CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST ---

Our home is to be on a local charity house tour the first weekend in December.  I know that in November I will be busy with deep cleaning and decorating for Christmas.  So, I'm trying to think ahead now and accomplish some other details.

I've been thinking about how I might want to set the dining room table for the tour.  I know that I don't want to cover the table with a cloth as the top of our table is interesting and has a local history.  Bob made the table about ten years ago from a gym floor he salvaged from an old prison-guard building.

  The table is narrow and long to fit the space -- really just a hallway from the bedrooms to the kitchen.  We love the table as it fits our immediate family of seven perfectly even accommodating the left-handers.  But for the tour, I thought I would just set the table for four, so more of the wood shows.  My solution was to make two red plaid table runners and place them cross-wise on the table.

I pulled out some dishes to get a feel for the look, and will think about a centerpiece later when I get the Christmas stuff out in November.  It will probably involve vintage ornaments and candles.

 

 Found these forgotten lovely monogrammed napkins, a gift from a friend several years ago!

 I made the runners reversible from the red and black plaid -- thought the red and white plaid would be nice to have for the patriotic holidays.

 Found George and a flag -----

 and some red, white, and blue dishes!

Just sewing and playing with dishes this week!!

I'm joining the following:
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

A CHANGE OF SCENERY

I've felt really yucky the last two weeks fighting a couple of infections -- not much energy, etc.

However, we had previously planned a trip to Denver to take place over the past weekend to do some of our favorite things like antique and/or junk hunting.  It was the weekend of the big antique show at the Denver Merchandise Mart; so I decided to suck it up, and we should go anyway.  I was past being infectious.

Maybe what I needed was a change of scenery!

The antique show was great, as usual, quite high-end and way above our usual price point.  But, enjoyable none the less -- we didn't buy a thing.  But who doesn't like just looking at the beauty of Tiffany lamps and amazing antique jewelry?

After the show and with my low energy level, we only hit one antique mall; then headed to our hotel.   I love staying at a hotel.  We don't frequent the expensive, resort type; but do like a good mid-level establishment.  We don't participate in any of the amenities - just enjoy a different surrounding.  This one was very nice - a suite, complete with a fireplace, two TVs, and even a dishwasher.  I think loving it has something to do with not having to wipe down the shower and make the bed!

I was finally getting my taste for food back, but not really hungry.  My choice -- the appetizer menu -- a wonderful flat bread with boursin and Monterrey jack cheeses, grilled tomatoes and portobello mushrooms, and arugula with a reduced balsamic glaze.  Perfect!

The next day, we hit a couple more antique malls, then home.
I only made one purchase -- this Johnson Bros. brown transferware bread plate for $4.48.  It is currently being auditioned for the perfect place in our home.

It's amazing what a change in surroundings and a piece of brown transferware can do for your health. 

Oh yeah, and a boat load of antibiotics!!

I'm joining the following:
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at our Home
Coastal Charm for Show and Share Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded
Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures

THE ELUSIVE BROWN TRANSFERWARE

For about 20 years now my favorite collectible has been brown transferware.  Recently, I just haven't seen very much of it; and the prices have been almost out of my range.

 Ebay seems to have plenty of entries, but I prefer the hunt in person so I can touch and feel.

During the first part of our recent weekend in Denver, I didn't see a single piece.  Then I spied this pitcher all by itself in a booth with 1970s stuff.

I knew right away that it was the Perak pattern from the James Beech Swan Works factory in England dating from around the 1870s (the aesthetic movement era).  It matches two plates that I already had in the pattern.

Then, at another antique mall, I spotted this 16" platter in the Rosalinde pattern (Parisian Granite) from Alfred Meakin in England.  My guess is that it dates from the late 19th century.  I was captivated by the beautiful border.

 No wonder I loved it -- I didn't realize until I got home that I already had a large tureen in this same pattern.

 And then in the same antique mall, I found this pitcher in the Sylvan pattern from Johnson Bros.  The mark shows that it is dated sometime in the 1880s.  This jewel was also lounging around with some other dishes from the 1970s.

 

 I don't know why I didn't realize until I got home that I had this soup bowl in the same pattern.  The soup bowl was my very first brown transferware purchase many years ago.

The prices on these 'new to me' treasures were quite reasonable, so I didn't hesitate to add them to my collection.

My faith is restored in my "hunt and gather" obsession.  There is still some brown transferware out there for me to find.

I'm joining the following:
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
Southern Hospitality for Thrifty Treasures
Boogie Board Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Inspire Me Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
Our Home Away from Home for Tuesdays at our Home
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Green Willow Pond for What We Accomplished Wednesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

BUTTER, BONES, AND THE PITS

As a child, it was often my job to entertain my Great Grandmother, who in her declining years was confined to her wheelchair or bed.  One of her favorite things to do was talk about cooking, entertaining; and, especially, her dishes.  She would have me fetch specific dishes from the china cupboard, and she would regale me with stories about their use.  She and Granddad were not rich by any means as they were ranchers and farmers on the prairies of Colorado, but she was a bit pretentious when it came to entertaining.  She was born in the Victorian era, when they had a different dish for every food.  Among her favorites were the butter pats, the bone dishes, and her olive dish.  

Some of the dishes in this post, I inherited from her; others I have just accumulated.

 Below are G. Grandmother's Sunday dishes from Austria.  She had plain white ironstone bone dishes she used, but I don't know what happened to those.  The Meakin bone dish was given to me by a friend.

CHINA - ROYAL JNNSBRUCK, JHR and CO., AUSTRIA
BONE DISH - J and G MEAKIN, HANLEY, ENGLAND

 I love a table set with a mix of brown transferware.

PLATE - "TONQUIN", ALFRED MEAKIN, ENGLAND; BONE DISH - "TONQUIN", CLARICE CLIFF,
ENGLAND; BUTTER PAT - LS and S, ENGLAND; CUP and SAUCER - CLARICE CLIFF, ENGLAND

 The red transferware are my 'Sunday Dishes'.

PLATE and SALAD BOWL - JOHNSON BROS., ENGLAND; BONE DISH - ROYAL
STAFFORDSHIRE,  ENGLAND; BUTTER PAT - WEDGWOOD, ENGLAND

 More accumulated brown transferware.

PLATES: JHW and SONS, HANLEY, ENGLAND; BOWL - ALFRED MEAKIN, ENGLAND
BONE DISH - FURNIVALS, HAMPTON, ENGLAND

 Then there is G. Grandmother's olive dish and fork with the individual tiny dishes for the discarded pits.

HAND PAINTED NIPPON

I came across this picture of a complete formal place setting. 

Picture from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFormal_Place_Setting.jpg

It would be the "PITS" to do all of these dishes and silverware without an electric dishwasher.  G. Grandmother said that was what grandchildren were for.  And my mother always said G. Grandmother could dirty every dish in the house, too.  I think my mother was the grand daughter that always did those dishes!!

A plethora of inspiration can be found on the following:
The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday
Confessions of a Plate Addict for The Scoop Tuesday
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Timse Interiors for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Ivy and Elephants for What's It Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for WOW Us Wednesdays
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday
Nancherrow for Fridays Unfolded
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday

FAVORITE DISH PATTERN(S)

Alison at The Polohouse has challenged us to post about our favorite china pattern for her "Favorites on First" party this month.  Does transferware count as one pattern?  I hope so, as I couldn't decide among several patterns of transferware as my favorite.

I consider my red "Old Britain Castles" by Johnson Bros. as my 'good' dishes.  I always use them for the holidays shown here with the Christmas dessert plate that has the same border pattern.  

Charger-Mikasa "Italian Countryside"; Champagne glass-Grandmother's green depression; Ice tea glass-Mother's Fostoria "American"; Silverware-Oneida "Damask Rose" stainless

  The "Old Britain Castles" is shown below with Johnson Bros. "His Majesty" dessert plate that I always use for Thanksgiving. 

Silverware-Mother's 1847 Roger's silverplate; Goblet-Dollar Store

I love the intricate borders on transferware.  I have service for 16 of these Johnson Bros. dishes.  Actually, I have more place settings than I have room to seat people in our small house; unless it is warm and we can overflow to the screened-in porch!

 Then there are my Johnson Bros. "Friendly Village" dishes that I bought at an estate sale.  There is service for 12, but I have both the buffet plates plus the dinner plates -- 24 people for dinner -- probably not!

Glassware-Fostoria "Argus"; Silverware-Great grandmother's monogrammed sterling

 I bought my "Blue Willow" by Churchill everyday dishes at the grocery store about 15 years ago.  I figured I had to buy groceries, so I might as well get some cheap dishes with them.  I have servings for 12 plus lots of serving pieces in this pattern of transferware.  

Glassware-Dollar Store; Silverware-"Damask Rose" stainless and sterling

  Sixty-seven years ago, my parents had me pick out this sterling silver pattern, Damask Rose; and they gave me pieces along for my birthday and Christmas so that by the time I married I had my 'good' sterling.  Then, several years ago, Oneida came out with the same pattern in stainless, so I bought a service of 12 to use for everyday.  Can you tell the difference between the sterling and the stainless?  The soup spoon is the stainless and the rest is sterling.

 And, finally, I couldn't leave out the 19th century brown transferware.  I have picked up pieces along for twenty years, so I don't have a 'set'; but I have lots of soup bowls and bread plates in different patterns for a mix and match place setting.

Glassware-Mother's Fostoria "American"; Silverware-"Damask Rose" stainless; White dishware-Mikasa "Italian Countryside"

I do believe I'm ready in the dish department if I ever have to serve an army!
In addition to The Polohouse on September 1, I'm linking to the following:
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home Friday
Common Ground for Be Inspired Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Pieced Pastimes for Saturday Sparks
Sunday View for Vintage View Sunday
Creatively Living for Monday Funday
Better with Age for Give Me The Goods Monday
The Dedicated House for Make It Pretty Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia for Tuesday Treasures
A Stroll Thru Life for Inspire Me Tuesday
Knick of Time for Knick of Time Vintage Tuesday
Have a Daily Cup for Share Your Cup Thursday
The Vintage Farmhouse for Creative Things Thursday
Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday