research: staffordshire potteries mugs

I see these fun, funky, retro mugs popping up here and there and decided to learn about them and look for them a bit. Staffordshire Potteries Limited, from England, started producing cups and dinnerware in the 50s. In the 1960s and 1970s they put their efforts into mugs, also introducing the "Kilnkraft" line in 1972. I love the simple graphics and whimsical colors.

Currently for sale at Retro Rubbish on Etsy

My favorite! Blogged at skinnylaminx.com

Blogged at h is for home

My first find! A cute set of 6.

There is a  flickr group dedicated to sharing their photos Stafforshire Potteries mugs treasures. Such a fun little photostream to click through.

So awesome, but already sold...

A great set of two for sale at found vintage style on Etsy

Cute stuff, huh?

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: diggin' digsmed

Recently came upon a sweet stash of Danish goodies at my favorite little thrift shop. I'd been curious about Digsmed items, and lo and behold, there they were. Isn't it funny how that happens? I can't find much information on the Digsmed company at this point, but I love the style and the clear smokey gray pieces that compliment the teak. The covered cheese board below is marked Digsmed Danmark, and is missing the original knife.

The Lazy Susan (Am I supposed to capitalize Lazy Susan? It doesn't look right with just "Susan" capitalized, and it doesn't look right with "susan" un-capitalized either.) Anyway, the lazy Susan (see?) is not marked, but the little glass gray dishes lead me to believe it's Digsmed. Even if not, it's a lovely piece!

Digsmed Danmark Covered Cheese Board

Digsmed? Lazy Susan with 8 Glass Dishes

Unfortunately, this baby is sold, but this is the quintessential Digsmed piece to get your hands on!

Click here to see other Digsmed listings on Etsy.

~ Jenny

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

stock up the shop: california

It's so fun to think about what it must have been like in California in the 1950s and 60s and even back to the 30s and 40s. A piece of this history is the pottery that was being produced in studios and commercially at the time. Such style...reminiscent of the beach and innovative, laid-back western lifestyle.

I'm becoming more familiar names like Vernon, Franciscan, Metlox, Bauer, Gladding McBean, Heath, etc. There's much more for me to learn, and there are many experts out there. Vernonware is popular because of its great quality and California style of course, but also because its "Raffia" pattern has been featured in the Mad Men kitchen:

 

So cute!

Here are some Vernon finds I've come across lately:

Vernonware "Sherwood"

Produced from 1958 - 1965

Vernonware "Trade Winds"

Produced just from 1954 - 1955

I would love get more of this, it's lovely.

A little bit later Vernon pattern called "Della Robbia"

1960s - 1980s

Metlox is the umbrella company for Vernon, Poppytrail, and anything referred to as "Prouty." Prouty was the name of the founding family. These amazing early 1930s grill plates were from the early years of Metlox. Look at the cool back stamp!

My grandmother had this "Vineyard" pattern and we always kind of joked about them, us little girls thinking they were so ugly. Then they sat for years and years in my parents' garage...Mom often tried to talk us into taking "Grandmommy's grape dishes." Did she end up getting rid of them? I'm afraid to ask now! Even though I still don't totally love the pattern, it would be nice to have them as a keepsake.

~ Jenny

stock up the shop: atomic goodness

At the funniest little estate/garage sale in Boulder a few weeks ago, I picked up this somewhat random set of very atomic-looking china. It was dirty and full of bugs, as if it had been sitting in a milk crate in the back yard for a few seasons.

Amazingly enough, after bargaining with guy for way too long (suddenly it was important to him, very rare and special china...uh huh...this is how you take care of your rare, special things Mister?) I took it home, cleaned it up, and it's basically in mint condition. Not a knife scratch or sign of any usage.

I couldn't find out the name of the pattern, despite my best online efforts and even contacting some folks, but I do know from the stamp that it's Mayer China from the 1960s.

Check it out..and enjoy a little imaginary voyage to an era gone by:

Sometimes I'm a sucker for the great feeling of diner/restaurantware china. I can just imagine the diner, the counter, the people using these dishes.

Alas, despite my near obsession with these, I've decided to list them in the creekhouse etsy shop. Hopefully, they'll find a great mid-century modern atomic retro livin' pad to settle in!
~ Jenny

la solana

Picked these up the other day.

I really wasn't sure what they were or how old they were. They were unmarked, but I was sure I loved them! It was one of those should-I-shouldn't-I moments. The seemed something special; heavy, smooth, very well made. The semi-matte glaze is like butta...and check out the handles!

I started researching them (oh I love the research process.) I learned that they are La Solana pottery. Ever heard of it? Well, I hadn't.
La Solana started in California in 1946 and by 1954 the business was relocated in Scottsdale, Arizona. There is no particular artist credited with the styles, as far as I can find. I've found La Solana items around on Etsy and Ebay and such. It's too bad there's not more info out there...it's just lovely! Not a lot of resale value at this point, but  maybe someday. We'll see.

Apparently, most La Solana is unmarked, with a few exceptions. A very few have an impressed stamp, and more commonly found is the gold sticker.

Image from plasticliving.com

Image from rossauction.com

Image from rossauction.com

Pretty colors! Something fun to keep an eye out for...