Weekend Finds

Note: delay in posting this up because my internet has been playing up :)

I got this lovely belt for only $2 on Saturday at the Mornington Vinnies. I'd never been to the op shops down here and I must say I was very impressed. Both the Vinnies and Salvos stores were quite big and had a great range of items for sale. The Vinnies in particular had quite a few antique-ish pieces of furniture (chairs, tables etc)! I also loved the window display that the staff in the Salvos store had done with their stock.. a Spring Racing inspired display with outfits and racing items (boots, riding crop etc).

The white singlet underneath is a Witchery number I got for $3.99 or so, and the grey/silver Esprit wrap top for $5.99 both from Dandenong Salvos a few weeks ago.

Also, if anyone is in the Mordialloc area, the Lions op shop on the main street is having a sale, 50% of some of their winter stuff (scarves, jackets and jumpers from memory). I managed to pick up a Pyrex glass lasagna dish for only $5 at that shop so would definitely recommend a trip down to check it out!

Pyrex pretty

I'm always on the lookout for vintage Pyrex. There's something so lovely about the translucency of the casseroles and covered dishes- it's very like milk-glass. And the coloured finishes and patterning are so pretty. They're like dressing-table trinket boxes you put in the oven!

Seen here is a Snowflake Blue divided casserole found today at the Brotherhood of St Laurence Opshop on Glenhuntly Road, Caulfield, for just $3. I've seen similar dishes in other opshops for $10 and upwards so I was very pleased. When I get my Pyrex pieces home I give them a gentle bicarb-soda scrub to remove baked on residue then rinse with clear water- they come up beautifully.

Besides being lovely to look at, this retro cookware is very practical. If you make a large bake or casserole, the leftovers can simply remain in the dish and get covered with the lid to go straight into the fridge. You don't have to fuss with gladwrap or get tupperware-type containers dirty. The flat covers enable safe stacking of two or more dishes, or other refrigerator contents can go on top.

The Pyrex Love blog showcases the extensive collection owned by Linda and Bryan, and offers a taxonomy of the different colours and patterns fossickers may find in opshops. I'm warning you, collecting these dishes is addictive!