Someone once told me that the celebrity who recieves the most mail from prison inmates was Tina Yothers, the actress who played Jennifer, the youngest daughter on the television show Family Ties. Even long after the show was off the air, she received hundreds of fan letters from prisoners every day. Apparently it was one of the only sitcoms approved to play on closed-circuit incarseration cable networks, and Tina Yothers was as close as these men were going to get to blonde ambition. Tina Yothers grew up to have black hair and appear on reality TV weight loss shows, but what can you do? The heart wants what the heart wants.
If you haven’t seen Family Ties in a while, here are the four things you need to know: 1. It’s tremendous. 2. It’s about a family in Columbus Ohio headed up by former hippies with their 1980’s neoconservative teenage children. 3. Michael J Fox was the breakout star, and ever since, when a child is less cool than their parent, it is affectionately referred to as “Alex P. Keaton syndrome.” 4. Apparently, in addition to America’s prison population, former president Ronald Reagan was also a huge fan. Know who else is a fan?
…dun dun dun dun…ME.
A few weeks ago I wrote a post about reliving my love of 80’s television through copper pudding molds and highlighted every show BUT Family Ties. I didn’t even remember until my friend Tracy mentioned it in the comments, which, is kinda shocking, because now that I am watching it again (fist bump to you, Netflix), I realize how many of my adult fixations root back to this show. I can’t go into these things in detail outside Family Ties cyber fan forums, and even I am not that hard core, so let’s just say it’s deep y’all. Deep.
I meant to take pictures sooner but I feel like it’s not done. It’s only the beginning. I have about a dozen more already — not enough to cover another wall, but enough to get a different party started (but more on that later!)
To be honest, I’m stunned how quickly and cheaply I amassed this menagerie. Not even four months, maybe? Nearly every thrift store I have visited has had at least 2 copper molds, usually priced less than $2. The most I have paid for one so far is $6.99 for an eagle. And that still seemed like a good deal, because I might need to bust out a patriotic eagle jello mold one of these days (that’s my Alex P. Keaton syndrome showing). My personal favorites are the pineapples and the cat. I’m desperate to find a flamingo. One day. One day…
The dream continues!
Christy
IN AWE OF YOUR COLLECTION!!! LOVE IT!!!
Alexandra
AMAZING collection, and I hope you find your flamingo. But I must know – how do you keep them so shiny? I have a vintage copper tea pot warmer (from my parents’ youth!), and it looks a bit too … experienced for my taste.
aunt peaches
Honestly, only two of them so far are real copper. Everything else is copper-tinted tin of some kind, and/or varnished. No polishing required. Some are clearly made for decoration more than practical cooking. Not that it will stop me from serving a giant fish jello one of these days.
Alexandra
Oh ok, that explains it. But I hope you’ll also make a pineapple jelly and post pics! 😀
Jane
You could try polishing it up and then spray clear-coating it. That’s what my mom had done (professionally) to a silver teapot she had. (The outside only, obviously 🙂 )
Alexandra
Jane, that’s a great idea – especially as I hadn’t even thought to research whether there’s a professional option! Thank you. 🙂
Sherrie
I use an acid and salt. If I have a squeezed-out lemon half, sprinkle it with table salt (heavily) and scrub the copper. Keep adding salt as needed and you will be amazed. Rinse well and dry. If you don’t have the lemon, vinegar in a sponge or on a cloth plus salt will do just as well.
Amy
I knew Family Ties was set in Ohio, but I didn’t know it was set in Columbus (I’m originally from C-bus so I can’t believe I didn’t know this fact). The kitty is my favorite out of your collection, but I really like the traditional fish as well. Also, I might just be being silly here, but I think brick wallpaper would look awesome behind those.
aunt peaches
Brick wallpaper is never silly 😉
aunt peaches
PS: Just remembered, 6? maybe 7 years ago I had lunch at the Old Mohawk in Columbus (best chicken salad sandwich ever, btw, and I am discriminating when it comes to chicken salad)….and, if I recall, they had brick walls and some copper pots mixed in with original art. It was very fetching.
Erik
Dang! Aunt Peaches! That is a pretty wall!
aunt peaches
I KNOW. I’m pretty darn fond of it 🙂
tracylee
Watched every episode on Netflix as well, kept saying (out loud, to no one but the dog) “this is SUCH a good show! Why don’t more people watch this?!” 🙂
Um, also…. Quite sure that my APK crush was inching its way up from the depths of my psyche when I decided to date my husband.
Amanda
I was thinking… Have you thought of outlining each mold about a half inch out? I think that might ‘finish’ the look and give it a kind of Julia Child-esque feel. Just a thought!
aunt peaches
Maybe if they were on pegboard — that’s the true Julia “look” 🙂
Belinda
I too have copper and tin jello molds hanging in my kitchen and they are awesome!
Gayla
I thought I was so old style…maybe if you wait long enough it will come back?…I only have 7 of them (I saw some on your wall) and have put them on the wall where ever I have lived. I like them…really don’t know why but it must be memories. Mom always had them on her walls. Thank you for loving them as much as I do!
Deb in Oklahoma
Whooo, that is one SHINY wall, by golly! I like the pineapples.
Deb 'N Cats
I have one of the “plain” circular molds. You’d spend 6 hours making 3 different boxes of jello. unmold the thing and fill the hole in the center with an 8 oz jar of mayo. I hate mayo so I would put cool whip in there. I’ve got a heart., Years and years ago, Jell-O actually had small ones you could get for proofs of purchase. I managed to get the set of 4. I’m at work so I don’t remember exactly what they are; star, heart and something else. I may have to get these down and actually use mine. Your collection is astounding and I salute you.
GreenCanary
How would you feel about a CAST IRON FLAMINGO MOLD?! It’s technically for casting concrete flamingos, but it’s still AWESOME. You could make an entire flock of flamingos that could then TAKE OVER THE WORLD.
http://www.concretemachineryco.com/proddetail.asp?prod=202-A
aunt peaches
HAhahahaha!!! Now THAT is an idea!!!
Jane
I had a couple of these on my wall too! I was especially fond of the lobster mold because I thought it looked like…. something other than a lobster. Made me snicker every time I saw it 😀 I have a very nuanced sense of humour as you can see.