Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Aurora and MacKenzie-Childs (part 2).


SO ... up the road from the village of Aurora is a place called MacKenzie-Childs. The first time I visited MacKenzie-Childs was about 18 years ago on another trip to New York. My mother wanted all of us girls to see their creative, artsy pottery line. It is a company that started simply enough ... two whimsical artists married and began making pottery for themselves and for friends because that is what they could afford, and they loved creating it.

On that first stop, one of my sisters bought ceramic, pastel painted fish that were drawer knobs and I bought a yellow and blue checked plate, with a ruffled edge that was painted pink. I wanted to buy much, much more but truth be told - its a little pricey. (They mostly cater to the rich and famous ... and stores like Saks and Neiman Marcus.)

This last visit, I fell in love with a fabulous, funky bench (not the one Leslie is sitting on up above) that had a hand painted wood frame, a stuffed cushion seat and back that was upholstered in striped and floral taffeta fabric. You know how sometimes you look at a price tag and think, "Even if I did have that much money to spend, I would never pay that much money for this!"

Well, I think if I did have (let's say) Oprah's kind of money to spend, I really would have paid $6,500 for that bench - I thought it was that special. (But then I'm sure I would have had buyer's remorse and kicked myself for being so frivalous and then not really have been able to enjoy it because each time I looked at it I would have felt guilty and thought of all the starving children in Ethiopia or somewhere ... so in reality, I guess I probably wouldn't really spend that kind of money on just a bench. Hmm, now I'm wondering about that - and truly, I may never know, will I?)

So anyway ... another connection to Pleasant Rowland (as mentioned in part 1) is that back in 2001, when she was ready to restore the village of Aurora, she also purchased MacKenzie-Childs, and took them from bordering on bankruptcy to a profitable company again by 2006.

And even though the style and rather eccentric vibe of MacKenzie-Childs may not be for everyone, it is worth the drive to visit their "factory" site which sits on a 65 acre farm with beautiful fields, gardens, chickens, cattle and a retail shop too. It is where lots of artists do the creating now.

We just happened to be there during their annual barn sale ... it was a treat just to be in the barn.

14 comments:

  1. I swear I was born in the wrong state....actually I was born in the wrong region of the USA! I love everything about the north east! LOVE these pictures

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow....so so lovely. Thanks for sharing sweet one. xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  3. that store is out-a control! my mom looks so cute sitting on that really expensive bench. while reading your post i seriously stopped and day dreamed about oprahs money for a minute. oh my heavens i just did it again...:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. did you know i've been to the mckenzie childs store in manhattan? just once. i had no idea you loved it so much...i would've taken pictures. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love Mckenzie Childs...they send me their catalogs! But the prices are SOOOOOOO RIDICULOUS! Even with Oprah's money...I couldn't do it! I adore all the beautiful painted dishes and glasses. And even if you decided to spring for some of it...how would you ever choose an item or a pattern over another? They are all so darn cute!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love Mckenzie Childs...they send me their catalogs! But the prices are SOOOOOOO RIDICULOUS! Even with Oprah's money...I couldn't do it! I adore all the beautiful painted dishes and glasses. And even if you decided to spring for some of it...how would you ever choose an item or a pattern over another? They are all so darn cute!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi, јust wаntеd to mention, I loved thiѕ blοg ρost.
    Ιt ωas funny. Кeеp on
    pοsting!

    Reviеω my hοmepаge :: cccam server how to

    ReplyDelete
  8. I am not suгe ωhere you're getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for excellent information I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Have a look at my weblog; sky cardsharing server free

    ReplyDelete
  9. hey there and thank yοu foг your infо – I have certаinlу picκed uρ anythіng
    new from right here. I did however eхpeгtise seνeгаl tеchnicаl points
    usіng thiѕ web site, sіncе I expeгіenced to reload
    the ѕite many tіmes pгеѵiouѕ to I coulԁ gеt it tο loaԁ coггectly.
    I had been wondering if your hοsting iѕ ОK?
    Not that I am comρlaining, but sluggish loаding instanceѕ times wіll somеtimes аffect your plaсement in gοogle аnd can ԁаmage youг high qualitу scοre if aԁvertisіng and mагkеting with
    Adwords. Anyway I'm adding this RSS to my e-mail and can look out for much more of your respective intriguing content. Ensure that you update this again very soon.

    My blog: ihatebreakcore.com
    my website :: Can you bargain with sky

    ReplyDelete
  10. Right now it аppеars like Worԁρress іѕ the tορ bloggіng platform
    availablе гіght nοw. (from what ӏ've read) Is that what you are using on your blog?

    Feel free to surf to my web site - Http://Best-Cccamserver.Com/Ultimate-Package/

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great article.

    Αlso visit my webpage - http://www.aktivmedia.hu

    ReplyDelete
  12. Link еxchangе is nothing elsе hоwever it iѕ only plаcing the other peгson's weblog link on your page at appropriate place and other person will also do similar in favor of you.

    Here is my blog post: Learn Even more Here
    Also see my web site - satellite cardsharing kings cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing| cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing| cccam server|server cardsharing|skybox f3 cardsharing|cccam|cardsharing anbieter|cccam pay server|cccam server premium|dreambox|server dreambox|buy cardsharing|cardsharing|cardsharing server|dreambox 800|free card sharing server|satellite cardsharing kings|test line cccam|card sharing|card sharing servers|cardsharing canalsat|cccam line|cccam test line|free cccam server|sat keys|satellite cardsharing|

    ReplyDelete
  13. What's up, every time i used to check web site posts here early in the break of day, for the reason that i like to learn more and more.

    Feel free to visit my web blog: http://www.me.gr/AdrianCot

    ReplyDelete