Through the looking glass

Collecting glass can be a interesting hobby. I love scouring car boots, I always try to get to a car boot before the traders get there and buy all the bargains but alas with a little one having a broken nights sleep I never seem to make it early enough. But its great fun rummaging in those boxes the stall holders cant be bothered to display, and sad to say it is a rush when I find a piece of Stuart crystal or when you spot a item on a table you rush over to grab it almost pushing people out the way (not really I'm usually wheeling my 2 year old in a push chair). Then you haggle, they want a pound you offer 50p then you come to a agreement of 75p. keeping and eye out for a interesting item, I'm mainly into collecting Stuart crystal,and I love it when I find a piece for 50p. http://www.carbootjunction.com/

Charity shops are also a great place to find great items, but usually things are a little bit dearer, but hey they are good causes so you cant begrudge paying that little bit extra, a lot of them do have people value the items so they now what they are selling. http://www.alotoforganics.co.uk/cats/charity.php

Antiques fairs are always a good place to look for a item you collect, but I didn't find any Stuart crystal at the last fair that I went to. But its great chatting to people who know a lot about glassware, and learning from them. http://www.antiquesnews.co.uk/fairs/list.htm

The next place I'm going to try are auctions I believe they are a good place to look as well! I just need to jiggle my time so I can go to one! (but I know I will probably get carried away and spend to much!).

Ebay http://www.ebay.co.uk/ is a great place to find glass you are collecting sometimes you can get great bargains, I love bidding right at the end I try to bid at the last minute (finger poised on the bid now button at the last few seconds) is also fun! and as I usually get carried away buying things. Its a great place to sell as well! There is only so much one can keep! making a little more money to spend on buying Stuart crystal!!

I'm getting quite good now a recognising who made what piece of glass and roughly when, if I buy a item at a car boot or charity shop I enjoy scouring the web looking for my item and identifying it! glass collecting is also a learning curve as well !

There is also garage sales, second hand shops or even small antique/bric-a-brac shops worth looking at.

There is something beautiful about glassware, the way the light catches it the sound and the history.

There is so many types and styles of glass, crystal, pressed glass, blown, uranium glass which I also love as it glows in the dark when you use a ultra Violet light on it (slightly radioactive) http://www.glass.co.nz/uranium.htm.Pearline which actually produces arsenic in the process of making.http://www.glass.co.nz/Davidson.htm