I realized the other day that I have a little blurb in my bio regarding how I love to collect dishes, but I've yet to talk about them!
Even when I was a single, I thought it was important to have a well-dressed table. I thought my roommate and I should be able to serve our guests in style with matching dishes. That was when I started collecting my first set of china, complete with matching serving pieces.
Fast forward a few years to my engagement to Mr. G. The time had come to register *squeee* for fancy china and everyday dishes. I mean, that's part of the whole wedding deal that girls dream of, right? Somehow I ended up with a nicer everyday set than than formal, such that my husband's grandmother asked him what he was going to do when he accidentally broke one of our plates. He called me to relay this conversation the night before one of our showers in his hometown. I said, "Did you tell her that you're going to replace it if that happens?"
Anyway, my kitchen post got me thinking about my china. Because somehow I have 4 sets of dishes up in those cabinets. FOUR.
That's a lot of plates.
I love dishes--enough to mention them in my "About Me"--so you know it's serious. I could write an entire blog about dishes. My favorite style is transferware. I love to collect them, add to my current sets, ponder what other sets I might want to collect and how I'd set that table, research discontinued pieces... How I have escaped blogging about this obsession, I have no idea.
First up is my favorite--absolute favorite--Spode Tower pink everyday dishes. They were discontinued back in 2007. While the scene in the middle is so very serene and pretty, that is usually covered with food, and what is left are the gorgeous flowers and scallops on the edge. Plus, it is pink, and well, I love pink. I probably have service for 16 in this pattern, complete with serving pieces down to the tea set. The tea set is my very favorite.
Next up is a recent addition to my collection: my grandmother's Johnson Brothers Blue Willow. Last fall, my grandmother moved into a nursing facility, and these came into my possession. I grew up eating big family meals off of these, so they are very special to me. I remember my grandmother explaining to me how to tell the difference between Johnson Brothers pieces and the other Blue Willow set she had in her original collection. (We talked dishes, my Memaw and me.) This is such a beautiful, classic pattern, and a treasure trove of memories to me. I have some serving pieces on my wishlist to complete this set. Right now I have service for 10.
This post is getting so long so I think I'll save the other two sets for tomorrow. I know you're on the edge of your computer chair. While you wait for the second half, give me the scoop on your butler's pantry. Is Chinet your favorite set? Are you waiting until your kids get older for the dishes of your dreams? Are you still collecting pieces from when you got married?
I love to talk dishes!
Even when I was a single, I thought it was important to have a well-dressed table. I thought my roommate and I should be able to serve our guests in style with matching dishes. That was when I started collecting my first set of china, complete with matching serving pieces.
Fast forward a few years to my engagement to Mr. G. The time had come to register *squeee* for fancy china and everyday dishes. I mean, that's part of the whole wedding deal that girls dream of, right? Somehow I ended up with a nicer everyday set than than formal, such that my husband's grandmother asked him what he was going to do when he accidentally broke one of our plates. He called me to relay this conversation the night before one of our showers in his hometown. I said, "Did you tell her that you're going to replace it if that happens?"
Anyway, my kitchen post got me thinking about my china. Because somehow I have 4 sets of dishes up in those cabinets. FOUR.
That's a lot of plates.
I love dishes--enough to mention them in my "About Me"--so you know it's serious. I could write an entire blog about dishes. My favorite style is transferware. I love to collect them, add to my current sets, ponder what other sets I might want to collect and how I'd set that table, research discontinued pieces... How I have escaped blogging about this obsession, I have no idea.
First up is my favorite--absolute favorite--Spode Tower pink everyday dishes. They were discontinued back in 2007. While the scene in the middle is so very serene and pretty, that is usually covered with food, and what is left are the gorgeous flowers and scallops on the edge. Plus, it is pink, and well, I love pink. I probably have service for 16 in this pattern, complete with serving pieces down to the tea set. The tea set is my very favorite.
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Next up is a recent addition to my collection: my grandmother's Johnson Brothers Blue Willow. Last fall, my grandmother moved into a nursing facility, and these came into my possession. I grew up eating big family meals off of these, so they are very special to me. I remember my grandmother explaining to me how to tell the difference between Johnson Brothers pieces and the other Blue Willow set she had in her original collection. (We talked dishes, my Memaw and me.) This is such a beautiful, classic pattern, and a treasure trove of memories to me. I have some serving pieces on my wishlist to complete this set. Right now I have service for 10.
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This post is getting so long so I think I'll save the other two sets for tomorrow. I know you're on the edge of your computer chair. While you wait for the second half, give me the scoop on your butler's pantry. Is Chinet your favorite set? Are you waiting until your kids get older for the dishes of your dreams? Are you still collecting pieces from when you got married?
I love to talk dishes!
Love it! I have my mother's dishes (Wedgwood Strawberry and Vine) that we use for our everyday, and I like them so much that I opted not to register for anything more formal. I don't have any of the serving pieces, though, so those are definitely on the wishlist.
ReplyDeleteAlso on the wishlist--my Christmas dishes (Twas the Night Before Christmas from Noritake). I didn't get too much of it before it was discontinued, so I need to start hunting for some of those pieces. It's such a friendly pattern!
This comment is getting long, but it's fun to dish about dishes. ;)
I love that you have your mom's dishes! Those are so pretty, and white goes with everything. Have you heard of replacements.com? They sell discontinued patterns.
DeleteGreat dishes! You would appreciate this: for our recent 2 year anniversary the hubs finished out our china that was on the registry. It was the perfect gift!
ReplyDeleteOh, that guy is a keeper!!! :)
DeleteI have an obsession with dishes as well! So glad to see I am not the only one, ha!
ReplyDeleteIt's bad. Really bad.
DeleteOhhhh Emily you are so wonderful at all things home!!! I wish I lived nearer for a multitude of reasons, not least of which is to maybe have some of that rub off on me! =)
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have a wedding-wedding so we didn't have a registry. For the first three years of our marriage, we used a variety of mismatched dishes that had been handed down to us. Most of those broke on a cross country move, so we went to Target and bought the off-white with a sage-green border set that practically every family on TV has. Modern Family and Big Love are two examples. =) SO, after the next three or four moves, enough of THAT set broke that we sent the remaining pieces to the Salvation Army and bought Corelle, which is basically dishwasher-proof Chinet.
So that's what we have. My practicality-loving heart will not break if any of our fancy dinnerware gets chipped or lost between here and Paul's retirement, which is nice! I have a hard enough time managing my emotions where moving my great-grandmother's piano is concerned. =)
I can't wait to see your other sets!
My friend, when you get ready to live nearer, there are many homes in my neighborhood from which you may choose. I know I have other neighbors who would agree with me.
DeleteYou have a very romantic love story, and that is worth more than dishes! Plus, your Corelle probably sees a lot better foods that my pink dishes. Case in point: we had velveeta shells and cheese last night.
I came out of lurking to tell you I loved this post! I love dishes as well. I have Fiesta for my everyday, Pfaltzgraff Winterberry for Christmas, and just inherited my Grandmother's (not sure of the pattern.) My fiance has his grandparents as well and we plan on using it all. It was a little sad when we went to register that we couldn't get new, but 4 sets is plenty and my practical side said there was no where to store any more. Plus it was fun adding more of the serving pieces for Fiesta and Christmas china will be out before our wedding so I can add some missing Winterberry pieces as well. And you're right, the best time to shop for that stuff is the day after Christmas. Most of mine was purchased 70% off at Macy's.
ReplyDeleteI came out of lurking to tell you I loved this post! I love dishes as well. I have Fiesta for my everyday, Pfaltzgraff Winterberry for Christmas, and just inherited my Grandmother's (not sure of the pattern.) My fiance has his grandparents as well and we plan on using it all. It was a little sad when we went to register that we couldn't get new, but 4 sets is plenty and my practical side said there was no where to store any more. Plus it was fun adding more of the serving pieces for Fiesta and Christmas china will be out before our wedding so I can add some missing Winterberry pieces as well. And you're right, the best time to shop for that stuff is the day after Christmas. Most of mine was purchased 70% off at Macy's.
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you said hi! I love Fiesta. Do you mix and match or have one main color? There are a million different pieces to collect! That is so neat that you have china sets from your family. So special!
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