Thrifted Treasure Profile

My husband did a really great job framing the stunning prints that Alice of Thrifted Treasure sent me last month. Now we just have to hang them. When that happens, I'll post the photos.

Speaking of Alice, she is the subject of a recent profile on the blog Thrift Core. Alice answers questions about thrifting in Australia and shows off some of her snazzy pieces. I'm happy to learn about this blog, which is now linked in my favourites. Support it and Thrifted Treasure if you don't already. http://www.thriftcore.com/2011/02/thrifters-around-world-thrifted.html

Pop Goes the World

Today's post is brought to you by a perfect pop song from the eighties.

Look at all the poppy treasures.

For .49, I had to have this Made in Japan Pop mug. Duncan's going to give it to Ken for his birthday on Monday. Ahhh.

At Value Village I found this cool Andy Warhol Tomato Soup bag for $2.99. That's good pop art value for money.
It looks like it's genuine Warhol merchandise likely from the Warhol museum in Pittsburgh.

Pop is also for popcorn bowl. I've now got three of these vintage wooden snack bowls, including one from my childhood. VV charged $3.99 - my most expensive purchase.
For $1.99 I had to have this Made in Japan lemon/lime dish.
Pyrex for $1.49 at Value Village? Has the pricing dictator switched to Sanka?

Little Mysteries #1: Still Life at the Cornell House

It's always wonderful when you stumble upon a place you never knew about when you've been living in a particular city your whole life. Recently, we discovered the Cornell House. As much as I like mid-century vintage design, I love pioneer times: the smell of burning wood, cinnamon, candles. I also love the way everything was made by hand. I could live in this house.
The Cornell House dates back to 1858. It was built on Markham Road in Scarborough (part of the greater Toronto area in the east end). It was moved to Thomson Park in the early sixties where it now sits as a pioneer museum. If you live in Toronto, Thomson Park is on Brimley.
Dig the plank walkway. Even though the house is very much pioneer-style, the planks give it a wild west feeling.

The McCowan log house.

Outhouse in the snow.

Above and below: frozen in time treasures in the work shed.

Below: Furniture and object d'art from the Cornell House.

The Cornell House is also the Scarborough Historic Museum. Volunteers dressed in period costume were handing out cheese straws as well as the recipe for how to make them. Scroll down to find out more.
You'll need 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda (I'd use less baking soda and salt next time), 1 teaspoon salt, 3/4 teaspoon of dry mustard (I left this out), 3 tablespoons of butter, 2 cups of grated sharp cheddar, 1 egg, and 5 tablespoons of cold water. Preheat oven to 425, mix dry ingredients together until it has a "breadcrumb" consistency. Add wet ingredients. We put the cheese in last. I'd even say that you could use 1 1/2 cups of cheddar and they'd still be cheesy.
The cheese straws they gave us at the Cornell House were shaped like crescent moons. My mother confirmed that they are supposed to be straw-shaped, so I got my palms a-rolling.

Here's the cheesy dough.

Because of all the grated cheese, it was hard to get perfectly rounded shapes. Duncan even made a cheese "snail" and an arrow. I like the rustic down home look.
And here they are. If you like scones, you'll enjoy these.

Erin

Sparkle in the Snow

This post is brought to you by life's simple pleasures: freshly laundered pillowcases, percolating coffee in the morning, the golden drips of butter on an English muffin...

Music by Ryuichi Sakamoto. I never knew that there was a solo piano version of this song until my husband and I heard it on JazzFM back in December when we were driving home one evening from Ikea. Duncan had fallen asleep in the back, so we sat in the car until the song was over.

I scooted up to Value Village after school today, forgetting that it was their Boot Scootin' 50% off sale, or whatever it was called. I didn't walk away with cowboy boots, so I'm disappointed.

Needless to say, the cupboards were bare. The household goods weren't even on sale. You Value Village people are SO CHEAP. I'm sure this sale will soon be replaced by a 10% off cracked fish bowl sale. That day is coming, mark my word.

Now that I've vented, I'll move on. My vintage radar was in overdrive. I knew I'd find something good, but I'd have to work for it this time.

I found what appeared to be a teardrop-shaped piece of pottery that looked like it had scabies. Throwing caution to the wind, I picked it up with my gloved hand and inspected the piece. I saw beauty hiding beneath the barnacles.
For $1.99 I picked it up, took it home, gave it a good soapy scrub and...
Voila! A stylish plant holder. I love the colours and shape.
It looks like something my grandmother would have had her African violets in. Oh, the nostalgia.
Here's the sweet bonus: it was handmade in Canada in 1966. I'm so happy that whomever made this saw fit to put the year on it.
Yesterday at the Value Village near my house, I bought one of those mumbo-jumbo bags of random cards. I could tell that there were a few vintage cards in it. Well, turns out that I hit the jackpot for $2.99.

There were oodles of pretty floral cards.

Quaint cards full of whimsy. I'd love to have someone send me a card like this if I were under the weather. Email just doesn't cut the mustard.


More get well soon messages showing sweet scenes.

Have you ever seen a geranium on a card?

The only pregnant person I know right now is the drama teacher at my school and she'd probably find this card hokey if I gave it to her. I would have been tickled pink. Sorry for the bad pun.
Above: more birds. Below, the most utilitarian "man card" that I've ever laid eyes on. I can imagine the designer: "We'll just put a bunch of old tools on the front of the card. No frills."
Inside, the card reads: The things that make you happiest are wished you all year! To me, this would be the male equivalent of giving a woman a washing machine for an anniversary gift. "Oh honey, you shouldn't have."
Below, cult members on vacation. Actually, I'm not sure what's going on here. It could be wiener roast quickly turning into a forest fire.
These were nifty cards. They're taco-shaped, as Duncan would say. Unfold them and you have a disc card.
Something for everyone in the family. Well, I'm getting hungry for more vintage gems. We'll see how the rest of the week pans out.

Erin