Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Mockingbird Hill Cottage

  • About MHC
    • Disclosure
  • Dollhouses/Minis
    • Hummingbird Cottage
    • The Studio (Formerly TSP)
    • Dove Cottage
    • The Lake House
    • The Folk Art Dollhouse
    • The Modern Dollhouse
    • The Beacon Hill Dollhouse
    • Dollhouse Source List, Information and Tutorials
  • On the Road
  • Collecting
    • Roseville Pottery
    • McCoy Pottery
    • Egg Cups
    • Bakelite
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Archives for collecting

It’s Monday: What Do You Collect?

December 5, 2016 at 8:26 am by Claudia

12-5-snowymorning

The scene at 7 am this morning. Those slashes of light are snowflakes falling to the ground.

I sort of knew it was coming, but didn’t realize it would be anything more than the ‘snow showers’ predicted a few days ago. I think we’ve got about 2 inches – maybe less – out there. And it’s going to rain tomorrow, so it will be gone very quickly.

Pretty, though!

12-5-horses

We stopped to visit the horses yesterday.

12-5-research

But only after I finished working on Act 1 of The Comedy of Errors. Today: Act 2. Maybe even Act 3!

12-5-bungalowmystery

This was in the mailbox on Saturday. Another Russell H. Tandy cover illustration on The Bungalow Mystery, #3 in the series. This may be my favorite so far. I love the hat and suit that Nancy is wearing and the way she’s standing on the tip of her toes to see into that window.

I’ve done that myself!

12-5-nancydrewontable

I’m getting such pleasure from the “hunt.” Finding the books in unexpected places, in antique shops, in used bookstores, searching on Etsy and eBay – it’s all such fun. It’s the same way I feel whenever I’m on the hunt. Speaking of which, I haven’t been hunting for Roseville Pottery lately. It’s been pricey, with only a rare piece or two that is priced low enough for me to bid. I check in about once a week. And, unless something knocks my socks off, I have about all the McCoy Pottery I need or want, somewhere upward of 60 pieces. That isn’t to say I might not buy a piece or two, but only specific pieces that I’ve always wanted to add to my collection. Otherwise, I’m done.

But there’s still Wallace Nutting and Maxfield Parrish. And maybe an elusive Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs egg cup from 1939. So far, when they come up for auction, which is rarely, I’m always outbid. Curses! I would love nothing more than to add a few more to my collection.

I’m fascinated by collectors and what they collect; what intrigues them, what ignites that collecting passion. I know I’ve asked this question before, but how about an update? Tell me what you collect. Maybe it’s something you collected long ago and have since passed on or sold (I did that with vintage Fiesta) or maybe it’s something that you have long collected or maybe it’s something that recently struck your fancy! Are you still collecting or have you decided to thin out your collections? Where and how do you display your collections?

I’ll share my current list: anything Bakelite, egg cups – especially children’s figural egg cups, McCoy Pottery in those sherbet McCoy colors, Roseville Pottery, books, Wallace Nutting tinted photographs (my most recent passion), Maxfield Parrish prints, vintage china and pottery, vintage Shiny Brite Christmas ornaments and vintage Nancy Drew mysteries with cover illustrations by Russell H Tandy, and miniature pottery. That’s all I can think of at the moment, though I’m sure I’ll think of something else as the day goes on and add it to the list.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

Filed Under: animals, coaching, collecting, Shakespeare, snow 87 Comments

Mountains, Books and a Surprise

December 1, 2016 at 10:02 am by Claudia

The view outside my office window this morning:

12-1-secondview

The one positive in losing all the leaves on the trees – a better view of the mountains. These, by the way, are the Gunks I referred to in a previous post. The Shawangunk Ridge. It’s a continuation of the Appalachian Mountains and it extends to the Catskill Mountains.

Rock climbers love the Ridge. They come from far and wide to climb here.

The UPS driver dropped off a package yesterday morning. As I wasn’t expecting anything via UPS, I was intrigued.

It was from my sister.

12-1-shawl

She made this beautiful shawl for me! Isn’t it lovely? Meredith and I are both partial to gray. (As my hair turns more and more silvery, gray seems to suit me.)

I often wear a shawl around the house in the mornings and I planned on taking one that I made years ago with me to Hartford. But this one is much, much prettier! So I will be taking this beauty instead.

12-1-shawlsideview

My sister is very talented. I love her dearly.

I’m going to start in on my research today. This morning I realized that I leave for Hartford in a little over two weeks. There’s much to be done before that date, including buying Don’s Christmas presents!

Tomorrow is the tour of the Catskill Animal Sanctuary. We’ve become members of the Sanctuary because we want to support what this incredible facility does. We are joining in honor of Pliers and Ashley, our elderly horse friends, who were saved and rescued by the Sanctuary. I’ll have lots to share with you this weekend.

The rain has finally stopped. It was rather torrential for two straight days, which will certainly help our water table. I’m grateful today for a peek at the sun and for clouds swirling and moving as this front moves out.

12-1-drews

I’m waiting for another Nancy Drew, soon to arrive in the mail. It will be nestled in the space between Anne of the Island  and The Secret at Shadow Ranch, as it’s #3 in the series. I had to do some shelf rearranging yesterday, moving some books to other shelves in order to accommodate my little collection. That reminds me: I need to keep a lookout for more Hardy Boys for Don – maybe a little stocking stuffer or two.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: animal rescue, books, collecting, Meredith 42 Comments

Wee Decorations and Nancy Drew

November 29, 2016 at 9:14 am by Claudia

Two nights in a row of less than ideal sleep means that I haven’t started my text research for The Comedy of Errors  yet, but I have plenty of time. Hopefully, tomorrow or Thursday.

I did run some errands yesterday and added a few holiday touches to the dollhouse(s).

11-29-christmasfireplacehc

I found these tiny little bottlebrush trees at Michael’s. I ran the idea by Caroline and she gave it a thumbs up.

11-29-christmasentrance

I now have four of these Petite Princess chests – two were purchased by me, and two were gifts. I love them.

In hopes of pleasing the resident of the Loft (whose name has yet to be determined) I added a little tree to the coffee table.

11-29-christmasloft

The bowl of Christmas candies was a part of this month’s SquintBox.

And then I decorated the somewhat hideous door to the Loft, with another Michael’s find:

11-29-loftdoor

The door is very wide and made of plastic and I do not like it. I’m thinking of changing it out with something else – maybe french doors, or some sort of two door-combination. But for now…it’s decorated for the holidays.

If you read yesterday’s comments, you know that I was determined to find those Shiny Brites, so yet again, I dragged out all my boxes and searched for that tiny little box. I’m happy to say I found it.

11-29-shinybrites

They were nestled in a box that also held some wrapped packages, so the amount of presents under the tree has increased.

11-29-presents

11-29-tree2star

I found the star, but it’s a bit wobbly up there at the top of the tree. It will do. I need to make a little tree skirt of some kind – the simpler the better – and then Caroline should be all set for Christmas.

I have absolutely no desire as of yet to decorate my own house, but I sure love decorating my wee little houses. As Brae said in yesterday’s comments, it’s so much easier!

In the mail yesterday:

11-29-whisperingstatue2

Another Nancy Drew with a dust jacket illustration by Russell H. Tandy. I had to take a picture of it on the French bistro table in the late afternoon sun. I can’t help it, it’s my favorite ‘staging’ surface.

11-29-whisperingstatue

This book is in excellent condition! Hardly any wear at all. The Whispering Statue  is #14 in the series. Tandy illustrated the first 22 books in the series in this format, with the script “Nancy Drew Mystery Stories” in gold at the top and a white spine. He also did the covers for 4 additional books in the series in what are called wrap-style dust jackets, where the picture wrapped over onto the spine.

I have another one on the way, which will bring my collection to 9 books. That means I have 17 to go!

It’s a rainy day today. Sigh. I know we need the rain, but there have been a lot of gray days lately.

Happy Tuesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

 

Filed Under: Christmas, collecting, decorating, dollhouse, miniatures, Nancy Drew 25 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • …
  • 56
  • Next Page »
  • Email
  • Instagram

Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

Thanks for stopping by.

Searching?

The Dogs

The Dogs

Scout & Riley. Riley left us in 2012. Scout left us in February 2016. Dearest babies. Dearest friends.

Winston - Our first dog. We miss you, sweetheart.

Lambs Like to Party

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

Thanks for visiting! Feel free to browse, read and enjoy. All content is my own; including photos and text. Please do not use anything on this site without permission.

Disclosure/Privacy Policy can be found in the Navigation Bar under ‘About MHC.’

Also, I love receiving comments! I do, however, reserve the right to delete any comment that is in poor taste, offensive or is verging on spam. It’s my blog. If you’re a bot or a troll you’ll be blocked. Thanks!

Archives

All Content © 2008 - 2026 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in