Tiffany Turquoise

Did you know that the world famous Tiffany Blue box was inspired by a little road outside Albuquerque locally known as the "turquiose trail"?

The way we hear the story around here, is that a jeweler from Tiffany's came from New York City and purchased a "load" or supply of turquise from a mine outside Albuquerque.  So inspired were the powers that be, at Tiffany, they adapted the color to market the company.  

Today, millions everywhere know what that turquoise box means...something beautiful is inside.  I Have visited the New York City Tiffany's twice, and bought a beautiful memento each time.  

The turquoise color is also associated with Albuquerque...my home.  The color dictates general design in this state, and it always says Spring to me.   Turquoise always seems to be in style....it's just so CRISP!

There are so many great examples of great kitchen vintage...I have to include...they are just too yummy.

Pyrex Bowls...vintage 50s.

Fiesta ceramic pitcher...straight from the 40s.

Plastic canisters from the early 60s.

Classic Appliances from another era.

And last but not least, a Kitchen Aid mixer...still available today in this great color!

Thanks for stopping by....

Liz

Fall Table Setting

Fall is a great time to pull out your table setting supplies and set a great table to reflect the season.

Shades of brown napkins and tortoise flatware finish the Fall theme.

And...I always try to include vintage item...this set of Indiana glass tumblers in "amber" would be perfect!

These footed tumblers were pressed from the 70s - to the 80s and came in several colors.  They were very popular, and lots of families had a set.  They are perfect for the fall table.

Thanks for visiting.

Liz

Fall

Tomorrow is the first day of Fall, and even though it is till 93 degrees here, I'm ready to start decorating, so here it goes...this little guy is at my back door.

My table decorations will include fall fruits and vegetables...and a wicker horn-of-plenty.  I got mine at a thrift store last spring!  I always shop out of season, looking ahead to what I will do next.

Make sure to include a piece of vintage glass.  My collection includes an avocado relish plate by Indiana glass, made in the early 70s.

And, I like to put out some mums at the front door...it will tell all your guests and neighbors that Fall has arrived at your home.

I'm on my way to the cleaners to get my sweater cleaned, so it will at least look like fall around my house.  Dreaming of colder weather...til next time.

Liz

Collecting Pyrex

I have several pieces of Pyrex for sale in my ebay store...It all started with a 3 piece blue bowl set that was a wedding gift in 1984.  I loved the set so much, I never used it.  NOT ONCE!    It was in the box for several years, then moved across the country, and now, they are back home in the Rockies, sitting in my pantry.

When I tried to add to my bowl collection, I only found the same color and style over and over.  It seems that Albuquerque did not have a lot of stores in the 50s...JC Penney & Sears...so what you find are the 2 or 3 colors they carried.    Even newer colors are hard to find here.

Courtesy : Pyrex Museum

I thought it must be the same across the country.....so I started listing what I found hoping someone need pieces I found here to finish their collections.  If I had the space, I would keep adding, but I leave that to the collectors with basements. My next post will be 10 reasons I wish I had one.


Thanks for visiting.


Liz

Vintage Glass

I love vintage glass, and I rarely see glass from before the 20s here in Albuquerque. This weekend I went to a great estate sale and found this vintage cruet for $1.00.

One way to tell if glass is old, is the bottom. If it is scratched where the glass touched the shelf, but the rest of it has no scratches, that helps to date it. The more shelf scratches the older it is.

This piece also has a pontil mark in the center where the blowpipe was connected to the glass and used by an artisan to form the piece. Can you imagine the work that went into creating it. The stopper on top, was hand finished...there were no rubber seals in those days!

Also, I purchased these little blue votives. I was attracted to them because they're shaped like garden pots, and they were only $1.50 for 6 of them. Little candle holders are so cute for setting a table or sitting out on the patio. And or course, everything looks better by candlelight.

 Talk to you soon!

Cupcakes

Have you noticed that some things in our lives are obsolete, like carbon paper and rotary phones.  We had to get rid of those things to make way for all the cupcake related items our modern life requires.  What I really like about cupcakes is, it gives a chance to use, beautiful vintage items like china, linens and silver to display them.  I love that!

A cupcake is great because you can have just one, instead of a whole cake.

Take a trip to the craft store, and you will see a whole isle devoted to decorating with sugar.  Even Walmart has a section.  When I was a kid, cupcakes were popular, but not like now, and your only choice for supplies was the grocery store.  

I say..."yahoo"  for the simple cupcake...it changed our lives!  Thanks for visiting.

Liz

My Favorite Rooms Tour

After working on this house for 7 years, decorating 3000 square feet, I learned two things...I love to decorate, and I will never live in such a large home again!   When I put it on the market, it sold in 4 days.  Amazing.  My family was not prepared and we are currently in a rental looking for a new home to start all over with. 

  Our home had four Bathrooms....I know...what was I thinking!

Cobalt Blue Pyrex

This weeks collecting passion is clear Blue Pyrex.  The glass turns blue with the addition of the chemical cobalt to the molten glass.  Isn't it pretty?  

For some reason it has been hard to find in Albuquerque.  I have read on line that it is still sold in Pyrex outlet stores in other parts of the country.  If I could just find the set of bowls below, I would be a happy camper!

I have been collecting blue glass for 30 years, but the Pyrex is my favorite because it is especially transparent!  It also matches my other blue glass collections.

Happy Collecting & thanks for visiting...til next time.  

Liz

  

Mix and Match Flatware

When I was a young bride I didn't have much money so I mixed and matched my silver flatware out of necessity. Well this week I received a catalog from a friend that included actual vintage flatware. I thought I had invented the idea!

I realize now that a lot of people are doing it! It's become very fashionable, especially if it has a monogram! I imagine other companies are offering vintage flatware too!

I am always on the hunt for flatware...old and vintage are best.  Rogers 1847 Vintage is my absolute favorite.  I scream when I find some!!!

 Sometimes the scruffiest pieces are my favorites.   I try to leave the pristine ones for my ebay store.  

Here is a picture of my mix and match flatware! 

I guess GOOD ideas are always GOOD ideas! Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have a great Week!

Liz