Way delayed, but with Melissa/Mo was here a while back, she found some treasures that couldn't be passed up!
Shopping with Mo
Way delayed, but with Melissa/Mo was here a while back, she found some treasures that couldn't be passed up!
Way delayed, but with Melissa/Mo was here a while back, she found some treasures that couldn't be passed up!
Thrifting Through the Blizzard
My darlings, I have for you a much delayed post on the holidays which took us on a long, snowy tour of the lower Midwest to see family and friends. The travel was dangerous and grueling, but as they say, "When life gives you lemons, make time for thrift shopping." And we did, finding many wonderful and amazing items along the way.
I popped into a thrift store in south Omaha that I only hope I can find again: there was so much it was unbelievable! I could have outfitted an entire kitchen and dining room with the wonderful items they had. And after you finish this post, you'll probably think I did...
I popped into a thrift store in south Omaha that I only hope I can find again: there was so much it was unbelievable! I could have outfitted an entire kitchen and dining room with the wonderful items they had. And after you finish this post, you'll probably think I did...
I wish there had been ten--no twelve--NO TWENTY--of these bowls, I would have bought them all. They are low, but deep enough for soup, pasta or a big salad. And perfect for spaghetti and meatballs. I won't every eat spaghetti from anything besides these bowls again, I promise you. They are that perfect. And Pyrex. Did I mention they are Pyrex? With a lovely greenish-blue rings that match my favorite coffee cup. One of my favorite coffee cups--I try to remain impartial.
Say what you will about hoarding, but I will never pass up a chip-less, lotus bowl if it is a color other than white. These are the smallest size and I now have two in red, two in green and two in yellow. Traffic light! Plus, twenty or so in the slightly larger size in a variety of colors. For rice bowl emergencies. Geez, I've totally explained this to you before and it is completely logical.
This lovely little bowl is a very light gray and unmarked It reminds me a of a shape from either the 40s or the 80s and is perfect for some nuts, olive pits, sesame seeds, soy sauce, ketchup, flaky salt or anything else you might want or need to put into a small bowl. Hello, my name is Brian and I'm addicted to small bowls. I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want.
I'm calling this lovely 70s Madonna and Child wall plaque, 'Our Lady of Ventriloquism' because it does kind of look like he is her puppet. Sweet regardless, it's now hanging beside the front door which took some getting used to as I kept seeing it out of the corner of my eye and thinking, 'What the hell is on the wall!?!'
This fantastic serving piece is that Japanese-made plastic that is supposed to kind of look like lacquerware. It has six little trays that are removable and a center wooden section for....sauces, a fondue pot, condiments, a centerpiece....or whatever. Did I mention it's fantastic?
These trays are plastic, but made to look like a gold-veined stone. Very unique, I could not pass them up...
A silver tray shaped like a giant leaf was impossible to resist.
In Wichita, we did a little shopping with Molly, popping into the DAV at Central and Edgemore to find...giant piles of Russel Wright dishes! It was so strange, at first I spotted some creamer tops to the Iroquois Casual China and then some tea cups in a variety of patterns and colors. Eventually, saucers, bread plates and dinner plates began to reveal themselves in the mess of dishes on display in the store including: service for eight in the Iroquois Casual China in Pink Sherbet with cups, saucers, bread and butter plates and dinner plates. I have always coveted this pink. I'm not sure why as I'm not really a pink person (give me some fuchsia here and there, but not pink pink), but every time I see it I just think, 'That is the perfect pink.' So, dear reader, I could not resist when presented with the opportunity to buy such a large group at the thrift store.When I got home, I realized that the pieces came from different production lots because of the variety of markings. I think all of this china must have belonged to some collector who might now be in the 'big Russel Wright shop in the sky' and their family didn't know what this was. Just a bunch of old china! So, I'm glad I rescued a collector's collection, or at least a little part of it.
This beauty was already featured in the gravy-boat-confessional-crossover post between MTSS and bigYELLOWbowl. But, it's still quite the find. Perhaps I should give it away in some sort of contest?
Returning home, I guess I was still hot and heavy for shopping (twas the season!), so I popped into Goodwill and found this lovely shell in a deep brown practically black for the faux shell collection. I think I'll fill it with BVMs.Since then, I have kind of been ignoring the thrift store. Trying to be good! Fret not, it won't last...
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...
More Madison Thrift-consin
Seriously, I mean if you didn't chuckle when you read the title of my last post, there is something wrong with your sense of humor. I had to use it again! Just to remind you...
A special treat for you this week: photos of Jessie & Dave's finds from the auteur herself, Grand Empress of Photographic Magic, Ms. Jessie Eisner-Kleyle. Honestly, when I saw these I gasped: they are all such thoughtful, beautiful pics of amazing finds. While she has many talents, I think that JE-K has a true eye for the objet. But, I only wish I had an MTSS book deal so I could hire her full-time to photograph all of my FINDS. I'm getting a new camera and making her put me through object photography boot camp.
A special treat for you this week: photos of Jessie & Dave's finds from the auteur herself, Grand Empress of Photographic Magic, Ms. Jessie Eisner-Kleyle. Honestly, when I saw these I gasped: they are all such thoughtful, beautiful pics of amazing finds. While she has many talents, I think that JE-K has a true eye for the objet. But, I only wish I had an MTSS book deal so I could hire her full-time to photograph all of my FINDS. I'm getting a new camera and making her put me through object photography boot camp.
Yo ho ho! New art for the wall...she is going to paint it some fabulous color. We'll see.
A double-shot of a single chair. Very elegant and one step closer to having four chairs for the cute new dining room table...
Beautiful orange Pyrex! I love this. I am going to steal it next time I visit.
Another lovely little casserole with pretty little birds. See what she baked in it here.
A round spinning thing for the new table. We actually invented a better name for it, but that brilliant new word slips my mind.
Success! The fourth chair!
Madison, Thrift-consin
I don't what it is about Madison, but it is a thrifting mecca. Every time we visit, it seems we walk away with a trove of treasures. I promise you, with one visit to the St. Vincent Thrift Store, I could furnish and decorate an entire house. What a challenge! But, I could. And I guess it's strange, because Madison doesn't seem that big and its filled with hipsters and dirty hippies who you would think would be snatching up all this ephemera and driving up the prices (a la Austin, TX), but that isn't the case. I tell you, we thrifted hard, but the results were fantastic and I'm happy to share them with you here:
Jessie* spotted this gorgeous, faux-lacquer condiment set. She graciously presented it in tribute to me, recognizing how pleased I would be with the find. Would I do the same? I have given many a thrifting find to a thrifty friend, but I think it would be hard to convince myself someone else would like this particular item more than I. The set has a tray, three dishes with wooden lids and three little plastic spoons.
Of course, it doesn't hurt that it perfectly matches this mod little serving set I already own, complete with the spoon and tiny dishes. I love the diminutive aspects of all of this and of course, the bright, fresh orange color. (Thank you JE-K!)
She also snatched up this gorgeous Georges Briard cheeseboard! What an eye that woman has, perfectly honed from all of her beautiful photographic work. The tray is missing the little knife that it supposed to be attached by a chain to the side, but it's still perfect and I will use it the next time I entertain. If not before.
Before we started thrifting, I mentioned I was 'due' a couple of pieces of Pyrex. With Barb's help, we honed down the collection before moving to Indiana, but have lost a couple of things to breakage since then. You all know how it is when Pyrex breaks! But, I've been doing alright and working through it. However, I was pretty sure the only way to successful break through the pain and heartbreak was to replace my loss with new beauties. Voilà!
You can probably see by now, this post is really about completion: about finding objects that really belong with other objects. Not long ago, I found a set of eight, low sherbet dishes at the Goodwill in Terre Haute. I thought they were rather strange and can't remember seeing anything quite like them. Low and behold, three more appeared in Madison, Thrift-consin! (Yes, I had to say it again, I am too pleased with my cleverness.) Which brings the service up to eleven. I know there is another waiting out there...
...just like there was another one of these glasses waiting out there for me! Again, that makes nine (six in Wichita + two in Terre Haute + one in Madison = Heaven) and next time there is dinner, you can believe these delicious little fellows will be on the table.
Now back to barware: I have an eclectic set of bar glasses and I like to mix and match. The most complete set I have is six George Briard old fashioned glasses in a gold leaf pattern. Otherwise, it's a few of this and a few of that. So I didn't hesitate to pick up this lovely set of five, emblazoned with an Aztec calendar. Of course, they reminded me of the Aztec calendar incident at Michael and Ryan's house ages ago, but it's too long and ridiculous to explain here. Know this: party games that are based on absent host's peccadilloes only end in tragedy. The glasses will remain a symbol of that. You all know who you are.
Lastly, this little owl is a nightlight and just an amazing addition to the pad, with the bird cage lamps and faux deer heads: it's like she has flown the coop, but still watches over us.The lesson: if you find something you love, even if its a single glass or plate ofrdish, buy it and appreciate the singularity of it. But, you never know when that one might become service for twelve, so also remember to keep your eye open--and remind your friends too!
*Jessie found some fabulous things of her own, but she hasn't sent the photos yet. Next post, I suppose!
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!
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 himBut, 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.
Terre Haute Haul
Molly visited a couple of weeks from Wichita for the trunk show we did at the Swope. Everyone loved her beads and jewelry and we had fun running around town over the weekend--including a trip to the Goodwill!
A vintage antiquing kit! Wow.
Molly considered this cake carrier, but she already has a pretty swank one she got with the Wichita diaspora.
Could anyone make this lamp look fab? I think it would be a challenge, but if you succeeded it would be a major triumph. I'm going to guess: State Fair, 1993. Any takers? Grrrrr.
I love this Hawaiian head, but she looks like she is on something. With the flower behind the ear, it's a little Billie-Holiday-on-some-junk-as-a-Hawaiian-lady-sings-the-blues.
Molly debated on some Asian-ish wall plaques that matched some she bought last time we were shopping together in Wichita. At $2 a piece, they were too pricey. I couldn't have resisted since my philosophy is always more is more, less is a bore.
This is a giant phone. Not really, but call me!
A vintage antiquing kit! Wow.Molly considered this cake carrier, but she already has a pretty swank one she got with the Wichita diaspora.Could anyone make this lamp look fab? I think it would be a challenge, but if you succeeded it would be a major triumph. I'm going to guess: State Fair, 1993. Any takers? Grrrrr.I love this Hawaiian head, but she looks like she is on something. With the flower behind the ear, it's a little Billie-Holiday-on-some-junk-as-a-Hawaiian-lady-sings-the-blues.Molly debated on some Asian-ish wall plaques that matched some she bought last time we were shopping together in Wichita. At $2 a piece, they were too pricey. I couldn't have resisted since my philosophy is always more is more, less is a bore.This is a giant phone. Not really, but call me!
MTSS Diaspora
With the move to Terre Haute, lots of things went to the thrift store, but many things also ended up with friends. It's wonderful to know that items will continue to be used and loved by someone else.
Katie was delighted to have a chair and ottoman where she can sit and read as she prepares for her tests and exams next semester. The ottoman was actually a find by Michael who passed it onto me when he left Wichita for Chicago.
My sofa, which I have loved for about thirteen years, even sent a note:
Dear Brian,
Thank you for finding such a lovely home for me. Its very cozy here and I'm already making new pals. I've become fast friends with a little blue end table and a funky vinyl chair. They're also from Thriftsville, USA, so we have a lot to talk about.
My only challenge has been the snobby Scandinavian coffeetable that keeps avoiding me. Other than that though , everything is really great. Here's a picture of Chair, Table & me hanging out this past weekend.
Peace!
The Couch
Katie was delighted to have a chair and ottoman where she can sit and read as she prepares for her tests and exams next semester. The ottoman was actually a find by Michael who passed it onto me when he left Wichita for Chicago.My sofa, which I have loved for about thirteen years, even sent a note:
Dear Brian,Thank you for finding such a lovely home for me. Its very cozy here and I'm already making new pals. I've become fast friends with a little blue end table and a funky vinyl chair. They're also from Thriftsville, USA, so we have a lot to talk about.
My only challenge has been the snobby Scandinavian coffeetable that keeps avoiding me. Other than that though , everything is really great. Here's a picture of Chair, Table & me hanging out this past weekend.
Peace!
The Couch
Sympatico
Stephanie, the muse of MTSS (You did know there was a muse and inspiration, didn't you?), delivered some beautiful things to yours truly. Every time I see her, she has a goody bag of selections from her own thrift shopping.
Two of my favorite things: faux bois and a tidbit tray in one amazing combination. I can't wait to bake some delectable treats and show it off at work.
She sells faux shells in the thrift store. As Stephanie said, there are lots of faux shells out there, but most of them aren't worth owning. This one is a beauty.
There was also another treat, which is holiday specific and I'll save for a you as a special treat on a later date.
Thanks Stephanie!
Two of my favorite things: faux bois and a tidbit tray in one amazing combination. I can't wait to bake some delectable treats and show it off at work.She sells faux shells in the thrift store. As Stephanie said, there are lots of faux shells out there, but most of them aren't worth owning. This one is a beauty.There was also another treat, which is holiday specific and I'll save for a you as a special treat on a later date.
Thanks Stephanie!
Holiday Thrift Round-up
This year, we did the tour of the 'ahs' for the holidays--Wichit-ah, Omah-ah and Tuls-ah. It was a long, LONG trip, but I did some shopping and peeking at what other people had bought.
Wichit-ah
I got to see Molly and Jamie's new place, which is very cute. It's a bungalow with nice details in the same part of town where I used to live. Molly gave me the grand tour and I got to see some of her thrifting finds along the way.
I need another pitcher like I need another platter, but if I had seen this beauty at a thrift store, I would have snapped it up. Perfect for iced tea, punch or the beverage of your choice. Sangria anyone?
Molly bought this corner shelf at IKEA last year when she was in Austin. It looks so nice in the kitchen displaying some of her thrifted finds. Note the Pyrex, just lovely.
In the basement, Molly and Jamie have carved out an amazing studio space for her glass, fabric work and other creative endeavors. I've never seen Molly look so organized and the beautiful workspace is surely inspirational. Pink flames on the wall? Excellent.
Tucked into the corner of her studio, you will find the Ironrite ironing machine. It's one of those monstrous, 1950s appliances with lovely details, including the logo. Molly says its impossible to move, even though the included information promises to allow you to 'take a holiday from ironing drudgery for the rest of your life!' I guess the makers of Ironrite didn't come up with a way to allow you take a holiday from moving giant ironing machines drudgery for the rest of your life. But oh well, it's still a beaut.
On the tour of the place, I also noted some of MY old thrifting finds that had been passed on to Molly when I left town, including this cute set of glasses and the little yellow pot. There was a chip and dip server that matched the glasses, but I'm not sure if Molly has that or it went to another good home.
Emily, another Wichita friend, has opened up a great little store on Douglas called Frank and Margaret's. She stocks vintage finds, refabbed furniture and lots of wonderful new things for an eclectic mix of limtless choices. I didn't get to visit the store while it was open, but did peak in the window and snap a couple of quick pics.
Omah-ah
Omaha has lots of great thrift store, but since it was a holiday weekend, I didn't get a chance to visit any of them. I did go to the rambling, junk-filled antique store in the Old Town area where I stumbled upon lots of great things and really cheap, Nebraska prices.
This golden calf immediately made me think of Moses and the Children of Israel. Where would you put a giant golden calf but on a giant altar at the base of Mount Sinai?
I really wanted this beautiful bird cage suspended on a stand, but it was not priced in a cheap, Nebraska kind of way. Would I put a real bird in it? Have you been to my house?
This little church lamp reminded me of the offering bank at my grandparent's church. It was in a sleepy, little lake town and during the service children would walk to the front and put their offering in to a bank that was shaped like a church. It was very exciting, even if it doesn't sound like it now. The bank was shaped like your quintessential, American church of the 1950s. I wonder if the mega churches of today have giant mega church shaped banks that kids get to put their offering in?
The sign on this mannequin says she isn't that kind of girl, but something tells me that she is!
This cute little elephant is a small lamp or night light. Perfect for a desk or children's room. Perfect for anywhere, actually!
The sister of the Priscilla Presley bride doll that Mitchell found in Omaha last year (Picture this doll with black hair and in a wedding dress.) and that we sent to Jessie. I was tempted....to send this one to her too, but didn't.
Tuls-ah (or Owasso, rather)
The Goodwill in Owasso, Ok, where my parents live, is a gold mine. My guess is that it's because of its proximity to the Oklahoma Baptist Retirement home. Plus, I don't think any of those bougie people in Owasso shop at the thrift store. Here's what you might find:
Serving pieces in an obscure Franciscan pattern--there are so many and, as I've said, I've never met one I didn't like.
Weird African-style statues.
Frankoma! Egg plate! Two of my favorite things, but I already have one glass egg plate and one that matches my 'good' china. Plus, this isn't my favorite color of Frankoma glaze.
A very cute teapot or coffee pot from Hall.
Amazing, eclectic set of napkin rings.
A Dutch girl that I assume used to dangle a salt and pepper shaker from either side.
More dishes. I want to buy all the dishes that I see, and these were especially attractive. What kind of dishes are you looking for? Let me know and I'm sure I'll find something to suit your taste.
Wichit-ah
I got to see Molly and Jamie's new place, which is very cute. It's a bungalow with nice details in the same part of town where I used to live. Molly gave me the grand tour and I got to see some of her thrifting finds along the way.
I need another pitcher like I need another platter, but if I had seen this beauty at a thrift store, I would have snapped it up. Perfect for iced tea, punch or the beverage of your choice. Sangria anyone?
Molly bought this corner shelf at IKEA last year when she was in Austin. It looks so nice in the kitchen displaying some of her thrifted finds. Note the Pyrex, just lovely.
In the basement, Molly and Jamie have carved out an amazing studio space for her glass, fabric work and other creative endeavors. I've never seen Molly look so organized and the beautiful workspace is surely inspirational. Pink flames on the wall? Excellent.
Tucked into the corner of her studio, you will find the Ironrite ironing machine. It's one of those monstrous, 1950s appliances with lovely details, including the logo. Molly says its impossible to move, even though the included information promises to allow you to 'take a holiday from ironing drudgery for the rest of your life!' I guess the makers of Ironrite didn't come up with a way to allow you take a holiday from moving giant ironing machines drudgery for the rest of your life. But oh well, it's still a beaut.
On the tour of the place, I also noted some of MY old thrifting finds that had been passed on to Molly when I left town, including this cute set of glasses and the little yellow pot. There was a chip and dip server that matched the glasses, but I'm not sure if Molly has that or it went to another good home.
Emily, another Wichita friend, has opened up a great little store on Douglas called Frank and Margaret's. She stocks vintage finds, refabbed furniture and lots of wonderful new things for an eclectic mix of limtless choices. I didn't get to visit the store while it was open, but did peak in the window and snap a couple of quick pics.Omah-ah
Omaha has lots of great thrift store, but since it was a holiday weekend, I didn't get a chance to visit any of them. I did go to the rambling, junk-filled antique store in the Old Town area where I stumbled upon lots of great things and really cheap, Nebraska prices.
This golden calf immediately made me think of Moses and the Children of Israel. Where would you put a giant golden calf but on a giant altar at the base of Mount Sinai?
I really wanted this beautiful bird cage suspended on a stand, but it was not priced in a cheap, Nebraska kind of way. Would I put a real bird in it? Have you been to my house?
This little church lamp reminded me of the offering bank at my grandparent's church. It was in a sleepy, little lake town and during the service children would walk to the front and put their offering in to a bank that was shaped like a church. It was very exciting, even if it doesn't sound like it now. The bank was shaped like your quintessential, American church of the 1950s. I wonder if the mega churches of today have giant mega church shaped banks that kids get to put their offering in?
The sign on this mannequin says she isn't that kind of girl, but something tells me that she is!
This cute little elephant is a small lamp or night light. Perfect for a desk or children's room. Perfect for anywhere, actually!
The sister of the Priscilla Presley bride doll that Mitchell found in Omaha last year (Picture this doll with black hair and in a wedding dress.) and that we sent to Jessie. I was tempted....to send this one to her too, but didn't.Tuls-ah (or Owasso, rather)
The Goodwill in Owasso, Ok, where my parents live, is a gold mine. My guess is that it's because of its proximity to the Oklahoma Baptist Retirement home. Plus, I don't think any of those bougie people in Owasso shop at the thrift store. Here's what you might find:
Serving pieces in an obscure Franciscan pattern--there are so many and, as I've said, I've never met one I didn't like.
Weird African-style statues.
Frankoma! Egg plate! Two of my favorite things, but I already have one glass egg plate and one that matches my 'good' china. Plus, this isn't my favorite color of Frankoma glaze.
A very cute teapot or coffee pot from Hall.
Amazing, eclectic set of napkin rings.
A Dutch girl that I assume used to dangle a salt and pepper shaker from either side.
More dishes. I want to buy all the dishes that I see, and these were especially attractive. What kind of dishes are you looking for? Let me know and I'm sure I'll find something to suit your taste.Introducing...
....my fabulous, thrifty friend Jennie! She is as obsessed (if not more) with thrift shopping as I am, but we never really shop together. Today, we both happened to have a short day at work, so we met for lunch and then headed into Next-to-New to see what we could find. This mirror looks fancy (and Jennie looks lovely in it) but the frame is actually very thin plastic.
This double boiler is made from Pyrex glass, but not that strange stuff they tried to get everyone to cook on in the 80s. It was kind of amber colored? I can't remember what they called it, but my Mam-ma would always talk about how 'during the war' you couldn't buy metal cookware, so they had a lot of glass. Possibly like this? I didn't buy it, but considered it strongly.
Jennie almost bought this blue ceramic bowl, but it was obviously missing the lid. Cute, kind of Pennsylvannia Dutch modern?
She did pick up this lovely porcelain butterfly, with designs to use it to hold jewelry. Delicate and whimsical, it has a happy feeling. Plus, she can hang it on the wall if she wanted.
Jennie and I oohed and ahed over this set of thirteen Asian teacups decorated with delicate images of birds and bright pink peonies. Thirteen seemed like a lot, even though my usual goal is service for twenty-four. Jennie suggested we split then and I was so happy that I hugged her. The other shoppers looked at us like we were crazy, which we are. They have a thick wall and are perfect in the hand. I served tea in then that very evening, during a Project Runway screening.
Next-to-New had a huge collection of Hall's Jewel Tea pattern. This was one of my Mam-ma's favorites and at one point she had a large collection she eventually sold off. It was one of those things she was obsessed with, almost as much as that Anchor Hocking Star of David crystal. I have a single pitcher from her Jewel Tea collection that reminds of her and seeing this large selection made me gush. Her birthday is January 19 and she would have been 89.
This Dallas Junior League cookbook is haunting me. I almost bought another copy with a similar design actually imprinted onto the cover of the book last week when I was in Houston. I didn't buy either, because I really don't imagine getting anything interesting from the Dallas Junior League recipes. I'm sure there is a section of how to achieve big hair. Maybe another on dressing for lunch? I'm sure each recipe begins, "Ask your maid to prepare this recipe the next time you are having friends over for bridge."
There were eight of these RED Sango bowls, so I snatched them up. They're low and very modern, with color on the exterior and white inside. I imagine using them with the Georges Briard Asian plate and Metlox Shore Line. I love to mix different styles and colors up on the table. But, you, dear reader, already knew that. I emphasize that the bowls are red, because they were labeled orange by the store and there was much discussion on the color between Jennie and other guests at the house the evening after they were purchased. Red, red....RED!
They look lovely, combined as mentioned above and topped with an olive green lotus bowl.
Like moi, Jennie was born to (THRIFT) shop.
Finds and Not-so-Finds
Over the holidays, David and I popped into Next-to-New to see if there was anything I needed to pick up. There were several things I had my eye on and I wanted to check if the prices had gone down.
Remember my dream soup tureen? I noticed this plate at the store several weeks ago, and was convinced it belonged with my tureen: same colors, same markings, and same date. The price was a little crazy, especially for something that SHOULD have come with the tureen. I perservered and now the rejoined set has pride of place in the china cabinet in the front room.
When I saw this little, plastic basket I just couldn't resist it! David thought it was silly, but it's really perfect for the car or toting things around the house. Magazines. Bottles of wine to the park. It has a Kelly green interior and you just don't see craftmanship like this in woven plastic baskets anymore.
For those of you who think I just run out and buy every little thing that I see all willy-nilly, I have to say, "not so." I am always going for a 'carefelly curated' collection of objets and I passed up both of the pieces below...
An especially nice Pyrex pattern, but I already have about twenty divided casseroles. This one is adorned with dandelions.
I rarely see a pattern from Franciscan that disagrees with me, and this platter was no exception. More platters? How many platters do I have? I don't know, I'll count them later and post the total.
Remember my dream soup tureen? I noticed this plate at the store several weeks ago, and was convinced it belonged with my tureen: same colors, same markings, and same date. The price was a little crazy, especially for something that SHOULD have come with the tureen. I perservered and now the rejoined set has pride of place in the china cabinet in the front room.
When I saw this little, plastic basket I just couldn't resist it! David thought it was silly, but it's really perfect for the car or toting things around the house. Magazines. Bottles of wine to the park. It has a Kelly green interior and you just don't see craftmanship like this in woven plastic baskets anymore.For those of you who think I just run out and buy every little thing that I see all willy-nilly, I have to say, "not so." I am always going for a 'carefelly curated' collection of objets and I passed up both of the pieces below...
An especially nice Pyrex pattern, but I already have about twenty divided casseroles. This one is adorned with dandelions.
I rarely see a pattern from Franciscan that disagrees with me, and this platter was no exception. More platters? How many platters do I have? I don't know, I'll count them later and post the total.A Little Del City, OK Thrift
Last weekend, I made a quick trip to Norman, OK to see my friend Stephanie and some other friendly folks. Stephanie and I made a couple of thrifting runs, hitting some old haunts in Del City and Oklahoma city. The biggest purchase was a vintage, but mint, sewing machine that Stephanie got for a song. However, I didn't get a photo of it!
In Del City, we somehow landed upon some weird, friendly thrifter triangle. As we were looking at appliances, such as this avocado green Presto vertical broiler, an older gentleman counseled us on how we could pick some great stuff for our kitchen at yard sales. I didn't buy the toaster, but truly appreciated the graphics. Presto!
These faux bamboo nesting tables in brass and glass weren't in perfect shape, but certainly could have been made to work with a little paint or a bit of polish. Unfortunately, I didn't think they fit into the overhead compartment of the plane.
Stephanie considered this simple and elegant sideboard, but since it wouldn't fit in her car, took a pass. Perhaps she'll go back, it was a lovely bargain.
These little brass rabbits looked cute in the store, but the photo makes them seem like a pair of demon bunnies. I'm glad I decided against them!
What did I buy in Del City? A dancing trophy, some art for the guest room and a vintage Trader Vic's cocktail book. (Photos later) The line at the store was loooong, since there was only a single person working. However, everyone kept their cool and shared info about their favorite thrift stores and who had discounts on what days.
After Del City, we made a couple of other fruitless stops before heading to the Asian market with the idea of lunch. We were swept into the greatness that is Super Cao Nguyen Market and had a wonderful time cruising the aisles looking at packaging and finding bargains. You can read about that portion of our shopping adventure (food and non-food alike) here on bigYELLOWbowl.
After a return trip home to drop off our purchases, we ran to Salvation Army. No luck and not a single purchase. Apparently our bargain karma was exhausted. There were some interesting things to see though, so it wasn't a complete waste of energy.
This mound of scarves intrigued me. It looked like the contents of my grandmother's scarf drawer had exploded! And topped with a cowboy hat? Strange.
With her beatific expression and blue, snake skin jump suit, Stephanie could be the Patron Saint of Palm Beach. There were two of these available for purchase and neither looked as if it had been worn. Surprised?
These two gentlemen graced the front windows of the store. Smartly dressed, I found them strangely pleasing.
Do you remember this dress? Didn't Candice wear it to junior prom in 1986? When you went with Shane and she thought she was so hot because she was dating that college kid who ended up dropping out his sophomore year and working at the Kmart down the street? Remember? You guys double-dated and you and Candice shopped for your dresses together. She got this red one, with the polka dots and you wore something very similar in purple? Only the bow was bigger on yours? If you don't remember, then get out your photo album and double check because I am pretty sure I am right.
In Del City, we somehow landed upon some weird, friendly thrifter triangle. As we were looking at appliances, such as this avocado green Presto vertical broiler, an older gentleman counseled us on how we could pick some great stuff for our kitchen at yard sales. I didn't buy the toaster, but truly appreciated the graphics. Presto!
These faux bamboo nesting tables in brass and glass weren't in perfect shape, but certainly could have been made to work with a little paint or a bit of polish. Unfortunately, I didn't think they fit into the overhead compartment of the plane.
Stephanie considered this simple and elegant sideboard, but since it wouldn't fit in her car, took a pass. Perhaps she'll go back, it was a lovely bargain.
These little brass rabbits looked cute in the store, but the photo makes them seem like a pair of demon bunnies. I'm glad I decided against them!What did I buy in Del City? A dancing trophy, some art for the guest room and a vintage Trader Vic's cocktail book. (Photos later) The line at the store was loooong, since there was only a single person working. However, everyone kept their cool and shared info about their favorite thrift stores and who had discounts on what days.
After Del City, we made a couple of other fruitless stops before heading to the Asian market with the idea of lunch. We were swept into the greatness that is Super Cao Nguyen Market and had a wonderful time cruising the aisles looking at packaging and finding bargains. You can read about that portion of our shopping adventure (food and non-food alike) here on bigYELLOWbowl.
After a return trip home to drop off our purchases, we ran to Salvation Army. No luck and not a single purchase. Apparently our bargain karma was exhausted. There were some interesting things to see though, so it wasn't a complete waste of energy.
This mound of scarves intrigued me. It looked like the contents of my grandmother's scarf drawer had exploded! And topped with a cowboy hat? Strange.
With her beatific expression and blue, snake skin jump suit, Stephanie could be the Patron Saint of Palm Beach. There were two of these available for purchase and neither looked as if it had been worn. Surprised?
These two gentlemen graced the front windows of the store. Smartly dressed, I found them strangely pleasing.
Do you remember this dress? Didn't Candice wear it to junior prom in 1986? When you went with Shane and she thought she was so hot because she was dating that college kid who ended up dropping out his sophomore year and working at the Kmart down the street? Remember? You guys double-dated and you and Candice shopped for your dresses together. She got this red one, with the polka dots and you wore something very similar in purple? Only the bow was bigger on yours? If you don't remember, then get out your photo album and double check because I am pretty sure I am right.
Thrifting, Gifts and Magazine Racks
While in Madison, WI a few weeks back I did a little thrifting with my pal Jessie. Unfortunately, I was traveling by air and had to be very choosy about my purchases. The place we ended up had some great things I would have loved to snag: a giant, orang-ish landscape painting, crazy throw pillows, a Limoges gravy boat (white and gold and lovely) and all kinds of dishes. The thing I couldn't pass up was this fantastic ceramic horse. I have named her Tallulah and she still lives in Madison with Jessie and David, until the time comes for her to return to me. I was going to be brave like my friend Michael who has no fear when it comes to packing glass, but I just couldn't risk it. Someday, she will take her rightful place on the coffee table of my front room and rule the space as she was meant to.
Jennie is such a sweetheart and picked up this fantastic coral for me. It's not just any coral, but a beautiful specimen that has been attached to a strange little Lucite base. Somehow, the base makes a great thing event better, lending a certain seventies vibe. It rests on the coffee table, calling out quietly, "Tallulah, Taaaaa....lluuuuu....laaaaaaah."
Molly visited from Wichita and brought a great housewarming gift: an image of Virgin that is three-dimensional! Not 3-D is a flashing kind of way, but slightly raised off the background. Not only is she fantastic and three-dimension, but she is also the Virgin with the Super Powers. (Okay, they all have super powers, but this one really shows it by shooting powers rays from her hands. Don't mess with her!) She looks great on the mantel altar with Juan Carlos and an array of her Virgin counterparts.Metal mid century magazine rests abound at thrift stores around the country, but I wanted the right one, the correct one for my magazines and life. I wanted the magazine rack of perfection. The one true magazine rack.
My main issue was that I wanted a rack where the magazines could lay flat. I do not want my magazines to stand on end, they get bent up and fall all over each other. Ick. So I found what I thought was THE one, but it was too curved and magazines just didn't work in it. I put a book in the bottom, which seemed to work, but then the book was warped. Irritating. (I'm sorry Dorie Greenspan, I'll try and fix it.) So at Saint David's Next-to-New (They still haven't moved into their new store, but keep promising it is any day.) we found what may turn out to be the one. It is a two-storied model that cradles the precious monthlies at a slight angle. For now, I am very happy, but it is still on a six-month trial.
Happy Thrifting!
Shopping with Friends
While Michael and Ryan were in town a couple of weeks ago, we popped into several of my favorite thrifting locales. It's always fun to watch Michael shop, because even though he has to schlep things back on the plane, he goes for the glass. LOTS of glass.
At St. David's I found several wonderful things. There was more, but I had to make some careful decisions...
This white porcelain statue will go with my collection of Quan Yins, but the only problem is now there are four and who wants an even number. I'm on the hunt for another one (or three). The iconography of this one isn't aligned with conventional depictions of the goddess, so it is probably intended to be just a Chinese Lady. Why let her linger in obscurity? I'm making her an honorary Quan Yin for life.
At St. David's I found several wonderful things. There was more, but I had to make some careful decisions...
This white porcelain statue will go with my collection of Quan Yins, but the only problem is now there are four and who wants an even number. I'm on the hunt for another one (or three). The iconography of this one isn't aligned with conventional depictions of the goddess, so it is probably intended to be just a Chinese Lady. Why let her linger in obscurity? I'm making her an honorary Quan Yin for life.
My new obsession: Georges Briard's wonderful glassware. This blue bird theme is perfect for me, but there are many others out there to find. Briard was actually born Jascha Brojdo in the Ukraine, but who wants to buy home decor items with a curly Jascha Brojdo signature? Something a little more French, a little more upscale? Voila, Georges Briard was born. Once you start looking, you'll recognize many of the highly graphic designs Briard created for serving pieces, cookware, china and more from the 1950s to the 1990s. He died a couple of years ago, so I predict his objects will become very popular in only a short while. Buy them now!
I almost passed up this wonderful creamer and sugar. It's two pieces, with the creamer serving as the lid for the sugar bowl, strikingly similar to one by Russel Wright from mid-century. This one was probably designed a little earlier and while it might be described as deco, bears an uncanny resemblance to much of the metalwork designed by the Bauhaus students and teachers in Germany in the 1920s.
A small white dish, lovely in its asymmetry and made in Japan. Perhaps a gift for someone else, I'm not sure I'll keep it.
Somehow, I don't have a butter dish. I know, it's very shocking. I used to have one. I'm sure I used to have more than one. Maybe they're all living happily together in a box in the garage? I had my eye on this pink one for several week and waited until it came down in price. It matches a creamer, sugar and tray I already have in a different color. Thankfully, it fits perfectly into the butter nook in the refrigerator.
After Next-to-New, we also went to the junk store at the other end of the shopping center. The place is just piled high with all kinds of things. Whatever you might imagine. And there is not a price on anything. Michael found what may have been the most expensive thing in the store, but who knows? A set of glasses that was priced so high I can't even remember! But after that we went to the Bethesda Thrift Store next door where I found a couple of delicious bargains:
This aluminum tidbit tray was a steal and easily transportable to parties or work (I have a lovely ceramic green one that I would never take out of the hosue.) There is some sort of wheat motif on the handle, but it is fairly modern and not completely undesirable.
You know how much I love to find things still in their original box! Michael actually found this, but decided he didn't want to tote it back (must save room for GLASS!), so I snagged it. The fondue forks are very long and have a nice heft to them. Hopefully they'll get used very soon.
Oh, I been shoppin'...
...even though I ain't been postin'.
I already had one of these lovely little boat dishes in my cupboard and was elated to find two more several weeks ago. They are from a set of dishes that features a simpering blue cornflower on the plates and bowls and whose name escapes me. Needless to say, undesirable. The serving piece, however, are much more modern than the rest and fit well with many of my other things. I always hate to break up a set, but in this case I made an exception.
David was in town a couple of weeks ago when I found this lovely owl at Next-to-New (They're moving up the street a couple of blocks, to a larger space they have purchased. Thrift store doing pretty well, I would say). She now sits atop our china cabinet and guards over the entire room. They still have the amazing set of Noritake fine china (It's simply white with a grey stripe on the edge and silver rim), but where would I put them? I guess it will just languish there on the shelf.
To assuage the grief of not buying the Noritake, I went ahead and bought this set of fourteen glasses at Savers. (bottom shelf, middle) They're very tall, with heavy glass bottoms and appropriate for an array of icy coctails: Mojitos, Pimm's cup and the like.
I found the silver-plated lotus dish on the left a while back and it cleaned up pretty nicely. After Eric and Becca's wedding in Ardmore,OK I drover to Norman, OK and spent the night with Stephanie. On Monday she had class, so I hit the Salvation Army (an old haunt) before we headed back to Austin. I found the second lotus set and candlesticks, which are pretty tarnished, but will be very nice if they clean up. Unfortunately, SA had priced each element individually: the bowl, the plate, and each candlestick. Who prices candlesticks individually? I complained to the poor, innocent checker and she offered to give me the warehouse number so that I could tell them myself. I told her she could just pass on my comment, as the white stickers were all fifty percent off and I ended up paying what I had originally planned.
I also found this cute little owl napkin holder at the Norman SA and gave it to April who has a passion for all things owl-ish. It still has the originall J.C. Penny's price sticker on it.
While Stephanie was in town we hit all the Austin high points: Central Market, Amy's Ice Cream, Sunflower Vietnamese Food, bats at the Congress Ave bridge, Swad Veggiefood and Frank Black (lead singer of the Pixie's) in an amazing concert opened by Kentucky Prophet. We also worked in a little shopping included St. David's Next-to-New and Bethesda Thrift which is next door. Stephanie found this lovely compote in mint condition (not even a chip on the delicate flowers) for a steal of price. After much consideration, we decided it shouldn't go back on the plane and will be have to be delivered by hand at some point in the future.
I found this set of six smoke-colored stems. My preference is always service for eight (or twenty-four if we are really going to be honest and I think I know you pretty well so I'm going to go ahead and say what I really prefer is service for twenty-four.), but I bought them anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to use them a couple of times before they become service for five. Or service for four. My eyes moisten at the thought! Let us speak of it no more and live in the present which contains a set of lovely smoke-colored stems for eight.
I thought the glasses would go well with both of my sets of dishes, so of course I had to get them out of the cabinet to see for myself. The service above combines Canonsburg's Temporama (with blue, grey and tan colored atomic-like motif on the plates) with the new stems and a contrasting blue water glass. The blue shell bowl to the left of the place setting is from West Elm and was a gift from David Earl. The dragonfly chopstick rests (service for eight) are from Sur la Table and the silver Chinese soup spoons and black melamine chopsticks from the Asian market in Wichita. (Not THE Asian market, but the Asian market. Friends in Wichita will get this it, but it wouldn't be funny to the rest of you even if I tried to explain it.) The end result? An interesting combination of vintage and modern pieces that is startling and unique, if I say so myself. And I did.
After combining it with the Temporama, I thought "If it looks that good with the blue and white, I wonder what it will look like with the Metlox Shore Line." For those of you who have been reading MTSS for a while, you will remember that the original set of Metlox Shore Line (color, Wet Sand) was a gift from the actress Helena Hale who was visiting Wichita, KS to perform her one-woman play about Georgia O'Keeffe. Of course, I added to the original purchase and have a large collection with plenty of serving pieces. The color may be strange, but I believe just about any type of food looks great on it. Whites, reds, greens. You name it. Likewise, it combines well with some blue salad plates I bought, white bowls, you name it. Anyway, in the setting above I combined the smoke stem with a darker smoke tumbler from IKEA and accented the Metlox with a orange Gingko leaf-shaped dish from West Elm (another gift from David. Service for six, but I won't go down that road again.). The flatware is just some modern stainless from Target, but again the combination of reddish-tan, smoke and orange looks pretty darn good. The chair is an Eames design and was part of the bargain of the last century.
Another trip to Next-to-New this past weekend yielded a couple of other treasures including this large ceramic shell-shaped planter which has a lovely pink interior. It goes well with the growing faux-shell collection that is in the front room. Actually, it is the new queen of the collection with its large size and exquisite detail.
I also found volumes one and two of Meta Given's The Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking, both with the dust jackets in relatively good shape. A month or so ago, I had found volume one and was very excited to find a complete set. My mother received these as a wedding present and has always sworn by them, so I was happy to find a couple for myself. Especially since hers are so used they are....used.
Happy shopping!
I already had one of these lovely little boat dishes in my cupboard and was elated to find two more several weeks ago. They are from a set of dishes that features a simpering blue cornflower on the plates and bowls and whose name escapes me. Needless to say, undesirable. The serving piece, however, are much more modern than the rest and fit well with many of my other things. I always hate to break up a set, but in this case I made an exception.
David was in town a couple of weeks ago when I found this lovely owl at Next-to-New (They're moving up the street a couple of blocks, to a larger space they have purchased. Thrift store doing pretty well, I would say). She now sits atop our china cabinet and guards over the entire room. They still have the amazing set of Noritake fine china (It's simply white with a grey stripe on the edge and silver rim), but where would I put them? I guess it will just languish there on the shelf.
To assuage the grief of not buying the Noritake, I went ahead and bought this set of fourteen glasses at Savers. (bottom shelf, middle) They're very tall, with heavy glass bottoms and appropriate for an array of icy coctails: Mojitos, Pimm's cup and the like.
I found the silver-plated lotus dish on the left a while back and it cleaned up pretty nicely. After Eric and Becca's wedding in Ardmore,OK I drover to Norman, OK and spent the night with Stephanie. On Monday she had class, so I hit the Salvation Army (an old haunt) before we headed back to Austin. I found the second lotus set and candlesticks, which are pretty tarnished, but will be very nice if they clean up. Unfortunately, SA had priced each element individually: the bowl, the plate, and each candlestick. Who prices candlesticks individually? I complained to the poor, innocent checker and she offered to give me the warehouse number so that I could tell them myself. I told her she could just pass on my comment, as the white stickers were all fifty percent off and I ended up paying what I had originally planned.
I also found this cute little owl napkin holder at the Norman SA and gave it to April who has a passion for all things owl-ish. It still has the originall J.C. Penny's price sticker on it.
While Stephanie was in town we hit all the Austin high points: Central Market, Amy's Ice Cream, Sunflower Vietnamese Food, bats at the Congress Ave bridge, Swad Veggiefood and Frank Black (lead singer of the Pixie's) in an amazing concert opened by Kentucky Prophet. We also worked in a little shopping included St. David's Next-to-New and Bethesda Thrift which is next door. Stephanie found this lovely compote in mint condition (not even a chip on the delicate flowers) for a steal of price. After much consideration, we decided it shouldn't go back on the plane and will be have to be delivered by hand at some point in the future.
I found this set of six smoke-colored stems. My preference is always service for eight (or twenty-four if we are really going to be honest and I think I know you pretty well so I'm going to go ahead and say what I really prefer is service for twenty-four.), but I bought them anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to use them a couple of times before they become service for five. Or service for four. My eyes moisten at the thought! Let us speak of it no more and live in the present which contains a set of lovely smoke-colored stems for eight.
I thought the glasses would go well with both of my sets of dishes, so of course I had to get them out of the cabinet to see for myself. The service above combines Canonsburg's Temporama (with blue, grey and tan colored atomic-like motif on the plates) with the new stems and a contrasting blue water glass. The blue shell bowl to the left of the place setting is from West Elm and was a gift from David Earl. The dragonfly chopstick rests (service for eight) are from Sur la Table and the silver Chinese soup spoons and black melamine chopsticks from the Asian market in Wichita. (Not THE Asian market, but the Asian market. Friends in Wichita will get this it, but it wouldn't be funny to the rest of you even if I tried to explain it.) The end result? An interesting combination of vintage and modern pieces that is startling and unique, if I say so myself. And I did.
After combining it with the Temporama, I thought "If it looks that good with the blue and white, I wonder what it will look like with the Metlox Shore Line." For those of you who have been reading MTSS for a while, you will remember that the original set of Metlox Shore Line (color, Wet Sand) was a gift from the actress Helena Hale who was visiting Wichita, KS to perform her one-woman play about Georgia O'Keeffe. Of course, I added to the original purchase and have a large collection with plenty of serving pieces. The color may be strange, but I believe just about any type of food looks great on it. Whites, reds, greens. You name it. Likewise, it combines well with some blue salad plates I bought, white bowls, you name it. Anyway, in the setting above I combined the smoke stem with a darker smoke tumbler from IKEA and accented the Metlox with a orange Gingko leaf-shaped dish from West Elm (another gift from David. Service for six, but I won't go down that road again.). The flatware is just some modern stainless from Target, but again the combination of reddish-tan, smoke and orange looks pretty darn good. The chair is an Eames design and was part of the bargain of the last century.
Another trip to Next-to-New this past weekend yielded a couple of other treasures including this large ceramic shell-shaped planter which has a lovely pink interior. It goes well with the growing faux-shell collection that is in the front room. Actually, it is the new queen of the collection with its large size and exquisite detail.
I also found volumes one and two of Meta Given's The Modern Encyclopedia of Cooking, both with the dust jackets in relatively good shape. A month or so ago, I had found volume one and was very excited to find a complete set. My mother received these as a wedding present and has always sworn by them, so I was happy to find a couple for myself. Especially since hers are so used they are....used.
Happy shopping!