Crackle Glass one of the Hottest Glass Collectibles Today!

Crackle Glass is a beautiful collectible glass. It is truly beautiful and so interesting. It has been made by a number of different glass companies and is highly collectible today.


The Venetian Glass Makers of the 16th Century created the process of making Crackle Glass. The process involved the blown glass being immersed in cold water while it was molten hot. This caused the glass to crack. After they did this the glass piece was reheated and the shape the glass blower wanted was either molded or hand blown. They controlled the shape they wanted this way. When the glass was reheated it sealed the cracks making the beautiful Crackle design we see today. If you run your hands over CRACKLE GLASS, you can feel the cracks, but the inside is smooth to touch.

This method was used by the glass makers of the 19th century and even is in being used today. CRACKLE GLASS companies are: Blenko Glass Company, Pilgrim Glass Company, Mt. Washington Glass Company, H.C. Fry Glass Company, Boston & Sandwich Glass Company, Hobbs, Bruckunier & Company, Rainbow Glass, Cambridge Glass Company, Kanawha Glass Company.

Crackle Glass is known by other names, such as Craquelle Glass, Ice Glass, and also Overshot Glass.

Hesston Belt Buckles

Hesston Belt Buckles have been around for years and years and have become such a wonderful collection for the Rodeo fans of yesterday and today. The Voice, a Wichita Kansas publication had a wonderful article about Hesston belt buckles back in the 90's that gave a great account of these buckles. I have taken some gleanings and information from this article to use here.
In 1974 Hesston approached the Rodeo Cowboy Association about the possibilities of televising the National Finals Rodeo. The plan was to target Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. So in order to test its effectiveness, they asked each dealer to supply a list of 150 customers and prospects in his area. Hesston then made a direct mailing to the customer asking them to complete a questionaire stating whether they watched the NFR program and if they would watch it again. The customer then took the card to their dealer to be validated and the company mailed them a 1974 Hesston buckle. This allowed Hesston to disperse all of their 1st buckles.
In 1975 Gene Countryman, director of Communications at Hesston decided to try another buckle, the 1975, and sell it. the mold was made by Lewis Buckle Co. of Chicago and was cast in a rubber type mold, It took a long time for the order to be filled and 50,000 buckles were made. The buckle became a successful collector's item because of an imprint on the back. Limited edition, collectors buckle. Bill manley, the designer of this buckle made a total of 10 of the Hesston buckles.
The 1976 buckle was made by Mattel and the die was produced by an old German engraver who retired after finishing the die. You can see stars in the background if you use a magnifying glass. 125,000 of these buckles were produced.
The 1977 belt buckle was the first oval shaped one, 150,000 were made and in 1977 the first numbered silver buckles were made for dealer incentives and a Pro Rodeo belt was made.
1978 belt buckle - 4th edition of Rodeo series made by Cast Products of Chicago. From here on there is no record of how many buckles were made.
1979 belt buckle - produced by Cast Products of Chicago. Also the first NFR stick pin was made, and 6 leather coasters which included the 1974 buckle design for a set of 6.
1980 belt buckle-Sixth edition of Rodeo Series. Again the leather coasters were made.
1981 Heston Belt Buckle - 7th Rodeo Series.
No record of maker, 2nd stick pin was made.
1982 belt buckle- the 8th and Last or Final Cowboy Classic Edition buckle. Also made was the 2nd bronze sculptue - THE ALL AROUND COWBOY was made.
1983 belt buckle - 1st edition of the Anniversary Series. 1983 was the 25th anniversary of the National Finals Rodeo
held in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 1983 Award Design Metal made the 1st Sterling Silver and 24 K gold plate buckle. In 1983 and 1984, Hesston cast the buckles and Award Design Metals finished them.
1984 through 1989 belt buckles were designed by Fred Fellow. 1989 Secial Edition BARREL RACING buckle. This was the only year that 2 buckles were produced with different designs. This also closed the Anniversary Series.
1990 belt buckle - 1st Edition of the Hesston National Finals Commemorative Series. Again made by Award Design Metal
1991 belt buckle - 2nd in the commemorative series. Again designed by Award Design Metal.
1992 belt buckle - 3rd in the Commemorative Series
1993 Belt Buckle - 4th in the series,
1994 - 5th in the series
That is all the article provided.
They have been produced still and are still collected by the Belt buckle collector and the Rodeo Fan. The collections that are complete sell for over a thousand dollars and sometimes more. It depends on if you are at the right place at the right time. The 1974 usually sells for a few hundred dollars in itself.
It is a wonderful Collection and a wonderful sport. I have included a link to the ESPN site of the national finals rodeo if you would like to go there and read on the leaderboard or maybe someday you would like to visit the NFR, you can surely find out more about it HERE.

I have a 1981 Hesston Belt buckle for sale, If you click here or in the title above, it will take you there.

Christmas Candy Chocolate Fudge Recipe

Christmas is about upon us and I wanted to share an easy home-made candy recipe called EASY FANTASY FUDGE. It is quick, it's delicious, and it is an easy gift to give friends, neighbors, bus drivers, sunday school teachers , whomever you need that little "Merry Christas" gift.

EASY FANTASY FUDGE
1 1/2 cups (3 sticks) margarine or butter
12 oz can of evaporated milk
2 pkg. (12 oz. ea) semi sweet chocolate chips
1 jar (13 oz.) marshmallow creme
2 cups chopped nuts
2 tsp. vanilla

Lightly grease 2 9 x 13 pans. Mix butter, sugar and milk in heavy 5 quart pan. Bring to full rolling boil on medium heat stirring contantly. Continue boiling 5 minutes on medium heat or until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees F, stirring constantly to prevent scorching. Remove from heat. Gradually stir in chips until melted. Add remaining ingredients, mix well. Pour into prepared pans. Cool at room temperature, cut into squares.
makes about 6#.

This is a yummy recipe.

At my store you can find a great recipe book that will be sure to offer you more wonderful recipes. And if you want a beautiful dish to put your fudge into, try this gorgeous green glass piece.

Collectible Dolls and the Vintage Doll. Includes Collectible Teddy Bears and Barbie - AnythingGoes 08/12/05

Collectible Dolls and the Vintage Doll. Includes Collectible Teddy Bears and Barbie - AnythingGoes 08/12/05

Here it is, What I promised you. This site has some tremendous information for you about all those great old dolls of yours. Make sure you check them out!

Whether you like Madame Alexander, or Raggedy Ann, I'm sure you will find the information you are looking for here.

So it's Been Awhile

You know, I have been chasing my tail this past month. Hubby changed jobs and that meant a move. I guess you know what that means -- UGH! I mean I sell online and do flea markets--I have a whole garage, basement, trailer and more to move just for that! Heaven help us!
Any of you that do the flea market or online selling thing, KNOW what I'm talking about! We have our treasures in any available nook and cranny we can find - and throw something away? -- NEVER! SACRILEGE!
So, needless to say it has been work! A Lot of Work! Remember, we had to move a household of 7 people's accumulation for 6 1/2 years too! WHEW! That is what we have been doing, and even I was sick of looking at all my stuff. But, it was fun to see some of the things I had bought that I had forgotten about. Wow, some really great things! I found the half dolls I had been looking for, and some McCoy pottery, and So many juicers and reamers I don't think I will ever need to restock those! Now I have to get busy and put it all on the store or tackle some more flea markets!! BUT -- THAT is FUN!

A Great Doll Site

I have discovered a wonderful new Doll information site. In the next few days, when they approve my site, I will link some information for you to find it.
Look at this cute renwal dollhouse baby doll with the green diaper in my store

200 Mile Junk Jaunt Flea Market and Garage Sales

The Junk Jaunt began as an idea, admittedly a borrowed one, but an idea none the less, of a member of Loup Basin Resource Conservation and Development's Tourism Committee in early 2004. That idea has taken hold and grown like a prairie wild fire. Encompassing the entire Loup Rivers Scenic Byway, and portions of the Sandhills Journey Scenic Byway, including twenty two towns, villages, and cities.

This is a new Flea Market just started last year in beautiful Nebraska the state I grew up in and Love. It is a great Flea Market. I stopped by on my way back from Valentine and my family thought I dropped off the edge of the world because I got home Very Late--every town I went through there were more and more Garage Sales!! It was so much fun I didn't want to stop, AND THIS WAS ON THE LAST DAY!
I will be doing this flea market this year and you can find me at St. Paul Nebraska, A small town by Grand Island. My Mom and Dad will be joining me and we will have some Wonderful Items like you can find in my ruby lane store and MORE!!
Visit the Junk Jaunt Official Site Or post a comment for information and I will get back to you.

Dating an Item by the Patent Number

There is a great resource out there for all of us who collect antiques or other collectible items. It is a page put out by the government that dates when an item was patented. click on the Title to go to the page. It usually has the plans that were drawn out and submitted too, although you need Adobe to view them. It has been a great help to me and I thought I would share that with all of you too!
Other pages that help with this too are: http://www.bottlebooks.com/patentdater.htm
and: http://www.mwtca.org/mwpat.htm
Check it out!

State Wrestling And Hitting Goodwill

Well last week was a week of getting ready for state kids wrestling in Topeka Kansas and I didn't get much done with my store or anywhere for that matter. It is always fun to go watch your kids do their sports or other activities but in the back of my mind is usually a little voice that says " Hey, I wonder if they have a great antique store or second hand store that I can slip off to between bouts.
I can always find someone who will know where there is a good store to visit. This time was no different. I found a great Salvation Army store just down from the expocenter where my son was wrestling and got a couple fun things there and then on the way home I found the Goodwill store that was just a couple of blocks from my exit to go home. There were a couple great Disney Lithographs I got there, now all I have to do is the research on them.
My family thinks I ought to just go to these events and relax and enjoy them. But for me, they are 10 times more fun if I can sneak away for a few moments and find a few collectible things to take home with me. Besides, it will be another whole year before I get to go to Topeka again, and I you can't miss the opportunity to scavenge the stores in someone elses home town!

THE MOTHER OF ALL GARAGE SALES

And so it starts! It is that time of year I guess, but it does seem to be a bit early to me. This last weekend, March 5th my son and I traversed to Lincoln Nebraska and did what is called

THE MOTHER OF ALL GARAGE SALES

It is held every year around this time and you set up the day before and sell the next day.
Logan and I got in the pickup and hooked up the NEW Cargo trailer I just invested in, and drove the 3+ hour drive to the land of the Cornhuskers! (GO BIG RED). We got there about 11:00 am and set up for the big day & it took us ALL DAY. I can fit a lot in a 10 x 30 foot booth space. Logan kept telling me to quit, but you know, there was room for "ONE MORE ITEM" I just know it was the thing that was going to sell! It did take us all day and by 7:00 that evening we were bushed.
After shelling out the fee for the booth, I really didn't want to get a motel room too -- so, we decided we were just going sleep in the pickup and the trailer. MAN OH MAN OH MAN OH MAN!! IT was COLD!!! Logan slept in the trailer, I slept in the pickup and was just tolerating the chilliness when about 3:30 in the morning Logan knocked on the window of the pickup. He scared the bejeebies out of me!! The poor boy was freezing, shivering his tail off! He climbed inside, we started the pickup and warmed up, shared our blankets and made it through the night until 7:00 am when the we needed to go get our booth ready.
We had a great day. My 18 yr old son was a trooper! and we had fun. I met some great people, you just can't beat the flea market group. We help each other, and if we don't have what the customer is looking for, we usually can steer them to someone who does. It is a fun thing to do, and it helps fund our antique addiction that we all seem to have.
That night, Logan drove home(it was soooo nice) and I told him, that this was going to be a memory for me to cherish. A memory of time spent with my 18 year old who will be leaving in the fall for college and a new life.