The sump pump has been on overdrive here at the cottage. Rain, rain and more rain was the theme for Saturday and into the early morning hours of Sunday. Since the rain was to begin around noon on Saturday, Scout and I took our walk together in the morning. She went a little further than the last time – yay, Scout!
Right after that, I took off for my favorite little antique shop. I decided to treat myself as I hadn’t been there in weeks. Everyone around here is emerging from their winter prisons and getting out again.
I brought these little treasures home.
The little mini pitcher will make an nice addition to my miniature pottery collection. And the red transferware egg cup? How could I resist?
Collecting smaller things like the miniature pottery or egg cups is something that all of you who are dealing with small space restrictions might want consider. They don’t take up much space, and in the case of my collections, are pretty reasonably priced. You can amass a collection without it taking over your house, yet the display of your collection can pack a pretty powerful punch.
Back to my finds:
This pitcher is absolutely lovely, with a glaze that reminds me of Arts and Crafts pottery, something I researched when we were living in our little Craftsman cottage in San Diego. Depending on the light, this little pitcher looks green or aqua. That’s a little bird and a flower in the design. On the reverse side there is another bird sitting on a branch. The pottery mark on the bottom of the pitcher is a thistle. Jean had another piece there with the same mark. She hasn’t been able to find out anything about that particular mark, and my efforts so far haven’t yielded any information.
It’s probably worth more than what I paid for it, but since Jean couldn’t determine the maker, I got a good deal. I really love it.
And do I need to say anything about this pretty double egg cup? I love transferware. I love red. There you go.
I couldn’t seem to get a straight-on picture of the shadowbox (it’s in a corner,) but here is the new addition. I think I’m going to have to search for another shadowbox. I’ll soon be running out of room in this one.
Isn’t the hunt for a piece the best? I like getting things on eBay and Etsy, but far more fun is the ongoing search where you have a little list tucked away in a corner of your mind and each time you open the door to a shop, the possibility of a hidden treasure awaits. And when you find something, that little surge of adrenalin hits and you quickly grab it. It’s yours.
This shop has been a great discovery. I almost always find something there.
Maybe that’s why I mustn’t go there very often.
The winner of a copy of The Moon Sisters is Claudia! (Not me! Another Claudia.) I’ve just sent you an email, Claudia. Congratulations!
Oh, and to top yesterday off, I watched His Girl Friday on TCM last night – perhaps the quintessential screwball comedy. Rosalind Russell, Cary Grant, Ralph Bellamy and a cast of wonderful character actors, a witty and smart script with dialogue that is so well-written it takes your breath away and directed by the great Howard Hawks. Heaven.
Happy Sunday.
Love the little pitcher, Claudia. I enjoyed a pottery show yesterday before we were hit with yet another big snow storm. :(
Oh no! MORE snow? I won’t complain about the rain, Deb.
Claudia, What perfect pieces for your collections. The little pitcher was just right. I like that collection. I know you like your egg cups too. I would not have passed that one up., either. Hope the rain is gone. I hate to worry about sump pumps. Blessings for a great Sunday, xoxo,Susie
We have a very old basement (1891) that is entered from outside the house. It always gets wet in a heavy rain. But we don’t keep anything valuable down there.
Claudia, love your finds! Especially the pitcher. Beautiful glaze. I’m glad that I am not the only one that watches and likes old movies. Some of them are way better than what is coming out now.
Amen to that, Casey. Far better!
Great new additions to your collection. I haven’t hit any little shops in a long time. You’re right looking in every nook and cranny is the secret to finding the good stuff.
You have to get out and do a little shopping, Dawn!
I love your little collection, and your newest find is actually my favorite piece!
I really love it, too. I keep taking it off the shelf to look at it.
Great finds! It’s all about the hunt! You do know we need to see the new egg cup with all it’s friends! I was too busy last night watching basketball…the Badgers were playing…and we won! Final Four here we come! It’s supposed to hit 62 today…we’ll see. But I am going to venture outside and do a little spring clean- up! Hope it stops raining for you! ;)
Pictures will be coming up in my annual egg cup/Easter posts!
My home teams – Michigan and Michigan State are, I think, still in the running. Have my fingers crossed!
Yes they are! They play this afternoon! I’ll be watching…I root for all Big Ten teams…unless we are playing them..haha! ;)
I’m going to be watching, too!
As Donnamae said above, late night when the Badgers went into OT. What a great game. Yep, 3 Big Ten teams still in the running as of now!
Love the 2 newbies you brought home. I laughed as I, too, get that feeling walking into a shop…I have the list in my head, and it is truly a Hallelujah moment when just the right thing is waiting there for you! I found the sweetest little all white ceramic bunny, about 2 inches tall, last week. He fits perfectly on a shelf I have which was in need of a 2 inch sweet white ceramic addition!! Serendipity!!
Hope the rain stops so you can enjoy the day. 60’s here today and tomorrow….. cold and snow by Wed/ Thurs. Hubs is on “SPRING” break this week. We were/are hoping for more spring to appear and, indeed, give us a break!!
I guess I have to get on board and watch my Michigan teams today!
Don’t tell me you’re getting more snow this week???!!??
Claudia, you are right, the hunt is definitely the most fun part. I love your shadow box pitchers. I have a yellow McCoy milk pitcher that was my mom’s that I treasure.
So glad you have that pitcher as a remembrance of your mother, Lana.
Love your little ceramics collection! And your finds yesterday. I love the old McCoy type vases, swans etc. I have a few. And the transfer ware. Very cozy. I’d still love to pick up a few pieces except dusting out here is a fulltime chore. Thanks for the pix, Claudia.
Dusting here is a full time chore, too! For some reason we get a lot of dust here.
I mean little porcelains, right? Little potteries?? Sorry about the rain. We pray for rain every day now out here in NM.
Wish I could send you some!
I adore your miniature pottery collection. I like greenware and love red transferware, too! It is so much fun looking in all the antique shops for that special something that I will know is for me when I see it. If we lived closer, we could make the rounds together-ha! Fun! Scout and Riley are beautiful. I love my little Chihuahua and would like a sister for her. I adopted Lilly at 6 wks from a Rescue center in SC when I lived there. She is precious! Like all of us awaiting Spring, I am getting very anxious! Have a wonderful week Claudia! ♥
Kerrie
Can’t wait for Spring, Kerrie!
Claudia the thrill of seeing it and then holding it in your hand is the magic to me. Knowing you’ve just found a little treasure to take home and add to your collection. The pitcher is so interesting and a great addition to your shelf, but the egg cup!! Love it, as I too collect them and the red transfer ware is beautiful. Wishing you a wonderful Sunday!
hugs,
Linda
You too, Linda!
I guess the rain has gotten rid of all the snow…but it must be soggy out there right now. Spring, hurry up.
Jen
It’s incredibly soggy and muddy, Jen!
LOVE your collection of miniature pottery pieces. I’ve started collecting some but haven’t found the right shadow box for them yet.
Judy
You will, Judy. You find the best things!
We are having the same weather as you again Claudia..rain..rain..and more rain..which also gives us mud..mud..and more mud..lol..actually a couple of hours ago we were having rain and snow flurries mixed..I love your little additions..and yes..being out there on the hunt is so much fun..I enjoy antique shops and malls so much..it is great when you find something you love and can also afford to buy it..lol..I really like the way you re-did your shadow box..it looks so much nicer and the pottery shows up much better..I am looking forward to your egg cup post for Easter this year!
SO much mud here, Nancy. I understand!
I love your new finds.. I agree that collecting is fun! I have a Shawnee Corn collection and Jadeite. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
Love, love Jadeite! I used to buy Shawnee Corn pieces for a friend of mine who collected it. They are so neat.
Hi Claudia! Your sweet little collection is truly unique, and your new green pitcher is a wonderful addition. It’s all about the hunt for me too!
The hunt is the best, Jacqueline!
Wonderful finds Claudia…love that miniature collection. And anytime I get to watch a top classic movie on TCM is a great day. I love classics from the 30s and early talkies. One of my favs is His Girl Friday.
It’s such a great movie, Donna!
I love your new pieces! I know enough about pottery so that I can use my knowledge and $6.00 and get a latte. In other words, I don’t know anything. However, I had an aunt who collected and she had a bowl with the thistle mark on the bottom and it came from T. Tough and Co. in Edinburgh. I don’t know if yours is marked as hers was, but it might be worth a try. Another resource is Old and Co. They are an on line source for pottery and china marks. You and your friend probably know this and much more, but I thought it might be a help.
Thanks for the tips, Regena. I didn’t know about T. Tough – I will check it out!
Perfect little finds! I just brought out my little collection of spring egg cups (three of them). Today is sunny and beautiful but the rain will be hitting here around Tuesday and will continue all week. Makes me worry about our sump pump and basement…we’ve already had two floods here in the past few years.
It’s still raining here today! I wonder when it’s going to stop?
Your little miniatures are so sweet and love your egg cup, what a beautiful design I remember His Girl Friday, such a wonderful classic, great cast and snappy dialogue. Watching an old movie s is one of my favorite things to do on a rainy day.
I enjoyed “His Gal Friday” last night too, Claudia. I don’t like to miss “The Essentials” on Turner Classic Movies, but I was working on a project on my dining room table so I ended up basically listening to the whole thing. And it was outstanding – I think it was the first time I “saw” the full movie. You just can’t beat Cary, or Rosalind, or Ralph. And there were so many great unsung character actors too. A wonderful evening. God bless the people behind “Turner Classic Movies” – I love them almost as much as the folks at PBS.
What darling pieces, Claudia. The pitcher is such a gorgeous color, and I love the finish. And I have a soft spot for red transferware, being a collector of Mason’s Vista. It’s so wonderful to find a shop nearby where you can hunt for treasures at a reasonable price. And they look perfect in your cottage!