The blog that wasn't

This blog is not about my growing love for all things Julia Child. It is also not about the fact that irregardless of her instructions, I cook her recipes in my totally 1980's Visions cookware.

If it was about them, I'd have pictures of said Visions cookware, filled with mega-yummy Cream of Mushroom soup ala Mastering the Art of French Cooking.

But instead, today is just one of those days. My husband, asleep on the couch in front of me as I write, worn out and a bit heat-stroked from digging out access to our septic tank. Tomorrow will be the 3rd time it's been pumped out in the 6 years we've lived here.

And I'm trying not to think about the busted pot on my porch that contains my equally busted fish pepper I grew from seed.

And I'm trying not to think about my friend's canning party that I'm missing because I'm too busy being a run-around & sad-sack.

The soup I made is just as tasty even when it's just a quiet bit of nourishment in the middle of a deal-with-it-all day.

But it still would have made for a nice post.

*waaaahhhhh*snivel*boohooo*andallthat*

Alright, I feel better now. (Not really, but it's worth a shot)

Tomorrow is another day!

I *hearts* vintage kitchen

I'm still a relative newcomer to collecting vintage kitchen items. No doubt, there is a learning curve to understanding why very similar items can be so un-similarly valued & priced. It wasn't very long ago that I couldn't tell the difference between a Fire King casserole dish & a Pyrex one without flipping it over and looking for a mark. Now I can pretty much tell the difference between Termocrisa, Federal, Arcopal, Pyrex, Hazel Atlas, Glasbake & Fire King from 10 feet away.

It's all shapes & patterns. Once you know them, you just know them. There's definitely things that throw me sometimes, but on the whole, I've picked up a lot of perfectly useful, useless knowledge, lol.

But being so new to collecting, I already feel a sense of being "priced out" of many wonderful vintage items - particularly the 1940's era stuff that I am the most drawn to of all.

Collectibles books only highlight this sense of frustration, with their wonderful pictures and descriptions of canisters sets, mixing bowls, range sets with shakers & matching grease jars. Wonderfully whimsical patterns (who knew Roosters could be so dang cute?). Interesting color names and choices (Chalaine blue, Seville yellow, etc.).(Hazel Atlas mugs, all thrift store finds, and some of the only Hazel Atlas pieces I actually own. Probably not from this era exactly, but definitely the colors & graphic styles I like most of all. I suspect the rooster on the right could be older than the other two mugs, but I don't know for sure.)

I adore 1940's kitchenalia, but simply cannot afford it. Not by a mile. Entry-level pieces, such as a common juice reamer, run in the same 25-50 dollar price range that is my absolute top-out for pretty much anything vintage kitchen.

So for now, I find myself concentrating on 1950's kitchen items that are more in my price range. My absolute favorites are the earliest Pyrex pieces and patterns that run from approximately 1945 to 1962, beginning with the Primary colors and running up through the Early American pattern. The early 1960's ushered in gold tones, browns, creams & neutrals that would eventually become the Autumnal color palette of the 1970's.Early American & Butterprint Pyrex refrigerator dishes, late 50's to 60's patterns. I love pairing these two because of their similar American Gothic/Provincial/Farm & Homestead themes, as well as the brown & turquoise color combination. I believe Early American was actually the first main Pyrex pattern to use gold leaf -usually with the pattern in gold on a brown body - but I only collect the brown & white pieces.

So I can't afford to to buy thousand dollar canisters and hundred dollar mixing bowls, but I can splurge now and again on a compete Butterprint fridge set - a very reasonable 28 dollars for the whole set with lids! I was shocked to find it that cheaply, in fact. In the very same area, they had the whole set of 4 mixing bowls marked for $100.

Alas, I've definitely seemed to miss the boat on the days when Pyrex was a 50 cent yard sale item. Seeing pictures and posts from people who have gotten fridgies & bowls for 10 cents makes me sigh. I did, however, just buy the very cheapest pieces I've ever gotten from a thrift store just the other day. 1 dollar and 50 cents for the two smallest Shenandoah mixing bowls, in nice condition too, so I can't complain too much. I didn't/don't collect that pattern, but at a buck fifty, I suppose I do now, lol ;-)

American Sweetheart

I'm a happy lady today. It's often the little things make the most difference. Just having a belly full of a simple, delicious sandwich lunch & a glass of sweet tea to wash it down can do wonders for my mentality.

But the funny aspect of it is the fact that the plate I ate the sandwich off of makes me so happy.

First off, it's Depression Glass. A category of dishes I was quite certain I didn't want to collect. (You might correctly point out that I said the same of Fiesta a while back as well).

Why I singled out Depression Glass so early on as a no-go is for a variety of reasons. So many patterns to remember and recognize. Prices can vary dramatically, from fairly common and affordable to wildly expensive and rare. The often ornate and delicate patterns sometimes come off to me as being 'fussy'. I tend to go for much more simple fare, or just the opposite - whimsically tacky.

There's also something almost paralyzing to me about the idea of having items that I regard as being 'for everyday use' - such as plates, cups, etc. - but knowing that they are within the realm of being 75+ years old and potentially irreplaceable, either in the literal sense or from purely budgetary standpoint.

In the end, this wrangle I have with ordinary use items versus collectibles to just put up to look at is one of the reasons why I think I gravitate so much towards Pyrex collecting. I'm generally a lot less fearful that I will break or ruin a piece, but if I do, I'm optimistic I could find a replacement within my generally meager budget.

But since I found this plate, I've used it all the time - despite my fears of Depression Glass & concerns about it's relative fragility and replaceability. Perhaps its tie-in to the Pyrex I like so much is part of it?This plate is "American Sweetheart" manufactured by Macbeth Evans from 1930-1936. This pure white color is known as Monax (Forgive the severe yellow coloring to this photo. It was the only photo I took that the pattern turned out reasonably clear on). This company would later be acquired by Corning (the then manufacturer of Pyrex). So you could definitely say this type of material is a forerunner to the tempered opal Pyrex pieces of the mid-1940's to 1980's.

I bought it on a lark during this last highway yardsale. I made a stack of unpriced dishes in the hopes the lady would give me a bundle price - which included this luncheon plate, a couple of Hazel Atlas dishes and some old Avon bottles. 2 bucks total, my kind of deal!

But in my usual style, I had no idea what I was buying. Little did I know that "American Sweetheart" is easily in the top 10 most popular Depression Glass patterns. I suppose I should say "Score!", but in truth, I feel a little bit daft when things like that happen. And mostly, I'm just grateful for the times that I end up on the happy side of the expression "Live & Learn". ;-)

I realize, too, that my "collections" are evolving concepts. I have been collecting Fire King Charm pattern since a few lucky thrift finds, but haven't been completely honest with myself about the fact that I'm far more drawn to the Azurite pieces than the Royal Ruby or Forest Green. Noticing the light blue tint around the edge of the American Sweetheart plate gave me the idea to mix and match with the one place setting of azurite Charm I have. Loved it! It's far more fancy and girly than I tend to go for, but I am totally enamored.

I frequently wonder how other fans of vintage glassware decide from the myriad of items, styles, colors & manufacturers, which exact patterns & pieces they truly have a passion for collecting. Happy accidents from thrifting? Family had similar items? See something in an antique store that was 'love at first sight'? Or just love a hodge-podge of it all?

Birthday Blues

My birthday present: a set of 3 turquoise Pyrex mixing bowls. I now have 6 of 8 pieces - just missing the largest mixing bowl and largest refrigerator dish.

Hubs and I headed to another antique district we hadn't been to before. Lots of neat pieces I had only seen in pictures before. I was tempted by a turquoise Hazel Atlas Kitchen Aids print bowl, but the 30 dollar price tag made me sigh.

But I was thrilled when I found this Pyrex set. It was at the absolute top of my price range, but significantly cheaper than its book value or typical ebay price range, so I was very, very happy to buy it. A birthday splurge!
Top of my microwave (which is my defacto display area). Had to bust out with some matching Butterprint pieces.

We got lost trying to find the antique store and ended up in Georgia. We passed up a few thrift stores before my husband was willing to admit we were lost (lol), so we decided to stop. Found two refrigerator dish lids. No actual dishes, but just finding the lids alone is always a plus. I'm eternally looking for them but counting these I've only found 5 total in over the last year of thrifting.

Very good birthday!

Royal Wedding

I haven't paid any attention to the royal wedding plans. It was only yesterday that my curiosity drove me to wikipedia because I couldn't remember exactly how old Prince William was. I could remember the brothers being younger than myself, but not by how much.

There was a certain sweetness in discovering that Kate, 29, and William, 28, are the same ages as my husband and I were when we got married.

I didn't watch any of the event on television. The recaps were enough to be reminded of all the things I associate with royal weddings. Cinderella, The Sound of Music, Princess Diana & Charles, the whole larger-than-life grandness of a wedding so celebrated and elaborate that we can only see it in the movies or our limitless imaginations.

The only real surprise in watching the videos was the sweetness of it. The little tiny moments. The whispered words of William to his still yet-to-be-bride only moments before the ceremony began. He also appeared to be giving it a noble effort (pardon the bad pun) at making soothing small talk as they stood on the balcony before the hundreds of cheering onlookers.

She looked quite shy and self-conscious by so much attention. Who could blame her? Her smiles and laughs seemed like nervous ones, but she was still remarkably poised.

I couldn't help but marvel at how very young they both seem, but still looking so remarkably mature. I'm realizing how much is changing, socially and culturally, in my own lifetime and age group. 30 is younger than it's ever looked before. And this new royal couple is quite an attractive example of this new, extended idea of 'young adulthood'.

So I find myself wishing them the best, and hopeful that they can escape the troubled, tabloided, and sad fates that have rocked the royal family for so long.

Good Luck & Best Wishes to Kate & William!

Advertising

I found my first piece of Pyrex advertising the other day.

The hubs and I ventured to another new-to-us antique store just a few days ago. The store itself was essentially a bust. I immediately got the sense that they were shooting for a 'true antique' aesthetic. Very, very fine china (6 grand for a set of flow blue, any takers?) or hundred year old+ primitives.

In other words, no Pyrex. In fact, the only thing they had that I collect at all was a number of blue Cronin Tulip pieces, the prices of which left me a little agog. My husband commented that at 55 dollars for a blue teapot, my yellow ought to be worth at least 75.

(this idea warrants a winkie-face. I paid a dollar fifty for mine at a GW ;-)

But what we did find were several tubs sitting outside, filled to the gills with old magazines. A dollar apiece. My husband pulled out a number of Life magazines, ranging in age, with Johnny Cash and Charles Manson covers.

I flipped through a number of Good Housekeeping, mostly dating to the 1950's. I settled on 6, hoping that I might luck into some cool advertising. I've had the idea for a while that if I ever found any original Pyrex ads, I'd put them in some sort of sleeve and put them up on the inside of my cabinet doors where I keep my Pyrex collection.

And, lo and behold, I did.

This is the January 1954 issue, and it's got all the details of the Pyrex/Heinz 57 promotion.

I was especially excited to see this because I just recently bought this very piece. Wrote about it here a while back. And indeed, the color does match the "soft forest green" of the baked beans can.

The promotion itself was buy 3 cans of Heinz 57 products (Spaghetti, Chili Con Carne, Oven-baked beans, or Macaroni with cheese sauce) and this dish could be yours for 79 cents (regular retail 1.50).

Very cool!

Out of the 6 Good Housekeeping issues I bought, 3 have some Pyrex advertising. There are also ads for Fire King, Glasbake, Club cookware, a few pictures that feature vacuum coffee makers and a couple of Pyrex pieces in use for recipes. I intend to scan them all and post them. Unfortunately, since I've already found a couple of my photos being used on selling sites without my permission, I am planning to watermark the scans before I post them, so bear with me.

Repurposed

I have a confession to make: I've been watching Paula Deen's cooking shows.

I know. It's a shock to me too.

First, let me say, she (or her set designers) have awesome Pyrex. That was the first thing that got me hooked. I turn on the tv, and what do I see first thing, but a Spring Blossom bowl starting at me? This particular episode, lots of Spring Blossom & Verde. But if that's not enough, next episode, it's turquoise Butterprint and Horizon Blue. I'm all goofy and excited, and my husband is smiling the fixed glaze of a man's life changed forever.

Just kidding.
I think.

Anyhoo. In addition to the awesome Pyrex, I got sudden onset jealousy for her large glass containers she was using for flour & sugar. I poked around online for a bit, decided they were a tad pricier than I was willing to invest at the moment.

But sometimes, ideas twiddle around for a while, marinate and then -suddenly HELLO, I have an idea!

Just a few months ago, I rescued some old canning jars from our storage shed. After a lot of soaking and disinfecting, I was left with some pretty neat old jars. I really wanted to use them for something, but I had no idea what.

Then it hit me. Instead of buying glass containers like those I was admiring on Paula Deen's show, I'd see how these canning jars would work.All of these jars are vintage, I believe, with the one exception being the largest Ball jar. It's a full gallon sized commemorative jar I bought around a year ago. I had a full, unopened 5 pound bag of flour and this gallon jar held it exactly.

I love the humble 1940's feeling of these jars. They would look very at home in my 1942 Hoosier-style cabinet (if I ever get around to attempting to restore it). And I was very happy to be able to repurpose items that belonged to my husband's family.
And a final note. The lids are mixture of old and new. I had found a number of inserts, both milkglass and clear, for older style wire canning jars very cheaply in an antique store. I mixed and matched the glass tops with brand new rings. I was fortunate enough to find a variety of labeled tops, so some of these say Presto, Ball or Atlas, matching the jars themselves.