Nursery Rhymer

For some bizarre and inexplicable reason, I really adore children's place settings. I love the concept of baby china {that is NOT a hint, Mr. Original}, and the fact that many of us, if we're lucky, wind up reclaiming our baby china because it's been saved for us. I distinctly remember mine -- and I'm sure my mother has it tucked away in the breakfront in the dining room: It was white, I think, with a thin lavender border; teeny tiny gray mice, dressed up in the cutest of costumes and clothes, danced across the surface of the plate, bowl, and mug. {Who made it, Mom? These lovely readers of mine will likely want to know.} And, I even remember my brother's M.A. Hadley sailboat set. I just found this vintage set from Mouse Trap Vintage, and I love how sturdy it looks, as well as the simple combination of red and white.

I'm sure there are loads of cute place settings made these days {and not just in melamine}, but I find myself so thoroughly drawn to vintage in this case -- either my own set {recently, I realized things from my childhood are now called vintage}, or an awesome thrift shop find -- because good juju seems particularly important when it comes to creating a childhood for a little one.

Ode To The Bowl

Bowl. Ah, yes, the sound of that round, cupped word absolutely tickles me. I love bowls. I love their potbellied ways. I love how they covet when empty and hoard when full. I love their quiet plea to be used for anything: Fill me, stack me, use and abuse me! they cry. Bowl. The antidote, the elixir, the magic three wishes. The oracle, the fortune teller, the guru, the fairy godmother. Corral, cradle, vehicle. Bowl.

from Fluffy Flowers Vintage


from Finding Fabulous


from Jadite Kate


from JBird Home

from Flourishes Home

from Shelley H

from Finding Fabulous

from Modish Vintage

from Post Road Vintage

from Finding Fabulous


from Le Petit Poulailler

Cloudy With A Chance Of Rain

These would be perfect for today: a sky full of clouds, needing the go-ahead to open up and have a good cry.

{Northwest Sippers from Villarreal Ceramics}

Tulips In The Kitchen

I think what I like most about tulips is their deceptive demeanor: They appear to be tidy and modest, a cup-like bloom atop a skinny and sometimes floppy green pole. They keep it together, complying with any vase or arrangement, dignity in their petals. But then, they inevitably crack up: They lose their composure and erupt in laughter. They fling themselves open, giggling and chortling. For a second, you can't tell if they're laughing or crying, the emotion is that gaping. Strange, but I think that's when tulips are most beautiful, most true to themselves -- when they're unable to maintain reservation because it just isn't who they are.

Herewith are some tulips, ready and waiting for all kinds of joy in the kitchen {which happens to be my new favorite place ... yes, I've been cooking!}:

from Patti's Polka Dots

from Buttons 'N Such

from Lilia Rose

from General Whimsy

Back Lit

I've seen silhouettes everywhere {I love them!}, except on mugs.
This is a first!


{Vintage Folk Art Mug Set from pt.b}

Two Sugars

I'm rather charmed by this Swedish coffee set ... maybe because it reminds me, just a tiny bit, of the oh-so-sweet Gustavsberg Bersa design?

{Swedish Leaf Set from Hello Victory}

Runner Up

So, for those of us who felt a little tug of envy when Rachel snapped up the teacup of the year {no hard feelings, Rachel!}, here's something that might make it all better ...

You can find this vintage gypsy fortune telling tea cup
over at Shark and Anchor {which looks like a brand new shop!}.

You're welcome :)

2 - 3 Daily Servings

I adore Japanese stacking mugs. These are vintage and have an adorable, bold look. They'd be great for colored pencils or watercolor paintbrushes. Of course, there's always coffee, too.

NumeriChic

One of my most favorite Flickr photos yet
{it's my desktop image as we speak!}

inspires me to see these in a whole new way

{Top image found via {frolic!}, right here}

Best Friend

Tomorrow is my birthday {!!!}.

I got these lovelies in the mail from Kittylou,
my very best friend since high school.

She knows me so well.

Thank you, sweet friend.

Now, for a cup of tea ...

For the Birds

I went to a bridal shower yesterday and gifted the bride with a glass cupcake stand, complete with a glass dome. If I hadn't been in such a hurry, I would've taken pictures to show you ...

Whitney Smith's pottery would also make great gifts for girly brides. This one is my favorite:

Him & Her, Part II

And then, the second wedding present, handpicked for a couple who spent six months in a boat, sailing down the East Coast, I was thinking of this, also by Jonathan Adler:

Now, this one you really need to click on. The thumbnail doesn't do it justice. G + T are a hilarious couple, intelligent and ambitious, and a heck of a lot of fun to be around. The white whale is right up their alley.

Him & Her

Remember the weddings I mentioned? Three weddings over the course of three weekends? I managed to secure one of those Anthropologie dresses ... on sale! The fifth one, to be exact {the tiered one in bright pinks and oranges}, and it fits like a charm. I really love it.

Now, I'm on to wedding gifts. These are important, you know. For one of the couples, I'm completely smitten with the idea of a pair of Jonathan Adler mugs. Maybe one of these:

Utopia King & Queen

Utopia Lord & Lady

Utopia Ray & Dawn

P.S. Sorry for the teeny-tiny images. Mr. Adler's site will only allow me the thumbnails. Click on any one, and you'll see it bigger and better.

This Might Hurt for a Second

Since finishing my thesis, I've decided I should only make purchases that are investments for my future. I don't mean expensive acquisitions; I'm talking about things that will help me in some way, now that I'm joining the working world. Items that are, at their core, practical. For example, I'm a big-time jeans and cowboy boots girl. I rotate through a few pairs of jeans during the week, and put more miles on my boots than my car. It's my uniform, in a way, and I love that it's become my trademark look without any real conscious effort. However, I'm pretty sure that no matter where I work, I probably can't sport that look everyday or even most days. So, I'm updating. Trying to stay funky, but also adding pieces that are smart and sharp. Unfortunately, this means I won't be adding to my plate collection any time soon.

But, oh! dear! goodness! gracious! ... I want this so badly.


{Vintage Danish Nymolle Dish from Hidden Library's Etsy shop}

Something Blue {& Green, too}

A vintage spoon rest, scouted {and purchased} today at an antique shop I hadn't visited in some time. I like how rounded the flower is.

If Loving You is Wrong, I Don't Want to be Right

Have you ever decided that you're going to start a collection of something specific ... and then you realize it will be quite an expensive thing to acquire? Meet majolica: ceramics with molded surfaces and colorful lead glazes. I want a wall of those leafy babies. Though, any of these would do just fine, too:

Something tells me I'm going to have to settle for my own {cheap} imitation foliage.

Accidental Acquisitions 3

LOT 3

Seven Royal Staffordshire Jenny Lind pink transferware
teacups and one saucer. Good condition; some slight staining
inside cups. Acquired in Summer 2005, where they were left
behind by previous tenant, name unknown,
at 601 E. 31st Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
H 2.25 x D 3.75 in. {cups}
H 1 x D 4.77 in. {saucer}


{Previous Accidental Acquisition posts are here and here.}

French Press, French Press, On the Floor

A new coffee cup for me. And a wave for you.

How does it get to be three o'clock in the afternoon? It always happens with little warning ...

Junk Shop Booty

You're looking at about $15 worth of goodness. The creamer just slays me, it's so cute. It's Balmoral China from England. The little hints of turquoise, the funky handle, and the overall silhouette made it a must-have. You can't quite tell from the first photo, but the shape starts out narrow and bells out toward the bottom.

The tea cup and bowl are both vintage Stoneware, which isn't anything fancy, but the patterns make me smile. They look like someone took a fine-tipped pen and went to town with some line drawings.

I practiced restraint at the junk shop; there was so much more that had me oohing and ahhing, but I had to think quick {I arrived only forty-five minutes before closing and had a lot of territory to cover}.

Happy Friday. I'll be popping in tomorrow, so stay tuned.

Freebies

While at a former employer's home, I complimented her on her bright blue juice glasses. She said "OH!" and ran off to her cupboard, returned with these beauties and told me they were all mine. The intricate gold-detailing is what I love most about them. Oh, and the fact that they didn't cost me a thing.