I have a trifle dish, but where? So I decided to make this fruity dessert in a vintage salad bowl. I think the bowl shows off the cool dessert, and is something of a conversation piece for those like me who are interested in vintage glassware. This bowl has a swirl edge and panels, and […]
Well, mostly vintage. The Fiesta mug in the upper left is about 10 years old. The beauty of this dinnerware is its vintage look, but you can buy them in quantity. This peacock blue would be great on your Easter dinner table. And there are lots of other colors in Fiesta that work for a […]
When it comes to St. Patrick Day’s (and other “green” holidays), if your dinner table is wearing green today, you have a lot of choices in vintage dinnerware and glassware. These are just a few examples. Just choose your favorites. Greens are easy to mix and match. Green also works for Easter, and for the […]
A question from a reader, Beck, prompts this post. Do you ever see dishes in the marketplace that look a lot like your favorite pattern? And, when you flip, you see a frilly scroll mark with “made in China” under it. Probably not the match to grandma’s china. I’ve seen this kind of mark […]
I just cannot resist those trays of Danish sweet rolls at Costco. And what better way to serve them in sweet, small bites than some vintage dessert plates? In this case, the plates are in the Maytime pattern by Franciscan. This is an uncommon pattern, from the 1960s, during the period when Gladding McBean […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]