October is not just the start of "Spooky Season", it's also the start of blow mold season! Like me, you may have fond childhood memories of these lighted plastic pieces glowing in windows and yards during the holidays. Halloween and Christmas are by far the most popular holidays for blow molds, but you can also find Easter, Thanksgiving, even the Fourth of July.

The blow mold process is similar to that of glass blowing. The first plastic blow molding machine was developed by Enoch Ferngren and William Kopitke, two inventors who sold the equipment and patent to the Hartford Empire Company in 1938. Blow molds started gaining popularity in the 1940s, and have been produced

ever since. 

 

Here are a few of my favorite Halloween blow molds 

 

 

Like many collectibles, older designs can be harder to find, and it seems that prices have risen significantly in the last few years. There are multiple clues to look for when determining your blow mold's age. Many blow molds are marked on the bottom with a company and even a year. More common brands found in our area include Empire, Union Products, General Foam Plastics Corp, and Bayshore. If a blow mold has a barcode, it was likely made in the 1970s or later. The light cord can't always be used as a dating clue as those are easily replaceable and available for purchase at stores like Walmart or Michaels. 

This website is a great resource for dating your blow molds: https://blow-molded.com/

New blow molds can still be found today at stores like Lowes and Ace Hardware.

~ Mallory ~  

 

Mallory's instragram is Secondhandchic_pgh and you can follow her here https://bit.ly/3QvcwWi , between blog posts.  She also makes some of her finds available for sale, check out those offerings on https://linktr.ee/Secondhandchic    

 

Check out the weekly estate sales at  -  PittsburghEstateSales.com

Plan and prepare to pick

 

October 14, 2022
I usually limit myself to choosing two or three estate sales to visit a month. I aim to be intentional with my picking; to leave each sale feeling satisfied and excited to add new pieces to whichever collection I’m expanding that day. When I was growing up, my grandmother was very intentional with the sales that she chose to visit, which might be where this habit comes from. Once I’ve selected the sales I hope to visit, I make a plan. This plan usually involves cleaning out the back seat of my car and laying a shag tarp down in hopes of finding a beautiful new armoire or loveseat for my living room. Next, I set a budget for myself. It is so easy to get overwhelmed when you’re visiting a sale. Definitely do your homework before you go to see which payment methods they accept. To keep me on budget, I’ll usually take out some cash and limit myself to the amount of bills that I bring.  

Now that I’ve got my money together, my car is prepped and ready for any transport I need to do, all that is left is to make your short list of ‘wants’ or what I refer to as ‘Not Leaving Without’.
Usually you have an idea of what is going to be featured at a sale, but it can be overwhelming once you arrive. Have a short list of ‘wants’ or things that you should keep an eye out for. This list should act as a guide for you. Think about the pieces you already have at home. What’s missing? What needs something new added to it to complete the final look? What could use a vintage scarf lining to spruce up the fall decor in your home? Be intentional with your picking!

 
I have found the majority of my most treasured pieces through estate sale picking or thrifting. It is crucial that you keep your intentions set and your actions focused on getting done whatever job you came to do. By setting a budget, prepping, researching, and creating a short list of ‘wants’, you alleviate more time for picking and less time for what feels like aimless wandering.

 
What is your pre-picking ritual? Do you make a plan to hunt or are you a “decide in the moment” type of person?

 
Be thankful, be kind,
-Kat W.