thrift store spoils, ch. 10: mid-century mod goodness and some Pyrex

Just for fun, check out the windows on my favorite Goodwill last week: 

And please humor me while I share with you an odd thrift store encounter. (We've all had odd thrift store encounters, right?) 

It started about six months ago at a nearby SA, when an older gentleman shopper approached me a couple of times to make friendly comments (small talk, really), as if trying to start a conversation. I was polite in return, as I always try to be, but I didn’t encourage him. (I was on a thrift shopping mission and didn't really want to be bothered. Duh.) Later, though, he came up to me yet again to show off what he’d found—a Little Tikes shelf  sitting in his shopping cart.

I said something like "Yeah, that’s nice"—at which point, the dude put his hand on my shoulder, leaned in, and asked, “Are you available?” 

Seriously. He asked me whether I was available. In a thrift store.

I rolled my eyes and said, “Absolutely not.” (Come on, mister. Move on. I'm huntin' for some opal Pyrex here.) Then I walked away. 

So this week while in the same SA and in the same housewares department, I turned to find the same man beside me (though it took a few seconds for it to register). The man points to my shopping basket and asks, “Can I put my stuff in there?”

Good God. 

I hardy-harred with him and, again, walked on. Of course, he was harmless, but Lordy. 

I don't know. I guess not everyone goes to thrift stores to shop—some go for company?

Anyway, weird. Has anything like that ever happened to y'all?

And why am I writing about this? I don't know. 


But it does help me segue into why the odd things and people and smells we come across in thrift stores are worth it—because sometimes you happen across really cool stuff like this mid-century covered casserole.

It's an Ernest Sohn Creations piece, and it's in nice condition—without even utensil marks or scratches. I've learned that Sohn tended to mix ceramic, wood, and metal in his designs. In the case of this casserole, we have only the ceramic and wood (walnut, I think); however, the warming stand/cradle that was originally sold with it was made of wood and metal—with classic atomic-style mid-century legs. (I've seen a photo!) I paid a little more than I'm used to spending on housewares in thrift stores, but I wanted this one.

I also bought this never-used basketball toy thingie that you attach to your office or bedroom waste basket. And if the original box and instructions (dated 1969) are to be believed, the thing "fits all wastebaskets." Handy-dandy! The backboard on the contraption (which I failed to photograph) is a faux wood. And all of the pieces—including the net—are still there. 

This office time waster reminds me of a board-type game that my daddy had back in the 1950s, a game that my brother and I would play when we'd visit my Kentucky Mamaw's farm in the 1970s. It was called Bas-ket, and it included a cardboard gym floor, cardboard backboards, spring action spots across the floor for shooting, and a ping-pong ball as a basketball. We spent hours playing that game.

Just a quick note about something I didn't buy: I saw this mid-century serving cart in a GW last week, and I texted this photo to Mama, as it's the same one she bought when I was in North Carolina a while back. (I wrote about hers and posted a photo here.) I sent her this photo to show her what a deal she got. This one was priced at $60, while she paid a mere $5. Yay!

The bottom 474 Pyrex casserole dish here (the lidless one) is a Spring Blossom Green (1979 Redesign).  The top one, though, I'm still unsure of. It's a 472, but I can't figure out whether it belongs to a Spring Blossom Green set or a Verde one. I'm thinking it's a Verde sold with the wrong lid (as the Verde's lid is opal with green flowers, while this one is clear). I don't know.

I love Pyrex mixing bowls. The 401 on top is from the Rainbow Stripes series, vintage 1965-1967. The bottom bowl is from the Primary Colors series, and although it looks like a 401, it's unmarked. My understanding is that this means that it's vintage 1945-1949, as Pyrex didn't issue model numbers during that time period. 

And these are the Pyrex pieces I didn't buy:

These were at my closest GW, and as you can see, all three pieces had lids. (Yay!) But we're talking Old Orchard here—the current ugly duckling pattern of Pyrex. 

I know. Tastes will change, so we may all like it one day. And I do like browns. But still: the price wasn't right enough, and I'd have to find somewhere to store them. So I passed. Then I stopped back in at the same GW a few days after, and they were all still there. The staff had moved them up to the front table where they like to feature items. Poor things. 

I found this enamel mixing bowl at another GW. It's in great condition, and I love the logo on the bottom (designed by Homer Laughlin!).

And last, I picked up some books and a Creative Memories Christmas album. Published in 1965, the Betty Crocker cookbook is so much fun—full of sweet illustrations and retro photographs.

Check out the Pyrex Terra casseroles here. Circa 1965, of course.

I'm linking up with Sir Thrift-a-Lot, a living space, We Call It Olde Link-Up, Colorado Lady, and Remnant. (Thanks for the opportunity to do so, y'all!)

And that is all.

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.