thrift store spoils, ch. 21: Marimekko Oy, Dansk, and Remington Steele meets Strawberry Shortcake

I have become a Me-TV junkie. For those of you unfamiliar with the channel, "Me" is short for "memorable entertainment." That is, classics. (Don't you like the retro logo above?) 

These are shows that are quite often potically incorrect, without apology. (Oh, the freedom!) 

They are unafraid to feature cigarette smokers, sunbathers, and seatbeltless passengers. (You won't find twerking here, though. Thank the good Lord.) 

And they are as vintage as vintage gets. 


And I'm glad that I've been able to introduce some of these classic shows to the kids—shows such as Gilligan's Island, Columbo, and Wonder Woman. And for the first time in my memory, I, myself, can watch Remington Steele in syndication.

I spent the 1980's as a high school and college student, and (not that you asked, but) my must-see shows of the decade were Magnum, P.I. (duh!), The Dukes of Hazzard, Cheers, Hart to Hart, and Remington Steele. 

Yep. I liked Doris Roberts before she became Raymond's mom. And I liked Pierce Brosnan before he became 007—and even before he gained the extra muscle that made him even more attractive. And, I must say, the only accent more appealing than a British accent is a Southern one. (Thus, the inclusion of the Dukes in my list!)

Me-TV broadcasts Remington Steele on Sunday afternoons, and I use my handy-dandy DVR function so that I can watch it alone later in the week. So this week's episode ("Steele Knuckles and Glass Jaws"—with a plot obviously piggybacking on the Rocky movies' boxing theme popularity during the decade) has, in one part, our debonaire Mr. Steele going undercover as a wheeler-dealer (a role not unfamiliar to him, given his mysterious and suspect past), during which time he meets briefly with a shady character in a diner. Vintage dishware alert!

Check out what's sitting on the counter in front of them: an Anchor Hocking milk glass mug featuring Strawberry Shortcake. (I think this is the exact one.)

Why is such a precious mug sitting in such a seedy scene, you may be thinking? I have no clue. Irony, perhaps?

I was never a Strawberry Shortcake fan; instead, I was of the older Holly Hobbie generation. But my little sister was the prime age when Strawberry Shortcake became uber-popular in the 1980's. And I think I remember that she had a Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox?

Anyhow, just thought I'd share the vintage sighting surprise that occurred while I watched vintage TV.  

Now on to the week's finds.

I picked up this simple, white veggie bowl by Merimekko Oy (Pfaltzgraff). It's in great condition, with some crazing only. Marimekko has sold well for me in my Etsy shop, so I'll list it there.

I also found this classic metal trivet, made in Japan. Truly kitschy-cool. Hey, who doesn't like a practical kitchen item that also demeans (good naturedly, of course) the authority of the man of the house? And check out the weapon bread roller at the bottom. 

This Mrs. Clause salt shaker is also made in Japan. Isn't the detail on her face sweet? Alas, the pepper shaker was nowhere to be found. A day in the life of a thrifter.

And this mug is by Dansk. I know very little about it right now, only that it reads "Dansk Designs Denmark" on the bottom. I'll learn more and then list it on Etsy, I suppose.

This pair of owl mugs is unmarked—no "made in Japan" or anything. (I assume they're vintage 1970's, though.) I got them because pairs are good to list. They also remind me of the several houses (rented and owned) we had growing up. Owls were always represented, and the decor always included a healthy amount of brown.

These are items I found and bought for Mama. As I've mentioned before, she's a fan of yellow. The Opal loaf pan is Pyrex, of course. And the platter pattern is "Fresh as Spring" by Mikasa Light 'n Lively, made in Japan. I think I've loved every Light 'n Lively pattern I've come across.

This Tupperware Servalier canister set was marked at $4 for all eight pieces. I texted a photo to Mama, told her they were a pale yellow, and asked whether she wanted them. "Yes!" she responded. (I believe they're officially listed as Harvest Gold, by the way.)

And that's it. 

If you're so inclined, check out some Me-TV. Thrifters who are vintage nuts should be watching some vintage TV!

And thanks extended to Sir Thrift-a-Lot, We Call It Junkin, and Thrifter/Maker/Fixer/Farm for the opportunity to link up.

thrift store spoils, ch. 1: Golden Poinsettia and mod fondue plates

Greetings, thrifters. I do believe that, this week, I was suffering from thrift store withdrawal. The family recently took a couple of weeks to head down south and, finally, to Texas, and I thrift shopped only twice (twice, I say!) during that time.

It would be so rude, after all, to make the fam sit in the car on vacation while I run in—if only just for a minute!

This week, I suppose I was trying to make up for lost time. I didn’t score much, though—not much considering how often I “stopped in for just a minute” at the usual haunts, anyway. Still.

This is the Pyrex Golden Poinsettia 2 1/2 quart casserole. When I bought it, honest to goodness, I wasn't sure that it was one of the seasonal patterns—in this case Christmas. (Now when I look at it, I say "duh.") 

But, really, I'm not into seasonal decor; I don't want to store seasonal stuff all year for, say, a day's or a month's use. I prefer to buy solid colors that'll do double/triple/what-have-you duty. For instance, my Pyrex bowl in primary green (404), can work at Christmas, in the spring, or on a lucky St. Patty's Day.

Anyhow, I brought this home (just loving the red and gold combo) and looked it up at Pyrex Passion. That's when I learned that it was seasonal. Ho. Ho. Ho. 

 

And why do I buy a single glass? I do so, because I can't pass up 1950s aqua drinking glasses or barware. Consequently, I now have a small collection of aqua blue, mid-century glasses with diverse designs and of various sizes. I'll write a special post about that odd collection at a later date.

Anyhow, this glass is by Hazel Atlas.

Another with the aqua blue. I can't find any info on who made this one, but I haven't researched much.

Yep, more aqua goodness. And, again, I've been unable to find out who made these. Any ideas?

I finally own fondue plates (inconveniently, at a time when I've promised myself to cut back on cheese consumption). I'd seen similar plates in thrift stores before, but hadn't quite caught on to what in the heck they'd be used for. 

Then I saw this (the following) recipe card in a 1972 Betty Crocker recipe set I bought at a thrift store this spring.

And it all made sense. Handy-dandy for dips and sauces!

All four plates were manufactured in Japan (as per info on tiny, shiny gold stickers that were still adhered to the backs when I bought them), but—for some odd reason—only the orange plates are imprinted with "Japan." 

I love the orange ones, because . . . well, because they're orange. And I love the Harvest Gold ones, because they remind me of my Florida Mamaw's kitchen. She had the same Harvest Gold fridge from the early 1970s when she moved to South Florida until the new millennium, I swear. 

They don't make 'em like they used to.

And I guess I need to start fonduing.

I bought this tile/trivet thingie, not only because my parents live near this mountain, but also because every time we visit, our route takes us right by it. Of course, the fam has gone all the way up the thing several of times. And I've attended a church that used to contain windows that allowed us to see the mountain during Mass. (Really nice.)

Ten years ago, I found two of these trivets/tiles in a thrift store in Mobile, Alabama. (I bought them both and gave Mama the better one, while I kept the one with the chips.) But then, just last week, I found this in a Goodwill store in Salem, Virginia. (I was just stopping in for a minute while dropping off one of the daughters for her freshman year in college. What patient girls.)

I think I'll frame it. Mamaw had a couple of tiles with birds on them, framed. They were kind of nerdy in the 1970s, I thought; but they're cool now.

I found this fun set of mugs (made in Japan and stackable, of course) in a Salvation Army thrift store. I think they're cute as can be, but I had in mind a possible future Etsy store when I purchased them. (I'm still trying to gear myself up for running a resale business . . . . )

Another sweet mug made in Japan. And another Etsy possibility.

I bought this—not only because I think it's pretty dang cute—but because I thought it was a Swanky Swig (which I also own a few of, God help me). I came home, looked in my handy-dandy Swanky Swig collector's book I bought a while back, and couldn't locate it. (Perhaps the book contains incomplete info?) It's obviously a glass that came into a home with a product in it (I swear, it looks like a Kraft pimento cheese jar!), but my research has, thus far, turned up nothing.

The last thing I'll share with you today is this Old Fashioned glass. I bought it because, not only can I not pass up aqua blue drinking glasses, but I also can't pass up cool mid-century barware in which one might serve Bourbon. 


I like Bourbon.

This glass has a signature, but, for the life of me, I can't make it out. It almost looks as if it begins with "Wm," but I'm just not sure. 

And that's it for now. 

Goodness. Where am I gonna put all of this stuff?