Over the weekend, I felt the urge to get out of the house and explore a bit. My mom and I have hit a few local stores now and then, but with renovations happening and lots of work to do, I’ve been home a lot lately. I needed to go to the grocery store to get some fresh produce anyway, so I decided to drop in a few thrift stores first. On the way, I remembered an antique store Jeff and I visited when we first moved here that is just a few minutes from our house, so I stopped in there first.
It’s a store that is a bit hit or miss with some booths that feel more thrift-store-ish and some booths that have nice antiques. I ended up finding a few great things for my kitchen, though, which is what I was looking for. I was specifically looking for nice copper pieces to hang on my pot rack.
Of course, there is always an abundance of cheap copper at secondhand stores, but that’s not what I’m looking for. Well, cheap is great, but I want it to be real copper that is thicker and has more soul to it.
And, I did find a mold that was both cheap ($8.00) and real copper with pretty brass handles.
I polished it up a bit and it is a perfect find. Just what I was looking for!
I also found a couple of frames for framing paintings, a large ironstone platter, and a shell. (By the way, I’ll have to show you what I’ve been doing with all of my shells!) You can read about identifying ironstone HERE.
And I got some Civil War-era flatware. I just have a hard time resisting sets that are in good shape and are different from others I already have in my collection. You can read about my collection of Civil War ear flatware HERE.)
I just absorb the flatware into my collection, tucking it into antique ironstone sugar jars that I found without lids.
And I bought a few glass pieces for $3.00/each…
This cottage cheese jar is such a useful size and I loved the raised clear lettering. I thought it would be a great vase for small bouquets or fresh herbs.
And I just couldn’t resist this old market 5-cent store milk bottle. I also thought it would be a fun vase or a way to serve milk when the occasion calls for it.
I like to make my own vinaigrette for dressing greens and add just a pinch of sugar to cut the edge off of the vinegar, so I got the vintage diner sugar caster to keep on the platter by the range. I cleaned it up, filled it with sugar, and it looks right at home. I know you can buy these new, but the old glass is thick and heavy, making this utilitarian piece a bit more special.
Several people have asked about the oil and vinegar bottles. is the link and they are just $6.00.
I bought two baskets for $3/each as well. One is silver plated and the other is a simple willow basket with an open weave. I can hang both from the pot rack and they’ll make good baskets for rolls and/or bread or chips, crackers, etc.
It was a fun outing and I can’t wait to hit up a few more thrift and antique stores so I can learn which places will be “my places.” My mom and I are planning to check out a few later this week.
There was one more thing I found, but it is so special that it’s going to get its own post…
20 Responses
Fun to find small inexpensive items that will be useful beautiful too!
Great finds, especially the beautiful copper mold! You always find the best things for such great prices; similar items here would be 4x’s as much. Can’t wait to see the special piece & the project with shells!! Every piece in the kitchen looks just perfect; I am really enjoying the great kitchen adventure ride💚
Great finds! I am most interested in the tramp art frame. I have several that I have never used as I don’t know what to put in them. I have looked online for inspiration to no avail. It will be interesting to see how you use yours.
Feathering the Nest is absolutely the most fun phase of the entire project! Nice scores from your local shops! Enjoy more shopping with your mom!
I see you have a cute little vintage crock from Sainsbury’s! When my family and I visit Edinburgh we always take a run through a Sainsbury grocery shop!
In the picture with the utensils in the ironstone shows two round pieces on handles. They are in the foreground of the picture. I think they spin but my question is. What are they? Are they for pastry decoration? I found a metal one and have no idea.
thanks
They are pastry cutters! The blue and white one is ceramic and the other one is made of bone.
Marian, have you ever turned an antique picture frame into a shadow box? We’d like to showcase our seashell collection in a shadow box with an antique frame, but it looks like we’ll need to create one. I’ve searched your website, hoping to find you’ve done a “DIY” project like that, but I don’t see it. If I’m missing the post, would you please link it in a reply? Many, many thanks! (Your olive shell collection gave me the idea, but I’d like to put ours under glass.)
I have not done that with an antique frame, but I have turned new frames that have a depth to them into shadowboxes for textiles and shells. I usually look at places like HomeGoods and TJMAxx for that sort of thing.
I never cease to be amazed at how different the antiques are in different parts of the country (or in different countries!). What can be found easily and cheaply in one place can never be had in another. Growing up, my mom had that exact basket in our kitchen holding fruit!
Maybe it’s because it’s way past lunch and I haven’t eaten – but girl! that loaf of bread is BEE-UUU-tiful! If it is homemade, please share the recipe! Of course I don’t have your oven to ensure the same results! All your finds are fun! (I’m secretly laughing though- I’m 67 (when did that happen?) and I’m laughing because in 30 or so years you are going to have SOME collection of “stuff” you’ll probably want to thin out! Enjoy it while you’re young! And I DO mean that! USE it up whatever it is! Wear that pretty underwear just because YOU’LL see it!
I, too, have a nice collection of Civil War flatware, most handmade by my great grandfather. He also made saddles during the Civil War. As a former food photographer, the flatware added just the right touch to compositions with ironstone. Great finds!
Next to the stove are 2 glass bottles with brass spouts in them. Where do you find those? Do you have oil or vinegar in those bottles?
She linked the oil and vinegar bottles in the post. Click under the picture of the bottles where it says HERE.
Great finds! I especially like the silver basket – unique, pretty, and useful. I am very curious about the gold colored bottle thing that is on your ironstone tray next to your sugar jar. What is it? It looks cool, but I haven’t seen anything like it before.
Great finds!!! Look forward to seeing what your doing with your shell collection.
What makes you think that flatware is from the civil war era? Looks newer than that to me, like 1920′ or ’30 from the design.
Great finds. I love your gorgeous kitchen. So beautiful.
I believe this time was a hit! Great finds that all look right at home in your beautiful kitchen.
Use them as trays- to display all kinds of things- I use .ine in rhe bathroom