some favorites from my kitchen

today i thought i'd show you a few of my favorite items from around my kitchen. vintage pyrex is what really got me started on everything else vintage. now my love has expanded to so many other avenues, but kitchen items are still my favorite.

these are 2 vintage ads, the top is "the 6 best cake ideas of the year"

here are 2 more ads, welch's juice and a booklet of jam and jelly recipes

this shelf showcases most of my favorite items

here are sweet paterned juice glasses that my mom got for me, the bright owl was a gift from my friend christina, she brought it back from germany

here are a few of the pyrex patterns i have, the floral one is fireking, but i just loved the colors

pyrex plates, the lime green ones i found at an auction years ago and the turquoise set was a lucky thrift store find

on the right is a large platter i found at a thrift store and matches my red and turquoise kitchen perfectly, on the left is part of my growing collection of blue heaven china, my favorite

scott found this bell in the back of a car brought in for restoration, sweet gift for me

this collection is my bill/letter holder, the rooster bell and one of the best christmas surprises i've ever gotten! my mom has the same list maker in her kitchen, it's been there as long as i can remember. i found it's twin on etsy and she surprised me this past christmas with it.

awesome old maid cards, LOVE the graphics

an awesome party planning book

space take-off party, right up my alley!

sweet little cookbook, great cover graphics and underneath you can see my vintage formica topped, chrome legged dining table.

Karma Rags Fashion Show

I had the best time last night at the Karma Rags vintage and handmade fashion show. It was held at The Flying Monkey Arts Center which is a local non-profit that showcases all sorts of artsy things, from paintings and drawings by local artists to glass blowing and vintage stores. It's a really cool old building too.

There were 2 parts to the show, the first was all vintage clothing that can be found at Karma Rags. The second was handmade items from local ladies and a few more vintage pieces thrown in. Some of the handmade items were really creative, one dress was made from loofas and another from shredded medical records and paper cups!

Unfortunately, my little phone didn't capture many good runway shots, but I got some inside Karma Rags after the show. Look for me to be a part of next years show, Kitty's Vintage will be there!!

Here are some professional pictures taken at the event by The Huntsville Times:

Vintage Recipes

A few days ago I picked up a cookbook called Favorite Recipes of America: Vegetables from 1968. I'm only a few recipes in, reading not cooking, and some of the directions and ingredients just amaze me, so I thought I'd share!

A recipe for Asparagus Bearnaise calls for 1.5 tsp of MSG! This makes me smile because we've all but irradicated MSG and this recipe actually calls for it!

A recipe for Baked Green Beans and Mushrooms calls for 1/3 soup can milk. This threw me for a second. I was thinking, I've never heard of "soup can milk," then I realized this was the measuring device. I use things like that all the time, I've just never seen it in a cookbook! Another recipe for Cheesy Green Beans wants you to use 1 #303 can cut green beans. I'm sure we don't still have #303 cans, but I like that it's so specific

Here is a recipe that sounds completely terrible

Peas Chambourd

1 17oz. can peas with onions, drained
1/2 c. catsup
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1/3 c. grated parmesan cheese

Combine peas and onions with catsup, salt and pepper in greased casserole. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes

That just does not sound appetizing!

And here is a recipe that sounds simply divine!

Pineapple Honey

pineapple
1/8 c. lemon juice
7.5 c. sugar
butter
1/2 bottle Certo or 1/2 pack other pectin

Grind pineapple medium-fine, not to pulp. Measure 4 cups pineapple juice into a large saucepan. Add lemon juice and sugar. Add small amount of butter. Bring to a full rolling boil; boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; immediately stir in Certo. Skim off foam with metal spoon. Stir or skim for 5 minutes to cool slightly to prevent floating fruit. Ladle into glasses. Cover with paraffin

I guess that's all for now. I plan on trying out some of these recipes soon, so I'll let you know how they turn out!

Happy Friday!

Making New Friends

I think some people were just meant to be friends. Sometimes it takes you a lot longer to find that friend than you ever thought it would, but when you do find them, the search time doesn't seem to matter any more.

I have made a new friend, Jamie. We met because I posted that I was looking for enamel flower pins on craigslist. It took us about 2 months to actually meet, life always seems to get in the way, but since meeting, I've seen her almost every day.

We have so much in common, our love for vintage dresses, the truely elegant Audrey Hepburn look, the little white gloves ladies used to wear while grocery shopping, and the ever amazing Elizabeth Montgomery. She only has one kitty, but she's a real sweetheart.

Jamie is in the process of downsizing, so I get first look at all her amazing vintage items for Kitty's Vintage to sell, and a few that will stay in my personal collection. So, thank you craigslist for introducing me to my new friend!