March 15, 2012

I Can Dish It Out . . . Literally!!!!


Several years ago I might have made the BIGGEST bonehead move of the century.  Let me see if I can explain this in a way that makes me look good. 

I had been collecting the Lenox Poppies on Blue collection for, oh I don't know, since 1984.  I had EVERY piece of that collection right down to the butter knife.  One day I woke up and after 23 years of looking at good ol'e POB (as I so affectionately called it) I was done.  Tired and in need of a change.  So I packed it all up, placed an ad on Craigslist and waited.  Well, I didn't have to wait too long because the phone started ringing off the hook.  I sold the entire collection for $200.00 in just under 2 hours.  Took the woman 5 trips to her car to load it all in.  But what a trooper because she was smiling the whole way.  That was probably the greatest day of that lady's life!!!!

It wasn't until about lunchtime when I noticed the emptiness of my kitchen.  I HAD NO DISHES.  NO SERVING PIECES.  NO SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS.  NOT EVEN A BUTTER KNIFE.  ZILCH.

I guess I should have thought that plan through a bit more.  So, it was off to the store to find my NEW PATTERN.  My first reaction was what's up with these prices???  Outrageous!!!  I saw tons of patterns I liked but with 4 kids now not only was durability a factor but price.  I couldn't decide on anything so I ended up buying a cheap 48 piece set at a local grocery store and that's where we have been for the last almost 5 years.

So now that every piece I own is either broken or chipped, I decided it's time to get serious.  My main objective is to fine a durable good looking pattern with a nice coffee cup and cereal bowI.  Those two pieces always seem to be the most important to me.  I guess because I use both every day.  Here are my finalists (in no particular order):

1)   Lenox Tin Can Alley.  I like this one a lot BUT I'm not in love with it (YET).  I love the dinner plate and cereal bowl but am not sold on the coffee cup (call me crazy). 




2.     Wedgwood Nantucket.  Love love love it.  Always been a big fan of the basket weave.  Sadly yet again, not a big fan of the coffee cup or the cereal bowl.  The pattern does come with a stack bowl that could be used as a cereal bowl and I do love that (it's rather expensive though - $30.00 a bowl is the cheapest I've found).



3.     Mikasa French Countryside.  This is nice but not my favorite.  However, I do sort of like the coffee cup and cereal bowl is just o.k. for me.



AND LASTLY.

4.    Wedgwood Jasper Conran.  Yesterday when I was returning some of the plates I bought last week to bring home and get some opinions, I stumbled across this pattern.  I love it.    The coffee cup is great.  The cereal bowl is nice.  The dinner plate definitely do-able.




Well, I hope you are still with me.  Worst part of this whole story is that I miss my Poppies on Blue A LOT.  So what do you think?  BONEHEAD OR NOT (and I think I know the answer).  Oh yeah, if you have any suggestions, comments, ideas about either dish pattern above, please let me know.  At this point, I'm leaning towards the Nantucket or the Jasper Conran. 

Have a fantastic rest of the day and remember (AS ALWAYS) count your blessings.    

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4 comments:

Carrie @ Hazardous Design said...

Don't beat yourself up too hard. Change is good :)
I like the Jasper pattern best.

Anna Whiston-Donaldson said...

too funny! i like the last one best b/c of the bowl. my pattern is botanic garden by portmeiron and i love my bowls, so i know what you mean!

Anonymous said...

I like the Jasper Conran. I've never seen that one before. BBR

Anonymous said...

How about a little color!