Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The Hunt for Miss Cutie Pie

I love vintage! And I live just a few miles from Brimfield, Massachusetts. Three times a year, serious collectors and casual browsers alike, gather in the small town of Brimfield for the 'show'.("The Brimfield Antiques Show is the largest outdoor antiques show in the world, with over 6,000 dealers and 130,000+ visitors during the course of the week. While it is convenient to refer to it as "The Show", it is actually comprised of 23 fields, owned by "Promoters", who lease spaces to dealers from all over the world." - quoted from brimfieldshow.com) This event started small, back in 1959 when one man opened up his field for a flea market. It was always called the Brimfield Flea Market until it became famous outside of New England, now it's an 'Antique Show'. I went only once, years ago, when it was still relatively small. Somehow, the idea of walking for miles in rain or sun through old cow fields to look at other people's 'junque' doesn't really get my excited.
But there's a wonderful side effect from the show and that is that within a few miles drive, we can visit about a dozen year-round, indoor flea markets and antique co-ops. These are places with pretty displays and reasonable prices, where you never know what you might find. This, I enjoy. My son loves to go along as he is always on the hunt for Hot Wheels cars and Hardy Boys books.
Here's one thing I've had my eye out for. She's labeled Miss Cutie Pie and these pieces belonged to my grandmother.
The salt & pepper shakers were in a box with other sets in my grandmother's basement. Without looking beyond the top of the box, my son decided he would love to have these. We brought the box home and there were a dozen different sets in varying condition but these were my favorite. Then at a family gathering at my parents house, I opened a kitchen drawer for something and Miss Cutie Pie was staring back at me. "Mom, this is Miss Cutie Pie! It matches the salt & pepper shakers we found." "Take it" Mom says. She didn't have to tell me twice. I know there were more tea bag holders (I believe they came in a set of four)but this seems to be the only one that survived. This is how we begin collecting, right?

So far, no luck finding any pieces of Miss Cutie Pie locally. I've seen them listed on eBay with big price tags (not selling, mind you, just listed) Doing a bit of research, I found Napco made many Miss Cutie Pie pieces included a cookie jar, sugar & creamer, egg cups, child's mug and spice jars. She came in pink, blue and yellow. Someday, I'll be browsing, having stopped in a shop for some unknown reason, and there she will be. I just know it. Miss Cutie Pie will find me, someday.

4 comments:

Nan said...

These cutie pies are so darn cute. I've never actually seen one in person.

Sonar said...

I have the blue ones. I have Miss Cutie Pie Cookie Jar,creamer and sugar in blue. She stands about 8.5" high and is 5.75" in diameter. The top of the cookie jar has two bluebirds. This cookie jar is in excellent condition.Its hand painted.

Unknown said...

If you are still interested, I have the pink Miss Cutie Pie cookie jar, and the pink sugar bowl. You can email me at lovestosing39@hotmail.com if you are interested in pictures or want to offer a price. If you leave your phone number I will call you. I am in Minnesota, and My name is Mary.

Unknown said...

I hav the. , Blue Cutie pie..contact no. 203-510-8502.. melody