Sunday, March 25, 2012

A cracked plate


“Put me down easy, Janie, Ah’m a cracked plate.”
When I read this line recently in Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, I couldn’t help thinking of all the lovely dishes I have inherited over the years. Some show their age with delicate fine lines, while others are so cracked they can no longer be used for their original purpose.
I suspect that many of you, like me, still see the value in these aged little darlings, making it hard to think of tossing them out.
As I mentioned last week, I have a couple more thrift store finds to share with you, but I also want to show you some items from the collection of dishes I have accumulated over the years.
In addition to the cute retro poncho I got for my daughter at The Salvation Army store, I found this sweet little purple vase for $2.99. It is not vintage, having come from a floral delivery service, but it is charming nonetheless.

I filled it with some inexpensive flowers from the grocery store. I tend to like a combination of purple and yellow, I think because it reminds me of the wildflowers that grew in the grass at our cottage when I was a kid.

The flowers further inspired me to take my tea and ginger snaps on some pretty dishes that my mom and dad gave me.


The tea cup and saucer are mismatched, but I think they look like a happy pair anyway.


This little dish is one that my mom gave me recently. It is Ucagco china, made in Japan. My parents have collected all kinds of dishes and furniture over the years, from auctions, estate sales, flea markets and yard sales. Luckily for them, one child out of their three likes to inherit these items. Luckily for me, the other two children don’t!


On the same visit to The Salvation Army, I found this picture frame. Obviously, I was in some sort of flowers and vases mood. The sunny frame calls for a sunny photo, so I chose a picture of my daughter on the beach in Florida last year.




This week, I also unearthed this set of china from a box in my fruit cellar. My aunt and uncle picked it up at a church sale, thinking that the dishes matched a set I inherited from my grandmother. Turns out they are different, but I couldn’t resist keeping these ones too.



The pattern is “Old English” by Johnson Brothers, and I think the colour combination is perfect for spring!

How about you...any lucky finds this week? Any cracked plates you just can’t part with?

25 comments:

  1. Oh so many! I collect miss-matched china (particularly plates etc from hotels...trust me, they are most cool). The cracked plates turn in to soap dishes or plant holders or key holders...

    I just adore your blog-- so lovely!

    http://aclosetintellectual.blogspot.com/

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    1. I like your ideas for using the cracked plates! I am happy you like my blog. Thanks!

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  2. So pretty. I love the tea cup set and all the happy floral patterns. I'm so glad that this trend is coming back and you can pull out your old dishes and they look cool ;)
    I think it's sweet to still enjoy the cracked plate (love that quote) it has a story to tell and it's always fun to have things like that in your life - not everything has to be perfect. And it's from your mom making it really extra special ;)
    xo

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    1. I love this trend too. I like to mix vintage items with new. Maybe I'll finally go to some auctions this summer. We haven't gone for several years, because the days are too long for the kids. Isn't that a nice quote...I can't wait to finish the book. Her writing is so lovely.

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  3. ps. Thanks for coming to my Potluck Party!

    http://www.lifeologia.com/potluck-party-nutritious-delicious/

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  4. I love all of it! (I like to mix purple and yellow flowers together, too). What beach in Florida?

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    1. Thanks! Clearwater Beach. My sister got married on the beach in front of the Hilton. Oh how I miss it. The air was perfect, and we rented the most beautiful condo.

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  5. Oh how lovely....those patterns are so beautiful! ~ Barefoot Mama

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    1. I am now addicted. I just returned from a shopping trip and bought more china! Where am I going to put it?

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  6. Thanks for linking up at Cap Creations. Just wanted to let you know that I featured you today over at the blog!

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  7. I love your china .... so pretty! I have a collection of plates which belonged to my grandma, mmmm maybe I should get them out of the cupboard!

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    1. Hi Vicky, Thanks! You should take them out. I use them for my book club meetings and sometimes to have tea by myself. :)

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  8. Hello. I'm a new follower and found you via Cap Creations. I'm so in love with your china, Johnson Bros is a favorite I collect. I'm like you, want to use my treasured pieces as long as possible and hold on to them after they've worn out. : ) Some of my mom's pieces just make me smile when I pass by them. I would love if you'd share your thrifty finds at my Frugal Treasures Tuesday party. : )

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    1. Welcome and thanks so much for following me! That's so nice that you are enjoying your mom's dishes. I will visit your party for sure!

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  9. Ooooh how I love lovely old mismatched cups and saucers! I followed your link from pinterest, here's my Johnson Brothers Old English collection:

    http://ruskindays.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/vintage-kitchenware-and-johnson-brothers-old-english-crockery/

    I'm so excited to see you have a gravy boat and pitcher and sugar bow1, but it gives me something else to obsessively hunt for :) This is one set that makes me happy, those colours just scream joy!

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    1. I loved seeing your collection. So true how it is both lovely and sad when family members give you their things. My grandmother gave me her knitting needles because her hands weren't functioning anymore. She had done a lifetime of knitting, crocheting, sewing, etc.

      It is a pretty, happy set of dishes for sure. :)

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    2. hi, it's the same with my grandma, my sister got to keep all her crochet stuff. My grandma could quite literally crochet with her eyes on the tv, and she'd be using the finest hook and finest crochet thread.

      My other grandma had one of those apple dishes you've blogged about, except hers had clear glass, not the blue glass. I ended up giving it away though, I had a ton of stuff gathering dust and I had to get ruthless. Oh! I'm obsessed with a store called Savers here in Australia and when I saw your Value Village photos, I realised Savers is the Australian name for V.V. The shelf labels and pricetags are identical. I have some Savers blog posts in the works, I can understand your obsession! I go mainly for board games and I found some of my childhood favourites. I have a blog post in the works about that too. I looove the original boxes with the kids haircuts, clothes and dorky parents!

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  10. The pattern “Old English” by Johnson Brothers, I live in the Uk but my mum in South Africa has the same dinner service. I was just wondering do you know the name of the design. Colleen.

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    1. Hi Colleen, The plates and the bowls (but not the other serving pieces) say "Old English" on the bottom. :)

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  11. So glad to have found this page! I've been hunting for awhile now to figure out what pattern this set of dishes I bought at a rummage sale is, and here they are on your page! I have quite a large collection of it, and so delighted to see yours. :)

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  12. That's great Janet! Enjoy them! :)

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