Oh autumn! How your gorgeous natural artistic delights inspire us: a walk in the woods with crisp leaves underfoot, yummy harvest treats fresh from the garden, crackling fires warming our homes and hearts.
And perhaps best of all, the joy of bringing fall’s found collections indoors: that impromptu bouquet of blaze orange leaves, a handful of pinecones gathered on our walk, an armful of handpicked shiny red apples. How marvelous!
So welcome to autumn, and the collective art it inspires. Hope you’ll love Lil Fish Studios’ gorgeous Vintage Dough Bowl collection, a perfect complement to the natural beauty of the season!
Who (are you)? I’m Lisa from lil fish studios.
What (are you collecting)? I collect antique and vintage wooden dough and butter bowls.
When (did you start)? I started about 5 years ago.
How (many do you have)? Do I have to tell my husband this actual number? I’d say about two dozen.
Where (do you find them)? I search garage sales, auctions, and antique stores.
Where (do you keep them)? Most are in practical use, holding eggs in my kitchen, buttons in my studio, and showing up in my product photographs.
What (‘s a crazy/interesting story behind one)? My largest bowl — 20″ across — was a garage sale find that was meant to be. I had seen this beauty at a garage sale a few years ago, and having found myself short on cash, left the garage sale empty-handed and sad. It was two years later that I stopped at a garage sale at that very same house, and much to my surprise, found the bowl was still there. It was destined to be mine. I actually skipped to my truck, clutching the giant bowl to my chest.
What (piece would you like to add)? I’m pretty content with my collection, but wouldn’t pass up a bowl with just the right kind of patina and age.
Why (do you love them)? These were items that saw practical use and earned their patina through service. That to me, is beautiful.
Which (one is your favourite) & why? The largest bowl, my lucky garage sale find, because of its heft, color, and rarity (it’s beauuuutiful!).
What (else do you collect)? I have a large number of vintage buttons and Pez dispensers hanging about.
Thanks so much, Lisa.
An artist inspired by nature at every turn, Lisa’s own work celebrates the beauty and bounty of the season. Reworking and rethinking the natural in art, I love how Lisa captures the imagination and magic of the outdoors in her home décor and sustainable accessories on her inspiring art blog.
How about you? What do you collect? I’d love to hear, please post in the comments below.
I’m Kristal Davis (a.k.a. rikrak) and I just love seeing what folks are collecting. I guess I feel it tells us a little bit about what inspires them. The Collectors series, first published on my own little blog, the rikrak studio, is 11 and a half quick questions with a wonderful artist on what they’re collecting (apart from their art supplies!).
129 comments
Sign in to add your ownJewelryByJLy says:
Wonderful taste! Thank you so much for sharing!
2 years ago
whimhandmadejewelry says:
This is cool; thanks so much for sharing! :)
2 years ago
CutesyGirls says:
Very awesome collection! Thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
SepiaSmiles says:
what a lovely collection - i need to start a collection!
2 years ago
Colettesboutique says:
What a beautiful collection, Thank you for sharing with us.
2 years ago
KiraFerrer says:
Beautiful collection!
2 years ago
DecoFamara says:
Nice collection!!!!
2 years ago
CustomDogBandanas says:
Beautiful bowls and a lovely story!
2 years ago
maggiemaevintage says:
beautiful!
2 years ago
greatestfriend says:
wonderful! im a lover of the wooden bowl, we all eat out of them daily - including horse the cat.
2 years ago
baconsquarefarm says:
Nice collection of wooden bowls~ lilfishstudios plus a wonderful shop as well & rikrak your shop is incredible too. At the moment I'm collecting dust at my house~ all kidding aside I've a fondness for vintage crocks & jugs~ tins, items that are red/white one of my fav's is a wool bathing suit from the early 1900's. My kitchen is vintage farmhouse, can't wait to see what others collect as well. Enjoy the handmade life series.
2 years ago
accentonvintage says:
Beautiful collection that anyone would cherish!!
2 years ago
TwinkleStarCrafts says:
Terrific collection. I agree that a collection of special items in your home can bring you comfort when you come home to them each night. Your shop is great, too!
2 years ago
ourfrontyard says:
Bowls are great, functional. I've got some great looking old china serving bowls and I use them for everything...not just serving!
2 years ago
bylynnkrestel says:
oh what a gorgeous collection! i am officially in love! thanks for sharing your story!!
2 years ago
knittingmomma says:
Oh what a great collection - I love to knead our family's daily bread in my wooden dough bowl.
2 years ago
RomanceCatsAndWhimsy says:
Lil Fish Studios - lovely shop and I love the bowls!!
2 years ago
RedorGrayArt says:
hello to lil fish..happy to see you here!!
2 years ago
polarity says:
ooh I recognize those bowls from her gorgeous and distinctive product pics! wonderful collection!
2 years ago
Parachute425 says:
Thanks for sharing. I have a collection of dust bunnies under my bed. They're mine. I'm keeping them.
2 years ago
LaurelDChristian says:
I love and collect wooden bowls and utensils myself. These are beautiful...especially the large one in the photo. I put fruit, keys, decor balls, and everything else in mine. Love them.
2 years ago
moondogfarm says:
such a sweet collection! to think of all the hands that have worked with that wood...first cutting the tree, sawing and milling the wood, carving it into shape, and then using the bowls in their kitchens. just lovely... in my tiny little house i try to keep my collections to a minimum...heart shaped rocks are really something that everyone in my house finds and brings home to sit along our windowsills:)
2 years ago
polkadotmagpie says:
I love when collections are grouped together. Beauty!
2 years ago
LindaDillonDesigns says:
Beautiful bowls!
2 years ago
paramountvintage says:
I love wooden bowls. Your collection is wonderful!
2 years ago
BlueRoomBijoux says:
Gorgeous bowls! I love it!
2 years ago
HoldTheWire says:
Beautiful collection! I see a lot of those in antique stores and auctions but they look great together. Lovely, lovely lovely!
2 years ago
CupcakesandPinups says:
The driftwood candle holder is adorable.
2 years ago
beerring says:
Great
2 years ago
ConservationClothing says:
all of these wooden bowls are lovely!
2 years ago
onefromtheheart says:
I collect--and put to good use--wooden bowls also. Nothing better than a fresh garden salad served in a well-worn wooden bowl. In them, I display my other collections such as buttons, small wooden toy pieces, fresh lavendar, dried pomegranites, and other bits of nature. Yours are true treasures. Thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
blueroompottery says:
What a beautiful collection you have! I love the mortars! :>)
2 years ago
bedouin says:
They are all perfecto!
2 years ago
beachglassshop says:
These bowls! Think of the memories they hold....
2 years ago
LittleWrenPottery says:
I love wooden bowls we used to have some in our house when I was a little kid because they were so durable! I always had a habit of breaking ceramics, kinda ironic really...
2 years ago
OxOriginalArtJewelry says:
What is better than art created from nature? The fact that they're aged just adds to the beauty.
2 years ago
Asianexpressions says:
Nice collection!
2 years ago
AlissaRose says:
Thank you Kristal for this inspiring interview. Lisa, I love your lucky garage sale tale!! I don't collect as much as I used too... but pine cones, shells, sea glass, and the like are musts.
2 years ago
KristyLynnJewelry says:
Beautiful!!! Congrats on your success and best of luck!!!
2 years ago
ikabags says:
wow awesome collection ! Thanks for sharing and your time !
2 years ago
cozymemories says:
Lisa is the best wooden bowls collector I've ever known ! I'm drooling each time I spot one in her photos :) thanks for the awesome interview !
2 years ago
PoleStar says:
Beautiful bowls! They make a gorgeous display.
2 years ago
cityroad says:
These are gorgeous!!! Thank you for sharing ;-)
2 years ago
SimpleJoysPaperie says:
What a gorgeous collection! Your handmade items are awesome, too! :)
2 years ago
socalsweetpea says:
Gorgeous collection. Thank you so much including me. You really made my day!
2 years ago
PacificDrift says:
I love your selection! Thank you for using my candle holder, and thanks for sharing. Bonnie
2 years ago
jenAitchison says:
Those bowls are beautiful. There is something so warm and graceful about a wooden bowl. A great collection for sure! Thank you for including me with all these lovely items. Happy Fall everyone.
2 years ago
PreciousKnits says:
Love wooden bowls! They are so simple, practical and beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
2 years ago
GreenZebre says:
Thanks so much for including me. I'm already on the hunt for more!
2 years ago
followingfireflies says:
lovely bowls! I collect old sewing machines and old bikes. not quite as easy to store ;)
2 years ago
DearAdam says:
Oh, so beautiful and simple. Just breathtaking. Thanks for the inspiration!!
2 years ago
AdultIndulgences says:
Wow. I love those bowls. God help me from getting started on collecting them! Wonderful blog topic. Collection of old spice bottles let me to my etsy spice shop. So, who knows what beautiful old bowls could lead to, eh?
2 years ago
RubyBeets says:
What a great Story! I love that your angel kept that bowl waiting for you! I share your love for the patina aquired with age...I do wish they could talk!
2 years ago
jilldredge says:
I love things made from wood, stone, gourds, other natural materials. Just something about nature's materials... Beautiful wooden bowls.
2 years ago
lilfishstudios says:
Thank you so much, everyone for your kind words. I'll share another tidbit about my giant bowl, the lucky garage sale find.... the people I purchased it from had bought some lake property sight unseen. On the property sat a tiny cabin and when they opened it up, it was as it had been left when the former occupants left in the 1940s. The modest furniture, linens, books, and everything, including my giant bowl. As I talked with them we realized that the lake they were talking about was 3 miles from my front door. It was incredible looking through some of the other items they had found. My kind of treasure-hunting.
2 years ago
birchbeerboutique says:
gorgeous collection! my favorite wooden ware! that feeling of finding the right one is great isn't it? i'm desperately searching for the perfect wooden pedestal bowl and/or cake stand but it remains elusive. i guess half the fun of collecting is in the chase. ;)
2 years ago
myvintagecrush says:
Nice interview! 'Do I have to tell my husband?' - haha!
2 years ago
IrinaSztukowski says:
Wow! The pictures of these bowls remind me my grandma kitchen. I can smell fresh dough cooking and feel warm cozy evening tee is coming :) Thank you! Irina www.IrinaSztukowski.etsy.com
2 years ago
lindapaloma says:
Great collection. Just curious, why aren't there any vintage bowls featured in the related items? They are, after all, what story is about. I just did a quick search and there are many to choose from listed on Etsy Vintage.
2 years ago
westernartglass says:
Beauty playing...I've always enjoyed the bowls in Lisa's fotos--Spot on!
2 years ago
scarletbegonia11 says:
pretty :-)
2 years ago
southernladysvintage says:
Lisa, I love your collection of vintage dough bowls and butter bowls. The wonderful aged patina brings warmth to the pieces and to your photo as well. I love to collect so many things. One of them is vintage linens and tablecloths.
2 years ago
bobbidiboo says:
I love wood!!
2 years ago
JLWoodTurning says:
Beautiful! Wood bowls are the best.
2 years ago
ImSoVintage says:
They are definitely one of my favorites too.
2 years ago
dottirosestudio says:
these bowls are wonderful. I love the natural patina! I use vintage MOP buttons because of the patina.
2 years ago
ohbabydotcom says:
LOVE the vintage wooden bowls!
2 years ago
tomatored says:
I love handmade wooden bowls!
2 years ago
greenleafwood says:
I love wooden bowls. Of course, I am biased because I make them.
2 years ago
simpledream2 says:
Lisa, I like your kind of treasure hunting. I too like old wood bowls and after reading about your collection I need to count how many I have. My best score was at a garage sale 15 years ago. I felt guilty that the family didn't want all their goodies for their own memories. I make sure to let my own children know the history of what I have so hopefully they won't sell them at a garage sale themselves. I've always drooled over your bowls you use in the photos in your shop, now I'll try to scout out that special large one. Thanks, Lisa S.
2 years ago
CandaceArt says:
Love to hear about someones passion for unique things. Thanks!
2 years ago
lizroca says:
I loooove wooden bowls. What a beautiful, beautiful collection.
2 years ago
BlackStar says:
woohoo lil fish! nice bowls. i have a collection of them too that have been given to me throughout the years. i love wooden bowls.
2 years ago
naturalblendings says:
Great collection! I have a few and always use them. Anything made from wood always looks great during the holiday season. Thanks!!
2 years ago
CloudCuckooLand says:
I LOVE WOOD~ and any wooden stuff, they have their own texture, natural flavor & characteristic! I had a wooden desk that is old and broken, but I love it so much, even can't use anymore, so it had to go coz can't keep a broken desk in a super small apartment! Finally I do take apart the desk piece by piecea and I still keep some parts, like the top, table, and sides board... just want to keep it. I believe since I love handcraft so much, someday I will go into the furnishing area then I can use those wooden top, table again to build some new creation... one day =) And I also like to collect TIN materials too, vintage tin box, tin cup(remind me of sailing~)...
2 years ago
pickleberries says:
I collect McCoy pottery, mostly dating from their earlier years in business. My fave is a vase/flower pot with a Gollum looking creature on it. :)
2 years ago
EcoChicHandKnits says:
I absolutely love these bowls! Their age gives them such a lovely look. I create my own bowls out of organic yarn and sell them in my shop but if I ever find one of these beauties I think I'm going to have to snatch it up! Thanks so much for sharing them with us!
2 years ago
chanyeevon says:
Beautiful :) The textures, the colours and the shapes are really earthy and reminds me of the wonders of nature :)
2 years ago
felicitycrew says:
Very inspiring finds!
2 years ago
sparrowsalvage says:
Such a beautiful post, and such an elegant thing to collect! We don't have those bowls here in Australia, in fact I don't think I've ever seen one. I collect old union flags (Union jack), scissors, tins where all the outside decoration has worn off and home-made Depression era stuff, which is getting ridiculously hard to find now and most pieces ought to be in a museum! My house is the next best thing though I think. :) I also collect antique pictures of Jesus, though that's something of an accident. They're just so peaceful.
2 years ago
SylviaJanssen says:
I love these bowls. And her shop is awesome!
2 years ago
Fibrillaria says:
Very beautiful collection, I must say I am a bit envious :) but my collection is cast iron pans...
2 years ago
thecottagemarket says:
this is truly an amazing collection and the way she has displayed them is so incredibly artistic! i think what i love the most is looking at each bowl and then thinking to myself...where have they been? who's lives have the touched? what culinary delight have they made? i am sure if they could speak the stories would be amazing...so not only are the beautiful to look at in their entirety -- they are truly precious...each and everyone of them...a collection of history...culture...family and nature all rolled into one. i so enjoyed this and i am so wish my own grandma was here to use hers for a loaf of crisp italian bread. thank you for this post it was just wonderful!
2 years ago
GloamingDesigns says:
i love this type of article and this collection is beautiful!
2 years ago
CarriesCustomDesigns says:
I love wooden bowls too! Your collection is beautiful!
2 years ago
rushcreekmosaics says:
Agree with thecottagemarket ... could not have said it better. Bowls are one of the first primitive tools made by man, and just think of the stories this collection could tell.... just beautiful.
2 years ago
bayousalvage says:
Yay Lisa! Wish you would tell us how to preserve them. I have a few but too scared to use or get them out. Do they get oiled like cutting boards?
2 years ago
julessabjewelry says:
Those bowls are amazing. We collect antique teapots - so far we have about 10 that we really love... goes with our country-modern home here in the woods of North Carolina.
2 years ago
umelecky says:
Lovely article! Your collection of bowls is just beautiful Lisa.
2 years ago
pawwhandknits says:
Beautiful bowls!
2 years ago
Tumus says:
Nice to see you here Lil Fish ^_~
2 years ago
nowonder says:
Such a gorgeous collection!
2 years ago
suziescards says:
Beautiful collection. Wouldn't you love to know the story & history behind each bowl?
2 years ago
AvianInspirations says:
That was so beautiful! I hope I someday find a big, lovely dough bowl.
2 years ago
SilverWork says:
Such a great little article on Lisa! I first read her blog about her garage sale find of the big bowl and was a hooked reader from then on. I collect wood boxes with advertising printed or burned on the sides. I've found a few wonderful pieces - one says "PORK BRAINS" and another is for "SHINOLA" shoe polish. Love the wonderful patina of wood and I use them for my show displays, always attracting a lot of attention.
2 years ago
katsinthebelfry says:
beautiful bowls! i collect: baskets, wooden boxes, cafeware, enamelware, & eiffel towers.
2 years ago
TheVintageParlor says:
Lovely and inspiring collection!
2 years ago
xoxiishop says:
Gorgeous Bowls!
2 years ago
anakim says:
Wonderful collection!
2 years ago
jadjusjewelry says:
Love those wooden findings.
2 years ago
amysfunkyfibers says:
It is fun to collect something. I usually pick up a rock from wherever I go, I wish I would have cataloged them!
2 years ago
Liyana says:
nice collection ;)
2 years ago
Studio6or7 says:
Oh I love those bowls! So pretty. I collect boxes- wood, stone, cigar, paper, etc.., and in them I store my vintage postage stamp collection. The little boxes keep them nicely sorted by color, theme and whatever other type of grouping I end up with. But now I kind of wish I had bowls to store them in:)
2 years ago
ampeefyed says:
beautiful! I collect too many things and never enough of one thing. :)
2 years ago
Kristybee says:
Such a gorgeous collection!! Thank you so much for adding me in the related items :)
2 years ago
travelinmama says:
It is so fun to see what others collect! We collect ornaments from every place we go plus Eiffel Towers... and our latest obsession... vintage cameras, of course!
2 years ago
susissatchels says:
Every piece of wood has a history... thank you
2 years ago
dragonhouseofyuen says:
lovely collection enthused with energy! wood is such a tactile and warm material!
2 years ago
Nikifashion says:
Wonderful wood work:O)
2 years ago
rakshniyavintage says:
that's a pretty cool collection - i love how you display them!
2 years ago
GaGa4GiftTags says:
I love the patina and texture of these wonderful old dough bowls.
2 years ago
mountainvintage says:
Fun idea for something to collect. I love when things have a previous history!
2 years ago
YanniCreations says:
Cool collection. Decorative and functional at the same time. Truly great finds. Thanks for sharing.
2 years ago
theLittleGreenButton says:
LOVE the garage sale story! beautiful bowls. thanks for sharing!
2 years ago
AutumnJo says:
Your garage sale story is so awesome!
2 years ago
potterminie says:
I love them. thanks for sharing and they look great!
2 years ago
salvageshop says:
wood is good
2 years ago
sgriparisphotography says:
Excellent picks!
2 years ago
sgriparisphotography says:
excellent picks!!
2 years ago
Kerbylane says:
I love your approach to the things you love; their form over function appeal. I could agree with you more about wanting to know their stories...everything in my home has one. Happy hunting!
2 years ago
viltalakim says:
such a nice intervieuw!! thansk fro sharing your thoughts!!
2 years ago
LizetPotteryStudio says:
How pretty! perfect for fall!
2 years ago
bstrung says:
Stringing along with the crowd. Love the bowls!
2 years ago
BPyarns says:
nice wooden bowls!
2 years ago
TheEverlastingPosy says:
I enjoyed your garage sale bowl story!
2 years ago
RelativeArt says:
Priceless Collection...
2 years ago
hottinroofneworleans says:
Wonderful collection! Isn't it amazing how wood has a 'memory'? The life that each piece has lived is somehow present in those incredibly rich surfaces.
2 years ago
41Hawthorne says:
I am all about color, but also like the quiet loveliness of your bowl collection and your photos. It fascinates me...that to which we are each attracted. Love your photo of bowls against the plum wall...a little of both worlds!
2 years ago
41Hawthorne says:
Lisa, I am all about color, but also like the quiet loveliness of your bowl collection and your photos. I especially liked your photograph of your bowls against a plum wall...a little of both worlds!
2 years ago