Two of my favorite vintage china patterns are based on calm and classic color palettes that work well for a holiday table setting. Why? Because blue, silver and gold – on a white background – work so well with the monochromatic color palettes that are popular for the holiday season. If you like to base […]
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I’ve been in the grocery store a lot lately, and seen ladies with their lists, checking off the items they need for their holiday party menus. (Sorry guys. I know some of you plan, too.) They are planning for the food they’ll serve for special days coming soon: Thanksgiving and Christmas among them. I wonder […]
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The simple beauty of white dinnerware is classic. You cannot go wrong with a table setting based on this elegant color. Some tones are creamy, some are bright, but no matter the specific white shade, the impression is understated and refined. The differences in the white tones give texture to your table setting, when you […]
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Time to bring out the Thanksgiving dishes, like your vintage amber glassware. This Tiara honey box is from the 1970s, when Harvest Gold was a popular fashion color, in glassware, cookware and even appliances. In a modern table setting, the warm color complements more contemporary dinnerware and glassware patterns. And we love the bee […]
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Halloween is near, and it’s time to raid the cupboards for some dishes to use as the “bones” of your table setting, whether for a dinner, a party, or a casual snack. The bulk of your table setting – the plates, cups and bowls – can be as close as your kitchen. One of […]
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I’m a dish flipper, no doubt about it. Dinnerware is my weakness. My collection of plates, glasses and mugs has outgrown the kitchen cabinet space, moved into other rooms, and headed off toward the hoarders end of the spectrum. Since you’re here, you know that I’ve been writing about, and for a few years selling, […]
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Vintage dinnerware mixes with new china just fine, when it comes to setting your table for the fall season. Homecoming by Noritake is one of my favorite vintage patterns, and the new pumpkin plate by Better Homes & Gardens works so well with it. I could bring in some colorful leaves, to add to a […]
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When I see a glass pickle dish on the shelf, in a thrift store or perhaps at a sale, I have to look at it. I’m three-quarters of the way to buying it before I even pick it up. I love these things, because I love to use them to serve pickles – for holiday […]
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Whether you’re serving candy corn or pizza, some colorful dishes can bring sparkle to your table for Halloween, and for parties on the day or the weekend after. It’s also an opportunity, once again, to play with mix and match table setting ideas. Here I’ve brought in my very favorite Poultrygeist mug. He turns […]
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Why I won’t have a Downton Abbey dinnerware set, but you might want to. I like mixing my collection of vintage dinnerware and glassware, to create different table settings. That doesn’t mean I don’t use classic china dishes, just that my party style is eclectic. One important element of an authentic Downton Abbey table is […]
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Federal Glass was the maker of eye-catching, now vintage glassware, and pieces are still fairly easy to find in secondary marketplaces. I especially notice the drinking glasses, tumblers and coffee mugs that I see in my travels. Thrift stores often have long rows of glass items, displayed on open shelves. Look for colorful clear tumblers […]
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Finding special vintage dishes is fun! See what I brought home with me in recent weeks, including some extra special items.
My dishie antennae perk up when I see pieces of Mikasa’s Mediterrania line in my shopping travels. The patterns are so retro. Many of them show the best of modern style from the 1970s. The shapes are simple and sleek. The colors and motifs just work for me. I think Blue Bird is probably my […]