Recent Finds

Earlier this week my husband and little miss made me go camping. I am not a camper but I agreed provided I could hit some thrifts along the way. I seriously had the iPad out and was googling places to stop as we drove. My husband was very amenable. I did pretty well in some of the small towns we passed through. I would have liked to have gone to more but snow, yes snow, was in the forecast and after one night in below freezing temperatures we all decided to go home. Here's what I did get, photographed at the campsite before I carefully packed it away for the trip home. I was thinking ahead and brought along some boxes and bubble wrap to keep them safe (and warm) in the back of the truck.

That's an unmarked Opal 401 (mold stamp number says 2, so it's an early one), Blue Stripes 403, and Pink 503 with the older lid. I was pretty happy! It's my second Pink 503 but I'm keeping it. The other one is for display, this is for my 503 stack, the size I use most for leftovers. I couldn't resist the Fire King Colonial Bands grease jar, even without the lid. It took what seemed like a metric ton of stops to get these four items, but they are all pretty minty so it was worth stumbling through the maps app. Not pictured is a JAJ Harvest casserole I found; I;m not yet sure what I am doing with it.

A couple days after our ill fated camping trip little miss and I did a thrift run. She spotted the below, which is wonderful since she collects the Pink Gooseberry in this house.

A trunk shot, I was that happy. This set is pretty minty which made me even happier. I cam home from purchasing these and traded away the set little miss already had for some new goodies for me.

This is the second week in a row I have stumbled on a Sunday yard sale and come away with some Pyrex. Recall Sunday is not a typical yard sale day here, so I am wondering if a new trend is starting.  I guess we'll see what happens next Sunday before I get too excited. Last Sunday yielded up some Butterprint fridges, this Sunday I came away with the below.

Yes dear readers, another car shot. I snapped this one while husband and little miss were checking out yet another yard sale we found, sadly one without Pyrex. Anyway, this find was a total fluke. In fact, there was more I left behind. I wasn't carrying more than a few dollars since I wasn't on the yard sale prowl, just out running errands. I had to use my emergency $20 to get this, and I got to keep my few dollars I already had. I bundled as much as I could into that $20!

So as you can see I did get some good stuff. Of course, since my mantra is "No fridgie left behind" I could not leave the 501s. I've already traded those. The two 403s I will keep. I had thought I would offload my Butterprint but I really like the size of the 403 when I am cooking. The Friendship is a no brainer and I needed it to start in on the mixing bowl set. The Snowflake Garland 475 is a double for me, I will try and trade or sell it when the holidays get closer and everyone wants snowflakes.

Husband and little miss waited in the car while I hit the sale and when I told him there was more and I didn't have enough money to get it all he tried to give me some cash. What a guy. I was okay leaving though, as what I left behind was nothing I really wanted/needed/wanted to hang on to for trade or sale. Hopefully another Pyrex lover found the sale. The funny thing about this yard sale is I was talking to the proprietor and she told me she used to have a lot of Pyrex. She kept some for herself, her kids took some, and now she was selling the remainder. I can only imagine what she kept and gave to her kids prior to the sale.

So, a pretty good week for me. Hopefully you all had some luck as well.

Jacquelyn

A Dry Spell Broken (Knock on Wood)

I've made a decision to try and only buy Pyrex from thrifts, fleas, and estate/yard sales. This means no eBay or antique stores. What this has led to is a dry spell of several weeks, with me sorely jonesing to purchase online or hit up an antique mall. I have resisted, though, even though my last find that I brought home was almost a month ago (see it here). To be fair, I have found stuff, just nothing I want to bring home. I don't need or want Autumn Harvest (unless it is a 401, I feel compelled to own every 401 made, or a 501/503, same story as the 401 need). A Hex Signs 045 did nothing for me. I saw some Town & Country but passed. I have been working on clearing out the things I don't want, which is incidentally things most other collectors don't want. I am down to one box to be released into the wild.

All that to say this is the time the thrifts and weekend sales have decided to be dry in terms of what I like. Then on a whim I decided to have an upbeat, positive outlook and hit some thrifts on the way home from the gym. The first three yielded nothing, nada, zilch, not even a pattern I didn't want. But the last one finally had something I really, really want: Friendship.

I had a clear patterned Friendship 475 lid at home just waiting for this bad boy. I will be on the hunt for the opal version but in the meantime I feel quite satisfied. My finds may become more sporadic but hopefully better.

Happy hunting!

Jacquelyn

Amazing Haul on Last Day of 2013

Husband and little miss went out with me late in the afternoon on December 31. We had to drop off some stuff at the thrift store so we decided to thrift, too.

I got so excited by some of these finds I sat down on the floor and just about hyperventilated.

Little miss, aka my thrifting buddy, found the opal 402 as I was filling out the charitable donation paperwork for the goods we were dropping off. At the next place we all found the Snowflake 045 (which was so filthy I couldn't believe it, my husband is a darling and cleaned it to look like new), the Federal Starburst, the Hazel Atlas Ivy, and be still my heart, the Unmarked Turquoise Diamonds. My husband plucked it off the shelf and he says my breathing just stopped. That was when I had to sit down. Further on he found the Terra mug and the three Hazel Atlas mugs, which are a match for some bowls I inherited from my grandmother.

At the next location I found the Horizon Blue 441 and 442. As I was inspecting them husband said, "Hey, I see an opal pan." I dismissed it but he pulled it off the bottom shelf and then got really excited as he loves Friendship. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would own a lasagna pan, much less a Friendship lasagna pan; in fact, this is the first piece of Friendship I have ever had the pleasure of seeing in person prior to buying. I was already sitting on the floor when he showed it to me so I was well prepared to take it all in. The Butterfly Gold dishes were a nice treat; I have been working on building a mixed collection of BG and Spring Blossom/Crazy Daisy to use as our everyday dishes. This find gets me started on the salad plates which I will add to my dinner plates and bowls.

It was a banner day, one I will not soon forget. Here's to even more fun finds in 2014!

Jacquelyn

A new Cabinet with some Friendship!

Nothing is better for decorating than a really ugly piece of furniture right? 

Sure when you can go home and redo it. 

I talked the guy down for this shelf and redid it. 

That same week I found a friendship 933 at a different thrift. 

Here are some tips on how I got this shelf for almost 70% off and pictures of before.

For 3 weeks this is all I have found that I did not already have. I am dying here!  

Send me some good vibes! I will return the favor and send everyone some too!

Happy Hunting

~Katie

Treasure Hunter

Pyrex Karma

Hi PC3, SusieQT here from Practice in Time.

Now that the kiddos are back in school, mom gets to do a little shopping once in a while. And for some reason, the thrifting right now is great! After a few months of the doldrums, I have been finding goodies by the armful whenever I go out. I'm ashamed to admit it, but my basement is starting to look like a hoarder's. Must...get...listing...aargh...

I don't know what I did to deserve it, but I guess I have the magic touch or good karma or whatever right now. Check out my Pyrex haul from just the last week:

Yes, you're seeing all that Friendship correctly! I went to two different stores on Saturday (not usually the best day to thrift, either) and all I found was Friendship everywhere! The divided dish ($5), as well as the Snowflake Garland lid came from one Goodwill. Then I went down the road to another thrift and found all the 470 casseroles. The 471 (without lid) was $2.50, and the 472 and 473 with opal lids were $3.50 each. I thought I was going to pass out trying to get all those in my cart! I now have quite the collection of Friendship, all this plus the 444, 443 and 442 Cinderella bowls, and it was all thrifted. Which is great because I can't afford to buy it online, LOL.

Last week I went to a thrift store I haven't been to in a long time (why, I don't really know, because it is a great store) and bought the woodland 043 and Spring Blossom 473 for just a few bucks each. They are not my favorites, but are near mint, so I will be putting them in my booth.

Then last night I was on my way to work and had to stop in to a little thrift on the way- Bingo! The lime 232 was there waiting for me for $4.50. I am really loving the lime and flamingo bakewear right now. I will have to do some re-arranging of my shelves to display it better. But not today; I've got Mr. Limey in the oven baking up a peach cobbler right now!

And finally today, I just got a good Pyrex vibe after I dropped my daughter off at school and had to run into my closest local thrift. I found the Butterprint 503 with lid for $3.50 and the Golden Tulip for $3.99, as well as the Flamewear saucepan for $5. That's about as much Pyrex as I've ever gotten at this store in one shot, so my spidey sense was definitely working!

Goose, Goose, Goose!

Last week was our 29th wedding anniversary and my dear husband surprised me with Pyrex! Pink Gooseberry that is!

He enjoys looking for Pyrex also...head over to my blog The Vintage Shelf to read more about how he found these beauties, kept them a secret for three months, and finally surprised me with them!

Also this past week, I had a few Pyrex thrift finds!

This Friendship refrigerator dish was $5 and I have a spare lid for it.  Such a pretty design!

This turquoise dinnerware serving platter was at the Goodwill and cost $2.99.  I felt lucky to find it as there is hardly every any Pyrex...but I can't keep myself from checking regularly.  This week it paid off.

This 2.5 quart Golden Honeysuckle was at Thrift Town and was $7.  I used it yesterday for a hashbrown casserole and it worked great!  It is a fun shape and more exciting than a boring 9x13 pan!

Best wishes,

Ranae

Friendship Find

Hi PC3, SusieQT here from Practice in Time!

There are certain Pyrex patterns that I just never see "in the wild". I have been seriously collecting Pyrex now for over two years and have never seen a single piece of Friendship in thrift stores or even local antique stores. I don't know if it just wasn't popular when it came out around here or if people seem to hold on to it and not donate it (more likely!), but I have never seen any of it. Until yesterday, that is!

I usually stop in to a certain thrift store on my way to work Monday afternoons, and yesterday was in a bit of a rush. I had only enough time to a) stop and get a cup of coffee or b) pop into the thrift store really quickly, but not both. I chose option b, and made the right decision. 

I walked in to the housewares section of the store (it is really small, so you only have to stand in one place and look around to see everything) and my "Pyrex radar" started going off. Anyone else have that happen? You know there is Pyrex there, but don't immediately see it- kind of weird but cool... anyway, there was one other person in there, a twenty-something guy who was looking intently at the electronics. I looked at all the dishes and places where normally you would expect to find Pyrex, but saw nothing except clear pieces. 

Finally, the guy moved, and there on the shelf was a giant red bowl. And inside were two more- I knew what it was, and I had found my Friendship at last!

The Cinderella set, minus the 441, and in great condition!

The only bad thing was the price- it didn't come cheap. I paid $20.50 for the three (why do they always add that extra .50?) which I know is high for a thrift store, but it is three bowls and this pattern is never cheap online either. It was a fair price, I suppose, and I certainly don't regret bringing them home. The red is so vibrant, and I love the yellow too. I can see why these are hard to come by in the thrifts!

DWD Friendship

What a boring week here. I swear someone needs to clean out their cabinets for me and donate a bunch of pretty Pyrex. 

I did however find some friendship this week. A sad sight to see. 

They were cheap and they sorta look pretty still. I felt bad for them. So they came home with me. They actually look really pretty with my set of Eyes.

I also found some Irish coffee pedestal mugs. You can see them here. Maybe you have some information on them. 

I hope you all the best this weekend searching for Pyrex and other awesome goodies. We all need a little help by the looks of it. 

~Katie 

My September Finds

Here's some of the pieces I found this past month...

We usually go to the thrift and antique shops a few times a week, but life has just been super hectic lately and we're down to about once every other week! 

I feel like I'm probably missing out on a bunch of awesome pieces!!!!

You can see all my other thrifted finds on my blog...

Frenemies

Let's begin this by saying, that being a new collector, there are still several prints I've never seen "in the wild." Sure my first love is gooseberry, but I'm dying to see balloons and the pink butterprint in person. I love the Friendship pattern too, but I have never seen it, nope, not once. Not in an antique store. Not at a garage sale or Value Village or Salvation Army. Not between Vancouver and Bellingham anyway.
I am seriously lacking in the avian goodness that is the Friendship bowl set.

So imagine my utter joy last night when I convinced my husband to take me to Value Village to celebrate the completion of my lab science credit at school, and I saw from a distance the distinctive look of a pyrex friendship bowl. My adrenaline flooded my nervous systems and my palms began to sweat like a teenage boy stealing a playboy from a corner store.

As I approached, my heart began to sink and this is why.

Too many wash and rinse cycles :(
Better luck next time! This definitely reminds me: "handwash, handwash, handwash"

Sets, Sets, Sets!

New yellow gooseberry set - thanks to shopgoodwill! 

Recently completed my Autumn Harvest set - I searched for that #404! 

And just for kicks - my Friendship set. It was my first Pyrex purchase, and it's still my favorite!

Stay thrifty, everyone!

www.cupcakespyrexandlove.blogspot.com

successful pyrex {trade}

thanks to the awesome pyrex collective, i made my first trade with another local collector. after i had written a post several weeks ago indicating that i had shopped in winnipeg, she contacted me and we found out that we live in the same province and even knew some of the same people--small world! yesterday, we made our first in-person trade and i think it was a success!

i don't have pictures of all the pieces i passed on but they were a colonial mist 474-B (with lid), homestead 401, a solid pink and a solid blue 401 (from what collections, we are unsure), and a pink flamingo pie plate.

i was quite ecstatic about the pieces she brought along for me to pick from and these were the ones i chose:

a friendship bird 403

butterfly gold 403 and butterfly gold 043 oval casserole

a spring blossom 043 oval casserole with matching lid(!) and a spring blossom 441 cinderella bowl

(another view of the spring blossom 043...my first dish with a matching patterned lid)

an updated view of my current collection (minus a few mixing bowls and casseroles that i actually use on a day-to-day basis). i am SERIOUSLY running out of room. i need to find a cheap bookcase or display stand very very soon so i can expand my pyrex collection some more!

have any of you made local connections because of the pyrex collective and had successful trades too?

- lauren @ the twin oaks place

First Pyrex, First Post!

I'm so excited - this was my very first piece of Pyrex!  As a new collector, this is a very exciting event.  :) 

I got this for the princely sum of $1.68 at a thrift store, and it is in near perfect condition.  Just a couple small scratches.  It did have a large stain inside - something silvery - but my Bar Keeper's Friend cleaned it off beautifully.  The red base is AMAZINGLY bright and shiny.

I know it is Friendship, and I know this dish came with both a clear lid option and an opaque one.  Does anyone know the age?

The only fly in the ointment?  I'm trying to only collect pink, green and black...not red!  Anyone want to trade?  :-D

So, that is my first find...I'd love to hear about your first pieces of Pyrex!

Thanks for letting me into the Collective!  I'm learning so much and enjoying myself immensely. 

<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85777/volksie/c799f025d5c55d499b512bbbfe90c925.png" border="0" style="border: 0 !important; background: transparent;" /></a>

my first set?

is it possible that i've had my very own set of primary mixing bowls for months without even realizing it? several months back, i had bought a beautiful well-cared-for red 402 mixing bowl and when i brought it home, it perfectly matched the red from the friendship bird collection so, i stacked it with those similar dishes.

but, now, after reading several recent posts about the primary mixing bowl collections, i think that this red bowl just may belong in that set. if that is the case (please do correct me if i'm mistaken), then i think i have my first set!

they are all well-loved bowls and not all in mint-condition but they do certainly make me happy! and, since they stack well and fit together so nicely i really do believe that this could be it: my first set.

what do you think? can it be so? :)

lauren @ twin oaks place

friendship a brewin'

 I was able to cross some of my most wanted Pyrex off my list this last week, and that makes me a happy Pyrexic.

I found the Blue Tulips 043 and Spring Blossom 933 at a Vintage Home and Garden Market last Saturday.

The seller let me know she had more Pyrex at home, including the 443 Friendship I mentioned I was looking for to complete my set.

After one e-mail and a million texts, the seller and I met up at the McDonald's parking lot to exchange goods for money.

I'm sure it looked wrong, but it felt right.

All in all, I received the above from the (AMAZING) seller.

These are all pieces I've been hoping to find in the wild.

I'm a happy camper.

 My parents received the Friendship set as a wedding gift, and I grew up with the Friendship as being "Pyrex" to me.

I'm so happy to finally have a set of my own.

(Please visit my blog froog and doog to see what other nifty vintage things I found this past week)

BFG

I always think of this:

image source

when I hear of BFG.

I love Roald Dahl.

 

But, I really mean this:

 

Ah, yes. Butterfly Gold. BFG.

And definitely not BFD. Don't even ask.

Anywho, I've been collecting Butterfly Gold for my sister-in-law as a birthday present. 

Yesterday was her birthday, and she was very happy.

This was her first Pyrex (she drools over my Pyrex), and she said I did good.

  Meet my weekly Pyrex finds.

I've been looking for a Butterfly Gold (I mean BFG) 943 for awhile, so I'm happy I found one at the newly opened Goodwill in my town.

The Pink Daisy 548 is the second one I've found, so I may be hoarding them....or it may go to a different home. Either way, it was the first one I'd seen on a thrift store shelf, and I scooped it up.

My Friendship mixing bowl holds my crochet, and together they act as a centerpiece on my dining room table. 

For more of my weekly thrift finds, please visit froog and doog.

Happy hunting!

Pyrex Spotted On The Jersey Shore

I'll admit it, watching The Jersey Shore is one of my guilty pleasures. But who ever thought I would get material for a Pyrex blog post from it!?

Two of the cast members, Snooki and Deena, decided to bake a cake for their boss. This is what they used to bake the cake in:

Source: flickr.com via Vintage on Pinterest

A Pyrex Friendship Oblong Baking Pan! I had never seen one of these and had no idea the Friendship pattern included this huge dish. It is now on my Pinterest "Pyrex I Want" pin board.

As they were handling the dish, I was cringing and praying that the two "Meatballs", as they call themselves, wouldn't drop the beautiful pan. They didn't...whew!

Here is the link to my PYREX I WANT Pinterest board. Do you have a Pyrex pin board? If so, share it in the comments section. I would love to follow you and I am sure other Pyrexians would too!

Rachael
http://www.thethriftypicker.com/

Thrifty Finds

My Pyrex collection just keeps growing. There's a thrift store just minutes from our church. Last Wednesday evening I decided to stop in before church. I saw these pieces, but talked myself out of purchasing them because I thought they were too expensive, but I loved the design and the color so much that I couldn't stop thinking about them. I took a picture of the bowls and left the store. I guess my children liked them too because they told me I should go back and get them. The next day we decided to do just that. Come to find out there was another price sticker underneath the sticker that I had seen and the big bowl ended up being cheaper than I originally thought. Score!

The fun didn't stop there because my children wanted to go to another thrift store and then another. We ended up stopping at 4 thrift stores before we made it home. My children are becoming quite the thrifters. They usually spot Pyrex pieces before I do. They love going to the thrift store. Some children ask to go to the park or the toy store, but mine ask to go to the thrift store. Yikes! What have I done?
~Jan~ just*imagine*heaven