Pyrex as a Learning Tool -- Start Them Young!

We have one cabinet in the kitchen with glass doors where I keep all a little of my Pyrex, Coronation & kitchen glass collection.   Ever since my granddaugher (now 13 months) was old enough to hold her head up and look around at things, I've carried her over there and shown her the all the goodies inside. At about 6 months, she started really paying attention, but I didn't realize until this past week how closely she'd been watching.

I open the cabinet and say 'Pyrex!' and then start on the primary set first (don't all Pyrex collectors?)... 'Yellow, green, red, blue  (then, moving to the right) -- turquoise, pink and Flamingo pink!'  I take out the 'There'll Always be an England' glasses and the Coronation glass and the little flamingo on the bottom shelf and show them to her.  If I forget to go back to the little maple leaf cream and sugar on the bottom shelf and say 'yellow', she points to them to remind me.  I think it's a good way to teach colors (though her parents think it's pretty funny that I've been teaching their baby turquoise and flamingo pink).

So, last week, Mr. KV was holding her in another part of the kitchen and I said something about Pyrex and she turned around, looked right at the cabinet and started grinning!  If you ask her 'Where's the Pyrex?', she immediately looks at it and gets excited.  Only 13 months, just starting to walk and talk and she already knows the good stuff -- that's smart!

I can see a great time treasure hunting with my little buddy in the future -- I'd better save a granny cart for her!

Mystery Stetson China Pattern - 1957

When I first began selling at the antique mall, I bought lots of odd place settings of china: dinner plates, cups and saucers, creamers and sugar bowls.  I thought that people would buy them -- after all, both Martha AND Flea Market Finds had said on television and in print that mismatched china was cool!  If they said it, it must be true, right?   Not so...most people don't want one or two plates unless they need that particular pattern.  Mismatched china IS cool, but people don't buy it!

So, I've been hunting and gathering in my junk inventory in the basement -- looking for all the odd bits and pieces of china that I've bought over the past 4 years.  We're planning a road trip to Florida and I'm planning to make a side trip to Replacements and sell them most of it.  What they don't want, I'll sell in a bargain basket at the mall or donate away.

I found several serving bowls in this mystery pattern.

It's clearly backstamped Stetson and is dated 1957.  I think it's pretty cool -- especially for spring entertaining!  I'm crazy about research, though, and a real perfectionist when it comes to identification and I can't find the pattern anywhere.  It's driving me crazy!  It's not on Replacements or any of the other china websites and a picture of it doesn't even come up in a general Google image search.  I searched Marcrest, too, because they distributed a lot of Stetson china.

Do any of you know the pattern name?  Was it distributed by a company other than Stetson or Marcrest?  If I can't find it, I'm going to have to resign myself to not knowing, but I hate an unsolved puzzle.

Have a great week, everyone!  (And, oh by the way, if you need any odds-and-ends dinnerware, just let me know -- I've got you covered!)

First Flea Market of the Year -- Cowboy Cool!

With the holidays over and nothing but snow and cold here in Michigan, cabin fever has really been setting in!   I haven't been out shopping since December, so when my friend Bargain Hunter asked me if I wanted to go to the Ingham County Indoor Garage Sale & Flea Market today, I jumped on it.  We had a great time -- lots of laughs and catching up on news, plus finding some treasures to take home.  

I found was this great mid-century cowboy ceiling light cover as soon as we walked in the door.  

I didn't know it at the time, but 'cowboy cool' was to be the theme for the day.  I found three western-related treasures, which are always really popular on Etsy.  There was a lot more western stuff there today, but this is all I got.  As usual, I got some mid-century and a few linens, too (as if I needed more!)

Here's what I came home with:

Wonderful 'shop class' project lamp with a western saloon scene and original cowboy lampshade

The cowboy and saloon keeper at the bar have hand-cut detail

A kid's holster set from the 1950s.  I remember having a red one very much like this...so cool!

Sweet made-in-Japan kitty figurines

The aluminum drink spoons are still in the original package!

Love these black and white spatterware shakers

This barkcloth drapery panel has a big stain in the center, but was bargain priced.  If I can't get the stain out, I can use it for pillows

An unusual India-themed tablecloth.  I'm not sure how old it is, but it's the first elephant tablecloth I've seen

Pre-Disney Florida tablecloth -- also bargain priced!

Roosters & mid-century color scheme -- hard to pass up

This black Americana tablecloth is in great condition

I think this tablecloth is going to end up going to live with Bargain Hunter.   She needs tablecloths

You'll probably see some of these in my Etsy shop soon.   Did I get anything to keep?  Maybe this terrific, tacky musical mushroom with gnomes!  I haven't decided if I should keep it or sell it.  What do you think?