Thursday, May 24, 2012

Everyday Uses for Vintage Milk Glass

Isn't milk glass marvelous?  My favorite is the opaque, creamy white, hobnail variety.

I appreciate decorative pieces like trays, bowls and vases that add charm to a room, but we happen to have a small home and not much display space.  So if a piece isn't actually useful to us, we don't have it ~ nothing in our home is just for show.

I have a nice collection of milk glass with all sorts of goodies that we use every day.  My stash includes dishware like salt & pepper shakers, cake stands, and a butter dish...


...drinking glasses, bowls and a pitcher.



I also have lots of non-kitchen pieces including lamps and this plant mister, that I use to care for our violets:



And then there is the vintage milk glass we use differently from their intended purpose ~ after all, I think just about anything looks beautiful in milk glass.


Wine goblets for yogurt



A vintage compote (or was it originally intended for candy?) holds our kitchen sponges


A little tray holds some of my beauty essentials


An old planter (or candy dish?  I'm not sure) holds our cotton swabs



My grandmother's refrigerator dish now holds my business cards


And a few of my sewing supplies poke out perfectly from a juice glass



Decorative and useful.  The possibilities are endless!
How do you use your milk glass?  Do tell and you'll automatically be entered to win this vintage apron:



Drawing is May 31st ~ good luck!

17 comments:

Mimos da Claralú! said...

But Cindy is all very chic! His pieces are wonderful!
Congrats!
Hugs and blessings.
Luciana

Paulette said...

I just purchased six grape and leaves milk glass drinking glasses, and I do believe that the contents tastes better in these glasses.❤ I have replaced my boring clear glass drink ware with beauties.

Anonymous said...

"And a few of my sewing supplies poke out perfectly from a juice glass." :)

I liked that sentence.

These are wonderful ideas for USING instead of just displaying! I might be displaying less in the near future if we downsize.

That apron is so cute and I'd love to win it! thanks for the chance! Let's see, I have one broken milk glass lamp that sits in the closet :) and I have a milk glass vase that one of my boys found in an old, old country dump many years ago! I had to soak and scrub that thing for weeks before it was white again! I've used it for so many things but it currently holds artificial spring flower branches.

Have a great day! ♥

Denise said...

I do keep My eye out for it,but I only see the same pieces over and over again.Years ago when We were all young housewives,My younger sister inherited My Grandmothers complete huge collection.She was very young so don't get too angry with her(TEHE) Our family found out too late that a few months later she put the boxes of it out in the ally for anyone to take home.Denise

Nadine @ Chic with the Kool-Aid Mustache said...

Sadly I don't share your love for milk glass but I think of you every time I see some at a yard sale or thrift shop! I love how you're using them though...

Jingle said...

I am all about everything having function! We are the same way! You have some really great pieces! That piece of your grandmother's is amazing and I love the tray!

Unknown said...

I have a hobnail milk glass lamp that belonged to my grandmother. I need to have the electric part repaired, but my goal is to fix it up so I can put it on my nightstand as a reading lamp, just like she had it when I was a little girl. :-) I really like the planter you use for the cotton swabs and the refrigerator dish to hold business cards!

Michaele said...

I am loving these! The butter dish best of all. You have an amazing collection. I just love the weight of this stuff.

Betty Lou said...

Oh my golly, time to get out all that old milkglass I have and find a real use for it. Thank you for all the ideas.

Suz said...

I love white milk glass. My mother used to collect it when she was alive. I grew up with it.

Margie said...

I don't have many milk glass pieces, but I love how you're using yours and I love to find new uses for vintage items!

Blessed Serendipity said...

My favorite piece is your hobnail butter dish. Love how you have repurposed some of your pieces. I just purchased a little milk glass lamp today at the thrift store.

blessings,
Danielle

Perfectly Printed said...

I have a milk glass punch cups and I put a little votive candle in them.

best chris

Julie said...

I have just a few pieces of my mother's milk glass, and I both display it and use it. I have it all in one spot on a shelf as a display, but the covered candy dish usually has candy in it, the bowls store old photos that family can easily view, the bud vase often has a flower, the pitcher will often come out at family gatherings, etc. Your milk glass collection is lovely.

Nurse Kat (Kathy H.) said...

I love vintage glass. I use the compotes to put change in by the front door and 1 in the bathroom for jewlery!

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Hi Cindy, what a great assortment of milk glass you have. I love your creative uses. I don't have alot, but what I do have I love. The first few pieces I bought from one of my older sisters when she was down sizing. I have a platter, 4 plates, 4 saucers, and 4 goblets. I use them with my daily dishes. Have to admit that I hardly use the goblets. I think I better pull them out for yogurt soon. I have a few decorative pieces I pull out now and then. Love, love the apron!
Hugs,
Jann

Meegs said...

I have a set of three covered vintage Avon white milkglass dishes (not sure what they were originally used for....candy?). I have them on a vintage metal tray on my bathroom vanity and one holds cotton balls, another holds q-tips, and the third holds flossers. I love the old vintage feel they bring to my bathroom and at just a couple dollars a piece, I love them even more!!
xoxoMeegs