On Sundays in the summertime a drive in theatre south of us becomes a flea market. We took my parents there to have a look around.
I just love old and vintage finds.
I also like to find quirky things like this pocket fisherman. I took a picture and it stayed behind though.
Of all my collections, my most prized is my vintage Pyrex collection. I love all the patterns they released for everyday kitchen use. I do not however, use any of my Pyrex for everyday kitchen use. I can't risk breaking a piece and ruining a complete pattern set. For instance... you should never ever put vintage Pyrex in the dishwasher. It will ruin the finish.
Understanding that, you can imagine how excited I was to find Vintage Charm... glass mixing bowl sets with designs inspired from vintage Pyrex patterns.
Here are each of the new patterns next to a picture from my collection of the pattern that inspired it.
Spot On was inspired by the New Dots pattern from 1967. New Dots was a classic!
Memory Lane was inspired by the 1964 pattern, Terra. Good move on using brighter colors rather than the brown.
Rise and Shine was inspired by Butterprint from the 1950’s. LOVE the turquoise.
Who didn't have at least one piece of Pyrex with the Butterfly Gold pattern of 1971 in their house growing up? It was the inspiration for Golden Days.
Until I looked at the website I wasn't 100% sure which pattern inspired Birds of a Feather. The website says the Friendship pattern from 1972 was the inspiration. They modernized the birds and switched the colors to black and white.
Tickled Pink was inspired by the 1956’s Daisy pattern. I don't see this one as much. Let's just say this one is more of an "interpretation".
I would love to have a set of these that I can actually use in the kitchen and not worry about breaking one. There are versions that come with lids. What a great birthday present! What?! My birthday isn't for two months? (I like the Rise and Shine pattern best - just in case)
You can follow Vintage Charm on Instagram
This is taking me dangerously close to having another collection, but when you love holidays and decorating as much as I do, it’s hard to ignore blow mold decorations.
Blow molds are those light up Santas you see in yards at the holidays. And not those fabric ones that require a fan. The old school plastic ones with the hole in the back. They are called blow molds because that is exactly how they are made. Plastic is melted and then blown into a mold using air pressure.
I tried to find information online about the history of blow mold decorations but it was a bit scanty. There is a bit in this blog post and this blog post and this blog post. From what I can tell they have been available since the 1940 but it was the Pink flamingo lawn ornaments in the 1950’s that made them really popular. The famous pink flamingo was designed by a guy named Don Featherstone if you can believe that. AND he passed away recently ON June 22 WHICH just happened to be one day before Pink Flamingo Day! Coincidence? I think not.
Blow mold lawn ornaments still seem to be going strong… as evidenced by this Facebook page and this Facebook page. I like smaller sized ones, that sit on a table rather than the large sized ones. And now, I am really into the Halloween ones. Particularly vintage Halloween ones.
I went to an antique shop with my mom and I was on the look out for them. I wasn’t disappointed as I found two for $7 each. There was one more I didn’t get and now I’m kicking myself.
I’m looking forward to putting them on display for Halloween. (Holding out for October however)
My mom found this cool glass bud vase for me. Actually it comes in two pieces and she found them separately at yard sales. There are 25 individual vases fused together into one display. I wonder if the owners broke the other piece or just didn't know there was more to the display?
Zinnia clippings from my garden look brilliant in the vase. This is the first year I have planted zinnias. I started them in my greenhouse in April and then transplanted them in the front yard. From what I can remember these were globe zinnias. I'd like to try dahlia zinnias next, as they get really big blooms.
They really took off and they are as tall as me now. Zinnias do well in the hot summer weather. I love how bright they are and in so many different colors. I'll definitely be planting these again next year. They tend to reseed themselves so it will be interesting to see if any come up on their own.
I found these vintage recipe tins at a flea market. Not that I should be looking to take on another collection, but vintage branding and recipe card boxes combined into one was more than I could take.
When I was trying to take a picture of the boxes... in wanders Oscar. And he just stands there. For every picture on my blog I probably have a picture of pug blocking the shot or photobombing it.
I wonder where they get it from?
At any rate, the tins look really cute on my kitchen shelf.
I was shopping with my mom and had this thrift store score! Four hefty Christmas glasses for only 25 cents each! I love them!
I've found a couple goodies at yard sales lately. This Goudy California job case and a Crown canning jar with the zinc ring and glass lid.
And this funky vase. I like how there is a separate bit for each flower.
I swapped out cherries for blueberries for this pudding. The same recipe for Blueberry Pudding but with cherries instead.
How classic is this vintage cake pan? It's a Mirro 8x8 aluminum cake pan in mint condition! I have the typical rectangular version and was excited to find this square version. It's perfect for brownies... and cherry pudding!
It seemed like every baked good at family reunions when I was a kid arrived in a Mirro cake pan. They were made by Mirro Aluminum Company from 1909 to 2003 in Wisconsin. Mirro made everything from canteens to Sno-Coaster saucer sleds. Great. I feel a new collectable item coming on.
My mom is the thrifting queen! She found me all these boxes full of vintage Shiny Brite glass Christmas ornaments!
I love the colors and shapes. Note lurking photo bombing pug.
Shiny Brite ornaments were first produced in the 1940's in partnership with Corning Glass Company. Corning isn't too far from Rochester which makes me like them even more.
I love this one. It's pink and it has planets on it. Win win.
The funky shaped ones are great. And note the frosting.
I don't know how they made these indentation ornaments but I love them.
A mini tear drop intentation ornament!
Interesting fact: During WWII, since metal was needed for the war effort, the metal cap and loop on the ornaments was replaced with a cardboard tab you could tie a string to for hanging. I haven't found one yet, but I keep looking!
Today Shiny Brite ornaments are made by Christopher Radko. It's nice that they are still available.
Looks like I have another collection obsession!
I've been a busy little crafting elf. My mom has collected these vintage Christmas ornaments for me for years and I finally started making things with them. This wreath is made up of vintage glass Christmas tree ornaments including a few Shiny Brite ornaments.
It was a lot of fun to make. I enjoy picking out the colors and style of ornaments. It also scares the wits out of me. I'm so scared of dropping it because it would shatter into a gazillion pieces. I made the hanger extra sturdy!
I've also made a few of these hanging decorations from vintage ornaments that I call "Baublesicles". This one has a matching buddy.
You will be able to purchase these Janda Made ornaments and more at the "It's a Wonderful Life in the South Wedge" Holiday Festival on Saturday, December 7th. It starts at 11am and goes until 6pm. Tina, Aprille and I are sharing a table again.
We had a blast last year. I will have many of the same items... gourd bird houses, holiday jars, smashed spoon plant markers and bottle cap cufflinks...
... and more of my most popular item... Gourdon the Snowman ornaments!
I love the wreath so much... I hope I can part with it. I think I will take a nice high res picture of it and make prints so I can remember it always.
I was going through some photos on my laptop and found this! My mom got me this stereoscope a couple years ago. According to an engraving on the bottom it is an H.C. White "Perfecscope" Stereoscope Viewer. I love it as I love all things vintage but I especially love the photographic aspect of it.
It came with a set of "Holyland Series" stereoscope cards/ stereo cards/ stereographs/ stereograms/ stereoviews/ stereo pairs. I would like to find some stereoscope cards of a subject I might find a bit more my style. I like these Niagara Falls cards.
I would also like to make my own stereoscope cards. I've found tutorials here and here. I like how these photographers were recreating scenes from old stereo cards. Stay tuned.
Also found while I was looking online:
I think it's interesting how some people are using stereo card images to create digital 3D images.
Did you know Hasbro's makes the My3D Viewer, a toy works with your iPhone and apps so you can view stereoscopic 3D images? A modern day stereoscope you might say.
UPDATE: Here are some of those stereo card images turned 3D images on Rochester Subway!
I think it is safe to say I have a bit of a bike problem. Lately I've had a hankering for a trike. Lo and behold Aaron found one on Craig's List. A vintage Schwinn Town and Country Trike.
It's brown so we call it "Triple Chocolate". I need to look up the serial number and see what year it is. My guess is it might be from the first year they made them, 1972. I started looking at Schwinn catalogues and that is the only year I saw them offer brown.
I try to ignore the fact that whenever they show them in the catalogue it's featured with senior citizens.
I love the basket on the back. Perfect for running errands around the neighborhood.
In fact I delivered some Genesee Center for the Arts and Education Chlli Cookoff posters using it. Perfect!
Triple chocolate is actually pretty light for it's size. Steering it is the weird part. The slightest turn of the handle bars and it wants to woosh off in that direction. It may need some adjustment.
I love that Schwinn still makes the Town and Country. They are quite a bit more than what they cost when they first came out. I paid less for this vintage one than it originally cost... great Craig's List deal!
I felt a little guilty about getting it... it's not my birthday or anything. In fact, it's Aaron's birthday week. I told Aaron this was the last bike for sure. (for now)