Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. Probably only second to Christmas. Vintage Halloween decor is RED HOT and has stayed that way for years. I have selected a few of my favorite pieces to share.
Vintage Halloween Noisemakers
These are vintage Halloween noisemakers. Probably from the 40s or 50s. They are generally made of tin and were originally very inexpensive to buy. Most of mine are well loved with a little rust and wear. I have picked up a few of these over the years, and like to tuck them in here and there in my house to create a festive atmosphere. Of course, the orange and black cat noisemaker goes perfect with vintage glassware from my favorite team, the Oklahoma State University Cowboys! Go Pokes!
Vintage Wooden Mold
I picked up these acorns at Hobby Lobby a few years ago. They look great in this vintage wood mold with a fall candle. Mixing vintage and new items is especially easy and fun during Halloween! I use the mold year round and will add Christmas balls or spring/summer decor later in the year.
My house is a pumpkin palooza! They are so festive and fun. Glass, wire, ceramic, etc. I love them all. You can easily slip a pumpkin in here and there as a tribute to Halloween!
Finally, I picked this book up many years ago! I love the color, theme, and author! Look for items that may not be mainstream to add interest to your collection and home!
Hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some of my Halloween decor! I scour sales and auctions for Halloween items. You never know when you’re going to find just the right thing!
My husband and I have owned a moderately successful small business for more than 20 years. In the late 1990s, we started a small antique business and it has grown year after year. We started as M&J Antiques, but are known around Stillwater, Oklahoma, as the Big Red Barn or the barn people. I am often asked by rookie entrepreneurs for advice or pointers on small business ownership. Here are a few of the top suggestions.
Be Flexible! The antique & collectible business has changed considerably in the last twenty years. When we started, Fenton glass, Fiesta dishes, and carnival glass, for example, were king! These items fetched top prices at auctions and sales. Now, you can hardly give away some of these items! Change seems to occur somewhat slowly in this business, but it’s important to recognize change in trends and interests.
From the Stillwater Antique & Collectible Mall
You’re Buying for Someone Else. This was one of the hardest things for me. Many items that I really DON’T like sell really well! And, just because I like something, doesn’t mean anyone else will. Which leads to my next tip.
From the Big Red Barn
Research, Research, Research. You cannot spend enough time researching, reading, and investigating business trends. I spend a lot of time looking through EBAY, ETSY, Pinterest and other social media websites to see what’s trending in my business. You need to know what types of items are popular.
Recycling and upcycling are currently red hot. I may not sell your completed item, but I can sell you the base or bones for your project. I am always surprised when people tell me some of the projects they plan for the items I sell. For example, using old wooden ladders to make a Christmas tree, old windows for the tops of a table, and (don’t really know how this turned out) but an old army cot was going to be made into a couch!! Turning an upright dresser into a quilt rack, using a wine cooler for a vase, and making side tables out of old luggage.
We had a sale this weekend at the Big Red Barn in Stillwater, Oklahoma. We had a lot of customers come out to find items for their new projects, search for treasure, and enjoy country life!
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Know Your Staples. There are some antiques & collectibles that have maintained their popularity and price over the years. For example, cast iron, Pyrex, Fire King Jadeite, costume jewelry, and doilies & embroidery. In fact, many items continue to enjoy a steady climb in value.
From the Stillwater Antique & Collectible Mall
Know Your Limitations. People think that just because you’re in this business, you know everything about, well everything. There are many items we almost never buy, because we just have no interest or knowledge. For example, we almost never buy toys, stamps, coins, or ephemera. We also don’t buy heavy furniture, just getting too old. And, one rule of our business is pianos and sleeper sofas are marriage breakers!
Hope I’ve given you some ideas that might help you launch your own small business. It’s very rewarding and fun.
We took a couple of weeks off, so it’s great to be back! I recently co-hosted a baby shower/party with my daughter. Not having hosted a party for more than a year, we decided to have lots of food, drink, and fun!
I have a few really nice service pieces, but it’s mostly everyday dishes and glassware for me. So, I headed up to the Big Red Barn to see what I could find. A couple of ideas I had to share!
We served blue curaçao in Prosecco for the right color of drink (blue). A light meal of sandwiches from a local deli and homemade pasta salad. The pasta salad was served in punch cups! You could just grab and go. There are punch cups for sale EVERYWHERE! They’re generally very inexpensive and can be used to serve MANY different party offerings. Potato or pasta salads, veggies and dip, or desserts. The drinks were served in inexpensive champagne glasses. Again, these are available everywhere!
The cookies were prepared by a local entrepreneur especially for the shower. They were served on my milk glass cake plates. Although I keep and use these for all types of parties and holidays, you can also buy these fairly inexpensively at flea markets or thrift stores. I like to use different sizes for visual impact!
The large punch bowl was used to serve non-alcoholic bottled drinks packed in ice. Surprisingly, I do sell a fair number of punch bowls at the Big Red Barn and the Stillwater Antique Mall. Consider buying one if you see it. They have a lot of uses for holidays, parties, etc. For example, I have used mine at Christmas filled with vintage Christmas tree balls! You could fill it with candy, Easter eggs, or use your imagination! Again, a relatively inexpensive item with a lot of uses.
It was lots of fun hosting a party again! I found myself a little out of practice, but it was fun to find pieces to use that are inexpensive, flexible, and easy to use! Use your imagination when you’re exploring flea markets, garage sales, or antique malls!
Many collectibles start life as a very inexpensive item. Depression glass is one of those items. It was manufactured and distributed during the 1920s and 30s. It was given out in different products such as oatmeal to encourage you to buy the product. It was also given away at movie theaters and carnivals. It comes in a variety of colors and patterns. And, some of the pieces are spectacular.
These are a few of the pieces I’ve picked up over the years. Mainly cream and sugar. However, notice what happens when the green pieces are placed under a black light! It is so awesome. The uranium oxide in the glass makes it glow. This generally only works on green and some yellow pieces.
I have never collected depression glass and have never really been tempted to collect a specific pattern. However, I do love to mix depression glass in with place settings or pieces on my table for a festive look. It adds color and interest to the table. It is particularly great for holidays and special occasions.
There are a LOT of depression glass punch cups available. Consider using these to serve desserts or appetizers. They are smaller and don’t take up a lot of room. But can hold cheesecake, layered desserts, ice cream, or a fruit dessert such as strawberry shortcake. Or a shrimp cocktail, pasta salads, or a small relish cup with dip in the bottom and celery, carrots, or pea pods around the sides.
Sherbets are also plentiful. They are also great for all the same servings. When I use or sell depression glass, I put it in the dishwasher to clean it. Some might say this is blasphemy, but I rarely use anything for entertaining that I can’t throw in the dishwasher. Even something 100 years old. However, if a piece is very precious or meaningful to you, you should probably avoid the dishwasher. The cake plate is an unusual milk glass piece I use to serve desserts at holidays and special occasions.
Depression glass is everywhere. I’ve never been in an Antique Mall or flea market where I didn’t see a good supply of depression glass. Some of it is still very valuable and hard to find. However, there are plenty of colors, patterns, etc. that are plentiful and easy to find. Consider adding a few pieces to your table!
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