Gettin' Ready For Bed

I believe this describes me perfectly . . .

I can almost smell that divine brew now!  Sleep well y'all and remember . . .

"Camping, Coffee and Java Dreams . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Saddle Up Goodies

A good Monday morning to ya.  I hope you had a terrific weekend no matter where you were, who you were with, or what you were doing!

I spent the weekend at Saddle Up in Pigeon Forge, TN with a bunch of those wild and crazy Sisters on the Fly gals.  I wish I could tell you that The Coffee Cup and I had a blast, unfortunately she didn't get to go.  I'm having a bit of an issue with NC DMV over her title, so I don't have a tag yet.  Hopefully that will be resolved soon.

Over on Postcards From The Road, I've shared two posts so far and plan to do more this week about my trip.  Over here though, I wanted to show you a few Saddle Up goodies that I came home with.

My friend Peggy from TN, brought me a pair of salt and pepper shakers that are absolutely perfect for The Cup . . . I'm sure you'll agree.  They have a little round magnet on the sides that hold them together.

While out at the Old Historic Mill doing a bit of shopping on Friday morning, I spied this magnet in the general store.  It will go on the refrigerator and it kinda sums up being a Sister.

At the Old Mill Pottery House, I bought a hand-thrown pottery sugar packet holder.  Once I got home I swapped it out for the one I've been using for years.  It's just right for my java decor.

Lastly, the cowboys were branding signs for folks on Saturday morning and I picked out a cowboy hat for them to put the Saddle Up brand on.  It won't go inside The Coffee Cup, but it will be used in my outdoor decorations.

Thanks for dropping by this week and I invite you to scoot on over to Postcards to see more photos and hear more stories.  Have a good Monday and remember . . . 

"Camping, Coffee and Goodies . . . 

Life Is Good!"

The Cup's Own Stamp

I love stamps . . . postage stamps, rubber stamps for cards and scrapbooking, and personalized stamps.  Many years ago in Williamsburg, Becky and I found a shop named Paisley that carried unusual gifts and personalized stamps.  Looking through a catalog, you could choose the design, font, graphic, and then decide what personal information you wanted to include.

Over the years, I have designed and ordered three of these that I use on cards and correspondence.  When our local gift shop downtown, 2 Pink Magnolias, started carrying stamps, I knew I wanted another special one.  This one would be specially for The Coffee Cup . . . here's what it looks like:

It came wrapped in a sweet, pink bag from the girls at 2 Pink Magnolias and it's PERFECT!

One of these days I'll get one for SplashT@B too . . . I wouldn't want her to feel left out.

I hope y'all have had a good weekend.  Becky and I drove through a blizzard yesterday while out junkin', but it just made our day more fun.  Snow isn't a common occurrence around these parts, so we sure did enjoy it while it lasted!  Have a wonderful Sunday everyone and remember . . . 

"Camping, Coffee, and Stamps . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Melmac Madness

Greetings on this Saturday in Newton.  Our weathermen and women predicted snow for this morning, but as I look out my window, I see no such thing . . . nada, not one flake.  That's actually OK since I'm off to the fitness center in about an hour and a half and then have errands to run.

Yesterday I shared a few fantastic finds for The Coffee Cup with you and today I want you to see the Raffiaware glasses and Melmac piece I uncovered at the Collector's Antique Mall in Asheboro.

I was poking around in cabinets and looking high and low on shelves when I spotted a big collection of Raffiaware glasses.  I picked through them and found two of everything with the brown band around the top . . . two tumblers, two mugs, and two juice glasses.

They are lightweight, insulated, and I'm in love with that kitschy straw inside!  I'm still looking for one more ribbed one to complete my set.  

While upstairs in a room with bicycles, Goodyear tires, typewriters, and tobacco drying baskets, I spied a little piece of brown Melmac sitting in a bookcase in the corner.  Upon inspection, it was a sugar bowl.  The price tag was faded completely white, so I had no idea how much the seller wanted for it.  When I checked out, the clerk said, "How about two dollars?" . . . music to my ears!

Now the quest is on to find the matching creamer and then some plates.  I've always said that the hunt is great fun.

I'm not sure if Becky and I are going junkin' today . . . I haven't chatted with her this morning.  But it's Saturday and seems only natural that we keep with tradition.  Check back in tomorrow for a report and remember . . . 

"Coffee, Camping and Cool Pieces of Melmac . . . Life Is Good!"

Fantastic Finds

It was a great week in terms of finding some really fantastic items for The Coffee Cup!

On Wednesday, while junkin' in Sanford with Sue, Susan, Terry, and Becky, I found a precious bakelite scottie napkin ring.  They had a second one but it was green and besides, I couldn't afford to buy two.  So I chose the yellow.  If I ever find another yellow, or if I happen to see a brown one, then I'll spring for it in order to have a pair.

After leaving the Sanford Antique Mall, we walked down the street to an arts and crafts gallery and I spotted a little spoon rest for just two dollars . . . perfect for resting a coffee cup spoon!

We parked in downtown Pittsboro on our way back home and Susan showed us a set of four, red, folding metal trays that she has had her eye on.  They came with a nice holder allowing them to sit upright and together when not in use.  Initially the price was $60, but this time around it was marked down to $48.  Hmmmm . . . you could see Susan's mind at work . . . it's that red thing she has going on.

Wheeler-dealer Sue stepped in and asked if they would take $40 and the owner agreed!  Susan said she only needed two, so I jumped in and said I'd buy the extra two.  VOILA . . . a nice little pair of outdoor folding tables to go along with my wooden camp chairs!

Red really isn't a color in The Cup's decorating palate, so I'll need to make a decision at some point about painting them or not.  In all probability, I'll just make a nice tablecloth for the pair from some of the coffee fabric I have.  I'm thinking that the fabric Ella gave me would be perfect!

On the way home from our visit with our T@Bbin' buddies, Becky and I stopped in Collector's Antique Mall in Asheboro to check it out for another Girl's Day.  35,000 square feet of our favorite kind of stuff greeted us.  If you drop back in tomorrow, I'll share a really exciting find and purchase I made for my sweet Coffee Cup!

Thanks for your visit today and I'll chat with you tomorrow!!  Remember . . . 

"Camping, Coffee and Fantastic Finds . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Colonial Coffee Cup

Niece and scholar, Jessie at USC, sent me a Facebook message saying that they were discussing Williamsburg in history class today and that she actually knew what they were talking about.  I took Jess to Williamsburg for her 6th birthday and we had the time of our lives.  It was her first trip away from home and the first of several special birthday trips we shared together.  So it tickles me no end that she had that classroom experience today!

Coincidentally, yesterday on Colonial Williamsburg's Daily Puzzle, a salt-glazed mug was featured.  I suspect that the beverage was actually beer, but we'll pretend it was coffee from Charlton's Coffee House.

Another part of Jessie's message was that she was actually learning something.  My reply was that it was about time.  You see, for her entire student life, I've asked her "What did you learn today?" and her reply has always been, "Nothing!" and then we'd laugh.  But today she threw me a curveball telling me that she learned something!

Let's lift our mugs to scholars and coffee, a winning combination!

"Camping, Coffee and Education . . . 

Life Is Good!"

Raffiaware

Hey everyone . . . I hope you had an excellent weekend!

Becky and I spent our weekly Saturday-junkin'-fest in nearby Gaston County.  Even though we didn't come home with a carload of treasures, I did find something special . . . a ribbed, plastic Raffiaware cup in Coffee Cup colors!

During the Long Wait, I was picking up pieces of dinnerware and glasses here and there for The Coffee Cup.  Initially I thought I wanted real china and glass, but have changed my mind since getting her home to Newton.  

Instead, I want to outfit my little java kitchen with vintage plastic dinnerware and accessories.  In particular, I'm hoping to find brown Melmac/Melamine plates, bowls, and such.  As for drinking vessels, I'm searching for Raffiaware that is ribbed like the piece I bought Saturday or the ones with burlap or straw inside like these . . . 

I've looked and looked online for the history of Raffiaware by Thermo-Temp and can only tell you that it was made by the Mallory Randall Corp. out of Chicago in the 1950s and '60s.  I believe the insulated glasses and mugs with the burlap (sometimes called "straw" in the ads) are the precursors to our modern-day Tervis Tumblers.

I ran across some vintage advertisements talking about them being sold at Sears and also given away as promotions at supermarkets.  Several blogs I found said that because of them being plastic, they have often been thrown away over the years and not considered desirable or collectible.  I paid $1 for my cup and saw another peach-colored one during the day, also for a dollar.  

I've browsed the auctions on eBay and have found many sets and pieces.  I've also looked on ETSY and have found more of the same.  But before I purchase them online and pay for shipping, I'd like to shop around on our Saturday outings for them.  I'm looking for chocolate brown items and only need a pair of each.

So the hunt is afoot, let the fun begin.  I'll let you in on any and all pieces I discover!  Have a good week y'all and remember . . .

"Camping, Coffee and Vintage Dinnerware . . .

Life Is Good!"

A Little Happy From Ella!

For some reason, I never checked the mail yesterday.  When I remembered this morning to do that, I found a small package on the front porch.  The return address said "E. Brown".  That would be my good buddy Ella from Ohio!  I couldn't imagine what was inside nor what the occasion would be.

Inside was a note that read . . .   

"My new hobby---felting!  I've discovered that my crocheting is so loose and holey that it is just about perfect for felting!  Felting just means you put the finished product in the washing machine with a bunch of tennis balls and hot water and high agitation for about an hour.  This smashes and mushes and melds the fibers all together.  Then I take it out and run it in cold water and then work and shape and mold it into the final shape, and then set it on a wire rack with a gentle fan to dry it.

I just love the process of felting and the final little products.  The yarn has to be 100% wool, but it just takes small amounts of scraps and about an hour to work up one of these little bowls.  The colors reminded me of your coffee cup!  Ella"

How cute is this?!!  To give you some perspective, it's about four inches wide and three inches tall and fuzzy.  I love it and Ella is right . . . it WILL be perfect for The Coffee Cup!  It will have a place of honor on the countertop to catch change and important stuff.

If you'd like to read more about this and hear the whole story of Ella's new crafting passion, please scoot over to her blog http://silvermineandhis.weebly.com/ .  

Thanks so much dear friend for thinking about me and gifting me with the perfect little happy for The Cup!  

"Camping, Coffee and Gifts From Friends . . . 

Life Is Good"