Do you have a prized collection of something? (Please share with us!)
I’ve never “collected” anything long enough to talk about and my husband refuses to let me become a pack rat (like my ___ … no comment, don’t want to get into trouble or bring on a baby…oops did I give out a hint!)
However – I think I have a new interest…it differs greatly from what I used to think.
A bit of background information: My mother drug me (kicking and screaming…of course) to the store to register for wedding gifts nearly three years ago. She had a mission, that she never disclosed before entering the store. My sweet Mom was determined to get us registered for crystal stemware and fine china, that she could proudly tell my extended family we would love to add to our life. I nicely told her that we were not interested in these two luxuries. We preferred realistic, use everyday items that have both class and durability. You may not know this yet, but I’m a klutz, therefore these items had to withstand my graceful actions. Who won you ask? My Mom – that day!
My extremely involved husband was keen to see what we’d registered for, so I showed him online. He started laughing! I couldn’t understand what was so entertaining. My man replied, “We are registered for the exact same pattern that your Mom AND Grandma have!” Yes, yes we were.
Inside joke. If you don’t know where something is in our home, particularly our kitchen. John asks himself,
“Where can it be found in “Ronda’s (my Mom)” house?”
We ended up removing these specific items from our registry the next day. Not out of spite or to be disrespectful for my Mom’s time. It was simply a realization that John and I wanted to discover our own taste.
A discussion that my darling hubby and I have quite often (sorry if I’m offending you), is our pet peeve of those that save their fine china and special crystal for special occasions. To us, everyday is a special occasion and as you’ve probably read in other posts, we toast a few days a week and say “Here’s to ___ (Tuesday, life, new contract, nice weather…whatever)!” We were blessed with amazing gift cards for our wedding and picked out new dinnerware. We ended up buying a wicked box set of china – that has a simple silver circle around the outside and we put it in the dishwasher! We also found a box set of wine glasses at Costo. ACTION STEP:John and I’s goal was to use our a gorgeous white platinum bone china set and fabulous huge crystal wine goblets at least weekly.
We have stuck by our word. This picture was captured on a Saturday afternoon, in the middle of a cleaning bee that my amazing hubby and I were having! Pull out your china and crystal and use them tonight! Why not?
Oh, back to the reason why I started writing this blog entry! I got slightly sidetracked ;)
On Saturday morning, I received this fabulous email from my creative, thoughtful friend Laura:
“In case you hadn’t been on PW today — these reminded me of us and I love them! I’m trying to stop the internal fight with myself to buy them… OMG they are beautiful! http://thepioneerwoman.com/homeandgarden/2009/06/china-check-tracy-porter-vivre/“
I was laughing SO hard at this point…THEN…I clicked the link…
(Be sure to check out PW’s blog – to see the gorgeous pictures she took of her Tracy Porter “Vivre” Dinnerware)
I have fallen in LOVE with these dishes. They are perfect for a diva date or just because…you can always find a use for these (I’m talking myself into collecting something)! Mmm…hint, hint, nudge, nudge John – you’re always looking for gift giving ideas (love your amazing wife)!
(Picture from Horchow.com)
To a fabulous day (thanks Laura for the smile!),
Robyn
Hi Robyn, I have a few collections in my house. I love beautiful things especially crystal, china,depression glass, silverware and antique furniture all of which I have all over my house. Some I have collected myself and some were I inherited from relatives.
We used to live in a house that was over 150 yrs old so everything fit. Our current house is only 60 yrs old but the antiques still look as if they belong.
I do use all of my things all the time and the silver cutlery goes in the dishwasher. I have a few very old antique dishes and glassware that only are used on special occasions and those I wash by hand. .
My husband’s cousins were horrified the first time they came to our house to see our 3 year old eating from a china plate and using silver cutlery and not plastic and surprise surprise he didn’t break anything. My children all survived using “good china” in the kitchen not just the dining room on special occasions or holidays. They didn’t know any different so treated everything with care. I don’t think children will make a conscious decision to break something I think it is the adults who scare them with “be careful you will break it”
I have a theory if you give someone something that is nice they will take care of it whether it is a dish, a toy, book clothes whatever.
When my children were little it seemed we collected strays both the human and animal ones and my house still seems to be a haven for my own adult children and their friends.
I hope that answers your question.