Happy Almost Spring!

I am so happy to report I found a little pyrex here in SoCal.  

It has been dry, or maybe I just haven't been looking for a while. 

And yes while not all of this pictures is Pyrex, the Fire King is awesome with the duel candle warmers. 

I think I perfected the "Walk & Stalk" with the pink square baker. 

Head over to treasuresmyhh.blogspot.com to hear the story of my "Walk & Stalk"

I hope you all that have snow see the sun melt it away soon. It was 90 here in Sunday. 

I stayed in a played with my Pyrex. 

Until next time

Happy Hunting!!

~Katie 

Treasure Hunter

Estate Sale Divide & Conquer

I have been looking for a 024 forever, especially since I have three extra lids for this particular piece. Husband and I went thrifting Thursday and I spotted a 024. I sped walked over to pick it up and flip it over, only to see this:

Sigh. I didn't even feel inclined to rescue it and try and clean it up. We hit six stores that day and all I came away with was three 470 lids, which are always nice to have.

But my luck was about to change, as that evening I perused the estate sale postings. The previous weekend we had shown up to a sale so I could grab a Gooseberry 473. Well, we didn't show up early enough and though I was in the door pretty early it was scooped up by the time I made it in. Then I saw it in the hands of the person who got it and while happy for her, felt sad for me as it was so, so pretty.

All this to say as I perused the postings I found two sales worth a visit. As they were on opposite ends of town I knew there was no way I could do both. So I turned to husband and asked if we could divide and conquer. He agreed, then I asked if he could go to the farther done. He agreed…then I asked if he could show up no later than 6:30 to get a number, which would mean leaving out house at 6:00. He did a huh? face until I showed him what I was after. Then he agreed. In the meantime I decided to go to the other one with our seven-year-old daughter. We got there at 6:40 and were number 15. My heart kind of sank. To kill time until the 8:00 start time we went to Dunkin' Donuts, where I got a text from my husband that he too was number 15 for his 8:00 sale. Apparently at the sale he was at someone showed up at 2:30. 

Well, this wouldn't be a post unless I had good news to share, right? We were both successful! My sale was kind of vicious, though; it had a lot of WWII memorabilia and I truly saw a man dive over a couch to get ahead of civilized people who were orderly and walking (though walking fast!). Husband's sale was full of penguin items, yes penguins.they were everywhere, figurines, wall hangings, knick knacks, you name it, it was in every single room, he said the preview pictures did not do the penguin insanity justice. While people were scooping up the penguins one other woman ahead of him was in the kitchen grabbing all the bowls, but she completely ignored a set.

The Fire King Tulips! I thought for sure they would be marked at $75 or higher, especially since the company running the sale tends to price Pyrex and other coveted items at retail prices, but nope, they were much, much less. Meanwhile I was busy getting my long-coveted 024, in turquoise, with lid! Everything is super, super minty. And yes, I got a honeycomb turkey as well; I have been looking for one forever and I was thrilled to find this. My daughter got some geodes, my husband hit a second sale on his way home and got some tools, so our little household was well satisfied. 

Happy holidays!

I did a complete inventory of all my vintage Christmas ornaments and kitsch finds, you can read about it over on my blog if you are in to that kind of thing. 

Jacquelyn

Drips and Drabs

It's been a bit of a Pyrex desert here lately, despite my very best efforts and very best hunting. I did find an Autumn Harvest 475 at Goodwill but left it behind because I already have it and just didn't feel like storing a second until I get my little shop up and running. I'm likely going to sell or trade the one I have, anyway.

I'm convinced because I live in the west our thrifts are not as good. We simply don't get as much "old" stuff since the population tends to be newer, and even when we do have retirees my husband thinks they downsize prior to moving here. Yard sale season is at an end as well, there wasn't a single post on Craigslist for any kind of sale. There's still the few professionally run estate sells and the estate sale store but those have been dry as well.

Whining over, though, because despite hitting just about every thrift store in the greater Old Pueblo area I did find two things, both by a total fluke.

The Pink Daisy 548 space saver was acquired at an antique fair. The alarm went off, I rolled over, and went back to sleep. My husband prodded me out of bed by reminding me the location was only about ten minutes away, and I could just put on a hat, walk in, peruse, and be done. I did just that and the first table I went to had the space saver. I talked her down from her reasonable start price (it never hurts to ask, as my dad says) so I was happy, even if I was still rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

The Fire King bowl, well, it's been sitting in a case at the Humane Society thrift store for about two months, likely due to the price. I told myself I would get it when it went half off. Today I was dropping off a donation and said a silent hello to the bowl. Well, luck (?) was on my side and it was half off. I love these Fire King bowls, I have two of the tulip ones as well. They are just so pretty!

Hopefully my luck will change soon but I take solace in the thought that if my luck is poor someone else's must be good. Yay for that person!

Jacquelyn

Recent Finds…I've Had a Stroke of Luck

I've been busy thrifting and hitting yard/estate/garage sales. It's just starting to cool down here (as in, it was 86 the other day) so the sales are plentiful, people are cleaning out their stuff and heading to the donation centers, and oh yes, I went to my first flea market (who knew there is one way out in the country the first Sunday of each month? I sure didn't). After my last post in which I marveled at the recent inflated thrift store prices I have found I was relieved to enter back into the realm of reality.

If I had one Pyrex superpower I would say it is finding lids. Here's proof…I have five, yes five, extra 502 lids, most of which are the older version. One I even got for free. That was a good day. I actually ended up finding bottoms for the two 470 lids a few days later. I amassed these lids over two weeks. I have taken to calling myself the Lid Whisperer.

I'd had a drought at the thrifts and sales until last Saturday. First up was an estate sale where I picked up the Spring Blossom, Butterprint, and Daisy. It's not the best picture but clearly I was excited. Then, that afternoon we stopped into a Goodwill en route to my in-laws' house. Finding this Butterfly Gold 501 for $1 was pretty exciting, given how much Goodwill has been charging these days in my neck of the woods.

How about some embroidered tea towels for $1 each? Or the old school sifter (circa 1950s I think) for $3? Then there's the lime 221 and 22, for $7 each. Steep, but they jumped in my cart and came home with me. I was also thrilled to find this Golden Pine space saver, it's the first one I have ever seen. The leaf is still in good shape, especially on the lid.

Feeling lucky yesterday little miss and I hit the thrifts while my husband stayed home to knock out some projects. I'm not a huge fan of Autumn Harvest but he likes it so I brought them home. Yes, that's another lid, the free one I got from random empty-lot-turned-swap-meet; I asked how much, the proprietor asked what it was, I told him a Pyrex lid, he said take it. The pixies were a fun find as well. The lamp, well, I have a weakness for lamps, I got it at a yard sale that morning. But the apron, that was my favorite of this bunch. It was a whole $2.

And here's what I found at the flea market today. The little shakers are actually mini Ball mason jars and were used by salesmen back in the day to store product samples. The cutlery is a Girl Scout camping kit my daughter got for free from a very nice vendor who found out she is a Girl Scout when talking with her.  

Now, I still left a lot of Pyrex behind at the thrifts. Some was DWD, some too scratched, chipped, or abused. Some were patterns I don't collect and really don't need to haul into my house, so I thought I'd leave them for someone who really wants them. I feel like I've grown up as I used to just grab anything and now I have definitely exercised some restraint. I guess that is progress. 

Jacquelyn

Saturday Scores {Including a NIB!}

We hit the yard and estate sales bright and early today. It was a mixed bag of highs and lows. I'll do the highs below. The lows, well, can you say $10 for a Town & Country casserole? How about $6 for a red mixing bowl (I think it was a 404) that had seen better days? Or, $36 (yes, you read that right) for a Woodland set of 401-403! Yowza!

Now, on to the highs. I will save the best for last.

Though not all Pyrex I couldn't help but share the above, especially as they were all part of a bundle. The top is pink Fiestaware: a sugar bowl, gravy boat, and creamer. It's not really my thing but I know people like it so I will be selling this. The bottom is a Fire King Tulip pepper shaker, it's too bad the salt was not available but someday my prince will come; I'm keeping this for myself as I love the print. Next to it are some Pyrex spice canisters which I will also sell. I got the above and some other random craft stuff for my daughter for $15.

Butterprint 403 in perfect condition for $2. I spotted this from across the yard and I started to walk fast. I grabbed it right on up. I wasn't sure if I had it as I had picked up some Butterprint a couple weeks ago so I whipped out my phone and found this blog and what I had posted from my last Butterprint find. Turns out I didn't have this; I had the 401 and 402. One more piece to go and I will have a complete set!

And now for the best deal I think I will ever find. Maybe. I hate to say "ever" as there is always the possibility of something better and I like to think of myself as an optimist.

I searched Craigslist Friday night for Pyrex and came across a yard sale listing that had this pictured. This is new, in box, never been opened. When I saw the posting and the price this was marked at I knew I would have to be there right as it opened. The house was behind a gate at the end of a long drive. We rolled up ten minutes early and were the first ones in when the owner opened the gate. I came away with it giggling like a schoolgirl.

$5!!!!!!!!!

I want to open this so badly and see how it is packaged, what the usage book (owner's manual) looks like, and just look at brand new "old" Pyrex, but I am controlling myself. I'm not sure how to proceed with this!

Jacquelyn

Last Weekend's Finds

Our little family hit some yard sales and estate sales this past weekend. After a full morning of well over ten stops I managed to find some Pyrex, but not much. Here in the Old Pueblo pickers are scooping it up to sell at various antique malls and curated junk shops (I kid you not) at inflated prices. I'm a SAHM so when I'm out and about I'll run into a thrift store to check out stock and have come away empty handed each and every time. So, feeding of my Pyrex addiction is best done via yard sales.

Friday my husband came with me to do the bus drop off and on the way home stop off at a few sales. I found the brown 441 you see on the top right for $.25. It's pretty faded and was well used, but for a quarter I can use it as a prep bowl. I do a lot of baking and always have need of such bowls.

The other three pieces I found at an estate sale Saturday. We have a high number of retirees in my city so estate sales are plentiful, with professional companies running them and commensurate inflated prices as the sales company looks to get its cut.

At this particular estate sale I went straight for the kitchen and scooped up all the pieces you see, except the previously mentioned brown 441 bowl. I wasn't sure if I really wanted them but knew I had to lay claim in order to continue my wanderings through the house. My husband took them from me as I did so and by the time I met him back at the front they were wrapped and on an invoice---and thus they came home with me.

On the lower right is a Fire King 436 in the snowflake pattern. We're planning a big open house this holiday as part of Our Epic Sock Monkey Christmas so I splurged. It was $4, which is steep but it was an estate sale; Ive seen this at our antique mall for $12. 

In the center are the 441 and 442 in Butterprint. These are in good condition, with minor staining on the bottom. The 441 was $3 and the 442 $4. On the left is the 043 in Golden Acorn; it was also $4 (no lid, though) and has some minor scratching but the gold leaf is in good condition.

Perhaps I paid too much, likely so. The thrift stores here are a Pyrex desert; I have yet to find Pyrex at any store, only at the curated junk shops and antique malls. I am on the hunt for some rectangle casseroles and refrigerator dishes and in more than a year of looking have yet to find one at a yard sale. With cooler weather finally here we are hitting prime yard sale season so perhaps I will get lucky soon!

Jacquelyn

Rummage Sale Pyrex

I'm as giddy as a kid in a candy store right now, because it is officially yard sale/rummage sale season! I went to our town's big semi-annual rummage sale on Thursday and found some Pyrex. I don't usualy find more than one or two pieces, but last year I found a pink Gooseberry casserole, so the bar was set high. I was one of the first in the door, and made a beeline right for the housewares, seeing a spot of green on the table.

The Verde 442 (or is it Spring Blossom/Square Flowers?- according to PyrexLove, Verde did not come in Cinderella shape- anyone know?) was $3, which is astonishingly high for this type of sale.  It's not even in great condition- quite a bit of wear to the handles and utensil scratches which came out with a little BKF. It just goes to show that people everywhere (even little old church ladies) are onto those of us that collect it!

Friday I went to another church rummage sale. Thankfully the lime square baker was only $1 at that one. Apparently those little old church ladies are still in the dark! 

This is my second piece of lime (found the round cake pan about a month ago) and my 4th utility dish-  I have a flamingo lasagna pan and lidded casserole. But do you think I could find a pink or lime pie pan? No... still looking after all these years!

I've also done a bit of thrifting lately and found some really neat mugs (no other Pyrex to be found, boo!). 

First the Pyrex ones, although the Old Towne one is not marked Pyrex.

I also found this FireKing Peach Lustre creamer for $1. I am trying really hard not to collect this stuff, but it keeps jumping in my basket and coming home with me! I also found a set of 6 matching custard cups. (Sorry for the poor photo quality, our power was out when I took the picture and the outside light was poor.)

I liked the look of this one, with the eagle on it. It's quite a bit bigger even than the Old Towne footed mug, perhaps it may be McKee?

Yes, these are GlasBake, eek! Can you believe it- why didn't Pyrex make some cute mugs like this? I think there are other fruits in the set, but I only found these three plus the tennis one.

Check out my blog for some more rummage sale goodies!

The Spotting O' the Green

Hi all, SusieQT here from Practice in Time!

Well, pickings have been slim around here in the Pyrex Dept. It's been a couple weeks since I found anything worth writing about. But with Spring around the corner, people must be doing some spring cleaning, and I actually have something worth writing about today!

I am thrilled to have finally found my first piece of lime- a round cake pan. I know these aren't that uncommon, but I have never seen any! As a matter of fact, I haven't seen any solid color bakewear at all recently, and I would love to have a pie plate and square baker to go with it.

It's in absolutely mint condition- appears never to have been used. Quite a miracle, since Pyrex only made lime from 1952 to 1956. The best part was that for St. Patty's Day anything green in the store was 25% off, so I got this for $2.25!

I left behind a 402 Square Flowers bowl and a green 403 mixing bowl that I think this goes with the Square Flowers set, but it has no pattern. They weren't in the best of condition, and I'm trying to leave stuff like that for someone else! I also left two Homestead mixing bowls in mint condition, since I am not too fond of that pattern. That qualifies as the most Pyrex I have seen in one thrift store in a long time.

How has the Pyrex picking been in your neck of the woods?

Pop on over to my blog to hear about the green mug and the rest of my finds!

Thrift Crawl 2013: Pyrex Edition

Hi PC3, SusieQT here!

Every year around my birthday (March 1) I take a whole day and do nothing but shop thrift stores. I try to go to ones I don't normally get to, so it's kind of an event. In general, I don't need any more "stuff"/gifts so all I ask for is a day "off" from being a mom and go out on the road for the whole day. I call it my annual Thrift Crawl, and try to get to as many stores in a day as I can.

My trip this year was 7 stores in 6 hours over 65 miles.

I was a bit disappointed in the Pyrex selection- collecting it must be getting really popular, because I hardly even saw any. Most of my haul came from a single store- apparently the others were picked over before I got there. I did see a fair amount of Fire King (even some Peach Lustre and Gay Fad, which were really tempting, but the condition wasn't perfect so I passed) and the ubiquitous Glasbake.

I didn't see any Pyrex (with the exception of a badly dishwashered red 501 fridgie) until my fourth stop. It took some digging, but I unearthed this Federal Eagle mug. The condition isn't perfect, but I love mugs and have never seen this one before, so it came home with me.

Finally at my 6th stop I found some good stuff. A Butterfly Gold butter dish for $2.50- mint condition. I initially thought I might sell or trade it, but now I'm thinking I might try to collect all the butter dishes. I knew that I would find a butter dish after I went out and bought one (Butterprint) on eBay a couple weeks ago! Well, I'm not complaining- only wishing I had bought the Old Towne butter dish I passed up a couple months ago.

I also found these cute red casseroles- they are so tiny- 10 oz! I posed them next to the butter dish, because they are almost the same size. They'll be perfect for individual servings of broiled seafood and the like, if I can bring myself to use them- except for a few scratches from storage they look like they've never been used.

Anyone know anything about them? 

These footed bowls are Fire King. I wouldn't have bought them individually, but as a group I really like the colors. For only 50 cents each, they are mine. I'm guessing there was at least one more, probably red or brown, at one time to make the set.

For the rest of the Thrift Crawl 2013 finds, visit my blog: http://www.practiceintime.blogspot.com/

Pyrex in Drips and Drops

Hi PC3, SusieQT here from Practice in Time! Usually the late winter/early spring season is the best for thrifting around here. People are de-cluttering for their New Years resolutions plus getting started with their Spring cleaning.  I have been going out to my favorite stores regularly with high hopes for vintage goodies in general (mostly to stock my Etsy Store) and Pyrex in particular. And I have to say that I am less than impressed.

I went to two stores last week, both of which have been good to me recently in the Pyrex department. And I found some, but not what I have been hoping for. At the first store, I found a mismatched casserole, (bottom was plain Horizon blue and top appeared to be a very faded gold scroll design) but didn't buy it for $6. I also saw a ton of Glassbake and FireKing divided dishes and casseroles- maybe we all need to start collecting those since Pyrex is getting scarce, LOL.

I did come away with what I thought were two Pyrex restaurant ware dishes and a Fire King mug for 50 cents each. I love Fire King mugs, and this one is such a beautiful buttery yellow. It almost matches the Pyrex primary yellow, but is a shade lighter, and in perfect condition. It makes me so happy to use these for my morning coffee. I wonder why Pyrex didn't make more of their patterns in mugs; I mean, wouldn't it be great to have a Butterprint mug or maybe a New Dots?

The restaurantware dishes I thought were the Bluegrass pattern (see it at the upper right on this blog header), and I bet most of you would think the same thing. Unfortunately, the thrift store had a huge price sticker all across the bottom and it wasn't until I got home that I realized it was very slightly different and made by Anchor Hocking. I imagine a lot of designs were virtually copied by all the major glass firms so they would be almost interchangeable when a restaurant needed to order more. It's OK, though, I'm not a label whore and have already used the dishes a couple times.

At the second thrift I usually find good Pyrex, albeit expensive Pyrex. This time was no exception. I saw quite a bit of FireKing and Glassbake again- that dang green flower pattern is everywhere!!- and a few pieces of the good stuff. I left a Spring Blossom casserole on the shelf (don't collect that pattern) and it hurt, but I had to walk away from a Snowflake Garland loaf pan. At $9.00 I don't need it that bad. If it was a casserole or a fridgie, I probably would have sucked it up and bought it. 

The only other pieces of (not clear) Pyrex on the shelf did come home with me, though. Two yellow hostess dishes for $2 each are more in line with what I'm looking for. They weren't in the best of shape, but aren't too bad and are a size I use a lot. 

So, small potatoes in the Pyrex department. But it's better than nothing, and I will keep hoping that next time I go I'll find the Pyrex score of my dreams...

New Kitchen Cabinet Display

One of the things I love best about collecting kitchen items is displaying them in my glass-fronted cabinets. When we bought this house, having cabinets like these was on my wish list. (It definitely wouldn't have been a deal-breaker for sure, but it helped when we looked at this house!)

So it was a perfect place to display some of my collections. For a while I collected printed glassware (another post on that coming soon), and I inherited some really neat red and yellow pottery, which went with my kitchen's yellow, green and red color scheme. Those made a nice display for a while. But lately I've been collecting Pyrex, FireKing and jadeite, and decided to re-organize my displays to better reflect that.

That meant moving things around and re-thinking what I reallly wanted to look at for a while. It took me the better part of a rainy afternoon last week to finally settle on a layout, so to document that, I thought I'd show you all.

Here's the before:

Not too bad, really, but not as organized as I would like. Some of these things have been in the same spot for ten years! Also the clear glassware at the top right kind of disappears. (It's really neat close-up, with etched stars, but would be better put away somewhere else.) You can see the printed glassware all jumbled in the lower right. I figured, since you can't really make it all out, maybe it's best if I put most of it away and only get out only one set at a time.

Here's the finished display, and close ups to follow:

I tried to organize it by color a little bit, with the red and yellow pottery near the yellow and green Fiesta. Then the jadeite and Peach Blossom FireKing (which is a match made in heaven, I think), then the Pyrex on the right.

The Fiestaware is not old (mostly), and our regular everyday dishes, so they have to be easily accessible.

This is probably my favorite one, with the FireKing and jadeite. The printed glasses in the carrier are the only ones to make the cut right now. You can see some of the Pyrex holiday mugs sneaking into the picture there- guess they wanted a bit of face time in the FireKing cabinet, LOL!

The Pyrex cabinet. I am trying really hard to limit myself to just the primary colors set  (I'm using the yellow 404 at the moment, so it's not pictured) and turquoise Butterprint, plus pink and promotional designs. The lone FireKing wheat casserole in the lower right belonged to my dad, so it still gets a place of honor.

Right now, I'm pretty happy with it and it is a nice change of scenery!

Not Pyrex, but a Fire King find

Hi PCIII- SusieQT here from Practice in Time.

I just wanted to pop in today and share my latest find. It's not Pyrex, but Fire King. (Hey, all us milk glass fanatics got to stick together, right?)


Maybe it's heresy around these parts, but besides Pyrex, I do collect a couple Fire King patterns. I'm particularly partial to the hand painted ones, like Peach Blossom- so dreamy mixed with pink Pyrex and jadeite...sigh...

Anyway!


I had a few moments to spare yesterday on my way to work, so decided to stop at a thrift store on the way in. Boy am I glad I did!

In the Halloween rack I found a pair of mens shoes from the 1890s. (Check out my blog for pix of those!)

And then in the housewares section, I happened across one of the more desirable Fire King items yesterday- a Colonial Bands lidded grease jar (think Pyrex Stripes), and wanted to share it with you all:

So what do you guys think- can Pyrex and Fire King (and Glassbake, etc..) coexist, or do you stick to just one brand?

Recent Finds

Here are some recent Pyrex pieces I have aquired...

DOTS! - Oh I just about squealed with happiness when I saw this little beauty at the bottom of a stack of bowls in a nearby antique shop.  The price was well under what I would have had to pay online so I swooped on it... unless the price was crazy, I couldn't leave a New Dots bowl!



These two little Rainbow Stripes guys were the result of my first trade.  It was fun to meet a fellow Pyrex lover in my area.  We got each other's number and have been on the lookout for what the other needs. 

The mixing bowl pair came from a local thrift store... grand total of $4, can't beat that!  I actually LOVE the plain opal items. 

I completed my first set!  Primary fridgies - all found at different spots.  The orange on the bottom is an old refrigerator drawer and the loaf pan on the top is Fire King with the markings dating it to the mid 1940's!  It may not technically go together, but I like the primary colored flowers with the primary colored fridgies.

And my last piece of eye candy for the day... a Golden Poinsettia casserole with the lid!!  This was found at an antique store with a price of $7.50 (that seemed really good!)... the lid was a little chipped, but still useable.  It is my very first Christmas dish!

Until next time, Happy Pyrex Hunting!!

Whitney

New Arrivals To The 'Rex Family

An update on the red Pyrex casserole I posted about a few weeks ago. The pattern is called Golden Poinsettia. My friend and fellow vintage lover, Becky, wants this Pyrex to find a new home. Her adorable little ones are very rambunctious and she is worried it may get broken. She is also getting ready to move. Becky understands my love for Pyrex and wants it to go to someone who will really appreciate it...and that is ME!

Here's a pic of the 'Rex's new home in my kitchen cabinet. My personal collection is growing!
 

You will see a few different pieces here including my estate acquired Pyrex Sage Scroll casserole, the gigantic Golden Poinsettia Pyrex casserole, Royal China Blue Heaven saucers that my Granny gave me along with a yard sale found matching Fire King Blue Heaven oven dish, and finally the Pyrex Spring Blossom oven dish that my mother gave me.

Not pictured are my primary red Pyrex fridgie and small yellow Pyrex mixing bowl.

Click through to my blog to see my past Pyrex finds: The Thrifty Picker

What is your favorite Pyrex pattern or dish that you have acquired from friends or family?