Monday, June 22, 2009

City Views, Country Dreams

Good morning from New York.

My most recent post was one of many posts that chose a theme of china plates, at the suggestion of Elizabeth, who writes About New York. It was fascinating to see how many other people share an interest in china old and new. The large turn out of crisscrossing comments encouraged the lovely Valerie, who writes as Acornmoon and who "follows" my site, to suggest another theme, Mugs on Monday.

Feeling that I can easily be a mug on any day of any week, I'll share some photos of some of my favorite mugs with you this Monday.


The little bone china mug above was given to me many years ago by a friend who'd come across it in a bargain shop. I love using it to store some of my baking tools. You can just see the tip of a wooden double-tined fork that was carved for me by my late father. I use this to poke a decorative touch on top of biscuits, making their round shapes appear like buttons.

The mug was made in Staffordshire England by Crown Trent. The village scene surrounds the entire circumference of the mug. This and the following photos will prove to you all once again just how much clutter surrounds me.

This tiny mug was a Christmas gift years ago from my mom, and there's a very faint gold inscription over the rose that reads "Love the giver." Well, she's my mom, and of course I love her! There is a circular red stamp on the bottom of this mug that says Made in Germany.

Ah, now here is a breakfast time still life. Coffee in the press, orange juice in the glass, several brown betty teapots ready to step in as needed, and the plain white mug from which I usually do drink my coffee or tea. I bought it at the NY Conran Shop and it was made in Bangladesh. I have a good friend from Bangladesh and I think of her when I use this mug. If I had a dishwasher or microwave, this mug could enter and exit them safely.

Now here is another use for a mug. I like the shape and the pinky lavender of this one, that I bought for a dollar on sale at Anthropology. As you might guess, it is a Chinese-made knockoff of a vintage design. It makes a great receptacle for all the brushes I need to get my make-up applied.

And here is my final Monday mug offering. This was one of a set offered as a promotion by Maxwell House coffee back in ... maybe the 1970's. The printing on the mug is blurry; it is not just my faulty photography. I liked the idea of mixing my instant coffee brands. Maxwell, meet Nescafe. This picture also allows a peek into my minuscule kitchen, and the crowd of postcards that are magneted on to my fridge. Can you see the old card with Diana's image?
Perhaps that might be another them for a post. Do any of you have an odd collection decorating your refrigerator's door? Who has got the smallest kitchen.
I am looking forward to seeing who else has written about mugs today. Think it's time to make another cup of tea. Cheers!

22 comments:

  1. Lovely to pop in on Mug Monday for a virtual cup of coffee. What a collection and a marvellous commentary. I particularly like the pink one. Greetings from sunny South wales, UK.

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  2. So much fun to see everyone's mugs. The flower-pot mug is very unusual! Thanks for sharing your collection.
    Catherine

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  3. Mugs glorious and galore
    more tea due any moment
    Buster sends his greetings!

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  4. I'm enjoying your collection...especially the rose one.

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  5. Fun to see your mugs! I like your various uses for them, too. Wonderful painting on your sidebar...a self portrait?

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  6. Frances, it is such a nice idea to have a theme on which to write. It would be lovely if you could announce it a bit early and then we could join you!
    Your mugs are so pretty, I can just imagine the cofee steaming in the white one.

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  7. What a fun collection of mugs!

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  8. I think what is revealed abut everyne this Mug Monday is that we treat our fine china with loving respect and our mugs with casual affection. Your pink mug (makeup brushes - I completely relate!) reminds me of the Johnson Bros. kitchen china.
    Love the idea of "smallest kitchen"

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  9. What a lovely collection of mugs you have. I'm enjoying seeing how many people use the humble mug as a container for all sorts of things! This has been fun, visiting all the mugs' mugs!

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  10. Hello, how lovely to have so many loved mugs and I enjoyed your descriptions. Off for a cup of tea now...!

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  11. Oh, I do love a good nosy into other peoples homes!So many of us use our mugs for holding paint brushes, pencils, buttons etc. not to mention the odd dead spider.

    I love the little Crown Trent mug with the cottage!

    I think you are onto something with your fridge idea, maybe you should host Fridge door Friday ;-)

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  12. Interesting how we all love mugs, and use different ones for so many things. I have a tiny pink one in my bathroom with 'baby is love' on it, and I keep cotton buds in it!

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  13. Lovely collection of mugs. I like the tiny Christmas gift one particularly.

    I've really enjoyed Mug Monday - and would love to participate in a Fridge Friday too!

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  14. I like to see the way others put the ephemera of daily life to good use. I'd never have thought of a mug for make-up brushes, but can think of a couple that might be very pretty on the bathroom counter.

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  15. What beautiful Mugs.! I love them all, and the one with little cottage is so sweet.

    I have a few that I keep for tiny posy's, thank you for sharing with us Frances.

    xx

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  16. Hi Frances! The cup your mom gave you is precious - I love the sentimental motto.

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  17. I love your favourite Fridge Magnet (or postcard) day idea. Let me know if you decide to host a FM mini-carnival...

    Thank you for visiting me on Mug Monday: it really seemed to work well. It's strange how a single item (or several examples of the same item) can represent so much about a person's being and aspirations.

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  18. What a good idea for a theme - each piece you've shown us says so much. I shall look at my own tableware differently from now on.

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  19. So many stories in a few mugs. I also enjoyed the peep into your life, the kitchen utensils and make up brushes. But a mug any day of the week, Frances? Never, you are far too perceptive.

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  20. Hello dear Frances

    Put the kettle on, there's a love. We need a brew!

    Love

    Edward

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  21. A lovely glimpse into your life, Frances - how rich and interesting it always seems. I love that little bone china mug with the village scene. I, too, have a collection of favourite postcards on the fridge. I love to see all those far-flung places jostling up together.

    xx

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