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I found this little handmade glazed ceramic candleholder (?) at the thrift store and had to bring it home. I stuffed a felted ball inside to make it a pincushion. What really sold me was the little label on the bottom.
Who was Dororthy? What's the 22 about? Something to ponder while crafting.
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oh that is a little gem! I love the colour.
Posted by: julie | June 20, 2006 at 01:00 PM
A beautiful piece and you've found a great use for it too.
the 22? a mystery indeed....
Posted by: Angela | June 20, 2006 at 01:02 PM
love how you've made it your own. it is quite the fabulous pincushion. xo, shari
Posted by: shari | June 20, 2006 at 01:08 PM
I love finds like this! Full of mystery!
Such a great idea to ive the fun piece a second life! Nice!
Posted by: MCaplan | June 20, 2006 at 01:11 PM
I'm sure Dorothy would be pleased! I love to make pincushions too - so you've put it to great use!
Posted by: jackie c. | June 20, 2006 at 01:40 PM
The 22 was probably a postal code, in the dark ages before zip codes. :)
Posted by: Willa | June 20, 2006 at 02:06 PM
oh what a great find! i wonder too!
Posted by: joleen | June 20, 2006 at 02:57 PM
What Willa said - the old way of identifying postal codes was the city plus two digits - Portland 22, Los Angeles 36, and so forth. This was first implemented in the 1940s.
The five-digit zip codes as we know them didn't become mandatory until the 1960s, meaning your little thrift store find is likely of mid-1940s to mid-1960s vintage.
And here they told me that my choice of a major in college (history, of course) was a waste of time. Ha! :)
Posted by: marielle | June 20, 2006 at 03:21 PM
Oh, how tragic. A lost item like that. I'm glad you found it and it didn't get thrown out. I love the felt addition.
Posted by: pip | June 20, 2006 at 03:25 PM
How neat! I'm glad you found it- you're someone who would really appreciate it.
Posted by: Alicia A. | June 20, 2006 at 06:16 PM
lovely picture and story! i also love how you made it into a pin cushion. how clever!
Posted by: kathleen | June 20, 2006 at 07:05 PM
Interesting and lovely! What IS that 22 all about? Wonderful little mystery!
Posted by: vegasandvenice | June 20, 2006 at 07:47 PM
so cute!! glad it found a good home with you. :)
Posted by: crafty champloo | June 20, 2006 at 10:13 PM
22: like an old zip or area code, what you would use to ring someone--you would have to ask the operator to connect you to Mr./Mrs./Miss So-and-so, City, Area Number.
That's my guess.
Posted by: eireann | June 21, 2006 at 07:50 AM
I am so drawn to handmade items like this at thrift stores....if only they could talk and tell us their stories. Sometimes they are so bad they are good...but mostly they are sweet offerings of the human hand and it makes me sad they were given away. Is the owner clearing "clutter" or perhaps they are downsizing to a nursing home or even died. I try not to drag too many back with me...but is nice to give them a good home. Looks like your candleholder has been reincarinated to a higher level.
Posted by: mimulus | June 21, 2006 at 07:52 AM
Such a darling little thing. Yes, what is 22 all about? I think it would be connected with a slower and more simple life, just maybe.
Posted by: Toni | June 21, 2006 at 09:38 AM
love the secret history of it all! and how you have now made it yours. (does look like a candlestick holder to me too...)
Posted by: tracy | June 21, 2006 at 12:08 PM
nice how you recreated it into something different....good little piece.
Posted by: jessica | June 21, 2006 at 01:46 PM
I did a Social Security Death Index search (genealogy nut) and came up with two possible Dorothy's:
1) Dorothy L Godfrey
b. 12Dec1909
d. 09Jan1992
Last Residence:
97015 (Clackamas, Clackamas, OR)
SS#232-10-3065
Issued WV or NC
2) Dorothy G Godfrey
b. 02Jan1916
d. 16Jun1990
Last Residence:
97267 (Portland, Clackamas, OR)
SS#577-16-4189
Issued DC
She must have been a handy mom, passing time during the cold winters. Cool find!
Posted by: Kim | June 21, 2006 at 04:43 PM
what a treasure! genius to make it a pincushion
Posted by: rebecca | June 23, 2006 at 06:01 AM