Sepia

plates came into my collecting world when I started looking for "Harker Pottery" dinnerware and baby dishes for a friend. Once exposed to the antique collecting bug, the symptoms become chronic and lifelong. I can name at least three couples that, thanks to us, are infected. Yes we are still friends; friends that collect together, stay together.

The plates shown in the at right are a type of transferware (I call them sepia plates because of their color) and were made from the early to mid-1900's. They have been difficult to find but I fell in love with the charm of the subjects and don't seem to be able to resist those that have these vintage designs. I have others, but these are my favorites.

This plate is all together a different maker and I grew up with it hanging on my mother's kitchen wall. I have always loved it and feel it's sort of a Mother's Day plate with the mare and her colt and the female with her litter of puppies. It was made by Taylor Smith & Taylor, again sometime in the early to mid 20th century.  None of the plates are particularly valuable and I am quite sure I paid less than $10 for them.

Thanks for visiting today, I am currently working on a Ruth Schmuff class from Bedecked and Bedazzled-from cyberspace-now this is shop I'd love to visit one day. For now you'll have to guess which class I'm taking as I'm stitching it on the QT.

I hope you have the day you deserve today. See you soon.

Oh, did I mention

that I am a collector? Among the other things I do when not stitching is aerobicizing around the local antique malls looking for "things". I call it aerobicizing which means "upright and moving" in Madonnaspeak.  Not a hoarder mind you, a collector....there's a difference. For one thing all of my collections aren't under a pile of other stuff, they're displayed and somewhat dusted off. See, there's two differences right there.

Anyway, today's header hosts many of my "California children" that were made in, duh, California in the 1950's mostly. Brayton Laguna, Heidi Shoop and Kay Finch, to name a few of the manufacturers, are among some of the most collectible. I had fun several years ago running across one here and one there and it just turned into a collection. I am sure these can now be found on eBay but that's just not my style, I like to aerobicize....

For me, collecting  is like a treasure hunt. Sort of like combing the beach for seashells and sand dollars; you're walking along and then suddenly you spy something familiar, check for blemishes and, of course, price then before you know it two turns into 20 and there it is. Now what? Good question. :)