Avon's 1876 Cape Cod Collection Dinnerware

Avon isn't just about fragrances and cosmetics.  During the late 1960s and early 1970s, Avon started expanding their product line starting with jewelry and then collectibles.  In 1975, Avon introduced a new dinnerware line called 1876 Cape Cod Collection.  A rich ruby-red color coupled with a design reminiscent of the old 'Sandwich Glass' produced by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Works founded in Cape Cod in 1825.  The pattern was said to be inspired by the classic Roman Rosette pattern.  The designs and glass production were awarded to the Wheaton Glass Company of Millville, NJ.  Avon had to approve all the mold drawings before the production began.

 Here is just a sampling of pieces I have for sale at:
CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles  on eBay
CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles on eCrater

The 1876 Cape Cod Collection was produced from 1975 through 1993 and 37 different pieces were made.Such a beautiful design and gorgeous ruby-red color.

The Diamond Point Pattern of Indiana Glass

Dunkirk, Indiana, a small town in east central Indiana was home to one of the longest living glass companies that sprung up during the natural gas discovery of the late 1800s. Originally formed in 1896 as The Beatty-Brady Glass Company, they manufactured clear glass household items. By 1899, with the economy slowing down, The National Glass Company formed combining 19 glass companies in hopes of saving costs of running the glass factories. The Beatty-Brady Glass Company became Factory #1.

The National Glass Company still couldn’t make it work and filed for bankruptcy in 1907. Factory #1 became Indiana Glass and operated until 2002 going through several more ownerships, but always retaining the name of Indiana Glass.

The Diamond Point pattern was first produced in the mid-1960s. This pattern had an extensive number of items and production continued through the 1990s. The most common was crystal and crystal with ruby staining. Other colors included amber, amber with gold staining, olive green, milk white, blue, amberina and pastels in blue, pink and green. The Diamond Point pattern was also made for Tiara Exclusives in black. While all items were made in crystal, not all were made in the other colors. Items include all dinnerware pieces and serving pieces.  I have several pieces available for purchase at 
CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles   on eBay
CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles   on eCrater

A set of 4 crystal with ruby flashing Diamond Point Wine Glasses.  These are beautiful.  Indiana Glass began making this pattern in the mid-1960s through to the early 1990s.

Available at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles is a gorgeous Indiana Glass Diamond Point Blue Compote.  

Greentown EAPG - Overall Lattice or No. 38 Glass Pattern

I still have lots of boxes in the garage to go through that contain items to list in my online stores.  Trying to keep organized is hard because there is so much.  But, a couple of days ago I just had the urge to unpack some boxes.  I don't know what is in them until I unwrap the items - it's like Christmas morning.  It is so much fun!  I found some of the Greentown glass that we are going to sell and I have unpacked about 8 boxes - wasn't all Greentown glass.  I know there has to be more in the packed boxes somewhere, but I need to stop and get what I did unpacked listed before I get out of control again.  I decided to try to get all pieces in one pattern and list together.  My first group is the Overall Lattice or No. 38 pattern.  Only 4 different pieces so far, but it's a start.

The Overall Lattice pattern was first introduced in 1897.  Designed by Charles Miller, it is one of the first tableware patterns made by the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company of Greentown, Indiana.  It was originally just called No. 38.  Jule Braun, the outside sales rep for the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company unveiled the new pattern, Overall Lattice or No. 38 at the Pittsburgh Exhibit in January 1897 and described it as follows:

  

"Our No. 38 is a ribbed pattern, bright and strong, unfinished and cheap.  It is a short line, no high flyer, but a common sense set which will just suit the lower millions." 

I just thought that was too funny.  

 

Strawberries 'n Cream

Back in the '50s when I was a little girl (HEY.......it wasn't that long ago), a man use to come around late spring selling fresh strawberries.  Even though we lived in the city on a busy street, he drove a horse and wagon.  I think he use to go up and down the alleys or side streets most of the time.  While there was a busy street in front of our house, there was an alley on one side.  It really didn't seem that unusual back then.  It was always exciting to hear him coming down the alley yelling "strawberries, strawberries for sale."  I think I got more excited about the strawberry man than the ice cream truck.  His strawberries were delicious!  My grandmother would go out to his wagon and purchase a quart or two and make strawberry shortcake.  Her shortcake was the best - she would make a dough, pat it out and bake it in a tin pie pan.  I wish I could make it as good as she did - I can taste it now.............

I just finished listing a set of dinnerware that my mother purchased from the grocery store.  She really out did herself on this set.  She had purchased a service for 24 plus serving pieces.  It is Sheffield's pattern called Strawberries 'n Cream and was offered in the 1970s.

Made in Japan, some of the pieces have a strawberry decal and some are plain.  Both have a butterscotch trim.  I have both styles in the dinner plates and bread & butter plates.
You can find these dishes at CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles.

It has taken some time to wash all these dishes, research and list.  All the while I kept thinking about the strawberry man and my grandmother's strawberry shortcake.  And here it is almost winter!

Lowcountry Refuge

Just returned from my Hilton Head Island vacation.  I think it was about 16 or 17 years ago when I first came to this gorgeous island.  The end of September is a beautiful time of the year - still warm in the high 80s without the crowds of the summer vacationers. 

The most beautiful place in the world extends from Charleston, SC to Savannah, Ga - this is heaven in my book and known as the Lowcountry.  The beauty of the live oaks dripping with spanish moss swaying slowing in the gentle wind, palmetto trees and the pink and red oleander take your breath away.  Watching herons and egrets walk through the marsh grasses; pelicans sitting on fishing piers waiting for the fishermen to throw bits and pieces from their catch of the day;  looking out at the ocean that extends forever into the horizon;  eternity.
 

The sounds of the gulls darting over the beaches looking for food left by the high tides.  The smells of the warm and cool breezes from the land and ocean all mixed together.

 

The feel of the heat hydrates my soul!  My Lowcountry refuge has renewed my spirit!

Wild Plum Tea On A Hot Summer Day!

The theme this week for Scavenger Hunters at ESN is:  Hot Weather.  After a rather cool June, we are finally getting some hot, hot weather.  100 degrees + that I think is going to last most of the week.  Love it!
My favorite drink in the summer is Wild Plum Tea.  I guess it was about 20 years ago, my mother, son and I went to visit my daughter in Tennessee down around the Smoky Mountains.  One day, we took a side trip to Gatlinburg and visited the Arts and Crafts Community.  Pottery shops, candle stores, leather shop, woodcarving shops - just all sorts of great places to browse and even watch some demonstrate their craft.  We came upon a small tea shop called The Wild Plum Tea Room.  We ate lunch and had the most wonderful miniture banana muffins and wild plum tea.  I bought Cindy Freeman Black's cookbook called "All My Best Recipes", but it did not have the recipe for The Wild Plum Tea.  Cindy so graciously gave me her recipe (see recipe at end of blog).  Lots of sugar - I keep trying to cut back on that, though.  It is just to die for and so refreshing on a hot summer day.  A perfect tumbler to serve Wild Plum Tea.

Visit the Arts and Crafts Community of Gatlinburg.    
Visit CAROLINABLUELADY Vintage Collectibles for other great vintage glassware.

Wild Plum Tea
1 quart boiling water
4 family size tea bags
2 cups sugar (I don't use the full 2 cups anymore)
2 cups water 
2 cups orange juice
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups cold water
orange slices if desired

Steep tea bags in boiling water 5 minutes. Combine sugar and water and boil for 5 minutes. Add to tea mixture. Stir in orange juice and lemon juice along with cold water.

Makes 3 quarts
Nothing better on a hot summer day, than to sit in a rocker on the front porch with a tall cold glass of wild plum tea and remember all the wonderful memories of the past. Enjoy!!!!!!!!