My Favorite Things....all the elements of decorating for the holidays!

       It is now nearing the new years holiday and I am reflecting on my 51st Christmas.  Even though it has been many years, I still find myself  trying to remember the details of the earliest Christmas in my life..the one I had when I was 3 or four years old.  I remember the baby doll and bassinet I received from Santa.  I can feel my forehead wrinkling as I try to recall other details of my childhood Christmas holiday, and they are more detailed the older I became.  Some of the things that help these memories emerge are things like large old fashioned Xmas lights, silver and gold tinsel, silver aluminum artificial trees, red and green plastic wall hangings, and the sight of one of those cardboard fireplaces with the rotating colored disk in front of a light bulb imitating a roaring fire.  I do not put tinsel on my tree these days and I have reverted to an artificial one now. However, the Christmas tree in my house is just as beautiful and make just as grand of memories each year, although they are getting a bit more lean and simple.

        This year I enjoyed setting up the tree with clear lights.  I like that they don't compete with all the pretty ornaments I have.  I have acquired, over the years, a nice collection of "Shiny Brite" mercury ornaments. I can see all of the ornaments more clearly on the tree and it just looks neater.

        Over the years I have collected some beautiful bulbs and trinkets for the tree..some of which are mementos of trips or other things. The New York Taxi ornament reminds me of the trip my kids and I went on to NY over 10 years ago. That was the best trip, we all agree!  The over sized lolli pop ornament is one I bought at one of those after Christmas sales and would not have been able to buy ordinarily!
And then, adorning my tree are a myriad of other beautiful bulbs and what not, including an ornaments made by my children through their elementary school years...like this Styrofoam cup covered with glitter...bell!

       Others may cover their tree with ornaments costing so much more, but at this stage in my life, I just do not have the space to keep on buying new ones every year and adding more when I do not really need to.  I have enough extra to change up how the family tree looks year after year. Each one conjures up memories of Christmases past.

      I have not even touched on the beautiful things one can do with Christmas presents!  I used to professionally wrap gifts as a home based business and enjoyed what I could create from basic dollar store paper and inexpensive tie-ons.  I will share them with you on my holiday blog next year. I can't share all of my secrets in one blog after all!  :)


        I love to build my room around the tree with my furnishings and such.   Take this tree skirt for instance. I found it at an after Christmas sale for 90% off of it's original $360 + price tag. What made it special to me is the petite point Santas and the silken brocade material that unifies it all into a beautiful circular skirt.  Made in Italy.

This holiday vignette created for the coffee table combines a
gold velvet lined and glass topped jewel box with a tall clear vase filled with shiny red and gold bulbs and a family member's photograph.  In the background, you can see one of my favorite striped silk pillows settled on the couch, while the tree lights flank the left side.











        I call the chair below my "holiday chair".  It is an antique store find, made around the '40's (one of my favorite era's for home furnishings). I got it for way less than the posted price after a little bit of clever bargaining with the seller at an antique mall.  The accompanying pillow is of silk, down filled and another garage sale find (it helps to assist others in setting up their sales...you get first pick of all the good stuff.)  FYI:  It cost me only $2.00!  I have learned since then that the style of the chair is referred to as "bergere". 

         In a few days, New Years will be upon us and sadly, the tree will come down the following week. Even if I have to take over three days to re-pack and put away the myriad of baubles and bling that I put out,   I, for one, will miss is greatly as it has filled a space in my living room and in my family's heart, with all that is shiny,  beautiful and smile producing. Fortunate for all of us, though...with the passage of the winter holidays comes the promise of spring and beginning for the new year!

     Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year folks.  And may  God Bless us....everyone!

Identifying Fine China and Determining its Value

I just acquired a new set of china today!  I was so excited when I first saw it because of the beautiful pattern and design. But I knew I needed to determine the value before I paid the asking price obviously.  

It is important to know the value of what you are thinking of purchasing.  Whether you are buying it for investment or for enjoyment research must be done. Gather all the background you can about the item via books on the subject of the maker of the piece and the Internet using keywords. Finding out who made the china can be determined through research on the Internet, but you may be wondering where to start.  Here are a few ideas to get you started.

If you acquire china from a family member  you can ask them about what they remember about the pieces. Sometimes information will narrow down the country and date of creation. Once you have recorded all the verbal information, try to verify it. Second, observe any signatures or names of countries of origins that may be included in the back stamp.  In the USA, markings became law in 1890, anything earlier and you will have to rev up your research.  Different types of markings include stamped marked, impressed marks, handwritten marks, sticker or paper marks.  Handwritten marks are usually a logo or symbol but can be written in any language.  Sticker  or paper markings were glued or shellacked to the china.  Export markings are added to china that is transported from its country of origin to another destination.  You may see two different markings on china.

Determining the origin of your china is exciting, especially if it is what you deem a lucky find or a family heirloom. It is wise to remember, however,  that your china may have a higher sentimental value than a monetary one. While my new china was discontinued in 1917 and in excellent condition, it really is only worth what the market will bear.  

I have some lovely Crown Ducal China that I purchased from a friend. At the time of purchase, I did not have the advantage of the Internet, but now from my research of the back stamp bearing the maker, I was able to learn the china pattern and when it was manufactured.  I didn't know till I learned this information that I have china that is worth quite a bit more when I decide whether or not to sell it for profit.

Here are some dating markings guidelines to help you:


Royal Arms marks date back to the 19th or 20th century.  
When the printed mark has the name of the pattern, it can be dated after 1810
Marks that included the word "limited" or the abbreviations "LTD or LD" can be dated after 1861.
Marks that include the words "Trade Mark" denotes a date after 1862
Take pictures with a digital camera and then take the pictures to an expert if you are unsure of whether or not to buy the china or want to know about something you already own.. You can also use the photos to track down the markings on the Internet or in reference books at a library or really good bookstore.

Other important to remembers:

Check for imperfections.  This is an extremely important step if you intend to use your china acquisitions for investing or making a profit selling antique china.  With a magnifying glass and a black light, check the piece for chips, scratches, smudges, cracks and stains. A black light is great for helping you spot repairs. Under regular light, a piece of china may look flawless; however, under a black light, repairs will show.  You should know this because of the obvious decrease in value of the piece for every repair that is made on it..  You will want to insure that you are getting just what you think you are paying for, whether you are collecting antique china for investing or for yourself.  


Now that you know how to identify fine antique china, maybe you want to learn more about antique china values?  Go to Antiquing Authority.com for more information!

Care and Cleaning of Fine China

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Now I have been away for a while, taking care of business as one usually says. However, I have not forgotten that my last post stated that in this series I am blogging about  fine china and said that I would talk about how to care for it.  It is so important that if you take the time to choose a china pattern or are given a beautiful set, that you know how to keep from damaging it.  Damage can very well occur if you don't know the do's and don'ts of it.   Certainly, if you take a good long look at Grandma's set, you will see the evidence of damage occurring over the years and wonder how it could have been avoided.
Many fine china manufacturers have different suggestions for caring for china and the same goes for solutions to addressing the damage.  Lenox china, being one of the premier china manufacturers shares the following information to help you preserve your fine china dinnerware.  I have included a few of my own tips here as well.

Preparing to wash your fine china dinnerware.

First, remember to never purposely scrape your away remaining scraps of food from your china, especially with a metal utensil like a fork or knife. Rinsing the dish off shortly after eating with warm water before the food has time to stick is a good rule of thumb.You will want to avoid letting highly acidic foods like spaghetti sauce sit on the surface for too long as it may stain. You will want to have a rubber mat lining the interior of your sink to prevent china from getting scratched and dinged.  Never stack your china in the sink. Wash one piece at a time. This will prevent them from hitting one another.

Washing your fine china dinnerware

Use only mild detergents – do not use abrasive or harsh cleaning agents.  This is why hand washing is suggested, as dishwasher detergent is especially harsh and not recommended for china or crystal or silverware.  Use a soft sponge and be careful that no residue from a previous use exists on the sponge. Even the tiniest microscopic grains in a sponge can leave fine scratches on the surface of china, leaving it open to future crazing. Use only warm water.  The hottest water is not necessary and as you know, if you have ever taken a crystal glass out of really hot water, breakage can be the result. Slide the china into the water to allow time for the temperature to distribute evenly. Temperature changes can also crack or break fine china. It is important to remember that china with metal trim is especially susceptible to damage as the hot water will cause the metal to flake away. And never ever rub any detergent on the metal trim which can also cause it to flake.

Protecting your fine china dinnerware from stains 

Remember, to rinse shortly after use.Tea or coffee cups can be cleaned using a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts water, with just a drop of clear household ammonia, shortly after use to help aid in preventing the build up of stains. Rinse with clear, warm water. 

Tips for treating stains that are already present on your fine china dinnerware

 A few instances where rubbing when cleaning china is allowed:
 Use a small dab of baking soda to gently rub away the stains. Sprinkle the stains with salt and gently rub away the stains. A small amount of cream of tartar on a damp sponge will remove stains. Gray stains can be removed by rubbing with a small amount of toothpaste on a soft cloth. Stain from hard water or lime can be removed by soaking the china in warm water with citrus rinds such as lemon, grapefruit, or orange, overnight.


Not only is cleaning your china important, caring for it in general requires knowing the following:

Most of us think air drying is best.  I am here to tell you that to avoid spots, it is best to always hand dry with a soft non abrasive clean dish cloth.  I know people who dry their china with cloth diapers. Do not stack too many china plates one on top of another. When you stack, it is best to place a paper doily, or a rubber jar ring between each plate to avoid scratching, or cut out circles of a lightweight cardboard works just as well. If you do stack your china plates, lift them off when ready to use instead of sliding. Stacking teacups, or placing items inside another piece as they dry is inviting damage and so  is a huge no-no.  Doing so leaves teacups vulnerable to tipping over and can nick the handles and edges of other pieces such as casserole lids and creamers. Regarding teacups,  you may be surprised to learn that it unwise to hang the teacups by hooks or pegs.  What this does is result in weakening the handles over time. So, just put your teacups side by side on a shelf instead. Keep your fine china dinnerware at moderate room temperatures. Extreme temperatures can cause your china to crack or break Do not place china in a box in a cold basement or store tightly together in containers in a cold place such as a garage or basement, or for that matter, in a hot place such as an attic. Now you know why your neighbor who hardly ever uses their china has it displayed in a china cabinet. The cabinet may take up allot of room, but if it adds to the lifespan of the china you have, then it is worth it!

When serving on your china, warm the dishes at room temperature so that any hot food placed on it will not "shock" it. Extreme quick changes in temperature can damage it.   When serving anything in a lidded dish with handles, never actually hold the dish by the handles when serving. Most of the time, the handles on such serving pieces are for decoration and not to be used literally as carrying handles.

China is bound to show some cracks or crazing over time. I always say that it is better to use the china even if you fear damage so that you can make some great family dinner memories.  Using it every day if it is not heirloom quality is not such a bad thing.  If you do notice fine spidery surface cracks,  you can usually repair these by placing the china in a pan of warm milk for around 30 minutes. If the cracks are only surface deep, they should vanish.

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Why own fine china at all?

Like anything else you have in your life that you love and enjoy, fine china deserves to be respected!  Someone once asked me why anyone would register for fine china when they were getting married since it never gets used in most cases. I remember answering them by saying that having fine china in your house is like having a memory album.  If you have it, you should use it often for all special occasions, including Mother's Day lunches, tea parties with the ladies from your church or quilting group, and even, yes, for special birthday dinners for everyone in the family.  China is meant to be used so that when you pass it along through the ages, stories can be told of where it came from, who was at the special dinners where it was laid out, and what was the funniest story ever told over that special dinner.

So enjoy your china, take good care of it, and it will help to create more special memories than one can imagine!

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