stock up the shop: pretty vintage trims

As I got the camera out and began to prepare to list these recently-found beauties, I couldn't help but re-post them each individually for your enjoyment. Some of these take my breath away...if this doesn't kick me in to summer-sewing mode, I don't know what will.

blue lily trim

vintage mexican trim

vintage woven trim

vintage woven trim

blue daisy trim

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: oh mexico

We took a trip to Mexico two weeks ago, just the four of us, right after school ended here in Colorado. We went easy and relatively cheap...an all inclusive resort in Cancun. The intent was family time, beach time, rest, and relaxation. We definitely succeeded with that! It was beautiful, and since we rarely take such vacations...we cherished every moment. I did an especially good job cherishing, if I do say so myself.

I did have a desire to go hunting for some vintage Mexican treasures or fabrics for sewing. I definitely did NOT succeed with that part. It was far too taxing for me to put my drink down and get my - ahem- out of my beach chair to go exploring.

So, funny thing, after we got back I hit some estate sales. One of which was a retired teacher (Really? Will I actually retire some day?!) She had traveled to Mexico in the 60s and 70s and had purchased some fabric trim for sewing projects. Funny thing.

Needless to say, I quickly scooped it up to buy...feeling a twinge of guilt that I hadn't put that drink down and done at least a little bit of exploring while I myself was south of the border. (Yes, I know, south of the border is much different now than it was in the 60s and 70s, but let's just keep that romantic vision in our minds for a few moments.)

She had all sorts of souvenirs from her travels all over the world. She was selling her old camera straps, which yes, I also quickly scooped up to buy.

Don't they just make you wonder? Where all has she been? Did she travel alone, take her children, her husband? Did she do this traveling during her precious teacher summers? Does she still have all the pictures she took? She was such a sweet lady...a junior high science teacher. Selling all her belongings, moving out of her home, her adult children helping at the sale, no husband anymore. Hmpf.

I think next time, I'll get up and go exploring a bit...but this was pretty fun too.

I'll be back Mexico!
~ Jenny

stock up the shop: bennington potters

How 'bout a bit of Bennington? This Vermont pottery is very popular with collectors. Some I like, and some I don't. I love this one:

It's a large roaster, big enough for a chicken or a bit ol' hunk of meat. Found it at the thrift for $6 and it's all for me. It's quite brilliant in it's simplicity (which we always love) because the lid can slide side to side, but catches on the little mini speed bumps in order to safely release the hot steam. The lid can also be used as a divided serving tray or as an actual carving tray, allowing the juices to drizzle down into the sections. See? Brilliant!

Some other pieces I came across recently:

a lugged soup bowl in "Pink Agate" or "Morning Glory Pink"

a small batter bowl...so pretty

And here are some shots of their backstamps. Interesting because the number represent models, not years, and the models were used over and over again. This makes it hard to really accurately date Bennington pieces.
One thing that I love, that I just learned, is about the symbol you can see on the third photo below. The designer, David Gil (whose initials are on the 2nd picture below,) came up with the symbol of an arm and a hand, representing the physical craft of creating pottery. At the top of the arm is a little star which represents the "spark" of imagination also required to create. How cool! Some of the pieces started to be too small to include the whole arm, so often all you see is the "spark."

Can you match the back stamps with their piece?

Here's a graphic of the backstamp:

http://www.benningtonpotters.com/potters_stamp

~ Jenny