jaditekate

giveaway winner is....

2012-01-11T10:10:00.003-05:00

thanks to everyone who entered the necklace giveaway from lee ohio designs. the winner was picked randomly at random.org. she is KIM GARRETT! congrats!

hippo jar

2012-01-09T19:41:00.003-05:00

didn't get the hippopotamus you wanted for christmas? get it here. you won't have to keep this one in your two-car garage.

happy new year

2011-12-31T16:07:00.002-05:00

put on something shiny and ring in 2012!

shoe clips by finkshop

lee ohio

2011-12-29T17:30:00.007-05:00

photo by south mississippi living, 2011

some of the most beautiful jewelry on etsy can be found at lee ohio. this lovely shop is owned by jennifer, who also creates each piece. she is my etsy featured seller this month.

Please tell us a little about yourself.

The visual arts in general, and painting in particular, have always been my passion. I moved away from the state of Maine to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design and earned my Bachelor's of Fine art in Painting with a minor in art history. At the time I was also working as a design assistant for a costume jewelry designer. The basic training and skills I acquired as an assistant along with my formal training as an academic painter was the perfect combination to open up the world to me as a the creator of wearable fine art.

At present I live and work full-time as an artist and designer on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

What made you want to start your Etsy shop?

When I began this adventure as full time artist in 2007 I was unaware of Etsy. A friend showed me it and at the time it seemed like a natural extension to any company or artist working in the growing global marketplace. With the current state of the economy it has become an essential part of my business plan.

What inspires your jewelry designs?

Ironically, my work is inspired by the ephemeral (ironic I say as each piece is carefully created to be anything but). Fleeting looks caught in old photographs, an awareness that something special is being captured, nostalgia, and tiny details no one else will notice. As well I pull from the more permanent: the past century and a half or so, Louis Comfort Tiffany's stained glass, Art Nouveau architecture and Miriam Haskell's costume jewelry of the 20s-50s.

On my many sites I state over and over again that, for me, "It is not about creating a large volume of work - but creating a concise, interrelated body of work that is exceptional." Every piece is so very carefully conceived from conception to completion - so much so it may border on the level of ridiculous. Many pieces take weeks or months to complete because I'm waiting for just the right stone or antique element to finish it. But whatever the piece, whether it has one of my hand-selected natural curiosities or a coveted antique element, each of these statements is true: the designs have a subtle elegance and delicate glamour; each is individually composed, almost all one of a kind, and hand-fabricated by me in my studio.

I take the old to make it new and I take the new and give it history.

Do you have a favorite piece that you have made?

That is a hard question. Most of the time I am very pleased with my work but every so often I have a finished piece, or an element within a piece, that I become quite fond of. I think it is a tie between the Martinete brooch and the Lisle necklace with an antique Art Nouveau brooch.

Other than creating beautiful jewelry, what are your favorite things to do?

I'm an avid collector of depression-ware, jadite specifically! I just love to collect, I should say that. When it is warm I garden a bit. I also love to travel and am a bit of a political junkie. I am a proud supporter of the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and other organizations dedicated to the prevention of cruelty to animals and the protection of wildlife. My two dogs are the loveliest creatures on earth.

Jennifer has been so kind as to offer my readers both a coupon code and a giveaway. Use the coupon code THANKYOU at check out at her etsy store to get 15% off. If you'd like to enter the Jadite necklace giveaway (see photo above), please comment on this blog post (Winner will be picked at random on January 10th. You can only comment once or you will be disqualified). Jennifer describes the necklace as "Chrysoprase & green onyx charm necklace with blackened & bright sterling silver".

december etsy favs

2011-12-20T21:38:00.011-05:00

my apologies for not blogging much this december. this month has been filled with parties, baking cookies and shopping. hopefully you've finished your holiday shopping, but if not, maybe you'll find something you like among my December etsy favorites.

amazonite necklace by finejewelrydesign

seafoam teapot from bejoyfulvintage

gray & mint zag dish by upintheairsomewhere

vintage turquoise heels from emiliacaracol

madison necklace by kentonbeadworks

green ceramic jar by forestdaydream

pillow tutorial by soles

paulina carcach

2011-11-30T22:19:00.005-05:00

i am so excited to introduce you to my november featured seller: paulina carcach. i really love the handbags she creates... i have bought one for myself for my birthday the past two years. they hold up so well and are so beautiful. i hope you will enjoy getting to know a little about her and her wonderful shop.

Please tell us a little about yourself and your shop. I was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. I’m the second child of three siblings, I remember watching my father and grandfather make cowboy boots by hand, we loved and appreciated anything handmade. I grew up helping them carry leather and materials around the place. Prior to working in the fashion world, I was fascinated by Interior Design and Architecture. I graduated from the Interior and Design Program at the Academy of Art San Francisco and worked at a Design Firm for three years. I decided to start designing and creating handbags when I found myself needing the perfect handbag for work. I founded Paulina Carcach Studio in 2008, we offer a wide selection of unique and handcrafted items, every product I personally design. My vision for my label is to create handbags that are both luxurious and wearable, with a beautiful feminine touch. We strive to make our handbags timeless and modern, but never cold. All of our materials are handpicked with care for its style, wearability and quality.

What prompted you to start creating and selling handbags? I have always been a handbag fanatic, and I found myself looking for the perfect handbag many times. With the experience I have gained over the years on leather and designing, in the year of 2000 I thought it was the perfect time to start making my own bags.

What inspires your designs? Anything around me. My family, my friends and the fashion world.

Do you have a favorite bag that you have made? Well, that changes every year, every handbag I make becomes my favorite until I start making a new one. But, if I had to choose one it will be Valentina in Mint Calfskin.

Other than creating beautiful purses, belts & earrings, what are your favorite things to do? I love spending quality time with my 10 month old son. It is the most wonderful thing has ever happen to me.

You can find Paulina Carcach on etsy, facebook, twitter and her website.

black friday / cyber monday SALE

2011-11-23T12:19:00.004-05:00

get 20% off your entire order

friday november 25th through

midnight (EST) monday november 28th

when you use the coupon code 2011HOLIDAY

at checkout at my etsy shop

(excludes shipping and PA sales tax).

have a great thanksgiving!

november etsy favs

2011-11-10T22:29:00.004-05:00

turkey day is quickly approaching. here are a few of my etsy favorites for thanksgiving.

the cutest invites ever by girlingearstudio

autumn succulent centerpiece by aprilhilerdesigns

ceramic turkeys by thenewtonlabel

cozy cowl by happiknits

organic/vegan pumpkin pie butter (or pie filling) by rhiamon

sweet ride

2011-10-28T19:45:00.003-04:00

such a sweet photo by beautifulawakenings.

love the car, color, plate... everything!

jardinieres

2011-10-03T12:14:00.004-04:00

one of the many glass pieces i collect are mckee jardinieres. i love their shape and the chevron design around the outside. mckee glass didn't have the best quality control, so the colors of green vary from light jadite to dark skokie. this makes each one unique. last week i found #3 in my collection, which is a beautiful teal color (left, below). i fell in love with the color... and the price. only $15! they are valued at $125.

october etsy favs

2011-10-02T15:38:00.004-04:00

i love fall in pennsylvania! pulling out the sweaters and taking brisk walks outside are some of my favorite things to do this time of year. here are a few of my etsy favorites too...

barn wood rustic vase by braggingbags

wedding card box birdhouse by doorcountywoodworks

flower crown wreath by whichgoose

powder blue debbie bliss yarn from hardysupplyco

jadite colored storage tin from littlebeachdesigns

star garland by thepathlesstraveled

the help

2011-09-11T23:10:00.003-04:00

if you haven't heard of the movie, The Help, you've probably been living under a rock. it has been the blockbuster movie of the summer. you must see it, not only for the heartwarming story, but also for all of the vintage clothing, kitchens & (of course) glassware. one scene in aibileen's kitchen you see ivory Anchor Hocking range shakers, spun aluminum shakers and canisters, a Fire King milk glass devil egg plate, and Pyrex turquoise striped cup & saucer. i loved her kitchen as well as celia's.

necklace giveaway winner is...

2011-09-02T14:50:00.003-04:00

thanks to all of you who entered osage orange studio's necklace giveaway. i went to random.org to randomly selected a winner, and that the lucky winner is commenter number 15! enjoy your new necklace.

martha stewart living - jadite

2011-08-31T13:54:00.004-04:00

this month's martha stewart living magazine showcases martha's massive collection of jadite. i'd been looking for the article for a few months now, and was pleasantly shocked at her collection. she has a ton of rare (and high-priced) jadite! here's a sneak peak, but make sure you check out the article for yourself!

magazine photos are property of martha stewart living

necklace giveaway... two more days to enter!

2011-08-30T13:34:00.003-04:00

just a reminder that you have until tomorrow night to enter osage orange studio's necklace giveway (photo above). click here to see rules to enter.

Osage Orange Studio

2011-08-15T11:15:00.008-04:00

i am happy to announce that linda of osage orange studios is my august etsy featured seller. take a second to get to know more about her and her shop.

Please tell us about yourself. I grew up in Michigan, went to college for interior design and worked in Wisconsin, Boston and Chicago in commercial architectural design firms for close to 15 years. I worked on all types of interiors from offices, universities and hospitals with projects located in the United States and internationally including the African country of Angola and Mumbai, India. After working nonstop and many long hours, I decided to explore other creative ventures on a smaller scale that allowed a better quality of life. I currently live in Chicago with my architect husband, David and our persistently meowing cat, Charlie.

How did you become interested in making jewelry? Several years ago, my husband and I traveled back to Cambridge, MA where we lived when we were first married. We happened upon a charming bead store that had always been in town but that I had never really ‘seen’, until this time around. When we ventured in I was immediately inspired by all the beautiful stones & color possibilities. When I was working so much, I really had no idea these type of stores existed! At the time, I had been looking for a necklace for myself that I had not yet found, so decided to try my hand at making my own. That visit put a little seed idea in my head and after a bit of time and thought, Osage Orange Studio was created via Etsy.

You use such interesting beads ... where do you find them? I find most of my materials at local Chicago area bead stores. I go to each shop for different things, some carry a good vintage bead selection and others beautiful stone strands. I do sometimes shop online, but prefer to see and feel the stones in hand to check for quality. I go with what speaks to me when I see it.

What inspires your pieces? Simply, color. I believe at heart I’m a ‘colorist’ if there is such a thing. I’m inspired by the colors in food, summertime farmers markets, all the glorious greens and blues in nature, the quality of light, old classic films and on it goes ... I’ll see a color combination and it will trigger a design idea that translates to my jewelry. I love the subtleties of colors and the architectural quality of geometric patterns. I believe always looking is the key.

Do you have a favorite piece that you've made? If so, which? My favorite necklace is called ‘Honeydew’, which previously sold. It was inspired by a lovely colored melon that I ate one summer with a yellow skin and light green flesh. I created a long necklace out of creamy light green rectangular beads that were knotted with canary yellow silk thread. This piece represented my style and color sense well and felt like ‘me’ to the core. It was young and fresh, a little bit delicate but still modern. A current favorite in my shop are the Raindrop & Midnight series. These necklaces are so lightweight to wear for summer and feel like they float on the neck.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy? If so, where? Right now, I only sell on Etsy. I always list current information and sales in my shop announcements. I also welcome custom work based on a current design or something completely new based on a specific stone. Come say hello anytime… I would love to have you visit.

linda has been so kind to offer my readers a giveaway and a coupon code. please include your email address in a comment below to be eligible for her beautiful Raindrop necklace (necklace length selected by winner). the last day to comment is august 31. the winner will be randomly picked september 1st. you may only comment once. if you'd like to purchase one of her other items, enter the coupon code "jaditekate" at checkout to receive 10% off.

august etsy favs

2011-08-05T10:14:00.012-04:00

turquoise is one of my favorite colors, so this month's etsy favorites are all about that gorgeous hue. enjoy!

i love the color and detail of this vintage bracelet from greenhilljewelers

cute poster by sugarfresh

custom made and one of a kind brooch bouquet by lionsgatedesigns

pendant by aurumjewelry

skinny cowhide belt by paulinacarcach

*i highly recommend this seller*

pom-pom trio by pomtastic

lamp goods

2011-07-18T12:21:00.005-04:00

i've been looking for a pendant lamp for my kitchen for a while. one day i was searching etsy for a vintage lamp when i came across lamp goods, a light fixture store run by jann. i have chosen her to be my july featured seller. here is a little about jann and her shop.

Please tell us a little about yourself. I spent many of my youthful days re-creating found objects into decorative items for my room. From a beaded curtain made from paper beads to a window shade of roofing circles. Through out my young adult life, I continued my love of re-purposing objects. Upon graduation from college, I went on to be involved in the design field and achieved both regional and national recognition for my work.

How did you become interested in creating lamps/fixtures? A few years ago when I built my new house, I wanted lighting fixtures that were a 'little different' than what everyone else had or could have, so, I started creating my own. I was so pleased with them and received so many compliments, I decided to open my shop so others could have more unique lights for their home too. I think lighting fixtures are such an important part of a home. Not only for the function of but also it becomes the ‘jewelry’ of the home and can really make a statement. I believe you can totally change the 'feel' or look of a room by changing the light fixtures.

You use such beautiful globes and shades. Where do you find them? Right here in the wonderful state of Maine and on my weekly shopping sprees.

What inspires your work? I love browsing lamps in PotteryBarn, Schoolhouse Electric, decorator magazines and even a sitcom or two.

Do you have a favorite lamp/light that you have made? That’s an easy question to answer because without a doubt any light I’ve created as a one-of-a-kind lamp by using found objects is a favorite. But in general I really enjoyed creating the varies applications and looks of my canning jar light series.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy? If yes, where? When I knew my lights were going to be in a national magazine, I decided to venture out and create my own web-site. Its called TheLampGoods.com. I originally thought it wouldn’t do much after the magazine ran, but I’m happy to announce its far exceeding my expectations!

What are your goals for your shop for 2011? My goals are to show more vintage shade/globe pendants and to expand my industrial lights selection. I won’t however push aside the canning jar lights. But will be looking to design a more ‘horizontal’ fixture suited for multiple pendant lights over an island or table but needing only one electrical box.

JaditeKate readers discount: visit jann's etsy shop and receive 15% off at checkout (for a limited time) when you enter jkreaders in the coupon code section at checkout.

jann preparing a light for shop photos

i heart fenton

2011-07-15T00:14:00.006-04:00

i've never been a huge fan of Fenton glass. my grandma has a few pieces that have been in her collection for FOREVER, so i've always associated that brand as being "old lady-ish". not anymore.

last week my mom and i took a trip to one of our favorite local antique shops. almost as soon as i walked in i saw a blue Fenton hobnail planter. it was pretty much love at first sight. i had never seen one of these in blue, only their lime/jadite color. this color is fantastic - not turquoise, but not royal blue - more of a chalaine. Fenton's beautiful colors seem to forgive their frou-frou shapes.

summer love

2011-07-06T13:59:00.007-04:00

this month my parents will be married 30 years. i think that's pretty amazing. they inspired me to do a wedding themed etsy favorites feature for this month. enjoy!

church print by maddenphotography

my love ring by meltemsem

love the color of this dress by reddoll

dusty pink chiffon rose clutch by heidicreations

bird cage veil by onelittledove

peony silk bridal bouquet by bragginbags

cake banner topper by readygo

my kitchen

2011-06-30T23:16:00.003-04:00

a few people have asked me to post photos of my kitchen and glassware collection. when i first started this blog i posted a picture of the glassware i had. well, a lot has changed since then. i moved my Fire King turquoise to a china cabinet in my basement to make more room for my jadite. here are a few snap shots.

i love my cabinet. all of the glass on the top three shelves are my collection. the bottom two shelves are where i store my shop items. on the right wall you can see my scott moore painting. :)

lots of Fire King Restaurant Ware and Hazel Atlas Platonite Moderntone, and a little bit of jadite Charm.

these beautiful McKee canisters have a permanent home on my counter.

frozen strawberries

2011-06-19T20:56:00.005-04:00

one thing i love about june is strawberries. when i was younger my family would drive to a local farm to pick them and make jelly. my mom would also slice up some berries and freeze them for dessert topping. i have carried on the tradition. i still go to the same farm (which is actually around the corner from my in-laws house... such a small world) to get my berries. this year the crop is slim due to substantial rain this spring/summer. i bought a few boxes and made sliced berries. they are so ridiculously easy to make. here's how:

remove the stem from the berry (i used a utensil that is for scraping seeds out of peppers)
slice
put in your favorite jadite bowl
sprinkle with a "healthy amount" of granulated sugar (this will keep the berries sweet and preserved... without sugar the berries will taste acidic)
put in a plastic freezer bag
freeze

my strawberries don't stay in the freezer long because my husband's favorite dessert is angel food cake with strawberries and whipped cream. it is a great dessert for summer!

etsy shop closed

2011-06-10T13:18:00.002-04:00

my esty shop will be closed until june 20th... have a great week!

june etsy favs

2011-06-06T16:51:00.004-04:00

it's finally starting to feel like summer here in the northeast... time to hit the beach. here are my beach inspired june etsy favorites.

vintage robin's egg blue dress from thrush

LOVE this necklace by lexiandgem

such a great turquoise color. fenton dish from vintageatchirp

fire king vase with pink paint fired-on from lemonvanilla

cast iron starfish hook by riricreations

shabby chic frames in all different colors by mountaincoveantiques

cottage boutique

2011-06-03T12:11:00.001-04:00

i was thrilled to see one of my items in etsy's email newsletter, "cottage boutique". my shaker is in the top row, second from the left.

ebay stalking

2011-05-24T13:52:00.003-04:00

ebay is amazing. it never ceases to amaze me what people will pay for things. i started watching this particular mug when its bid was $12. it sold for a whopping $356!!!!

may etsy favs

2011-05-15T16:31:00.007-04:00

i must apologize that it's been more than a month since my last post. it's been crazy here this past month. my beloved grandma was ill and passed away, then came easter and mother's day. it has been a whirlwind of activity. this weekend was the first one in a while that i've had time to relax... and blog. so here are my may etsy favorites. enjoy!

vibrant bowls from roomservicevintage

rainbow set of knives from sunnydayvintage

LOVE this pom pom garland by millalove

such fun colors in this necklace by urbanlegend

adore the colors on these Fire King colonial bowls from shezablue36

cute ring by laralewis

p.s. today is the last day to save 10% on all items in my etsy shop. see the post below for more info.

spring sale

2011-04-13T12:32:00.001-04:00

having a SPRING SALE at my etsy shop! enter "spring11" at checkout to receive 10% off your total order (not including shipping charges or PA tax).

garden

2011-04-09T15:47:00.004-04:00

one thing i love about spring is going to our local greenhouse and picking out herbs and house plants. it's like a reward for surviving the winter. our home owners association doesn't allow us to plant gardens outside, so i started a small one in my kitchen. this also gave me an excuse to use some of my glass flower pots.

clockwise from top left i have mint in a milk glass hobnail pot, ranunculus in a mckee jadite jardiniere, last year's basil in a smaller milk glass hobnail pot, new basil in an enamel dish, garlic in a ceramic pot, and ranunculus bulbs in a jadite bulb bowl.

april etsy favs

2011-04-06T12:51:00.004-04:00

april is all about spring and easter. here are my etsy favorites for this month:

knitted baby rabbit hat by littlebirdlucy

robin's egg nest painting by thepaintedsky

vintage speckled mugs from craftysara

personalized chocolate egg by andiespecialtysweets

easter parade by dearjes

wood letter a by oldnewagain

bunny watercolor by dimdi

salted caramel brownies

2011-04-05T12:12:00.003-04:00

(photo courtesy of young adventures)

every once in a while, you need to put food on your glassware ;). i don't think i've ever put a recipe on this blog, but i found one that is worthy. not long ago rachel over at young adventures posted a salted caramel brownie recipe that looked scrumptious. having a sweet tooth the size of texas, i decided to make some of my own. the recipe took me a while to make, but it was worth it. they were hands down the best brownies i've ever tasted. check out the recipe here.

harold & jane

2011-03-30T22:08:00.005-04:00

i'm happy to introduce you to theresa carlton, my march featured etsy seller. she runs her custom jewelry shop, harold & jane, out of her seattle apartment which she shares with her husband. theresa was kind enough to make four custom necklaces for me, which i love!!! here is a little more about her and her work.

Please tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in a small town in Northern Idaho and moved to Seattle for college. I met my husband Elias while we were attending classes in the Visual Communications program at Seattle Pacific University. We married after I graduated and moved into a small apartment where we have lived for nearly 4 years. We are both very creative and put a lot of time into our home, blog, and miscellaneous projects that inspire us.

What made you interested in jewelry? My Mom and I started making jewelry when I was in high school for a fun hobby. We all know however that if you have a fun hobby or collection, soon you will be over-run with the very item you love to make or collect. Making and selling jewelry is a way for me to keep creating pieces I love without being crowded out of my own home by bracelets and necklaces.

What is your favorite thing/piece to make? I don't have a particular item that is my favorite to make, I just have to be inspired. I have sat down before with sense that I HAD to make something. Without inspiration I don't have much fun and I get frustrated with the materials I have on hand. If I am inspired, I can sit down and create for hours, have a great time, and make some pieces that I am really in love with.

Do you sell anywhere other than Etsy? If yes, where? I don't sell jewelry anywhere other than Etsy but I have started selling hand studded ballet sippers (a fairly recent addition to my shop) on a site called Emmaline Bride, a great resource if you are looking to do a handmade wedding. http://emmalinebride.com/marketplace/ballet-slippers/

What are your goals for your shop for 2011? I would love to re-brand the site. My header "Logo" was something that I threw together just to get the shop up and running. I want to spend some time creating a mark that will last and grow as my shop grows. I have added the ballet slippers to my site yet it is still marketed as a jewelry shop. My husband and I both love to use our hands to create. I would love for this to be a place where we can be free to make whatever we are inspired to make and put it up in Harold & Jane.

Theresa and her husband also have a blog. Check it out here.

i love lamp

2011-03-27T15:56:00.005-04:00

i'd been looking for lamps for my office for what seemed like forever. i didn't want just any old lamps... some with character. that's when i came across a little jadite beauty on ebay. i loved the color, shape and fact that it was made in france. it cost a small fortune, but i paid the price and couldn't be happier. my handyman dad rewired it for me and i finally (after months of looking) found a shade for it. it now has a home next to my reading chair.

one lamp down, one to go. still needed one for my desk. i loved the art deco lamp from slofabulous but sadly, it was out of my budget. once again i turned to ebay, which did not disappoint. i found a lovely black and jade lamp made by Houzex. it had been rewired but needed a shade. found one at the lamp shade factory in trexlertown, pa. now i have a beautiful desk lamp to keep me company when i work late at night. :)

egg cups

2011-03-15T12:13:00.006-04:00

with easter just over a month away, i thought i'd do an feature on egg cups. i never really got into collecting these little holders, but i found three that i couldn't pass up. they are shaped like a chick and were produced by the french glass company, opalex. what i love most about them are the colors... pale pink, milk glass, and the perfect shade of turquoise. these little guys have a permanent home in my kitchen cabinet.

here are some other egg cups that are for sale in my etsy shop:

McKee jadite

Fire King jadite

painted milk glass

jadite with grape leaf detail

march etsy favs

2011-03-05T21:21:00.006-05:00

it's that time of the year for everything green. since green is my favorite color, i had no problem quickly putting together this list of etsy favs. hope you enjoy them too!

love the shape and color of this art deco clock (i have a cream colored one like this in my shop too) from moonstruckcottage

this scrub sounds delightful and refreshing. by opheliasapothecary

really like the colored enamel on this necklace by wildwomanjewelry

cupcake liners for your st. patty's day party from cupcakesocial

this picture holds a special place in my heart. by luciusart

the pattern on this clutch is too cute. by armcandyforyou

love, love, love this vintage lamp from slofabulous

blog award

2011-02-24T20:54:00.007-05:00

i'd like to thank rachel of young adventures for giving me a stylish blog award. part of the award is to "pass along" the award as well. i'm pretty against stuff like this, but what the heck. here are 7 things about myself:

1) my favorite color is jadite green (probably not a surprise).

2) my "real" job is office manager at my husband's physical therapy office. this job pretty much fell in my lap, since i used to be a graphic designer.

3) i could wear ballet flats and flannel shirts everyday (and pants too, of course).

4) coffee is my drug of choice.

5) pride & prejudice (kiera knightly version) is my favorite movie ever.

6) i love to knit.

7) i love jesus christ and my husband (alot).

now i'm passing on stylish blog awards to blogs i really enjoy. i was supposed to list 15 blogs, but honestly, i don't have time to read that many. so here are the 9 that i do:

1) rifle designs by anna bond (our featured seller of the month). she has such cool design style and it shows through her blog.

2) author and blogger, c. dianne zweig always has fun kitchy things to write about.

3) love the fun and super cute graphic designs at dandy bread and candy.

4) also love the quirky art style of eric orchard.

5) get some fashion inspirations from the sartorialist

6) my adorable friend from college, kirsten, has a blog about design, being a mom, and living in the northwest usa. hello grey day.

7) peach and pearl has such cute articles about weddings and such. i feel like emily (the author) should be a stylist for j.crew.

8) sometimes i feel like mstetson reads my mind. fashion. design. love!

9) love the bridal photos and ideas from snippet & ink.

teacup giveaway winner

2011-02-21T07:44:00.003-05:00

thanks to all of you who participated in my teacup giveaway. the winner was picked at random by random.org (see box below). i am happy to announce that jaclyn is the winner!

rifle paper co

2011-02-16T11:37:00.007-05:00

february's featured artist is anna bond. she is the owner and creative director of rifle paper co. based out of winter park, florida. her shop is bursting with lovely stationary and prints. here is a little bit about anna and her store:

Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in New Jersey (just outside New York City), went to college in Virginia, and moved to Florida for my first job as an art director. After a year or so I decided to leave my job to work as a freelance designer and illustrator and started to realize how much I loved creating stationery. My husband Nathan and I officially launched Rifle Paper Co. with our online store in November 2009 and it's been a little crazy ever since. I absolutely love what I do and am so excited about the products we're creating.

What inspired you to start Rifle Paper Co? While I was freelancing I was really trying to figure out what I wanted to do and focus on as a designer. I did all sorts of jobs, but when a few friends asked me to design their wedding invitations I fell in love. I felt like stationery was the perfect mix of illustration and design that I was looking for. I'd always loved stationery but it just clicked at that point to start my own business and really take it seriously.

Is there a story behind the name of your store? Rifle... I like to say it's the name of our little dog logo. To me, it was quirky and different and just fell into place.

You have a design background. What made you decide stationery was the thing for you? I actually started out as a fine artist. In high school I thought I would end up at an art college with a painting major but at the last minute switched to graphic design. I've always loved illustrating but design introduced me to the business and product design aspect of what I do. I love working on everything from the paintings to the packaging, marketing, and so on.

Do you have a favorite card/design? I love our assorted folk card set. I feel like it represents our style really well.

What advice would you give aspiring artists and/or entrepreneurs? I think it's important to not be afraid to fail. Starting your own company is tough and takes a lot of work but you'll never know if you can make it unless you try and give it all that you have in the process. My other favorite piece of advice that I've been given is to always be flexible. There are always curve balls thrown at you and unexpected events. You have to be able to adapt and work around the bumps in the road to keep going.

What are your 2011 goals for Rifle Paper Co? I'm working on a slew of new products that I'll be launching at the National Stationery Show in May (some before then too) and I'm really excited about the new designs. We're also launching a separate wedding & events collection with its own website where couples can order wedding stationery and other event goods.

anna and her husband, nathan

floral thank you

floral monogram cards

teacup giveaway!

2011-02-13T23:34:00.004-05:00

happy valentine's day! who said you can't get something for yourself on v-day? in honor of the holiday i am giving away one Fire King Premium Tulips teacup & saucer.

to enter:

comment (once) on this blog post. tell me the one thing (or person) in this world that you love the most. please include your email address in your comment. the contest will close at midnight EST on february 20th. i will randomly pick a winner. the winner will be contacted and will have the teacup mailed to them. good luck!

february etsy favs

2011-02-09T10:46:00.012-05:00

hope you have fun spoiling your sweetie this month. here are a few of my etsy favorites for valentine's day.

9 ways to say "i love you" card by rosydesignsonline

pleated neckline dress with ruffles from lirola

pink ginger vegan lip gloss by justpureminerals

handcarved stamp by greengardenstamps

pink multibubble scarf by clariceonline

cherry pie handspun yarn from spinningwheelstudio

pale pink flowers and pearl earrings from ericaleilanidesigns

caramels of the month from haveitconfections

ebay stalker

2011-02-02T15:23:00.004-05:00

i'll admit that i am an ebay stalker. i watch things that i have no intensions of buying. here are two items i recently stalked:

this Fire King milk glass mug is worth about $30, but has recently become very rare. this one sold for $636.99!!!

this McKee tea canister is worth $275 and sold for $510.99!!!

fantastic find

2011-01-24T19:39:00.004-05:00

i visited one of my favorite antique stores the other day and found this:

like the jadite versions, Fire King also made their d-handle mugs in this beautiful turquoise color. what made this a fantastic find is that it is in mint condition and cost $12!!! these are hard to find under $40 in such great condition.

as soon as i brought it home, i washed it and placed it in my china cabinet. the cabinet once belonged to my grandparents and now houses my Fire King turquoise collection.

Cottage Carries

2011-01-05T11:43:00.006-05:00

one new thing i wanted to add to this blog is featured artists. i am happy to introduce you to rachel harvey. she makes fun & adorable purses for her esty shop cottagecarries. here's a little more about her and her store:

Tell us a little about yourself. A little about myself...hmmm...well I went to college to study graphic design and met my husband my freshman year. We finished college together, got married, adopted a chihuahua, and had an amazing little boy. It has been an amazing seven years! And there are a lot more years to come!

What inspired you to start CottageCarries? I am one of those mommies with extra time on my hands. So I wanted to start a hobby, one that I would love and be able to do when I wasn't chasing my little boy around. And it would also be a plus if I could make some extra moolah too. So I tried painting and other hobbies, but I just was not passionate about them. My husband kept encouraging me to find that one thing that would make me happy, that one thing that I would keep doing and doing and never quit. PURSES! It just popped in my head. I started reviving vintage purses, then I was reading a purse blog and got inspired to make framed clutches. Wah-la!

Do you sell anywhere outside of Etsy? Yes, I sell my creations at local festivals and craft shows too.

You have a design background. Would you say this has helped you in making your purses? For sure! Knowing what colors work together, along with textures and prints, has definitely helped.

What is your favorite item you have made? I have a new favorite item all the time, but this week it has to be the Brownie clutch.

Do you think you will ever do items other than purses? There are sooooo many things I want to try, but I don't think I have enough space or time to do them. I do plan on making soap in the near future.

What are your goals for CottageCarries for 2011? FESTIVALS! Lots of festivals! They are my new favorite thing to do!

hello 2011

2011-01-01T14:20:00.010-05:00

happy new year! hope you all stayed up late to kiss your sweetie at midnight. please enjoy my etsy favs for january 2011.

be glittery by giantdwarf

dance the night away in these sparkly numbers from swaneegrace

this poster by yeehaw made me laugh ;)

these letterpress bubbles cards by shopinviting are adorable

beautiful photo from reflectionsoflight

ring in the new year (literally) with this bling from eidelprecious

love this retro clock from thevintagedesignshop

merry christmas!!

2010-12-20T09:53:00.002-05:00

hope you all have a very merry christmas!

from kate & aaron

front page!

2010-12-10T23:10:00.002-05:00

hooray! one of my bowls made it to the front page (top row, far right)! special thanks to mireio for including me in your treasury.

december etsy favs

2010-12-08T11:52:00.007-05:00

december is flying by... 17 days until christmas! i can't believe it. here are some of my december etsy favorites:

burlap christmas pillow set by ramonaowendesigns

partridge & a pear tree cards by treasurydesigns

leafy loveliness clutch and matching coin purse by cottagecarries

such a gorgeous vintage ornament! from bythewayside

such a nice photo card, by lukecommasara

beautiful holly teacups made by Fire King, from kikimacey

sparkly cookies! snowflake cookies by ryjoliean

different decorations

2010-11-30T12:16:00.002-05:00

if any of you are like me, you like to put your christmas decorations up the second thanksgiving is over. i was able to put up most of mine already (hooray).

just wanted to share a fun decorating idea. november's Real Simple magazine had a great alternative to popcorn garlands. on page 64 they showed a garland made of packing peanuts. i thought this would be such a fun idea for an office.

black friday / cyber monday sale

2010-11-18T20:43:00.006-05:00

why wait until cyber monday to get a great deal online? jaditekate will be having a black friday sale. all items will be 15% off starting at 12:01am (EST) friday morning. out shopping all day? get 10% off all items saturday until midnight monday night (EST). new items will be listed, so get them while you can!

IMPORTANT UPDATE: to get your 15% off on black friday (Nov. 26) you must enter the coupon code "blackfriday" at checkout. to get the 10% off Nov. 27 through 29 you must use the coupon code "cybermonday".

november etsy favs

2010-11-10T12:09:00.009-05:00

thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. my side of the family is small, so we share an intimate t-day lunch with my sister and parents. we always eat in the dining room and use mom's fancy china. after that, my husband and i head to his parents' house to have dessert with 40+ relatives. it's quite a contrast but we wouldn't have it any other way. :)

hope you all have a wonderful thanksgiving! here are my esty favs for november.

thanksgiving tutu for babies by gogirlusa

pumpkin pie sugar soap by sunbasilgarden

thanksgiving table cards by ishootnouns

pumpkin pie oil painting by afstudio

pumpkin pie butter caramels by fusionsweets

harvest burlap banner by whitehouseblackcat

cable knit arm warmers by piabarile

etsy email

2010-11-07T20:09:00.003-05:00

hooray! jadite kate's colonial rimmed bowl was included in the latest etsy email "many ways to dice it" in the color picker section.

wedding blues & greens

2010-10-31T00:21:00.003-04:00

i love blues and greens. the softer the better. this palette below makes me want to get married again (well, almost).

heads up

2010-10-24T21:45:00.002-04:00

just a heads up: i will be listing some items from my personal collection in my etsy shop this coming week. the collection had become too large and i can't fit it all in my kitchen cabinet. some of the things that will be listed are: st. denis cup & saucer, restaurant ware cups & saucers, turquoise relish dish, milk glass bowls and more! all are in almost perfect condition. take advantage of my loss.

october etsy favs

2010-10-06T10:44:00.013-04:00

when i think of fall i think of thick cable-knit sweaters & soft scarves to keep my neck warm. here are my favorite etsy knits for october.

cocoa brown teddy bear by seventytwostitches

peach candy handspun yarn by snowberrylime

pine cone mittens by inessa

rose garden handspun wool yarn by valentineart

** i have bought from this seller and recommend them **

ear flapper hat in brown, red & ecru by babycrochetshop

logwood dk naturally hand dyed organic cotten vegan yarn by quovadishandspun

big warm cowl by iveta67

secret sale

2010-09-20T13:48:00.002-04:00

jaditekate is having a "secret sale". the sale will run tuesday 9/21 - thursday 9/23 (ends at midnight). it will be on select items only... get them while they're cheap!

current lust

2010-09-10T23:22:00.003-04:00

i spotted this on etsy tonight and bet that it will be snatched up fast! my current lust is this beautiful, turquoise Sunbeam mixer. the shape and retro colors seem to make it very popular. i absolutely love the color!!!

turquoise Sunbeam mixer from butihadatiara

amazing jadite collection

2010-09-06T21:40:00.006-04:00

a fellow etsian found me and sent me amazing photos of his jadite collection. here is a little bit about trenton and his collection:

tell us a little about yourself (where you're from, what you do for a living, etc.). My name is Trenton. I'm originally from South Central Nebraska, now living in Omaha. I graduated from high school in 2001. I work from home doing Medical Billing and also farm with my dad. When I'm not working, I'm traveling to auctions, antique malls, and flea markets.

you obviously love jadite. what about it made you want to become a collector? I became a collector when I was at a friend's house and saw her Jadite Swirl mixing bowls. When I first saw them it sparked my memory of my grandma having them. Just as soon as I got to the car I called my grandma to see if she still had them. To my disappointment, she used them until there was nothing left and were thrown away. After that I went out on a search and I found at an auction a 9", 7", and 5" swirl mixing bowls, 2 chili bowls, batter bowl, and Jane Ray platter. When I got home and did some research I didn't realize until then how many different Jadite items there were. To top it off I was excited to find out that the 5" swirl mixing bowl was rare and was a good buy for $1.

what is your favorite piece in your collection, and why? My favorite piece would have to be the swirl mixing bowl set because that's what my grandma had.

how long has it taken you to acquire such a large collection? It has only taken me since Spring of 2008 to acquire my collection.

do you use any of your pieces? or are they just for display? I do use my pieces. More so the ones that are already showing wear. I had a dinner party once and had 6 friends over. I made steaks and all the fixings, however the whole time all I heard over the conversation was the noise of the knives on the plates. After that, when I have company over all, meals are served on paper plates.

do you prefer one manufacturer of jadite over another (example: fire king, mckee, jeanette, fenton, etc.)? I prefer Fire King over any others just because I want the color to be all the same.

is there a particular piece that are you are looking for and haven't found (or been able to afford)? if so, what is it? There isn't any particular piece I'm looking for. It's the hunt that I enjoy most of all. I go to auctions in Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and South Dakota.

here are some photos of trenton's collection:

september etsy favs

2010-09-04T21:37:00.010-04:00

the kids are back to school and fall is just around the corner. here are my september/fall etsy favorites:

a beautiful depiction of autumn in pennsylvania. "october" by buckscountyframes

tan & red 8" yarn wreath by itzfitz

perfect for a fall wedding. edible sugar leaves by andiespecialtytreats

the perfect handbag for fall. chocolate flowers in caramel by eightseasons

orange & white bakers twine by whiskergraphics

orange dot vintage bakelite earrings by petitoiseau

mustard beau skirt and tea top by sarahseven

pumpkin, lavender, cream & spice handmade soap by a lchemicmuse

anchor hocking sapphire blue bubble glass

2010-08-25T10:49:00.008-04:00

i'm not a huge fan of transparent glass, but i do love anchor hocking's sapphire blue bubble glass. it is a beautiful see-through glass that has a hint of blue in it. the bubble pattern was made in the 1940s and looks like small circles on the outside of the piece. i love how the light "dances" on the table when the light hits it... so pretty. the bottoms are unmarked due to a lovely starburst pattern.

the bubble pattern also was produced in other colors, like milk glass, jadite, forest green and peach lustre.

below are a few photos of sapphire blue items in this pattern. i have a few of these pieces in my shop now. check them out here.

serving bowl

teacup & saucer

flat soup bowl (with light reflecting on table)

platter

bowl with original label

peach & jade

2010-08-18T10:31:00.002-04:00

i found this while searching on google and thought these colors were beautiful together!

martha stewart living & glass

2010-08-16T17:58:00.005-04:00

if you haven't already flipped through your august issue of martha stewart living, you're in for a treat. this issue has a fantastic spread on glass bottles & jars on pages 116 - 123. there are some beautiful shapes & colors of glass, so make sure you check that out (or click here to see a slide show).

and for those of you who have already received your september issue, take a look at page 117. the "ask martha" section has a great article on flint glass.

don't you just love martha?!

august etsy favs

2010-08-07T09:51:00.011-04:00

hope you enjoy my august etsy favorites!

cream de menthe yarn wreath by knockknocking

ivory calfskin leather shoulder bag by paulinacarcach

*i have bought from this seller and highly recommend her*

vintage mint green miller electronic wall clock from grandma'sjunkdrawer

jadite green polka dot natural linen dish towel by geschichtenvonkat

moss green dream bloom bib necklace by jlrydesigns

cloud card by sparklepaw

krissy (mint and pink speckled glass earrings) by newfashionedwhispers

reclaimed wood mirror (gray-green with key) by whiskeyandchocolate

re-opened

2010-07-26T09:35:00.001-04:00

after a trip to greece, jaditekate's etsy shop is re-opened! :)

night lights

2010-07-13T13:54:00.003-04:00

these little night lights by micah7 are so cute and clever. whether you have a glass collection or not, these would look fabulous in your kitchen.

july etsy favs

2010-07-05T09:43:00.005-04:00

i hope you all had a wonderful fourth of july!!! this is definitely my favorite time of year. around this time, my husband and i go camping down at the shore with our friends. here are my "camping at the beach" july etsy favorites:

sea star print by dsbrennan

aviator sunglasses from avantgarb

water blue linen flax beach towel by amanzanti

campfire candle from loveluca

take-me-to-the-beach bag by nancyjostudio

wicker picnic basket from thecherrychic

"beach" goat's milk soap by paradisebodyshop

shipwrecked vintage glass

2010-06-21T10:55:00.004-04:00

while i was on vacation, i visited the bermuda underwater exploration institute. as i was walking through the museum, i was shocked to find vintage glassware in one of the exhibits. in 1943 the last american cargo ship, the constellation, wrecked off the cost of bermuda on its way to venezuela. among the artifacts found at the shipwreck were 1,840 cartons of owens-illinois co. glass.

blown glass

2010-06-14T22:03:00.004-04:00

i just got back from vacationing in bermuda. while i was there i stopped by the dockyard glassworks. they have an assortment of blown glass... anything from plates and vases to christmas ornaments. the place is really amazing. their work is fantastic, and you can watch the glassblowers work. here is a worker finishing a flower bowl... love the colors!

june etsy favs

2010-06-02T09:07:00.011-04:00

happy june! here are some of my etsy favorites:

this minty-green camera is adorable. check it out at purplegracelane.

i love the vintage look of this necklace by sweetsimple.

i LOVE this ring by erinjanedesigns.

beautiful pastel yarn by fibermonster.

what a great summer bag by iragrant.

i love mckee jadite. here is a spice jar in vintagesprinkles' shop.

this sweet lamp by bootsngus is made from a tupperware jello mold!

anchor hocking blog

2010-05-26T10:32:00.003-04:00

hooray!

jadite kate is featured on Anchor Hocking's blog! check it out here.

sea glass

2010-05-26T10:16:00.003-04:00

i was reading the june issue of better homes & gardens when i stumbled upon a page of sea glass inspired paint colors. the cool shade of green are beautiful and relaxing. reminds me of Fire King's jadite and turquoise collections.

to brimfield and back

2010-05-18T21:48:00.010-04:00

a few months ago i blogged about wanting to go to brimfield, mass. for their antique show... well, i went! friday night, my wonderful husband drove us from pennsylvania to massachusetts, where we stayed at the hearthstone inn. we really enjoyed the quaint inn and its italian restaurant. on saturday we woke up at the crack of dawn to be at the show grounds at 7am. it really paid off, since we were some of the first people to tour the venders' tents.

i found some fantastic things...such as these reamers. i didn't buy them, but i took a photo since they are so rare. the one at the top is a McKee custard "sunkist" reamer, worth about $45. the flower shaped clear one is a "pearl" fluted reamer made by Fry, worth $65. the blue (actual color name is chalaine) "sunkist" reamer is worth $225. and last but not least, the Jennyware ultra-marine (dark green) is worth $125.

another great find were some Fire King jadite swirl dinner plates. they are exactly like the azurite swirl, but the jadite color. some people argue that these don't even exist - that's how rare they are.

i later found a lady who sold me some Fire King white restaurant ware cups and saucers (they are also super rare and i talked her down to $60 a set - such a bargain!). she told me that a few venders down from her is the "Fire King Man". my husband and i sprinted to his booth to find what i call "Fire King Heaven". this booth had so much jadite, it was overwhelming. i ended up purchasing a jadite charm soup bowl from him. that is the largest bowl in the charm set, which is hard to find.

at 1:30pm, aaron and i called it a day and treated ourselves to ben & jerrys. it was the perfect ending to a fantastic day.

if you are thinking of going to brimfield, i highly recommend it. they are having two more shows this summer. check out the details here.

i heart my mom

2010-05-09T19:41:00.004-04:00

just wanted to say "happy mother's day" to all the moms out there. i know my mom is a fantastic woman. this year for mother's day i gave her this card by anna bond (of rifle design) and a bouquet of roses and lilies (her fav) that i arranged in a fostoria vase (which she collects). i guess glassware collecting is in my blood.

jadite in better homes & gardens

2010-05-05T16:36:00.009-04:00

sorry for the lack of post lately... i blame it on my lack of inspiration. the great thing about not being inspired, is something has to catch your eye eventually. that's what happened to me last week when i was hanging out with my parents. my mom gets a varied assortment of magazines, one being better homes and gardens. i was looking through the may 2010 issue, when i saw this:

BH&G had a 2 page article on how washington d.c. native, stephanie rigaux, redesigned her kitchen and decorated it with her jadite collection. this woman has some really fantastic pieces! for example, that McKee jadite flour canister in the last photo is worth about $225. they are super rare.

all photos © better homes and gardens may 2010

tulips

2010-04-23T16:19:00.004-04:00

my new favorite fire king set is the premium tulip cup & saucer. they are made of milk glass and have a matching tulip pattern painted on. they are so cheery... and go well with jadite. perfect for spring.

new!

2010-04-13T10:54:00.000-04:00

lots of new items added to my shop. check it out here.

kitchen love

2010-04-07T12:08:00.005-04:00

these photos of amazing kitchens have been sitting in my downloads folder for a while, so i thought i'd share them. enjoy!

april etsy favs

2010-04-03T11:22:00.009-04:00

happy easter! here are my etsy favorites for the holiday.

handmade coin purse by oktak

block print hand printed nest towel by artgoodies

pale turquoise and white blown glass vase (such a beautiful color!) by corporanglass

charming simplicity throw size quilt by dashascreations

hydrangea blossom diamond stacking ring by PatrickIrlaJewelry

beautiful butterflies mini cookies by sunshinebakes

cotton candy bunny soaps in the shape of peeps by loveluca

charming charm

2010-03-24T13:37:00.003-04:00

pioneer woman says she "dreams in charm"... i must admit, i do the same. it is my very favorite glassware to collect. it looks very modern, yet is vintage.

"charm" was made by Anchor Hocking for their Fire King brand in the 1950s. it is easily identified by its square shape. although i collect the jadite, it was made in three other colors: azurite (pale blue), forest green and royal ruby. only some of the azurite and jadite pieces were given the Fire King stamp on the bottom... finding a stamped charm is like discovering sunken treasure!

the charm pattern comes with many pieces: cup & saucers, creamer & open sugar bowl, luncheon plates, salad/dessert plates, soup bowls, dessert bowls, and a platter.

jadite kate featured in etsy finds

2010-03-17T12:49:00.003-04:00

sweet! jadite kate had an item featured in an etsy find! that made my day :)

happy st. patty's day

2010-03-17T10:52:00.005-04:00

top o' the mornin' to ya! in honor of st. patty's day i have added some new green (jadite) items to my shop.

brimfield

2010-03-10T13:18:00.002-05:00

a while ago someone suggested i go to brimfield, massachusetts for their antique show. i wasn't too interested until i researched it and realized it is the largest antique show in the country!!!! i love antiquing, so i definitely want to go in may. convincing my husband to go might be a problem.... but if you see a happy wife and miserable husband wearing t-shirts that say, "i love jadite", you know it's us. ;)

jadite kate is on facebook!

2010-03-03T15:24:00.005-05:00

jadite kate has joined the facebook world. search "jadite kate" to become a fan!

jadite kitchen gadjets

2010-03-02T22:05:00.006-05:00

since i am already dreaming up my next house's kitchen, i decided to buy some appliances for it. with my husband's approval, i purchased this lovely jadite green toaster from solsticehome. now if only he'd let me get the matching fridge....

march etsy favs

2010-03-01T12:42:00.013-05:00

i have irish blood from both parents, so st. patty's days is kind of a big deal in our family. we all dress in green and where funny, "kiss me, i'm irish" pins. i'm not big on green beer though.

here are my etsy favorites for st. patrick's day.

cortina cowl by immidesign

crested skinny grandpa sweater by soymilkcafe

200 yards of organic cotton and bamboo yarn in celery by blarney yarn

rukkola tied up pillowcase in leaf-green

irish belt buckle by vintageintropect

st. patrick's day hangover help from quickits

irish cream gourmet cupcakes by sinnersaintssweets

taxes

2010-02-22T11:22:00.002-05:00

as you can see, i haven't posted much during the month of february. the reason why is taxes. oh, how i hate them!

new post on my office remodel coming soon!

february etsy favortites

2010-02-03T11:49:00.010-05:00

february is full of love. here are my favorite etsy valentine's picks.

adorable "tattoo" onesies & kid shirts by lafftycrafty

put a note in your honey's lunchbox. "i love you girl with balloon" note card by rosydesignslonline

my favorite quote from my favorite movie. mr. darcy quote print by theloveshop

get a bouquet that will last! bouquet pillow by missmosh

wear this grey garden vintage & recycled necklace from alexkeller when your sweetie takes you out for dinner.

pink hearts sweater from thrush... perfect for keeping you warm on those chilly february days.

swirl vs. shell

2010-02-01T11:18:00.007-05:00

many people mix up the "shell" and "swirl" patterns. both have the lovely swirl pattern on the sides. here are ways to identify which is which.

shell was made by Anchor Hocking and is stamped with their mark on the bottom. this pattern was made in the jadite and anchorwhite (milk glass) colors. the anchorwhite design has a 22k gold edge on it. the way to identify this pattern is by the scalloped edge around the plates, bowls, platters and saucers. the teacups also have a distinct shape: skinny at the bottom and fuller at the top.

swirl was made by Anchor Hocking's brand, Fire King. You will see the Fire King stamp on the bottom of the pieces. this design came in quite a few colors: jadite, azurite, pink, ivory & white. they made mixing bowls, teacups, plates, platters, serving bowls & dessert bowls in this design. the edges do not have the scalloped edge, so they are easy to identify.

coffee & pb

2010-01-25T16:05:00.002-05:00

sometimes all you need is some coffee (in your favorite jadite mug) and a pottery barn catalog to make your day.

ranunculus

2010-01-18T12:39:00.005-05:00

hands down, my favorite flower is a ranunculus. they remind me of garden roses, and the layers of petals are so fascinating. ranunculus come in a variety of colors... i prefer the rust colored ones. at trader joe's this weekend i just had to splurge and buy some.

ranunculus seem to be getting popular too. i had them in my wedding bouquet, and now real simple's 2010 wedding magazine has them on the cover.

what you love

2010-01-13T16:40:00.004-05:00

i was pleasantly surprised to discover the movie julie & julia in my mailbox yesterday (thank you netflix). watching a movie about food is always fun. plus i enjoyed the characters' gusto for life. both enjoyed a common thing - cooking - which ultimately changed their lives.

i like to watch all aspects of a dvd, so i checked out the special feature "special ingredients: creating julie & julia". at the very end of the clip, the producer, amy robinson, made a great statement. she said she hopes the film inspires women to ask, "what do i love? and what can i do with that to make something of my life?"

my love (other than my husband, of course) is glassware. jadite, dephite, milk glass, whatever - i love it. and i wanted to share that love with others, so i opened jaditekate. and then i wanted to write about glass, so i started this blog. i am definitely no martha stewart, but i enjoy being an etsy shop owner and helping others learn the history and designs of depression glass.

i hope you find the thing that you really love.

$1 advertising

2010-01-05T20:59:00.004-05:00

in an effort to kick-start advertising on my blog, i am offering ad space for 1 month for $1. yes, you read that right: $1. simply email me at jaditekate@gmail.com and let me know you'd like to advertise. i will then send you the ad specs and a paypal invoice for $1. need an ad made? i do that too (for an additional fee). that may be the best dollar you ever spent. ;)

*offer expires january 31st.

january etsy favs

2010-01-04T10:48:00.012-05:00

happy new year!!! i honestly can't believe that it is 2010 already! time for some resolutions. here are mine:

1) buy for quality, not quantity.
2) get in a good gym regiment.
3) stop procrastinating!

here are my january etsy favorites:

tweed clutch purse by retrospettive

loved ones ring set by annekiel

1930's RCA radio by GrannysShack

little vintage hearts framed picture by sarahandbendrix

recycled gray dress with vintage lace by AnnieFish

luv pin by cozystudio

last post of '09

2009-12-30T12:31:00.008-05:00

i hope you all had a lovely christmas. mine was filled with lots of family, food & board games (who knew yatzee could be so much fun?). it was a really busy time, but i loved every minute of it.

now it's back to business. i will have quite a bit of new items i will be listing in my shop shortly. here's a sneak peak. there are some shakers, canisters, mixing bowls, a vintage radio & more!

have a happy new year!

fire king swirl

2009-12-19T16:11:00.005-05:00

one of my favorite fire king designs is the swirl. it is a simple, yet fun pattern. the design was made by Fire King from 1949 - 1951 in a variety of colors: azurite, ivory, pink, luster (orange), pastel edge and jadite (very rare!). the pink and azurite are my favorites.

recently i acquired an azurite creamer & sugar bowl set. they are so cute and delicate. check them out here.

vintage radio

2009-12-11T14:50:00.002-05:00

i've been looking for a fun vintage radio for my office, so i went on ebay and found this radio. it's a beautiful bakelite radio in a jadite green color. it is such a neat design... and then i looked at the price. it still has 4 days left in the auction and it's already over $6,500.00!

real christmas, real giving

2009-12-07T12:36:00.003-05:00

for as much as i love christmas, and don't think gifts are a bad thing, this video was very moving. it's easy to lose sight of what the holiday is all about. i hope this impacts you as much as it did me.