Posh Pottery

What's your guess? 

Crate and Barrel? Pottery Barn? Ikea? 

How about estate sale Homer Laughlin? 

The Wells Art Glaze series was primarily produced in solid pastel colors.

 This "rust" version is uniquely rich and well, artistic.

And would you believe it is 80ish years old?

The pattern was discontinued in 1935.

Beautiful, and a totally justifiable purchase when compared to the price of the high end paper-ware we might buy to use once and then throw away. Even if these lovely pieces are brought out for a single occasion we are still ahead financially. But that is not going to happen. This set will see plenty of service. We may even revive broth as an appetizer so that we can use the two-handled consomme cups.

Sometime soon we will show you how great Wells Art Glaze looks  with some other certain all-time-favorite bargain-find dishes in our collection. Excited? Try to contain yourselves.

Pansy Potager

Just for fun we sowed some mesclun around the pansies in the tool shed window box.

It filled in the edges nicely and was good for a couple of sandwiches-worth of greenery.

Pansies are edible too, but we'd rather look at their pretty little faces than eat them.

Roamin' Foam

We're always keeping tabs on what's happening at our coolest local industry.  

The 9th annual Leinenkugel's Family Reunion was fun.

This decked out airstream was parked in the lot at home base before heading out on the next leg of the Leinenkugel's Family Road Trip.

An important message from our sponsor.

The other Leinenkugel family.

Where's Jake?

Hometown folks are pleased to live off the reflected glory of this respected 

and historic part of our community. 

Wherever you wander, wherever you roam, always remember, there's no place like home.

Tut, Tut, Looks Like Sun

It's not an umbrella.

It wasn't made for a downpour.

It's not a bumbershoot.

No, this pretty protector is a parasol. 

Ready to shield delicate pigments from the scorching rays of Sol.

You may borrow it for your next garden party whether you are fair of skin 

or just want to look terribly teatime chic.

As a matter of fact it would be the perfect accessory for the ....

American Red Cross Garden Stroll

Sunday, Jun 24 2012 - 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Take a self paced tour of 8 beautiful gardens in Chippewa Falls and Lake Wissota.

Attendees may also enjoy a silent auction and complimentary refreshments available at

First Presbyterian Church (130 W Central Street Chippewa Falls).

Tickets are available at Gordy's County Market in Chippewa Falls and all chapter locations, and at

First Presbyterian Church and each garden the day of the stroll.

2012 Garden Locations:

Reese Residence - 435 West Elm Street

Ginzl Residence - 621 Dover Street

Brown Residence - 610 West Columbia Street

Cook Rutledge Mansion - 505 West Grand

Grenz Residence - 115 South State Street

St. Joseph's Hospital Healing Garden - 2661 County Hwy I

Brehmer Residence - 10438 161^st Street

Hebert Residence - 10134 161^st Street

*Event held rain or shine*

Now What Was It that I Was Supposed To Do Today?

When you were buttoning up your blouse this morning did you have a nagging feeling that you were forgetting something? Just in case you haven't yet remembered what it was, here is a little reminder.

The Wisconsin State Button Society is hosting a button show in Eau Claire on June 21-23, 2012. Antique and collectible clothing buttons from the 1800s to present day will be on display and for sale at the show which will be held at the Plaza Hotel and Suites, 1202 West Clairemont Avenue. Dealers and button society members will be available to share their knowledge of the history and artistry of buttons, and of the hobby of button collecting.

Admission is free and open to the public.

Showroom hours are:

Thursday, June 21 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Friday, June 22 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, June 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The Rules

Plastic is for kids, and car beverages.

Plastic is never for milk.

Everything tastes better out of a pretty glass tumbler.

Winter or summer. In or out. Still or carbonated. On the rocks or not. At home or away. True then, true now.

What's in Your Pantry?

Cathrineholm enamelware pieces in the popular Lotus pattern 

designed by Grete Prytz Kittelsen, little treasures of sleek Scandinavian artistry, 

are popping out of cupboards and onto mid-century enthusiasts' must-have lists.

The Cathrineholm ironworks began in Halden, Norway in 1907 making wrought iron products and agricultural equipment. Times changed and production turned from farm implements to enamelware. The factory closed in 1970.

The festive products have had a resurgence in popularity. Collectors can find the bright kitchenware on eBay and Etsy and occasionally at estate sales. Is Cathrineholm part of your cooking past or present?

What's not to Love?

Monkeys on ponies.

It really doesn't get any better than this.

Mix It Up

Now - all of the fun and none of the guesswork when making classic cocktails for the next side yard soiree.

It is more likely that this vintage tumbler will be put to use for diet soda or lemonade. Perhaps we could come up with a maraschino cherry garnish for special occasions. And how about those swell swizzle sticks?

The Tin Type

Just as  Kryptonite brings superman to his knees, tin is the one element  that grips us in its power and does not let us leave a thrift sale without it.

Yes, pretty flowered tins, usually from English companies that specialized in sweets, have a hold of our affection and our coin purse.

This pretty one is made in Holland.

 It is uncanny how tin is pulled into our clutches as if  by a supernatural force. Don't even try to pry our fingers off of  the object of desire once it is in our grasp. You will fail mortal human.

Now that you know our vulnerability please don't abuse it, and we'd appreciate if you wouldn't mention our little secret to Lex Luther either.

De Rigueur Denim

A friend once commented on the uniform in her small college town. It was a denim or chambray jumper or skirt, turtleneck, clogs with summer substitutes of a blouse or tee, bare legs and Birkenstocks.

Although more obviously "the look" in that close community of supposed independent thinkers, 

our town and many others lined right up to get on that 80's-90's fashion band wagon, 

or should we say covered wagon, too.

How does one put well-worn Liz Claiborne garments out to pasture? 

How about in a stylin' picnic blanket?

Machine quilting by J. Bauer.

Pond Pals

Turtle and Frog get along swimmingly.

Amy Schimler's Creatures and Critters fabric.

Machine quilting by J. Bauer.

Layer Cake

This is the first stack of these 10" squares, a layer cake, that we have ever purchased. It is an economical and convenient way to get a taste of all the frosting, er, patterns in a fabric design line. 

Each square was cut into three shapes and then the shapes were mixed up.The result? No waste, and a very dynamic, some might say busy, and colorful little comforter.

The fabric is the vibrant Oops-A-Daisy by Keiki for Moda.

Machine quilting by J. Bauer.

Ladybug Trails

If we followed them for a day surely we would see that they walk in cute patterns like this to get hither and hon to conduct their important ladybug business.

Machine quilting by the talented J. Bauer. No, not Jack or his wife either. Although we do wonder how Jack is spending his 24 hours-a-day now that he is no longer defying death and terrorists without ever seeming to need to eat, sleep, pee or charge his cell phone.

At Last

It was pointed out to us once that although we diligently note and document the firsts in our child's lives, the lasts are seldom celebrated, if even noticed. Why? Because we often are not sure when a final thing is happening. We can hardly wait for the last diaper change, the last temper tantrum, the last argument about cleaning rooms, but we usually don't know the end we have been longing for has arrived until much later. One day our kid will reasonable say, " It's subzero temps outside, I think I will need mittens.", we will shake our heads, and say, " Oh my goodness. When did this happen? I can't remember the last time I had to tell him he was going to freeze his fingers off if he left the house without proper winter clothing."

Other lasts, when we do eventually realize that they were, are just as hard to pinpoint in time, but leave us nostalgic rather than relieved. Often it is for things that we probably did not fully appreciate when they were happening in the midst of busy child raising years. For example, when was the last time you received a sagging bouquet of dandelions or a colorful crayon drawing from one of your sweet offspring?

So, as the last child began his last year of high school something made us reach for the camera to record an image of the last book brought home for mom to cover with brown paper bag and packing tape protection from the blood, sweat, and tears that this subject has caused over the years. Mostly to the parents of course.

And, we must confess that while we have taken great pride in our skills at making textbooks ironclad, and loved that even as big boys there was still one thing we could do for them long after the classroom party planning and field trip chaperoning ended, after 20 years of attention to grades and school calendars we are fine with moving on to whatever next first future lasts are ahead.

Onward!