Well?


1. What does perfume in a frog-shaped bottle smell like?
2. Who, at Avon, says, "You know, I think perfume in a frog-shaped bottle will sell really well. Something in a lily pad scent?"
3. Why is the frog wearing a chef hat? Wouldn't a crown be more appropriate? Like a frog prince? And if you wear this, you'll find him?
4. Instead, it's a frog chef. Is he going to cook you something fantastic? Frog legs? Wouldn't you be disappointed if you kissed a frog and he turned out to be a short-order cook? Instead of an aristocrat?
5. Why is the hat red?
6. Is it some sort of food-based flavor of perfume? Is the scent 'fried?'
7. Is it something people would really like, since it's a rather large bottle? Like an everyday sort of scent?
8. Why does the frog look unhappy?
9. Why do I want this?
10. Is it the contrast between the red, plastic hat and the white, glass bottle that makes it so appealing?
11. Or is it just the frog? That it's a frog perfume bottle?

Just Buy It

After last weeks little finds, I had the fever. I wanted more, knowing full well there was no room at the inn. No room in the closet at the inn. And definitely no room in the storage unit that is behind the inn where this is no room.

"That doesn't matter," I told myself, "You'll just find something small and delicious like you did last week." I was thinking something that could be tucked into a drawer or maybe stored in something that was already somewhere. I didn't know! I was just trying to justify it.

So, I did find something. Something that hangs on the wall! Something that, actually, is a spot where something else can go and hang on the wall. So, double brilliance. Right? Right. But, it was like $1.29 and I was cashless and thought, "Ok, I'll buy it if I find something else to buy also," not wanted to debit $1.29. So, I continued to walk the store. And found nothing. Nada. Zip.

Okay fine, I'll put the cool hanging shelf thing down and just forget about....wait. What is that, tucked under that table over there? Um...

That's right. A Heywood-Wakefield end table. For nothing. Granted, it needs a little loving care, but for the price? Not a problem. But an end table? Now reader, I'm not part of the Hey-Wake Church of the Rising Eagle, or whatever it is they call their cult. I used to have a 1960s H-W china cabinet, but it wasn't the collectible style everyone loves so much. I LOVED it, and it loved me. But it was nothing special to the collector.

I don't know, to me H-W always makes me think of late 80s vintage. Pretty in Pink sort of cat-eye glasses and big bouffants. It seems old-old fashioned. So I debated and debated and finally, just bought it. What the heck. I'll fix it and use it or fix it and sell it or fix it and find a home for it with someone who loves it. Someone with cat-eye glasses and a big bouffant with an altar to Heywood-Wakefield built in their living room.


So I bought it and the wall hanging shelf thing which looks great with the new arrangement of found art and objets in the office.

This started with just Juan-Carlos, a portrait that some love and others despise. Then we added the horse (yet, unnamed) and the little yellow owl. Mitchell gave me the trees for my birthday and they are from Home Interiors and I love love love them, but couldn't decide where they go. The yellow wall hanging shelf thing looks great with the group and provides a place for a changing array of little bibelots. Just buy it.

(That cat on the floor still needs to go somewhere, but one thing at a time.)

Tiny Treasures

Dedicated reader, it has been a while since I have posted and for that I apologize. But, in my defense, I must say that it isn't my fault. I have done a little bit of shopping around town, but just haven't found anything that was covet-able. When your home, closets and storage unit are filled to the brim with luscious finds, you begin to become more choosy. Or I do, I guess.

I remember when I would go to the thrift store and always find something that was pleasing to me. It didn't have to be by a well-known designer or worth more than the price on the sticker. I could easily find a small plate or a cup that struck an aesthetic chord in my person and go home completely pleased.

But now, I am spoiled. I look at things and think, "Is there even room on a shelf for it? And if there is, will it offend the sensibility of the other things already there? Is it cute enough to go next to the Russel Wright dishes? " It is difficult to find something that pleases me and also pleases the things I already own. Perhaps I go too far, but I come from high-hoarding people on both sides of my family and I am very naturally able to easily personify even the inanimate. And it doesn't bother me to do so, even though it may creep you out a little. But yes, I do think my things have personalities, likes and opinions. They just do.

ANYWAY, so that's my excuse and my sickness. But, last week I was at the Goodwill and I just felt like I was due something fabulous. Something wonderful. Something that would suit the members of my familie de objets. As always with the thrift store, expect to be surprised, because what I found wasn't an Eames chair, an Eva Zeisel bowl or a gold-plated berry server. It was something else entirely...

A circus tent, made from fiberboard and plastic and decorated with all manner of baroque designs. What? Yes. I think it was a display for perfume or some other cosmetics. And what would I do with it?

Cirque de la Saints, of course. It's perfect as an altar for some of the BVMs, Saints and Jesi from the collection, most of which also came from the thrift store. I love them and I love them in this circus tent. An aesthetic chord was definitely strummed with this one and there was absolutely no problem integrating it into the family.

Likewise, I missed this plastic swan on my first past, but quickly nabbed it as I made a final scan. What was it for? No clue. But, it is the perfect carriage for...

A bevy of BVMs.

One Holy Family.

A single Saint.

Bastet (aka the Golden Cat Companion of the Chinese God)

While not groundbreaking, goal setting or over-the-top, both of these simple finds made my day. And yours too, I hope.

Get clocked!

I don't know why, but there have been lots of fabulous clocks at the thrift store the last couple of visits. I tried to be strong, but ultimately couldn't resist...

This resin beauty is filled with quartz. It was large, heavy and had a rustic elegance. Rustic elegance? I'm not sure how else to describe it. If I had a mantle I would have bought it. Or if it had been cheaper, I would have bought it for a future, as-yet-unowned mantle.

On another trip, I spotted second smaller version (only filled with shell) and I would have snapped that one up, but the top was broken. What is this phenomenon? I've never quite seen anything like it...

I finally gave in to the clocks being pushed on me by the universe when we spotted this lovely wall clock. It is one of those classic sunburst-type clocks, but with the Rococo swirls that made it irresistible. Unfortunately, it is missing one of the little finials, (Oh, you didn't even notice, did you?) but I think I will find something clever to replace it with--or maybe Molly will make me a little piece of glass to go on the end! Hmmmm?

It looks brilliant with the trophies...

These People Are Serious

It wasn't enough that someone created a clock to
go on your mantel and made it a bright, flashy plastic-y gold.

It wasn't enough that there be a single unicorn or a pegasus,
it had to be a pegacorn: fiercest of the mythical beasts!

But, one pegacorn wasn't enough.
No, they had to flank the clock with pegacorns, in all of their magnificence.

But that still wasn't enough, they had to add beautiful,
realistic silk roses, frozen in time, to match the goldenish ones and adorn the clock.

This clock is the best illustration I could ever give you that
too much is never enough.

Left at the thrift store, I was unworthy.

What You Don't

Sometimes, what you don't buy at the thrift store can be as interesting as what you DO buy. My recent stop at the Goodwill after a very long day attests to this. Perhaps I was just high on fatigue, but I was mesmerized by everything there--even though I wanted to buy none of it.

I love the handmaid and the discarded--and this is both! Someone went to a lot of trouble to create this seascape using shells and it is quite beautiful in its own special way. Maybe it represents a trip to the sea and a remembrance of a special day? Or maybe it's just a symbol of longing for the sea by someone stuck in the Midwest. If they had taken it one step further and made it a lamp, I might have been moved to buy it. Or if I knew who would have wanted it, I could have purchased it as a gift.

Would you want this for a gift? Let me know so the next time I see a diorama made from shells, I'll know who to buy it for.

Mitchell is almost as cute as these little puppies. He just needs to try a little bit harder.

What is it about bunnies? They are supposed to be cute, but so often come off as menacing. I imagine this replacing Joseph in the light up nativity scene in your front yard.

And this! This is just an altar to tacky presided over by three goddesses, angels and glass vessels for offerings. It made me wonder if someone set it up, as I will often do while perusing the shelves at the thrift store. A new series of posts! Thrift store assemblage.

Sundays at Goodwill are Made for...

I don't know what to tell you, but the Terre Haute Goodwill is back after a dismal slump. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. It's good in that it's fun to shop there again, but it's bad in that my china cabinet, hutch, closet, other closet and storage are packed. But, I could not pass up these finds.

And they happened on a Sunday.

That's right, the worst thrift shopping day of the week. Sunday is the worst because: it's after everything as been picked over on Friday night when everyone is on the way home from work; Saturday has seen people come and go and come and go and come and go; it's the day employees at Goodwill are hung over and doesn't do any restocking; there is nothing left but the odds and ends.

But this has happened before. And it happened again.

Exhibit A.

These lovely little lotus bowls are some of my favorite things and I have a huge collection. My grandmother had them in white, but I eschew those in favor of a myriad of colors I can mix and match.

These are a wonderful addition to the collection, but I was sad as there was also an orange one, but it had a chip I could not ignore. Yes I have....(one, two....seven....thirteen..)....twenty-one of the larger bowls in various colors and three smaller one in red and green, but you never know when I might need them for a dinner or emergency. I mean, what if a busload of Buddhist monks broke down en route to St. Louis and they called me to help serve dinner but they HAD to have rice bowls. Buddhist monks cannot be served dinner without rice bowls. I would be ready. Would you?

And one more orange would have helped too!

However, my sadness was lifted by...

Exhibit B.

This light wood salad bowl, imported from Japan, has the look of American modern. It made me think of Russel Wright or Eva Zeisel. Wonderful shape and color. And made me feel better about the loss of the orange lotus bowl. Until I saw...

Exhibit C.

A stack of white dishes that intrigued me and upon closer inspection, proved to be solid white Contempri designed for Jackson China International by Paul McCobb. You are asking yourself, "Does he really need another set of china?" And I am telling you, "Yes!" In a qualified way. Reader, I already own this set of china, it is just slowly being delivered to my house over the course of several years. I originally purchased an open vegetable and platter at an estate sale in Wichita, KS. Then earlier this year, I found a second open vegetable and covered casserole right here in Terre Haute which inspired a paradigm shift in the china cabinet. And now service for four? I think you can see where this is going. Someday, service for twelve with all of the accoutrement. Dost though scoff? My collection of Temporama began with only a gravy point and a dream.

Name it and claim it, that is what Oprah says!

Anyway, I think you can see that Sunday is not a bad day to thrift shop. Challenging, yes. But it still can yield a china cabinet full of treasures. Or two china cabinets full.

Yella

It has been a little bit of a dry spell at the Terre Haute Goodwill, but that all changed a couple of weeks ago. Erika Doss was in town to give a lecture as part of program the Swope was doing with ISU and Art Spaces, Inc. At dinner after, we all got to talking about collecting and objects, and Erika and I decided we needed to take a moment to stop into the Goodwill in the morning. She found zilch (next time!) , but I found three yellow treasures:

A fantastic tin, covered in jewels for the tin collection. Mitchell has arranged some of these on the wall as you turn into our hallway and they look fantastic. Three or so more and it will be a brilliant arrangement. What did I tell you about more?

This lovely swirling glass bowl matches...

...this fantastic blue one that I already have! It will be great for dips next to the flower-power chip bowl. Or, I can put snack mix in the blue one and nuts in the yellow one for a party. Officially designated. Please mark the log.

And finally, this beautiful yellow relish dish. It's smartly divided, with one large compartment and two small ones. I haven't used it yet, but it looks brilliant in the sunlight. And will look even better filled with olives, pickled okra, cornichons, caper berries and so on and so on and so on.

Yellow! I love thematic thrifting finds...

ICT Thrift, Thrifted Gifts & the BVM

We had a wonderful time at Anna's house on July 4 and enjoyed seeing many friends and hanging out at their house. Emily and Brian came--with gifts! In the strange synchronic way, one of the items, a small George Briard tray, had been purchased at the estate sale at the very house where the party was! What more, Anna loved the dish, which reminded her of a childhood dish of her grandmothers and was thinking of it as the inspiration for her kitchen remodel: orange and copper. Hot!

Emily told how her mother did not like to give 'used' gifts and how she had a hard time getting over that herself. Thrifted gifts are the best! If you find something someone will love, they won't care where it came from. In our case, the thrifted gifts included the aforementioned Briard tray, a small tin for the collection and a diminutive Asian statue. Lovely, all. The Asian lady rounds out a couple of recent statues of the BVM I found to a nice little set of three.

The used gift question made me think about Christmases past: my mam-ma lived in a older neighborhood in Tulsa, one that had been quite rural when they moved into it, with the city growing up around it. In the 80s, there was a problem with flooding and the city elected to buy-up many of the homes in the neighborhood and build a water-retention area. One of the home belonged to Miss Brotherton. This had been her family home and she had lived there her entire life, never marrying and only adding to the accumulation of thing already in the house. All of these treasures had to go, so mam-ma volunteered to throw the garage sale of all garage sales. It was legendary. Of course, come Christmas there were lots of extras under the tree--everyone had more presents than usual and we weren't sure why. Then, we began to unwrap and all manner of odd items from the house were revealed. Everyone got something, or several somethings, from the sale. Unique things. From then on, that Christmas was referred to as the Brotherton Christmas. Used gifts! Do it.

We also did a little trifting with Molly, but it seems our karma was used up on a few things. Molly found a great tile topped table in limey greens and yellows. I found a bulletin board in a very 70s design. We also spotted several items of interest along the way.

This virgin and child was lovely, but strangely the same price as...

Huh. Virgin Mary or strange plastic people with happy messages? I guess the gist is the same.

And then there was this strange display:

I can only say: booty-licious!

Molly scored a beautiful tile-topped table in shades of green and citreen that looks fab with her chairs. We spent a little time merchandising them and I think the result was very fun. (Hello Dempsey! Your first appearance on MTSS.)

She also found this great chair which looks perfect with her orange ottoman. I think she has a fantastic orange and green story happening.

Love shopping in Wichita!

You Go Back

Mitchell stopped by the Goodwill tonight to drop some things off, mostly just clutter from the pantry closet. But, one person's clutter is another person's...crystal meth? Not quite right, but you know what I mean. Of course, he ran through the store, but didn't buy anything, returning only with tales of the several cool things that were there. Sitting on the shelves.

Excuse me? Of course, we got back in the car and returned to claim what was rightfully ours:

In your house, you may call this a 'Lazy Susan,' but I feel that is offensive to Susans everywhere. And, I have several friends (a gaggle of Susans?) who are named Susan who are all far from lazy. So, in my house I use the term 'round spinny thing' which is non-pejorative and has a fresh, twenty-first century feel to it. Please don't say, 'Lazy Susan' around me as I will most certainly call you out on your named-based prejudice.

Anyway, this beauty is pressed aluminum in gold and green. It seems to be missing a lid, but is still totally functional. I was thinking: fondue. And the best part? The level the trays and bucket sit on is removable, so you can fill it with ice to keep the items on your round spinny thing chilled, as for crudités.

And this little log, a tiny planter. The faux fanaticism continues, what else can I say? But it will look cute with a small plant in it on the balcony. The best part: when we were checking out, the crazy checker guy said, "This is also great to have for your computer. You can use it to log onto the internet." No, I'm serious, he totally said it and then proceeded to check Mitchell's one dollar bills to make sure they weren't counterfeit. Are there a lot of people out there counterfeiting singles?

And Our Lady, who will be added to the array of deities when I can find them. Wherever they are, we ask for their protection and give them thanks for these blessed finds.

Peace be with you.

Yes, I'm Short on Serving Pieces...

....it's all relative. What is enough? When do you stop? I have no idea, as I can't give up the thrill of the chase or the fabulous finds presented to me. The Terre Haute Goodwill is a goldmine. There may not be tons of things that I have to have, but there are enough amazing finds to keep me going back.

Saturday, I suggested we pop over to the store and see what was around. Mitchell said, "What's the worst that can happen? We don't find anything?" In the case of our diminishing storage, that may actually be the best thing that could happen. But, that wasn't the case:

Hiding behind some glasses and other items on the top shelf of the housewares department? A covered casserole, plane white Contempri by Paul McCobb. (He was better known for his furniture, but these pieces [produced in Japan] are innovative in shape and details. I heart them.) Around the corner? A matching open vegetable bowl.

I love this china and already have one open vegetable and a platter, so I was thrilled to add a couple of pieces to the collection. In addition to white, this shape also came in several solid colors (I have some sherbets in green) and patterns. Somehow, I always find white, which is just fine as I can mix my Eva Zeisel bowls, my lotus bowls, my Schonwald dishes and the Contempri all on the table for an elegant, coordinated look. When I want one. Which is usually for the holidays, mixed with silver. But, my next dinner party is going to be served family style in the Paul McCobb pieces: curries, rice and naan. Coconut ice cream for dessert. Who wants to come?

The obsession with wooden fruit continues. This is actually two sets without a nice bowl. BUT, some new varieties were added, including some vegetables: corn, an acorn, squash and star fruit.

I could not resist this beautiful painting of a horse. I'm trying to think of great racing name for her. Any suggestions? So far, I've come up with 'Josephine's Lament,' but am not completely thrilled with it.

Lastly, a wee incense holder. Ours is still packed away in a box somewhere and this one was, of course, a bargain.

Bad Thrift vs. Good Thrift

There are bad thrifting trips, good thrifting trips and extraordinary thrifting trips--and you can't have one without the others! But what is the difference? And when is the best day to shop? I've struggled with this and as soon as I think I have an answer, I'm smacked upside the head with an example that doesn't compute.

Last week I popped into the Goodwill on Tuesday, which is what I theorize is the best day for thrifting. The reasoning is that all of the fabulous things that were donated over the weekend are beginning to appear in the store, but there aren't that many people shopping. Not this Tuesday. There was nothing, but I did photograph a few bombs.

An electric ice crusher from Rival. I almost bought this, honestly, but where would it be stored? It's almost attractive enough to just stay on the counter, but I wasn't sure how clean it was. I should have bought it. Now I'm having not-buying remorse, which in my estimation is probably one example of a bad thrifting trip.

Another great example, finding something that is very cool, but then realizing there is a giant chip on it. Like this teapot from Hall. I mean, I could have bought it to just sit around and be pretty, but I already have enough things that just sit around and are pretty.

Or what about finding a dirty ashtray? Regardless of how semi-cool it might be, it's just disheartening and makes for a bad shopping experience. Blech.

--------------------------------------------------

But then there are those days that are brilliant. When you have to go back for a basket! When the sales clerk has to get a box to put all of your purchases in! Such was my experience on Sunday--a day I don't associate with good thrift shopping. I usually think that after Saturday, everything has been pretty picked over, but this week I decided to stop in on a lark and what a haul!

A little mustard pot, with a white and gold lid. Mitchell said, "Too bad it didn't have a spoon with it." I think I can fix that problem: what color spoon would you like?

You know about the two-plate rule: for dinner plates to be purchased, there have to be at least two of them. No singles no matter how cool they are. Of course, that doesn't apply to dessert/bread plates! I have a cupboard full of interesting choices that mix well together, but hadn't added anything to the collection in a while. This charming fellow with lovely yellow flowers was just the thing!

Reader, I know you are thinking, "Three of something? He bought three of something?" I couldn't resist, I guess. I was just so jubilant from all of the great finds so far, I could not pass these guys up. I don't have enough to include in a table setting, but they could be used for nuts, sauces or any other little old thing. Perfect and cute. And who knows, perhaps someday I will find more of them...

...like these guys! I have had six of these for years (original find, July 2005) and love to serve wine in them for a casual moment. Now, with two more added to the collection, they can be added to the slate for table service! Congratulation little curvy glasses, you are moving up into the big leagues...

...and replaced in the minor leagues by this little set of four wine glasses, perfect for the casual moment that used to be filled by the curvy guys, in an elegant and very modern shape.

I found the larger tidbit tray on one of my first thrift-shopping excursions in Terre Haute, and Sunday I found his baby brother and was so very excited. And I know you are probably wondering, "How many tiered serving pieces are enough? How many do I need for my own entertaining arsenal?" And I would say to you: when I figure that out, you'll be the first to know. (This is six.) And I have to say, when I got these guys together I was ready for some petite fours and tea sandwiches. Come for tea...

....which I could keep in this cute little tin, added to the the grand collection of tins. These become harder to find every day, so it's always a delight to pick one up for Mitchell's collection. For some reason, I find the ones that have a lot of black on them especially appealing.

And last, but hardly least, a set of eight, low, shallow sherbets. They aren't all the same, but they coordinate beautifully with one another--and I've never seen anything quite like them. Plus, I don't have sherbets for eight in my collection. I can do five or twelve, but the twelve are plastic. So now, I can do eight for a lovely little sit-down dinner with glass. Relieved?

Good shopping? Extraordinary shopping--a day for glass!

Climmmmmb Every Mounnnnnn-tain

I stopped into Goodwill today, on the way home from picking up the dry cleaning. There wasn't a lot, but I did see a salad set I got rid of several years ago in white (I had it in orange) and some other small treasures.

As I scanned the shelves, I passed this burnt orange box with the Hallmark logo imprinted on the bottom, so small you could have almost missed it. I thought to myself, "Probably just some crappy, ugly greeting cards," but my thrifting spirit guides said, "IT COULD BE SOME CRAPPY, UGLY GREETING CARDS!" Of course, they meant good ugly and I was thinking bad ugly. So I opened the box to find, some amazing cards: two decks of cards in complementary patterns. Lovely. Playing cards, not greeting cards. With a matching score pad.

As I've said before, you have to be an investigative thrift shopper. You can't assume the contents of a box are what its exterior advertises. Look in every box. Pick things up to see what is underneath them. Shop with your hands as well as your eyes. And keep wet wipes in the car.

And yes, I stood in the store and counted both (complete) decks. Always listen to your spirit guides.

Trophy Life

The Carmen Miranda Suite (installation view), 2004

The Altar of the Ascension of Carmen Miranda, mixed media, 2004

I have always had an affinity for found trophies. Its interesting to me that someone worked hard to accomplish something; was then given a plastic and marble object to commemorate the event; and that the object was discarded by them or someone else. I've used trophies in my art before, primarily in the Carmen Miranda Suite and always been excited to find something strange like a girl on her back kicking a soccer ball, a salesman, or (my favorite) a poodle.

Today at Goodwill there was a gigantic collection of trophies, probably thirty to forty. Most were for swimming, but there was a derby one, a couple of basketball ones and five beauty queen trophies. Five. I could not resist them.

They are all for third or fourth place and from two different years. It's apparent that the owner of these trophies tried really hard to win beauty pageants and was moderately successful. I am thinking she probably won first place at some point, but kept that one since it was the most important to her. Right now, they are just going to be decorative, but in the future they might become part of an art project.

To read about my experience judging the Miss Arkansas USA Pageant in 2004 click here!

Do as I Say, Not as I Do

I'm not sure what I was thinking.

In my defense, the only thing I can say is that it has been a very long week. We stopped into the Goodwill last night and I saw this fantastic lamp. It's white ceramic with a cutout pattern overlaid with a cherry tree in full bloom. The interior is lined with white paper and there is room for a bulb inside. It sits on black wooden base, but had no shade. It was $2.99.

And I didn't buy it. Why?
  1. We have been talking about needing an extra lamp for the bedroom to go on the dresser, but how could this white ceramic thing with a space for a bulb ever serve that purpose?
  2. Both the other lamps have white ceramic bases in the shape of logs with black shades, so why would I ever want another lamp with a white base?
  3. I have looked at lamps at Tuesday Morning and elsewhere for about $60, how could I possible spend less than $5?
  4. The style of the bedroom is Asian-ish, reflected in the Chinese-red screen-like headboard and giant peony fabric curtains, so of course this vase-like lamp with cherry blossoms on it couldn't fit into that idea.
  5. I guess I didn't think about those things and just walked away, in other words: out of my mind.
Huh? Yes, I walked away. And woke up in the middle of the night screaming.

Luckily, my shopping karma is pretty good and when Mitchell stopped by the store on the way home, it was still there. I need to find/make a shade, but otherwise it is absolute gorgeous. One of my favorite finds ever.

Do not hesitate. I repeat: do not hesitate. It will be your downfall.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive

Saturday's thrift shop thrift stop yielded a small bounty:

Friday, I had said, "What we really need is a small shelf in the hall for our landing strip." You know, the place for keys, wallets, mail and other things you pick up and put down as you come into the house. We have been using the ice bucket on the bar and it just looks junky. What did we find? A small shelf that will be a perfect landing strip. Of course, it's gold and will have to be painted. Orange!

Yes mother, I know I made you get rid of all of your Home Interiors decor items. Context, it's about context: one person's junk pile is another person's high style!

One of the few things destroyed in the move was the lovely white parrot that moved around the house, like birds are want to do. Sometimes he was on the entry table, other times in the bird cage. He is gone. But, the universe sent a replacement!

This sign seems like it should hang over the round kitchen table in your grandmother's kitchen. While it is not going in my dining room, I am going to hang it over the kitchen sink with a couple of other seventies-vibe kitchen decor items. Universe! One more, please.

Mitchell has a slight obsession with the lovely metal tins which you used to buy filled with treats, sweets or candies. This one has a hinged lid and is a great addition to the ever growing collection.

Rules Are Made to be Broken

A few posts back, I made reference to the two-plate rule: we are allowed to buy dinner plates if there are two of them, but that is it. The reasoning behind this is that our Kansas kitchen was decorated with a large array of miss-matched vintage plates. When we moved to Texas, we kept all of the ones that were a pair and created an 'everyday' set of dishes that changes everyday. One for me, one for him

But, I guess rules are made to broken. Such was the case when we found this set of six Taylor Smith and Taylor plates at Goodwill when Jessie and Dave were in town over New Year's. The justification in the store was, "we'll keep two, then donate the other four back." But, once they arrived home, we used them for New Year's Day brunch then swiftly found a place for them in the china cabinet, as if hiding them away could disguise our shame.

Of course, the issue now is: what will go with them?

I tried the blue salad plates I bought to go with the Metlox before acquiring enough of the Metlox salad plates, but they were too big.

The white plates I have work, but aren't especially nice or complementary in shape. The olive lotus bowls really do work though, so I'm looking for: some smaller blue salad plate or some nicer white ones. We'll see.

It's a Collection!


As my loyal, longtime Reader, you know how I feel about objects and collections: one is of interest, two is a pair and three is a collection. Well, I an happy to officially announce that I now have a collection of wooden fruit in bowls!

Of course, you're as pleased as I am, but I cannot helped noticing that quizical look on your face that seems to wonder whether or not I actually need another set of wooden fruit. Well, it happened most accidentally, I assure you. I was driving by the Goodwill and decided to pop in for a moment, knowing there wasn't going to be anything of interest on a Sunday afternoon. But, I was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong. I passed up treasure after treasure, so that when I came to the bowl of wooden fruit, all of my resistance was spent. I snatched it up without question, threw my money at the cashier and ran for the door.

Now, I also have some juistification:
1. This set is in a low, wooden dish. It will look perfect with the other two sets which are in compote style dishes.
2. It has a mango. And a persimmon. I don't have a set with a persimmon! Plus, some other exotic fruits I cannot identify. I love exotic wooden fruit I can't identify even more than just plain old wooden grapes, bananas and apples.
3. Photographic evidence of the things I did NOT buy, articles A, B and C:

I think congratulations are in order.