Gift From Dublin - Erik Hoglund

Mom found this little Erik Hoglund ashtray for me in Dublin vintage shop. It still has its paper Boda Sweden label. You'll see it matches my Hoglund glass cat jar. It joins my pitiful Erik Hoglund collection of three (opps, forgot the two sets of candleholders). Thanks Mom!

Getting Stuff In The Mail Is Awesome!

My trade with Jenny from The Creekhouse yielded this tiny Swedish wood Tomte with swinging pail. Isn't Jenny's business card sweet too. Mrs. Gnome has being added to my little family.

Plus there is a little Erzgebirge Valentine bower scene hand carved in Germany.

I Got A Package From Dublin

Coolest birthday gift from my sis. Irish linen apron and tea towel from The Cake Cafe Dublin. Design by Pony. Can't wait to visit!

Thrift Karma

Thanks to Sabine Vintage Home for sending me these Danish cuties.

Look What I Received In The Post

French Chocolates - Thanks Shapoopy!

Thanks - Yellow Copco Kettle

Gift from ThriftBreaker a Copco Yellow Enamel Teapot designed by Micheal Lax in 1962. This version was made in Spain probably dating it to the late 70-80s.

Vosges

Look what I received in the mail today from Shapoopy!

These truffles are divine! These aren't going to last long. So far the faves are Naga Sweet Indian Curry, Cherry Kirsch and Caramel Wink of the Rabbit but oh wait there are only three gone.

Vosges Again

 Thanks Brian for the Vosges Chocolates!

Garden Greens

Our garden is still going strong in January! Today, we harvested the last of the bok choy. And managed to pick lettuce, kale and turnip greens before getting rained out.

For Christmas my in-laws gave me an Omega 8006 Masticating Juicer. So far we are quite pleased; it's quiet, easy to clean and makes no mess. Our first homemade juice made from garden turnip greens & kale plus a small amount of apple, ginger, and carrot. Sounds horrible, but it's rather easy to drink the few ounces. Thanks for the lovely gift.

Vosges

The hubby received a small box of Vosges chocolates from a vender. Normally I detest truffles with their hard chocolate and golf ball size. Vosges truffles are tiny and most richly delicious! A selection of Marrone Pistachio, Eggnog & Jamaican Rum, Peppermint Candy Cane, and Holiday Plum Pudding. Our faves were Eggnog and Candy Cane. Alas, they are no more.

Gift in the Mail!

My German friend Dunja read my mind! Just when I was wondering where on earth to get incense cones for my smokers. Thanks!

Gift "Anemone"

This is what was waiting for me! Thanks to a friend's mother (she's from Finland) for the "Anemone" tea pot and cups by Arabia of Finland designed in 1960 by Ulla Procope and handpainted by another artist. Love them and use them all the time. Much admired by guests too.

Gift of Pyrex & Letterpress

So a friend gave me all this great Butterprint Pyrex that she picked up at the flea market for a buck each. How pretty. It's the pattern of my hubbies grandmama's Pyrex.

And my sister-in-law gave me the letterpress. I love gifts!

Ireland - Milk this Kerry Cow

Mom brought me home a mug and tray from Ireland.

Handmade Kerry Cow mug is signed "Muckross House" with the artist cartouche "S" Love the illustrated tag. Circa 1964. By "Muckross House Craft, Kilkenny. I don't know how the hubby and I missed visiting the house?

The melamine tray was probably a tourist souvenir from the Roman Baths made by Praesidium Ornamin Britain. Circa 1965 SOLD.

Err, I'm embarrassed to say, "The Little Mermaid" from Copenhagen SOLD, I found dumpster diving behind my sisters apartment in Dublin this past spring. (I found the same Mermaid souvenir for sale on Ebay for $49, I don't know about that!) The owners were cleaning out their parents house and kindly gave us a tour. They had the 1920's house refurbished in the late 1950 to early 60's. I should have taken photos of the funky light fixtures and 'state of the art' sound systems of the time. The father had worked in a sound recording studio and they had an unpublished studio recording of the Beatles that they were going to auction. Anyhoo, everything in the dumpster was really worn, really cheap, or really tacky, interesting though.

Birthday Package from Julia

Look what I received in the mail! Love this birthday present!

Julia lives in California and picked up this set from a thrift store for $9.99! I never see this stuff on the east coast, never mind a whole set.

Chartreuse speckled  "Parade" tea cups by Laurel Pottery of California. Designed in the 1950's by Ted Scarpino. This closely resembles my speckled Russel Wright plates so I can use them together.

Gifts from Mom-In-Law

This is a terrible photo. Here are some things my hubbies mom gave me to keep, donate or sell.
1976 Bicentennial linen calendar towel. Great graphics! I put it up in my hubbies office with all his Civil War crap.

1986 Harvest calendar linen towel with packaging. Never used 3D Cardinal mug. Prob. made in Japan. Some Chinese Dragon Horse things from Taiwan that went straight to the thrift store. Boyton cat mug-never used.

1989 Jerry Gray Show mug with interesting graphics & never used. Other side has a train and when hot water is added to the mug the graphic changes. Just might keep this one.

Thrift - 1850-55 Clock Cabinet

Blogger has been down so I'm late posting this.

Seth Thomas "Brass Clock" case. Circa 1850-55. Refitted with shelves and painted white with a glaze. Has original label you can see through the bottom glass pane. For my sisters shop in Dublin. Now, how to carry on plane...

Passed on a small "Pottery Craft" vase cause it have a hairline crack in the top lip.

Put a Bird on It!

The hubby spent a week at a conference in Portland. He loved it. Now I wish I had gone too. Last time I missed seeing the Ann Sacks Tile gallery because I thought it was in NYC.

He brought me back some gifts. For you Portlandia fans "Put a Bird on It" plaque, this is going over the toilet. Smoked salmon because I kept asking about Tillamook salmon. And a tin of "Moonstruck Chocolatier' Almond Sea Salt Bark.

www.putabirdonit.com

Phone by Henry Dreyfess

These phones are from my hubby's grandmothers farm in Tennessee. The 1984 blood red phone is a "Model  500" designed in 1949 by the famed industrial designer Henry Dreyfess. SOLD

The froo froo Victorian is god awful.

Aurgh, I have to do something about taking photos out of focus. It's driving me crazy!

Easter Gift from Germany

Look what Dunja & Jason brought from Germany for me! Chocoooolate! Mmm, Milka.

And a hand painted "Rooster" Easter egg. They are painted by old German ladies who start after Christmas so they are ready for Easter. I understand it's a dying art.