I popped in to Goodwill today, not really expecting to find anything.
Monday mornings are not usually a good thrifting time for me. Sure people have dropped off donations over the weekend, but the employees are normally still sorting and pricing on Mondays at my stores. The goods don't normally make it out of the back room until Tuesday or so.
Is it sad that I know my thrift stores intimately?
Anyhow, I was on my way to Target next door, so I thought I'd swing on in for the heck of it.
This little Halloween blow mold is marked Empire Plastics 1981 on the back.
That is the excellent thing about Empire Plastics blow molds. There's not a lot of guessing about how old they are, because they are stamped on the bottom with the year they are made.
Sort of dummy proofing it for us thrifters.
OK, I need a little help on this one.
I bought it to make an apple walnut cake that I found on Pinterest (where else?). It wasn't until I was driving home, all proud of myself for finding a cheap bundt pan, that I realized it was probably a jello mold.
Can you make a cake in this or is it just used as a jello mold? And who the heck uses a jello mold these days?
So I was all excited about my finds so far and was walking to the cash register, when I spied a row of carts full of stuff just waiting to be put on the shelves.
But it's only Monday, don't they know my Monday thrift shop theory!
Now, normally I will follow behind employees putting stuff out, but I don't normally pick at the carts myself. They actually have a rule that you don't dig stuff out of the carts in process and they are fairly serious about it. I don't know what thrift store jail looks like and I don't plan on finding out.
Until today when I did not see a worker anywhere near the golden carts.
And I saw this poking up out of a mound of stuff.
OK, maybe I had cake on my mind, but I thought it was the prettiest cake carrier I had ever seen.
The basket stuff reminds me of the old-school laundry hamper that my mom used to have in her bathroom.
Again, let's just say I had cake on my mind, because after I got it home I realized it was not a cake carrier.
It's a sewing box.
Hence the bobbin thingies. And well worth risking a trip to thrift store jail.
So, why did I have cake on my mind?
I had seen this recipe for Chunky Apple Walnut Cake that Michelle at Bite By Michelle had posted a few weeks ago.
Source - Bite By Michelle
And I've been sort of obsessed with it. I mean, just look at that caramel glaze dripping over the edges!
If that blow mold wasn't so orange, I may have mistaken it for an apple.
Anonymous
What finds! Yep... I have to admit it; I would have picked up that 'cake carrier' too. Even better it is sewing basket (and I thought it was hat box)! I am also so jealous as I never find such goodies at our local Goodwill; ours is pretty pitiful due to rural region/type of population. Oh well. There is always the estate sales!!! GADawn
TracyMB @ Crows Feet Chic
Oh my gosh -- I've missed so much. Here you could have been in Thrifter's Jail and had I known I would have made you a jello salad with a file in it!! Great finds and I do love your first aid kit too. Your blog is lookin' beeyouteeful too Pam! As for the radish scent... yer on yer own there. I'll probably be able to pick that stuff up on clearance. 🙂
susie @ persimmon moon cottage
That vintage sewing box is so pretty! I would have thought cake carrier too. I hope that the $2.99price mark came off without leaving any stains. In my area the thrift stores like to staple price tags to fabric items like vintage pillow cases.
You always find the cutest things!
Shabby chic Sandy
Great finds! I love your "cake carrier" 🙂 That real cake looks yummy--minus the walnuts 🙂
Marissa
Great finds Pam! You have a very good eye!!!!
Lottie
What a darling sewing box! And thanks for the cake recipe. I think I'm obsessed with it now! BTW, I went to our GW on Saturday and EVERY parking space was occupied! Had to park down the street and walk back.
Olive
The sewing box is simply pretty. I have broken up with my Goodwill. Again.
darla
Who uses jello molds you ask? Not many people...that's why it's at Goodwill. Sorry, I couldn't help myself. 🙂 Love your blog and great finds.
Dawn@ We Call It Junkin.com
Don't feel bad for thinking the sewing box was a cake box, I thought it was a hat box! It's very pretty anyway. I would think you can bake in the pan, it's metal...shrugging. I hope you'll share this with my readers at my We Call It Olde Link-Up, a new party started this morning and goes til Saturday. Join us! -Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com
Linda @ A La Carte
Have you seen the fun 'wreaths' made from bundt pans and jello molds? Cute idea. Love the blow mold and oh my that cake is worth dreaming about!