I’ve been collecting vintage kitchenware for about five years or so. I’ve been gradually replacing my plain dinnerware, mixing bowls, and baking casseroles with more colorful and interesting versions from the 1940s and 50s. They go with my mid century modern style, and with all of the reports lately about exploding modern Pyrex, vintage dishes (which are often made of different materials) might even be safer. Plus, I just love vintage dishes. When one arrives at my doorstep or I spy a great piece at a flea market, it makes my day! Here are my most recent purchases:
Pyrex: I follow several Pyrex fan blogs online (Pyrex Love and The Pyrex Collective) and a lot of people buy their Pyrex mainly at thrift stores. I haven’t had much luck at the thrift stores around here, and when I do find Pyrex there, it is usually damaged (death by dishwasher). So most of my Pyrex comes from Ebay, vintage shops, and flea markets. I probably pay more for them, but they are better quality.
These are Pyrex baking dishes in the Flamingo Pink color. I got the pie plate at Flower Child in Cleveland, and the casserole came from Ebay. Both were a little grimy when I got them, but you can clean the white parts of Pyrex with the Mr Clean Magic Eraser, and it works pretty well.
These two mini baking casserole are often called Pixies, in turquoise and yellow. These are from Ebay. I’m sure I squealed with cute delight when I opened these 
Fransiscan Atomic Starburst: I’ve been coveting these dishes since seeing them on Alton Brown’s show Good Eats, and I found the serving platter at the Rose Bowl Flea Market when I was visiting Keith last summer. Of course, I bought it. (Keith said he knew I was going to buy it because of the way I was hugging it!). After that I decided that I was going to collect it as my main everyday dinnerware. It’s hard to find anywhere except Ebay, and it’s not cheap.
So I’m collecting it every so often. I found these saucers at Flower Child here in Columbus, and the cups I got on Ebay. For Christmas, I also got two dinner plates in this pattern.
Blue Heaven: There is a whole set of dinnerware in the Blue Heaven, but I only really care for these small highball glasses. I bought them specifically for making amaretto sours!
