vintage — Page 33

Use Other Stair

December 4, 2011 at 9:50 am by Claudia

Last week, when Don and I were out and about looking at everything vintage, he saw a sign that he loved. He called me over and I agreed it would be a wonderful addition to our home. But we didn’t see a price and, since old signs tend to be pricey around here, we moved on. I thought about it several times during the course of the week. Turns out Don did, too.

Yesterday I was visiting the same shop and figured it was time to at least ask about the price.

$24.

Hello.

Welcome home.

But please use the other stair. If you can find it. The only ‘other stair’ around here is the spooky one that leads down to our outside-entrance-half-basement. If you want to use it, more power to you.

It’s no secret that we love words and fonts and signs. We have signs scattered around the cottage. This one is made out of wood and measures 24 x 18. It’s old, chippy and battered. Just the way I like it. The dark green color perfectly matches the green fabric on our desk chair – a lucky coincidence.

And as Don says, it balances “all the flowers.”

Really? There are too many flowers here? I don’t think so.

But he’s right. Being aware of the weight and balance of a room is important.

Evidence: Christie’s beautiful rose painting on the left, graphically wonderful sign on the right.

And it’s fun. Everyone needs a bit of fun in their home.

Around the Cottage

November 30, 2011 at 9:49 am by Claudia

Well, the big news here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage is….hang on to your hats…the septic tank was emptied yesterday!

I know. Take a moment to collect yourself. If I had been a bit more on top of things, I would have taken pictures. I could have devoted a whole post to the process.

Let me tell you, the guy who drives that truck and empties the tank deserves to be paid very well.

I keep forgetting to share this little gem with you. I discovered it in a local shop and was planning to sell it in my future Etsy shop. But Don claimed it. It’s about 2 inches high and says:

I’ll hold your rings
For you;
While dishes or
Washing you do.

Souvenir of Lake George, NY

Lake George is quite a bit north of us, in the Adirondacks.

The little lid comes off and there is a little well with a piece of wood in the center, just like a ring holder. I used this on Thanksgiving when I took my wedding ring off in order to make biscuits. It lives on the window ledge by the sink. I love these little wooden souvenirs. They look handmade and are so gosh darned charming.

Can you find Scout in the background of the photo?

By the way, I’ve actually signed up for my Etsy shop! Someone already had the name Mockingbird Hill – I couldn’t add ‘Cottage’ because there were too many characters. So it will be under my user name of ScoutHarper. I have no idea when it will open, but I’m aiming for the first of the year. I will carry vintage finds and some handmade things, as well. I’m getting excited.

Playing with the Necco Candy Jar:

Filled with the fabric Easter eggs I made a couple of years ago. The pastel colors remind me of yummy candy.

I’ll eventually fill it with something Christmas-y but I refuse to start Christmas decorating this early. I’m adamant about the subject. Hey, I love Christmas decorations as much as anyone else, but for me, the season loses its sense of wonder if I rush into decorating the minute Thanksgiving has ended. We always get a real tree – usually around December 10th or so. Then the decorating will begin.

They’re in the jar temporarily. In fact, I’ve already removed them. The inside of the jar still smells musty. I’ve used coffee grounds in the past to remove mustiness. I have some ready to go. Any other suggestions?

I must thank you for the wonderful and moving comments on the “Blogging Etiquette: Mean Girls” post. Wow. I read them all more than once. I was touched and in some cases, moved to tears. This clearly resonates with all of us. Whether we’ve witnessed someone being bullied or suffered through the bullying of one of our children or have been bullied ourselves – this kind of behavior leaves lasting scars. I feel passionately about the subject and it’s clear that you do, too. Thank you.

Vintage Find: Necco Candy Jar

November 27, 2011 at 10:43 am by Claudia

Don and I drove to a favorite antique shop yesterday. The day was so beautiful that we had to get out of the house and pretend it was spring! Anyway, my plan was to look, not buy.

But then I saw this:

This is a vintage Necco Candies display jar. It’s about 11 inches tall.

Look at the Art Deco-style graduated glass sides. It reminds me of the Chrysler Building. I’m a sucker for this style.

Swoon-worthy Deco graphics. Well, swoon-worthy for me.

I saw a vintage jar lot (4 or 5 fabulous designs) at auction last year. I bid on them, but they quickly went out of my price range. I’m fairly sure this jar was part of that lot. Since the auction is local, the buyers are usually local dealers. Several months ago, I saw an Art Deco-style jar with ridges in the design that I recognized from the auction lot in this very shop. I didn’t buy it and I kicked myself for it later. But, wonder of wonders, I got another chance.

I still hemmed and hawed. Could I justify the purchase?

Don started to list all the treasures I could display in the jar. (He gets us, ladies.) He suggested that I use it for a rotating display.

Okay, you talked me into it.

I’m not putting this in my studio. It will live in the living room and kitchen.

Would you leave some suggestions for treasures to display in the jar? Obviously, with Christmas coming, my first thought is vintage ornaments. Or pine cones (I have a slew of them, gathered from all the places I’ve lived.)

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

By the way, I used to live fairly close to a Necco factory in Cambridge, MA. And I love Neccos. So, it’s rather perfect, isn’t it?

Use Other Stair

Around the Cottage

Vintage Find: Necco Candy Jar

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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