mom’s house and me: tupperware

vintage photo Tupperware party

Over my Easter weekend visit, I connected with some of Mom’s vintage collectibles in a new way. I wrote about her milk glass here, and now it’s time for Tupperware! For as long as I can remember, her cabinets have been neatly packed with pastel leftover bins, harvest-colored pitchers, and other kitchen essentials ordered from Aunt Kathy’s parties in the 70s. Mom’s always been a practical shopper, so she bypassed the specialty items like frozen pop molds, instead stocking up on pieces for every day. And guess what? She still totes her fruit salad in the snappy Servalier bowl and drains her spaghetti in the sunny colander.

With four little ones swarming her ankles, Mom appreciated the shatter-proof plastic. These were (and still are) our family tumblers. Photo by Joe Vintage.

Tupperware pastel tumblers

She was a fan of cooking a big supper and stretching it over multiple nights, so our fridge was always stocked with rainbow leftover bins of all sizes. Little Wonders photo by Wise Apple.

Little Wonders pastel Tupperware bowls

This was our orange juice pitcher. Mom bought frozen concentrate, and I agonized over this darn thing, waiting for the icy ball to dissolve so I could have a slurp after a long trampoline session. Photo by A Treasure Hunt.

Orange Tupperware juice pitcher

She has these autumnal bowls with pleated lids from the Servalier line. If you spot the yellow one in the fridge before a party, you can bet it holds Mom’s fruit salad with sweetened condensed milk. Photo by The Passionate Flea.

Tupperware Servalier bowls

Mom’s nearly 40-year-old colander is the most ergonomic one I’ve ever used. They’re easy to find on Etsy, so I might snag this one from The Wild World.

Tupperware yellow colander

She doesn’t use her wagon wheel coasters much these days. I’d love to add their creamy sherbet colors to my Lustron, so I’ll ask whether she’s ready to pass these down next time I’m home. Photo by Atty’s Vintage.

Tupperware wagon wheel pastel coasters

Tupperware isn’t what it used to be. The company has expanded its offerings (food processors, insulated lunch totes, etc.), and you can still attend or host a party. But the plastic looks less hardy now, and the updated colors leave me cold. Since Mom’s collection has shown that the original Tupperware endures for decades, I’ll stick to raiding her stash and thrifting for the classics.

my teak bar gets a new cluster

Lustron dining room, Joan Savo painting, Danish modern bar, Danish teak candleholders, McCoy starburst planter, Shawnee confetti vase, Russel Wright Iroquois carafe, Russel Wright creamer and sugar bowl

Decorating my Lustron is a never-ending project. I’ve been filling out and reimagining every prefabricated nook for nine years, so I thought it would be fun to share my ongoing adventures in thrifting. Lately I’ve been playing with clusters on top of my Danish bar cabinet in the dining room corner.

Danish teak candleholders, McCoy starburst planter, Shawnee confetti vase, Russel Wright Iroquois carafe, Russel Wright sugar bowl and creamer

The McCoy black and white planter from Etsy was the sole decoration for months. Then the Russel Wright carafe, sugar bowl, and creamer that lived on the dining table took refuge on the bar because they were often jostled when Andrea worked on his computer in the dining room. So I decided to make them a permanent fixture and add a couple of tall pieces to the mix. I chose Danish modern teak candleholders (another Etsy score) and an aqua confetti vase by Shawnee pottery, found at Broad Street Antique Mall in Chamblee.

Here are resources for you to find similar treasures of your own:

Teak candleholders by Bee Haven Home // Starburst McCoy planter from Mamabirds Vintage // Aqua Shawnee confetti vase from Modernware // Reissued Russel Wright beverageware from Bauer Pottery

mom’s house and me: milk glass

We both like antiques, but she’s turn of the century, and I’m midcentury. She likes country accents, and I keep things modern. While my taste has changed a lot over the years, it’s always been really different from my mom’s. During my Easter visit to my family home in Louisiana, though, a few of her prized possessions appealed to me in a new way. I suddenly felt drawn to her milk glass collection, sherbet-colored Tupperware, and cornflower blue dishes. So, in honor of Mother’s Day, here’s the first post of a series that showcases some of Mom’s favorite stuff  . . . and my own spin.

Here’s how Mom does milk glass — casual, shabby chic storage in the kitchen.

Milk glass vase with utensils

And here are some milk glass pieces I’d be happy to host in my Lustron.

milk_glass_mosaic

Product info clockwise from top left:

Hattie Carnegie milk glass and rhinestone necklace from kiamichi7 on Etsy // Set of 3 gold-dipped vases from NellieFellow on Etsy // Danish modern milk glass and teak pendant from AvantGarden on 1stdibs // Paul McCobb brass and Vitrolite table from Black & Gold on 1stdibs