Thrift finds - December

December, sweet December, with your lights and your music, with your short days and sweet cookies, you are not as nice as you look! December, you have not been generous at the thrifts. Are you trying to tell me something? Should I spend more time with family and friends? Should I clean the house and entertain?
I am listening. I will focus on what is important and go back to my thrifting habits in January. Is that a deal?

As you can gather from my nonsensical rant, I have had no luck at the thrifts, hence no post last week. It hasn't been all bad and I will share some of my favorite finds here.

A beautiful and traditional Swedish ball candle holder. Typically used during the holidays, this sweet piece makes a statement. What about matching it with this Swedish table runner? Don't they make a great pair?

To continue with a color theme, these beautiful Italian hand blown glasses would go perfect with my table set up, right? Made by Colony - Italy and imported by PD imports, they are an amazing shade of blue. Glassware does very well in the shop, I think it might be the season, but who is going to resist these beauties?

This small bowl (4" in diameter) made me really happy when I found it. Bryan and Christina helped me to ID the piece. This is the work of Marianne Johnson for Royal Copenhagen. Her work is complex with many patterns that repeat themselves in mirror images, usual imagery borrows from nature. Great find right? Well, yes and no. I noticed the piece is cracked when I got home. I am still debating if I will sell it as is, or if I will keep it. Live and learn...

Last but not least, the mystery object of the week! This good looking casserole has me baffled. It is enamel cast iron in the lightest powder blue, and the design on the lid reminds me of Orla Kiely's patterns. There is no mark on it, but it looks vintage. Any ideas? Update on 12.28.11: I have found a reference pan on Ebay with a mark on it! This baby was made by Hearthstone Block Von Roll - Switzerland! Woo-hoo for persistance!

Well, that is all for now. I don't know if I will post next week (you know, all the entertaining, and cleaning, and baking that I will be doing) so Happy Holidays to my readers and customers.

For more great finds visit Her Library Adventures and Apron Thrift Girl

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Yes! My little store has had its first major showcase! Thank you PopQuiz123!

Thrift finds - November and December

My best find of the week! I picked up this beauty from the cart at the GW, it had just come out to the floor and I knew I had to have it. I didn't know what I had as far as maker or designer, I just knew that I had found a great piece of craftsmanship and that it was worth keeping it. As soon as I got home I started searching for Murano glass birds, as the quality of the piece pointed that way. After many pages of bird images I found one that looked very similar to this one, then that one took me to another one with a designer name, and with that it was easier to find more about the origins of my little bird. Designed by Dino Martens for Fratelli Toso it bears his signature Mezza filigrana Bianca Nera which is the wonderful encased texture typical of his work. It most likely dates to the 1950s. Isn't it great?

To continue with my bird theme, this is a nice Couroc of Monterey tray featuring a couple of road runners. This is my first Couroc and now I understand why people love them and collect them. The inlaid work is outstanding. Great piece.

Friday's estate sale was very interesting. The house looked like a 1970s time capsule, with shag rugs and wallpaper everywhere. The house was packed, and it was difficult to find anything in the crowd. I managed to pick a MCM silverware set that needs to be cleaned and polished, a great Selandia ice bucket (pictured above), a couple of Swedish Cultura stainless and teak tray sets and a wonderful piece of Scandinavian inspired fabric (pictured below).

I found many other wonderful treasures, but many items need to be photographed, or edited, or listed altogether. I will be updating my store every day this week, so come and visit. You are always welcome!

As usual, I am sharing my finds at Her Library Adventures