In Which I Return to the Scene of the Crime

First of all, let me say that I have been a good little girl. I haven't been to the thrift store since April or May. In fact, my favorite thrift store moved into a larger building over the summer, and this week was the first time I had been there to check it out.

And wow, what a difference! Where before it had been housed in the basement of a very small church, it is now in a large, bright and airy room with lots of space to show off all the great things for sale.

As you walk in the door, there is a large table filled with all the housewares that I love -- dishes and trays and lamps and candlesticks -- and everything is styled beautifully. In fact, it almost looks like an upscale home decor shop. But with really good prices. ;)

So what did I get? I got this beautiful Wedgwood covered casserole dish, for $8. Yes, as you have probably guessed, I'm a sucker for covered dishes. And this was just the perfect color to go in my kitchen.

So now I have to make up for lost time at the thrift store, right? I have my eye on a small tea set and a Victorian chair... ;)

Milk Glass. Yes, More.

For those of you who have been visiting here for awhile, you will recognize this post as one of my biannual favorites. For those of you who are fairly new, well, I will just come out and say it:

My name is Mary, and I am a milk glass-a-holic.

Last week found me at one of my favorite local rummage sales -- the Visiting Nurse Association of Somerset Hills Rummage Sale. Twice a year, I descend on the Housewares tent and troll for milk glass. I have way too many pieces already, but somehow I can never help myself. This beautiful set by Westmoreland Glass Co. came home with me. ;)

And while we're on the subject of my foibles, I have to tell you a little story about this purchase. Do you see how one of the candlesticks is upside down in the photo above? When I first brought this set home, I didn't realize that they were candlesticks. Were they little shallow bowls? Finger bowls, perhaps? Then I thought that they were made to hold pillar candles. After a few days, I suddenly realized that I had them upside down.

Duh!

I did get a few other pieces as well. But I'll save them for a later confession post. In the meantime, please tell me that you have a collection that overruns your house, too. You do, right? :)

Collecting on the Cheap

Are you a collector? Does your heart go pitter patter at the sight of red transferware dishes or monogrammed silverplate or milk glass? In fact, my heart goes pitter patter at the sight of all of those things. :)

But I am also a cheap collector -- it's not just the thrill of the hunt, but also the idea of finding a bargain that appeals to me. And so, I also have to admit that some of the most fun I've ever had has been when I have been searching for shells or fossils or stones -- all free.

I found the fossils in the dish pictured above while on a class trip with my daughter when she was in junior high. We wore old sneakers and walked through a stream where glacial activity had deposited many treasures from thousands of years ago. The kids soon got bored, but I had a ball. :)

When our kids were small, we went on vacation in the Adirondacks, and stayed close to the site of a former garnet mine. I had a blast spending an afternoon seeking out stones with tiny bits of garnet (my birthstone, by the way) in them. :)

I think perhaps I inherited my love of "collecting on the cheap" from my father, who was famous in our family for coming home from the town dump with more things than he had brought there. He was a child of the Depression, when necessity made a virtue of collecting. How wonderful it is to find something useful or beautiful, for a pittance!

So here is my question for you: Are you a collector? What do you collect? What was your best "cheap collecting" moment? Give me your answers in the comments. :)

Heat Wave

Beautiful chartreuse Lady's Mantle,

plus a rummage sale find,

and a little romance...

creates a cool tableau...

on a very hot day. :)

It's in the 90's here. How's the weather where you live?

White Rummage

I'll bet you've been waiting with bated breath to see what else I brought home from the rummage sale last week, yes? Well no, not really. But you are too polite to say so, and I thank you. Actually, I always feel like I'm writing a report for school entitled What I Bought at the Rummage Sale. But without the butterflies in my stomach from having to deliver it in front of the whole class. :)

First up is this pair of white urns for $1.50. each. I think I need to find a couple of myrtle topiaries to go inside. They will look nice on the deck for the summer. And I'm a sucker for anything urn-shaped.

Next, I found this gigantic stoneware compote for $3.50. I've been collecting white and cream dishes for the kitchen, so this big guy fit the bill nicely. It's marked Red Cliff Ironstone on the reverse. A little research tells me that the pattern is called Heritage, and it was probably made sometime from 1950-1980. Tureens in the same pattern are going for $65 -- $95 on ebay, so I guess it was a good deal.

You know I can't leave the rummage sale without at least one piece of milk glass. This footed candy bowl, in the English Hobnail pattern by Westmoreland, was $3. A collector's encyclopedia published in 1995 values it at $25 - $30.

The two hobnail pieces above were most likely made by Fenton. I think I paid $1.50 each. Haven't found a current price for them yet, but it's probably not more than $10 or $12 each.

And finally, I think this little vase is an antique reproduction made by the John E. Kemple Glass Works, currently selling for around $20. I paid $1. for it.

So that is what I bought at the rummage sale. :)

Our white azaleas are bursting with blooms this week, and I thought they looked really pretty in my new little vase. The green and white tole tray was a gift from Cindy, at My Romantic Home. The blue and white tufted seat is a new HomeGoods purchase to spruce up our family room. If I get my act together (highly unlikely) I will be showing you some changes there in the following weeks.

So, can you tell that I'm currently in love with white? ;)

Because You Can Never Have Enough Dishes...

I just wanted to pop in to show you what I got at our semi-annual VNA Rummage Sale this past week. Most of you already know how much I love covered dishes... :)

This particular rummage sale is great because, in addition to the regular sorts of things you find -- books, baskets, old furniture to paint -- they have the Bon Ton Tent, which is dedicated to all the nicer items. That's where I found this covered dish with tray, for the exorbitant price of $28. :)

There was a line to go through the tent, and someone ahead of me had picked this up. But she put it back down when she spotted the tiniest of chips. I was so nervous that someone else would nab it before I got there, but my luck held. :)

The backstamp says: "Royal-Crown China," with the initials "LBC" below. Then "Decorated USA, 22 karat gold." I need to research a little to find out more about it. But in the meantime, I had to share it with you all, because I know you all appreciate a good thrifting story, a good bargain, and a beautiful dish. :)

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I hope to see you all for Mosaic Monday this week. The magic link machine will be up by 10:00 pm Eastern time, USA, Sunday night. That's a little later than usual, because of Mother's Day. Thanks for all the wonderful links you share -- you guys are the best!

PS -- my hand still hurts when I type. I guess I will have to get it looked at. :(

Winter White

We always crave white after the wild excesses of the holidays. That's why Victoria magazine always has their white issue in January, right? Well, I think the ladies at my favorite thrift store have caught on. When they reopened the shop after New Year's Day, they had a whole table filled with white dishes.

It's almost as if they knew I was coming. lol

I've been collecting white and cream dishes for my kitchen, and although I already have a few tureens, I just had to bring this one home with me. For $12., it was a thrifty addition to my kitchen decor.

And who can resist a beautiful white beauty like this in January?

My Thrifty Office

Do you remember when I got this desk last January? My daughter immediately claimed it as her own, and loaded it with books and papers from school. Well, she's off to college this fall, so I have taken it over for use as Blogging Central. Yes, this is where all the magic happens.

Try not to get too excited. ;)

I wanted to show it to you, though, because of all the thrifty items that make up my little corner office. The desk, of course, was a roadside find. Free. $0. (Yes, you may applaud.)

The chair was on sale at HomeGoods. The front legs were scratched a little, so I got it for $62. I think that is a pretty decent price for something that usually retails for over $150.

The tarnished silver-plated urn that holds pencils and pens was a garage sale find for $1. The gold painted finial is from TJMaxx. The hand-painted tole tray was a gift from my dear friend, Robin. (Thank you, Robin!) The small silver-plated pitcher holds oak leaves from a recent walk. It is from the thrift store. I think I paid $4. for it.

An assortment of frames from HomeGoods hold family photos -- my mother, my husband and kids, and my father and his brothers. The brass lamp was $20. at the thrift store. The shade was $16., again from HomeGoods.

I've always admired some of the home offices I see in blogland -- some very trendy, others very feminine. The style of mine was dictated by where the desk actually fit in our house. So I had to go with the hand I was dealt. But in a funny way, I think it fits me very well -- classic, old and comfortable. Kind of like me. :)

Copper and Bone

We had a light frost last night, and I woke up this morning to see the grass under the sugar maple littered with fallen leaves. The pin oaks hold onto their leaves a little longer, to shine like burnished copper in the autumn sun.

All this has sent me rummaging in the closets to bring out the pieces of copper and bone that I've collected over the years at thrift stores and rummage sales and antiques shops. And who can resist a few pieces of brown transferware this season? I know I can't! ;)

I've added other things that I hoard, like the creamy white beeswax candles that I just can't bring myself to part with. I love candles that are already burned down a little -- they have so much more character than brand new tapers, don't you think?

And I love all gravy and sauce boats. They have such a beautiful shape.

So tell me, what inspiration are drawing from autumn this year?

My name is Mary, and I'm a milk-glass-a-holic

This is my semi-annual post where I show you all the milk glass I bought for a song at the Visiting Nurse's Rummage Sale in Far Hills, New Jersey. ;)

I went there this year, saying to myself that I was not going to buy any more milk glass. I have way too much already.

But that resolve went right out the window when I saw these two beautiful pieces by Westmoreland (above and below).

One was $3. and the other was $2. The covered candy dish (above) is currently selling for around $25-$38 on ebay and bonanza. Score!

The beautiful goblet (below) was made by Napco. I love the simple shape and the almost translucent quality of the glass. I think this one cost me $2. -- a real bargain for something that gives me so much pleasure to look at. :)

I love the basketweave pattern on the plate shown below, too. It doesn't have a maker's mark, but I think it may be another piece of Westmoreland because it is so heavy. I'll have to look out for a few more so that I can set a small table with them. ;)

The hobnail, fluted-edge compote (below) has no maker's mark either, but it has the most beautiful opalescent glass. This makes me wonder if it is made by Fenton, which is famous for it's lovely fluting and mother-of-pearl glass. I've ordered a reference book on milk glass from Amazon. Can't wait to see if it helps with identification. :)

The little leaf-shaped candy dish (below) is definitely Fenton -- the daisy and button pattern. I just thought it was so cute, and for $1. it was another no brainer.

And the very first piece of milk glass I ever bought was an urn similar to the one shown below. I think I just responded to the classic shape. Now I have several of them. This one is by the E.O. Brody Co. I'm thinking of placing one of them on either end of the mantel in the library with some fall branches.

If you are a fan of Eddie Ross, you will know that he often includes milk glass pieces in his tablescapes. Early last week he wrote on his blog that he was shooting

a makeover story for Women's Day at the Visiting Nurse's Rummage Sale. I can't wait to see it, and see if it includes any milk glass! :)

Something to Look Forward To...

It always happens around this time of year. I'm tired of heat. I'm tired of colors. I crave the simplicity of autumn.

I long for cool nights and sweaters and throw rugs over my knees. I want to cherish the last beautiful blooms on the rose bush, and an old favorite novel.

I look forward to feathering my nest with warm golds and beiges and leather and ivory. I crave brown. lol

Now I know that this is just a passing phase. I'm still loving summer, although we could stand a little rain here. But it's nice to have something to look forward to, right?

All items shown here are thrift store or rummage sale finds. :)

Just Couldn't Resist...

I've been trying my best to stay away from the thrift store for the past few months. After all, there are only so many dishes and pieces of china and silver gravy boats and... well, you get the idea...

But every June, my favorite thrift store has a big sale before they close for the summer.

You understand, don't you? I'm afraid I just couldn't resist this little lidded cachepot (above) for $3.

And this beautiful little gilded cup (above) for 50 cents. Yes, that's right -- 50 cents! Now I just have to figure out what I will do with them. :)

I ♥ Rummage Sales

Last week I went to one of my favorite rummage sales -- the twice-yearly Visiting Nurse's Association Rummage Sale in Far Hills, NJ. There are lots of different barns and tents, filled with everything from books to clothing to electronics to furniture. My favorite, though, is the housewares section. So herein follows a list of my goodies: :)

The cream cutware dish (above) was $4. The one below was $1.50. Woo hoo! I've been collecting cream colored dishes for a few years now. They can be combined in many different ways for table settings, and they look great in my kitchen.

I love milk glass. This has been one of my favorite collectables for a few years now. I probably have way too many pieces, but I couldn't resist two more. The little basket (below) was $3. How cute is it with those little blossoms?!

The hobnail goblet (below) was $1.50. Classic shape, beautifully executed. Love it.

I also have a thing for anything urn-shaped. I picked up this little silverplated cup (below) for $1. I guess I'm starting to collect silver cups, too. I love using them for small bouquets. I have this picture in my mind of a series of silver cups, marching down the table, filled with colorful zinnias or cheerful daisies. Wouldn't that be fun?

So that is my $11. haul. And yes, I ♥ rummage sales.

To see some of my past rummage sale and thrifting finds, click on the "Thrifting" tab on my navigation bar directly below the blog header.