Joan's Christmas Tree 2019

Joan's Christmas Tree.

I traveled up to Maryland to spend a few days with my cousin Joan during the past Christmas holidays. It was great fun. Of all the many Christmas trees that I enjoyed this past year, Joan's was the prettiest.  It was decorated with handmade ornaments that made it very special, and the vintage snowflake white lights added to its uniqueness. 

Star-shaped white lights. 

Joan had crocheted many of the ornaments, making different shapes of snowflakes. 

Crocheted bell.

She even crocheted the angel for the top of the tree. 

Crocheted Christmas angel tree topper. 

Two of the ornaments I recognized as ones that my Mom had crocheted some years ago.

Mama's crocheted Santa.

Mama's crocheted stocking. 

The pretty framed cross-stitched ornaments were gifts from Joan's daughter Robin.

Two of the ornaments were ones from Westmoore Pottery made by Mary Farrell.

Westmoore pottery snowman.

Westmoore Pottery Christmas tree. 

Yes, in my book Joan's tree wins first prize among the Christmas trees I saw this past Christmas.

A Cup of Tea and A Good Book

A cup of green tea and a good book.

Patrick and Alvaro take care of our yard but I enjoy working outdoors too, so I manage to get in a bit of yard work without their noticing.  I trimmed a few of the shrubs out front in the cool of this morning.

After filling one bag with trimmings, it was time to enjoy a cup of tea and a book and the view from the front patio. 

A nice place for a cup of tea and a book. 

I try to have a cup of green tea each day because it is healthful, and the book that I am currently reading is written by one of Dan's former graduate students Curt Stager.  Still Waters The Secret Life of Lakes is the fifth book that Stager has authored and is dedicated to Dan, Joe Richardson, and Curt's father.  I'm sorry Still Waters wasn't completed before these three passed away.  Dan was aware that the book was in progress, and he knew that it would be dedicated to him as well.  Dan would have been very proud of the book as I'm sure the others would have been too.  In Still Waters Stager explains beautifully how lakes are impacted by humans and how lakes affect humans as well.  Laymen and scientists both can appreciate and learn from this book.

Book by Curt Stager and pottery by Westmoore Pottery. 

Mary at Westmoore Pottery made these little butter dishes that are great for holding used tea bags. 

This fountain began leaking so we converted it to a planter for my succulents. 

One of Mark Hewitt's first big pots. 

My view to the east when enjoying my tea on the front patio.    The rhododendrons are at their peak. 

It was quite pleasant spending time out in that area of the yard this morning, and I may return in the cool of the evening to enjoy the display of rhododendrons at their peak.

Lane and Hamilton Antiques and Collectibles

Logo designed by Ava Barlow.

Thanks to my friend Ava Barlow who has been helping me set up an online shop for selling antiques and collectibles, the site is finally launched.  Ava did the photography and designed the site.   Here are some of the items I have listed for sale:

Alladin's lamp by Waymon Cole. (Photo by Ava Barlow.)

And early Westmoore Pottery salt-glazed jug with cobalt decoration. (Photo by Ava Barlow.)

Westmoore Pottery teapot and cups.

Assorted glassware.

Pottery and other items.

Assorted Wolf animal collection. (Photo by Ava Barlow.)

Beautiful vintage quilt made of wool scraps.  Probably kept someone warm long ago.(Photo by Ava Barlow.)

 Why don't you check out my new online store at Lane and Hamilton Antiques and Collectibles.  And perhaps you can share this site with your friends. 

Westmoore Pottery's Holiday Open House

Dan and I visited with Dave and Mary at Westmoore Pottery on Saturday when they were hosting their Holiday Open House.  Mary always has the shop decorated so pretty for Christmas. 

I especially liked the tree with the "Dear Santa" notes and the ornaments from their collection.

Candle ornament.

Heart ornament.

Erik's plates are very popular, and the pierced plate he did would make someone a great Christmas gift. 

Erik's plates.

Erik's pierced plate.

Dave's salt glaze Santa with his pack on his bag is not for sale, but it is used in their Christmas decorations each year.  It is very unique.

Dave's Santa Claus.

There were lots of poinsettias throughout the shop.

Poinsettias.

 Check out their website, Westmoore Pottery,  for more of their lovely pottery. 

Erik's Sgraffito Pottery

Erik Farrell's Sgraffito plate. (All photos by Mary Farrell from the Westmoore Pottery website.)

This past weekend we were visiting Dave and Mary of Westmoore Pottery down in Seagrove, and I was delighted to see the Sgraffito pottery that grandson Erik had decorated during his summer there.  (Erik is now in England studying for his Master's at the University of Durham).

Sgraffito (in Italian "to scratch") is a decorating pottery technique produced by applying glazes or slips to leather hard pottery and then scratching off parts to create contrasting images, patterns and texture and reveal the clay color underneath.

In Erik's decorations, green slip was applied and designs were "scratched off" revealing the redware underneath. After the initial firing, a clear glaze was applied to the interior only before the final firing.

I don't have a video of Erik decorating the pottery, but this video will give you an idea of how it's done.

Here are some of Erik's Sgraffito pottery.

Erik's Sgraffito Plate 566

Erik's Sgraffito Plate 509.

Erik's Sgraffito Plate 570

Erik's Sgraffito Plate 568.

I think Erik has done a terrific job with these plates.  They are lovely!!!!!

Grandson Erik and Indiegogo

Erik Farrell's one of a kind sgraffito plate.

Grandson Erik Farrell is attending Durham University in England working towards a Master’s degree in Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects.  In seeking assistance with expenses for his studies Erik signed up at Indigogo.

 Indiegogo is an international crowd funding site founded by Danae Ringelmann, Slava Rubin, and Eric Schell in 2008. Its headquarters are in San Francisco, California. As of 2012, it has hosted over 100,000 funding campaigns in areas such as music, charity, small business and film.

Erik is a talented potter and to raise money to help with his graduate studies he has made limited editions of pottery.

For $50.00 one can have a coffee mug made and decorated by Erik. Go to Indiegogo

Erik's limited edition coffee mug.

For $200. one can have a small sgraffito plate, approximately 6.5 inches in diameter, made and decorated by Erik.  Go to Indiegogo

Erik's limited edition small plate.

And for $750. one person can have a large sgraffito plate, approximately 14 inches in diameter, made and decorated by Erik.  Go to Indiegogo

Erik's limited edition large plate. 

To see these lovely limited editions of Erik's pottery, go to Indiegogo.

Or you can even assist Erik by donating $10. and you will receive a personal postcard from him.

As grandparents we are extremely proud of Erik, and I think if you visit this website, Indiegogo, you will see that Erik deserves help in pursuing his graduate degree.   And most of all you could become the proud owner of one of Erik's pieces of pottery.  I suspect these will be collectible one day.