Fine china...pulling out your "someday best"

All of my life I have loved pretty things. These things usually revolved around ceramics, pottery and china objects.  I have a few odd china plates that just appealed to me and china cups that maybe I got for a gift and really did not appreciate them till long after they sat in a box in storage. Lately, I have come to love china dishes.  I find beauty and want to have it around me in my everyday life.  The best way I can think of to integrate this beauty into my everyday life is by owning and using beautiful china for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  I am going to educate you about china through this blog in a series of posts. First I will be showing you some of  the china I have collected.  Second,  I will talk about the china markings or backstamps,  how they are used to identify what you have and then I will tell you what I know about determining the value of the china.  Lets start with sharing pictures and short descriptions of what I own. 

Haviland Bavarian China

Years ago, about 20 I think, I saved enough "points" shopping at my local food store to purchase Haviland Bavarian china at a huge discount. In the end I had service for eight in two four-piece sets.  It is vitreous china, so translucent you can see your hand through it when you put it up to the light. I already had silver plated flatware and the platinum trim around the edges of this china coordinated perfectly.  I love the fancy scalloped edging and the footed teacups with the curly Q handles. I had hoped to eventually find and purchase the teapot and sugar/creamer and salt and pepper shakers, and a complete hostess set.  Someday maybe, but for now, I am content with what I have.

Noritake

Since then I acquired other pretty china sets by some of the best china makers.  My vintage Noritake china, made in occupied Japan, has been named through hours of research as "Mystery Pattern #7".  I have service for 12, with all the pieces, the first group of this found at a thrift store, service for eight with almost all the hostess pieces, but no dinner plates for only $40.  I bought an entire set of service for 12  from someone who advertised on EBAY classified. I had to drive to Ohio 3 hours away to get them, but I did, and I did it for a song. Having duplicates of the b & b plates and all the rest is not such a bad thing..I can sell them to finance the deal or have them just for replacements! This china dates back to the 1940 according to Replacements LTD. Its coloring and shape of each of the different pieces identifies it as Noritake, although the blanks for the pieces were historically purchased by other manufacturers and their own designs decorated them.  It would be easy to get them confused without looking at the identifying markings on the bottom.

I think the prettiest thing about Noritake china is the shapes of the vessels.  I absolutely love the fact that each set comes with a tureen or covered casserole and the handles on everything is painted with gold. More recently, the quality of the china is the same, but you simply won't find such ornate decoration, so vivid in color, any longer. Anything pre-dating this set is even more beautiful, and any china made by Noritake before 1950 is hard to find in a complete unblemished set such as this.  I possess actually two sets of Occupied Japan Noritake with all the serving pieces in service for 12.  A wonderful family heirloom that my family can look forward to receiving some day.

Diamond hand painted China

One of the things I love also about vintage china is the pieces it comes with. I just recently came across a set of two handled soup bowls made by Diamond . It is labeled "hand painted" and is also very ornate in its design, footed and with gold leaf accents on the handles.  I decided after finding four of these at a more well known thrift store, all four for $14.99, I would try to find saucers.  I did find a creamer and sugar and four teacup saucers for a song on Ebay.- $14.99.  I have seen complete dish sets also for a very affordable price. But I have self control, and decided to stop at the pieces I have now.  I think I just might serve oatmeal in these on Christmas morning...just for a change of pace and to add some glitz to a special day of the year!

Homer Laughlin

Homer Laughlin made china that was highly regarded and popular for a very long time. I came to know Homer Laughlin china when I came across a set for less than $25 at an antique store. The pattern featured here is referred to as  Eggshell Georgian, and the decoration on it is named Chateau.  It was most popular during the war when American brides could little afford expensive china imported from overseas. The color of this set is the lightest robins egg blue with a floral spray and a delicate braided edging that does not show well in these pictures. This set is in immaculate condition and has a few hostess pieces with it. I have tried to find the tea pot that goes with it, but it is highly collectible, more so than the plates settings and I have seen it on Ebay fetch upwards of $75.  I also have a set of Homer Laughlin in the Aristocrat pattern.  Here is a photo of the sugar bowl which I recently purchased for only $10 on Etsy.com. Recently I sold a set of the Viceroy pattern, service for 4, and I am sharing a photograph of the cup and saucer here.  Homer Laughlin, you may know, is the manufacturer of highly collectible Fiestaware.  If you like vintage china that you can really use every day, check out Homer Laughlin.

Pope Gosser China

Recently, I discovered the beauty of Pope Gosser china.  First thing that came into my ownership was a sugar bowl and creamer, no markings on it to speak of, but beautiful enough and unique in its design. Notice the handle of the sugar bowl is a slanted rose?  The handles on each is so intricate and delicate.  These pieces fit my leanings toward the shabby chic trend. You should see the coffee pot!  I am just a few days away from obtaining that. I plan to stop with just the three pieces..it is all I need to just look at and suddenly get happy when it comes to the pretty things that I have around me in my home.  Now if this were marked on the bottom, it would say "Rosepoint".  This photo of it just doesn't do it justice.  If you like the shabby chic look of this china, go look it up on Ebay and see all the obtainable pieces there. It is bright off white, although you cannot get that from this photo. But I can promise you, --you will fall in love with it if you allow your romantic side to emerge!  Pope Gosser also makes wonderful place settings with beautiful intricate edging on the plates with 22 kt gold trim that is not to be easily dismissed.  I have just started to add to my china hoard (eeek!) with a serving set of the pattern "Florence" which I intend to acquire and give away to one of my family as a gift someday.

There are other china producers that I love. Spode made some wonderful china as does Wedgewood and Waterford, but they can be pretty pricey. I also would like to add to my small set of Royal Doulton china, and recently I bought a couple of smaller odd pieces of Shelly and Aynsley china upon a visit to the RePurpose Warehouse at a 50% off sale.  I have these odd pieces around strictly for their beauty and could not possibly think of adding to these smaller pieces collection but they would come at a very high price. I think I will wait on that for now!  

The point of my sharing this particular information is to show you all the beautiful alternatives to your old beat up Correlle (not to bemoan this fabulous every day kitchen gem), but to make you all think outside the box when it comes to showing off your culinary masterpieces to your family.  There is nothing more exciting to your children, especially to the younger crowd, then setting up the table like it is not just Wednesday, but a holiday and showing off your crystal and china and pulling your wedding flatware out of the box is your gift to your family for the day.  You simply must make memories with your beautiful things. It is a crime to keep it all locked up and demand that no one touch it.  Making memories make for strong families, ...it makes your kids feel even more special because THEY are worth celebrating.  So, open up that china cabinet, pull out the cloth napkins and crystal, and serve your hot dogs and hamburgers on your "someday best".

Love,

Kimberley

Next blog: The care and cleaning of fine china

Fall days and comfort foods.....

A big delicious pot of comforting cabbage soup!

Adding chocolate to chili give it that extra something special!

BBQ Ribs, with the secret Ingredients sauce!

Pot Roast with all the trimmings!

Golumpke, the way Hedwig always made them

Today was what fall days are about...breezes, leaves just beginning to turn, and the threat of a chilly evening when a log on the fire isn't such a far out idea. I love these days when I can pull out all the stops to prepare a meal that hearkens back to mom's kitchen..a day for actually using the oven and creating a gastronomic delight that we can refer to as comfort food.  

I decided to make Golumpke  today.  Now, while on the surface this doesn't seem like such a feat, I have to say that mine are especially tasty. I got a recipe from a neighbor past whose heritage is Lithuanian and she told me of a secret ingredient that I still use to this day.  She advises that after I have blended the fresh ground pork sausage, ground sirloin, onion, tomato paste, salt and pepper, vinegar, rice (some use barley) and other ingredients, to add 1/2 cup of brown sugar to the mix. I sometimes add more. Doing this gives my cabbage rolls a taste that has been forever a favorite of my family.

I also love to finally make a pot roast meal.  In the summer months, I wouldn't dream of turning on the oven, especially in Indian summer days that come in August.  Here is a photo of mine, with potatoes and carrots and onions roasted right along with it.  When this meal is done cooking, the meat just falls apart and melts in your mouth like butter!  Serve this with a loaf of fresh bread and butter at room temperature and it is by far the best fall meal I can think of!

Speaking of secret ingredients, as I talked mentioned in my golumpke rolls recipe,   have you ever made chili with chocolate shavings, or barbecue ribs sauce using orange or apricot marmalade and maple syrup?  Do this to taste and you will never be disappointed!  I am sharing some pictures of my dishes here.  I hope you enjoy looking at them and then maybe share some of your favorite secret recipe tips here with me.  I am always on the look out for twists in my old family favorites.  

Enjoy your wonderful fall days ahead.  Thank you for visiting!

Designing vignettes that showcase your style......

Notice the background for the wreath, next to the brick, over the walnut mantel, and the brass fireplace tools. A lot going on, but it seems to work!

Against a dark red backdrop, I have hung a fruit still life print, an ornate framed miniature picture, a solid copper mold,  and placed other accessories of colors that set off each of the prints.

Notice the chair rail that adds a touch of vintage to this arrangement...and I spent I think about $4 total creating this!

My "china" cupboard....free!

I like the bright white window trim and all the colors together here!

Over the years I have had to work with the design elements my home has, and the accessories I found here and there to create the look and feel of a country french home.  I love the colors red and yellow. That's my taste. Yours may be different and I am guessing it is. Finding interesting pieces and not spending top dollar is sort of my specialty.  This happened because I am a penny pincher and knowing I have acquired a decorative item that cost me a lot of money does not sit well with me. I prefer to happen upon really one of a kind accessories at thrift stores and the like.  Once I get them home, then the magic begins.


In my kitchen I had a cupboard in a strategic location where when the outdoor light came in, whatever was in it could be a focal point. However, the doors were closed up, and one would have to open them to see what was inside. I took my doors to a carpenter friend of mine who removed the raised panels within and replaced them with glass.  Now I had an instant china cabinet of sorts where my collection of china cups, saucers, and vintage place settings could be showcased with great pride.  I didn't go the step further, but if I did, I would have placed lace trim on the shelf edges just to add more vintage appeal.  If I wanted, I could add lights that shine down on the shelves and even make all the shelves glass.  Wouldn't that be pretty?


In another corner of my kitchen I arranged several items on the back splash of an otherwise dim lifeless corner. I curb picked a handsome still life print under glass, beautifully framed already, and placed it next to a substantive mustard gold canister ($2.50), a hanging solid copper mold ($1.99), and couple of ornately framed pictures ($1 and $2 respectively) and some interestingly shaped bottles of spiced oils ($ 1 for two smaller ones and $3.99 for the largest one).  It may look like a lot to have there in that space, but I tried to downsize the number of items here, and since it is a largely unused corner, I prefer to have these items there and they lend a wonderful array of color and light to the space.  I think I will keep this just this way!


In my family room, the fireplace is flanked by a red leather suede picture frame that holds a photo of my son with his 13 ft tall sun flower from Kindergarten. On the opposite end is a large wooden pineapple statue ($3.99 -Salvation Army) ,  and a rose berry wreath given to me by a friend, she was going to throw it out with yesterday's newspapers.  Who knew that these three accessories could come together against the yellowish wood grained backdrop and the brickwork of the chimney to create such a presentation...one that I am content to see every day I am in that room?


Over on one side of the family room against the window wall, I have married a country french flavor chair, a plaid throw pillow that matches the down filled couch, and an interesting shaped table with ornate legs.  Upon this table is a hurricane lamp that I had the base that only needed the mosaic glass hurricane ($2 - garage sale find)  to bring it to life.  Partnered with that is a "HOME" piece, a small turquoise pottery vase given to me from an aunt's belongings, and a cute checkerboard farmhouse style picture frame ($5.99 - Marshalls).  If you look beneath the table you will see the awesome spice cupboard that sits there, purchased at another thrift store for a mere $4.00.  I bought it to hang, but discovered that it looked so perfect there under the table. I decided to leave it there. Finally, notice the curtains on the window in a red and yellow toile juxtaposed with the plaid throw pillow on the chair?  I love mixing prints!  It is an inexpensive design trick that looks expensive!  And the colors in these additions were the colors of my room, so it works nicely together!

On collections and other things........

My Steiff "Pillo" and little chick

My first acquisition...Chickadee

Something's Cooking in Grandma's Kitchen....

Vintage stove top pot and lid

Do these conjure up any memories for you?

Do you remember cooking the turkey in a roaster like this?

Do these look familiar?

A lovely cheese plate and dome

The Jewel Tea man used to bring these over when he visited

I love to cook and one of the things that makes cooking enjoyable is having the utensils that not only help to create the dish, but also the ones that help in serving, which is really, presenting the final result. I find that when I cook, I sometimes revert back to my grandma's kitchen.   She had the utensils pictured here in her kitchen, on the shelves, in the cupboard drawers, and in the middle of her dining room table. They conjure up memories of baking a cherry pie using cherries from the tree in the yard, cooking up a stew in her hammered granite ware  metal pots using vegetables from her garden, and serving her culinary creations in various other vessels that left a mark on me.  I enjoy seeing these different containers in antique shops and at yard sales, and while I hold off purchasing many of these things, I have indulged in a few pieces that I am having trouble parting with, even though they were originally purchased to sell online.  With fall comes the opportunity to create the same wonderful comfort foods that grandma did. So for me....I plan to hang onto these things a while longer. Maybe my children will someday come to appreciate them.....just as I do!

Nature's Bounty at summer's end

I had to take a drive to Ohio today on a buying trip.  Just when I was wondering when I was going to get where I was going, I noticed a produce stand at the side of the road next to a beautiful old red barn.  I pulled over and took a peek.  The stand was full of the most vivid colors of fruits and vegetables and colorful mums as well.  I forgot how much fun it is to buy these things right off the farm I am so accustomed to picking them up at my neighborhood mega grocer.  

I think sometimes we forget that we are helping our Michigan farmers when we go straight to the source when we can.  Yes convenience is great, I could have just waited and stopped at the fruit market near my home or like I said the major grocery chain. But here on this beautiful summer day, the green zucchini looked brighter, the pears looked juicier, the mums were fuller.  

I purchased what you see here, and was enveloped by that sweet melon smell all the way home!

An unusual napkin holder...discovered on this summer day..

So how was your summer day?  It was beautiful out here in Troy, and I noticed my neighbor Janet putting some things out onto her driveway that were in her garage.  She had moved into the house in the last month and I knew she probably had some pretty neat stuff, so I ventured over to see.  She greeted me and said she was getting ready to have a yard sale this weekend, she had heard the weather was going to be great.  I could not help but poke around in her stuff and I came across this really neat piece.  Jennifer explained that her sister had given this to her and I asked what it was.  Turns out that it is a napkin holder.  A very interesting one too!  Has anyone ever seen anything like this?  It looks like a Mexican girl and the colors were perfect for my kitchen.  She gave it to me!  This just goes to show, you never know what you will find just innocently checking out someones garage sale items before the sale! 

Here's another I found at an antique mall just a couple of days ago.....(October 12, 2011)