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! You can find the recipe on her site HERE.
If that blow mold wasn’t so orange, I may have mistaken it for an apple.
Linking with Nifty Thrifty Tuesday,
Debby
Even if they were intended for different things you still got some great items. Love that blue sewing box. It is beautiful. I don’t imagine you can cook in the jello mold but I know you will come up with another good use. I had to laugh when I saw the pumpkin…..you sure can spot those things.
ThrifterSisters
You have a Goodwill next door to Target? HEAVEN!!!! You lucky gal:-)
That sewing box is the perfect color. Were you able to get the price off of it? Why do they do that??!!
~Erica
Pamela
That is the prettiest cake carrier I have ever seen!
Yes, I am back but I’ve been following you all along on fb!
I am finally back in Ontario yahoo!!
Carlene @ Organized Clutter
I thought it was a hat box! Cool!
Shara
I bought that same pan and I baked a cake it in not long ago. So, I say try it. Why not? Go back and get all those JellO molds – NOW you know what to do with them! 🙂
DaiseyJayne.com
Wonderful finds, that sewing box is so sweet! And that cake, to die for!!
Diane
Very funny! Lucky too– my thrifts aren’t even open on Mondays.
Jill
It’s a good thing you went in!! That really is a beautiful cake carrier!! And I love the blow mold!
Musings from Kim K.
You had me at Halloween blow mold. You probably knew that though. You really need to let us know how that cake recipe turns out. It looks AMAZING!
Vickie @ Ranger 911
Now I would have known it was a sewing basket, I mean a FABULOUS sewing basket, but that sure looks like a bundt pan to me. I’ve watched My Big Fat Greek Wedding a hundred times, and I know what a bun, bund, bundt cake looks like. 🙂
Do you look good in prison orange?
TARYTERRE
LOVE the blow mold.
[email protected]
I would have risked thrift jail for that sewing basket too. You are a very lucky lady!!!
Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces
Great finds, Pam…and I might or might not have dug into a cart myself before…
Barbara Shores ~ Village Folk Art
I have a pan JUST LIKE yours and I use it for baking. I am sure it could be used for jellos too. Love the Pumpkin mold. As for the yummy recipe…it looks sinfully divine.
suzieQ
Target and a Goodwill? Deadly combination, my friend. Why would anyone mark the top of that sewing basket? I deal with price stickers placed RIGHT on the maker’s marks…coincident? Nope. I think there might be some passive aggressiveness going on, anyone can correct me if they think otherwise. I don’t paw through the bins, but I do give it an eyeball check for anything special. Funny, I would have thought cake pan, too.
Does anyone know of any problems from either using a pan like that for Jell-o or for baking?
Vintage/Retro Collectables
Great finds and need a piece of that cake! 🙂
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!
[email protected] 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
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.
Olive
The sewing box is simply pretty. I have broken up with my Goodwill. Again.
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.
Marissa
Great finds Pam! You have a very good eye!!!!
Shabby chic Sandy
Great finds! I love your “cake carrier” 🙂 That real cake looks yummy–minus the walnuts 🙂
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!
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. 🙂
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