Pretty Pretty Pyrex
It’s not a secret that I am a total sucker for pretty dishes. I come by it honestly. My grandma had something like 12 different sets of dishes, and my mom probably has ten. I have three different sets at my house (and I’ve donated two other sets in the past five years because I fell out of love with them). And then I have my Pyrex collection.
This stack of mismatched patterns is probably one of my very favorite things ever. I just can’t get over how pretty they are all mixed up together. At the beginning of last year I didn’t have a single piece of Pyrex. And look at how it’s grown! I recently added a few pieces, but they come with a story. You might remember back sometime in October when I happened across 22 of these saucers at the thrift store. I brought them home, all 22 of them, with absolutely no idea what I would do with them. But I just couldn’t leave them there. It seemed wrong. Well, the internet came to the rescue and provided pretty much the most perfect solution there ever could have been. And this is where the story comes in.
When I posted these pictures of my newly acquired Pyrex saucers on flickr, they caught the eye of a man named Jeff. Turns out Jeff is a collector of this particular pattern. We got to chatting in the comments of one of my photos and come to find out he is more than just a collector. He is a SERIOUS collector. Like, he has service for 75 in this pattern kind of serious collector. (I know, it blows my mind too.) But he just so happened to be short on saucers. And it just so happened that I had 22 of them in perfect condition that I had no idea what to do with. You see why the internet is awesome, right? We arranged a trade, and I boxed up my 22 saucers with lots of newspaper and bubblewrap and shipped them more than 2,300 miles across the country.
And in return, Jeff sent me a few pieces from his collection. And we are both happy. And I can hardly even believe our good fortune. My saucers went to the one person on this planet who happens to have service for 75 in this particular pattern, EXCEPT for saucers. And not only did I get four new pieces for my collection, now I feel totally justified in buying those 22 little plates for no reason other than to make sure they didn’t fall into the wrong hands. I’m still in shock that everything worked out so well.
After Jeff looked through his stash to find something to trade and he told me about those blue bowls on the top, which were nice, but when he mentioned he had a pink pie pan that he could send I freaked out. Pink, Pyrex and Pie, all in the same vintage dish? It was too good to be true. I don’t know why I’m STILL so in awe of this whole series of events. We did this trade clear back in November, and I am just getting around to posting about it (read, too busy to take pictures of my new presents until last night. Sometimes being busy is totally lame!) and it is still just amazing to me.
This little bowl from Jeff is another of my very favorites. I’ve loved these little hot air balloons since I found out they existed, and I am so happy he was willing to send them so I could add them to my growing collection. Seriously, they are just so cute! Actually, most Pyrex is just plain pretty.
Anyway, I’ll stop gushing. I think I’m dangerously close to looking like a crazy person blabbering on about the amazingness of the internet, and it’s power to bring like minded people together and blah blah blah. Cough…Ahem. The moral of this story is when you go the thrift store and see something amazing and totally useless, like a stack of 22 bluegrass saucers, you should buy them. Immediately. Because you never know who needs them. And when you find that one person in the world who does need them, it just might give you warm fuzzies for months. Also, Pyrex is totally awesome. The End.
pinksuedeshoe 
PYREXAMANIA LIVES ON!!!!! I am an addict for pyrex
I love that story! I’m a pyrexic too and love to collect it. Finding a bargain piece in a thrift store is just so exciting and my kind of adventure 🙂
I agree! When I find a nice piece I make it my business to find a good home for it. My love for Pyrex led my friend to e-mail me your link. I have service for 30-40 in the gold butterfly and several of the baking pieces. If you come across any napkin rings or glassware, not the mugs, I’m your girl. 🙂
I adore your collection–even more so after you pointed out the hot air balloons!!
Also, I’m glad I’m not the only one who impulsively buys sets at Thrift Stores! This December I was so obsessed with a set of Christmas dishes, my sister ran out to buy them for me!
I am in lust with your Pyrex collection. I have a few vintage pieces but they pale in comparison to your lovely finds.
Pink,
Yep. This is pretty awesome! I think it is totally OK for you to still be so excited about it. Love your new pieces and your collection is so pretty. My favorites are the pinks and the blues. What a fun thing to share.
xo -El
That’s a match made in Pyrex heaven if I ever heard one! LOVE that story. I’m more of a pottery girl and have a pretty great bowl collection. I will keep my eyes open for stranded saucers, though, now that I know it might bring a generous stranger like Jeff into my life! Pink Pyrex Pie Plate is the bomb.
Ahh… I am a fellow glassware lover. I particularly love pyrex. But I also particularly love depression glass, carnival glass, jadite, milk glass… I could go on and on…
I think I need a bigger house. Or a better way to display my little loves.
Happy Thursday! 🙂
What a wonderful story 🙂 Your pictures of your collection are beautiful. You enspire me to look closer as I walk through the local thrift store. Thanks for new ideas. My kids think it is so cool your linked to e-mail and not blogspot. We love your great daily posts.
I might just have to start collecting some Pyrex. I think they are so pretty!! What an awesome story. And you can gush all you want.
Love your collection and the story. It just amazes me to think that the Pyrex I have in my cupboard which were received as wedding gifts 38 years ago are now vintage!
Pyrexmania? Pyrexic? There is a big bad world I did not know existed. Wow.
I’m all about banana split dishes, so if you see those, um, buy them. 😉
xox
I think the internet is amazing as well. Did you hear about that homeless guy with the “god given” radio voice, who is now not homeless and working for the Cleveland Cavaliers? It truly is amazing! awesome story and awesome pyrex. I really like the hot air balloon one too.
This story is 2 parts amazing and 1 part hilarious… only because it’s true! 🙂
I so wanted to know what you got for your trade!
And it was very kismet that you found saucers and he didn’t have saucers but he did have pink pie plates.
And I haven’t been teaching English for almost two years now, so I hope I used kismet correctly in that sentence.
Ooh, I love the hot air balloon bowl, too, and the Pink Pie Plate couldn’t be more perfect. I love when stuff like that works out so amazingly well! Though I am disappointed that I won’t be receiving a piece of pie on one of those saucers with 21 of your other closest friends. 🙂
I also got Pyrex for wedding gifts 38 years ago and had not had an appreciation for them until I read your blog, and I am seeing Pyrex in a new light. (I think it is the colors you show.) I have seen some pink Pyrex in a store window on my way to work and want to go in and check the price and condition in case you might want it. Will let you know.
Love your pyrex. I recognized some of those as patterns my Grandmother and Great-Aunt had…
I love the blue bowl you shared at the end…
By the way, I’m totally jealous of your Japanese tape collection.
Love this story! the Internet is awesome and amazing. Were it not for it, we would sadly not know each other. Sad thought.