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My Latest Finds

July 9, 2014 at 8:09 am by Claudia

We had more thunderstorms last night. Wind, sheets of rain, the rumbling sound of thunder that went on and on. There was a time when Scout would have been going nuts. Border Collies have very sensitive ears and any sort of thunderstorm (or fireworks) made her incredibly agitated.

She doesn’t really hear them anymore. It makes things easier for us, but I confess it also makes me sad. She has cataracts. She doesn’t hear very well. She has arthritis.

But she remains the bright, precious spirit that she has always been. She still has a twinkle in her eye. I love my girl.

Do you remember when I went to the Country Living Fair? I mentioned in passing that I bought a little piece of miniature pottery on my first day there. What with the sudden offer of a job in Chautauqua and the flurry of packing that ensued, I never got around to showing it to you.

minipottery-newestfind

There it is. I rather like it.

miniature pottery on display

And here it is with its brothers and sisters. I think I’m going to have to find another display shelf….I’m running out of room!

I tend to collect lots of things. (That’s an understatement.) One collection has required no monetary investment, just a good eye. The items are found here and there, on the property or on the road. I don’t have room for a Cabinet of Curiosities, but I do have a Transferware Plate of Curiosities. And yes, I do curate it. I just did that the other day. I cleared out and cleaned up and here it is:

plate of curiosities

Next to the plate: two pieces of china that I unearthed in our woods the other day. Love the crazing.

On the plate, starting from left center and moving clockwise:

A piece of china I found on the shores of Chautauqua Lake. The edges have been smoothed by the water.

A polished agate that Don gave me.

A cicada wing.

A piece that Don found. It looks like some sort of nozzle. I love swirly design in the metal.

One half of a nutshell. Love the texture.

Part of a yellow eggshell that I found on the property last year. Still haven’t determined what sort of bird egg it is.

An acorn cap.

These pods fall from the trees in the park I frequent when I am working in Hartford.

A robin’s egg that I found this year on our property. You know how I feel about that particular shade of blue.

Two acorns.

A piece of glass that I found on the shore of Chautauqua Lake. I’d call it sea glass, but I suppose a more accurate term would be lake glass.

All of them live on the sideboard in the living room. I like to stop and look at them a few times a day. They make me happy.

I’m so glad you like the book blog, by the way. There’s another post up today. Just click on this link. Needless to say, with two blogs up and running, I’ve been busy!

Happy Wednesday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: Chautauqua, china and pottery, collecting, nature, Scout 18 Comments

The Lure of the Teeny-Tiny

May 3, 2014 at 8:41 am by Claudia

A few weeks ago, I was leaving a local antique shop and I spied a little dish full of tiny animals at the check-out counter. Most of them were vintage and not in a style I cared for. But one little figurine stood out – I think it had been included in the dish by mistake. I grabbed it. For $1.00.

minilamb

It was this little guy. You can see how tiny he is in relation to my egg cups.

minilambfacingright

Another view.

minilambcloseup

Ready for his close-up.

He is on the same little set of shelves as my mini wooden ducks.

miniducks

Why are we so drawn to miniatures? In the last several years I have started collecting tiny putz sheep, miniature pottery, and all things small and dollhouse-y. If I see something tiny, yet wonderfully detailed, I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame. Tiny little sheep? Yes. Adorable tiny wooden ducks? Of course! Miniature versions of the big-sized pottery I already collect? I cannot resist.

I don’t even have to say anything about the dollhouse. And miniature furniture, plates, rugs, lamps, and books. That particular attraction is obvious to anyone who reads this blog.

I wasn’t always drawn to these delightful tiny things. They cast their spell on me later in life. But I am well and truly hooked.

Do you collect anything tiny?

Can you put into words just why you are drawn to miniatures?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the world of teeny-tiny, wee, little, and mini.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: collecting, miniatures, sheep 40 Comments

Egg Cup Eggstravaganza 2014 – Part Four

April 18, 2014 at 8:41 am by Claudia

Day four. The finale. For today’s post, I’ve gathered up the rest of my egg cups, those cups that are on display hither and yon in the cottage. All this posting about egg cups has me sort of obsessed by them again. Isn’t that the way it often happens? You get used to seeing something in your home, walk right by it (or them,) don’t even register that it’s there and then suddenly, you see it with fresh eyes and kaboom! It’s all you think of.

Okay, here we go: the finale!

frieggcups4

Starting from the left:

1. A beautiful egg cup in my favorite colors. It has no mark so I’m not sure who made it. It’s vintage, though. I got it a few years ago at my favorite shop in San Diego, Vignettes. It usually is on display in the china cabinet in the den, with a found bird nest sitting on top of it.

2. A chick coming out of an egg, with some pretty flowers painted on the base. Marked Japan. Another gift from my Mom. On display in the kitchen china cabinet.

3. This is an egg coddler, not an egg cup. This particular one, given to me by my mom, has a bird on one side and two birds on the other. Marked Royal Worcester Porcelain, England. On display in the kitchen china cabinet.

4. A sweet chick. I believe this one is newer and not vintage. Unmarked. Given to my by my mom. On display on top of my bookshelves in the bedroom.

5. Love, love this goose egg cup. I found it in a local shop. Marked ‘France.’ Also on display in the den china cabinet.

frieggcups3

These adorable egg cups (in what is called the ‘bucket’ style) were a gift to me last year from dear Judy. I love them. They are on display in the kitchen. And, by the way, what is the answer to that question? I’ll leave you to ponder it.

frieggcups2

And finally, my two newest acquisitions. I bought them just the other day.

1. A Delft egg cup in the shape of a chicken. (I’m not particularly crazy about Delft, but I’m trying to add different shapes to my collection and this one is charming. Signed ‘1332 Kenith (or Renith) R.’ Probably newish.

2. A Flow Blue double egg cup. Vintage and unmarked.

Well, my friends, I hope you have enjoyed my annual tour of the egg cup collection. I try to do it a wee bit differently every year. I’m sure I’ll have even more to show you by this time next year.

By the way, most egg cups are very affordable and you can find many of them for a few dollars in antique shops and flea markets. I think the Flow Blue cup, for example, was about $4.00 and the Delft chicken was $5.00. Figural egg cups, especially the rarer ones, are pricier. Very, very old egg cups in ironstone or rare patterns command a higher price. But I often find that dealers are not very up on egg cups and the prices they might command, so you can usually get a great deal. In the beginning days of my obsession, which would have been around 2002, I haunted eBay and that is where I found many of my figurals. Etsy wasn’t in existence then, but now it is and you’ll find some wonderful examples there, as well. Of course, the best part of the hunt is discovering a gem tucked away on the shelves of a shop. I keep hoping to expand the figural part of my collection, but they are getting harder and harder to find. Certainly, the rarer ones – like the bunny painting the egg – are increasingly scarce. I don’t check eBay all that often, but I haven’t seen that particular egg cup in a long, long time. I’m so happy I started when I did because the figurals (my first egg cup love) were the ones that I found enchanting and whimsical and in 2002, there were still a lot to be found.

I’m fairly picky about what I collect, but I’m going to expand the collection into souvenir egg cups and double egg cups in various china patterns. I cannot pass up a pretty china pattern, as you know.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

A note to Debby Messner: I got your email yesterday but whenever I respond to that address it bounces back to me, so I wanted to let you know that I signed up for Club Little House swap. Thanks for telling me about it, my friend!

The winner of a copy of Casebook is SueZK! I’ve just sent you an email, Sue. Congratulations! (Winners are always chosen by the Random Number Generator.)

Happy Friday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Tagged With: collecting, egg cupsFiled Under: collecting, Easter, egg cups 19 Comments

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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.

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