thrift store spoils, ch. 14: Couroc, Marimekko Oy, and Harkerware

Just to start us off—what I didn't buy:

Yep. Gross.

I'm off schedule with my posts, so allow me to quickly wrap up the latest events of note:

• I've sold nine items in my new (and still modest) Etsy shop, including that naughty kitty-cat mug by Taylor & Ng. Someone commented on my last post about how easy those are to sell, and I guess she was right.(I feel better now that it's not associated with my name. Weird, I know.)
• I have to research the Ebay auction process some more, because I'm obviously clueless. I did sell three Starbucks mugs a couple of weeks ago, though: I made a decent profit on an Istanbul City Series mug; I made a little profit on a classic mermaid mug; and after losing money on shipping costs, I barely broke even on a Christmas mug. Oh, well.
• My Craigslist listing for the Stendig chairs garnered nothing but a couple of scam inquiries. I may try to list them again in the spring, or I may just keep them for myself.
• As noted in my last post, my mom has developed a taste for vintage glass ball ornaments—particularly Shiny Brites. So I now keep a lookout for those wherever I go.

And that's where I'll start today—with the loot I found for Mama this week.

The three single ornaments are Shiny Brites (they have some blemishes, but I got all three for a buck), and the boxed ornaments are by Coby. Mama is now into the pinks, so when I texted her with info and a photo from the store, she told me to grab them. And, what the heck, grab the red ones, too.

And this is my Christmas loot from the same trip. The Marimekko Oy mug by Pfaltzgraff is vintage 1980's, I think. The winking Santa mug is by Holt Howard, and the five tacky garland packs in the back still have their Kmart price tags. (I'm thinking the garland isn't all that old, and I've never ever used this stuff. I'm ready, though. Love the rich color.) 

The rotund Santa in front is kitschy cool, but I don't know what it is. Note the holes in him, please. There's also a big hole on the bottom of him. Mama suggested that he was once used for some kind of scent or incense? But we don't know. Any ideas out there?

At my favorite GW a couple of weeks ago, I found these six Russel Wright Harkerware plates (bread and butter, maybe?) in charcoal. They're substantial in weight. Really nice. I'm not yet sure whether I'll keep these or list them on Etsy.

I also bought this mid-century modern styled compote thingie. It's made of somewhat cheap materials, but I love its lines and the look. I'm keeping this baby for myself.

I've found a Couroc bowl and a Couroc plate at my GW, but this is the first tray I've found there. Oddly, my GW throws the Courac items in with the plastic stuff. So while I'm hunting through the useless dollar-store throw-aways in hopes of happening upon either Tupperware or melmac, I occasionally find one of these beauties. The inlaid wood on the cardinal's perch is lovely up close, by the way.

I have no idea what this flower is. I do know that it's metal and that there's a magnet on the back of it. It was so cool, though, that I couldn't leave it sitting on the thrift store shelf. I'll think of a purpose for it later.

And now to the mugs that I felt obligated to buy:

Another Marimekko Oy mug by Pfaltzgraff. Again, I think it's vintage 1980's, and it'll soon be listed in my Etsy shop. (Too late for this Christmas, unfortunately!)

 

This mug celebrating Clarksville, Indiana, was produced by Louisville Stoneware. (I'm originally from Kentucky, so I have to love Louisville Stoneware.)  I'll list it on Etsy. The second item that I sold on Etsy was a Louisville Stoneware nativity plate, by the way. 

 

This Sandra Boynton mug with the smarta** comment will be listed on my Etsy shop.

 

And I love this groovy mug. Hey—it's orange! On the bottom is printed one word: Daisy. Duh.

(Apologies for the crooked image. Hope it's not making anyone sick.) I found this copper stand—originally intended for a fondue pot, I suppose? And I loved its style, its nifty legs. So I bought it.

 

It's now a hip mid-century modern plant stand. (And it's only crooked in the photo.)

I'm linking up with Sir Thrift-a-Lot, Thrifter/Maker/Fixer/Farm, We Call It Junkin, and a living space. (Sending out many thanks to them for the opportunity!)

Happy thrifting and a peaceful Christmas to y'all! 

And that is all for now.

thrift store spoils, ch. 5: Christmas stuff and the coolest ashtray ever

I’m way late in updating my recent finds, because I’ve been crazy-busy with volunteer commitments.  But here I am. 

And I’ll start with my favorite.

Yes, it’s an ashtray. Does "nearly obsolete" pop into anyone's head? And, no, I don’t smoke. In fact, I was raised by a mother who badmouthed smoking every chance she got. As a result, I’ve never even taken a single puff of a cigarette. Ever.

My husband does imbibe in one or two cigars per weekend. But he’s another story.

Still, how could I pass up an ashtray with navy blue horse silhouettes and the words “Nydrie Stud” printed on it? Gotta love a household item advertising a stud farm, particularly one with accents in gold and grass green.

(Question here: Does this piece look vintage 1950ish? I'm thinking it does.)

I’m originally from Kentucky, you see, and I have a few equestrian accents in my home’s décor. In fact, the houses of most of my childhood friends contained  horse-themed items to one degree or another. That’s just Kentucky.

Anyway, there’s a story to this ashtray.

So after buying this at SA, I came home and looked up “Nydrie Stud” online. And, lo and behold, it’s a thoroughbred farm, rich in history and  located in Virginia’s Albemarle County. From the reporting I read, it looks like the place was put up for sale in 2005 and sold in 2008. The listing includes some nice pictures of this beautiful property. Check out the buildings' red trim and red brick.

I located Nydrie Stud on a satellite map, and (lo and behold, again!) the farm sits only about a mile and a half, as the crow flies, from property owned by my husband's brother and his wife. They live in a 200-something-year-old home that sits on a good deal of acreage near Scottsville. It’s a comfy and welcoming home that we visit as often as we can.

Okay. So you may be asking, “What’s the big deal? Who cares?”

Well, this story illustrates why I like to thrift shop. You see, I bought a pretty random item for 75 cents, because I thought it was oh-so-cool and because I like horses. Upon later research, I learn that I have a connection to the piece—albeit very, very indirect—through family and family get-togethers. But I also learned something new about an area in Virginia that I’m already quite familiar with. (We're gonna have to drive by the ol' stud farm the next time we visit Scottsville . . . .) And while looking at the property via satellite map, it was just plain fun when the light bulb went off in my head, and I thought, “Wait a danged minute. I know that other place. I’ve slept in that place, the house sitting just a short ways away from Nydrie Stud!”

And this mini-adventure began on a humble trip to a thrift store.

I really like melmac, and I have quite a bit of it. But this is the first time I’ve found it in this sleek charcoal color, and I love the shapes of the platters. These pieces are by Branchell.

Both of these Pyrex mixing bowls are in mint condition. They might be called Red Cherry and Blue Ribbon, but I'm just not sure. They're vintage early 1990s, and they cost me a buck apiece.

I love these sunflower yellow mugs with the sweet heart-shaped handles by Homer Laughlin. I wish I knew more about them. But as of this post, I haven’t been able to find these exact ones in a photo online. On the bottoms are stamped “HLC” and “USA,” with the Homer Laughlin logo in between.

I found another soup mug—this one with a little veggie whimsy.

 

 Okay. I have no clue why I bought this.

This is one-twelfth of a set of Louisville Stoneware 12 Days of Christmas punch cups. When I see Louisville Stoneware at thrift stores, I usually buy it. I have pieces that were given to me new in the 1980s that I still use regularly—proof that it’s good stuff. It’s also something that Kentuckians tend to collect.

Okay. I've written before that I don't necessarily like to buy Christmas stuff, that I prefer to mix and match solid colors for the seasons. The above item was an exception, because of the maker. The three finds below are exceptions, as well.

I had to buy this set of winking Santas by Holt Howard and dated 1959. The price was too right, and it was an entire set, after all. I was thinking it would be good to put in an Etsy shop if I ever get off my backside and open one. The paint on the faces is chipped here and there, but these guys are still adorable.  

The price was super-duper good on these two peppers and a salt, made in Japan like the winking Santas. I’m thinking one set would be good on Etsy because of ease of shipping for a newbie like me. I’ll use the other pepper as a kitschy Christmas decoration accent?

I saw these plates on the shelf and liked them from the get-go. Then I turned them over to find that they were produced by Blue Ridge Pottery. So I had to get them. I’m not a big fan of most of the company’s hand-painted patterns, but I really like this one. (By the way, the little design in the upper right corner of the plate is mistletoe.) I brought them home and looked them up online. Turns out they’re quite collectable (read: valuable). Score.

I found this vintage 2000s Tupperware canister in mint condition for 75 cents. I’ll use this every day. And I got the old, weathered duck to place in a planter. I do that lots—tuck sweet animal figurines in with my houseplants. Why not?

By the way, thanks, Sir Thrift A Lot and a living space, for the opportunity to link up. 

And much appreciation goes to We Call It Junkin for allowing me to join their link-up party We Call It Olde.

 

That, folks, is it for now. Happy thrifting.