Crown Lynn black

 

an early birthday present to myself is this lovely Crown Lynn #553 Black Boat Vase. It has a hairline crack on the back. This doesn't bother me. I love imperfect pieces. I'm just happy to find this as I've been wanting some black Crown Lynn items for a while. They are much harder to find than the white. Miss 17 has her eye on this and tells me that when she leaves home, this vase is going with her. Hmm, I'm not so sure that that's going to happen!

plate clocks

late last year I bought this clock for my kitchen from trademe seller natelee. As you know I'm an avid lover and somewhat collector of crown lynn and the idea of this clock appealled to me just as much for being a piece of crown lynn as for it's distinct, visual appeal. Last week I bought these 2 clocks from the same seller. The safari brown clock is a gift for a family member and the ironstone clock for my sewing room.

my husband suggested that I might like to attempt making a plate clock myself. After all he reasoned, it's simply a process of selecting a plate, finding the right drill bit, carefully drilling a hole and then attaching a clock movement. I'm not so easily convinced. My hands would probably shake so much from the thought of drilling a hole in a crown lynn piece that I possibly crack more than I'd successfully drill!

crown lynn rejects

my favourite crown lynn vases are all rejects because of hairline cracks and crazing, which makes them perfect for everyday use and display. If they were perfect, I'd be worrying about them getting damaged too much to enjoy them. I've still no inspiration to sew so I'm keeping myself busy with cleaning, gardening, baking and even polishing the silver for the christmas table. I've also signed up for the kiwi christmas ornament swap and am working on a couple of ideas which I'll keep under wraps until I decide on the right one. I'll post photos as soon as I'm done.

crown lynn swans

the Crown Lynn swan vase is an iconic piece of NZ kiwiana history. It was in almost every New Zealand home in the 1950s -60s. However in the early 1970s it's popularity was at an all time low, so it was phased out. Now it's a highly sought after collectible (hard to find pristine) that looks beautiful when filled with huge fresh flower blooms. Dear hubby, surprised me with these CL swan vases and the little Gobbles / Humell swan as an early birthday present. He knows I've been wanting one for ages. I'm looking forward to our garden roses blooming so that I can fill them with flowers.

not much sewing or crafting at the moment. I've been busy with children home for the school holidays and helping collect items for the Samoa Tsunami relief aid. Hopefully next week I'll have something 'sewing' related to talk about.

China cabinet

I'm a keen collector of vintage & retro china too. The china cabinet was a $20 find on Trademe. As you can see, I'm a blue & white fan. Most of the dinner plates on display are from Crown Lynn except the one in the middle of the top shelf, which is by Burleigh. My all time favourites are the group of 3 lustre swans (I'm nuts about poodles & swans at the moment!) and the groupings of 1950s Japanese lustre partial doll teasets. I haven't been able to find a complete set yet. I'm still searching!

The cabinet drawers are jammed packed full of vintage & retro linen & textiles, most of which I inherited from my husband's mother & grandmother.

Well I really should get back to sewing. Talk to you all again soon.