thrifted fall favorites

I haven't shared a proper thrifting report in a good while now, though of course that's not for lack of thrifting. A few little little treasures that have found their way into my home this fall:

 

A little more detail on the Flickr pages.

This quilt was a very lucky, under-the-table flea market find by a friend. But since it was my birthday, she gave it to me - isn't that nice? Not that I was about to wrestle her to the ground for it or anything. Nope. Not me. We thought it was a cutter for sure, but after three days in the tub with Nancy's Vintage Soak, it's just right and soft and cozy and white again.

And then a month later I found this sweet, soft, and affordable vintage quilt. It's lovely to have one that I both love to look at and that I also don't mind having a child on either end of it playing tug of war. Know what I mean?

I instantly fell in love with this sweet little nightdress, and figured if Adelaide didn't like it (she's quite clear about what she will and will not wear), I'd happily keep it anyway. Thankfully though, we both love it.

And this is not just any Pyrex bowl, no - this is my new favorite Pyrex bowl. I adore this pattern. It's the Balloons pattern from spring of 1958. And why do I know this? Because that's what procrastinating in front of the computer will do to you. Lead you to a website like this where you can easily spend away an hour. Or more. Sigh.

And just this weekend - before the storm hit - on a little flea market adventure (where else to find completely unique handmade gifts?), I found this little set. Or more accurately, it found me. As in - You Break  It, You Buy It. Yup, in all my years of thrifting I've never done that. But there's a first for everything, and this weekend my fumbly, over-caffeinated hands dropped a pile of Fire King bowls right on top of this cream and sugar set.

But really - how lucky was I? It was $12, not $200, it glued back together with my much-loved (and crazy-toxic) E6000, and it's kinda sweet, too. I'll consider it a lucky break.

Comments

[jean]

i REALLY like that little set. i'm all about the pinecones right now.

[Ram in the Thicket]

I like the pyrex bowl. I have a 4 piece nesting set of the amish butterprint pattern and I use them all the time.

[camerashymomma]

great finds! i love all that you find.

and man, oh man, am i coveting that pyrex bowl! that's what dreams are made of. and thanks for that link! such eye candy there. good grief, of course it's from 1958, a perfect match to my kitchen! :)

[julia]

very nice finds. and thanks (maybe!) for the pyrexlove link. i'm sure i'll be spending much time there as my obsession with vintage pyrex continues.

[Jody]

Oh. My. Goodness!!! What a pleasant surprise to check your blog and see that Sears knitting kit. That is the exact same kit that my Grandmother passed down to me! I just got it out of a box this year after seeing the beautiful hats that you had made and I was inspired to make some myself. My first Soulemama inspired hat was one for my daughter. What a joy to knit for my 3 year old using her great-grandmother's knitting kneedles! I know that Grandma was smiling down on us from heaven. Thank you for being the inspiration to pull my set out of storage. It is indeed a great find and I hope you enjoy using yours as much as I love using mine!!!

Thanks for the inspiration!

[blair]

I'm going to start looking under tables like you guys, didn't you find another great quilt once under a table.

Yep, that's my new strategy. "Step aside ladies...I need to take a look at what you've got under the table..." :)

[Danielle]

That E6000 will hold anything. I use it to glue rhinestones to swimsuits (for synchronized swimmers) and it holds through many cholrinated competitions!

[Bluebirdbaby]

Thank you SO much for that Pyrex website! I was drooling over all the patterns. As a vintage Pyrex lover, this is a great resource to have! Thanks :)

[sarah]

Sigh. There is nothing like this in Vermont, I'm convinced. I'm going to have to come over to Portland and start looking under some tables...maybe I'll come over on wooden boat show weekend--hubby can dream of owning his new Hampton Pulsifer and I can go hunting for quilts.

[julie]

Thanks for all the coolio photos. Love the Pyrex.

[betz]

wow, you rock the flea markets! I'm drooling!

[Martha]

I have a pyrex bowl of my mom's. LOVE it...All the beautiful quilts, too. And yes, indeed...that was a very lucky break! Thanks for sharing your finds. :o)

[Jessica]

Oh gosh. That Pyrex site. I'm done for. Found a cute little divided dish last year with silvery star things on it, LOVE it. Love Pyrex! Thanks for the link!

[Monika]

Dear Amanda, warm geetings from frosty Scotland. I have discovered your blog just recently but have enjoyed reading it a lot. I had to smile when I saw the title of your post today. I have just finished writing post on my blog about how I love charity shops (where we are in Scotland there are not many flee markets) and my latest findings.http://red2white.wordpress.com/2007/12/17/goodies-from-a-charity-shop-2/. Wishing you and your family lovely and peace-full Christmas time.

[Wendy]

Oh, that Pyrex site is awesome.

And what is Nancy's vintage soak? That quilt is gorgeous.

[kendra]

What fantastic finds! Especially that stars quilt, what a great friend to give it to you.

I love your pyrex! I just received two Butterprint casseroles in the mail last week. I can't wait to find just the right casserole recipe to use them.

[Elizabeth]

Thank you for the link! What eye candy and inspiration!

[julie]

Oh, what fantastic things you found... I just love the plates and the little nightdress!

[Mary-Ellen]

Amanda,

I am curious about the vintage soak you mentioned. I tried to google it, and I cannot find anyone who sells it.

One website said it isn't in production anymore.

Can you help me find a place to purchase it?

Thank you.

[Tonya]

The pyrex site is also one of my fav's. It feels so indulgent to spend an hour there if I can find the time.
You're killing me with that pyrex find, by the way. I live in Portland and I've been looking for any piece of the balloon print pattern for ages. What luck for you!
Enjoy the snow...

[Tara]

I am also wondering about this "Nancy's Vintage Soak". I have a hand pieced quilt top (garage sale find) with water stains and I'd like to try cleaning it before I put anymore work into it.

[Tara]

I am also wondering about this "Nancy's Vintage Soak". I have a hand pieced quilt top (garage sale find) with water stains and I'd like to try cleaning it before I put anymore work into it.

[Monica]

Yep...wondering about the soak here, too.

[SpiderWomanKnits]

Thanks for the Pyrex Link. I just picked up a set (3 pieces/nesting) of the Butterfly Gold 2 :-)

You couldn't be more right about looking under the tables! I've found my best stuff that way.

[Beth]

That dear little nightdress! Don't you sometimes wish these things came in momma-size?!

PyrexLove is so much fun and a really great resource. I collect the Friendship Bird pattern and dear friends of us gave us such a special gift of a full casserole set and bowl set in it. I heart little red birds.

This is also a neat page for pyrex eye candy:

http://dragonfire1.50megs.com/Pyrex/Pyrex.htm

Beth

[Amber]

Lots of fun stuff here... I love both of those quilts! Each in their own way.

That nightdress is so precious. I know that feeling of finding something YOU love but your daughter doesn't---thankfully you both like it!

I didn't even pop over to that Pyrex link...I know I'd be far there far too long, as well!;-)Procrastination is both my first AND middle names!

[Catherine Schwartz]

I have a older pyrex bowl that I found at "The Junk Fairy" in Michigan and we use it EVERY morning for eggs. I don't why those old pyrex bowls are so comforting...but it gives me a smile every time we pull it out.

[SOULEMAMA]

About the soak!

I found it online a few years ago at vintagesoak.com, which I see is no longer. Apparently Nancy's Vintage Soak is no longer being made. Which is unfortunate - it's a lovely, gentle wash great for vintage fabrics and such - gets rid of yellowing and generally cleans linens up well. (And now I will be doling out my big bucket of it much more discriminatingly).

Does anyone have a good source for a similar product?

[helen]

Thanks for all the goodness in this post Amanda. I was having one of those miserable days that come along every so often and as usual your blog really pulled me out of it. I love the nightdress, Adelaide's wardrobe is so inspiring!

[Niesz Vintage Home]

Wonderful thrift finds! Esp. like the star quilt and pyrex bowl. (I'm pretty sure gram had that pattern).
And I love your blog!
I don't remember how I made my way here, but I've had a great time browsing through your past posts and website.
Really lovely things.

Kimberly :)

[Stacey]

the quilts are beautiful:)

[emily ruth]

you are a very bad lady...making me follow that link to the pyrex site...forcing me to remember the casserole dish that we had when i was young, the one we only used to make tuna casserole...& then making me google "yellow daisy pyrex casserole" until i found just the right one to get for my sister for christmas (a bit late probably but worth it!)...very bad indeed:)

oh! & that star quilt is just the sweetest, as most everything on your blog is:)

[Mia]

I have to go through the cabinets in my mom's basement. I think I have that bowl!! My mom is storing all of her old Pyrex bowls and my grandmother's for me because I don't have the space right now. I love them.

[abbyjane]

What have you done! That Pyrex site is just too much, and with the eBay links at the bottom. Oh my. I will be here for hours.

[Pam]

Amanda,
Where do you find these beautiful old quilts? Under what type of tables? They are stunning.

[Freda's Hive]

How lucky are you!!

[crystine]

Yes so, I obviously need to go thrifting with you! Or maybe I need to move. And as a previous poster said, under what TYPE of tables does one find quilts like that? I am now running to check under all of mine...just on case I missed something!

[~ Junkyard Jennifer]

Amanda ~ These are some great finds! I especially like that beautiful little dress. I've never seen a blue one. I always find them in white, and have a few. You inspire me to want to search out vintage clothing for my own kids. I've been on a thrifting-hold because our home is still under construction. ;) Can't wait to get out there again next year sometime!

[Nancy Cook]

lovely finds as usual
i am in love with that little nightdress
and i also am quite fond of the first quilt with stars

[francie pants]

You have much better thrifting in yer area than mine!!! That circ knitting set is to die for! I inherited my grandma's set and I love it so much. I've never seen anyone else score a complete set. Good work mamacita!!!!!! Sometimes I like to open it up just to touch all the pretty colored tips.

[marta]

I love Adelaide's little night dress!
Wish I could find one for my little Sofia...

[Angie]

Wow! Love all the great finds! The Pyrex is too, too cool -- and I adore the quilts!

[Chelsea D.]

I love, love, love the quilts-thanks for sharing your finds Amanda!

[Anne]

Great finds!

[amanda]

Oh, you found some great things! My favorite is the star quilt. And we have that same suitcase--the blue one. My husband can pack a weeks' worth of clothes in it. Whenever we go on vacation he looks like a little traveling salesman and I end up looking like Eva Gabor next to him.

[Country Mouse]

I'm in a tiny bit of shock here — that Pyrex bowl is the same one my mother has eaten her breakfast from for my entire life. Same pattern, same shape, same colours. It was given to her by her grandmother; I wouldn't have guessed it could still be found.

[Missy]

wonderful finds! i love the quilt. it looks so warm and soft.

blessings,
missy

[Lynne Nelson-Berg]

you sure do manage to find some really great stuff there. I never seem to be able to find such cool things. Love the quilts and the pyrex bowl.

[breana]

Is there an ingredients list on the soak? Is it sodium perborate?

[SOULEMAMA]

Breana -

ah, yes, thank you. it says "sodium perborate is the primary ingredient". Do you know of a place to buy a similar thing?

- Amanda