Potion Bottles

Bitter bottles

The 'treasure' (or more accurately trinkets) I am sharing today are a collection of small bottles I have accumulated over the past several years at various rummage sales.  I love the sparkle of colored glass, and I don't resist buying a pretty bottle when I run across one.

Yellow Bitter bottles

I decided to make this post in honor of the last Harry Potter movie (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2)  which was released this month.  These little bottles would make great 'potion' containers. 

Purple bitter bottle bottles

A purple bottle with a bird claw grabbing it - a Harry Potter potion seems to be the appropriate contents.

Blue bottles for ink and bitters

The real purpose of many of these bottles were bitters, (whatever they are), or in the case of the squarish blue bottle above, ink.  (For Harry Potter, magic ink.)  The bottle to the left of the ink has a horseshoe shape surrounding a horse head.  A lucky potion, perhaps?  Or will it make you as fast as a horse? 

Green bitter bottles

Many of these bottles were reproduced, and probably most of the bottles I own are reproductions.  I really haven't been inspired to research bitter bottles much.  Sometimes you just want to enjoy an item without knowing all about it.  I enjoy finding bottles here and there and adding them to my window sill collection.  

Jenny Lind and Cape May red bitter bottles

The bitter bottles in particular have fun and different designs - faces of people and presidents, horses and grapes and fish appear pressed into the bottles designs.  Maybe the red Jenny Lind potion makes you sing well, and the lighthouse potion makes you see well at night.

Tree of Life Bitter Bottle

The little green bottle above has "The Tree of Life" on it, and is probably one of my favorite bottles. It is 3.25 inches tall (about 8.3cm).  A long life potion, I'm guessing. 

Orange chicken candy dish

I don't own any orange bottles, so when I saw this little chicken container in intense orange shades, I bought it to make a better rainbow of glass.   Perhaps herbology herbs stored in this container made the chickens lay golden eggs.

Half of my window sill collection

I didn't take any photos to show the scale of the bottles, but all of these bottles are under 4 inches (10 cm) tall.  Most of the bottles are 3 inches tall. 

The other half of my collection

  

I love the different shades of glass

I am still looking for a pink bottle.  I know pink bitter bottles exist, (on Ebay), but I prefer the rummage sale prices.

Some comments have been left asking me how I clean these small bottles.  I soak them (w/ detergent) and rinse them, sometimes for days.  Sometimes I use vinegar, and/or salt.  A bottle brush can be used on some bottles.  A baby store sometimes has baby bottle brushes, and there is a tiny brush for cleaning the rubber baby bottle nipples.  (Ouch, I hate to say it here, but there is a baby nipple brush.  That sounds bad.),  Pipe cleaners might also work.  You can also take a strip of cloth, or paper towel, push one end into the bottle, and twist more of the strip into the bottle.  (Does that make sense to anyone besides me?)  Eventually you have a wad of material pushing on the inside of the bottle with each twist.  Be careful to untwist the material to remove it.  Ending up with a wad of paper towel in a bottle is a pain, then you need tweezers to extract the paper towel...  Cloth is easier in some ways, because it won't tear.  However, if the bottle is acid etched (after a time, you will begin to know what that is), and or scratched, the above won't help as much. 

OMG, it is so funny that I am writing in a post how to clean anything.  Cleaning is really not a favorite task...   But the results are worth it.  


Click on an image to see it larger.



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I am linking to these parties:
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 54 (Entry 20 of 51). 
Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 8 of 29).  
Bloggeritaville: Thrifty Thur 123, (Entry 20 of 83). 
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur, (Entry 130 of 358.) 
Strut your Stuff (Entry 164 of 536.)
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 24 (Entry 2 of 74.)
French Inspiration (Entry 5 of 12).
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 17 (Entry 3 of 38).
French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 1 of 216).
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 47 (Entry 5 of 126.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 104 of 308.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 63 (Entry 160 of 254.)  
Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 106 of 437.)
Picket Fence: Inspiration Fri 24 (Entry 38 of 214.) 
Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 449 of 738.)
Addicted to Decorating 15 (Entry 43 of 64.) 

Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 91 (Entry 62 of 183.)

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 18 of 304.)
Pink Postcard: Transform and Treasure (Entry 44 of 47.)

Cherished Treasure: Sun Blog Love (Entry 15 of 47.)

Under the Table: Sunday Showcase (Entry 53 of 376.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday 59 (Entry 3 of 40.)
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop (Entry 55 of 439.)

Library Adventure: Flea Market Finds (Entry 2  of 71.)

Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 9 (Entry 13 of 31.)
Roses: Show off your Cottage Mon (2 d)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 30 (Entry 16 of 103.)
Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Mon 34 (Entry 14 of 273.)
Running with Glitter Mon 19 (Entry 5 of 189.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday (Entry 56 of 254.)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 173 of 312.)

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues  (Entry 38 of 197.)

Southern Hosp: Thrifty Treasures (Entry 61 of 77.)
* Stroll Life: Table Top Tues (Entry 31 of 93.) 
* House of Grace: Twice Owned Tues (Entry 7 of 85.) 
Saasy Sites: Trash to Treasure Tues (Entry 39 of 59.) 
Diamond: Time to Shine Tues 28 (Entry 53 of 82.) 
Family: Once Upon a Weekend 2 (Entry 26 of 29.)
Lines: Cure for Common Mon 1 (Entry 29 of 50.)
Type A: Anything Goes 27 (Entry 44 of 102.)
Ginger: Wow Me Wednesday 9 (Entry 249 of 252.) 
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed (Entry 79 of 247.)
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 6 of 178.)
Beach Cottage: Good Life Wed (Entry 39 of 143.)
Very Merry Vint: Share the Love Wed (Entry 6 of 39.) 

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Vintage Floral Bling

Trifari Pin in Spring colors

I haven't shared any bling and jewels on my blog recently.  If you are familiar with my blog, you probably know  I collect china.  I have collected china for a couple of years, but I have collected costume jewelry for a couple of decades, long before I collected china.  So today I thought I would share a trio of colorful pins (brooches) I own.

Trifari Pin in Summer colors

These three pins are the same pin design, executed in different metal finishes and 'colorways' of rhinestones.  (Colorways are arrangements of colors.)   Each pin is over 3 inches (8 cm) long end to end.

Trifari Pin in Fall colors

I especially like the three colorways of this pattern that I own.  I look at them and see a spring, summer and fall execution of this design. 

I have occasionally bid on a "winter" version of this design - an all white rhinestone colorway, but I haven't managed to win the bid on Ebay; and truthfully, I have been avoiding Ebay, because it is too easy to spend too much money there, and too fast.  I spend less at rummage sales, and there are no shipping fees.   Trifari booches, at one pin for $10-$30 (or more), are not nearly as affordable as china plates for $1-$5 each.   Hence my newer hobby is collecting china.  :)

These booches were manufactured by the Trifari jewelry company, probably in the 1950's.  When I first was collecting costume jewelry I probably wouldn't have selected these pins, because they are so bright and flashy that they in no way pretend to be "real".  Now, though, I love them for the totally intense sparkle they give off.

I always find myself wishing the pictures could show you what I see when I look at them.  I work to get the colors right, but somehow the real pieces of jewelry are much more stunning then the pictures show.  Each pin is very dimensional - the two flowers are mounted over the foliage.   Maybe I will take some more photos to document them, but for now I think I will just send off this post. 

Click on any image to see it larger - the details sparkle!


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I am linking to these parties:

Blue Creek: Treasure Hunt Thurs (Entry 13 of 28.)
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 53 (Entry 16 of 62.)
Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 14 of 35.) h
Bloggeritaville: Thrifty Thur 122, (Entry 11 of 106)
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur, (Entry 104 of 469.)
Strut your Stuff (Entry 370 of 568.)
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 23 (Entry 12 of 85.)
French Inspiration (Entry 3 of 28.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 16 (Entry 10 of 41.)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 8 of 232).
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 46 (Entry 24 of 106)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 112 of 335.)
White Iron: Treasure Chest Fri (Entry 1 of 14.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 62 (Entry 5 of 274).

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 79 of 455.)
Picket Fence: Inspiration Fri 23 (Entry 15 of 224.) 
Find Fab: Frugalicious Friday (Entry 155 of 235).
Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (Entry 298 of 813.) 
Hodgepodge Friday (Entry 53 of 117.)
Addicted to Decorating 15 (Entry 47 of 69.) 

Funky Junk: Sat Night Special 90 (Entry 173 of 205.)

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 187 of 304.)

Cherished Treasure: Sun Blog Love (Entry 29 of 50.)

Under the Table: Sunday Showcase (Entry 280 of 348.)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday (Entry 23 of 48.)
I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop (Entry 95 of 476.)

Library Adventure: Flea Market Finds (Entry 10 of 63.)

Mod Vintage: Mod Mix Mon 7 (Entry 17 of 21.)
Roses: Show off your Cottage Mon (66--)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 29 (Entry 10 of 42.) h
* Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Mon 33 (Entry 38 of 262.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday (Entry 208 of 211.)
Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures (Entry 106 of 161.) 
* House of Grace: Twice Owned Tues (Entry 56 of 71.) 
Trash to Treasure Tues (Entry 86 of 105.) 
Diamond: Time to Shine 27 (Entry 63 of 82.) 
Running with Glitter Mon 18 (Entry 140 of 187.)
Anything Goes 26 (Entry 46 of 90.) 
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed (Entry 246 of 252.) h
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 63 of 193)
Beach Cottage: Good Life Wed (Entry 46 of 137+)
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 74 of 99.) 
* Very Merry Vint: Share the Love Wed 22 (Entry 9 of 64.)
52 Weeks of Happiness (43--)

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Schumann Bavaria China

Schumann Bavaria Teacup and Saucer

It's sometimes hard to pick a favorite...  But (currently) one of my favorite floral china patterns that I own is probably my Schumann Bavaria china set. I have pictures of this set in a previous post, but today I wanted to show you some close-ups so you can see why the set is special.

Schumann Bavaria 10 inch Desert plate

I bought an entire set of this china at an estate sale; originally because I wanted the large 10 inch plate, which I believe is a desert "platter".  

Schumann Bavaria 10 inch plate

 

The floral paintings remind me of Victorian botanical prints, the flowers are lush and beautiful, and the colors are bright.  (OK, maybe I wouldn't have used quite so much purple and orange...)  I love the pierced (also called reticulated) rim of the plate, and how the flowers were painted on the solid part of the pierced lattice, which was cut to accommodate the shape of the painting.  (Reticulated means forming a net or network as in the veins of some leaves - I had to look that up).  Gold gilt painted swirls and scrolls were added, possibly by hand. This plate was lovingly designed and executed, not rushed through mass production shortcuts.   

Six different Teacup designs

Looking more closely at the teacups, I realized that there were six different flower designs on different teacups.  How cool is that?  :)  [OK, so I am easily amused.  But if I get to wax poetic about the ceramic pinch pots my children make and paint at school, can't I gush about this set of china?]  

Four different desert plate designs

 

The desert plates had multiple designs as well, four of them are pictured.   

Schumann Bavaria Sugar bowl

 

There is more to the set but I think I have spent enough of your time.  Click here to see the set displayed in my Welsh Dresser.
I hope you are enjoying your family and your summer!

  

Click on the images to see them enlarged.


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I am linking to these parties:

Blue Creek: Treasure Hunt Thurs 14, (Entry 9 of 24.)
Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 52 (Entry 10 of 53.)
Col Lady: Vintage Thingies Thur (Entry 14 of 26.) h
Blogeritaville: Thrifty Thur, (Entry 55 of 101)
Shabby Chic: Transformation Thur, (Entry 259 of 433.)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 72 of 306)

* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 45 (Entry 29 of 113)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 103 of 227.)

Tatertots: Weekend Wrap Up (I was entry 284 of 640) 
Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home 22 (Entry 35 of 76.)
French Inspiration (Entry 16 of 18)
Hodgepodge Friday (Entry 78 of 115.)
Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Friday (Entry 18 of 36.)
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 61 (Entry 38 of 258.) 
Find Fab: Frugalicious Friday (Entry 38 of 231.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 290 of 377)
Picket Fence: Inspiration Fri (Entry 102 of 183.) 
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 88 of 97.) 

Funky Junk: Sat Night Special (Entry 51 of 217.)

Be Diff: Show and Tell Sat (Entry 227 of 275.)

Passionately Artistic (Entry 124 of 141)
Strut your Stuff (Entry 468 of 475.)

Cherished Treasure: Sun Blog Love (Entry 13 of 49.)

Under the Table: Sunday Showcase (Entry 14 of 374)

The Tablescaper: Seasonal Sunday (Entry 20 of 50.)
Mosaic Monday (Entry 22 of 86)

I Heart Naptime: Sundae Scoop (Entry 322 of 379)

Library Adventure: Flea Market Finds (Entry 49 of 76)

Roses: Show off your Cottage Mon (Entry 4 of 72)
Boogie Board: Masterpiece Mon 28 (Entry 24 of 102)
Dittle Dattle: Amaze Me Mon 32 (Entry 37 of 245.)
BNOTP: Metamorphis Monday (Entry 94 of 245.)
Making the World Cuter (Entry 289 of 345)

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 71 (Entry 95 of 205+)

Southern Hosp: Thrifty Treasures (Entry 69 of 75.)

Nesting Place : I Heart Yard Sales (* Entry )
Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures  (Entry 100 of 130+ ) 

* Stroll Life: Table Top Tues (Entry 55 of 88) 
* House of Grace: Twice 7Owned Tues (Entry 61 of 73+) 
Sassy: Trash to Treasure Tues (Entry 72 of 81) 
Diamond: Time to Shine 26 (Entry 58 of 71) 
Anything Goes 25 (Entry 43 of 86)
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed (Entry of 135 of 248+)
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 17 of 103+)
No Minimalist Here: Open House Party (Entry 70)
House of Hepworth 57 (Entry 214)
Handyman: Wicked Awesome Wed 20 (Entry 79 of 86.)
52 Weeks of Happiness (Entry 42 of 48)

29640