TGL Direct Blog

After a tough day at work Carter & Marty needed to relax.

Ouch! It looks like that hurt. Little Timmy and Frank don't think shattered China is funny!

CHILLICOTHE, OH - TGL Direct, a local company specializing in antique, collectible, and vintage items created the perfect custom wood sign for entertainment and restaurant giant, Dave & Buster's, headquartered in Dallas, TX. Dave & Buster's purchased 90 signs to display their company name and tagline. The custom wood signs will be featured as a centerpiece during conferences, meetings, and events at Dave & Buster's 61 locations across the United States.

There are many types of soups and many ways to serve soups. You may not be aware of your options when it comes to serving soup so we thought we would point out a couple and give you a quick description of each.

Maybe they acquire one or two as a gift, maybe they randomly purchase one or two for fun or maybe they just see all of their friends and peers wearing beautiful beaded bracelets and then they become interested. Bead collecting acts as a dual purpose. First of all, with the variety of beads available, they can really bring out your individualism and secondly, they act as a fashion statement, highlighting your favorite outfit.

Stemware is a term you have probably heard but maybe you don't completely know what it means. When you here stemware you may automatically think of wine glasses but stemware is not limited to just wine glasses. So what is Stemware exactly?

If you have shopped or browsed antique or vintage Pottery or China & Dinnerware you have most likely come across crazing. Maybe you didn't know what it was called at the time but we will fix that now.

Scalloped is a term that is usually used to describe the rim edge or footed base of a plate, bowl, cup or other pieces of tableware. You may hear references like “This plate has a beautiful scalloped edge” or “The cup has a scalloped footed base” and not know exactly what it means. So, what does scalloped mean when you are talking about China or Crystal Dinnerware?

When you hear the word replacements it could pretty much mean anything. Something that replaces something that you already own. But in most cases and with TGL Direct the word replacements is used to reference Replacement China and Crystal - Dinnerware or Tableware. Replacement China & Crystal are very popular because they enable one to keep a Dinnerware or Tableware set in use while at the same time saving money.

Here are 5 Techniques For Identifying Lead Crystal. These tips are not a guaranteed way to identify Lead Crystal like having it analyzed in a lab (which most of us are not going to do) but are solid ways to be pretty sure. These are easy techniques that can be used to identify Lead Crystal while at a an antique shop, flea market or yard sale. When these 5 techniques are used together they will help you easily eliminate non lead crystal items and be very confident in identifying items that are.

Here is a List of 5 Reasons Charm Bracelets, Charms & Beads Make The Perfect Gift. This is Jewelry you can't go wrong with!

Here is a List of 5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Start Collecting. We have also provided some good guidelines to follow when starting your collection.

Charm bracelets and necklaces have never been more popular and for good reason! Collecting charms and beads not only make a great hobby but you also get to look great while wearing them! Beads are often exchanged between friends and family as a gift with thoughtful meaning. This has inspired us to create a list of our top 101 Favorite Fenton Beads. These beads fit on most major brands of charm bracelets and necklaces and are handmade in the U.S.A. of gorgeous glass! So lets get to the list!

We have a fun and relatively easy DIY crafting project for you. We are going to show you how to make decorative plates that look great on a plate stand or hanging on the wall. For this example we are going to create Monogrammed Plates but you can obviously take this idea and create whatever masterpiece you desire!

If you are a collector of China then you most certainly have been in contact with Bone China. But what is Bone China actually? Simply put its a type of China created from a Porcelain that contains Bone Ash and other materials.

First, a short backgrounder about steampunk:
The steampunk 'movement' or 'subculture' took its cue from novels, comic book series, and movies that hint of anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian setting. It is an eccentric, yet interesting marriage of fiction with themes like horror and fantasy.

Are you like me a sucker for everything vintage?
Do you love putting all sorts of blast-from-the-past mementos and memorabilia in your home, office, or business? If you say yes, then welcome to my world!

Men need a spot where they can get away from everything else and just be a man. Although the term "Man Cave" is relatively new, the actual concept has been around for decades. Most guys have memories of their Dad’s sneaking away to the garage to tinker with things while listening to music or for those lucky enough put the game on the T.V. and maybe throw back a couple of beers. Man Caves are becoming more and more popular and have moved their way from the garage to inside the home. These spaces need to feel like a man’s domain and to achieve that feel they must be decked out with manly items.

Longaberger baskets are rich pieces of American tradition and history. They have exceptional beauty and exquisite craftsmanship that basket collectors and ordinary people have come to love. Handcrafted since the 1919, Longaberger baskets are the Holy Grail of the basket-making industry. They command such respect that many collectors are willing to pay high prices for the rarest and well-preserved ones.

However, with hundreds—even thousands—of these beautifully-created baskets available for every collector to grab, knowing which “signatures” to look for could dramatically increase your Longaberger’s selling price.

In the crystal and glass world a compote is usually referred to as a serving dish that was made to serve the culinary dish called compote. This culinary dish originates before the 18^th century in France and it basically consist of a mixture of fruits with sugar syrup combined with items like nuts, cinnamon sticks, cloves and other items of the sort.
 
Compote Dishes are usually found made of glass but can be made of porcelain and metal as well. Compotes usually have a build that features a footed base with a stem that leads up to a bowl.
 

Take a look at the newest addition to the TGL Direct family. These beautifully handcrafted wooden signs are made in America the old fashion way, by hand. Each sign is personally made for you out of furniture grade hardwood composites like cedar, poplar, pine, and other top quality wood and professionally silk-screened  by hand. Signs can be finished off with a hand routed edge or hand bent poplar frame both of which feature a gold pinstriped edge. No two are alike!

We have mentioned "Flea Bites" in the description of several of our glass and pottery pieces. Now doesn't that seem like a nasty thing to have a "Flea Bite" on your china or pottery?

Well let me put your mind at ease. A "Flea Bite" on an item is just a minute chip or crack as small as the bite of a flea. Why we use this awful term is beyond me.

New to glass collecting? Well here is how I got started. I hope some of these tips help you on your way to becoming an expert, well at least someone who knows something about their particular pattern pieces.

First, I decided on a pattern. I found this could be done many ways. Maybe you saw some of your grandmother’s glassware that was passed down from her grandmother. Or you were looking on ebay and came across a pattern that would match your home décor. Or on a warm Sunday afternoon you took a drive thru the country and came across an antique store and something in the window caught your eye. That is how I started.

Is the art of glass making a dying business? For thousands of years master craftsmen have made beautiful one-of-a-kind pieces of glass items, from decorated figurines to vases, plates and actual drinking vessels. However, as with many of our antiques and collectables the age of machinery has put a huge dent in the world of glass. Many of our glass objects today are mass produced. However there are still people who are trying to keep this artesian art alive.

I just returned from my weekly expedition of visiting antique malls. Let me tell you, one really should know the difference between antiques, vintage items, and collectables before purchasing, and it’s really not that hard.

Since 1905, Fenton Art Glass Company has created truly remarkable pieces for your home. From vases to bowls to figurines, Fenton's works are defined by their unique design and unparalleled craftsmanship. You may, however, find yourself wondering: almost one hundred years since its establishment, is Fenton Art Glass Company still in business?

Is there anything more beautiful than a production by McCoy Pottery? Since 1910, this company has been making flawless pots, planters, jars, etc. that have delighted people of all ages. However, when you are looking to add to your McCoy collection, you want to make sure that you are getting, well, the “real McCoy!” These tips will help you differentiate real McCoy pottery from the fakes.

Perhaps it's their lovable expressions or their cuddly fur – whatever the reason, Boyds Bears have become iconic worldwide. After all, isn't it rare to find something that can bring delight to people of all ages?! However, when G.M. Lowenthal and his wife, Justina Unger, created The Boyds Collection Ltd., they struck gold. With their creations, they provided the world with collectibles that could be admired on a shelf, or treasured as a lovable friend. This begs the almighty question: Where would we be without Boyds Bears?

Any antique dealer will tell you that collecting is one of the most rewarding professions. Collecting provides a unique combination of excitement and challenge meaning that anyone can derive enjoyment from it. That being said, the following are the main reasons why collectors like myself prefer McCoy Pottery over all other brands.

Coca Cola is by far the most famous soft drink brand in the world. It is a brand you will see in the most populated cities like New York City and the most remote parts of the world e.g. the Australian outback. This is because the founders have been on a mission to make it the most valuable and well- known brand in the world since its introduction in 1886.

Your home is more than just a place to rest your head at night. It is a reflection of you, a place where you can express yourself. Your tastes and flair for design can be unleashed to no end because it is your space. Home Décor and Accents can be used in every room of your home to create a comfortable and unique atmosphere that not only looks great but tells a story about who you are and what you love. Home Décor spans much more than a few pictures on the wall or throw pillows on the couch. Home Decor can really be anything that you want to display in your living space.

Collecting can be a great hobby, as well as a lucrative investment. People collect all kinds of things including advertising items, stamps, coins, dolls, teddy bears, art glass, art pottery, figurines, antiques, vintage items and memorabilia. Some collect for the sheer pleasure it gives them, while others hope to increase their net worth over time. For instance, anything antique or vintage and items that are no longer circulated like coins and stamps can become quite valuable over time, especially rare ones. As the law of supply and demand states, the rarer an item is the higher the value rises. The value of these collector’s items will also largely depend on their condition; many items that have never been out of the package or box are usually worth more than items that have been used or unpacked.

Just about anyone that you ask will tell you that they have heard of Boyds Bears and for good reason; The Boyds Collection Ltd. has been in business for over 30 years! They started as a small antique shop in Boyds, Maryland (Hence the name Boyds Bears) in 1979. The founders Gary M. Lowenthal and wife Justina Unger made their first stuffed bear for their newborn son Mathew and began selling bears similar to this not too long after. These bears eventually became known as Boyds Bears. In 1993 they introduced their first resin bears and this remains to have one of their largest followings.

Identifying Fenton Glass pieces can sometimes be a little difficult as not all pieces are marked, however there are some tips that help to identify this American Companies work and sometimes even date it. Before the 1970's Fenton did not embed its logo into the bottom of pieces which can make it difficult to identify something as a true Fenton. During the 70's Fenton started embedding their logo into most of their products and followed suite in years after.