Thrift Thursday---Orange Cookie Jar

It seems to be much easier to find small ceramic-fruits-and-vegetables for my collection than to find big, juicy ones--so I was thrilled to see this fabulous cookie jar in the shape of an orange on a recent thrift-store foray!

I love the shiny, luscious color of the orange, and the humor of the stem-and-leaf handle. I have to say I think the contrast of the green and orange color is wonderful!

The cookie jar measures 11" to the top of the leaf, it's 8-1/2" wide, and it does have a few dings and chips. The interior is a tasty, slightly deeper orange. All for $3.00--love it!

Miniatures Monday--Pea Pod Salt and Pepper

Our family does love the thrift store--the adventure, the quest, the surprises! We sometimes declare a contest as to who can come up with the most needed, the most delightful, the most useful, or even the most bizarre find on any particular trip.

This trip daughter Ibu wins the Most Delightful Find Ever prize! Salt and pepper shakers--two tiny ceramic peas in a pod. I have to admit that in my rather extensive ceramic-fruits-and-vegetables collection, I haven't had a single example of peas, or their pods, and Ibu has magnanimously allowed me to add it to my collection.

Each little pea is one inch in diameter and nestles perfectly into the charming pod, which is very nicely detailed. They have a delightfully fresh-from-the-garden green color and texture and are beautifully made.

There are no markings, but the shakers have plastic plugs so they can't be too terribly old. I can hardly resist picking them up and enjoying them!

Thrift Thursday--Cabbage Teapot

A fabulous thrift store find this week--a beautiful green majolica teapot, made in Portugal.

What a great addition to my ceramic-fruit-and-vegetable collection--I love the deep green finish and the satisfying shape. It's marked 'Bordallo Pinheiro, Portugal' and measures 7 inches high and 9 inches wide, with no cracks or chips. The price: $3.00!

The four pretty little harvest-themed place card holders are from the same thrift store outing--their original price tags read $3.99 each, and the thrift store tag was $1.00 each--which seemed a little steep to me, especially compared to the teapot! The cashier thought so too, and charged me $.75 a each.

Now to decide where to display them. . .

Miniatures Monday--Tiny Teapots!

My dollhouse miniatures have been put away for a while now, but I was recently drawn to that particular row of boxes on the shelf, and had a happy time reconnecting with some of my tiny things.

I originally made this tiny teapot collection for the dining room of my dollhouse--it all started out as beads, jewelry findings, paint, and Fimo. And it occurs to me only now that some of them are small versions of my ceramic-fruits and-vegetables collection!

Thrift Thursday--Carroty Watering Can!

At long last there was a moment to stop in the thrift store recently--summer always seems to offer a lot to occupy time and brain space. And what a delightful find! I can now water my one surviving house plant in style!

I love the the carroty bright orange color and shape! They make it a great addition to my fruit-and-vegetable collection. The glaze varies a bit in texture and shine--very satisfying. It's signed 'Katrina' in glaze on the bottom--I googled it, but didn't really learn much. Any thoughts?

And only $1.50! My apologies for the way the green onion seems to be growing out the top--I was hoping my photography was improving!

Thrift Store Decor #3--Ceramic Fruits and Vegetables!

My favorite thrift store collection, hands down, is my ceramic fruits and vegetables--they make me very happy! I have them displayed all around my kitchen, and lately they seem to be making small inroads into the hall and the living room--but I think I can live with that.

It all started with the yellow pear teapot on the top left shelf--I saw it at Thrift Town years ago and was hooked! The collection has all come from thrift stores and yard sales, except for a few exceptions, mostly gifts--Chris fought hard to win the watermelon bowl (center shelf right) for me in a white elephant game (who could possibly have thought such a lovely item could be a white elephant?)

Of course, now that the collection has grown, I can be a bit more particular! I try to stay with items that are ceramic, are figural, and have a function--they are also at least somewhat realistic and have pleasing color and finish. I generally don't pay more than about a dollar, but I've paid up to $5.00 for some of the larger pieces that I really love.

I keep my small appliances and bulk foods behind the green curtain, which really is a more delightful color than it seems in the picture. And you can check out my Christmas cactus, the only plant that has managed to survive here--you can't tell, but it's about to bloom!

Thrift Thursday--Still Life with 'Gold' Mirror!

There's been a little interruption in my plans to post my new 'gold' mirror--a new grandbaby, born just a little before expected. Everyone is doing fine, and I'm home.

Back to my mirror project--I was just a little concerned about the effect of my E6000 on the mirror backing, but the label stated no cautions, and after a week everything looks fine. I like it quite a bit!

Please also note my $.50 orange thrift store tray, holding my fabulous assortment of very realistic ceramic vegetables--a thrift store score of Ibu's. She knows I'm always on the lookout for wonderful ceramic fruits and vegetables, and here we have eggplant, cauliflower, cabbage, potato, corn, beet, summer squash, onion, yam, and yes--okra, all very realistic and in lovely colors with a shiny finish, and found in a big plastic bag for a couple of dollars. I love them! Though they puzzle me slightly--I have to wonder who thought of this. And why. They make me very happy!

There was actually one more vegetable, a nice little jalapeno which was loved to death by small hands. It was my least favorite--no loss!

Thrift Thursday--Little Ceramic Stand!

I've been watching for ceramic plates and trays to use in displaying my ceramic-fruits-and-vegetables collection-- I like to look for colors and shapes that complement the fruit colors.

So, I was delighted to find the above little 4-1/2" green plate at the thrift store for only$.50, and brought it home to put underneath a ceramic apple. Very cute!

Several months later, on a thrift store foray, I found the above 3'' high green ceramic stick candlestick and knew it was meant to go with said little green plate--$.50 again. Even cuter! Sure enough, when I got it home it was a perfect match, and I glued them together with my trusty E6000 before I even thought to take a 'before' photo.

A cupcake-sized cake stand!

Thrift Thursday--Red Sugar and Creamer Tray

When I was small, for everyday dishware my grandma Genevieve used a gray and maroon set of Fiestaware--I'm wondering now if this is where my love of ceramic kitchenware began.

When I saw this reminiscent and retro-style maroon platter for $1.00 at the thrift store, it seemed like a great tray for an arrangement of some of my ceramic kitchenware, so I pulled out some red and green pieces and came up with a tea tray of sorts.

The red cow creamer, with a nod to P.G. Wodehouse, was a $1.00 thrift store find, as was the raspberry sugar bowl and plate. The grape and eggplant sugar and fork are from Salvation Army, and I think the salt cellars and French child's teacup (or toothpick holder!) are both from a yard sale. The chicken salt and pepper set was a gift and seems to round out the arrangement nicely!

Thrift Thursday--Sugar Bowl and Shaker Tray!

I dearly love ceramic kitchenware! The shapes, color, and smooth shiny finish are so satisfying. When I found this shapely green lobed dish at the thrift store, it seemed just the thing to display some of my odd sugar bowls, jam jars, and shakers.

I believe I paid $1.00 for the green dish--it seems quite vintage to me, but it's marked 'microwave safe' on the bottom, so perhaps not. I enjoyed taking some time to group things from my collection, coming up with just the right combination of shapes, sizes, and colors.The banana and the cherry salt shakers make me especially happy!

All these fruits were picked up over the years on thrift store forages, except the tiny watermelon tea pot, which was a special gift. I love them!

Thrift Thursday--Avocado and Asparagus!

I just love these two dishes, and I have to say I think the combination of their color and shape is fabulous!

Let me also say that I did not previously have an avocado-shaped OR an asparagus-themed dish, so it was quite the find when I found them both on the same thrift-store outing! I'm displaying them nested together--I love the contrast. The interior color and shading of the avocado and the texture and color of its rind just make me happy!

The aparagus dish is 10-1/2" by 4", and the avocado dish is 7" long, and I think I paid $1.75 for them together.

I often wonder, when I see like-themed items at the thrift store, if they came from the same person. More likely, it's just the random fortuity of it all!

I've been quilting like mad on my Navajo quilt whenever opportunity arises, but my work has picked up at last and there's slightly less scope for projects. And the yard always calls! But there will always be time to sew. . .

Thrift Thursday---Carved Shelf!

In truth, I'd have to describe this really cool yard-sale shelf as 'carved', since it is actually molded. I happily paid $2.00 for it several years ago, knowing it would make a great display for a part of my ceramic fruits and vegetable collection, and it's been on view in the hallway ever since.

Except the occasion when there was a disastrous collision, and the whole thing went crashing down. I lost a few, including my beloved eggplant salt shaker. The shelf is now secured safely to the wall!

I don't really suppose most of my many fruit and vegetable items have much value, but they make me happy! My #3 daughter made me the corn, pointy carrot, and yellow squash (sorry about cutting off its head!) as a gift, and I love them.

The eggplant salt and pepper shaker set (it divides in two) are especially dear to me, since my daughters fought hard in an on-line auction to surprise me with a replacement for my lost and beloved-- and they are actually collectible.

The pumpkin is a mug, the lemons are an odd napkin hold that doesn't work at all, and the carrots are a little pitcher which I especially love. All the rest are salt and pepper shakers. The tomato and pepper seem to make a set, even though they didn't start out that way!

Thrift Thursday--Ceramic Fruit Canisters

Okay, they're probably two cookie jars and a teapot, but I love using them for my flour, sugar, and salt! It completely tickles me how they go with the platter. It's a favorite part of my ceramic fruits and vegetables collection!

I found the teapot at a yard sale for $.50, and the apple and grapes are from the thrift store (you may notice that apple-themed items are pretty common at the thrift store right now). I believe I paid $3.00 each for the two of them, months or years apart--this is about the highest I will go, but it seems to be harder to find pleasing, larger fruits and vegetables.
The apple is 9" high, the grapes 8-1/2", and the pear 7".

I have to admit right here that I
purchased the platter new (gasp!) at MacFrugal's for $5.99 some years ago--but the plate hanger for the platter was a recent thrift store purchase, $.50. I think I had the platter first, and I accumulated the canisters before I realized they made a unit. Serendipity!

You can also see one of my new, white, updated Mother's Day outlets just to the side there, a project gift from Care and hubby. Thanks, guys! Sets off my updated countertop and backsplash nicely!

Thrift Thursday--New Red Pepper!

I have a delightful new addition to my ceramic fruits and vegetables collection! The shape and color and shine make me happy--I think it's my new favorite.

This beautiful red pepper canister is 6" tall and 4" across, and I love the way its size and shape and color contrast with the other fruits and vegetables. It's a gift from my daughter Lol, who got it (of course) at her favorite thrift store. It will be perfect for storing my fresh garlic! We generally seem to find items that are either smaller or larger than this guy, so he's an even better addition to the collection. Good-sized vegetables are hard to find--except for that giant, realistic eggplant cookie jar. . .

My guidelines for collection selection have evolved a bit over the years. I like to look for figural shapes that have a function and are (at least somewhat!) realistic. Color, finish, size, and variety count--and a hard-to-define element of fabulousness, epitomized by my cabbage, carrot, and tomato soup tureen, which I will post next week!

Thrift Thursday--Ceramic Squash and Cantalope Teapots!

As I have said, I LOVE ceramic kitchenware!

My first, and most beloved, thrift store theme is my ceramic fruits and vegetables collection. It all started years ago with a beautiful thrift store pear teapot (I paid $2.99--gasp!), and has grown into a kitchen theme that makes me very happy.
The depth of color, shine, and tactile nature of ceramic is so very appealing, and the contrasting shapes and sizes of all the fruits and vegetable only add to the appeal.

I actually don't usually add teapots to the mix, but these two were irresistible! Although I don't make a good find every week, or even every month, I found both of these on one thrift store outing this month. The little cantaloupe is 5" high, and the squash combo is 7" high, and I paid $1.00 and $1.50 for them. There may be more confession about my obsession later--just let my say the the collection has recently topped 100!

I have just the spot for these two.