Sunny Days!

The weather has been changing a lot lately, but the days are getting longer which means I get even more done.  I've planted lettuce starts, snowpeas, strawberries and there is much more to do in the yard!

I've had the best of luck on trades without even trying.  A couple items were offered in exchange for pieces of my handmade jewelry and a couple for some kitsch I had.

A trade that included an Anna Marie enameled plate and another Hocking Glass bowl in a  color I don't have was so exciting.  Sharing my Hocking glass collection on Facebook and here has meant more interest and so it makes it more competitive for me to get additional pieces.  My collection pictures have become a resource for others, but I love to share so it's something I have to accept.  Fortunately I've built relationships with people over the past couple years and they keep a lookout for me.   Finds included Pyrex 045 promotional casserole, Hazel Atlas dish and a cute little donkey.

I've been kept busy with custom orders of my handmade vintage jewelry....

And exchanges....

And I wired my test design bracelet in 935 sterling and waiting on the clasps to arrive. This piece is 8" which is too large for me so I'm starting a second one...

And as always, my days include vintage dishware in the kitchen. I've been trying to decide which direction this is going as I still feel like I have too much in the kitchen cabinets.

Even though I'm not the estate sales type shopper, I did make an exception to snag this vintage lava light for hubby for his birthday thanks to a fellow local collector who gave me a heads up!  Hubby is thrilled about it.

More pictures than words, but such is my life!  haha!

Instagram?

I have been so busy which is typically me.  It occurred to me the other day that I hadn't written to my blog for a while and immediately after, I thought "I should be on Instagram".  It was just a thought, it isn't going to happen.  I've prohibited myself from being tied to a phone.  So, with that, today's post is pictures of what's been happening in my life lately!

I didn't work on much glass for a few months, folks were great in holding off sending their glass shards.  Being away for awhile made me ready to get back to it. I've had lots of special requests, exchanges pieces and made pieces that sold before they made it to my shop.  It's a lot of work, and a lot fun and I'm easily inspired.  Here are some of the pieces I made.

And as always, lots of time in the kitchen....

 Breakfast in a Pyrex pixie...

Cabbage and pork...Pyrex Friendship 474

Breakfast bake....Pyrex Daisy 548

Apple browned in butter in a Fire King pixie...

Spanish rice, the euro version....Fire King Chanticleer.

Prepping for meatloaf... Glasbake snowflake, JAJ Pyrex plate pattern unknown.

Hubby wanted popcorn! Pyrex Friendship 404.

Homemade soup....Pyrex Dots, Friendship and Orange Butterprint.

Lunch!  Homemade stock...Lipton  Glasbake Soup cup, Pyrex yellow pixie.

And when it comes to thrifting, I've been sticking to my guns and REALLY thinking 5 times before I buy something.  I picked up this Federal batter bowl cheap and this dessert cup (that reminds me of Pyrex Colonial Mist pattern) for 50 cents.  It hard to leave treasures behind, but I'm doing pretty good.

Vintage Dishes!

I gave my kitchen a good cleaning a few days ago and was in the mood to change up my vintage glass display. Needed something a little less visually busy so I went for sorting by color. Here is the orange shelf.  I thrifted these made in occupied Japan salt and pepper shakers recently. They are so nicely done and since I don't have any roosters or chickens in my kitsch collection, I found these to be a wonderful example to add to it.

A view of the entire shelf.

I got in some trading over the last few months.  I'm very selective anymore. I have a lot of glass.  I've resorted to selling some.

The day I found the the chicken and rooster salt and pepper shakers, I also received a trade in the mail and an  Hocking Glass carafe I stumbled across on line.  I generally don't shop on line, but it just so happened that I was a little bored one evening and did a little window shopping.

I have never run into a Bartlett Collins cookie jar at the thrifts until recently, two in less than a week. Fortunately they are two different sizes.  One of the big ones is enough--it is huge! Some other vintage thrift store finds...

Little Time For New Finds (but lots going on)

I have a long laundry list of things I'm trying to get done, so I haven't been hunting for goodies much. But I enjoy all the wonderful vintage things I already have.  Here are some pictures.

My collection of 8" Cathrineholm bowls.  I received the blue one in a trade recently.

I enjoy rearranging my bowls every so often.

I finally got one last plate to complete my Cathrineholm display on the family room wall.  Needs a little tweaking.

I decided to give my laundry room a little face lift.  I replaced the Flor tiles with matching red ones like I have in the kitchen.  I also purchased red contact paper from a thrift and just the right patterned roll off Etsy to cover  pups food container and my soap nuts tin.

Plenty of cooking and baking has been going on...

New low starch bread recipes and home made broth fills the freezer.

Experimental low starch bread turned out to be a winner.

Chicken curry with shredded zucchini instead of rice actually got a thumbs up from hubby.

And lemon poppy seed muffin recipe I adapted from the tahini bread recipe I've been making turned out yummy.

The chocolate banana flavored ones for hubby were equally as tasty.

Soups seem to be on our menu a lot.

And lettuce is flourishing in our garden providing us with an endless supply.

I planted a succulent into the adorable Milky the Cow planter.

Found a rustic looking planter to put on my vintage stand,  and I divided my huge snake plant. Found the California pottery bull bank at a thrift.

I finished my orange Pyrex Butterprint nesting bowl set. It's the only full Pyrex bowl set I decided to keep.  I've donated a lot of Pyrex back to charity and did a give away to a dozen people in my Pyrex trading group.

Enjoyed flowers I got for mother's day...

While I was cleaning out some kitsch I couldn't help but snap a picture of these darling shakers along with colorful Pyrex.

And I also got a few trades in.

I've also planted the new Japanese style garden we had constructed in our front yard.  I'm getting close to finished installing the drip system.  It's a busy time, but then again, I have trouble remaining idle.