Earlier this year, I dusted off my old cross stitching stash, and took up the craft again. Wow! There have been a lot of changes in the last 10 years in the products you can get to express yourself with this age-old fiber art. I noticed that stitchers generally use their finished pieces for […]
Another year older: Happy Birthday, Diary of a Dishie! I found these pretty dessert plates with violets on them, February’s birthday flower. Looks like a few white primroses, too, on a white background with gold rims. This pattern is called Beverly and was made by Aichi China in Japan. I’m not familiar with this maker, […]
Vintage china featuring a rose motif is a classic choice for Christmas and wintertime entertaining. The colors are traditional. Designs that feature shiny metallic rims add bling, as do the gold rim and verge line on this petite dessert plate. The Sweet Briar pattern by Princess makes dessert even sweeter. This is a vintage pattern […]
It’s time to plan for holiday dinnerware, especially if you’re using vintage patterns. The special pieces you want to use for your menu, and to enhance your table setting, can take time to find. These candle holders in the Noel pattern by Salem (made in Japan) are the kind of sweet little addition to […]
Grandma’s vintage Christmas platter can do extra duty as holiday décor, if you don’t need to use it to serve your special dinner. This platter by Fine China of Japan (circa 1980s) can be the basis for a centerpiece using natural elements, like greenery, ornaments made from walnuts, and frosted tree pretzels. The platter pattern […]
Why should pie have all the fun? Blueberries are in season, and these scones are easy to make. Quick to bake, too, so the house doesn’t heat up. And, I get a chance to use one of my vintage favorites: a pie plate in the Lancaster pattern by Syracuse, vintage china from the 1950s. If […]
A reader asked me about one of the Pfaltzgraff china patterns that I showed in a prior post. Thanks, Annie! I hope you found the color match you were looking for. Here’s the prior post: Complete Your Pfaltzgraff Dinnerware Collection. If a sleek, round and simple dinnerware fits your style, you might enjoy some of […]
Earth Day is every day when you continue using your vintage china and glassware! Most dinnerware is not recyclable, nor is broken glass or Pyrex. Yet you can keep using those old dishes and glasses in different ways to jazz up your table setting, made up eclectic place settings, or just enjoy the style of […]
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 […]
I get this question a lot: What is the value of a certain pattern of vintage china. The short answer is the same as for other antiques and collectibles: whatever someone will pay you for it. There are places to research the prices others have used when listing these dishes for sale. Sites like Replacements, […]
Ever uncover a vintage find and say, “That’s mine” out loud? An outstanding china coffee pot did it for me. Mount Vernon, Harmony House by Hall. This piece is not like my usual thrift store finds. It must have just been put on the shelf when I saw it. Fluted and scroll details, gold rims […]
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 […]