I needed them!  Of course I needed them! 

Our fiestaware bowls came yesterday, one for each family member, just days after I ordered them directly from Homer Laughlin China.

Each bowl was wrapped up so nicely, and it was very much like Christmas as I slowly unpacked each one, with two little ones by my side, enjoying the show.

Aren’t the colors wonderful?  And all so shiny and new that I didn’t want to use them.  But, use them we have.  (We really did need bowls.)  I think there are currently only two clean ones left in the cupboard.

The perfect size for cereal, ice cream or what have you.

to order or windowshop::click here

A sister is a forever friend.  ~Author Unknown

Today Amanda and I went to the Brimfield Antique Show, with Grace and Sarah.  The picture is of the two girls this morning before we left.  I made Sarah’s headband and dress myself. 

It was a beautiful, cool day.  Amanda drove to my house and we all got in my vehicle for a nice ride through the countryside.  We got there just fine, parked, and walked around all excited.

The first thing I noticed was a big tent full of my favorite dishes:  FIESTAWARE.  Just seeing the sign alone was enough to put a spring in my step. 

Most of these are pieces from the factory store, called “seconds”, they have slight imperfections which allow the customer to take advantage of rock-bottom prices.  I ended up getting one big beautiful scarlet vase…perfect for Christmas or Valentine’s or Anytime.

Aren’t the colors pretty? 

My sister works at Lens Crafters and she was happy to browse around the vintage eye glass booth that we discovered.

I thought of my friend Christie when I saw these older pieces of  Portmeiroion.  These are the dishes that she collects:

All three of us got a stained glass window from houses/buildings in England.  They are heavy and so pretty.  I’ve always wanted to feather my nest with a piece of stained glass. 

There were crowds and crowds of people.  We met some friendly folks from Delaware as we ate our lunch.  Baby Sarah was really good, too.  I nursed her once and then she slept the entire time, in the Ergo.  It was a fun, energetic atmosphere, we were thrilled to be a part of such a huge and famous antique show (it has been featured in Country Living magazine).

We dream of getting our Mom, sisters in law, aunts, and cousins to come with us one of these years! 

I was able to go to the famous Brimfield Antique Show yesterday with my sister, Amanda. 

I took lots of pictures and I just cannot decide which ones NOT to share!

My fellow Fiesta lovers?  You may as well get a cuppa tea and a cushion to sit upon, you’ll be here a while.

ENJOY!

It was so exciting to find stacks of fiestaware like this one.

This vintage cobalt vase was behind glass doors.

My eyes do keep drifting over to those yummy pink lamps on the left, though, too.

Sister wore bright pink so she wouldn’t get lost in the crowd.

She’s fun & cute & my perfect companion for this day.

Here she is, posing pretty for me on a vintage couch (loveseat?) in front of some beautiful iron panels. (250.00 each!)

30 dollars for a Post86 seamist teapot?  I think NOT.

Still, quite cute.

When I showed him the picture, Rich liked the green colander. 

And Grace wondered, why didn’t I get that horse plate?

I could sit and look at this next picture for a long time, even though there is no fiesta in it.

I wish I could collect the green (jadeite?) dishes.  Maybe Grace can? 

I did decide that I WILL start collecting glass pyrex casseroles, the ones with the flat glass lids.  They are in the photo, in the bottom right corner.  I really wanted the pink ones.  They were sorta pricey for my liking, especially since I have a feeling I could find those easily at thrift shops or tag sales.

This next photo may be my favorite one of all.

Check out the fruit pins! 

I wanted about 6 of these pins (the cherry ones, the mushroom ones, and the pig one), but alas, I did not have the desire to spend $$$ on them.  The picture will have to do.

(I’m craving fruit right now, and just in time…Rich and the children just got home with a strawberry sundae for me!)

These are the dear owl pins.  The one with red eyes said “Avon” on the ticket.

(oh my you should see this big melty sundae I’m eating!)

Okay, next picture.

Just look at all this vintage fiestaware!  I had never seen so much in one place. 

Beautiful.

another sister picture

more and more vintage fiesta

(Caleb just came in and ate the cherry off my sundae.  He can have it, I don’t like them.)

Seth was with us and was a delightful part of our day.  No trouble at all.

As you can see by his outfit, I like stripes.

I didn’t realize until this morning that sister and I are reflected in 2 mirrors in this next one:

I’m kinda kicking myself for not buying any of this vintage gray.  I don’t have a piece of that yet.  Oh well, maybe next year.

The vintage red is so bright and beautiful!

SOoooo, are you wondering what I bought?

These beautiful linens (the towel with red handmade crocheted lace, a rose tablecloth, and a small square tablecloth with dark yellow roses)

I also bought  two green (with little flecks of yellow) bangles.  I like the clicking sound they make on my wrist. 

AND, I bought

a vintage ice pitcher in light green.

It has a small chip on the bottom which means I didn’t have to pay much at all,

and I will use it everyday without worry.

I hope you enjoyed seeing all the pictures from my special day.  Rich was home with the children so that I could be free as a bird (singin’ a sweet song)….I got back home at about 3:30.  I had so much fun.  The Brimfield Antique Show happens 3 times a year and I highly recommend it (if you like such things).  I think it will be a yearly tradition for Amanda and me.

Rich and the children are outside right now and Seth is on the floor here next to me.  I finished a book today, went to the library, had a bubble bath, did some laundry, and I currently have two wonderful homemade rhubarb pies in the oven.  It’s been a great day and it’s not over yet!

Love to you all~

Shanda

PS, Which are you craving most?  A strawberry sundae?  Or a stack of vintage fiestaware?

Are you in a bad mood right now?  Are you a little low?

If so, I have a suggestion for you!  I know it will cheer you up if you just make sounds like a sheep!

Do this, BAAAAAA BAAAAA BAAAAA  BAAAAAAAAA!!!!!

Really put all you’ve got into it.  Be as dramatic as you can, but stay life-like.  BE a sheep.  Soon you will be roaring with laughter!  I promise.

If you need inspiration, here’s a photo for you:

Yes, I’m a little silly right now after our day at Old Sturbridge Village.  It’s amazing what a day of fun will do!

And, as far as the animal noises go, that’s what you get when you’ve been reading countless children’s books for the last 11 years.  I’m so brainwashed by those books that I automatically just make the noises if I even SEE a picture of an animal.  I used to be shy about it when I read, “What does a cat say?  Meow.  What does a dog say?  Bow-wow” and so on.  But, not any more.  I throw myself right into it.  You should have heard me clucking like a hen the other day.  David was ROARING with laughter and I kept ruining the sound by laughing in the middle of it.  Very fun.

ANYWAY.  (yes, and I had coffee not long ago, too.)

I asked my friend Kathy to go to Old Sturbridge Village with me.  She has four children that are about the same ages as my own children and they have been friends for a long time.  Some of them even went to school together.  They are the best of friends.  So, they were thrilled to get a chance to spend most of the day running around and playing.  Another advantage was that I had someone to yap with while the kids played, too.  That’s always a good thing.

David and Emily are quite the cute couple.  Kathy and I got to be close friends when these two were babies and it’s been so sweet to watch them grow together.  They get along so well.

A team of oxen, a lady with a brown bag got in the photo.  See her?

Kevin, Ethan, and Jacob

Miss Grace

Kathy with her beautiful children

Caleb, by the way, did SO SO good.  He’s getting to be a big boy and walked just about the whole time.  What a joy he is!!!!  They all are.  Grace and Tristan like to talk.  Ethan and Caitlyn like to race.

My favorite spot.  I didn’t go in today, though.  We were waiting outside for Kathy when I took this picture.  You can see me in the door, though. 

Kathy and me

It was a great day in every way.  Okay, I admit, it was a bit much to keep track of the kids but for the most part, not too bad.  Everyone had fun and the weather was perfect.  Not too cold, not too hot.

Last, but not least,

My fiestaware order came today!!!!  It was fun to open up the boxes.  Everything arrived safe and sound.

This is a close up of an oval casserole dish (IMO, it’s too small for my family). . . . .but still, so pretty!

And, here are the bowls.  Jacob took this picture.  I told him not to cut my feet out because they matched the shamrock casserole dish. 

I must say, the dishes are all beautiful!!!  I love everything about them and am happy (to say the least) that I bought them.

Okay, I better go try to unwind.  TOMORROW WE HAVE WORKERS COMING TO START ON THE BASEMENT REMODEL. (after the basement is done they will start on the garage)

They will be here at 6:30 in the morning. 

So, my busy life is about to get busier.  I knew this was coming so I’m not too concerned. 

I’ll be fine, right?

Just look at these gorgeous “Marigold” fiesta mixing bowls that I ordered today from HLC’s outlet!

Imagine my excitement to find out *today* that HLC is producing a limited run of  “MARIGOLD” fiesta in honor of their 75th anniversary! 

Marigold!  What a lovely name!

Oh I’m just so thrilled!

I also found out today that the new fiesta color will be IVORY, and will come out this summer.

~Yes, I’m feeling somewhat more chipper today~still drained, but happyish.  After all, it’s FRIDAY and soon my husband will be home for a lovely long weekend~

I had to have some fun today. . . .

so. . . .

I decided to play with my dishes!

Thank you to my MOM and DAD who got me started collecting these beautiful dishes (made in the USA!)  They gave me my first set 10 years ago. 

In case you don’t know, it’s FIESTAWARE, made by Homer Laughlin China Co.

I thought you would enjoy this first picture, in which I was too lazy to empty the bowl of cat food.  Y

Pretty, isn’t it?

The most valuable and collected color is called “medium green” and I have one piece of it, it’s the teacup seen here on top of the stack of plates.  It’s the color of John Deere tractors.

I had a tough time keeping David and Caleb out of the kitchen.  Here you can see the top of Caleb’s head.  He was saying “Oh WOW!  WOW!  Yellow. . green. . blue. . red. . etc.”

 Genuine Fiesta Collector

Something amused me this afternoon.  And it’s quirky enough that it makes it to the blog.

I bought myself a new shirt yesterday at Costco and I wore it today.  When I made myself tea a few hours ago, I picked out a fiesta mug to put it in, and sat down in the livingroom with it.  I was about half way done when I realized that the mug WAS THE SAME EXACT COLOR AS MY SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The exact same color, I say!

It’s seamist green!  Seamist!  Lea Ann (my friend who also collects fiestaware) gave me the mug years ago, it’s a retired color now and the mug is the only piece I have in that color.  And now I have a shirt to match it!  Out of about 15 different mugs, I think it’s funny that I choose that one today.

 I guess I’m feeling like seamist green. . . .

(Yes, I am rather over tired, LOL)