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msclavel
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I am not really the china type, never registered for anything. But I really do love pottery and unique ceramics very much, so I have lots of interesting pieces of that sort.
Our "fancy" plates are dishes we found at IKEA (years ago), white with a sold band of color around the edge in blue, yellow, or green and matching solid salad plates. Very versatile.
But, I am now set to get my grandmother's china finally. I don't know what it is, but is an asian pattern, very delicate. I can't wait to get it as I have so many Christmas memories in Peru eating off those dishes.
I think I'm going to run into some antique stores or thrift stores and pick up teacups. We just did our first tea here and I think it would be fun to use proper teacups and I rather like having all different sorts of cups. Maybe let each child pick one they like.
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J.Anne
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I love dishes of all kinds! How fun. My formal china is Noritake Traviata. I have a holiday pattern by Royal Limited, "Holly Holiday" and I love all of WS transferware. My favorite new tea cups are the Emma collection from Pottery Barn. I love the little details. Wow, I sound like the addict that I am!
At my bridal shower, my host served on a number of different patterns. It was the hit of the party, because every pattern was gorgeous and had a little story to it. The guests were fascinated and it started some wonderful conversations.
Jennifer
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stefoodie
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alice, i forgot to say, thanks so much for starting this fun thread! i'm enjoying seeing everyone's china. and SOOO glad i'm not the only one who loves fancy stuff like this. for years i've been thinking this was some unhealthy fetish i should be embarrassed about, kinda like something i should confess? consider this my public confession now.  i'm not THAT obsessed about it and don't spend hours thinking about it, but i can just walk up and down the china aisle at department stores, oohing and aahing and drooling, and leave without buying anything. yikes. TMI, i know.
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LisaD
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Jen L. wrote:
| We registered for Mikasa Arabella for our wedding and got, I think, 8 places settings and some accessroies. Then, about a year later, my mom went to a neighbors garage sale and she got me 12 place settings for $90! |
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This has always been one of my favorite china patterns! So pretty.
A hundred years ago, before I ever even met my husband, I managed a commercial photography studio. The photographer I worked for shot mostly food and tabletop stuff. One of the fun parts of my job was prop shopping! I would go to stores all over Hollywood, Beverly Hills, L.A. and buy plates, flatware, glassware, you name it. One of my favorite places to buy china was Gearys Beverly Hills. I love beautiful china, and that place has it all.
Do any of you automatically want to turn a pretty plate over to see who makes it, no matter where you are? Sometimes I have to sit on my hands to control myself-LOL!
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kingvozzo
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LisaD wrote:
Do any of you automatically want to turn a pretty plate over to see who makes it, no matter where you are? Sometimes I have to sit on my hands to control myself-LOL!
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I do!  Although I do seem to remember reading in the "Miss Manners" advice column that this was actually okay, technically speaking...I think most people would be pretty offended if you actually did this in front of them.
When I got married, I chose Pfaltzgraff Garden Party as my everyday dishes. I still love this pattern, but it was discontinued shortly after I married,and I've got fewer and fewer pieces. When I lived in Houston, I decorated my whole kitchen in the cream and pale green of Garden Party. I recently switched over to Corelle for my everyday, and have been very pleased. Especially with how much more cabinet space I have now!
My china pattern is Lenox Celtic Braid, which I also love. It's very simple. Unfortunately, that too, was discontinued shortly after I chose it.  I don't use it as often as I like, but always at least for Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving.
I really do think I'd use it more, but it must be hand washed. I'm not usually in the mood for that!
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Angel
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We have only one set of china, which we received for our wedding, and we use it every day. This might have been a little too practical, as I really love dishes.
Anyway, it's Blue Danube. Very old-fashioned.  We received 12 place settings for our wedding, and my mil has added to our supply over the years by shopping at TJMaxx and Marshall's, which apparently often sell this pattern at incredible markdowns! We now have a couple of serving bowls, a gravy boat, a sugar and creamer, and one soup bowl, but we have lost several plates to breakage.
We don't have a china cabinet, and right now all our dishes are out on the counter until we find a child-safe lock that *works* on the cabinet where we keep dishes. (Blame that on an oddly set up 50's kitchen...)
--Angela
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KC in TX
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When we were married, my dh picked out the pattern for our formal china and I loved it. He was just joking, but I really did like it. It's Royal Doulton Princeton.
For our everyday china, I picked something white. I love how food looks on white plates so I chose Noritake Arctic White. This is discontinued so I'm going to have to find something else soon. Luckily, white is easy to find--I just need to find a pattern I like. With all the moves we've had in the past, we're lucky we haven't lost more dishes.
We do have a china cabinet that we inherited from my MIL when she moved. However, we don't use it as such. It sits in my school room (the dining room) as has books in it. 
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Bookswithtea
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My pattern is called June Bouquet. This is the only place I could find it on the web.
http://www.replacements.com/webquote/DUCJUB.htm
I didn't register for china (I was trying to think practical...what was I thinking???). It was brought over as a surprise by my English relatives. They hand carried the tea set and service for 6 on the plane to my wedding. I love love love it. What I don't have is a beautiful china cabinet to display it...its in a high cupboard to keep it safe from littlies and comes out when my mom comes over for tea.
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onemoretracy
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Ooh I love seeing all the china! We registered and recieved lots of china. We have even more crystal, our pattern isn't very $$, but so very pretty. We could probably use them as party favors and not run our for years 
We do have a china cabinet that I got at a charity fundraiser yardsale (150!). It was a light pickled finish that doesn't really go so this summer I painted it black. It looks so pretty all lit up with my china displayed. It was worth the effort. It goed well with our table and chairs that used to belong to my grandparents.
You can sort of see hte china pattern in this picture.
We actually use it several times a year and I am so grateful we have it. My sister did not register for china this summer when she was married, despite my encouragement. I just know she'll regret it...
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kingvozzo
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Bookswithtea wrote:
I didn't register for china (I was trying to think practical...what was I thinking???). |
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This seems to be a recurring theme in this discussion. Whenever a friend expresses hesitancy about registering for things like china (or crystal, or silver) I encourage them to go ahead and do it. It's one of the few times in your life when people are really anxious to get you a present, and you're not 'forcing' them to purchase a gift off the registry. It just gives them an idea of what you like and need.
There is a Lenox factory outlet in NJ somewhere. My mother has been going there for years, and was able to purchase many of my Lenox Celtic Braid dishes (as seconds) at incredible prices. You'd never be able to tell that they're seconds. I didn't have a lot of guilt about that.
But, I did have guilt over the sterling silver place settings my mother insisted on buying for me. I think she bought me 2 place settings as a wedding present, and then bought me a place setting for bdays and anniversaries till I had 12. The nice thing is that it's the same pattern as my stainless, so they look fine together. And when my stainless is past it's useful life, I can use my sterling everyday. It certainly was an extravagent present. I know it makes my mother very happy to know I have it, and to see us using it, and not keeping it stored up in the attic.
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Bookswithtea
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kingvozzo wrote:
This seems to be a recurring theme in this discussion. Whenever a friend expresses hesitancy about registering for things like china (or crystal, or silver) I encourage them to go ahead and do it. |
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Honestly, I'm still kind of squeamish about registries. I don't know why. Maybe because I am a hopeless bargain shopper and can't stand the thought of anyone having to pay full price at an overpriced dept store!
But after reading the hope chest book and thread, I am thinking more and more that I'd like to set aside some money every year and then keep an eye out for deals on seconds or overstocks and buy for my dd's hope chests.
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Anne McD
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Everyone has such beautiful choices!
We have Courtyard Gold by Lennox:
http://www.amazon.com/Lenox-Courtyard-Ivory-Tableware-Collec tion/dp/B0008ESGTA
Funny story-- when my husband (to-be) and I went to register, I took one look at the china dept at Macy's and nearly hyperventilated! I had major cold feet. Dh picked out the pattern, and I think he did a great job!
Also, my MIL gave us her mother's china after she passed away, which I can't seem to find online. Its called Coronation by Craftsman, rose colored with roses and gold accent, and cooridiantes well with my china. Apparently it was Mamie Eisenhower's china (which is why my MIL's mom chose it).
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Dawn
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I love to talk china! Through high school I worked in the china and fine gifts department at Filenes! Helping brides (and grooms) pick out china was so much fun.
We have Mikasa English Countryside for our everyday. For fine china, I have my grandmother's Royal Tara.
I also occasionally "borrow" my mum's Blue Danube (just like yours, Angela!).
For Christmas dishes, I collect Lenox Winter Greetings (casual not fine).
We have a china cupboard built into the wall between our living room and kitchen. It's not the best place for it because the dining room is on the other side of the kitchen, but it is really nice to have all the same. (It's lighted, too.)
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stefoodie
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LisaD wrote:
| Do any of you automatically want to turn a pretty plate over to see who makes it, no matter where you are? Sometimes I have to sit on my hands to control myself-LOL! |
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Oh most definitely yes!
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Lissa
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I don't have china, just plain white stoneware, and can you believe we don't even own a tea set? I meant to give my girls a pretty tea service for Christmas, and I plumb forgot!!
I was thinking this one would be perfect for my little lepidopterists: Lenox butterfly garden
Although, Alice, I have always loved your rose-strewn teacups and have had it in mind to copy you for years.
Hmm, maybe an Easter gift! (I can't BELIEVE I spaced it at Christmas.)
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Jen L.
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Anne McD wrote:
Also, my MIL gave us her mother's china after she passed away, which I can't seem to find online. Its called Coronation by Craftsman, rose colored with roses and gold accent, and cooridiantes well with my china. Apparently it was Mamie Eisenhower's china (which is why my MIL's mom chose it).
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I found a picture of it at Replacements.com
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kingvozzo
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Bookswithtea wrote:
kingvozzo wrote:
This seems to be a recurring theme in this discussion. Whenever a friend expresses hesitancy about registering for things like china (or crystal, or silver) I encourage them to go ahead and do it. |
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Honestly, I'm still kind of squeamish about registries. I don't know why. Maybe because I am a hopeless bargain shopper and can't stand the thought of anyone having to pay full price at an overpriced dept store!
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I never let a registry stop me from bargain hunting! I use them as a guide to what they want, and then look for bargains elsewhere.
I wanted to add that I've always loved Old Country Roses. It was my oldest sister's pattern when she married, and I've just always though it was about perfect. Dh wasnt' too keen on having such "busy" dishes
I do see that pattern at our TJMaxx quite often. I think they just had the tea service, if I'm not mistaken.
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Kim F
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Blue Willow
is a favorite of mine. It isn't technically china but I love it. I also love red transferware but it is harder to find and more expensive. Had I known I was going to live in a rose colored house I would have looked harder lol! I have always loved pink depression glass which looks lovely with that but its so fragile it was probably not a practical idea. The little I have is safe in the cabinet.
Alice my great aunt has a full set of Old Roses china. She passed away this week. When its appropriate I asked my mom to inquire about it. My family does not tend to put much stock in anything "old" so I don't want it to end up on ebay or something.
Kim
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MacBeth
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I have Lenox Autumn that came with the house when we inherited it. I really don't like it--it's just not "me" .
I way prefer my transfer-ware, Johnson Bros. Old Britain Castles in pink. In fact, it is my dream, when the kitchen is done, to collect more patterns (Blue Willow, Christmas, Sepia and Green patterns, etc.) and mix and match my transfer-ware. BTW, the Old "Britain" Castles includes a few Irish castles  in the pattern.
I also have a few rare pieces of transfer-ware from an historical Boston collection, including Faneuil Hall, The U. S. S. Constitution, Scituate Light. These we don't use, but keep on display.
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Kim F
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MacBeth!!! How did you find that on Amazon??? I have looked for that pattern all over lately. Just when I think I made a final decision on blue vs pink.
I see another call into Rebecca for decor brainstorming in my future lol!
Kim
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: May I see inside your china cabinet?
