All Knit Everything...

It's no secret that we are embarking on my FAVORITE time: September to December.  The best four months of the entire calendar year!!!!  Hey, I like to be cold.  Messengers have lived in New England since 1637, so I think the cold Northeast air is in my bones.

There is almost nothing I love more than sweater weather.  And speaking of sweaters, I was perusing the October issue of Country Living Magazine which showed up in my mailbox yesterday, and they featured a red, knit inspired teapot from Yedi Housewares.   And that got me thinking about all the things I have loved over the years that are knit or cable knit inspired.

Their Red collection is entitled "Sweater" and I adore all of it:  It turns out it also comes in Blue, White, and Taupe so there is something for everyone's color taste.

Yedi Housewares Sweater Collection

And then, after I looked up the red teapot, I found all of this!  I wish that cake plate especially would find its way into one of my cupboards.  (Cake Platter, $49.99)   This collection is entitled "Matte Sweater" and it's a bit daintier and is featured in Baby Blue or Eggshell White.

Yedi Housewares Matte Sweater Collection



http://yedihouseware.com/products/footed-cake-platter-28cm-2

On my lengthy cold weather to do list is to make a few sweater throw pillow covers.  I love the idea of putting out sweater pillows for fall to winter, because they are sort of generically winter themed and won't need to be put away at Christmas.  Plus they would be comfortable: Micah is not a fan of some of my twill decorative pillow covers because he likes to use a soft pillow.  I plan to mine our thrift shop and maybe Goodwill for some fun finds to accomplish this.  But in the meantime, here is some inspiration for you.  Winter is coming!  Get your home ready.

I think this woman's tutorial for sewing sweater pillows is excellent, plus her tip for lining the pillows with another fabric so they hold their shape and don't look all wonky and squooshed seems genius.  I could have seen myself making that same mistake initially if I hadn't read her post.  Cami blogs at Tidbits, and I found her tutorial via Pinterest (of course).  Follow the link to her website in the caption! 

Repurposed Sweater Pillow Tutorial, Tidbits blog

This votive pair from Partylite has always been a favorite of mine, but for some reason, I just never got around to buying it.  Probably because my home is already overflowing with candle stuff and I have to get rid of some before I can get more.  But I just got the newsletter in my email from my candle lady Julie, and noticed that this pair is in their Clearance Outlet (marked down from $30 original price to $8.10, which is an insane steal!  The link to buy this from my candle lady Julie is under the photo.   If you are interested, hurry, because these will disappear soon.

Partylite Cable Knit Pair

I found these coasters on Pinterest, and it took me awhile to find the original maker, but I did it.  Her name is Alyssa Ettinger, and unfortunately her shop is closed for now, but she still maintains a website with a link to her knitware line!  It's gorgeous: I hope she starts making it again in the near future.  

Alyssa Ettinger Design

Alyssa Ettinger Design

 

This spread in Country Living caught my eye a long time ago.  I can't remember what issue it was featured in (maybe their winter white issue in 2014) but they still feature this on the website.  So, I tracked down the artist who creates this line, and it is Danielle Spector of Reshape Studio...



http://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g1253/white-knitted-home-decorations/?slide=3

Now technically, these look woven, but Country Living included them as part of their knit home décor article, so I am going to say they count!  I love this idea for storing wood next to the fireplace, or for kindling/newspaper next to the fireplace.  I am toying with the idea of crocheting some large baskets like this for that exact purpose.  Apparently these were originally sold as part of the Robert Ogden for Lostine line, but they are no longer for sale on their website that I can find.

http://www.countryliving.com/shopping/g1253/white-knitted-home-decorations/?slide=5

Last, but certainly not least, why not cozy up your fall decorations by trying your hand at this awesome Finger Knit Wreath (follow the link to get the pattern) or this fabulous idea to repurpose old sweaters into home décor pumpkins. 

Old Fashioned Living Finger Knit Wreath Pattern

Homeward Found Decor Sweet Sweater Pumpkin Tutorial
 

I think these pumpkins are so cute.  They are the product of a woman named Deb at Homeward Found Décor, so follow the link in the caption above for her instructions / tutorial.  It's a great tutorial with many pictures.  I may give it a try myself. 

Bennington Potters

My mother and I have been researching new places to live.  We both need a fresh start, in an environment aligned with our personal values and a place to encourage us both to shed our introverted ways and get out there and join something.

Bennington, VT may just be the town for us.  I had been there before, but Mom had not.  At any rate, I loved it more this time than the first time I visited, and frankly, Bennington Potters may have been the best part.

Here is a link to their website.  Bennington Potters

And here is an excerpt on their history.  American made pottery has a special place in my heart.

 (direct link to this quote here http://www.benningtonpotters.com/our_history )

The History makes it special

What makes this store so unique is not just the stoneware pottery, country home decor items, and Vermont specialty foods sold inside, but the history behind Bennington pottery itself. One of the oldest crafts known to mankind is also what has helped put Bennington, Vermont and Potters Yard on the map.
Pottery-making has been part of the area's economy since the Revolutionary War when in 1785 a former Revolutionary War soldier, Capt. John Norton, began producing "redware" glazed pottery. Bennington was a convenient location for producing redware pottery because of the close proximity to local clay deposits, as well as deposits along the Hudson River. Bennington also had an abundant supply of waterpower from local streams, which was necessary to power the machinery used at the time. Around 1804 stoneware pottery was introduced, which was more sturdy than redware pottery, and therefore more suitable for everyday use.
Through the 19th Century Norton Pottery and another firm, the U.S. Pottery Company, achieved considerable success employing hundreds of people and even representing the nation's pottery industry at the 1853 Crystal Palace Exposition in New York. Unfortunately both Norton Pottery and U.S. Pottery failed to keep costs down and eventually went out of business by 1858.
Even though the emerging 19th Century middle class was seeking both decorative and practical pottery items for their homes, the pottery business in Bennington began to decline significantly, and between 1911 and 1948 had nearly died out.
It was at this time that a potter by the name of David Gil began making ceramics as part of an artists' cooperative. Gil eventually opened Bennington Potters in a small unheated barn in downtown Bennington. In 1964 Bennington Potters expanded into a former home and business supply building located on County Street, where it is still operating today.
This rustic 1900s building was once the Home Depot of Bennington, located just 4 blocks from the old Bennington Freight Yard. This location enabled prior owner Henry W. Meyers to off-load coal, firewood, ice, lumber and farm equipment for home and business delivery.
Over the years, under the leadership of Gil, this former supply building transformed itself into an active craft pottery that today is one of southern Vermont's most popular destinations. Bennington Potters is also referred to as Potters' Yard.
*Excerpts borrowed from "Town's earliest industry still a survivor", July 8, 2004,
Bennington Banner, www.BenningtonBanner.com

Here are some photos I took from today to share with you!  I wish I had the money to fill my home with handmade, locally made, artisan items.  Someday!

Blue and White China plus a new Living Room Vision Board

So, I've recently come into possession of my grandmother's blue and white china collection (which was, to my satisfaction, almost complete.)   It turns out that it's not quite as old or important as she might have thought (she tends to reason that things of great sentimental value to her MUST be worth a great deal) but from what I can tell, this pattern is beautiful but not anything altogether special.  From my internet research, I've determined that the set must date from 1913 to 1920.  The maker was Furnivals LTD out of England, and the pattern name was "Cluny."  It is clear to me that some of my pieces are replacement pieces, as some are missing the gold trim, and the sizing/ink colors are not consistent throughout.  But to me, that just gives it all even more charm.  My sister Jennifer and I split the set, although ultimately if we ever sell it, we would put the set back together.  We divided all plates, soup bowls and cups evenly, and then haggled over the special pieces.  I took the teapot, the over-sized sugar bowl, a small serving bowl, and several small to medium serving platters including what I would consider to be a pickle dish or butter dish.   Jennifer took the soup tureen (the ladle has long since gone missing), the water pitcher, and several larger serving platters. 

I've always felt that this blue and white set would blend well with my Ironstone collecting plans.  But, as much as I love blue and white decor, I love red and black as well and I wasn't sure how I could remake my living and dining spaces to incorporate all of the above in a cohesive manner.  I personally find the combination of red and blue to be appealing.  My best friend is getting married this fall, and we are utilizing a cherry red/turquoise color scheme.  But blue/red can be difficult because of the potential "patriotic" effect it might have.  Now, I want my home to have a modern french country feel, NOT be reminiscent of July 4th all year round.  So, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that the faded ink of the china is more french blue or a very blue turquoise than navy. 

So, I came up with this vision board for the living room that incorporates a few "blue" pieces in and overall, softens the harshness of the red/black color scheme.  I think I like it. 

Starting in upper left corner and working my way down:  The red bowl with balls is mine already, the bench is mine (i.e. the one I recovered from Elephant's Trunk, that Teal lampshade is from Target (Target Floral Toile Teal Lampshade $22.99) ,that M is something I already have in my house (a painted letter from Michael's), that lamp base is also from Target (Threshold Black Orb lamp base, $34.99) the curtains I already own (Threshold Farrah Floral pannels in Black which I got on clearance for $14.99 a piece), the light blue toile throw pillows are a purchase I am about to make from Amazon (Camella Toile Pillow) , the rug is a steal of a deal from IKEA (Tarnby Flatwoven Rug, $99.00 for a 6 x 8) the clock is also from Target Oversized Red Wall Clock $35.99) the IKEA black Lack side tables already belong to me, the blue accent table with glass doors is another Target steal (and also comes in a console table which might interest me) (Threshold Windham one door accent cabinet $76.99) , those are my curtains again folded up, a French Country color scheme I pinned on Pinterest, the IKEA round black/white floral lamps I already own, another beautiful accent cabinet choice from Target: (Threshold Fretwork Accent Table $62.00) some red stand-in couches to represent my loveseat and chair set from Bob's Furniture (Big Kahuna was the set name, now discontinued, in red) , my red metal wall art to bring in a modern touch, that same IKEA Tarnby rug again, my IKEA lack white tv bench, another gorgeous Target lampshade choice (Threshold Flocked Floral Shade Lamp $22.49), my framed rustic picture of Micah (frame came from Michael's crafts) and inspiring barn painting from http://www.wickartwork.com/Images/images_2005/PrarieBarn.jpg, and my IKEA black/white Stockholm cushions that I already own, plus another shot of my curtain fabric.

Collinsville Antiques and Ironstone Collecting

I have officially joined the "ironstone" bandwagon.  I've been admiring ironstone collections for some time.  I've coveted those beautiful pieces: the more aged and crazed the better.  But I am not the sort of person to collect things.  I've always been adamantly anti-collection.  I'm not into clutter.  I certainly don't see it as an investment, in the sense that most people I know with a tendency to collect don't make any money from the habit (especially when they are TRYING to make money.)  I think I have always felt that collecting was one short step away from hoarding.  Or maybe the collectors I know, are also, coincidentally, hoarders.

But.  But.  Ironstone is beautiful. And home decor neutral, so it will always go with whatever color scheme I am obsessing over.  (I could also see myself beginning a teapot collection too but that is for another day and another time.)

I took a vacation day from work today, and my mother and I wandered down to one of my favorite local antique shops: Collinsville Antiques in New Hartford, CT.  This place is a former warehouse: it's huge and it's overwhelming and it's a veritable treasure chest.

picture taken from Collinsville Antiques homepage

Today was not at all disappointing.  In fact, at a certain point, I had to STOP looking because I had just passed my $100 target threshold.  My mom is on the hunt for solid brass or pewter candlesticks, so she had her own mission in mind. I snapped a few pictures of the booths that really appealed to me.  The entire place is visually appealing if you happen to be of a vintage mindset.

I wanted this set badly, but did not want to shell out the money (today)  J&G Meakin, circa mid 1880's, Pitcher and Wash Basin for $145

I want this hutch to magically appear in my apartment.

So, now we come down to what I picked out for myself.  I purchased three pieces today.  The first was a very large white ironstone pitcher: the design is simple and the crazing is subtle.  The antique store had it labeled as J&G Meakin circa 1880's.  I bought it for $55 which I thought was a decent price for such a large piece with few imperfections.  The label on the bottom says "Warranted" and not a brand name, but I googled the J&G Meakin markings and I think their labeling seems legit.

 

The next piece I picked out is labeled, but in such a way that I can't read it at all.  The tag did not specify a maker either.  The mark is imprinted into the gravy boat and it has been partially rubbed away over time.  The sales ticket said it was an early American ironstone gravy boat.  The piece is so aged, that I can't tell if it was meant to be beige or if it was originally ivory and has just darkened over time.  The crazing is significant.  I liked the lines of this particular piece.  The banding is reminiscent to me of dental molding, or early colonial architectural lines.

 

The last piece I picked out is clearly more contemporary, but I really like pitchers.  It has a traditional grape motif on it, which given the Red Cliff mark on the bottom probably means it's a 1950's piece.