I’m so glad you want to see a series about McCoy Pottery! Thank you so much for all the positive responses!
I’m already thinking about how to present it. By color? By the room the pottery is in? By theme? The mind boggles.
I have several pieces way up on top of my cupboards in the kitchen. Doing the series means I have to get them down from there and give them a good wash – always a good thing. It also means I will pull out my McCoy reference books to check my facts about each piece. And maybe I’ll see a photo of that duck up there on the piano which will confirm my suspicion that, though unmarked, it is indeed McCoy.
I’m more than a little in love with that duck, by the way.
Thinking about all things McCoy sent me to eBay yesterday, where I cruised through pages and pages of listings. I wasn’t there to bid on anything, just to see what’s available nowadays. The most recent pieces I’ve acquired have been via local antique shops where I just happened on a piece that I didn’t have, but in the beginning almost everything I purchased was through eBay.
I could talk about pottery and china for hours. I’m drawn to it like a moth to a flame.
Fantasy: We build an addition onto the house that has a family room, master bedroom and a laundry room with lots of storage. It also has lots of shelves for books. And pottery.
Oh my goodness, my heart just races at the thought of it all.
This morning is still rainy and dreary and I could swear the weather report was for a nicer, warmer, sunnier day today. What the ??? The last three days have been damp, cold, and interminably rainy. We desperately need to see the sun here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage.
Happy Friday.
I am excited about the McCoy series! After reading your blog yesterday I was doing a bit of thrift shopping and found a sweet little McCoy piece. It’s a sugar bowl in the pine cone patter and for $6 home it came and sits on a shelf. I said out loud oh Claudia I found a piece of McCoy….good thing no one was near me at the time :) Well, to be honest I do talk to myself often. Old Lady thing?? Anyway, wishing you some sunshine soon!!!
hugs,
Linda
Good for you! I love that you said that out loud! (I confess, I talk to myself quite often, too!)
I know that pattern and it’s lovely!
I have to admit that the little Duck is my favorite piece of pottery that I’ve seen too. He just looks “cheeky” somehow. He’s giving it everything he has. Does that even make sense? Here’s hoping your weather gets better soon. Our daughter and son-in-law are battling the same thing while trying to build a fence and deck. Not fun.
Blessings,
Betsy
It’s just so dreary, Betsy! Tomorrow is going to be much nicer, but we’re both disappointed because we thought that would happen today.
Storms out our way also. Hate to complain too much as we may need the water later! I agree with Betsy above,your duck does seem “cheeky”, an old fashioned term!
Cheeky is a great word, Dottie!
I love vintage pottery, and have collected pink “California” pottery for years. I am about 99% sure your little duck is McCoy. It could be Shawnee, but I think I’ve seen it listed before as McCoy. So cute. Nothing beats vintage pottery.
Me too. I’ll pull out my books later today and see if I can find it. You’re right – vintage pottery is the absolute best! I’d love to see a picture or two of your collection someday, Sandra.
Hi Claudia!
I love your collection of McCoy pottery and I would love to see another series on it. If you were to do an ongoing series, maybe a piece of the week or a grouping like the egg cups, I think that would be great!
It’s getting up to 60 degrees here in Mid-Michigan today! Whoo-hoo! That’s the best thing since Michigan State going to the Final Four. :)
Have a great day!
Cassandra
Hi Cassandra! I’m thinking about groupings because if there was a piece of the week it would take over a year to complete the series!
It’s warm here but still cloudy. I think we’re getting your sun tomorrow. Yay for MSU!
I know nothing about pottery so I look forward to learning about it. We are tired of rain in Michigan too. We had thunderstorms yesterday but the sun is finally coming out today. Hope it is headed your way.
I think it is. Tomorrow should be much nicer! We had thunderstorms last night, Marilyn.
Claudia, it was your love for pottery that brought my very first visit to you and Mockingbird Hill Cottage many years ago. You have so many great pieces, and I love every single one.♥
And you got me interested in hat pin holders, Beverly! We both love china and pottery, don’t we?
Really looking forward to your pottery series! It’s raining here again today…good news, evidently we’re all caught up in precipitation. The sun is supposed to be shining here tomorrow…but you never know. I would love to have a sun room…but it would have to be a four season room…I’d want to use it all year long! ;)
Oh, I’d love a sun room, too. And yes – 4 season so we could sit in our rooms with the winter sun pouring in the windows!
I love the idea of your fantasy addition. I think we all have those which we add on and decorate in our dreams.
We have finally received some rain. In fact our rain gauge is at 3+ inches for the past 3 days. Now, if we could get some sun, I think the new buds on the trees and bushes could be coaxed open.
Sun, please come! Tomorrow, if possible!
Looking forward to the McCoy post because I know it will be chock full of great photos and accurate information (no pressure or anything, Claudia!). It’s a good distraction for you from the disappointing weather.
I actually think your fantasy plan is a wonderful one. One thing helping me build up the savings is that I want to get laundry out of my garage on a lower level and up into the main part of the house in the kitchen because as I continue to age I am so darn sick of hauling baskets of laundry up and down steps. A bed/bath combo on a first floor is always a good idea. My friend’s mom, who lives with her, broke her hip and can’t navigate stairs up to her bedroom. Family room off the kitchen has a pull-out sofa/bed and there’s a half-bath but no shower/tub so bathing has become a big issue. I’ve told my friend to buy one of those chair-seats/motorized which scale up the stair rail but she seems hesitant to make the investment or alter her home. But they can’t continue as they are. We put in an enclosed porch addition last summer…no heat or cooling in it, nor electrical as yet…because I wanted a sort of ‘dog trot’ or mud room, more space and a way to enjoy summer without getting eaten by bugs. I love this little room off the living room. It’s nothing fancy, but I had lots of cubbies and shelves built into it for putting some of my knickknacks-clutter because my husband has completely different tastes in decor and gets a little nuts if there’s too much busy stuff in the house. The man would be right at home in a glass/steel loft with a TV and music system, desk for his computer, microwave and bed; he needs no ‘decor.’ I don’t know how we’ve managed to stay married for three decades (said with a chuckle).
Don could get by on very little. After all, he moved around so much before we met that he had about 3 boxes of stuff to his name. Then he met me….and you know what happened.
Claudia I’d love to see the McCoy series, it’s so familiar to the Medalta Pottery that is made in Alberta…so it’s interesting to compare them.
Love that turquoise color….maybe it will bring you some spring like weather soon.
Jen
Fingers crossed, Jen. Love your new home and the look of the blog! Congratulations!
Claudia, I am glad you are doing this. I love your birds. You have some wonderful pieces. When I was young, my husband bought me a cookie jar for Christmas. It was McCoy, shaped like a wishing well, it said on the front , “Wish I Had A Cookie”. I gave it to my oldest daughter…she still has it. That makes me smile when ever I see it. Blessings, xoxo,Susie
What a neat cookie jar! I think I’ve seen photos of that design. I bet your daughter loves it, Susie.
Egads … I’ve been mostly without internet this week, and nearly exploded when I couldn’t get my phone to post a response yesterday (well ALL days this week, but yesterday seemed more “traumatic”!). I’m so glad you’re doing this series – can’t wait!
Is your internet back on? I assume it is, because you commented. Thanks for the yes vote, Debbie.
Looking forward to the pottery pics and lessons! Please photograph the pottery pieces where you display them. I like to see them in situ. Of course, those that are in storage can be photographed as you see fit.
Ha! You get to “curate” your own collection, Claudia.
(I know you believe, and I agree with you, that the word “curated” is over-used. Hence, the “Ha!”)
Looking forward to your photographs. Organized by color? By form? By intended function? By existing location? The mind does, indeed, boggle.
You’ll have a thorough inventory in the end, at any rate.
Claudia, I’m looking forward to seeing and hearing about your pieces. I don’t know a lot about pottery — just know when I see something I like — so this should be fun.
I love all things pottery and dishware related also. My dream house would have a lovely Butler’s pantry where I could have dishes for every season and could stroll through and look at it all!