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
    • 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 Shakespeare

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

A Bit of Everything on Saturday

April 23, 2016 at 8:09 am by Claudia

4-23 hartfordstage

I’m back home after a long and satisfying day working on Anastasia.

When I pulled in the driveway around 8 pm, Don had dinner waiting, bless him. What a guy! He also spent the morning putting in our new mailbox. When the guys were here working on our culvert, they had to pull the mailbox out of the ground and when they put it back in, it was too low in height. Our wonderful post person, Lori, had to lean way over to open the box. As the mailbox itself was incredibly rusty after almost 11 years of service, Don replaced the whole thing. And he mowed the lawn.

First things first: today is the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. And April 23rd is also considered to be his birthdate, though we can’t know that for sure. Since a great deal of my work has to do with Shakespeare as I gradually work my way through the canon, I couldn’t let this anniversary pass without saying – once again – that I think Shakespeare was the greatest writer ever to walk this earth. I never tire of his work. No matter how many times I’ve worked on a particular play, I learn something new. He understood the human heart. He understood good, greed, temptation, passion, joy, love, jealousy, hate – everything we humans feel and fall prey to. He understood the metaphysical. He was simply a genius. Thank you, Will!

4-23 redrobinfarm

I posted this on Instagram the other day. When we were out and about on Primary Day, I saw this in our local antique barn. Oh, my heavens. It’s a dollhouse – or rather, a doll barn – called Red Robin Farm. Those doors slide open and the inside is a barn with stalls for animals. The roof lifts off.

I did a little research and this building was manufactured by an American company – Converse, based in Massachusetts – in the early part of the twentieth century. There were varying sizes of these buildings. It looks like this one was one of the largest.

If I’d had an extra $265.00 on hand, I would have seriously considered this beauty. It’s in great condition. Made of wood.

But I must tend to other things, like this little project:

4-23 tsp

As you can see, I have yet to deal with the front porch or the trim around the bottom of the building. And I suppose I have to put a roof on, though I don’t want to.

Decisions, decisions. Will I get it done in time for Don’s birthday on June 24th? I have ordered a few more components, but I need some sort of work table that is a bit taller than the temporary farm table I have in there at the moment. I need to figure out how to make a sound board. I’m ordering a couple of stools and I need a coffee maker. What else? A large rug to absorb sound while recording. Lots and lots of vinyl records. I want to make some sort of shelf to hold the records – something I can hang on the wall.

Can I do it? Cross your fingers.

Happy Saturday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: antiques, coaching, dollhouse, Hartford, miniatures, Shakespeare 32 Comments

Checked Out for My Reading Pleasure

January 17, 2016 at 8:03 am by Claudia

Today is the last day of our first week of rehearsal. Tomorrow is the day off, and then we’re back at it on Tuesday. We finish up table work on Act Five, then Darko has another commitment, so I will do some one-on-one coaching. It will be a long day, but a good one.

I’m not going home this week. I knew this would be an intense week for me and driving  home would take a chunk of time that I don’t want to give up on my only day off. I have to go grocery shopping tomorrow and run some errands, as well as just plain take it easy.

1-17 library

I made it to the library yesterday morning. After getting a new library card, I checked out the new releases, which are housed on a series of curving shelves just inside the front door.

1-17 books

They have everything, including many books I’ve recently read as eGalleys. They’ve just been published and they’re already on the shelves. It’s a treasure trove for an avid reader. Careful to not let my reading eyes get too big for my stomach, as it were, I checked out four books.

1-17 checkedout

Starting at the bottom:

• Home by Nightfall  – The newest Charles Finch. I’ve read most of the Charles Lenox series that takes place in London in the 1870’s. There’s one waiting to be read on my shelves at home, but I thought I’d grab this one and read it while I’m here. Wonderful series, by the way.

• The Fifth House of the Heart  by Ben Tripp – Ben lives in Los Angeles and is married to a former student of mine – both of them work in the entertainment industry. I’ve been reading about his latest book via Corinne’s FB posts. It’s not my usual genre, but it sounds fascinating, so I’m going to give it a read.

• In the Dark Places  by Peter Robinson – This is a mystery and an author I’m not familiar with but Louise Penny’s blurb on the cover: “Thrilling – brilliantly plotted, beautifully paced” was all I needed. Part of the Inspector Banks series.

• Murder on the Champs de Mars  by Cara Black – I’ve read several books in this Aimee Leduc series. This is the most recent, which will screw up my determination to read them in the order they were written, but heck – I’m saving money by checking it out of the library. Right?

I have two weeks in which to read all of these. And I have to finish my current read. Hmmm.

Don and Scout are doing well. I miss them terribly – the hardest time is in the evening, I think. That’s when I really feel it. But, we’re used to it. We adjust. And I’ll see them soon.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Filed Under: books, On The Road, reading, Shakespeare, theater 41 Comments

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • …
  • 11
  • 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 - 2025 Mockingbird Hill Cottage · Log in

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT