We continue our little tour. There is no rhyme or reason on what I choose to post. Rather, I open the doors to the egg cup cubby and pull out whatever calls to me.
It’s a gray day today, so this is the best I can do.
On the left, a bunny holding up an egg cup. Orange cup, bright-eyed bunny rabbit.
Next, a Scottie holding up a cup. This is one of my favorites, I’ve not seen it available in a long, long time. In fact, other than the time I found this one, I’m not sure I’ve seen it on sale at all. Maybe once? I love the yellow color, the markings on the Scottie, and the blue collar.
Next, two rabbits holding up an egg cup, one facing left, one facing right. It looks to be a rather heavy and cumbersome job for the rabbits. I hope they don’t have to hold that pose too long! This was one of my earliest discoveries – I’m always attracted to the sight of rabbits dressed in clothing, in this case, pants and a jacket.
Which brings me to the cup on the right. Another rabbit dressed in shorts with suspenders and a blue shirt. He’s standing next to his little egg cup cottage with a window and a tiny little door. This one has a lustre glaze and it’s awfully pretty. I saw another one of these cups on eBay the other day.
I took a look at the offerings on eBay recently – I do this every year at this time – and I’m once again reminded of how fortunate I was to start collecting back in early 2002. There were all sorts of figural egg cups available. Now? Some, but not many. There are a lot of modern egg cups trying to look cute, but very little with the charm of these vintage cups. Every once in a while, one pops up, like the egg up above on the right. But, it’s rare. Newer cups are not as detailed and not nearly as charming.
Then there are these two. Several years ago, when Don was away on some acting job, I bought a pattern for these egg cup cozies on Etsy and proceeded to reacquaint myself with my very basic knitting skills. I decided that the bunny on the right was the mom and the one on the left was her son. They are perched on two single egg cups. The gold cup is lustreware. The one on the right is from Prague, but the bunny is hiding the design.
It’s tempting to knit some more, but heavens, I’m already trying to declutter! They stay on the bookshelf year round because they make me smile.
Time to get out the fabric eggs, I believe!
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
Claudia, you did a beautiful job knitting those two bunnies! They’re darling! I definitely agree that vintage items usually have so much more charm than new, even the colors are often more appealing. That Scottie is unique! Another fun tour…it helped make the day a little brighter!
Oh good! I’m happy to brighten your day, Barrie.
Stay safe.
nice to hear part of the back-stories about the egg cups.
your knitting is not “very basic” to have made those teeny-tiny rabbits and their sweaters (my choices for today, though they are all adorable). great work, claudia!
i agree about newer things having nowhere near the charm and details of things made long ago. while i have newer things at my apartment and obviously like them, most of what i have is quite old (one example is the recently-mentioned wicker settee that my paternal grandparents had in their sunroom when my father was a young boy and which now is in my living room, hosting a seat cushion and a pillow made by my mother). things with history, especially that of my family, are what i like most and keep with me.
a week from today and my taxes should be done. am counting on that! it’s felt nerve-wracking (for being a bit more complicated … not getting a 2021 federal return, filed in april 2022, until february 2023) and i just want them done. all about getting the unpleasant and hard things done early so i can relax more. i know i’m not alone in that … best wishes to and prayers for everyone, whatever the unpleasant or hard things are.
happy, safe saturday to you, don and everyone else here.
kathy
with apologies to my father, for making him sound “quite old” in what i just wrote. to much of the world, and especially, obviously to younger generations he may be, but not to me.
let me clarify, please … the wicker settee that was in my father’s house as he grew up had been there many years before him. i have lots of fond memories sitting on it, talking with family, reading a book, drinking lemonade, first in my grandparents’ sunroom, later in my family’s home and it’s just been (to me) a part of us forever. also, i am almost 66 and ever since my back broke, i feel (physically and to my own self) old. “quite old”. that’s where it’s coming from (but, as jimmy sings in “one particular harbor”, “i’m not done yet”! :) )
also, to lots of people, antiques (or newer “vintage” things) are out of style and gross, maybe even morbid and they only want the latest things. again, not to me.
anyway, rambling here … just felt the need to explain and publicly apologize to my father and anyone his age+.
thanks for listening and understanding.
xo,
kathy
I never got anything from your post as to your dad being ‘quite old.’
xo
oh, good. thanks, claudia.
because i described the wicker settee as one of the “quite old” things i have and said it went back to when my father was a young boy (even further, really), i felt i had just called my father “quite old” … so i didn’t like that. felt the need to explain and apologize (even though my father doesn’t read your blog). having one of those days here.
hope you are having a good day.
xo,
kathy
Hey, my dad was ‘quite old.’ He lived to be 93. It’s not a negative, it’s a positive.
xo
Our taxes are always complicated, which is why we use an accountant. Sadly, she’s retiring this year and we don’t know where to turn. She’s in Los Angeles and understands actors and residuals, etc.
Stay safe, Kathy.
happy for her to retire, but not for you to have to find someone else to do your taxes. maybe your accountant has a co-worker or someone else she can refer you to? hope you find another good one and that the numbers are always in your favor.
kathy
xo
Cute egg cups today, Claudia. Gone are the days when you could pick up a vintage egg cup for under $10. Mine have all been random finds at flea markets and outdoor antique shows. I’m not actively seeking them but wouldn’t say no to a surprise find. It was lovely to read Meredith’s post today. Enjoy your weekend. It’s pretty grey here today, too. Time to go bake something. Hugs, Elaine
Don made a pie the day before yesterday, so we’ll be having a piece this afternoon.
Stay safe, Elaine.
Your egg cups comprise quite a collection and I like that you have the perfect cabinet for displaying them. Why collect if you can’t see your things to enjoy?
Decluttering continues for me. Thanks for supporting my ruthlessness, Claudia. I keep reminding myself that what I donate don’t have to be packed up when the remodeling gets underway. I delved into my closet and said goodbye to some old favorites that I realized I don’t reach for anymore.
And my friend is helping me with my husband’s Beach Boys memorabilia. He took 20% yesterday (he couldn’t fit anymore in his car!), and will return for some more tomorrow. Since he is still connected to the Beach Boys fan world, he can give me an honest assessment of what is worth taking and what is worth dumping. Once everything is cleared out, I get half my 2-car garage back! I don’t feel badly finally dealing with his things. I think it means I’m finally ready to let go. Of course, the pending remodel helps push me along.
I, too, read your sister’s blog post. Happy for her that she’s going in the right direction for her. Your good-looking nephew is so much taller.!
It must be hard to let go of his things, Wendy. But it sounds like you’re handling it wisely, going to a friend for advice.
Stay safe.
Knowing how to knit (and crochet) is one of those incredible skills for the home arts. I never could do it; all thumbs; and now the old(er) hands are too arthritic. One thing my mother admired, which was something she actually did NOT know how to do (although I feel like she knew how to do anything else!) was tatting. I guess because it intrigued her, it has always intrigued me.
But I could have learned how to knit! From indeed my own dear mother, talented woman that she was, fitting any of this kind of thing into her very-busy life while she also was raising kids and working a full-time office job; but, never the idle hands, nope; instead, Mom knew how to sing and play the piano; garden, cook and can/preserve; sew, embroider, knit, crochet, hook rugs; paint with oils-acrylics-watercolor; but I was, growing up, largely unappreciative and plain-not-interested (lazy!!) in most any of that knowledge of hers (which also included remarkable home organization and planning; also wise money management for the household, like in how she bought food and prepared meals, which was an offshoot of her growing-up years of the Great Depression in the 1930s where the way of everything was one of frugality and ‘use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without’) … but, yes, her knowledge and artistry, if only I’d gleaned some of it (has been a significant regret of my life that I didn’t [I mean, seriously, what a waste, when I could have learned SO much helpful and important stuff from her!]).
Thank you, Claudia: My mystery is solved from you once again! BUNNIES, oh-yes, and very cozy with their egg cup cozies. I’m crazy for these well-dressed bunnies; they are so sweet and cheery! (Just a sucker [that’s me!] for all the delightful Easter decor so many of us love … with Easter eggs, the soft yellow of a baby chick, precious little lambies in a field; all the pastel colors when we’re wanting to scream spring; more yellow daffys popping up in my yard every day; such a wonderful time of the year. Renewal, hope, inspiration; I LOVE EASTER!)
I love Easter, too. The pastel colors, the whimsical decorations…all of it!
Thanks so much, Vicki.
Stay safe.
dear Claudia/Don — thanks for sharing pics of your egg cup collection — really like that scottie
one. the cozies are so precious, too, love their faces and their ears. we just had some very good rains and looks like the system is heading your way, hope no flooding up there. pls stay safe/healthy
We had it all day on Saturday and Sunday. Now we have winds.
Stay safe, Linda.
I’m pulling out the bunnies, despite still having two trees up and every piece of china/dishes in the house stacked in the family room. The basement evolves, one day at a time and soon enough things will be back in place and home decor will actually be appropriate to the season! These are all so sweet — I love the bunnies holding that “heavy” egg cup!
So cute, aren’t they?
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.