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sunnyviewmom
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 1:57pm | IP Logged
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I have one set of good china (my mother's wedding china). It is mostly white with silver trim but has a pink tulip design in center of plates, on cups, etc.
So far, I have only used it for Easter, for which it is ideal. But I need some nice dishes for Thanksgiving and Christmas too.
Do you use whatever china you happen to have no matter what the season or holiday? Or do you match it?
I really don't want to spend the money on more dishes. Even more, I do not want to add more stuff to our house as I have been working hard to declutter.
I do not have enough of any kind of dishes (china or other) for our family plus even one guest. We are pretty informal, but I just want things to look nice... but want to keep it simple.
I hope this isn't too silly to post!
Thanks,
Dana
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 3:19pm | IP Logged
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oh wouldn't that be lovely all the china to set out special for each holiday with enough for a houseful of guests plus some.
not gonna happen at my house though. Even if I wanted to deal with it all, I don't have storage.
for special meals we have my dh's grandmother's china.. a pretty pattern but not seasonal at all.
And for everyday.. everthing else.
What you might do those is figure out a way to make the china you have seasonal..
As you said your pink tulips are easy to do for Easter... but what about using some of teh patterns with pink poinsettas for a tablecloth at Christmas.. then the pink doesn't stand out and the table is festive.
And with a lot of people as nice as real plates are.. it certainly cuts down on the work to just get the good seasonally patterned paper plates.. or some of those fancier looking plastic ones.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 3:37pm | IP Logged
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I stick with nice creamy white dishes for all holidays and nicer tablescapes and then add in pretty accessories and accessory dishes in colors that coordinate with a particular holiday. Sticking with white lets me keep the dish plan simple. I like using vintage Ironstone and have collected several pieces here and there over the years, and one year I came across an entire set of Ironstone - all in creamy white. It looks lovely on the table and since I shop at the thrift stores and flea markets, the set was not expensive. By the way, though I have one full set of Ironstone, which I treasure, I usually mix in a variety of other pieces from different sets. You can do that with vintage white. 
I watch for pretty, colorful accessories at the thrift store in the housewares section - so maybe a really lovely red bowl for the Christmas season, or something gold for Christ the King. And, when your dishes are white, one or two lovely accessories really stand out! I love to do blue and white for special Feasts of Our Lady. I have a striking blue platter I use, and a few blue serving pieces.
Another way to accessorize a pretty table is using table linens. Sometimes, I use a lovely tablecloth, but don't underestimate how pretty a few very thoughtfully placed cloth napkins in a particular color can be. Sometimes, at the thrift store, I can find 2 or 3 cloth napkins for a dollar, and they might be in good shape and of course, there's not enough of them to set a table, but placed under a serving piece, or layered down the middle of a table like a table runner they can add a real pop of color.
Oh, I do love a pretty table, and I don't think your post silly at all, Dana!! Your dishes sound lovely - just perfect as you said for Easter. You did mention that you don't have enough dishes for serving if there are guests....you might consider beginning a collection using thrift sources and flea markets. My one set of Ironstone (10 piece place setting) cost me $40 at the thrift store - what a find! It doesn't all have to be matchy-matchy I find, but if there is one unifying factor in your dishes, like a color, then your dishes and table setting will be just lovely. Since your nice china is already mostly white, starting on additional white plates would look just lovely set with your existing china, I think!
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sunnyviewmom
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 4:08pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Jodie and Jen! I see that I miscommunicated a bit and I apologize. I do have enough settings for guests if I use my mother's wedding china (pink tulips) but I don't have any other dishes (good china or otherwise) that could serve more than our little family. That's why I am thinking of just using the china I have.
I thank Jodie for giving me "permissssion" to use what I have. (The pink poinsetta idea is great too.) I thank Jen for the inspiration to work toward the pretty and interesting look that she suggests.
My own dear mother used at least three completely different sets of dishes for holidays. She was rasied during the depression and has a "more is better" attitude. My husband and I are trying to SIMPLIFY and declutter and we have a "less is more" attitude.
I am thinking that I can start with using what I have with no pressure to add to it. But I can slowly add some thrift shop finds like Jen suggests. If I am particular about what I buy, I won't be adding to the "clutter" but developing a nice "collection" which must fit in a specific storage space.
Thank you ladies, for your kind replies. I really was feeling that it was, perhaps, a silly question.
God bless you,
Dana
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kristinannie
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 4:14pm | IP Logged
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We have winter plates, but I got them at the dollar store.  Otherwise, we have a set of white dishes. I have a nice set of china from my grandma, but I only use those for special occasions like Thanksgiving or Christmas.
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sunnyviewmom
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 4:36pm | IP Logged
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Thank you Kristinannie!:)
Jen, I took a peek at your beautiful website. I was happy to see the dishes.
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Mimip
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 4:51pm | IP Logged
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We have three sets of dishes but that is because we have inherited my Mother's sets for entertaining since we are now living in her house.
Set 1: Everyday: These are a set of Pfaltzgraff that my mother picked up at an outlet store over 30 years ago when we lived in Baltimore MD. They are my childhood dishes and we have EVERYTHING to match ie: casseroles, cookie jars and even light plates for my kitchen:) They are blue and beige and just looking at them makes me feel like home!
Set 2: These are a set of clear salad and dinner plates. We have, gulp, 24 of them!!!! My Mom found these 10-15 years ago at Marshalls and bought them out. My mother does not believe in paper plates and these were the nicest she could find that were dish washable. We eat special birthday, anniversary and holiday except Christmas on these plates. Accessories change the occasion and we have sets of chargers as well.
Set 3: CHRISTMAS: These are another set of Christmas Pfaltzgraff that my Mom picked up at the same outlet clearance the next year. These plates get switched out with our everyday plates the day after Thanksgiving and changed back out the Monday after Epiphany. It is a huge tradition and a beloved one by all in the family. To this day, my brother comes back the Friday after Thanksgiving to change the plates!!!! For all of us it is a huge memory.
Just as a side note, there is NO WAY I would have this many sets if it not for the hutch that was given with us with the dishes. It houses both sets as well as ALL the tablecloths and accessories. When asked what we wanted from the house, this is all that I jumped for! I wanted all the kitchen stuff.
BTW I also NOW have to host EVERY single Occasion!!!
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Betsy
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 5:25pm | IP Logged
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My grandmother is BIG on china and hosting holiday dinners. She asumes that everyone else in the family is too, so needless to say, I have a lot of china!
I have my wedding china (which I HAD to register for), christmas plates to match my china, my mothers christmas china, AND a set of thanks giving china that my grandmother has given to all of the grandchildren for the last number of years. Don't get me started on serving platters....I have at least one for each holiday!!!!!
Although I love it all, most of the people that live in my house are too young for china or could careless! I hope to use it all every Sunday as my children get older, because what's the use of having it if you aren't going to use it.
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Erin
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 10:30pm | IP Logged
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Mimip wrote:
| These plates get switched out with our everyday plates the day after Thanksgiving and changed back out the Monday after Epiphany. It is a huge tradition and a beloved one by all in the family. To this day, my brother comes back the Friday after Thanksgiving to change the plates!!!! For all of us it is a huge memory. |
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Aww, that is so sweet 
Betsy wrote:
| I hope to use it all every Sunday as my children get older, because what's the use of having it if you aren't going to use it. |
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I totally agree with you Betsy, I started this tradition a couple of years ago. As a child we had my mother's Wedding dinner set in the buffet and never used it, it was too special! It seemed rather a waste to me, so I'm pleased to start a new tradition.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: Sept 08 2011 at 11:19pm | IP Logged
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I am the Queen of Tablecloths. Even before my mom sent me ALL of her Christmas tablecloths so I could host Navy events at my house during the holidays!
Tablecloths, runners and placemats can turn your pink tulips into just about any type of seasonal china. Green = Christmas or Ordinary Time. Pink = Joy, Easter. You get the idea. Pretty candles or flowers in the dominant color will add to the effect. My grandmother's china is mostly pink and white, with a tiny hint of greenery, so I've seen my mother do this year after year with a pattern that is European in style and very "springy" in color tone. A deep green tablecloth makes everything look Christmas-festive!
My advice would be to plan for the long-term effect. This year, use what you have. Use fresh greens/tree branches to bring out the deeper tones. After Christmas (the day after!), hit the home goods sales and try for the colors that will work for you. Sometimes Christmas tablecloths go on sale a few days before Christmas, too.
HOWEVER, comma! You should not feel obligated to add to your china collection at all. "Less is more" is a wonderful philosophy, and I think it is wonderful that you want to contain your collection within a specific physical space. (I am like you in that regard.) Your good china (pink tulips and all) is your good china, and it is totally appropriate for any holiday. (I get to say this because 1) I am old and 2) my mother enrolled in a China Club to get me my 12 place settings, one per year...including the salad plates with pink and blue flowers, which I use on all holidays.)
I think that using china that is passed down through your family is wonderful! What a great way to show your children that cherishing family items is good and that using the things presented to you as gifts can bring great joy to giver and receiver alike.
I would love to see a photo of your china pattern...I'm imagining such beautiful things...
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juststartn
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| Posted: Sept 10 2011 at 1:07pm | IP Logged
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Pink and silver and turqouise blue for Christmas. Sounds kind of girly, but you can make it work into a wonderland kind of theme...
I've got antique china, similar problem. Very floraly. Our everyday stuff is white Pfaltzgraff (now discontiued, unfortunately), so I'm looking to replace it. Frankly, I'd like to have dishes for the four seasons, and a nice basic creamy-white pattern for "good" dishes. I actually had/have a china pattern I prefer, but don't have a piece of it (cannot afford to spend $$ on dishes...), yet. Someday I will hopefully inherit my mom's vintage 60s Noritake with the gray rose on it and silver band, which will work fine.
Someday, when the children are "gone", and we're not using the school room as a schoolroom, we're changing it into a dining room, and DH is going to build me in a fulllength wall china cabinet display area...16 feet long. To the ceiling. So I can put my pretties out to look at (glass fronted top cabinets) and have adequate storage for the antique and every day linens, silver, etc.
Someday....
Rachel
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sunnyviewmom
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| Posted: Sept 13 2011 at 12:09pm | IP Logged
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Thank you dear ladies for your varied and interesting responses! It has been enjoyable to read and definitely encouraging and inspiring!
Nancy, your comment about my china being appropriate for any holiday was just what I had hoped to read... but so many other great ideas were given by you and all of the others... much inspiration!:)
Thanks to all!
Blessings,
Dana
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: Do you match china to the season/holiday?
