$14.99

Two years ago, a really bad thing happened. Steve´s truck was stolen and so were all of his cameras inside it (I think I mentioned this at the onset of this blog), one of them a Holga. His Holga was by far the least valuable and easiest to replace, but there was something about the camera theft that left him too blue to just go buy another one. So he didn´t. And it´s a good thing, since he spotted these two today, still in their original boxes, at the Goodwill we often don´t even go to because it never has anything (you know what I´m talking about). Holy Holga! He taught me how to use it and he´s developing our first two rolls as I write this post. Wind. Click. Wind. Click. 100% plastic fabulousness.

[edit: see some photos from my first roll of film below]

$5 plus shipping

Steve is addicted (yes, Steve; you are!) to Goodwill´s online auctions. Usually, he´s winning obscure camera parts but he looks out for me, too. He found this solid-as-a-rock paper cutter for me us last week and it arrived yesterday. The size of the thing (8.5¨ x 8.5¨)is pure delight - wonderful for getting straight cuts on those smaller, slippery papers. I love it! The plastic behemoth paper cutter at my job doesn´t even come close to the quality of this little vintage baby.

$1.50

I first found this Walker China pattern at a Goodwill last year, and I felt so lucky to find 3 more pieces at another Goodwill last weekend, for a mere .49 each. They just happen to be bread and butter plates - my favorite size.



It has taken me long enough, but I´ve stumbled upon the whole wide world of date codes - the numbers and letters used by companies to date their products. In this case, the 12-42 on the back stamp pictured above means these plates are from December, 1964. Ohh, delight! [source]

.49 x 6

I´m still never sure which spelling of gray/grey I prefer. According to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed., grey is a variant of gray; gray having the far healthier definition (: of or relating to an achromatic color of any lightness betrween the extremes of black and white, etc.). At any rate, it´s a fabulous color with two spellings that has stolen my heart in terms of vintage bread and butter plates. Last year, you might remember I found a small steal of gray/grey Fiestaware bread and butters for fifty cents each. The color was so inspiring, in fact, that we painted our interior walls with it in mind last year. Long story short (or short story long, at this point), it dawned on me that I should look for other makers of vintage ceramic plates in gray/grey glazes. Hello, new collection. I found six pieces of the Harkerware plate photographed above on my latest thrifting excursion - and oh, I love it! Also, it looks great with the Fiesta.

Two questions:

1. what spelling of gray/grey do you prefer?*
2. do you know of any American china companies that used a gray/grey glaze, 1940s - 1950s?

*to me, gray seems like the feminine, grey the masucline

$1.60

Steve and I were on our way out of the most eccentric local thrift shop but before we slipped out the door, I decided to dig through the overflowing scarf bin. I unearthed this small treasure and was intrigued. A hand-woven scarf from Kentucky? I´m sorry, did you say fireside weaving? Oh, delight! Look, the artist even signed the original tag:



It´s called a snow white scarf and I just adore it:



What´s most wonderful, though, is what I learned about where this scarf was woven. Take a look at all student crafts. So cool.

.29

Usually, this wouldn´t be my thing. But? It was goofy and irresistible. And, it just may have stumbled into the wrong hands!

$2

A rare pattern...in terrific condition!

$5

I have a lot of thrifted clothes that I don´t share here because they are sort of boring, utilitarian. Jeans, for example. Who cares about my jeans? You probably don´t. You might be intrigued in this lovely red SONIA RYKIEL sweater, however, so here you go! It is like, brand-brand new. Possibly the greatest thrifted clothing gem of my career, folks.

And, Happy Labor Day! My most favorite American holiday, ever.

a present

I think one of the greatest things that has happened since I began collecting Pyrex was when family and friends started looking out for me when they´d go thrifting. My mom found this piece for me; it´s in excellent condition and the pattern is a new favorite. Black and white looks good with anything anytime of year, but I think I´ll find some bright orange candies to fill it with come the Hallowe´en season! It seems like something a cool witch would have in her home. ;)

$6

Lucky me! I found the striped and pink bowls for $2.95 ea.; my mom surprised me with the aqua bowl when she recently came to visit. My Pyrex collection has turned into a pastel paradise. What more could I want? Oh, just that: more!

$16.96

5 thrift shops, 2 hours, 6 pieces, $17 = glee.

What can I say? Patience is a virtue, especially if you collect Pyrex exclusively from thrift stores. While there have been many misses lately, today was one hit after the next. I spent the afternoon thrifting and found all of these pieces. But who's counting! The important thing is, I finally picked up my first red + yellow bowls in good condition and my first piece of the Frost Garland pattern. I haven't been this lucky in months!

$4

Another non-Pyrex round of thrift shopping...boo! But I did find this font-happy bag today and I love it. Such a crazy assortment of Florida cities and towns. Yes, it has your token spots: Miami, Tampa, Palm Beach. But all in the same breath, there's Bradenton, Hallandale, Pompano, Hollywood, and Lakeland (of all places). Anyway, perfect for toting library books to and from work. Plus, it's navy...my latest favorite color.

gift

My mom gave this to me when I was in Portland last month. Yes - we all know she's a thrifter, but I think she found this at an antique store for $3 - not a bad price. I love Butterprint and 501s; they are the perfect size and shape. And when I get them for presents? My heart sings and sings and sings.

picture

Lately, the thrifts are not providing me any treasures. I bought a green pair of pants on Saturday that didn't fit me when I brought them home and tried them on for the first time. I like to think I gave the Salvation Army a charitable donation of $4.99, nothing more. Damn! The pants are so cute. But way too small in the waist. So when the thrifts dry up, I take out my Pyrex and play with it. See above for the results. Almost as satisfying as finding really great Pyrex for dirt cheap prices.

$1

Another piece of Pyrex I found in a Portland Salvation Army last month, only at first I didn't believe it was Pyrex as I had never before seen this shape or pattern (which doesn't mean anything, I suppose). It pays to be a curious bowl-flipper-turner-over type of thrifter. This is Pyrex, made in England. Apparently there's some discussion on the same exact piece here, at this Flickr page. Anyway, here's a sight you don't often see:

NOT MINE!

I was staying at a condo on the Oregon Coast last month and happened to find this in the cupboards. Christmas in July, anyone? It was harder for me to leave this behind than the ocean. Sad, but true! I am still waiting to find black snowflakes in the local thrifts...maybe since I didn't steal this, I'm due some good Karma...!

$1

When I was in Portland, this Pyrex pattern was everywhere! I left most of it behind, but since I like this size, it came home with me! Not without getting some fresh air first.

.65

Sometimes, the littlest pieces of American-made china (in this case, Syracuse) bring me the greatest joy. I found this in a Portland Goodwill last month - the things we pack in our carry-ons! I love the black on white, the fleur-de-lis, and the Gothic shout-out. Perfect for espresso, coffee, tea...

$55

My mom collects a Staffordshire pattern called Liberty Blue; she has since it debuted in 1976! It was promotional where she worked and leftover pieces were chucked into the dumpster. You bet she got right in the trash and rescued what she could. She collected it over the years at garage sales and thrift shops (we're related, can you imagine?) but since her dumpster diving days, prices have skyrocketed. I found the lot pictured above at a thrift store last weekend for $55. It would have cost me well around $700 if I bought the same pieces here! What caught my eye first was that pitcher. The ever-elusive pitcher! She has been trying to find one since 1976.



What a deal! When I told her about it, she squealed!

(More pictures here...)

$2.99

Okay, confession: I already have this exact piece and when my collection began to spill out of its designated cabinet, I had to put a stop on duplicate pieces. But yellow? In such good condition? With accompanying lid? You cannot leave such things behind when you spot them!

$1.49

Since I ditched my traditional desk for a table, I find it tough to keep my unsightly papers hidden (e.g. receipts, that jury duty summons, my speeding ticket, etcetera). I bought this old tackle box as one solution - the solid click it makes when it slams shut is a complete bonus.

medals

Some of Ann's medals: well-worn and well-loved.

I'll take a pause from this series and go back to posting thrifted finds...

children's shoe forms

Steve's mom collected antique shoe forms in children's sizes. These are just a few from her collection (I'd say there are two dozen altogether). Her requirements? They had to a) be wooden and b) have signs of actual wear. I'm quite charmed by them.

bangles

From her jewelry box...

doorknob for Bud

We're not sure when, but Ann found this doorknob in New Orleans and gave it as a gift to her brother. He recently gave it back to Steve. We love it! She loved antique shops, and I'm guessing that's where she found it?

series: Ann

I want to depart from the norm for the next few days and share some pieces that were collected and crafted by Steve's mom, Ann. That's her in the picture above; isn't she lovely? I never had the pleasure of being in her company, but I find so much joy in having her things in our home - maybe I never knew her, but I feel like I did. She raised a fine, fine son - the most important person in my life. She would be so proud of him. A tribute to her is long overdue.

$2

I paid $2 for the Woodland bowl! The bowl! Not the cat. ;)

$25

Our newest resident painting is all things grandfatherly (and any art experts feel like sharing who/what this is?). The back is marked with some interesting things. First, it is signed Shawson. And then:

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Permit to Copy Issued
8 N 45

And then:

SEP 24 1946
Copy
From the Original in the
Metropolitan Museum
of Art

It's our own copied little masterpiece.

$5

The larger my Pyrex collection gets, the happier I am to find smaller pieces! Especially this size. I left behind three others (red) the day I found these. They weren't in great shape - a good collector must be a discriminate collector. Oh, who am I kidding. I try. ;)

$3

I found each piece here at a different time, but I find them so perfect all together like this.

Left to Right: a creamer (so clunky + lovely) that I'm having a hard time identifying as anything other than Ball USA; a small vase made in the USA from a manufacturer in Miami called Bard International; finally, a porky Homer Laughlin creamer. I am so drawn to white ceramics.

$4

Yes! Snowflake Blue! And what I think is one of toughest bowl sizes to find: 1 and 1/2 quart (402). My collection of this print is small but mighty: this is my fourth piece.

$1

...A creamer I think I just might give to my mom - who loves the autumn. I found it at a plant show's rummage sale. What?! I know, a strange place. It's Wallace (Rust Leaf); from the 1940s.

[source]

$13.95

A new Banana Republic jacket, with tags? Yes, please. Obviously a holiday gift as the price was neatly folded on the dotted line and torn off. So it's a little too big but a) I could always have it altered though I know I never will; b) there's plenty of room to layer - er, yes, it sometimes gets cold in Florida; c) the more hound's tooth, the more better.

$37

A girl must splurge on her art! From a thrift shop. I'm so in love with this I can't even tell you.

pyrex tealight holders

If I'm not scoring at the shops, I'm playing with what I already have...

$0

This came in a surprise package from my sweet Mom. She's so good to me.

$0

...From a secret source! Sheet music for the piano in stacks and stacks, dating from the 1910s - 1940s. I have so much, I don't know what to do! But I couldn't turn it down; do you see how pretty these covers are, all these years later?

valentine gift

And there's more...



I LOVE THESE PIECES! THANK YOU ANNIE!