Fireglow was an early freezer-to-oven-to-table pattern, and it included some fun pieces like these cute ramekins. I used these everyday dishes for 25 years, then decided I needed some new ones as a reward for sticking with Mr. D&D all those years!
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
In Praise of Everyday Dishes
For this week's Let's Dish party at Cuisine Kathleen, I thought I'd show you my everyday dishes -- all three sets. When I was a bride-to-be almost forty (yikes!) years ago, I chose two patterns -- one for everyday and one for my formal china. Some brides also chose "in between" dishes. I guess I have always gone for color -- no plain-but-elegant white plates for me! Here's my first everyday pattern, Royal Doulton's Fireglow. Isn't it cheery? I thought it had a warm, "kitchen-y" feel. It was well-priced at the time, so I received many placesettings as wedding gifts. I kept 12 and traded the others for some of my good china and crystal. I've posted several tablescapes with this pattern, and you can see two of them here and here.
I looked for new everyday dishes I loved for nearly two years before finding Mikasa's Windsor Park in an outlet store while visiting Oregon. I loved its bright colors, so I had it shipped home. In the tablescape below, I highlighted the orange fruit in the pattern.
I've enjoyed using these dishes with yellow and blue accent pieces, too. Here's one of those tablescapes.
That pattern kept me happy for another dozen years or so, but about a year ago, I was browsing in Chicago's Bloomingdale's Home store and was drawn to some dishes that were on sale. I decided it was time for a third set of everyday dishes! This Dansk pattern -- Kristina & Florencia -- isn't quite as colorful as my first two patterns, but I love its simpler style. It made its blog debut in this post.
All three of these patterns have been used day in and day out to serve family meals -- the true workhorses in my ever-growing dish collection. What's your favorite everyday pattern? Have you had more than three sets (so far)? Thanks for visiting today, and please stop by Cuisine Kathleen to see other fun dish posts!
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Lovely choices. It's fun to live with dishes through the years making memories with both special meals and just everyday family time. Love the blue and yellow combo. That always makes me smile. Hope you have a beautiful holiday weekend. ~ Sarah
ReplyDeleteNow you KNOW I have more than 3 sets of everything!!! :-) I can vividly remember the time when brides had a formal set, an everyday set, and that "in-between" set you spoke of. I never got an in-between set until later in life, then I just went berserk!!!!!!! 89 patterns later, I am still going strong! Pitiful! Like you, I enjoy using some of the same dishes over and over but with different details to bring it together. I REALLY like the use of the orange napkin to pull out the orange fruit color in the Windsor Park pattern!
ReplyDeleteI totally love dishes and have many more than I can count in two hands, lol..but I do have my everyday kinds I usually have a story to tell with them and also have them from so many years ago, those are the ones I love the most. I love your multi colored ones, they're so happy looking.
ReplyDeleteLots of hugs,
FABBY
I love the Mikasa Windsor. Every day dishes get a workout in our house, too. Our ED patterns: Burleigh Blue Willow, Copland Spode Tower Pink, Furnivals Blue Quail, & Wedgwood Queens Plain...basically reds, whites, & blues. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
ReplyDeleteYour dishes are beautiful. I love the colors. I have always been a huge fan of Dansk and have not one dish. Perhaps one day I will.
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer that a girl can never have too many dishes. You have some lovely patterns. I especially like the Dansk as I have some Dansk myself and love blue and white. I am your newest follower. Stop by my cottage for a visit sometime.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan and Bentley
Isn't it funny how many of us love dishes? I always wish for more, but where to store it all? I love all your everyday patterns. Your oldest one still looks great!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how great your dishes still look! I haven't seen your latest set but I had been out of commission for a while. I love all three. It's funny to look back at the things we chose so many years ago. It is really wonderful that we find we still love our early choices (including husbands!:) I think it was such a great idea to choose things with color. I still love my china but it just really isn't me any more. I have way too many sets of dishes but our everyday ones are still Dansk blue mesa, still going strong. I buy new ones but those are the ones my husband likes the most. I would be thrilled with all three sets that you have.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice that there are ladies like you out there that love color! I like all three patterns, but have to say the Mikasa are my favorite.
ReplyDeleteWonderful patterns~ I'm especially fond of those adorable ramekins in your Fireglow! Your Mikasa yellow & blue pattern is so cheery too! I tend to gravitate towards color when I'm dish shopping too :)
ReplyDeleteYou made good choices that have served you well -- I can't tell you how many sets of dishes I have bought and then sold cheaply at yard sales, or just donated. Some of them I wish I had back, now that we are all into tablescaping mania. Others I still probably wouldn't like them any more.
ReplyDeleteThis past year I started adding onto the pattern the bridal consultant and my mother chose for me in 1964 -- True Blue by Poppy Trail/Metlox. I decided I like it now, although I never did before. Most had gotten broken or discolored or chipped, and then tossed. I actually don't think I have used it, because it didn't fare well in the DW the first time around, and so I hand wash it if it comes into play. Mostly I like looking at it in my big yellow cabinet. Dumb, huh?
Three great choices! I think the Mikasa is my favorite but they are all very pretty.
ReplyDeleteeveryday dishes.. now i have to think, which is my fav? right now we are using the passaro from World Market and I love them. Before that I had Noritake Summer Estate, but hey weren't bright enough for this kitchen, so they are residing in the garage, I think. And before that I had some I purchased at a grocery with flowers and I loved those a lot. Your dishes are so pretty and so varied. I do love the new set a lot. And I still love my good dishes from 38 years ago.. and yours too! Thanks so much for the trip back.. have a blessed week and weekend.. xo marlis
ReplyDeleteI'm with you when it comes to color. I love it and can never have enough. Last year I bought my first set of white dishes and while I like them mixed with other things I have a hard time using nothing but them on a table. By the way, these days all my dishes are every day, even the china. What good are they sitting in a cabinet!
ReplyDeleteAll 3 are just as pretty as can be but I think my favorite would be the blue & yellow with the orange fruit. I hope you have a wonderful night!
ReplyDeleteAledia @ Plum Perfect
I think all your choices are great! The old me (or should I say the me of the past) used to think that you should buy neutral dishes. Two things have changed--I met my husband, who loves color, and I started tablescaping! So now, I have my good china, my everyday dishes, and two dozen inbetween sets! Thanks for sharing your good taste with us!
ReplyDeleteOh, I LOVE dishes! Thanks so much for sharing yours with us. Trading up, always a good
ReplyDeletething! :-)
Hi Tricia, first of all, I have to tell you, I am your newest follower. For some reason, I thought I had already followed you.
ReplyDeleteSorry...I am now....Your table is beautiful. I love those color combinations...So much contrast...makes a striking statement.
I love those little blue tureens with the lids!
ReplyDeleteI love ALL 3 sets. The ramekins are SO sweet. As a bride I didn't get to choose anything. I only got some hand me downs. Then my first set of dishes, I got with Green Stamps: and the were melmac!!!! Now, I have gone WAY overboard and have MANY sets of dishes. We are building a new home and I will actually have a dish ROOM:):):) Have a beautiful weekend. XO, Pinky
ReplyDeleteI love the bold colors in these dishes. In the past I have been a little timid with color and as I have gotten into tablescaping, I'm learning to be more comfortable with bolder colors. I love how you pulled out the various colors in each set with your linens. Thanks for sharing. Dianne
ReplyDeleteI love all the patterns you chose! Great variety to keep your tables interesting!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking to Let's Dish! Come again!
Yes, you are a colorful girl. How fun to see you choices, and I still love them. I almost got china, then didn't and year later saw it again and would have hated it - little pale blue flowers. What was I thinking?
ReplyDeleteI shuddered to see some of the 60s ugly pottery we had in a thrift shop the other day. It worked with the harvest gold, avocado green theme of the time. Our china had a "Mediterranean" theme, which surely says enough about it that no one wants to hear more. All three of your patterns are delightful, no surprise there.
ReplyDeleteI actually love all three of your patterns. I guess my favorite of all is the Windsor Park, but I would have to use them all. My everyday pattern is Kilkee by Noritake. I've used it in one tablescape so far. I've actually considered giving it lock, stock, and barrel to my daughter because she loves it when she gets a larger, more "dish friendly" place some day. I still love it and use it, but I have begun to collect Italian Countryside because I'm on a white kick these days so I can mix and match.
ReplyDeleteI have way too many dishes! That way non are "every" day! I do love mixing them up.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful to have three distinct dish patterns? I think your Fireglow is precious! It is cheery and fun and happy! I bet your cereal tastes much better in that bright fun bowl!
ReplyDeleteHave I had more than 3 sets of dishes.. be still my heart!!! I do love all three of your sets. We recently changed out our kitchen dishes and I put the others in storage in the garage. I mean get rid of them? ha ha.. xo marlis
ReplyDelete