This is our first contribution to Sally's Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally (http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/), to Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at Between the Naps on the Porch (http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/), to Seasonal Sundays with the the Tablescaper (http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/), and Chic on a Shoestring (http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/). Please read about our three generations and leave a comment!
My favorite everyday china is my very versatile Blue Willow by Churchill. I started collecting it in college. You could buy a 3-piece place setting from Kroger (cup, saucer, and dinner plate) for $3.99! It's still pretty inexpensive to find today. It's made in England; Churchill is now owned by Wedgwood. The only reason I can use it everyday is that it is microwave and dishwasher safe.
Because the title of this blog is Tablescape Times Three, I will give you three looks with my Blue Willow and tell you how my mom and daughter influenced these choices.
Casual Family Dinner
(Influenced by Diane)
The topiaries, napkins, and place mats were gifts from my mother sometime in the last ten years or so. I am a little embarrassed to say that I made a play for the topiaries. My mother used to have them on her kitchen cupboard. When she remodeled her kitchen recently, adding a huge built-in cabinet, I simply pointed out she had no use for them. (She really didn't; it has a lot of doors.) And now they sit on my cupboard, (once hers). The linens are part of two separate sets. The red plates are a new acquisition. They are majolica. I love their color, texture, and shape. I have recently been searching online for red salad plates to accompany my Blue Willow by Churchill. A few weeks ago, my mother told me she had seen these at an after Christmas sale for $2.49 at a local department store. They had 15 left, 14 of which were damage-free. They were mine within a few hours. I especially like how the shape of the red plates is echoed in the bases of the stemware. Another special thing about this tablescape is that the bowl in the center of the table belonged to my mother's mother. I only have a few of her things. Oh, and the table and chairs were my mother's as well. So all I can claim here is the Blue Willow, the Mikasa crystal (pattern: Richelieu), the Reed and Barton flatware (pattern: Beacon Hill), the candle, and the apples!
Informal Brunch for Friends
(Influenced by Emma)
I used to have a pink-and-white checked tablecloth that I LOVED to use with my Blue Willow. On a recent outing with my daughter, I was looking for some plain white dinnerware. Amazingly, I found some that would work for a Valentine's table at Dollar Tree. While sorting through the dust to find a set of eight damage-free plates and bowls, my sweet Emma pointed out some lovely pink place mats that will serve as wonderful substitutes for my AWOL tablecloth. The tray in this tablescape came from the much-missed Bamboo Company in a set of three sizes; Emma loves the whole set. The napkins are a TJ Maxx find from years ago and are by Laura Ashley. The rose pattern has a dozen shades of blue and mixes well with the Blue Willow.
THE thing I really love about this arrangement is that the Dollar Tree pink place mats and white bowls (which are microwave and dishwasher safe) are mixed with fine crystal and sterling, (Lismore water goblets by Waterford; Sir Christopher sterling by Wallace).
A gift from a former student - I'm a foreign language teacher. :)
Formal Couples' Dinner
(My personal favorite)
My favorite thing about my Blue Willow is that it looks great dressed down and dressed up! When I got married, I registered for these salad plates, (Shima Border by Spode). Sadly, they are no longer made, but pieces in this pattern and in a companion pattern, (Shima), can be purchased through replacement services. I hope to collect more pieces one of these days. I love this pattern. I am using Lismore water goblets and the footed salt and pepper. I found the salt and pepper on eBay (new!) for $69 for the set! The saucer champagnes/sherberts are vintage. The are by Moser and were purchased at antique fair in Savannah more than 15 years ago. They are one my guilty pleasures, though they are one of the few things I have that are truly irreplaceable. I have never been able to find a match. The crystal candlesticks are, (again), an old TJ Maxx find. The golden apples were from Pier 1. I use them all over the house from throughout the year. The sateen rust-colored napkins and place mats are very pretty with the Spode.
Hope you enjoyed the post! Have fun mixing and maxing your china with everything from Dollar Tree to the Waterford/Wedgwood store!
-Andrea
http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/
Hope you enjoyed the post! Have fun mixing and maxing your china with everything from Dollar Tree to the Waterford/Wedgwood store!
-Andrea
http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/
My eyes popped out whenn I see your blue dishes and tablescape. It's very beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteBlue Monday
Thanks! :) It's my very first tablescape post! I appreciate the encouragement!
ReplyDelete-Andrea
Looking forward to your blog! http://www.atmytabletop.com/
ReplyDeleteHow beautiful! Thanks for sharing your blues.
ReplyDeleteHappy 1st Blue Monday, Andrea.
Andrea,
ReplyDeleteMy china is Blue Danube by Lipper. I love it because it can be washed in the dishwasher. Today is Mary's 10th birthday. I am going to pull it out and set the table tonight to celebrate. Also,I grew up on Blue Willow. My mom had it, I don't know what she did with all those dishes, but your table sure does bring back memories. Thanks again for your post. I don't normally get into reading blogs, but any help I can get in bringing up my girls with some good old fashioned tradition works for me.
I love your tablescapes. Beautiful dishes! Bacause I somrtimes am very observant, I noticed the beautiful view from the windows. I live in a tract, so when I saw how pretty it was outside your windows I just had to tell you how pretty I thought it was.
ReplyDeleteawesome blue dish ware,
ReplyDeleteHappy Blue Monday.
Just gorgeous! The blue and white reminds me of my grandmothers Wedgewood which she passed on to me and we know use quite a bit with many fond memories of her!
ReplyDeleteI'm following.
Marie
bonkersinbarnhart.com
@Jennifer - loved this and your FB comment about how well-behaved your children were tonight! Can't wait till I see your pics! @Boo-Bah - we are so lucky to have an easement behind our house; our neighborhood is sub-suburban. It's literally over a river (the Ocmulgee) and through the woods, leaving all traces of our bustling city behind. There are strict building codes about cutting down trees, though it makes the southern pines a little hazardous to your house during storms! :) @Jingle and Marie - thanks for the encouragement. I am so thrilled to have multiple generations participating in this. My daughter worked on her Valentine's tablescape today for our weekend post. I think we are creating memories and a fun experience together! I love that this post reminds you of being at the table with your grandmother. And I went to your site, and you are right! Who needs sanity? :)
ReplyDeleteHow I love blue and white!!!! Those red plates are amazing and I totally love those blue rose napkins. Thanks for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
That's lovely!
ReplyDeleteMy Blue Monday Post, please come by anytime.
Thank you for visiting us! We are very excited that three generations in our family love this enough to make this blog happen, ages 12 to...well...older. :)
ReplyDeleteAndrea
Two red and blue posts side by side this Rednesday...that is a first. The china is gorgeous and I love the red plates. So very pretty.Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful share sweetie...
ReplyDeleteRed and blue are such a beautiful contrast together, I love seeing them on a table setting.
Gorgeous china.
I am your newest follower. Can't wait to see what you share next. Stop by and say hello. I would love to have you follow me as well. I love meeting new friends and sharing our day to day lives along the way.
Country hugs, Sherry