While housebound due to Wednesday's snow and ice storm, I went ahead and gave my pie safe a face lift. (Are you as tired of this winter as I am?) I was glad to do this long overdo little project. And since I like fiddling around with display, it was a pleasant way to spend a quiet morning. Once I emptied everything out of the cabinet, I wiped down the wood and cleaned the glass so it was all ready to fill back up with my favorite vintage kitchenware.
My pie safe nestles into a narrow area of my kitchen. For the longest time, I searched for a cabinet that would fit this small space, but I was never able to find one. Plus, I wanted it to have glass doors so I could enjoy my cheerful collection. Luckily, about ten years ago on eBay, I came across a furniture maker down south whose specialty was pie safes. I contacted him and he was happy to make me a cabinet to my exact specifications.

Most pie safes have door panels of punched tin or mesh screens. Originally used as a place to store freshly baked goods right out of the oven, pie safes kept pesky flies away from cooling bread, cakes and other bakery items. Since my cabinet would only be used for display, I opted for glass in the doors and side panels to keep out pesky dust and allow a clear view of my whimsical kitchenalia.
Same stuff, refreshed arrangement. Let's take a closer look inside . . .


Above left: standing ready for tea time on the top shelf, a set of Steubenville Pottery in the Woodfield pattern. On the next shelf down, above right: vintage Japan pottery mixed in with new Majolica-style dessert plates. And there's the new addition, my charming stacking teapot!
Alongside my pie safe hangs a couple of useful folk art relics; a cat match safe and a Boston Terrier string holder.
Above left: my Nasturtium motif items feel like summer all year round. Above right: the small Jade-ite collection I amassed, before Martha Stewart sent the prices through the roof.
On the very top of the pie safe, below left: the kitschiest 1950's Androck sifter. Below right: My weakness for vintage metal pieces. (Do you remember my enormous picnic tin collection? Might be time to share those with you again.)

And finally, on the very bottom shelf, you'll find my cherished vintage tablecloths sporting colorful fruit and flowers.

From top to bottom, my pie safe has a new look. Of course, there's a good chance I may be the only one who notices it. But by simply moving things around,
I'm enjoying a fresh view of the splendid stuff that make me smile.
Susan
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