Happy Birthday To Past Pieces Vintage

Past Pieces turned 3 years old on August 6, 2011.  Only this year have I devoted most of my time to nurturing it and treating it as a full-time pursuit instead of a diversion.  It has evolved since then and probably will continue to evolve as I devote even more time and effort to it; to decide in which direction I really want to go, although that’s pretty well settled.  Today.

When I started Past Pieces, I was a full-time caregiver and wanted something to distract me from that day to day business.  I wanted a venue in which to sell some of the vintage dinnerware and bits and pieces that I’d collected.  It was a way to gently divest myself of my treasures before I was labelled as one of the currently disturbing darlings of the reality television shows…the hoarder.  Having a Goodwill store open locally didn’t help my malady, and soon the garage became a repository for the steel shelving I bought for my “inventory.”  Hence the need for an online shop.

Wonder of wonders, once I opened my Etsy shop, I sold a few things.  There’s nothing headier than making money and I was on my way.  It languished for the first two years, but I sold an item every now and then, but I was too distracted by other things to put my heart and soul into it.  Now, I have the time, and a bit of heart and soul, so we shall see what happens.

As I mentioned, my direction is changing from the original dinnerware and collectibles to what I plan to become a place for vintage clothing and accessories.  Add some vintage lingerie and linens and it’ll be an eclectic brew of various decades.  

Will it keep evolving?  Yes.  Will it keep growing?  Yes.  Will my interests keep changing?  Yes.  Do I know where it all will lead?  No.  

Saturday's Mystery Box

There's nothing more exciting than a cardboard box and crumpled up newspaper hiding treasures beyond belief.... Well, velvet boxes with pearls are more exciting, but we're talking bargain basement excitement, not 'Breakfast At Tiffany's' excitement!

I love to stop by a favorite shop with no expectations and find old dinnerware; something that has been loved and appreciated in another era. Due to time, death, relocation, downsizing, economics, lack of appreciation, or something shinier and newer, things tend to get cast off. It's a shame, really, but it's also my gain.

My latest treasure is a set of yellow teacups and saucers. Boldly and delicately yellow with graceful swirls and shapely handles. Eight each, which isn't as usual as you would think. Lovely. The plates and bowls? Long gone, maybe, as they were the dishes that were used most often. Teacups were stacked on the top shelf and hardly ever used. Somewhere along the way we moved from the polite teacup into mug territory. I think that's a metaphor for our society!

These lovely teacups are by Franciscan. I haven't done any research on time yet, so I don't know the pattern.

Another find is a cute lil Lefton wall-hangy-doodad; the kind of which people don't really hang on their walls anymore. Well, some grandmama someplace might, but I have a sneaking suspicion that most of them have been tossed in the attic. The yellow flowers made me happy and I had a theme going on so I went with it.

The completion of the theme were four Mount Clemens plates. Roses. My favorite theme. These plates are in great condition and like the teacups and saucers, I don't yet know the pattern.

Homer Laughlin Oven Serve Pie Baker Pattern OS88

Some women's eyes sparkle at the mention of diamond baubles or gold jewelry. Me, I'm a bit more pedestrian than that. Old dinnerware does it for me. And, no, I wasn't a cheap date when I was 21 and cute as a bug. Now, it's a cheap piece of old American dinnerware that makes my eyes light up. Priorities change, people!

This 1930s Oven Serve 10-1/2 inch pie baker is almost pristine. I couldn't believe my good fortune when I picked it up from the trolley at one of my favorite resale shops. Bright, shiny, no utensil marks; excellent! As far as I can tell from my research, the pattern doesn't have a name but is only known as decoration OS88. I've darkened the bottom picture so that the beautiful embossed detail can be more easily seen.

Frustration---Is It McCoy or Homer Laughlin?

Frustration is seeing something in a book in the library then finding it on the shelf at a local thrift store. Snatching it up and not being able to remember whose company made it. Frustration is not being able to find it in a book again no matter how many trips to the library have been made. Frustration is wondering if you just made the whole thing up or dreamed it!

Frustration is never having seen this particular style before and not being able to even hazard a guess.

Such is the case with this creamer and sugar set. Less than perfect with worn gold and a sizeable chip, it still has clean modern lines with a decidedly 50s feel. I think it's McCoy. But it could be Homer Laughlin. I think. Or it could be some other company entirely. I'm just not sure. But I'm sure that I like it.