Monday, November 22, 2010

Tea Cups and Plates

I've decided that I really like dishes. Not sets of dishes, but odd, pretty, orphaned or unusual dishes. I like to use them for different things such as for their initial intended purpose, to hang on the wall or other decorative purposes, to use for drainage for plants, and to make china cup bird feeders.

I used the hint in my previous post, visited some thrift stores during the past week and hit the dish/cup table in several. I didn't spend much money in exchange for the joy they bring me. In one store, there was sale of $1.00 for all you can fit in a paper bag. Another store had a 50% off everything in the store..



House plant drainage dish.



I have a couple of ideas for the china cups and saucers. For one thing, they make beautiful bird feeders. I have asked my hubby to make some of them for me next Spring! I can't wait to see them amongst a bed of old fashioned Zinnias. Here are two blogs that have pretty pictures and instructions for making the teacup bird feeders: PLEASURES OF HOMEMAKING and STONE GABLE.

I also have an idea of displaying my favorite cups and saucers in the dining room with a table topper quilt or a lace table cloth.











Coffee Cups! A different one each day!



Plates to display or to use. The fruit one and the wheat one, especially lend themselves to Autumn decorating!







I like things that have character. Just a few are scrap quilts, odd orphaned dishes and old houses.

8 comments:

Granny said...

Some of the prettiest tablescapes I've seen were made using mismatched china.

I love going to thrift shops when they have "fill a bag" days. They don't often have them around here though.

Anonymous said...

Me too! (love dishes) Yesterday my daughter and I went out to lunch and did a little window shopping at one of the shopping malls in Louisville. While in Macy's I decided I wanted to go up to the 3rd floor to look at the housewares, including a tour around the china displays. I've enjoyed doing this since I was a teenager and dreaming of my own home some day.
I like that stoneware plate with what looks like some kind of wheat.

I'm at the stage where I am getting rid of as much as I can - after years of collecting at thrift stores and relatives' castoffs. I miss the adventure of thrift store shopping. Maybe I need to do some window shopping there as well :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Debbie,
I love dishes too. I buy odd plates and use them like you do. I have plants on my bars and they have plates under them. I love all you cups and plate.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Elizabeth

Little Penpen said...

Love your dishes... are any of those from Asheboro? I am going to post a pic. in my next blog post that wlll show you something wonderful to do with those teacups. I bought these from a crafting friend for Christmas presents. Stay tuned....

Rhonda said...

I enjoyed seeing your finds!

Denise said...

Great finds, I wonder what stories the teacups and sauciers could tell, LOL.

Alexandra said...

I like to collect those as well. I've got some pretty florals that I use for serving plates/bowls.

I've been collecting the plastic ones lately for my daughter. These are hard to find new nowadays! There are quite a few pretty ones from the 1970's. They wear like iron.

Ashley said...

Aww, pretty. I find something so charming about old tea cups. *sigh*

Glimpses of Home - first quarter of 2021

I made a list of my 2021 goals that I wrote down in the back of my planner.  Its time to review that to see how I am doing! But, here are a ...