TINY TREASURE

For some reason, our local antique stores are usually quiet the day after Christmas.  That makes it a great day to get out, walk around, and maybe find a tiny treasure.

A tiny 2 1/2" brown transferware butter pat for $3.00!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!

ANTIQUING

A trip to Denver never disappoints!

I had a quilt meeting in Denver on Saturday; and while I did my thing, my husband met our son to walk around a couple of favorite antique malls.  We met up again for lunch at a good Japanese restaurant.  They reported that they had seen a bunch of brown transferware; and that's all I needed to hear!

After eating, we headed back to the antique mall so I could check the dishes out.  
What they had seen were nice, but a little pricey for early 20th century transferware.
BUT, in another booth my eagle eye spied this 19th century beauty ---

A large 11" x 15" platter (platters are my weakness) ---

with a beautiful 
scene ---

and exquisite tracery ---

with beautiful borders.

This is the mark on the back.  The kite mark indicates it was made on January 13, 1883.  Transferware from the Aesthetic Movement era is my favorite.
Probably more than I should spend; but with 25% off, I couldn't resist.
Hey, it's anniversary, birthday, and Christmas time of the year !!!!

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I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF -------

two of my favorite things:

quilts -----

"PARK LANE VISTA", 1992

and brown transferware ----

and together, they really 

 'trip my trigger'!!

TABLE RUNNER: "DA GAMA", 2016; ASSORTED TRANSFERWARE PLATTERS

QUILT: "CACTUS FLOWER", 2017; WASH BOWL: BENEDICK PATTERN, c.1880s

TABLE RUNNER: "CRAZY QUILT", 2016; ASSORTED PLATTERS, c. 1880s

QUILT: "FLYING GEESE", 2016; SOUP TUREEN AND PLATTER:
 ROSALINE PATTERN; ASSORTED SOUP BOWLS, 19TH CENTURY

QUILT: "SUNDAY DRIVE", 1995; PITCHER AND BOWL:
 SYLVAN PATTERN. c. 1885

QUILT: "CHOCOLATE COVERED CHERRIES, 2000;
CHAMBER POT: UNMARKED, c.1880s

QUILT: 9-PATCH TABLE RUNNER; BOTTOM PLATE: GRINDLEY, 1880s; SALAD PLATE: MIGNON,
 19th CENTURY; CUP AND SAUCER: CLARICE CLIFF, 20th CENTURY

ASSORTED QUILTED TABLE RUNNERS; ASSORTED 19th CENTURY TRANSFERFARE

QUILT: "GOING WEST-LOG CABIN", 2017;
 PLATES: PERAK, 1880s; BONE DISH: SYLVAN, 1885

If you are interested in more posts on the transferware, click here, here, and here.
For more on my quilts, check out my quilting blog - http://qbits-salmagundi.blogspot.com/

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OUT AND ABOUT LOOKING FOR BROWN TRANSFERWARE

We had not been to Denver for awhile to check out our favorite antique mall, but since we were in northern Colorado had to stop in!  We don't buy much anymore, but I still like to look for bargains in brown transferware.

On the first aisle I spotted this large platter with a late 1800s Alfred Meakin mark.  It is in good shape ---- the price just $6.  Even though it is the lighter (almost rust) brown; at that price how could I refuse?

One of the things that has always appealed to me about brown transferware is the variety of patterns and color.  This stack shows some of the platters that I have ----- and I'm always looking for more.  How many do I need?

After the rust-colored platter I picked up this bowl with a simple aesthetic pattern but an intricate border.  The manufacturer mark indicates that it is from the T and R Boote Co. of England.

 It has a 'kite' mark on the back with the pattern name (Summer Time); and the numbers and letters indicate that it was manufactured of earthenware on November 26, 1878.

I should stop this obsession, but I so enjoy the occasional find! They are all so different.

I'm joining Jann Olson at Have a Daily Cup for Thursday's Share a Cup.

A YUMMY TREASURE - AMAZING 'COOKIES'

No, I'm not talking about those little confections with which our grandmothers treated us. 
  I'm talking about 'cookies' on brown transferware.  That is what they call the cartouches, little pictures encircled with borders, on transferware from the 19th century.

Recently, while antiquing in the northern part of Colorado, I spied a covered vegetable bowl.  I recognized right away from its 'calico' border that it was the Cairo pattern from Copeland Pottery dating from the early 1880s. 

 I also knew that this pattern usually has amazing 'cookies' in the design -- and I wasn't disappointed. 

And, then I removed the lid and this cartouche was on the inside of the bowl --- I would gladly eat all of the vegetables served in this bowl for a look at this artwork.

The pieces I have seen in this pattern usually have an incised mark on the back.

Several years ago, my friend, Jan, gave me this pedestal bowl in this pattern.

It has this amazing 'cookie'.

 I also have a soup bowl with this camel 'cookie'.  Every piece I have seen in this pattern has a different cartouche.

I'm fortunate to have just these three pieces in my brown transferware collection, as they can be a bit pricey.  I have  passed by some other pieces at high prices, but I'll keep hunting for more yummy 'cookies' to devour at a reasonable price.

I'm joining the following:
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HAPPY FOURTH WITH A NEW PIECE OF BROWN TRANSFERWARE

 It always thrills me to find an old (new to me) piece of brown transferware, especially platters

 Love the tracery and shadowing of these old transferware pieces.

This platter is from J. and G. Meakin of Hanley, England, and the pattern is Ivy.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone.  Be safe!

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LITTLE THINGS AND ONE BIG THING

Little #1

One of the people who toured our house on the local home tour in December, recently brought us this little model of our house.

It was produced on a 3-D printer from a computer-aided drawing; and is made of plastic without seams.  I don't understand the process, but it sure is cute.  Oh, modern technology!!

Little #2

Since I didn't win the Powerball this past week, I can't buy my often dreamed-of log cabin in the Colorado mountains.  My first mistake was not buying a Powerball ticket, I guess.  At any rate, I compensated myself by buying this little log cabin at a Denver antique mall this weekend. 

 I remember in my childhood these little log cabin incense burners were available for purchase at every kitchy souvenir shop in Colorado during the 1940s.  This one has never been used, is well made, and is 3 1/2" tall.  I think it will be cute to use next Christmas with my collection of bottle-brush trees.

Little #3

I couldn't go antiquing in Denver for the weekend without buying a piece of brown transferware.

This little cup measures just 2".

And now the big thing -- a view of America's mountain -- Pike's Peak taken on the ride home from our road trip to Denver on a beautiful Colorado day - 38 degrees and sunny!

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AFTER THE GLITTER!

 It has been three full days since Christmas, and I think I have all of the decorations down and put away.  Plus, possibly 80% of the glitter has found a new home in the vacuum.  I know that in two months time there will still be a piece of glitter sparkle up at me!!!

I took some time today to change out the dish rack in the dining room into something for the winter season.

 Brown transferware, brown bottles, pinecones --

 and feathers.

 I realize, of course, that it will be time before I know it to get out the Valentines for another glitter-filled holiday!

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OUT AND ABOUT THIS WEEKEND

 We took the chance to get out of town for the weekend -- headed to northern Colorado.  Even though I was born and raised in southern Colorado where my heart lives; we did go to college in northern Colorado and actually lived there for 10 years.  So, we also do have a soft spot for that beautiful area of Colorado. 

This weekend, Bob met our son for a short trip to Rocky Mountain National Park near Estes Park.  They were hoping to see the aspen in all of their fall glory; but even though the park was full of people hoping to see the same, there were only spots of color.

 A little too early, I guess, but it was a good time for a father/son day.

They dropped me off in Longmont, Colorado so I could attend Quilt-A-Fair for the day.  The event has been sponsored by Colorado Quilting Council for many years as their prime fundraiser with vendors and lots of quilts to see.  

 I hadn't been for several years, so it was great fun to see old friends and to be inspired.

After meeting back up, Mike headed to his home; and Bob and I went to Denver to spend the night.  We have a favorite hotel with a steak place close by -- yum, yum -- we split a dinner of prime rib (and still had more than enough).

Sunday was spent antiquing and junk hunting.  

What did I buy?  Brown transferware, of course, -- a chamber pot and two soup bowls.  

  Brown transferware looks wonderful combined with Fall colors!

Fun weekend, but always nice to be home again.

I'm joining in with the following:
Smiling Sally for Blue Monday
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm for Tuesday Show and Share
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

MAY'S RANDOMNESS

Two months have passed on my limited hiatus from my blog, so thought I would check in with May's randomness.

1.  Took a chance to get out of town for a weekend -- our usual destination, Denver.  We saw the '1968' exhibit at the Colorado History Museum. 

What fun to relive the fashions, music, furniture, etc. from that year. 

 But, of course, seeing the documentation of the assassinations, war, and discrimination of the time was sobering.  It was all special sharing the exhibit with our son, who was born in 1968.

2. A trip out of town would not be complete without some antiquing and junk hunting.  My radar is always up for brown transferware, but the prices are slowly inching up beyond my comfort zone.  I think over $100 for a single piece (in spite of any wonderfulness) is too expensive.  Bob always tells me, "They have it, and you don't!" So guess they can ask what they want for it.  

However, I did find this piece which is quite large.

 Don't have a clue what its intended purpose was.  Any ideas? It almost looks like it needs a lid, but there is no indication of a ridge to hold one.  It was in my under-$25 budget and interesting, so I bought it.  It has a kite mark, but the date symbols are blurred.  I'm sure it is from the 1880s, as I'm familiar with the pattern, "Brazil" from G. W. Turner & Sons, Tunstall -- I already have a plate in the same design.

For now it is holding a pile of antique linen dinner napkins.

3.  Caitlin and I spent a couple of afternoons working on a photo display board for her high school graduation party. 

So hard to narrow down 1000s of pictures taken over 18 years time to just a few -- she has always been so cute!

4.  High school graduation has come and gone.  It seems all her school years have passed by so fast.
 Caitlin is happy.
Grammy is sad.
I was a blubbering idiot at graduation, and took a bunch of horrible pictures.  This was the best of the lot of her with her cute boyfriend after the ceremony.  Thank goodness there will be an official picture forthcoming of her receiving the diploma (with honors) taken by the professional photographer during graduation.

5.  One of the reasons (see here) for my sabbatical from the blog is finished.  The name of the quilt has now officially been changed from "The Albatross" to "Merry-go-round".  

If it ever stops raining, I'll take it outside for a photo shoot to have for my records with the final reveal next month ----
Still a lot of work remains to get ready for the quilt show in August.  And, we are also tentatively planning a trip to Washington state in August.  Plus, we just found out our house will be on a local benefit home tour at Christmas.  I foresee some new projects in our future in preparation for the tour.
Thanks for enduring this long post - it's been a busy May.  
See you next month!