Time for Pumpkins

Time for pumpkins and all that is fall!  The leaves are so beautiful in green, orange, brown, red and purple.  Decorating for fall gatherings with these colors add warmth to the home.

Thanksgiving and Christmas will soon be here.  Families will be gathering to celebrate the holidays.  Houses will need to be spruced up and decorated to make a house warm and inviting. Glassware and table cloths will add holiday cheer. 

New items and old items will help decorate the table for guests.  Old memories and new memories go hand in hand and will be shared with special guests. Make your holidays and gatherings ones to remember!

Red, White and Blue

Red, white and blue, fireworks, picnics, parades and family gatherings!  July brings many celebrations to share.

So, in the theme of the month, we are showcasing our red, white and blue collections! As you know we have many beautiful pieces in our shop. We have glassware, tea cups, Fenton, dishes and more. 

Our blue glasses/goblets are beautiful and can be used at a picnic or a 4^th of July party. Add sparkling water or another beverage and celebrate!

When you think of red, remember that the pieces you choose can also be used for February and December. So, choose accent items that are fancy or neutral.  Need a bowl for the fruit or a salad.  We have red ones that will look beautiful on a table or at a picnic celebration.

As for white or clear pieces, we have many items to choose from.  They go perfectly with any color. So, if you need a platter, salt and pepper shakers, glassware or bowls we have many to choose from.

This month is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends!

Don't forget to check out our sections at Great Lakes Antique-Boutique at 41055 N Route 83 in Antioch, IL.

May Flowers

April showers bring May flowers!!!  We have definitely had a lot of rain this April and May.  We are ready for flowers, butterflies, birds, and bees.

 After the long, dreary winter, bright colors and the light aroma of the flowers blooming are welcoming.  However, it’s possible to bring spring into your home throughout the year.  Anyone can enjoy decorating with flowers decorated on vases, mugs, teacups, and more.  There’s a flower design for everyone.

 Some of our favorite designs may be the hand painted Fenton glass vases.  There are so many different designs of flowers on our pieces of Fenton glass that everyone is slightly different.  Fenton also has painted many different flowers, so you should be able to find your favorite flower.

 

Not only does Fenton glass have gorgeous flower designs, but many of our other glass vases, mugs, teacups, and plates have gorgeous flower designs that may include other Springtime themes such as butterflies and hummingbirds.  Adding a touch of Spring to your home can be very easy and a lot of fun.  You can also decide to use some of our glass butterflies around your home for an additional touch of Spring.

Roosters

Love France?  Love Farm Animals?  Maybe you’d love to consider redecorating your kitchen.

One theme you could use in your kitchen remodel is French Country.  This theme would require some roosters around your kitchen.

Why roosters for a French Country themed kitchen?  Because roosters were important to people living in the French countryside.  They were the people’s alarm clocks and were known to protect the other chickens.  Roosters are also an unofficial symbol in France.

There are many ways to go about doing a French Country theme.  One way is to include a lot of white washed cabinets with lots of natural wood showing through.  Another way is to create a more rustic feel.   You could even try a mixture of the two.

We have many different types of roosters for sale that would complement this theme.  It could be as simple as one or two figurines of roosters sitting atop a counter or a rooster painted on a plate.  There could also be more useful kitchen items such as a creamer that looks like a rooster or a butter dish with a rooster on top.

There are so many ways that you could use a rooster in your kitchen that do not need a remodel to a more French Country theme.

Shamrock Pottery

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, you might want to look into some Shamrock-styled pottery. Two companies that have created some beautifully crafted pieces are Belleek Pottery and Anysley China.

Belleek Pottery, which began trading in 1884, is located in what is now Northern Ireland. John Caldwell Bloomfield lived in the Village of Belleek where the company was created and where the company’s name came from. He found the materials necessary to create pottery, which prompted him to find people such as Robert Williams Armstrong and David McBirney, to get the company going. Belleek Pottery started off with just high quality domestic ware.  Belleek Pottery has created some amazing basket-weave Shamrock pieces to fit the lifestyle of Northern Ireland.

In 1775, John Aynsley began his dream of making pottery. His grandson, John Aynsley II, was the one to make Aynsley China reach new heights. This British company, which makes many different patterns of china, has made some beautiful Shamrock patterns that would spruce up any St. Patrick’s Day gathering.

Come in and see what Shamrock pieces we have to offer that will make your St. Patrick’s Day party the highlight of the day.

Christmas Decorations!

It is time to start decorating for the holidays.  Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendars are very popular, beautiful and enjoyed by little ones as well as admired by adults.  Not only can you put candy behind each door but you could put little surprises behind some or all the doors! The surprises could be small ornaments, small figurines or little notes for loved ones.

We also have Byers Choice items that are a wonderful addition to holiday decorations.  They hand crafted with care, beautifully made.  We have carolers, bakers and more! 

Lighted canvases are also a way to decorate your home for Christmas.  We have many different ones to choose from!  They also make nice gifts.  There are snow scenes, Christmas trees, skates, Christmas barn scenes, and more.  Some of the canvases are small enough to put on a desk at work or a table at home.

Hand-painted Christmas Fenton is also wonderful for the holidays!  There are many pieces with Christmas scenes painted on them to remind us of the holidays. 

For the little ones, children or grandchildren are delightful Woof N Poofs!  They are beautiful and decorative along with being huggable! Some are small enough to be a stocking stuffer!

For the Love of Orange

Fenton makes glass in different shades of orange.  We have candy dishes, pumpkins, fairy lights, pitchers, candle holders, vases and more in the orange colors.  We also have a huge estate collection of Marigold carnival glass.  Many different glass manufacturers were included.  in this massive collection, there are many European pieces. These are the perfect colors to have for fall home decorating.  

 

Don't forget to check out our fall Fenton cats for decoration.  The Alley Cat is one of my favorites.  It comes in many different colors.  So, if you are a cat lover this one is for you.  It comes in white, orange, green, blue and more.  They can be one color or hand-painted with many beautiful and unique designs.

We also have beautiful fall and holiday lighted canvases.  They add a little holiday feeling to your home. There are Halloween, Christmas, fall, barn scenes and more.  They can be hung up or put in bookshelves to add a little fun for the holiday season.

Jadeite Dishware

Do you love Jadeite?  We have many different pieces to add to your collection!

 

Jadeite, green colored opaque dishware, was first created in the 19th century, but did not become popular until the 20th century.  Fenton Art glass started making Jadeite in 1921 followed by McKee Glass in 1930. Jadeite glassware was produced by the Anchor Hocking Glass Company in the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s.  It is also known as the Fire King Jadeite.

 

Jadeite was very useful for women during the depression to save leftovers instead of just throwing them away.

 

It was not considered fine china. It was usually considered “Restaurant Ware”.  The thicker and thus heavier jadeite pieces were made specifically for restaurants. It was produced very cheaply and in mass quantities.  It was used in military bases, school cafeterias, and diners in the past because it was durable.  It was more durable than the clay or porcelain dishware.  In the 50s or 60s it was used as promotions for drug stores and department stores. 

 

In current times, darker jadeite pieces are harder to find than its lighter colored counterparts. Today, the color of the Jadeite glassware is quite popular to add to collections and use for parties.  It is so colorful and comes in different shapes and sizes.

 

Fun Facts:

 

An interesting fact about Jadeite glassware is that the pieces were made much smaller than they make the dishware of today.   

 

Martha Stewart holds a large collection of jadeite, which was started due to her daughter, Alexis. Alexis had started collecting Jadeite pieces while on a cross country road trip.

 

The Pioneer Woman also loves Jadeite dishware and has a large collection.

Decorating Tips

You’ve decided to finally decorate your bedroom, living room, or guest room.  Do you know where to start?

One of the best tips any decorator could possibly give you is to begin with a particular color scheme.  Think about what color you would most like to include in your room and then you can look to see what complimentary colors you could additionally use.

However, do not use more than three different colors in any particular room.

One idea is to use pink, green, and beige for a girl’s room.  These are great colors to use and you won’t have any trouble finding the perfect comforter to match.

You could also look at ways to incorporate your personality by adding a beautiful glass figurine.

I’d suggest choosing your favorite animal such as a dolphin or a frog.

Fenton has since retired from making many different figurines, but you can still find them in stores, such as ours, or on ebay.

Fenton has many different animal figurines such as birthstone teddy bears, deer, dolphins, and many other animals to choose from.

It is very easy to find one that will match your color scheme as well in your newly decorated room.

Come in and see what ones we have to choose from that will help add a bit of personality while you finish decorating your house.

Blenko Glass

Wilmot Heritage Antiques and Gifts has a wonderful collection of Blenko Glass. Blenko Glass originally was made in West Virginia. It developed a reputation as one of North America's leading glass collections.

 Blenko glass was even created into glass trophies for the American Country Music Awards. While some Blenko pieces bear signatures that have been engraved, the vast majority of Blenko glass can be identified with a foil label that says BLENKO HANDCRAFT. The labels have been used since the '30s to '80s. So the Blenko glass label can help with determining the date of a Blenko piece.

Blenko's blown glass designs range from elaborate designs and elegant shapes such as amphorae and bent-neck cruets to tableware and stemware markets.

Jewelry

The winter is fast approaching after this last burst of fall!  Which means getting out our sweaters, coats, and all other things to cover up and keep warm.  However, covering up doesn’t mean you can’t add a dash of color to your wardrobe!

Winter is the perfect time to look into wearing gorgeous shiny earrings, a pin for a coat, sweater, hat or other jewelry such as necklaces.  Jewelry is something to perk up your spirits a bit till spring comes to warm us up.

At Wilmot Heritage and Antiques, we have many different jewelry pieces.  There are many necklaces to look for in our cases in all different sizes.  You may find a wonderful bracelet as well.  You can also check out our Fenton glass beads which can add a gorgeous bit of color or some personality to your jewelry.  They fit Pandora bracelets as well.  If you do not have a Pandora bracelet, we have Fenton ones you will love. There are many different items in different price ranges that will be perfect to help dress up those sweaters that you are probably wearing at this time of year.

Plus, necklaces and bracelets are a fabulous idea to tell your husband or significant other to get you for Valentine’s Day which will be fast approaching.

Hallow's Eve, Cats!

 

Have a love of cats? Want to display your affection for these felines in the elegant way? Many people love to decorate their homes with animal figurines and the most popular of them are cats.

Fenton cats are beautiful and tasteful. Our favorite of course is the Alley Cat. Fenton Art Glass founded in 1905 is well known for its beautiful Alley Cat. The Alley Cat has an elongated neck, tilted head, and loveable animated grin. The Alley Cat comes in many colors, sometimes it is hand-painted, often has glitter and are loved by many cat lovers.

Playful kittens, curious cats and Happy Cats have also been included in Fenton’s cat figurines. Sometimes the cats are black or orange for Halloween. Many of the cats are painted with Halloween designs. Others are hand-painted to show the playful side of cats. Some cats are made from Slag glass. Slag glass can resemble marble cake. Usually there are streaks of different colors in the figurine.

Unfortunately, the beloved Alley Cat will no longer be made. So, the Alley Cats will be treasured by many. If you have one you are lucky!

Scarecrows

 Scarecrows have been around for a long time helping farmers scare away birds and pests.  In the United States, scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and can be seen with corn husk hair. Farmers across the world have used these scarecrows, though the materials used to create them may be different.

 In time, scarecrows have even been used in books and movies. The most common reference of scarecrows in the literary sense is the scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz. He wanted a brain, but was still willing to help Dorothy find her way home. A scarecrow, or "Turnip-Head", has even appeared in Howl's Moving Castle, which is based on the book of the same name by Dianne Wynn Jones. This scarecrow is actually a prince, but he is turned into a scarecrow and acts as an ally to the main character.

Woof & Poof have created a set of plush scarecrows that can be allies to children or even an ally of decoration around the house. These may be perfect around Autumn-time. Woof & Poof have created by both male and female scarecrows.

The Beauty of Flowers

 

There is magic in what we see as written by Robert Frost.  Luckily, we are still enjoying the beauty of the flowers and warm weather.  Soon we will be able to enjoy the array of colors seen in the leaves changing.  

Leaves Compared With Flowers - Poem by Robert Frost

A tree's leaves may be ever so good,
So may its bar, so may its wood;
But unless you put the right thing to its root
It never will show much flower or fruit.

But I may be one who does not care
Ever to have tree bloom or bear.
Leaves for smooth and bark for rough,
Leaves and bark may be tree enough.

Some giant trees have bloom so small
They might as well have none at all.
Late in life I have come on fern.
Now lichens are due to have their turn.

I bade men tell me which in brief,
Which is fairer, flower or leaf.
They did not have the wit to say,
Leaves by night and flowers by day.

Leaves and bar, leaves and bark,
To lean against and hear in the dark.
Petals I may have once pursued.
Leaves are all my darker mood. 

 

 

Vases and candle holders can be small and beautiful!!!  Add a small vase with flowers or a lighted candle holder to your table!  These pieces of Fenton are hand-painted with beautiful flowers in soft colors.  They add a little color to any room and are small enough to fit on any table top.  I love changing up my rooms with little touches that make big differences.  These are just a sampling of what you can find at Wilmot Heritage Antiques & Gifts in Antioch, Il.

 

 

Under the vase and candle holders are handmade doilies.  In the store you will find many different colored doilies to choose from to add a little beauty to the glass pieces and some protection for your furniture. They add a feminine touch to any décor.

 

Mother's Day Gifts

 

 

It’s almost May!  Time to see if the April showers bring May flowers.  The weather has been amazingly nice overall.  We have lucked out this Spring.  And speaking of May, Mother’s Day is just right around the corner.  Do you know what you are getting for your mother?  Or are you a mother yourself and would love to have an idea to suggest to your children or significant other?

With the flowers in bloom, the perfect gift for Mother’s Day is definitely a vase to hold a beautiful bouquet.  Fenton has gorgeous pink frosted, blue glass, burmese vases and more with intricate hand painted designs that would please any mother. 

Or if a vase and flowers isn’t quite right, there are always glass bears, birds, and turtles that are painted with detailed flowers.  This would bring a smile to any mother on Mother’s Day.