Mockingbird Hill Cottage — Page 13 — Mockingbird Hill Cottage

Fabric Eggs

April 3, 2026 at 8:45 am by Claudia

The fabric easter eggs are on display. I made them when I was back in San Diego for a six month period in 2011 to coach Shakespeare. I borrowed my friend Ingrid’s Featherweight and made a quilt top (the hand quilting has yet to be finished) and these fabric eggs. There is a great quilt shop in San Diego – there are none near me here in NY. There was one in Woodstock and I loved that, but eventually they relocated to a town that was too far away from us. Anyway, I took advantage of the opportunity to buy fat quarters and create. Gosh…they’re now 15 years old!

I’m feeling better and I plan on doing some work on the Beacon Hill today. I just have to get off my tush and go for it. I might grab the chance to do a little pruning work outside, as well. I have to cut back a section of the limelight hydrangea because it’s keeping one of my boxwoods hidden. It’s not getting enough light and is much smaller than the other 3 boxwoods. I meant to do that last year, but forgot.

It’s a gray day today but it will be warmer than yesterday. We’re due for lots of rain on Easter.

I redressed Gilly the other day, adding a knit hat that I found in my stash. As always, thanks to the Beacon Hill for being a trusted location for photo ops. As of now, I have no idea what the final exterior color will be.

I finished the book by James Lee Burke. He spoils me for other writers, he’s that good. But I do have two Susan Hill books in the Simon Serailler series waiting to be read. Somehow I missed them when they were published. Her writing style couldn’t be more different than Burke’s. Equally good, though.

Okay, my friends.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Midweek

April 1, 2026 at 8:49 am by Claudia

Title: Waiting for Spring.

I get it, girls. Aren’t we all? It’s hard to believe but in the not too distant future, there will be pots full of flowers on this table. The pretty background I often use for photos will be back.

I cannot wait.

Our local nursery has reopened for the season – I think that happened about a week ago. I need to stop by and buy some seeds and potting soil. And some pansies, of course, as they are the first flowers that I pot in the spring. Next week, clean up begins on the property, though I’ve already carried lots of fallen tree branches up to the woods. Once I’m sure we have no more freezes in the forecast, I’ll started uncovering the garden beds.

The very thought of it brings me peace.

I’ve been under the weather the last few days with a sinus flare up. I’m still not feeling well.

The fabric eggs are in the yellow Fiesta compote. I’ll take a photo later today.

I’m about to finish James Lee Burke’s latest mystery – The Hadacol Boogie. I’ve read everything by Burke. He is a poet. A poet who writes about violence and crime but at the same time shows there is beauty in everything. I’m sure grateful for him.

When a fallen leaf from a rubber plant takes out part of the mini studio…

The Finale

March 30, 2026 at 9:05 am by Claudia

Good morning! This will be our last rain-free day for a week. April showers, right on time.

Unless I discover that I’ve left a couple of egg cups out of the tour, we reach the end of our journey today. Some of you have asked if I still collect egg cups. Not actively, but if I see something I really want, I might just buy it. There are few available cubbies at this point. I did buy one last year and I’ve been perusing eBay, but nothing has spoken to me. And yes, a lot of you have mentioned seeing what I’ve been talking about: there are far, far less vintage figural cups available online or in antique shops. I think I got into collecting them at just the right time. There were still so many beautiful figural cups available and, in those pre-Paypal days, I spent hours hunting down egg cups and sending – get this – money orders to the sellers. Australia, England, France! I had such fun. Yes, I know the basics on each cup, but in retrospect, I wish I had noted the country, the seller, when I purchased it, etc.

As far as current collecting, I’ve slowed down so much that I’ve almost hit the brakes. And that’s not just on egg cups. I no longer actively seek out McCoy or Roseville pottery. I tend to borrow books from the library and rarely buy one. I’m 73 and I live in a small cottage. I will most likely sell more items in my collections on Etsy or eBay, but not yet. I have enough Blythe dolls. A few smaller dolls, like Ruby or Greta, might come my way, mostly because I love their size and I do the faceups myself. It’s good practice for me. Don and I have really faced the fact that we are creative artists and we have to keep creating. Especially now. That’s why Don writes songs and records them on video. That’s why I do what I do. Otherwise, we would go a little mad.

Speaking of Greta, yesterday I enhanced her original faceup – she needed rosier cheeks, and her eyebrows needed a bit of work, along with some additional tweaking here and there.

Gosh, she’s a cutie.

Okay. Egg cups.

On the left, a newish egg cup from Emma Bridgewater. I found it in her shop in London.

In the middle, another Fannie Farmer eggcup. I have 2 of them and they were sent to me by a reader of this blog.

And a gold lustreware cup being carried by a little bear. My friend Lynnie, who lives in Canada, sent it to me.

A Jadeite double egg cup.

A charming little cup that I watched on Etsy for over a year until I finally succumbed. It’s a souvenir egg cup from Chambéry in the French Alps. Why did I want it? There are two groundhogs gazing at the mountains.

And on the right, another double egg cup – this one by Hankscraft. It has an Art Deco look that I love.

C’est fini!

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Fabric Eggs

Midweek

The Finale

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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