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Scenes From The Cottage: The Bedroom

January 22, 2015 at 9:33 am by Claudia

I’d say the “Master” bedroom, but really, let’s be honest here. We have two bedrooms. One functions as a guest bedroom/office/studio. The other is the one we sleep in. So I’m not going to use the somewhat grandiose Master. Come to think of it, Master of what? Of his domain? Of his lands?

And why not Mistress? Or Master and  Mistress?

I’m starting a movement to cease and desist using the term “Master Bedroom” unless you have an estate in the country with servants in the house and serfs working your land.

The bedroom is tucked under the eaves, which makes furniture placement a challenge – to put it mildly. But it’s cozy, that’s for sure.

Corners-bedroom 8

It’s impossible to take a picture of the entire room. I’ve tried.

Those of you who have been following this blog for a while will remember the new California King bed we ordered last year and the delivery saga that ensued. We ended up having to sleep in the full sized bed in the other room for about a month. To say we were in tight quarters is an understatement. But the new bed has been with us almost a year now and we love it. LOVE IT.

Corners-bedroom 2

No, I don’t iron my pillowcases, not even for a photo shoot. I can’t be bothered. I do make my bed every day, though. I cannot handle an unmade bed unless I’m sick.

Corners-bedroom 14

A couple of years ago, when Don was away working, I went on a mad painting spree. The furniture in the room had a variety of wood finishes, many of them darkish. We have two small windows in this room, so I decided a creamy white was in order. It looks much better, though I worried it would be a bit feminine for Don. He assured me that he didn’t care because he was only in the bedroom when it was time to sleep.

A practical guy.

The dresser was found on a street in Cambridge when I was living there. Free. My friend and I carried it for about four city blocks and then up four flights of stairs. I’ve had it for about 23 or 24 years. It’s been painted gray, then yellow, and now aqua and cream.

The vintage rocker needs some repair and I plan on attending to that shortly. I love that rocker. I crocheted that throw and made the quilt, as well.

Corners-bedroom 4

A vintage tea towel as dresser scarf, assorted jewelry, a silver pillbox from Tiffany’s given to me by my late mentor and his partner, my grandmother’s lamp, my great-grandmother’s tea chest, and a photo of my late brother and me.

Corners-bedroom 6

A photo of me when I was teaching at Boston University (oh, to be that young again), some McCoy and Roseville pottery, and Don’s head shot (which I took).

Corners-bedroom 5

A pansy print that I bought while working in Owensboro, Kentucky. I love the print and the vintage frame. A D hook from Anthropologie which holds my necklaces (most of which I never wear). D for Don, by the way. I also had the C, but I couldn’t find it when I was putting this up. So the D won.

Corners-bedroom 9

I coveted and salivated over this painting for over a year. It was in a shop in San Diego – Vignettes – and as I went back and forth to SD to coach a few shows, I would see it and gaze upon it and then I would walk away because it was too expensive for me.

Finally, I took a picture and sent it to Don, talked it over with him and got his approval, and then drove to Vignettes where Lori, the owner, told me that she had wrapped it up for a customer and was getting ready to put the sale through when the customer changed his mind. All the while, she had been thinking that I was going to be so upset when I saw it was gone.

That clinched it. I bought it. I always knew it would go on this section of the wall that surrounds the chimney.

Corners-bedroom 3

Impatiens brought in for the winter.

Corners-bedroom 10

Egg cups. And a Christie Repasy print.

Corners-bedroom 13

Beautiful Japanese wood block prints on rice paper. These are Don’s. He bought them when he was courting me and living in the company housing provided by the Old Globe. He wanted something to personalize his living space.

On my side of the room:

Corners-bedroom 11

Books and lots of ’em. There are books behind books – two layers deep.

The black and white photograph of a rose was taken by my late brother, there’s vintage mirror my mom bought me when I was visiting them in Michigan, another parakeet lamp that I found (!) that needs some rewiring, photos of Winston and Riley and Scout.

The lone wolf print was purchased while we were living in San Diego.

Corners-bedroom 7

My traveling pals: Maggie Rabbit, Wayfrum Holmes, Little Lamb. They’re sitting on a vintage hatbox I found many years ago in the Berkshires. And that’s Home, by Edgar Guest. I found it in a local antique shop last year.

Corners-bedroom 12

More books. A bit blurry, but you get the picture. They’re everywhere.

There’s also a cabinet to the left of my dresser that our old behemoth of a television sits on, but I didn’t get a photo of it, though there’s one elsewhere on this blog.

On a sunny day like today, the bedroom is filled with a lovely, rosy glow. And though I’d love more wall space, instead of the half-walls, there is something wonderful about being tucked under the eaves in an attic bedroom.

Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments section.

Happy Thursday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

 

Filed Under: bedroom, decorating, DIY, Don, Edgar Guest, egg cups 56 Comments

On the Road: Opening Day

June 23, 2014 at 7:50 am by Claudia

Yesterday was the official Opening Day of the Chautauqua Institution for 2014. All in all, a very festive day around here. People everywhere, lemonade stands, the local fire department had a chicken barbecue (as a vegetarian, I did not partake,) children and adults were eating ice cream cones, music wafting through the air….and perfect weather. The morning started out with the Opening Service, which took place in the amphitheater.

chautauqua opening ceremony

The choir sounded lovely, the organ music was beautiful (I’m a sucker for organ music) and the speakers were inspiring. The President of the Chautauqua Institution officially opened the summer with 3 raps of a gavel.

Then the theater company met inside the theater and the summer season of the Chautauqua Theater Company was launched. It was lovely opportunity to meet the rest of the students and staff. From there we walked over to another amphitheater where the Friends of the Theater had an opening event. It was a lot of fun. Each student this summer will be ‘adopted’ by a couple that lives in Chautauqua. I expect that some home-cooked meals will be on the docket – a nice relief from dorm food.

All of this took most of the day and as I left the Friends event and headed home, the sounds of an orchestra drew me once more to the amphitheater, where a concert was being offered.

It really is magical here. Music, dance, theater, symposiums, book clubs, life-long learning…such a wonderful place! Today, a series with author Roger Rosenblatt begins. Each day, he will interview an author. Today? Tom Brokaw. Tomorrow? Margaret Atwood. These events take place at 10:45 am and I am going to try to catch some of the Brokaw interview before I head to Chautauqua Miniatures.

Tonight, the Canadian Brass are playing in the amphitheater.

Pretty cool!

I poked around some shops this week.

shoes-in-purple

I saw my red shoes in purple, which is the other color I would have chosen had I purchased another pair. Gosh, I love these shoes! But I didn’t buy them. (I haven’t even received my first paycheck yet.)

I do like to buy something vintage, preferably something I collect, wherever I travel and I found that something in the one and only vintage shop on the grounds.

new eggcup

An egg cup! This one is on the petite side but is very heavy, with the feel of ironstone. The transferware scene depicted  looks either Chinese or Japanese, with three figures against a scenic background.

new eggcup inside

Only six dollars.

After taking part in all the day’s activities, I decided to opt out of the Company Barbecue last night and grab the opportunity for a few hours alone here in the apartment. I’m so glad that I did. Made some dinner, watched 60 Minutes and a documentary on Frederick Law Olmstead on PBS, fell asleep on the sofa for about an hour, then did a little more TV watching. It really helped. I need some solitude that had been sorely lacking.

Today…Chautauqua Miniatures! I’m so excited! I’ll take some photos – though shop photos with an iPhone are always iffy.

I hope you are all well.

Psst! Tomorrow is Don’s birthday. If you could all come around tomorrow and leave a birthday greeting for him, I would be most appreciative! I don’t like being away from him on his birthday, but we’ll celebrate when I get back home. So, since he’ll be alone tomorrow, I bet your Happy Birthday greetings would make his day! Tomorrow is also Little Z’s birthday (my newest nephew). We think it’s just wonderful that Z and Don share the same birthday.

Happy Monday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: egg cups, On The Road 26 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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