Hello Susan. How I love you!!! Your art has given me so much joy and inspiration. I am trying to teach myself how to draw because of you! Like you also I love fabric and make quilts. However glass is definitely my PASSION! My glass obsession began when I did our daughters’ wedding in 2007 and she said “Momma I really don’t want lots of flowers but I would rather have candle scapes of all sorts.” That started my quest of all kinds of glass to use for these candle scapes. I built all sorts of beautiful candle holders from glass and old metal candle holders that I sprayed matte silver to all match. Her wedding party tables were so beautiful! And all the “nut dishes” were old crystal berry bowls, nut and candy dishes, and small fruit bowls. It was too fun. Now I have dozens of books on old glass and I hunt for it all the time. I love old china with apple blossoms and cabbage roses and of course Depression and Elegant glass era pieces. I give them as presents – people just love them! I collect berry bowls in mostly china but some milk glass and plan to use those for a friends’ daughters wedding tables someday. I so love the hunt and get sooooo thrilled when I find that very special something! One of my most treasured pieces are the two fabulous crystal wine glasses that we got for our daughters wedding for my husband and I to use ( we forgot though with all the excitement to drink any champaign!) You are truly a blessing in my life and now I have something else to share with you besides drawing! Hopefully I will get the courage to begin to learn to watercolor with pencils soon. Blessings from me to you!
Another kindred spirit, Janie! Love apple blossoms, cabbage roses, depression glass . . . on and on, it’s all so beautiful! Good luck with your art! Practice is truly the secret! Blessings to you and yours!
I love the yellow glasses! I have them in pink!
I am SO happy I found your site today~~what a treat!!! I love your clear drinking glass collection!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE vintage glass, in SO many shapes and forms! It seems I quickly fall fast in love with those pieces that were used in daily life, part of the working glass — I LOVE THEM!! Glass butter dishes, jelly jars with metal lids, drinking glasses, small plates and bowls of all sizes! Vases, ribbed and quilted jars with metal lids and all the brands and variations of clear and blue quart jars–Ball, Atlas, Root, Mason, Kerr, Swayzee’s, Queen and more…LOVE em’ ALL!
Happy to have you here Mrs. Mary!
I just found this section under Home Sweet Home! What a treat! <3 I go into our local antique store weekly just in hopes that a sparkly glass of some type will catch my eye and beg to be rescued to a new home! We have the Lord's Prayer glass also, and others etched with names and dates. The search is such FUN. It's just so hard to say no to things so unique and cute. I smile in delight whenever someone comes to visit and sees one and comments "how unusual… wherever did you find it". I have some from my great grandfather's glass cutting factory in the early 1900's. Some folks say I need to pare down, but how do you, how can you let go of family history? I just can't, and realize that some folks just don't understand.
Oh it's so hard! I love your collection Susan! (And that gravy boat that looks like it's attached… one piece… less spills!) Thank you for sharing! Georgie
You come by it honestly Georgie, family business!