I accidentally started a new tradition with my niece and nephews many years ago by sending them a hand blown Christmas decoration for their tree. I did not intend to buy anymore the next year but changed my mind when my sister told me how excited they were to get them. So over the last 6 years or so I have been collecting and sending them new ornaments and they really look forward to opening these early Christmas gifts. As soon as the box arrives they beg their mother to set up the Christmas tree so they can put their new ornament and their old ornaments on the tree. My niece says this is her favorite tradition now.

Why not start a new tradition in your family this year? A wonderful way to accomplish this is to start collecting a set of glassware together. Children love holidays and they always like to help decorate whether it's for Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas or some other Holiday. I think it's important to involve children in the planning and decorating for the holidays. A good way of doing this is to ask them to help you pick out some pretty stemware or accent pieces for the dinner table. This is something that can be done all year long and give everyone some quality time together.

I mentioned stemware and accent pieces because it's relatively easy to find colorful pieces that both children and adults both like. Stemware and accent pieces made during the great depression era are both colorful and practical. Stemware can be found in almost any color. It can be found with simple designs to them or elegantly etched and designed. Stems come in different sizes from small cordials to larger water goblets.

Older glassware looks really great with some of today's newer china patterns. For a truly elegant Christmas dinner table try using Morgantown's Spanish Red Monroe stemware with Lenox's "Holiday Nouveau" china pattern. Red and emerald accent pieces can be added to further enhance the holiday theme. Accent pieces can be as simple as a pair of salt and peppers, creamer/sugar, cups/saucers, vase, candlesticks, relish trays, bowls, platters, butter dish etc.

Reds, cobalt's and dark emeralds all are great colors to use for Christmas themes. Ambers, soft Yellows and Orange colors can be used for Thanksgiving themes. Pastel colors can be used for Easter themes. Black and oranges are traditionally used around Halloween. All of these colors can be easily found in numerous Depression and Elegant glass patterns made by Cambridge, Fostoria, Heisey, New Martinsville, Tiffin and others.

Another great idea is to use some of today's newer china pieces with your older glass patterns. A Thanksgiving table setting of amber and yellow can be enhanced with say a few pieces of Fitz and Floyd "Acorn" serving pieces. Perhaps a platter, salt/pepper, pitcher or even a covered casserole would look great with your dinner setting.

A good Depression glass pattern to start collecting with children is red and green Bubble made by the Anchor Hocking glass company. Dinner plates are available with a little looking and they even have forest green stemware at very reasonable prices. The green stemware even looks good with some of the newer china patterns and it's no big deal if a piece gets broken when the kids are growing up.

There will be approximately 14 table displays featuring "Holiday" themes at the April 28 and 29annual "Array of Color" Depression glass and pottery exhibit and sale, sponsored by the Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society. The table displays will provide an excellent opportunity to see how depression/elegant glass can be used in holiday settings and with today's newer china patterns.

In addition to the Holiday displays a major display of Cambridge Keyhole items will be on exhibit to. Many rare and beautiful examples will be on display.

The show is again in the beautiful Douglas County Event Center in Castle Rock. To get to the show from Interstate 25 take the Plum Creek Parkway exit 181 & turn east. Plum Creek is the most southern exit from Interstate 25 in Castle Rock. Show signs will be posted to help you find the event center location after leaving the interstate.

The show hours for the public are Saturday April 28 (10-5) & Sunday April 29 (11-4). This year's show has approximately 34 of the most outstanding dealers from across the country, as in previous years. The show will be of exceptional interest to Depression Era glassware, dinnerware, kitchen, and pottery collectors in the area.

Please visit the National Cambridge Collectors websiteat www.cambridgeglass.com to learn more about Cambridge Keyholes and other Cambridge glass patterns. To find out more about collecting depression glass and pottery please visit the following local area glass/pottery club websites: Denver: Rocky Mountain Depression Glass Society (www.rmdgs.com) and Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Depression Glass Club ( www.ppdgc.com).