The first week of 2011 is drawing to a close, and on several fronts, it was an excellent one. One of the fronts was the shopping front, because any week that brings an abundance of vintage kitchen items is excellent.
I was particularly happy to find these three stainless steel canisters ...
since I already owned the flour and sugar canisters that go with them. Just seven days into the new year, and the Vintage Canister Reunification Project (a nonprofit organization that seeks to create complete canister sets and thus boost their resale value) has a success story to share.
Several vintage cookbooks came my way. It's not just any cookbook that can promise both baked goods and marital bliss.
I don't know about you, but I've often thought (and here's where the farm animals start to come in) that if I only knew how to craft a rooster out of gumdrops, some vague longing in my soul might be satisfied.
Well, friends, the news just gets better and better around here, because I found not only a volume of handy hints for the house and farm, but an entire book of instructions for favors made of candy. Including, yes, a rooster. And chickens. In fact, there are so many ideas for making favors out of gumdrops, chocolate bars and other assorted sweets, I can post instructions weekly from now through the end of the year. Or whenever I tire of it, whichever comes first.
It was also an excellent week on the 'aren't bloggers wonderful?' front.
Because wonderful Sue of the must-read Vintage Rescue Squad found this tin sign in an antique store and bought it for me. (And Linda helped her surprise me by providing my address.)
OK. I hardly know where to begin. First of all: pretty much nothing has the word "oodles" on it. Certainly nothing old. Absolutely nothing old and perfectly worn, like this is.
But it gets better. Because this is no mere sign. It is the nameplate for a cow stall. Yes, picture a dairy barn, and the sounds of gentle mooing and the steady munching of hay, and that sweet grain smell (but no other smells), and wooden stanchions each marked with a nameplate, and one of the nameplates is for a cow named Oodles.
You have to know that was one wonderful cow. Maybe a Holstein - I've always had a soft spot for Holsteins. Or, very possibly, a doe-eyed Jersey or Guernsey.
Since I couldn't find my toy Holstein (and don't tell me you don't have one) I substituted a few chickens and a pig in the photo.
It's really been quite a good week.
Congratulations on that wonderful sign!
Posted by: Retromamaramblings.blogspot.com | January 07, 2011 at 06:04 PM
Wait, those are stainless? Not aluminum? Cause my mom had a very similar set in "spun" aluminum. Wedding present, 1952. They're on my kitchen counter.
Also, this is a YES! Yes, please! vote for weekly instructions for making gumdrop farm animals!
Posted by: LuRay | January 07, 2011 at 07:25 PM
Love that sign and your "farm" commentary, being raised a farm girl myself. Long ago and far away....LOL! Enjoy "getting your eyes filled up" with your new sign! Thank you for stopping by my blog today.
Posted by: Kathy Uhrig | January 07, 2011 at 07:46 PM
Ohhh - that is a good question. Im putting it out there to the world: stainless or aluminum? I thought they were stainless because theyre made by a company called Steelmaster. Anybody know?
Jan 7, 2011 06:25:49 PM, reply-3TDJ5JZQV43M_4L89FVV577RF@typepad.com wrote:
A new comment from LuRay was received on the post An excellent week that included farm animals of the blog Oodles and oodles. If you would like to post a reply to this comment you can do so at the following URL:
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Comment:
Posted by: Barbara | January 07, 2011 at 09:26 PM
Loving the oodles sign and your first gumdrop creation should be a cow...in honor of that AWESOME sign. Glad your week had such good finds - still waiting for an estate sale here on the west coast. I SO NEED ONE!
Posted by: Laurie magpie ethel | January 07, 2011 at 09:43 PM
That oodles sign is incredible. You are so fortunate there are alert bloggers out there because I'm guessing this is a once in a lifetime find.
On the canisters: I'm no rocket scientist but I think a magnet will stick to stainless steel but not to aluminum. Plus I just think they're aluminum -- isn't stainless shiny? Gotta go, NASA is calling.
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 08, 2011 at 12:23 AM
NASA just hung up on me after reminding me that stainless steel appliances are not shiny.
Posted by: Into Vintage | January 08, 2011 at 12:26 AM
B - first - LOVE those robin canisters (will Spring ever come?). And Sue was very kind to get you your sign - sweet! I'll stay clear of the great aluminum (and how do You pronounce it?) and steel debate. I may be many things, but rocket scientist is not on my curriculum vitae...
Posted by: Julie | January 08, 2011 at 07:38 AM
The recipe books are a hoot. And your oodles sign is crazy cute...it's so cool to know there are blog friends out there to make sure the sign got to the right home!
Posted by: julie | January 08, 2011 at 08:30 AM
That sign is very cool! Leave it to Sue to find something amazing like that!
Posted by: Gina @ Vintage Junk in My Trunk | January 08, 2011 at 09:12 AM
You had a really great week of items ! I think that your Oodles sign takes the cake however.... what a wonderful gift !! GOOD FOR YOU ! And - I am going to second the vote on weekly instructions for making candy and gumdrop animals... I'll bet they are really cute.
Posted by: Lisa W. | January 08, 2011 at 02:03 PM
I'm certain a week couldn't get any better than lovely canisters and vintage farm animal stuff. Way to ring in the new year!
Posted by: Kate | January 08, 2011 at 04:46 PM
I love the sign! How perfect!
I love the book with the gumdrop figures too. I actually think that would be a fun way to decorate a cupcake for a child, or for the child within, so please do share the intructions. Pretty please?
The bird cannisters are charming. I wonder why we don't see things made with charm, or a whimsical sense of humor about them anymore? Or simply very well made things, out of good materials? I have an old set of cannisters that I love. They are so heavy, the lids fit perfectly, and the charm that they add to my kitchen makes me smile. I suppose that's why we love old things so much.
Posted by: Lena | January 08, 2011 at 04:50 PM
The sign is fabulous! You are one lucky girl! A cow named Oodles. So cool.
Posted by: Kim G. | January 08, 2011 at 06:27 PM
I'm speechless, that is too cool for school.
Posted by: georgiapeachez | January 09, 2011 at 07:44 AM
Nice post. I love it. Waiting your new posts. Thank you...
Posted by: Devremülkler | January 09, 2011 at 01:00 PM
LOVE the bird canisters. I have one from that set and have always considered it one of my favs. I would love gum drop animal instructions, what a fun way to cope with cold, snow, cold,snow and too much football.
The oodles sign is the best, such a good friend.
Posted by: Amy Stark | January 09, 2011 at 01:58 PM
I love projects like the vintage Canister Reunification Project. About steel or aluminum, steel is indeed magnetic and steel is quite heavy, aluminum is light. Last clue: has it printed 'stainless steel' on it?
(this is a joke)
The sign is cute too. Have a great week and more darling projects.
Posted by: LiLi M. | January 09, 2011 at 05:27 PM