Collections, Pt. I

Why do we collect things? What is it that quietly (or not so quietly) urges us to amass things of the same ilk? Whatever the reason, it is definitely a common venture among many of us. I started out in junior high by collecting anything Garfield - posters, notebooks, pictures, stuffed animals, even an insanely large alarm clock. Later my mother started buying me Precious Moments figurines to mark all the major milestones of my life. I still have all the figurines and probably some of the Garfield but I no longer display them. That is one of the loveliest things about a collection. They can be rotated and set aside for a time when they will feel fresh again. Of course, this also has a flip side. One has to store all these "collections" and space can start to be a problem.

Over the years I have been drawn to a number of things when I am out and about at yard sales and flea markets. Some of these items I may have only one or two, some collections have grown substantially, and still others I have yet to find any of their kind and only dream about finding my first piece.


Glass Giveaways

I LOVE these! I currently have six Smurf glasses but I did have ten before I got the bright idea to actually use the glasses. I have kids. You can guess the rest.

 

 

Kraft was among the first companies to begin decorating their jars/glasses with patterns and pictures. They dubbed them "Swanky Swigs" and the jars became very popular during the Depression era. At about the same time Disney coupled with dairies across the nation and started putting pictures of their characters on milk bottles and such. By the 50s when supermarkets started springing up in the new suburban communities, the shelves were full of glass jars and glasses featuring everything under the sun. Companies would release series, hoping that consumers would keep buying in order to complete their series. Finally, fast food restaurants jumped on the band wagon and started offering series of glasses for sale. I personally remember Hardees selling Alvin and the Chipmunks and the aforementioned Smurfs (which were also sold at McDonalds). You can still find these types of items at yard sales and thrift stores but the serious collector will want to try some online resources, like Ebay.


Whitework Quilts

Some of the most exquisite needlework ever produced can be found in a whitework quilt. This is also why they are so expensive and why I do not own one. Yet.




American Ironstone

 

 

Built to last. I think that is why I like this simple and heavy pottery. Popular in the 1840s through the 1880s, ironstone or "whiteware" was used liberally throughout America by the rich and middle class. Influenced by the superior Staffordshire, England pottery, American Ironstone took some time to develop properly but once it found a foothold, it quickly became popular. By the 1890s, ironstone acquired the stigma of "farmer's" ware and was replaced by dainty porcelain and bone china. Ironstone found a new home in hospitals, schools, diners, and the military.




Hotel Silver

 

I am drawn to the dings and dents evident in most of my pieces. Hotel Silver was meant to be used and it is only proper that a piece should show its wear. I also like that the pieces are very practical and can be used in the everyday as well as for special occasions. Most Hotel Silver is marked on the bottom with the name of the hotel, manufacturer, and sometimes the date. A word of warning - like so many other things, reproductions of Hotel Silver run rampant so if the piece is super shiny and nick-free, be wary.



So what do you collect? What would you like to collect but cannot afford or haven't yet found?

Re-claimed, Re-loved, Re-used

It is hard to believe that it is November. Some days I barely remember what day it is so when I am reminded that it is not the beginning of September but rather NOVEMBER, it always takes me a moment to adjust. 

These three finds below all show the beautiful patina of age and use. They are full of character and stories and time has left it's not always kind mark on them. It makes me love them even more. We all get a little rougher with age, right? 

1. I bought the pair of chairs at a sale in Jacksonville. I paid $5.00 each for them. The best part, even beyond the low cost, is that they are very sturdy.

2. I paid a quarter for this old cake carrier at a Virginia yard sale. I have two now and they are a constant reminder that I should really just bake a cake already.

3. This is a large sign that I bought at Argyle for $5.00. I bought it with the intention of altering it in some fashion but I kind of like it as is. For now.

Any of you been shopping lately and found super bargains?

Link Love

Corn Juice? Not so sure about that!

This is too cool! Makes you want to stand under it with your mouth open. Or not.

This is a wikipearl, which is ice cream in a protective "skin".  Click on the picture for more info.

So if you have a thing with public potties, here are FIFTEEN that are pretty darn cool.

THIS goes way way beyond my kindergarten cutting skills. Blows my mind.

Funny Bones

Perfect mix of sweet and salty!

You will need:

1 (12 ounce) package of white chocolate chips
36 pretzel sticks of various sizes
72 mini marshmallows (about 1 cup)



1. Place the white chips in a double boiler over simmering water and melt, stirring frequently. As soon as they are done melting, remove the pan from the heat.



2. Stick marshmallows onto both ends of the pretzels, with the marshmallows' flat sides parallel to the pretzel.



3. Dip each pretzel in the chocolate and lift out with a fork, letting the excess drip back in the bowl.



4. Lay the bones on a baking sheet and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container.

 

5. Bones look best when stacked together on a plate.

 

Yummy Mummy

October has been crazy busy. I have a feeling that it is not going to slow down anytime soon either. In between throwing a large bonfire, planning a Halloween party at the library, and taking Emerson to a couple of Halloween shindigs, we sat down together for some easy craft fun.



For this project you will need a toilet paper tube, gauze, tape, a piece of white paper, googly eyes (or something that can be used as eyes) and candy.

Start by tracing two circles on a white piece of paper. cut the circles just inside the traced line so it will fit inside of the tube.

Cut the toilet paper tube in half.

Tape the white circles inside of each half of the tube.

Cut off a length of gauze. Make it long enough that it will wrap around the tube several times. Tape one end to the tube and start wrapping, overlapping as needed to create dimension.

Tuck in the other end of the gauze or tape it down.

Add googly eyes. I could not find any so I used foam stickies. Googly eyes would look better, I think.

Stuff with candy! These would make cute classroom treats.

Only a few more days left in October. I am loving the cooler temps and snuggling down with my favorite blanket to watch Dexter and Walking Dead. Soon, we will all be Christmas shopping and baking treats for the holidays. I am looking forward to all of it but somewhere, deep in the recesses of my subconscious, I am already yearning for January and the slow, quiet nature of winter and just being.

Re-claimed, Re-loved, Re-used Sunday

Goodwill Bag Bonanza!
1. BagDaddy Lunch Bag - 1.98
2. Small floral purse for Emerson -1.99
3. Structured bag for work - 4.99

Zombie Shooter

If Darryl were to walk in on a Zombie bash, I am pretty sure this is what they would be serving at the bar.
It looks like a bloody brain and has the mouthfeel of curdled milk but it doesn't taste all that bad.

I didn't have shot glasses so I made this in a large wineglass. I am sure the presentation would be ten times better if you used the correct glass.

You will need:

- 1 ounce of peach schnapps
- 1 teaspoon of Bailey's Irish Cream
- Grenadine
- Shot glass (clear glass is essential for maximum eww factor)

1. Pour the peach schnapps into a shot (or clear) glass.

2. Float the Bailey's Irish Cream on top of the schnapps.

3. Dribble a few drops of grenadine on top of the Bailey's. Take it nice and slow. You want the "blood" to seep into the brain crevasses.

4. Make zombie-like noises and drink up.

Looks like this brain was slightly scrambled.