stock up the shop: spring break!

Yippee! Some down time ahead of us this week as the kids and I have a week off for Spring Break. Kicked it off with a quick getaway up to Estes Park for a little creekside cabin/hot tub/Rocky Mountain National park-style relaxation. On the way back from a little snowy hike, we happened to drive by a little thrift shop in town. I dropped off the family at the cabin, and headed back to poke around. I wasn't expecting much in such a tiny touristy town, but I was pleasantly surprised...

Sitting quietly amongst a pile of crap random figurines I spied this little beauty.  A Howard Pierce owl...my gut thought so when I saw the coloring, and turning it over to see the name on the underside confirmed it. Have learned about Howard Pierce via my #thriftbreak friends on twitter and at Etsy, so I was excited to finally find a piece.

A-S Sweden stainless tray. I've been steering clear of the Scandinavian stainless trays as they are sooo common and sell slowly, but something about the style and quality of this one caught my eye.
In the shop soon!

Love this timer so much. It works perfectly, by spinning the entire top. The "white" is actually a bit yellowed, but I think Etsy folks will love the Helvetica!

This is a cute German calendar wall hanging from 1975. Possibly made by Kolf of Austria, but no markings to tell me so. Love the vivid colors and folksy style.

Here are a couple of other highlights of goodies I found over the last couple of weeks:

Pyrex Decanter with Ball Cork

Jackson China restaurant ware platters, shape by Paul McCobb. In the shop soon!

Ultima Thule serving bowl by iittala of Finland

Happy Spring to you all!
~ Jenny

stock up the shop: mod pops

As I get more and more selective about what I bring home for the shop, my "hauls" have been smaller lately. But then I have days like today (and last week) where I end up with more things than I should. But, hey, it's good stuff!

Have a look:

- Couroc Tray (With French wedge of cheese and Gouda images, and an attached wooden cutting board!)
- Resin Tray with Swiss Fondue Bourguignonne Instructions (Cute old-timey instructions for this type of meat fondue.)
- Heller Glass Containers (I dream of a huge collection of these to store bulk items in my dream kitchen. Gotta get that dream kitchen, first.)
- Georges Briard Butterfly Glasses (A little worn, but so fun.)
- Johnson Brothers Cups and Saucers set of 6 (1980s "Eaton" pattern.)
- Pyrex cast iron warmer (With spot for a votive.)
- Coors Porcelain Co. evaporating dish (Amazing labware from the 1920s.)
- Electric Ladybug (Yes, electric. Plug it in and it buzzes. Made by a company which made outdoor accessories. So mysterious. I have no idea what it is or what it's for but I totally love it and if anyone has any insights to this, I welcome it. If not, for now, it's an electric ladybug.)

Working on getting these, and others, listed. And joining in this:

My goal is to get two things listed daily, catching up if I get behind, to get a total of 62 new items listed in the creekhouse Etsy shop by the end of October. Hope I can keep up!

Linking up with Apron Thrift Girl and Her Library Adventures in their weekly shares.
~ Jenny

research: staffordshire potteries mugs

I see these fun, funky, retro mugs popping up here and there and decided to learn about them and look for them a bit. Staffordshire Potteries Limited, from England, started producing cups and dinnerware in the 50s. In the 1960s and 1970s they put their efforts into mugs, also introducing the "Kilnkraft" line in 1972. I love the simple graphics and whimsical colors.

Currently for sale at Retro Rubbish on Etsy

My favorite! Blogged at skinnylaminx.com

Blogged at h is for home

My first find! A cute set of 6.

There is a  flickr group dedicated to sharing their photos Stafforshire Potteries mugs treasures. Such a fun little photostream to click through.

So awesome, but already sold...

A great set of two for sale at found vintage style on Etsy

Cute stuff, huh?

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: california

It's so fun to think about what it must have been like in California in the 1950s and 60s and even back to the 30s and 40s. A piece of this history is the pottery that was being produced in studios and commercially at the time. Such style...reminiscent of the beach and innovative, laid-back western lifestyle.

I'm becoming more familiar names like Vernon, Franciscan, Metlox, Bauer, Gladding McBean, Heath, etc. There's much more for me to learn, and there are many experts out there. Vernonware is popular because of its great quality and California style of course, but also because its "Raffia" pattern has been featured in the Mad Men kitchen:

 

So cute!

Here are some Vernon finds I've come across lately:

Vernonware "Sherwood"

Produced from 1958 - 1965

Vernonware "Trade Winds"

Produced just from 1954 - 1955

I would love get more of this, it's lovely.

A little bit later Vernon pattern called "Della Robbia"

1960s - 1980s

Metlox is the umbrella company for Vernon, Poppytrail, and anything referred to as "Prouty." Prouty was the name of the founding family. These amazing early 1930s grill plates were from the early years of Metlox. Look at the cool back stamp!

My grandmother had this "Vineyard" pattern and we always kind of joked about them, us little girls thinking they were so ugly. Then they sat for years and years in my parents' garage...Mom often tried to talk us into taking "Grandmommy's grape dishes." Did she end up getting rid of them? I'm afraid to ask now! Even though I still don't totally love the pattern, it would be nice to have them as a keepsake.

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: atomic goodness

At the funniest little estate/garage sale in Boulder a few weeks ago, I picked up this somewhat random set of very atomic-looking china. It was dirty and full of bugs, as if it had been sitting in a milk crate in the back yard for a few seasons.

Amazingly enough, after bargaining with guy for way too long (suddenly it was important to him, very rare and special china...uh huh...this is how you take care of your rare, special things Mister?) I took it home, cleaned it up, and it's basically in mint condition. Not a knife scratch or sign of any usage.

I couldn't find out the name of the pattern, despite my best online efforts and even contacting some folks, but I do know from the stamp that it's Mayer China from the 1960s.

Check it out..and enjoy a little imaginary voyage to an era gone by:

Sometimes I'm a sucker for the great feeling of diner/restaurantware china. I can just imagine the diner, the counter, the people using these dishes.

Alas, despite my near obsession with these, I've decided to list them in the creekhouse etsy shop. Hopefully, they'll find a great mid-century modern atomic retro livin' pad to settle in!
~ Jenny