Tag Archives: white ironstone

Lucky Number 7

Posted in Decorating by

In the ongoing process to organize my apartment, I have been unpacking some of my collections to finally give them a home. Today’s box uncovered 7 of my ironstone pitchers (and one creamer). Seven. SEVEN! I am actually screaming that number the way Monica did in that episode of “Friends” when she gave her future husband a road map to a woman’s heart LOL.

(Image by me.)

I downsized a lot of my Ironstone years ago, but I did not wish to include my beloved pitchers. Yet somehow I thought I did get rid of a few. With this unboxing I believe I was wrong. Pitchers were the first pieces of Ironstone I started collecting once I realized I could afford them.  I was first introduced to this beautiful pottery thanks to Martha Stewart.  As much as I loved it, I knew if she collected it I could probably never ever afford it.  So I lived vicariously through her. 

In one of the unbelievably lucky moments of my life, I found a free pitcher & bowl set (read about that here) which is technically the first piece I owned. Not one to push my luck, I was pretty sure this set would be the only Ironstone in my home. Ever. I believed I was being pragmatic, not pessimistic, since I had already received such good fortune with my incredible free find. But the universe eventually corrected me.

(Image by me.)

Years later when I went to my first antique warehouse (Stratford Antique Center in Stratford, CT-highly recommend), I found two Ironstone pieces-a pitcher and a sugar bowl-that were quite beautiful & quite affordable. I was on my way.

Over the years I have found plates & platters for next to nothing at estate sales along with a few footed bowls & lidded pieces. I still have a few of them but as I wrote earlier, I have downsized a lot as well. My goal is to keep the pitchers as my main collection so I can enjoy them more while using a few other pieces to anchor everything. Thanks to their neutral white color, Ironstone pieces are perfect to use for any occasion or holiday. My favorite way to use the pitchers is as vases for flowers. Even my beloved lilacs look more elegant. Don’t you agree?

 (Image by me.)

 Stay safe & well.

The Biggest Piece Of Ironstone In My Collection

Posted in Decorating by

A while back, I bought the biggest-and most expensive-piece of Ironstone in my collection. It was a huge splurge then (and would be now as well), it completely blew my budget for that shopping trip and the dealer was firm on the price. But it was absolutely worth every cent. I adore this piece.

(All photos by me).

It is nearly 12 inches high with an 8 inch top opening and it is quite heavy. I have no idea what it was created for or what its original purpose was. The antiques shop owner had no idea about it, either. The shape reminds me of an upside down ginger jar. Outside of filling it with the occasional bouquet of flowers or seasonal pine branches, I have used it primarily as a display piece.

To be clear, there is no marking of any kind on the bottom like the majority of Ironstone pieces have. But between the weight, the glaze, my own experience collecting pitchers and sugar bowls of this glorious pottery, it was pretty clear to determine the origin of the piece.

It did come with a lid, although I am not sure it is the original cover. It is a brighter shade of white but that might have occurred if it was used less than the bottom part. Either way, I do like the look a cover brings to this wonderful piece.

Also, the style of the knob on the lid looks a little more in line with a fancier piece of Ironstone, but I do not know for sure.

I love how simple this piece is. I have always preferred the less ornate style of Ironstone and especially with something this size, that clean elegant style just emphasizes its beauty perfectly.

In my house in NY, I kept it on my coffee table in my living room so I could see it the minute I walked in the door. Due to the cozy size of my home, I was also able to enjoy its view from other rooms as well.

I also love how unique this piece it, how it anchors my collection and ties it all together. But due to its size, it stands on its own beautifully. In all my years of collecting, I have never come across another item like this one.

Have you ever seen a piece like this? What do you think it was used for? What would use it for?

Until next time, stay safe & well.  

A New Collection

Posted in Decorating by

A little over two years ago, an innocent eBay search led me down a rabbit whole which rekindled my love of sugar bowls & pitchers. Since creamers are basically mini pitchers, I decided to find a set I loved. And thus, a new collection was born.

(Image by me.)

My kitchen has built in shelves in the window frame and it is the perfect spot for these beauties. The first sugar bowl I stumbled upon was by Noritake in the Melissa pattern. I absolutely love the soft delicate flowers

Top image by me, bottom picture found online. (Original source unknown.)

I think I fell for the Melissa pattern because it reminded me of one of the first Noritake patterns I fell in love with, Sweet Leilani. I discovered it in a store at Tanger Outlets in Riverhead, New York which was only about 40 minutes away from me when I lived on Long Island. It was not just the bargain prices that drew me to the outlets, but the availability of items I never would have considered to purchase “just to have”. This beautiful set changed my mindset. I also bought two dinner plate sets to use to make those take out nights extra special.

Top image by me, bottom picture found online. (Original source unknown.)

That led to to my third Noritake pattern discovery, Marywood. I adored it so much I bought two dinner settings of this as well along with a few berry bowls.

Top image by me, bottom picture found online. (Original source unknown.)

I have a few Ironstone sugar bowls that I keep with my other Ironstone pieces. But this weekend I found one of them without a lid and decided to bring it home. I have another un-lidded one that I use in my bathroom to hold my make up brushes, but this new to me one completed the bottom shelf of my kitchen display perfectly. And I really like how it looks next to the blue & white Winterling sugar bowl I spotlighted here back in January.

(Images by me.)

What do you collect? Are you thinking of starting a new collection? I would love to know so please tell me in the comments below and include any pictures you would like to share.

Until next time, stay safe & well.  

Pretty In Pink

Posted in Decorating by

Is there a better win at an estate or tag sale than stumbling upon something so beautiful you literally swoon? My first look at this bowl over a decade ago did that to me and I still feel butterflies every time I see it.

(Image by me.)

It is a perfect balance of my love of white Ironstone & a soft delicate minimal floral pattern in a sweet shade of pink. And I love how one side featured two flower bunches to the individual one on the other side. Such a unique way to give the pattern more visual interest.

(Image by me.)

The edges are scalloped with a small dot pattern all around the edge. Such beautiful attention to detail to such a lovely piece.

(Image by me.)

I am sad to say that in all the years since this find, I have yet to come across another piece to build a collection with. I used this bowl on my coffee table for all to see for many years where it held the TV remote. Now that I no longer have a television, I repurposed this piece to hold seasonal items like acorns and pinecones in the fall & winter and wrapped candy in the spring & summer so it can remain on display. It is just too pretty not to be the center of attention.

(Image by me.)

The stamp on the back shows the manufacturer as K. T. & K. CO. which stands for Knowles, Taylor & Knowles.

(Image by me.)

From the search I did online, they were a pottery company which operated from 1854 to 1931 in East Liverpool, Ohio. There is a page dedicated to them on the National Museum Of American History.

What finds have made you swoon? Please tell me in the comments below.

Until next time, stay safe & well.  

A Tale Of Two Cupboards

Posted in Finds, Music, Vintage Finds by

One of the most loved & cherished collections I have is my white Ironstone.  I have been collecting it for years.  When I had a house, I used to feature a rotating group of pieces on my mantel while two of my bigger pieces were displayed in my living room.  But, I never had an area dedicated to show off my entire collection in one place.  For years I have been looking for a rustic primitive piece like a cupboard with open shelves to serve that purpose.  This month I saw two I really liked around the same time courtesy of my new best friend, Facebook Marketplace.  So, I had to make a choice.  The pictures of each cabinet are below.  I am sharing the screen shots from the FB posts for authenticity.

Here is cabinet A:

A1

15_hutch_pic_one[1]

A2

15_hutch_pic_two[1]

A3

15_hutch_side_view[1]

Here is cabinet B:

B1

250_hutch[1]

B2

250_hutch_2[1]

B3

250_hutch_3[1]

B4

250_hutch_4[1]

Both are heavy wood pieces so either one will hold the weight of the Ironstone without fear of the cupboard falling over.  Each one has a small closed off bottom area for additional storage.  And the dimensions are basically identical (78H x 42W x 10D versus 78H x 42W x 17D).  As for differences, cupboard A has three shelves framed by scalloped trim while cupboard B has two shelves with straight trim.  It also has one bottom door and a more primitive look to the whole piece.  Still both will serve the purpose I want it for and each has its own charm.  So which one did I choose?

As much as I loved cabinet B and its reasonable price of $250 (I probably could have negotiated an even lower one), it still cost more than I could spend right now on a non-necessity.  So I passed on it.

250_hutch_screen_shot[1]

I chose A and I only paid $10.00 for it.  So really, it was no contest.  I had every intention of paying the asking price of $15, but once I saw the cupboard in person and realized there are a good amount of cracks that need to be repaired (not just the one in picture A3 where you can see a black tape patch at the bottom of the cabinet) along with a small mildew stain in the back, the seller agreed to the reduced price.  Yes, this piece will need more work, TLC, and elbow grease than the other one.  But I was already planning to clean and paint whichever one I bought since I want the outside of the cupboard to be white.  Now I will just need to spend a little more time on repairs.  Saving myself $240 is well worth it.  I will share the cupboard transformation in another post.

15_hutch[2]

Now for a song.

This past weekend Bruce Springsteen’s movie, “Western Stars”, opened nationwide.  He has been on the talk show circuit promoting it so I got to see several clips of the film (I am going to see it on Halloween).  In one scene Bruce wishes the viewers “….a guiding light thru the dark for all your days.”  The dark he refers to is depression, which is also the subject of the album’s first single, “Hello Sunshine”.  I have listened to this song every day since its release in June because I understand what Bruce so eloquently explains about one of the saddest realities of the disease:  You cannot run away from it, and if you try, you will only leave everything else behind.

“You know I always liked that empty road
No place to be and miles to go
But miles to go is miles away
Hello sunshine, won’t you stay?”

bruce

What he has done for those of us suffering from depression has been life-changing.  When a strong powerful man speaks out about his own fight with this illness, it gives credence to the rest of us who suffer with this malady.

Reading about his struggles in his autobiography gave me hope that even when I forget what light is like, I may find my way back to it with his music and because he did, too. He is a survivor and tells the rest of us we can survive, too.  I will never ever be able to thank him for all he has given me and all his other fans, but adding this part of his story to our narrative of him is monumental.  Thank you, Bossman, thank you. And continue to stay in the sunshine. .

Bruce Springsteen:  “Hello Sunshine” (2019, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Happy Halloween From A New Old Friend

Posted in Decorating, Holidays by

Hello, Vixens!!!!

I have spent the last several weeks doing some traveling (posts to follow) and working on re-branding my blog.  As much as I love “The Vintage Vixen”, I am afraid it was getting lost in a sea of similarly named blogs and sites.  So I decided a change was the best way to move forward.  Hope all of you fellow Vixens like it (who we are can’t really change, am I right???)   🙂

Now, Happy Halloween!!!

How do you enjoy this holiday?  Are you into gore and gruesome, adorable and affable or somewhere in between???  I take (mostly) the adorable route and use purple as my primary color choice.  For fall decorating I gravitate towards neutral, but for All Hallow’s Eve I enjoy the holiday’s newest color choice of purple.

IMG_20171031_163239[1]

However, I do like to add a bit of the macabre.  On a recent trip to one of my favorite spots for a great bargain-Target’s Dollar Spot (n/k/a Bullseye’s Playground which is also online!!!!!) I found this great little mock headstone.

IMG_20171031_131039[1]

At the other great spot for a bargain-Dollar Tree-I found this black crow.  Very Hitchcock-esque, don’t you think???

IMG_20171031_131032[1]

I found these beautiful tags on Etsy.  I think they would make great place cards, too.  So pretty!!!!!

IMG_20171031_163343[1]

IMG_20171031_163251[1]

I also keep a touch of my regular fall decorating nearby to keep the mood lighthearted and fun.

IMG_20171031_163207[1]

And my Ironstone seems to bring an elegance to anything which is part of why I love it so much!!!

IMG_20171031_130947[1]

And what is a holiday without some music?  I found this clip of the perfect Halloween song –Monster Mash-on YouTube.  I think it is a real treat (pun intended)!!!

Have a great holiday!!!

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!

PS:  Look what followed my home from the grocery store yesterday!!!!  How adorable!!!

IMG_20171031_163415[1]

Creating A Mood

Posted in Decorating by

Hello and happy fall, Vixens!!!

I have been stuck for a while on how to decorate my place.  It seems the more choices I have, the worse it is.  And since I have so much saved on Pinterest, I decided to go through my pins and create a mood board to help me narrow down my choices.

I started with the living room.  I asked myself what is important for me to have in there. Comfortable seating for me and guests when I entertain, good lighting for when I curl up with a good book, a comfy pillow and throw for when I want to get extra cozy, color, texture and a few things that I love.

Here is what I came up with:

 

Mood board

 

What do you think?

Let’s break it down.

LANDSBURYTG2_theater_cream-c48e37c8-dd6b-40d6-a443-567772c98f87

 

The focal point of any living room is the sofa, so that was my first pick.  I never had one with a chaise, but the thought of having one has always been in the back of my mind. This sectional from Arhaus really spoke to me, from the overstuffed cushions to the rolled arms to the gorgeous color (Theater Cream).  So pretty.  They have a wide variety of sectional couches to choose from.

 

lamp

 

Next I moved to lighting.  I adore the feminine charms a chandelier gives to a room, but in a living room, I prefer lamps.  This industrial style floor lamp embraced my love of old & worn while bringing in a masculine touch.

chair 2

 

books

 

A floor lamp eliminates the need for an end table on one side of the sofa, but on the other side I envisioned a place to stack a pile of old family books that I like to have around.  I thought the white metal chair from Target would serve that purpose beautifully while providing some balance to the metal lamp on the other side.

 

kirklands pillowcable knit throw from Ethan AllenVelvet+Throw+Pillow

 

More texture and comfort are provided courtesy of the cable knit throw and  pillow, and the velvet pillow provides a subtle pop of color while keeping the neutral pallet of the room alive.

 

coffee table

 

And those items store away easily when not needed in an antique tool chest which serves as a coffee table.  Look at that beautiful hardware!!!!!  Sa-wooooon!!!!!

 

industrial photo

 

My sofa will be up against a wall because the room is not big enough for me to float it. That means the big blank wall behind the couch needs some visual interest.  Instead of doing a straight line of prints which will only follow the line of the sofa, I prefer one large picture.  I adore black and white photography, and the grittier the better.  This one satisfies all of the above.

 

pink roses

 

I finished up the room the way I finish every room-with fresh flowers.  Pink roses are gorgeous, but especially in my heart’s desire, white Ironstone.  Just imagine those beautiful blooms in that pitcher on top of that tool trunk………..too beautiful for words.

 

BTR

 

And the final touch?  Music, what else?  My favorite song of all time-“Jungleland“-from Bruce Springsteen’s life altering “Born To Run” album is always in my CD player – yes, I still LOVE my CD’s!!!!   🙂  And happy birthday, Bossman!!!

The best part of this mood board?  It can be created on any budget.  I may have taken some of the pictures from expensive websites or stores, but that does not mean when I am ready to bring my dream living room to life I will not be able to find any of the items at flea markets, tag sales or on Craigslist.  I find the key is to be patient and go after one piece at a time.  Start with the focal point and go from there.  Before you know it, everything comes together & you did not have to empty your bank account to do it.

What does your mood board look like???  Let me know in the comments below.

None of the images in this post belong to me.  All resources are provided in the links.

This post was not sponsored.  All opinions, ideas and swoons are mine 🙂

Until next time, fellow Vixens, keep digging!!!

 

 

Flea Market Fun

Posted in Flea Market Finds by

Hello, Vixens!!!  Long time, right???  Hope you have all been fine, enjoying the spring season and the Easter or Passover holidays.

Sorry for the unplanned break, but between a very busy spurt at work, two book clubs with 500 plus page books each and several personal things to attend to, I just did not have the energy to open my laptop at the end of the day.  But that period is over so let’s get back to the treasures!!!

Two weeks ago I went to my first estate sale of the year on my lunch break after seeing the sign for it on my way to work.  It was definitely worth forgoing my usual soup and sandwich fare.  I do not recall seeing the sign the day before but it worked out better because I went on the final day of the sale when everything was 50% off.  So I got one Ironstone platter, three Ironstone plates and two New England Baking Company pie tins for $10.00.  Say it with me…….SCORE!!!

IMG_20170423_205030

This past Sunday, four of my wonderful cousins and I took our first trip together to the Elephant’s Trunk Sale, which opened for 2017 at the beginning of April.  We had a perfect day for it-sunny with a nice cool breeze.  Fantastic weather to shop in!!!

IMG_20170423_142751

We were having such a great time together that I did not even think to pick up my camera to photograph all the treasures we saw as we strolled up and down the aisles.  But anything and everything you could want or need is at this market.  Plus, it seemed to me there were a lot more vendors selling plants, flowers and fresh produce than last year.  And if you are a foodie-this place does not disappoint!!!  The smells of hot dogs, popcorn, grilled veggies and fresh baked goods were everywhere we turned.  Two of my cousins, Sharon and Gina, were swooning over the cupcakes.  And three of us made out with some great finds.

My cousin, Laura Ann, found an adorable pillow featuring one of the best breeds out there-and she would know, as she and her husband, Joe, currently have one of these cuties at home:

dog pillow

My cousin, Sharon, found this fabulous rustic gift.  I think both chickens and stainless steel  farmhouse decor rule!!!

Chicken picture

And I did not even make it all the way down the first aisle I was in without spotting these two shabby chic delights:

IMG_20170423_142234

I have gone to this flea market so often by myself since I moved to the area and enjoy it each time.  But, it is so much more fun to shop, laugh, talk and buy with a group of great people around!

So, have any of you started attending any sales or flea markets yet?  Have you found anything swoon-worthy?  If not, don’t worry.  The season to shop has just begun!!!

Till next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!

Tag Sale Treasures (Sale #2 for 2015)

Posted in Uncategorized by

Well Vixens, after striking out at every garage/yard/tag sale I went to over the last couple of weeks, I finally struck gold!!!  The home of a 50+ year collector opened to the public this weekend, and it was like walking through the perfect antiques store!!!

Everything in the house, and I do mean EVERYTHING (including the house itself) was for sale.  And there was stuff EVERYWHERE!!!  I was in my digging glory as I searched through all three stories of the house.

There were over 50 pictures posted on line to preview the sale, so I knew ahead of time there were certain items I was definitely interested in which led me to go on the first day of the two day sale.  It was very crowded but worth the effort since I was lucky enough to purchase one of the items I wanted.

The vintage typewriter stand (below left) is a treasure I found hiding in the dining room buried under a ton of linens for only $10.00.  I have wanted one of these carts forever so this was a great surprise find and it is in excellent condition.  I am going to spray paint it white and use it for several things:  as a desk, a make up table and a bar cart.  Cool, right?

IMG_0166

The bookcase on the right is one of the gems I was after and a steal for only $15.00.  It is real wood and in pretty good condition except for some heat damage on the bottom (it was right next to a wood burning stove for many years and the heat took its toll on it),

IMG_0167

I plan to clean it up, apply a few coats of crisp white paint and maybe use it to display my camera collection.

The next three items were purchased for $5.00 each.  The first one is a miniature sugar bowl, perhaps from a child’s tea set.  I love the sweet little flowers on it!!!  I plan on displaying it with my Ironstone sugar bowls to add a tender touch of color to the all white display.

IMG_0168

I almost passed on this lovely piece because when I first looked at it, I saw this side of it:

IMG_0171

Although I thought it was cute, it was not my style.  Then another buyer picked it up and mentioned that the piece had two different display sides.  When she put it down and walked away, I snatched it right up!!!  I learned a valuable lesson about thoroughly examining an item before passing on it in the future.

I found a new piece of Ironstone to add to my collection.  Even though it has a few embossments on it (I prefer the plainer pieces), I love how unique it is from any other piece I own.

IMG_0177   IMG_0178

It has some great character to it (read:  brown aged spots) and it also came with an insert (below right) with even more signs of wear on it.  I am not quite sure what the piece is intended for…a soap dish perhaps?  If any of you know, please leave a comment below.

IMG_0181  IMG_0183

But my favorite find of the sale is this sweet lovely bowl.  From the second my eyes spotted it…..SAAAAAA-WOON!!!

IMG_0174

It is such a solid piece.  There is nothing on the bottom to indicate who the manufacturer is, but it is as heavy as Ironstone.  And the character on this piece……you can tell it has been very well loved in its previous lives!!!

IMG_0175

I am over the moon for this bowl!!!  Talk about perfectly shabby chic!!!  Look at those crackles!!!  I am not sure where this gorgeous piece will go…..maybe as a pop of color in my Ironstone collection…..but I really feel this beauty needs a place of honor all on its own.  I will let you know as soon as I make up my mind!!!

IMG_0176

Please forgive the quality and angles of these pictures.  My SLR camera has not been working so while it is being repaired I am taking pictures on my iPhone 5C.

Until next time, fellow Vixens, happy digging!!!