Break It Down

What is this? A bird made from a clear, borosilicate glass. Yes, but what is it? The only opening is the beak, which extends from the body and seems to be intended for pouring. But what is it used for? When was it made? Why would it interest me?

I've seen it before and I thought, "Cotton balls?" Or maybe, "Creamer?" I guess it could be anything, but...

It was in its original package and it has a very specific purpose: it is a peanut pourer. Not a nut pourer, but a peanut pourer. Maybe late 70s, early 80s?

Why does it appeal to me? I'll break it down:
  1. I love something in it's original package, especially one as fabulous as this. The rendering of said pourer is ne plus ultra. Someone in an office somewhere (Thailand?) created this drawing of the pourer that was supposed to appeal to consumers. Does it? Strangely.
  2. And the box says so much about the object, but nothing we can know for sure. Perhaps someone cared so deeply for it, they kept the box it came in to protect it. What do you own in it's original box? Perhaps they cared for it so little they never used it and it set unopened on a shelf in a closet. What do you have you never used? That you are holding onto?
  3. I love that it has a specific purpose. I love that it is for pouring peanuts and as I was looking at it at the Goodwill, I instantly imagined: cocktails. Perhaps Pomegranate Manhattans served over ice in my leave Georges Briard glasses? Some pretzels in one of the plastic bowls labeled pretzels and salty peanuts in the peanut pourer? Someone tells a joke or a funny story; everyone laughs. A handsome gentlemen with dark wavy hair lifts the peanut pourer and offers it to the guest to his left, pouring a few out into their palm. This object has potential.
  4. I love that without the package, I would have no idea what this object was to be used for--the mystery. Like being an archaeologist. I love that this is something that isn't made anymore. You can't go into the home section at Macy's and ask the salesgirl, "Salesgirl? Salesgirl? Can you please show me your peanut pourers?!" They don't make these anymore.
  5. Lastly, I love rescuing it and putting it to use, making it mine, adding it to the collection. To me, this peanut pourer is like a sad-eyed little puppy or a purring little kitten. It speaks to me. If you are one of the object people, you know it. You hear it too. Possession in nine tenths of the fall, the other tenth is finding a place to put everything.
And I want more of them. Instantly. Just like it. Three hours ago, I had no idea that a bird-shaped peanut pourer existed. Now I want a matched set of twelve to have for dinner parties. So that everyone could have their own, individual peanut pourer. Or maybe one for every other person?

It's a sickness, but one I have learned to live with. And, dear reader, your support certainly helps.

For the Birds!

I missed one amazing item in the parade of thrifting from the holiday trip--this amazing bird bank seen on the bookshelf with a coordinating owl bank. Mitchell has a small collection of these items that is quickly growing and the bird was a great addition. It has a small sticker on it that read, "Chicken Feed Savings Bank" and another on the bottom that reads 'Imports Enesco Japan.' These items share a peculiar aesthetic and day-glo colors that, as a child of the 70s, resonates strongly with me. It's kind of like Schoolhouse Rocks and color-your-own-black-light-posters-on-black-velvet had babies that were banks. I don't know, it gives me a shiver. Here's a look at the entire collection as it currently stands in addition to a peek at the books on my shelves. I know you like it...

Train Bank

Jalopy Bank

Street Car Bank

Thrifting Through the Blizzard

My darlings, I have for you a much delayed post on the holidays which took us on a long, snowy tour of the lower Midwest to see family and friends. The travel was dangerous and grueling, but as they say, "When life gives you lemons, make time for thrift shopping." And we did, finding many wonderful and amazing items along the way.

I popped into a thrift store in south Omaha that I only hope I can find again: there was so much it was unbelievable! I could have outfitted an entire kitchen and dining room with the wonderful items they had. And after you finish this post, you'll probably think I did...

I wish there had been ten--no twelve--NO TWENTY--of these bowls, I would have bought them all. They are low, but deep enough for soup, pasta or a big salad. And perfect for spaghetti and meatballs. I won't every eat spaghetti from anything besides these bowls again, I promise you. They are that perfect. And Pyrex. Did I mention they are Pyrex? With a lovely greenish-blue rings that match my favorite coffee cup. One of my favorite coffee cups--I try to remain impartial.

Say what you will about hoarding, but I will never pass up a chip-less, lotus bowl if it is a color other than white. These are the smallest size and I now have two in red, two in green and two in yellow. Traffic light! Plus, twenty or so in the slightly larger size in a variety of colors. For rice bowl emergencies. Geez, I've totally explained this to you before and it is completely logical.

This lovely little bowl is a very light gray and unmarked It reminds me a of a shape from either the 40s or the 80s and is perfect for some nuts, olive pits, sesame seeds, soy sauce, ketchup, flaky salt or anything else you might want or need to put into a small bowl. Hello, my name is Brian and I'm addicted to small bowls. I can stop anytime I want. I just don't want.

I'm calling this lovely 70s Madonna and Child wall plaque, 'Our Lady of Ventriloquism' because it does kind of look like he is her puppet. Sweet regardless, it's now hanging beside the front door which took some getting used to as I kept seeing it out of the corner of my eye and thinking, 'What the hell is on the wall!?!'

This fantastic serving piece is that Japanese-made plastic that is supposed to kind of look like lacquerware. It has six little trays that are removable and a center wooden section for....sauces, a fondue pot, condiments, a centerpiece....or whatever. Did I mention it's fantastic?

These trays are plastic, but made to look like a gold-veined stone. Very unique, I could not pass them up...

A silver tray shaped like a giant leaf was impossible to resist.

In Wichita, we did a little shopping with Molly, popping into the DAV at Central and Edgemore to find...giant piles of Russel Wright dishes! It was so strange, at first I spotted some creamer tops to the Iroquois Casual China and then some tea cups in a variety of patterns and colors. Eventually, saucers, bread plates and dinner plates began to reveal themselves in the mess of dishes on display in the store including: service for eight in the Iroquois Casual China in Pink Sherbet with cups, saucers, bread and butter plates and dinner plates. I have always coveted this pink. I'm not sure why as I'm not really a pink person (give me some fuchsia here and there, but not pink pink), but every time I see it I just think, 'That is the perfect pink.' So, dear reader, I could not resist when presented with the opportunity to buy such a large group at the thrift store.

When I got home, I realized that the pieces came from different production lots because of the variety of markings. I think all of this china must have belonged to some collector who might now be in the 'big Russel Wright shop in the sky' and their family didn't know what this was. Just a bunch of old china! So, I'm glad I rescued a collector's collection, or at least a little part of it.

This beauty was already featured in the gravy-boat-confessional-crossover post between MTSS and bigYELLOWbowl. But, it's still quite the find. Perhaps I should give it away in some sort of contest?

Returning home, I guess I was still hot and heavy for shopping (twas the season!), so I popped into Goodwill and found this lovely shell in a deep brown practically black for the faux shell collection. I think I'll fill it with BVMs.

Since then, I have kind of been ignoring the thrift store. Trying to be good! Fret not, it won't last...

Oh, How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Gravy Boats...

(A Manic Thrift Store Shopper/bigYELLOWbowl crossover post.)

Let's face it, I have a very acute case of dishmorphia. When I'm shopping at the thrift store or home store or wherever, I see something and think, "okay, I absolutely need ten of those." When in reality I already have twenty of them at home. Small dishes? Check. Chopsticks? Check. Asian soup spoons? I think we all learned our lesson about that last week. I really do have twenty-four more Asian soup spoons on their way to me as I type.

But perhaps the most ridiculous? Gravy boats.

First of all, how many gravy boats does a vegetarian need? Sure, there are lots of great vegetarian gravies or sauces out there. Case in point, the amazing gravy Jimmy made for our New Year's Day breakfast. But, how often do I actually serve gravy? On a very rare and special occasion, it's true. Raise your hand if you have been served gravy or sauce from a gravy boat at my house?

But when I was growing up, gravy was just something you always had. It went over the meat, it went on the potatoes, it went over the chicken and it went on the biscuits. Sometimes, it just went on torn up pieces of bread which I loved and always thought of as a special treat. We always had gravy. It was so important that when Barbara made crispy fried chicken, she would also pan fry some chicken in order to have the drippings necessary for gravy. And she still does.

How many gravy boats did my mother have? Only one that I can remember.

But, when it's 2010 and you're whipping up a curry, pasta or bowl of Asian noodles for dinner, you don't really need a gravy boat. So why do I have six? That's right, I have six different gravy boats. Six, different, beautiful and elegant gravy boats--each a star in their own right.

So, how does this happen? I'll walk your through it.

Well, I'm at the thrift store and I find a gravy boat (above) that is lovely and different. It's Sango and I'm a total bitch for Sango. I have a couple of plates and a set of eight, very low bowls in red. I'm pretty sure that Sango made nothing that was cute after 1968, but before that: LOVE-ly. Love it all.

So I find this gravy boat (above) and it's lovely and in perfect shape. It doesn't really have a handle, just a small indention at the back to slip a thumb in as your gingerly pour gravy (or sauce) onto whatever it is you are gravy-ing (or saucing). It's different. It's unique. I'm already hooked, but I think to myself, "You know, you don't really have a nice, simple gravy boat in the cupboard. This is really a useful piece and you really need one."

Say what?

It's like this: I look at my china cabinet, my sideboard, my front closet filled with Pyrex and my bedroom closet filled with china and I think, "I don't have ANY dishes. Nothing fun or interesting. It's a wasteland!" And you are looking at the same china cabinet, sideboard, front closet filled with Pyrex and bedroom closet filled with china and probably thinking one of three things:
  1. He is crazy.
  2. Is there a shortage in the China mines? Are the Pyrex trees drying up? Did a blight take out the tiny dish fields this season?
  3. Maybe he is opening up a store.
I have dishmorphia. Pure and simple. There isn't a cure. I mean, there isn't a cure I'm willing to participate in. Intervention? Try it. I'll be out of the hotel suite and in the nearest thrift store before you can say, "We've all written letters about how your shopping and dishmorphia affect us."

But, I will walk you through the collection:

This gravy boat is très important because it is what began the Temporama madness--I mean Temporama collection! I found it at the DAV on Douglas in Wichita, KS and said to myself, "Someday I will have a china cabinet full of this amazing pattern." I didn't even know at that point there was a separate under plate in a lovely robin's egg blue that accents all this amazing china. If I had, I probably would have dropped to my knees at that very moment and sworn a lifetime of allegiance.

I was visiting my friends Susan in Dallas, TX and she offered me some colors and duplicates from her Russel Wright collection. I love the streamlined nature of this gravy boat and its amazing ergonomic form. Ergonomic before it was cool! It is a little crazed, but I could still never part with it.

This odd specimen has an attached under plate and was produced by Tamac Pottery in Perry, OK. This color is called 'frosty fudge' and while it isn't my favorite in their line, the loose organic shape makes up for the fact it is not avocado. No matter how strong I will it.

This lovely little gravy boat with the Aladdin's lamp handle and separate under plate is part of the collection of Metlox Shore Line started by a gift from the playwright and actress Helena Hale on one of her trips to Wichita, KS. It would do her memory a disservice were I ever to part with it.

Finally, an example from Schonwald in white, German porcelain. The under plate is attached and I also have a large serving bowl, a small serving bowl and a platter in this same ovoid shape. How could I break them up?

See? All six are necessary and important.

Get clocked!

I don't know why, but there have been lots of fabulous clocks at the thrift store the last couple of visits. I tried to be strong, but ultimately couldn't resist...

This resin beauty is filled with quartz. It was large, heavy and had a rustic elegance. Rustic elegance? I'm not sure how else to describe it. If I had a mantle I would have bought it. Or if it had been cheaper, I would have bought it for a future, as-yet-unowned mantle.

On another trip, I spotted second smaller version (only filled with shell) and I would have snapped that one up, but the top was broken. What is this phenomenon? I've never quite seen anything like it...

I finally gave in to the clocks being pushed on me by the universe when we spotted this lovely wall clock. It is one of those classic sunburst-type clocks, but with the Rococo swirls that made it irresistible. Unfortunately, it is missing one of the little finials, (Oh, you didn't even notice, did you?) but I think I will find something clever to replace it with--or maybe Molly will make me a little piece of glass to go on the end! Hmmmm?

It looks brilliant with the trophies...

These People Are Serious

It wasn't enough that someone created a clock to
go on your mantel and made it a bright, flashy plastic-y gold.

It wasn't enough that there be a single unicorn or a pegasus,
it had to be a pegacorn: fiercest of the mythical beasts!

But, one pegacorn wasn't enough.
No, they had to flank the clock with pegacorns, in all of their magnificence.

But that still wasn't enough, they had to add beautiful,
realistic silk roses, frozen in time, to match the goldenish ones and adorn the clock.

This clock is the best illustration I could ever give you that
too much is never enough.

Left at the thrift store, I was unworthy.

Collections & What To Do With Them

So, you find something cool while you're shopping at the thrift store. And you buy it. Mesmerized by it's unique beauty.

Then a while later, you find another one and you buy it, thinking, "it's so neat to have two of those things." You keep shopping and a third one pops up and then you have a collection. And it grows. And your aunt notices, so she starts shopping for those things for you too. She also mentions it to your mom. Soon, you have TONS of those really cool things that you used to just have one of. What do you do with them?

If those cool things are dishes, you find the most awesome china cabinet you can and fill it with the beautiful objects until it is just bursting! Of course, you can't just put dishes in it, so you also include cute figurines. Or little statues of snails because they are so hot right now and it seems so incongruous to find them in a china cabinet. Then you even start putting beautiful objects on top of it. And people start to look at you a little sideways. But, you don't mind because it's your collection and looking at it helps you stay grounded. It makes you happy. It keeps you real.

But, what if those things aren't dishes? Or radios. Or books that can sit around in a cool pile with a vintage cast-iron library book press decorated with dolphins in front of it.

What if those things sit around and begin to gather dust. And pile up. And take over! What do you do then?

You hang those bitches on the wall. That's right, you heard me. YOU HANG THOSE BITCHES ON THE WALL. Everything looks better hanging on the wall. It says, "Look at me, I'm special." Hanging thing on the wall elevates the object to a much higher and more interesting thing. Think about Carl Andre.

Do you even know who Carl Andre is? Of course you don't, because he made art that goes on the floor. On the floor! And he even murdered his wife (Ana Mendieta) who was also an artist, but didn't go to jail. And you still don't know who he is. Now do you know who Vincent Van Gogh is, right? Of course you do, because he made art that goes on the wall. Like you are supposed to. Where people want to see it.

How do you hang things on the wall? Nails are nice. Screws and tape work too. Or a shelf. You could use a small decorative shelf. Plate hangers that adhere to the back of things are also awesome. And made in England where they know about hanging crap on the wall. They practically invented hanging things on the wall! Although some revisionist historians are now claiming it was the Chinese.

So, what is sitting around that you could hang on the wall? Huh? Do it.

What You Don't

Sometimes, what you don't buy at the thrift store can be as interesting as what you DO buy. My recent stop at the Goodwill after a very long day attests to this. Perhaps I was just high on fatigue, but I was mesmerized by everything there--even though I wanted to buy none of it.

I love the handmaid and the discarded--and this is both! Someone went to a lot of trouble to create this seascape using shells and it is quite beautiful in its own special way. Maybe it represents a trip to the sea and a remembrance of a special day? Or maybe it's just a symbol of longing for the sea by someone stuck in the Midwest. If they had taken it one step further and made it a lamp, I might have been moved to buy it. Or if I knew who would have wanted it, I could have purchased it as a gift.

Would you want this for a gift? Let me know so the next time I see a diorama made from shells, I'll know who to buy it for.

Mitchell is almost as cute as these little puppies. He just needs to try a little bit harder.

What is it about bunnies? They are supposed to be cute, but so often come off as menacing. I imagine this replacing Joseph in the light up nativity scene in your front yard.

And this! This is just an altar to tacky presided over by three goddesses, angels and glass vessels for offerings. It made me wonder if someone set it up, as I will often do while perusing the shelves at the thrift store. A new series of posts! Thrift store assemblage.

Sundays at Goodwill are Made for...

I don't know what to tell you, but the Terre Haute Goodwill is back after a dismal slump. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. It's good in that it's fun to shop there again, but it's bad in that my china cabinet, hutch, closet, other closet and storage are packed. But, I could not pass up these finds.

And they happened on a Sunday.

That's right, the worst thrift shopping day of the week. Sunday is the worst because: it's after everything as been picked over on Friday night when everyone is on the way home from work; Saturday has seen people come and go and come and go and come and go; it's the day employees at Goodwill are hung over and doesn't do any restocking; there is nothing left but the odds and ends.

But this has happened before. And it happened again.

Exhibit A.

These lovely little lotus bowls are some of my favorite things and I have a huge collection. My grandmother had them in white, but I eschew those in favor of a myriad of colors I can mix and match.

These are a wonderful addition to the collection, but I was sad as there was also an orange one, but it had a chip I could not ignore. Yes I have....(one, two....seven....thirteen..)....twenty-one of the larger bowls in various colors and three smaller one in red and green, but you never know when I might need them for a dinner or emergency. I mean, what if a busload of Buddhist monks broke down en route to St. Louis and they called me to help serve dinner but they HAD to have rice bowls. Buddhist monks cannot be served dinner without rice bowls. I would be ready. Would you?

And one more orange would have helped too!

However, my sadness was lifted by...

Exhibit B.

This light wood salad bowl, imported from Japan, has the look of American modern. It made me think of Russel Wright or Eva Zeisel. Wonderful shape and color. And made me feel better about the loss of the orange lotus bowl. Until I saw...

Exhibit C.

A stack of white dishes that intrigued me and upon closer inspection, proved to be solid white Contempri designed for Jackson China International by Paul McCobb. You are asking yourself, "Does he really need another set of china?" And I am telling you, "Yes!" In a qualified way. Reader, I already own this set of china, it is just slowly being delivered to my house over the course of several years. I originally purchased an open vegetable and platter at an estate sale in Wichita, KS. Then earlier this year, I found a second open vegetable and covered casserole right here in Terre Haute which inspired a paradigm shift in the china cabinet. And now service for four? I think you can see where this is going. Someday, service for twelve with all of the accoutrement. Dost though scoff? My collection of Temporama began with only a gravy point and a dream.

Name it and claim it, that is what Oprah says!

Anyway, I think you can see that Sunday is not a bad day to thrift shop. Challenging, yes. But it still can yield a china cabinet full of treasures. Or two china cabinets full.

Yella

It has been a little bit of a dry spell at the Terre Haute Goodwill, but that all changed a couple of weeks ago. Erika Doss was in town to give a lecture as part of program the Swope was doing with ISU and Art Spaces, Inc. At dinner after, we all got to talking about collecting and objects, and Erika and I decided we needed to take a moment to stop into the Goodwill in the morning. She found zilch (next time!) , but I found three yellow treasures:

A fantastic tin, covered in jewels for the tin collection. Mitchell has arranged some of these on the wall as you turn into our hallway and they look fantastic. Three or so more and it will be a brilliant arrangement. What did I tell you about more?

This lovely swirling glass bowl matches...

...this fantastic blue one that I already have! It will be great for dips next to the flower-power chip bowl. Or, I can put snack mix in the blue one and nuts in the yellow one for a party. Officially designated. Please mark the log.

And finally, this beautiful yellow relish dish. It's smartly divided, with one large compartment and two small ones. I haven't used it yet, but it looks brilliant in the sunlight. And will look even better filled with olives, pickled okra, cornichons, caper berries and so on and so on and so on.

Yellow! I love thematic thrifting finds...

More Madison Thrift-consin

Seriously, I mean if you didn't chuckle when you read the title of my last post, there is something wrong with your sense of humor. I had to use it again! Just to remind you...

A special treat for you this week: photos of Jessie & Dave's finds from the auteur herself, Grand Empress of Photographic Magic, Ms. Jessie Eisner-Kleyle. Honestly, when I saw these I gasped: they are all such thoughtful, beautiful pics of amazing finds. While she has many talents, I think that JE-K has a true eye for the objet. But, I only wish I had an MTSS book deal so I could hire her full-time to photograph all of my FINDS. I'm getting a new camera and making her put me through object photography boot camp.

Yo ho ho! New art for the wall...she is going to paint it some fabulous color. We'll see.

A double-shot of a single chair. Very elegant and one step closer to having four chairs for the cute new dining room table...

Beautiful orange Pyrex! I love this. I am going to steal it next time I visit.

Another lovely little casserole with pretty little birds. See what she baked in it here.

A round spinning thing for the new table. We actually invented a better name for it, but that brilliant new word slips my mind.

Success! The fourth chair!

Madison, Thrift-consin

I don't what it is about Madison, but it is a thrifting mecca. Every time we visit, it seems we walk away with a trove of treasures. I promise you, with one visit to the St. Vincent Thrift Store, I could furnish and decorate an entire house. What a challenge! But, I could. And I guess it's strange, because Madison doesn't seem that big and its filled with hipsters and dirty hippies who you would think would be snatching up all this ephemera and driving up the prices (a la Austin, TX), but that isn't the case. I tell you, we thrifted hard, but the results were fantastic and I'm happy to share them with you here:

Jessie* spotted this gorgeous, faux-lacquer condiment set. She graciously presented it in tribute to me, recognizing how pleased I would be with the find. Would I do the same? I have given many a thrifting find to a thrifty friend, but I think it would be hard to convince myself someone else would like this particular item more than I. The set has a tray, three dishes with wooden lids and three little plastic spoons.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that it perfectly matches this mod little serving set I already own, complete with the spoon and tiny dishes. I love the diminutive aspects of all of this and of course, the bright, fresh orange color. (Thank you JE-K!)

She also snatched up this gorgeous Georges Briard cheeseboard! What an eye that woman has, perfectly honed from all of her beautiful photographic work. The tray is missing the little knife that it supposed to be attached by a chain to the side, but it's still perfect and I will use it the next time I entertain. If not before.

Before we started thrifting, I mentioned I was 'due' a couple of pieces of Pyrex. With Barb's help, we honed down the collection before moving to Indiana, but have lost a couple of things to breakage since then. You all know how it is when Pyrex breaks! But, I've been doing alright and working through it. However, I was pretty sure the only way to successful break through the pain and heartbreak was to replace my loss with new beauties. Voilà!

You can probably see by now, this post is really about completion: about finding objects that really belong with other objects. Not long ago, I found a set of eight, low sherbet dishes at the Goodwill in Terre Haute. I thought they were rather strange and can't remember seeing anything quite like them. Low and behold, three more appeared in Madison, Thrift-consin! (Yes, I had to say it again, I am too pleased with my cleverness.) Which brings the service up to eleven. I know there is another waiting out there...

...just like there was another one of these glasses waiting out there for me! Again, that makes nine (six in Wichita + two in Terre Haute + one in Madison = Heaven) and next time there is dinner, you can believe these delicious little fellows will be on the table.

Now back to barware: I have an eclectic set of bar glasses and I like to mix and match. The most complete set I have is six George Briard old fashioned glasses in a gold leaf pattern. Otherwise, it's a few of this and a few of that. So I didn't hesitate to pick up this lovely set of five, emblazoned with an Aztec calendar. Of course, they reminded me of the Aztec calendar incident at Michael and Ryan's house ages ago, but it's too long and ridiculous to explain here. Know this: party games that are based on absent host's peccadilloes only end in tragedy. The glasses will remain a symbol of that. You all know who you are.

Lastly, this little owl is a nightlight and just an amazing addition to the pad, with the bird cage lamps and faux deer heads: it's like she has flown the coop, but still watches over us.

The lesson: if you find something you love, even if its a single glass or plate ofrdish, buy it and appreciate the singularity of it. But, you never know when that one might become service for twelve, so also remember to keep your eye open--and remind your friends too!

*Jessie found some fabulous things of her own, but she hasn't sent the photos yet. Next post, I suppose!

ICT Thrift, Thrifted Gifts & the BVM

We had a wonderful time at Anna's house on July 4 and enjoyed seeing many friends and hanging out at their house. Emily and Brian came--with gifts! In the strange synchronic way, one of the items, a small George Briard tray, had been purchased at the estate sale at the very house where the party was! What more, Anna loved the dish, which reminded her of a childhood dish of her grandmothers and was thinking of it as the inspiration for her kitchen remodel: orange and copper. Hot!

Emily told how her mother did not like to give 'used' gifts and how she had a hard time getting over that herself. Thrifted gifts are the best! If you find something someone will love, they won't care where it came from. In our case, the thrifted gifts included the aforementioned Briard tray, a small tin for the collection and a diminutive Asian statue. Lovely, all. The Asian lady rounds out a couple of recent statues of the BVM I found to a nice little set of three.

The used gift question made me think about Christmases past: my mam-ma lived in a older neighborhood in Tulsa, one that had been quite rural when they moved into it, with the city growing up around it. In the 80s, there was a problem with flooding and the city elected to buy-up many of the homes in the neighborhood and build a water-retention area. One of the home belonged to Miss Brotherton. This had been her family home and she had lived there her entire life, never marrying and only adding to the accumulation of thing already in the house. All of these treasures had to go, so mam-ma volunteered to throw the garage sale of all garage sales. It was legendary. Of course, come Christmas there were lots of extras under the tree--everyone had more presents than usual and we weren't sure why. Then, we began to unwrap and all manner of odd items from the house were revealed. Everyone got something, or several somethings, from the sale. Unique things. From then on, that Christmas was referred to as the Brotherton Christmas. Used gifts! Do it.

We also did a little trifting with Molly, but it seems our karma was used up on a few things. Molly found a great tile topped table in limey greens and yellows. I found a bulletin board in a very 70s design. We also spotted several items of interest along the way.

This virgin and child was lovely, but strangely the same price as...

Huh. Virgin Mary or strange plastic people with happy messages? I guess the gist is the same.

And then there was this strange display:

I can only say: booty-licious!

Molly scored a beautiful tile-topped table in shades of green and citreen that looks fab with her chairs. We spent a little time merchandising them and I think the result was very fun. (Hello Dempsey! Your first appearance on MTSS.)

She also found this great chair which looks perfect with her orange ottoman. I think she has a fantastic orange and green story happening.

Love shopping in Wichita!

You Go Back

Mitchell stopped by the Goodwill tonight to drop some things off, mostly just clutter from the pantry closet. But, one person's clutter is another person's...crystal meth? Not quite right, but you know what I mean. Of course, he ran through the store, but didn't buy anything, returning only with tales of the several cool things that were there. Sitting on the shelves.

Excuse me? Of course, we got back in the car and returned to claim what was rightfully ours:

In your house, you may call this a 'Lazy Susan,' but I feel that is offensive to Susans everywhere. And, I have several friends (a gaggle of Susans?) who are named Susan who are all far from lazy. So, in my house I use the term 'round spinny thing' which is non-pejorative and has a fresh, twenty-first century feel to it. Please don't say, 'Lazy Susan' around me as I will most certainly call you out on your named-based prejudice.

Anyway, this beauty is pressed aluminum in gold and green. It seems to be missing a lid, but is still totally functional. I was thinking: fondue. And the best part? The level the trays and bucket sit on is removable, so you can fill it with ice to keep the items on your round spinny thing chilled, as for crudités.

And this little log, a tiny planter. The faux fanaticism continues, what else can I say? But it will look cute with a small plant in it on the balcony. The best part: when we were checking out, the crazy checker guy said, "This is also great to have for your computer. You can use it to log onto the internet." No, I'm serious, he totally said it and then proceeded to check Mitchell's one dollar bills to make sure they weren't counterfeit. Are there a lot of people out there counterfeiting singles?

And Our Lady, who will be added to the array of deities when I can find them. Wherever they are, we ask for their protection and give them thanks for these blessed finds.

Peace be with you.

Which came first...

...the egg or the toast? Right?

We carried this Presto Egg Cooker around the store trying to decided whether to take it home or not. Does it work? How do you time the eggs? And I'm supposed to be watching my egg intake, so do I need an appliance devoted solely to eggs? And aren't I the one who says things like, "I don't need a bread machine, I have one already: it's called THE OVEN." Isn't this the same thing? Shouldn't I be saying, "I don't need an egg cooker, I have one already: it's called a SAUCE PAN."

But, in the end I couldn't resist it. I just love the object. It's almost like a flying saucer for eggs, with the little blue parts and the dome cover. You can 'poach' four eggs in the white cups on top or 'soft boil' them as well: the little cups lift off to reveal seats for six eggs on the blue level below. So, it does two things. And, as an object it is so interesting to me.

Plus, once it arrived home, it was revealed that it was meant to be united with the most-beautiful-toaster-in-the-world: eggs and toast, right? And the colors go perfectly together. Have you ever seen a happier couple? Have you ever seen a more beautiful toaster? If you have, I want picture proof. E-mail a photo of a more beautiful toaster and I will be the judge. My qualifications are here. If I can pick Miss Arkansas USA 2004, I can certainly pick the most beautiful toaster in the world.


Change is Good

Apparently, the obsession with wooden platters and other pieces never ends. I picked this up at Goodwill last weekend and was thinking it would be good to fill with nuts and other nibblies for an interesting mix and presentation. Olives? With the little end pieces for the pits?

But, then I realized it would work even better on the dresser with the Asian-ish tins to organize cuff links, change and the assorted pocket items that need to be dispersed. Lovely and curvy, it was very happy to see it in place.

Chaos/Order

  • The new things from Paul McCobb inspired a slight shift in the organization of the china cabinet, which was easy, but worked out in the end.
  • I discovered I cannot live without Heidi Anna in the cabinet. She is a fixture and that little pop of strangeness I appreciate. Can you find her?
  • I was trying to do a Russel Wright 'story' on the upper level, but the bean pot is difficult to place. I might be able to make it work in the future...if I push on through.

Plan-table

We have been working on the balcony, trying to make it a little more habitable and welcoming. Of course, now that summer is here that means plants. We added some window boxes and a few large planters and have flowers, squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and a variety of herbs. We'll see how they do. But we also needed something to put some of the houseplants on that have gone to live outside for the season. I found this little table at the Goodwill for nothing. It's a little beat-up, but perfect for the balcony--it holds all of the little plants, but there is still a place to put your cocktail. Come on over for a drink and hang out for a bit...