What's In Your Coat Closet?

In Savannah,

It's definitely NOT coats! 

SO, what do you do? 

You turn it into what every woman wants!

A dish closet!

I had been wanting to turn our coat closet into cupboard space for several years. Bob, STRONGLY, resisted saying, "Every house HAS to have a coat closet! OH, REALLY? How come the last person to use it, more than a year ago, went off and forgot their coat. I found it two months later and they had never missed it. Savannah weather, you know.

Thrifty Vintage Finds

New Tablescaping Finds!

I am so excited about this pretty set of dishes!

You are very likely to see these turn up in a Tablescape in the near future.

My Daughter who lives in Illinois is always on the lookout for dishes, for her addicted mother. You might say she feeds my addiction. She recently found this delicately beautiful set at one of her favorite haunts.
The dishes are Taylor Smith Taylor and the pattern is "Celeste".

The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Pottery was founded in 1899 by C. A. Smith and Col. John N. Taylor, using the facilities of the Taylor, Smith & Lee Pottery.   TS&T began operations as a nine-kiln pottery employing approximately 50 people.  In the early days of production only local clays were used.  Later, TS&T bought clay from Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida.  TST´s plant was the largest and most automated in the United States.  More than 50,000 dozen pieces were produced per week by the firm´s 500 employees.
In 1903 the Taylor interests were purchased by W. L. Smith and his son.  The firm remained under the Smith ownership and management until early 1973 when the plant was purchased by Anchor Hocking Corporation to become the foundation of its Pottery Division.
For many years both earthenware and fine china bodies were used.  The Lu Ray Pastels was one of TS&T most popular lines.  The china body was discontinued in the early 1970´s.  TS&T closed in 1981.
Source: Robbins Nest Replacement Service

This china is whiter than in this pic.
It is a clean white with little grey/silver swirls and blue dots as stylized flowers and platinum trim.

Isn't this the sweetest little cup and saucer. Kinda of prissy, I think!
The six piece place settings will be very versatile.

This is the basic place setting.

 It appears this was originally a service for twelve. Some of the cups are missing and one has a small chip. I will use that one if necessary.  Do you ever do that? Discretely use the chipped or imperfect dish?
There are twelve dinner plates and fifty-five pieces in all.
The price was $28.00 total. Thrifty deal, don't you think? Kim is a great little shopper. Her mama taught her well.

If you are not already doing this, use cheapo paper plates for dish protectors. Works great, costs less and if you break the dishes you can eat out of the paper plates. No Waste!
Recently I purchased this beautiful stemware through Ebay.

I was looking for something delicate and etched. I took a chance on these because the pictures on Ebay showed up as being very cloudy. After some messaging with the seller I decided to take a chance. I think they are awesome!

Because I was still antsy, I purchased the water goblets, white wines and cordials. I passed on the tall sherbet/champagnes. My mistake. 

The water goblets and the wines have a flower, wispy leaf stem and little round dots/berries. I think they match the china beautifully. The cordials are a little different pattern.

The seller didn't know the pattern nor did I. I sent a photo to Replacements Ltd. and they sent me the name of the maker, pattern and price list. I did GOOD! I bought eight each of the water goblets and wines for $5.00 each and the cordials were seven for $5.99. This seller's shipping was nominal. Less than gas for a day of thrifting.
The manufacturer is Arcadia Export-Import and the pattern is "Orlean". This pattern was discontinued in 1951. Some information says it is German and some sources listed Hungary.
Replacements lists the water goblet at more than three times what I paid.

I have some other vintage goodies around the house, including me. I will use those to create a "Thrifty Vintage Tablescape" coming soon. 
I hope you enjoyed your visit. Please leave a comment.


I am joining the following parties, please link back to them for inspiration.
Saturday Nite Special
Show and Tell Saturday
Sunday Favorites
Seasonal Sundays
Blue Monday

Tea For Margaret ~ Redux

Margaret is a Survivor!

This weekend, after a visit with my sweet friend Margaret, I decided to repost this tea setting again.

You see, since Margaret's knee replacement last year, she was in a serious auto accident. She was hit by a police cruiser participating in a car chase. I won't bother you about what I think about police chases. You can guess, I'm sure.

She had to have another knee replacement. The first replacement was destroyed in the auto accident.  That was in April. Just about the time she recovered  she fell and broke her foot. At last, she is up and about without assistance. We will be playing Bunco, at my house, this Monday. Margaret will be here!

I am so thankful she is feeling well. Love you Margaret!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2010

Tea for Margaret

I am preparing, in advance, a "Tea for Two" for my sweet friend Margaret.

Margaret is a dear neighbor who had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago.

 I might set up for her tea a little early. Yes, that is what I will do.  She won't be able come for tea right now but I will be ready for her.

You can get a sneak peek before she gets here.

This will be Margaret's first view.

I think she will love the vintage tablecloth. It is a favorite of mine.

The crochet napkins are a recent purchase (you can see them better in a different shot).

I had to scour the yard for a few late blooms. I placed them in this little gold sugar bowl. It is an odd piece but I think it works well for this little table. What do you think?

Perhaps we will have currant scones, lemon biscuits, clotted cream, jam and a little fruit. I will place the treats on this milk glass cake plate.  Does the cover make this a cloche?  Does that mean I can use it later for a Cloche Party?

I think she will love these vintage dessert plates. They have a beautiful gold border with flowers in the center.  I think the bouquet looks a little like my garden find.You will notice we have a gold theme.  That's because her friendship is GOLDEN!

Margaret likes green tea.  We will have green tea but perhaps she will like a cup of Earl Gray with pomegranate. Earlier this year, while touring Charleston Tea Plantation, we were told that the only difference in teas is the length of time the leaves are allowed to oxidize before drying. Green tea has no oxidization time.

The tea service is part of my Sunday BEST china.

I am using it because Margaret is the BEST!

We will be using beautiful sterling flatware with a 24 karat gold basket weave.

I think it goes will with the gold theme.

Now, I'll just wait for Margaret's arrival

Just in case you are wondering, Margaret is a real person. She will be coming for tea.

In the near future I hope!

Milk glass cake plate:  Hobby Lobby several years ago

Tea service:  Royal Gold by Royal Doulton (retired)

Silver flatware:  Golden Aegean Weave by Wallace

Dessert Plates:  Vintage Homer Laughlin

Odd sugar bowl:  Vintage pattern unknown

Tablecloth:  Vintage ebay purchase

I am linking to the following parties. Please link back to the great bloggers for inspiration.

Tablescape Thursday

Thrifty Thursday

Vintage Thingies Thursday

Feathered Nest Friday

Flaunt It Friday

Feature Yourself Friday

It's A Hodgepodge Friday

Vintage Inspiration Friday

If you enjoyed your visit please leave a comment.

If you didn't, leave one anyway. Might make you feel better.

Sure makes me happy!