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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 22, 2014 13:36:31 GMT
That's a great idea! I love the look of mismatched china on a table. And it's a good way to teach kids how to handle real dishes. Thank you! That was exactly why I did it! The side benefit was for me...I had no idea that the mismatch would be so lovely when the table was set. I use the same china for more formalish occasions, and with all the linens (often those don't match either LOL) it does look pretty. I love goodwill. I have a great time looking through all the junk.
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grinningcat
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,663
Jun 26, 2014 13:06:35 GMT
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Post by grinningcat on Jul 22, 2014 13:39:16 GMT
The dishes at places like Goodwill are the only reason I go. The clothing is always a bust for me. I'm really not keen on wearing used clothing so I'd rather not buy second hand clothing. Don't know why, but it's skeevier than buying new. But send me to the dish section and I'll always find a piece or two... or three. I love finding the pieces that the old owner or the person marking them didn't realise the value of them.
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Post by Scrappyhappy on Jul 22, 2014 13:51:03 GMT
I use my china for holiday meals. When my kids were growing up I used it for their birthdays and other special days like Valentines Day.
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Post by gardengoddess on Jul 22, 2014 13:56:06 GMT
No formal china. We use Fiesta-ware for everyday - a rainbow of colors.
My mother had a pretty set of Mikasa china and Waterford crystal and my sister and I agreed that she could have the sets when our mother passed away. We don't entertain formally and I didn't want to have to store it.
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Post by gar on Jul 22, 2014 13:56:18 GMT
I also have a lovely set that is packed away these days. We did use it a lot before we had kids because we used to do much more entertaining and then when they were old enough and we got back into that scene we forgot we had them I think! We did have a set of 'ordinary' china plates, bowls etc that we used for everday - Dh used to be able to get it at trade price so we weren't worried about the odd breakage and I agree, it was good for the girls to grow up being used to using proper plates etc.
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MaryC
Full Member
Posts: 213
Jun 25, 2014 21:52:55 GMT
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Post by MaryC on Jul 22, 2014 14:33:11 GMT
While I do like the color teal, I think it's one of the "trendy" colors that will look dated fairly quickly. If I wanted a formal and informal set, I'd get the informal set in teal and invest in something classic for the formal set. If you do plan to entertain formally, you also want to consider how easy your base color is to coordinate around. Is it something that will look out of place if you move to a different house or decide to paint your dining room? Can you pick up serving pieces that will go with it? Larger serving pieces tend to be pricy and they can run the cost of your set up if you want them in the same pattern as your place settings.
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quiltz
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,840
Location: CANADA
Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Jul 22, 2014 15:24:13 GMT
GrinningCat -- I have a full piece silver set, coffee, tea, creamer, sugar and platter. Bought from Onieda when they were open in Niagara Falls. It was given to my parent's for their 25th anniversary and is now 37 years old. I live in the Niagara region. NO ONE in my family wants it. I am simply storing it until, well, until I find someone who wants it.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jul 22, 2014 20:47:24 GMT
I mix mine up sometimes just because I *do* like the look of it!
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Post by KikiPea on Jul 22, 2014 20:56:38 GMT
We have both china and every day ware. We NEVER use the china. I think in the almost 18 years we've been married we've used them MAYBE 10 times tops. I would rather spend the money on stuff I would use every day and MAYBE replace them when I get bored with them. I've done that once in our almost 18 years and I won't be doing it again for a while because I still love them!
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Post by krispin41 on Jul 22, 2014 21:17:21 GMT
I am a Bridal Consultant at BB&B. Most of our couples register for more everyday options...Colorwave by Noritake is one of our most popular. Although before my LOA, we had just gotten in Fiestaware. Although we get a lot of people doing just the plain white bone china. As for stemware, again not very many go for full suites of anything...usually a white wine and a red wine, Riedel for that....
I grew up loving dishes, etc...I have my Mom's set (Imperial Lapis by Mikasa) and a cheap set from Ikea for my everyday. My favorite formal pattern is Ballet Ribbon by Waterford. And I have a few place settings of Chirp by Lenox (more informal but it is Bone China.)
Ladies, break out your good stuff!
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Post by marysue63 on Jul 22, 2014 21:29:28 GMT
If someone asked me today if they should buy formal china I would say no, but I'm SO happy I have mine! I use it for 'special' occasions, but I use that term loosely as I consider having pancakes for dinner a special occasion. There is just something about using china that makes me happy.
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Post by zeutdog86 on Jul 22, 2014 22:06:20 GMT
I love my china and use it every day. But. I did it exactly opposite from everyone else I think. I wanted my children to grow up using "real" dishes, not plastic, not whatever. So I marched down to Goodwill and bought pieces of someone else's grandmother's china. None of it matches of course, but when the table it is set, it looks nice. I have real silver, again-random pieces that I have picked up over the years at Goodwill. Because I don't have an emotional investment in the china, I don't care if it gets broken-I just head back to Goodwill and pick up another piece. I *do* put the china in the dishwasher, but wash the silver by hand. We also use cloth napkins every night. I do have some stoneware-we use it if we are heating a plate in the microwave because you can't use the china. It works for us. That's a great idea! I love the look of mismatched china on a table. And it's a good way to teach kids how to handle real dishes. Mismatched china is what we did for my daughter's wedding. My parents have 3 sets of china, my sister's set, my sister's sil set. By the time I got done borrowing everyone else's china (I don't have any!) we had 95 plates. Goodwill supplied the remaining 55! All the tables looked great. I get my mother's china set that serves 32. Yikes, yes 32, I have a large immediate family! She wanted everyone to be able to sit down on holidays together and eat off the same china set…silly woman. I will be using them for everyday when they enter my house!! OP, I personally did not want any china when I got married and have not missed having a set one bit. I am of no help to you.
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Post by tania7424 on Jul 22, 2014 22:28:41 GMT
I got married 8 years ago and did register for the full 12 place settings of china, crystal and silver. My china (Mikasa Platinum Crown) was completed finally this year. I also host Thanksgiving and Easter so we'll use it for that, for sure. My crystal I chose was too expensive per stem (Royal Doulton, $60+ EACH), so all I have of that is 4 red wine glasses. I do have service for 12 from a Pier 1 pattern, though. White, red, water, champagne. My dad gave me my parents silver (Birks Regency for the Canadians), and it has every piece imaginable (cream and broth spoons, for example), including the tongs for butter curls. Again, for holidays and dinner parties.
I love it. For every day use, I have Fiesta.
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Post by withapea on Jul 22, 2014 22:33:41 GMT
I have a formal set that I rarely use, it's beautiful but I don't have the opportunity or inclination to use it very often. My every day dishes are also china but an informal pattern and I adore them. I'll never have anything other than china for every day use because it's so much more durable than stoneware. It also stores better because it isn't so clunky. I really like the look of mixed patterns and I'd consider doing that as well.
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clarita
Junior Member
Posts: 79
Jun 26, 2014 12:26:40 GMT
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Post by clarita on Jul 23, 2014 12:10:17 GMT
When we got married 17 years ago we registered for a Noritake china that we both loved. We only received a couple of place settings and a few serving pieces. We used Corelle for everyday dishes. At some point I decided that I would rather use the china we loved as everyday dishes until my husband decided to put one in the microwave. Well once we figured out that they were not microwaveable there was not as much interest in using them for every day use. A short while later I found out that a friend of mine had the same china pattern. During our last move from Virginia to Florida, I decided to just give her the little bit of china I had since she had the same pattern. She was thrilled and I was happy to not move it although I really did love that pattern. Fast forward a few years to just a few weeks ago and I mentioned to my husband for my birthday that I would love some nicer every day dishes to replace the Corelle we were still using. Well we found a pattern by Lenox that is microwaveable and dishwasher safe! I am in love. It is Lenox British Colonial and considering we live in Florida and love the beach, it's perfect for us. And it's beautiful! So I will be adding to that collection as I can.
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Post by Meri-Lyn on Jul 23, 2014 12:34:22 GMT
I registered for china and crystal, because according to DH's step-mother, it's what you "had" to do. It looks pretty in the china cabinet, but truth be told, it never gets used.
Our everyday dishes are two sets of Sango that had a flowery design that matched my kitchen. Heck, I even still have my cheapy college dishes that are 20 years old. I use them for cereal bowls, or to put meat on for serving, etc.
I think one of the go-to's nowadays is Fiestaware. You still see a lot of that, and I see a lot of knock-offs as well. (I think I saw a Food Network set at Kohl's.) I tell DH that's what we'll get when we get our beach place. With pretty turquoise and maize.
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Post by fruitysuet on Jul 23, 2014 12:39:42 GMT
Denby is a great choice - especially from my point of view as it is produced in the village next to where I live! (and yes, the village name is Denby).
I bought lots of stuff in the factory sale before I got married and still love what I have - and I got married 26 years ago! I have had some breakages (I'm pretty careless) but on the whole it is very durable. I also have topped up some with ebay purchases.
I think the majority of the Denby tableware is pretty timeless. Oh and ETA that mine is used for both everyday and 'best' although I also have some china wear that I also sometimes use for 'best' but only when serving cold food (not really sure why).
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Post by Linda on Jul 23, 2014 12:53:02 GMT
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Post by Chips on Jul 24, 2014 4:03:10 GMT
I love my china! I have a set from my dh's uncle and the two sets that I registered for when getting married. We use them for holidays, birthdays and celebrations. I have Waterford crystal too but don't use that as often and I love finding antique table clothes and napkins to set the table with.
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Post by epeanymous on Jul 24, 2014 4:44:24 GMT
I was married 17 years ago. I have twelve settings of china I registered for then, and eight settings of another formal pattern that I bought at an outlet sale about ten years ago. I also have some jadeite and some vintage informal patterns (Franciscan Starburst and Franciscan Autumn Leaf)--none of those are what I would call fancy, but,because they are vintage and festive, I can mix them in at large events.
I do actually use my good china and crystal. We use it for holidays, birthdays, and sometimes for dinner parties -- it comes out about once a month. I would be fine without it (just using my vintage china, which I use more frequently) if I had never purchased it, but I really do like how it makes my table look and I appreciate having it. It really depends on your lifestyle, what you want to spend money on at this point, etc. I didn't buy the stuff, so I was making different decisions than you are. I have basic Crate and Barrel white stuff for casual dining, because I can mix in anything from my vintage china or serving pieces and bowls that I have picked up over the years, and it looks great.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 5, 2024 20:05:42 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 5:01:34 GMT
We don't often use the china (as I already said on page 1) but we did have a nice set of everyday dishes up until a few months ago. It was stoneware and I had a service for 12. A few months ago, I realized that the cabinet was so heavy that it was starting to pull apart from the wall in my kitchen. I immediately removed it all from the cabinet (and had it stacked on the dining room table...nice...NOT!)
I never thought I'd go back to Corelle...we had a set when we were first married. But I wanted something light. I also only got a service for 8 (after all, I now have 2 kids away at school...so the need to have service for 12 is waning) but I also picked up 4 each of some smaller bowls/plates etc to insure that I'd have a variety.
I was going to donate my stoneware to Goodwill...but then decided to bust it up 3 ways so that each kid could leave our house (after college...these aren't going to college) and head to their first apartment/home with a nice set of dishes for 4. (although one of the sets is missing a piece...but I didn't mark the box...so it'll just be luck of the draw as to which box a kid takes to know whether they're the ones missing the piece LOL)
All this talk of china...I'm going to work on a new project. I have my Grandmother's cup/saucer collection (she began collecting cups on her travels her and my Grandfather took) and I think I'm going to photograph each cup and saucer. I'm sure my mom would love to "see" them again...even if it is just a photo.
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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 24, 2014 11:59:24 GMT
All this talk of china...I'm going to work on a new project. I have my Grandmother's cup/saucer collection (she began collecting cups on her travels her and my Grandfather took) and I think I'm going to photograph each cup and saucer. I'm sure my mom would love to "see" them again...even if it is just a photo. You know, after reading this, I remember my grandmother started a collection of tea cups for me also. I think they are in a box in my garage...I need to find those. I bet I could figure out a fun way to display them! Thanks for the reminder!
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