Melamine or Melmac

Before i really started selling vintage items and doing lot of research i used to call melamine dishes, 'those lovely hard plastic dishes from the 50's'.
Then when i found some for my own kitchen and started looking around to find out what the marks on the bottom of my pieces meant, i came across the names 'Melmac' and 'Melamine' a lot. I thought it to be weird for something to have two names.

After research a bit more i quickly discovered Melmac is just one of the brands, maybe the most well known, of Melamine resin dishes. I also noticed that a lot of online melamine shop listings are being described as Melmac, when in fact they are not.
In my treasure hunts so far i came across Melmac, Mar-Crest Melmac, Boontonware, Oneida, Spaulding Ware, Prolon, OD ware, and some mysterious unmarked pieces. All Melamine, not all Melmac.
(i do admit, in some of my shop listings i do use the search term Melmac but never in the description if its not made by Melmac, but just because i know a lot of buyers will use the term to look for Melamine in general)
Melamine was first introduced in the 40s, a material with a glossy finish and in a wide range of stunning colors.
During the late 1950s and 1960s melamine tableware became highly fashionable for its affordability, durability and style.

Melamine dishes are easy to use and easy to clean with no worries about breakage.
Even though its basically unbreakable and resistant to odor absorption, it is prone to scratches (that's one of the reasons melamine went out of style during the 70's).
A lot of old pieces have some usage wear to them. Even greater the joy when you find pieces that are in great condition! I have heard about fixing scratches with Plastic Polish, all though i haven't tried that myself (yet).

Final note, love your vintage melamine and care for it, don't put it in the microwave or dishwasher. There are people who do, and if it works, good for you, but i wouldn't risk or recommend it.

Melamine dishes are perfect to bring along on a picnic and very convenient for families with young children. And for us, of whatever age, with a definite love for pretty vintage housewares. A set of Melamine in your kitchen really brings out that retro feel!

(ps click the images to go to the shoplistings if you want flaunt some melamine dishes in your own kitchen)

Time for Westclox

Really looks like we have a very stylish Westclox alarm clock. Appears to be from the Big Ben Ladies series.

Westclox almost always stamped the date of manufacturing on the clock. To find the actual date of manufacturing, you have to go inside. Many times the date is stamped on the inner side of the plate of the movement.

Hm. Does not sound like something i should go and do. I know myself. I will start out confident. Get a screwdriver and open that beauty up. Looking inside i get puzzled. Trying to figure out what exactly that plate of movement should be? Laughing at myself. Why did i think it would be obvious and in your face? Of course you should look under something. So you have to move things around on the inside. Ohoh. There you go. That wasn't hard. But then, i would have the date. Joy. But all of a sudden the clock won't close as well as it did before.
I know myself. I have to leave that one alone.

So if you want to go on the hunt, you can pick the clock up in my shop as is. With a small stain on the lower inside and with some scratches on top. But with a lot of style, class and attitude.

Blue Bird Friendship

I recently talked about my parting problems when selling vintage finds. It's not only me. I see it happening around me now too.
Remember Ukkie? He quickly became good friends with the wise blue owl. I warned him that most of the vintage finds here in our home are only on a temporary stay with us, as house guests until they go to their new homes. But he got attached anyway. So now blue owl has sold and found a new home and Ukkie is a bit sad.

The risk i knew i was taking

When i started listing vintage finds in my Etsy shop and looking through sellers eyes on recent thrift hunts, i knew i was taking a risk.
A risk i wanted to take.
One i would run into very soon.
Here is it.

I bring items home and before i know it i fall in love what is standing right in front of me. I already connected with it and don't want to part. Listing it? Selling it? No way! This must stay here. Ohoh. These are no good business manners. Shouldn't do it. Sometimes i do, sometimes i overwin and they do get listed.

And then there are the safe thrifts. The items that really are my style. Ismoyo style. Even so, the moment i lay eyes on it in the thriftshop/at the fleamarket/churchsale, i just know i won't ever feel the need to keep it forever. But if nobody would pick it up from my store, i wouldn't mind to have it in the collection either. So safe thrifts are listed.
Allthough sometimes safe thrifts turn into keepers when my Love sees them. He is just like me. Oh no, she can't leave! She needs to stay with us! Ohoh. Here we go again.

* The incredibly stylish salt and pepper cats in the first photo were the first where i felt the risk. Haven't listed them yet. They are currently living in our kitchen. Still pondering if, when and how i would list them.
* The olive green sugar and cream set were decided upon even before i picked them from the shelf. These would be in my kitchen for the years to come. Yes. It's that serious. ;)
* Made myself to decide to list the pretty girl waiting for her bus. I am fond of her, so if nobody scoops her up, i am happy to keep her here. She's in the shop. (until Love sees her and makes me unlist)

Happy Thrifting Times

You know how you sometimes see blog posts about great thriftshop finds and while looking at the photos you are, in a way, sharing in the joy, but you think to yourself i wish i had such a great thrift score too! I had one this morning! Not only was the weather gorgeous and perfect for a walk to the local thrift, but there were so much goodies waiting for me, it made my heart jump!

The little plaque in the back is signed on the front, but i can't seem to discipher it (something i have a problem with more often) The back says Ingalside Farm. The adorable boy is surrounded by toys and animals. The text says "What are little boys made of? (2x), Snips and Snails and puppy dog tails That's what little boys are made of.
A little googling taught me that it comes from an old American nursery rhyme. One of those things you just don't know when you didn't grow up here.

The oval plates? I'm in love. I'm planning on using them for the special easter breakfast. They're vintage Corning Decor Dinner Ware. Oval plates with lovely brown decorative border. One of them has a tiny chip on the bottom. I love them anyway. Looked online, found one spot where the same plate was offered for 25 dollar. Makes me even happier, i paid only one buck each!

And all the vintage jars where the best find. Well i didn't actually found them myself, the lady from the store noticed me browsing through the craft drawer. She said, hold on, somebody just brought some stuff in you might like. And did i! They are filled with all these pretty vintage beads and embellishments. How much fun will i have going through them all!

Funny thing was, that in between all the jars of beads, there were these two bright salt and pepper tins. Love the colorful design and i was hoping that they might be filled with beads too so i picked them up. They are empty but i still like them.
And i also found another small plaque, from Hallmark 1972. A Sarah Kay like girl talking to a cute bird. A friend is someone who listens with the heart. Both of the plaques will go in my kitchen where i'm starting to get quite a collection of vintage plaques including cute animals.

Plus and those are not in the pictures, i picked up a couple of inspirational looking vintage craft magazines. I have yet only flipped through them, i will make scans once i have the time to sit down with them.
Oh, i almost forgot, i also found a milkglass vase to go with my white milkglass vase collection! I got four now, will make a picture when i have more. They look so pretty grouped together, i should put some flowers in!

Mushroom buckets

Triple score! Found at the fleamarket in Park Slope, Brooklyn. I like walking the market, but it is small and mostly overprized. Still a stroll can be usefull when you end up with a triple score like these vintage buckets with mushroom lids! They fit inside each other when empty, and are of great size (large one is 9,5" high). I had to do an intensive cleaning, but now that they are sparkling clean i ♥ them!

no title

So busy. So busy. Where does time go. Not even came up with a title for this post. Nothing pops up and i don't want to take time to sit down and ponder. Not important today.
I am doing good, looking forward to my trip to London and Amsterdam, but kinda freaking out if i think about the amount of work still has to be done before i leave. Ohohoh.
I love the fact that all projects are finished for my book. Now it's the actual writing part. You know, tutorials so that people actually figure out how to make the projects on their own.
I will get it done. Some way.
With that said, what are the pictures with this post? Thrift scores!
Two small decorative plates. (yes i really needed those!) There is no makers name on the bottom, but the print is very seventies.
How happy was i when i found these vintage craft magazines? Very delighted! They are called 'The Workbasket' and are focused on making crafts and making money doing so. Most are from the fifties. When i got to the register, the man behind the counter told me that just an half hour before me someone bought a whole stack of the magazines! There were more??? Well, at least that person left a couple for me to find.
I was on my way to do grocery shopping when i saw this item out on the curb. Immediately i knew i could fix it up and make it into a pretty display for my collectibles. I know, it's meant to put potted flowers on. But groceries were needed. So i decided if it would still be there on my way back i would bring it home. I think i never did grocery shopping as fast as this time! Ha. It was still waiting for me when i got back. Now it's waiting for modge podge and pretty papers. But that will wait until i come back from my trip.

Mail sent and mail received

Yesterday was a wonderful mail day. I got some mail sent out and there was some mail received. By me and by people who were waiting to get something from me.
First of all, Suki has been sent on to the first part of her journey!

Then there was the email from Mandy saying that she received my Pay it Forward crafts. I made her two mini (3"x3") fabric art pieces. One with one of my illustrations turned into a felt applique and one with a felt flower on the front. I added two bottlecap magnets with images taken from my vintage postcard collection.
More surprises arrived at new homes. I did a cute and crafty swap with Roxanne and she got the goodies I've sent her. I don't have a picture of all the goodies i put in the box, but do have a picture of what i made for her. I felted this little bear like animal for her. I found this pretty box which made a perfect little home, it fitted like a glove!


Last month i was the very lucky winner of this gorgeous milk glass set from the wonderful blog at happydash! It took awhile for it to arrive here, due to the wonderful service at my local post office (yes, this is sarcastic).
But let's say it was just to build up anticipation and my joy was even greater when it finally did arrive! It is soooo gorgeous i can't even explain. The two cups and plates with their lovely prints and the shape of the plates resemble painters tablets. Oooohhh... loving it, thank you Tonya for spoiling me with these!
And i got even more spoiled when i opened up a surprise package from Jonah of Maluhia Designs. The prettiest and cutest fabric! I really needed to catch my breath for a second. I can't think of any crafty project that is so wonderful that i will be able to really cut in these fabrics. But i'm also aware they are meant for me to use. Maybe one day i'll think of something. Thank you sooo much for this amazing treat!

3 + 3 = very happy me!

A very happy me after a thriftstore hunt. In the first shop i found these three wonderful Pyrex bowls.
Cheap and in great condition = Love!

On to the next thriftshop where i found these three cups!
Same maker as the bowls, matching designs, it just had to be that i found them on the same day!

Another thing 3. The day before yesterday me and my Love had our 2 year wedding anniversary. He came home from work with 3 gifts, a huge hersey kiss, a cute soft pink lion and 3 red roses, 2 for each year married and one for the next.

What time is it?

I didn't have a clock in my workspace yet.
Yes, i wear a watch and my cellphone shows the time, but for only one dollar i needed this clock. I assume you understand.

I love the Queens thriftshops. Haven't found a lot yet, but there are a couple of good ones around. And unlike the ones in Manhattan, in Queens you can still find some thriftshop prizes.

If you're anything like me, you want to see a closeup picture of the cuteness going on inside the clock.