Martha Stewart in East Hampton

Kevin Sharkey, Senior Vice President at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, recently spent a weekend at Martha's East Hampton estate.  It's no surprise that the home (and gardens!) are completely stunning, but what I didn't expect to see was Martha's extensive collection of vintage McCoy pottery!  Kevin snapped about twenty pictures of his East Hampton weekend, and posted them on his blog HERE. 

These are some of my favorite shots...

Martha's welcoming front entry...  I love the turquoise.

All of Martha's outdoor wicker is different, but becomes more unified when painted the same shade of turquoise.

oh my gosh, hydrangeas.

A small sample of Martha's extensive McCoy pottery collection.  This color combination is so unexpected, yet totally inspiring.

More McCoy pottery runs along the (giant!) kitchen windows.

Even more McCoy, this time in all whites (my personal fave).  Kevin says that this was taken in Martha's cottage kitchen.  Of course, everyone needs a cottage kitchen!  Filled with fabulous McCoy pottery.

Fresh tomatoes from Martha's garden, no less.  Love that vintage enamel tray.

Tiger lilies are displayed in vintage Ball Jars, running down the center of the (long) dinner table.  What a modern centerpiece idea, right?  Kevin points out that the goblets are vintage blue hobnail, from Martha's collection.  They're beautiful.  And, finally, how amazing is this color scheme?!!

To see even more from Kevin, read his blog HERE.

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Ironstone

The term "ironstone" was coined by Charles Mason and the English Staffordshire ceramics industry in 1813. A mixture of porcelain and earthenware, the new material resembled Chinese porcelain but was much more durable. A big breakthrough, right? Ironstone could sustain daily use without chipping and breaking, as many pure porcelain pieces would. As a result, the product quickly became a popular staple in kitchenware, and still is a favorite today.

Ironstone produces a beautiful patina over time. Have you noticed? This might be due to the actual iron blend within the material (as it oxidizes, it can change the appearance of the finish), and the extended use of the durable material will produce signs of wear. I believe that it is this patina that draws collectors to it. It's used and beautiful. Functional. Don't you love it? I know that Martha is a big fan.



I don't have much ironstone in the shop right now... but, I have this gorgeous English gravy boat listed (as long as I don't get weak and keep it for myself).



Do you know the adorable Eddie Ross? Former Martha stylist? He loves ironstone too.


And, remember the Hamptons dining room from Somethings Gotta Give? Yup, ironstone.


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Collections of Vintage Pottery...

I have written about vintage pottery before. There is something so beautiful about an antique vase filled with flowers, or a collection of complementary pieces on display.



I love seeing the different shapes and glazes, and grouping certain pieces together can make for an interesting (and often inexpensive!) design statement. A grouping would look gorgeous as the centerpiece to your dining table... Or, feature many pieces of a similar color for a more modern look.





Vintage Haeger vase with green ombre glaze, $38.00







These long elliptical shaped pieces are perfect for a dining table, fireplace mantle, or displaying on a bookshelf. I have a similar one in the shop available for purchase.


Vintage cream Art Deco style vase or planter, $38.00

Look whats above this fireplace!





Large vintage "Tulip" ceramic vase or planter, $36.00



Vintage USA Pottery peach glazed vase with a scalloped edge, $38.00

Friday's Etsy Shop: Alyssa Ettinger Design

Happy Friday! I wanted to share the work of the fantastically talented artist, Alyssa Ettinger. Her amazing pottery has been featured everywhere from Martha Stewart Weddings, to The New York Times. Yes, she is very accomplished to say the least.


Knitware Vase -- flat mod cable, $150.00


Her knitware vase in Martha Stewart Weddings!

I adore these tall "knitted" ceramic vases... they really are terrific. Check out her Etsy shop here, where she sells these gorgeous textured vases as well as a new milk bottle series, exclusive to Etsy shoppers! And, --bonus-- if you live near Brooklyn, you could attend one of her workshops! Alyssa's Textural Tile Making Workshop will introduce students to using clay and ceramics with everyday textural objects like shells, leaves, fabric, etc... Click here for more information!





Visit her professional website for even more information!