Oh boy. We are getting a doozy of a snowstorm today. We are expecting well over a foot of snow. Big fat snowflakes are falling, traffic has stopped on our normally busy road, and we are tucked in here at Mockingbird Hill Cottage. Yesterday, we stocked up on food so we are all set. The view out my den window is very pretty right now – it won’t be so pretty when we try to dig our way out. If the snowfall amount is what I consider manageable, I am usually too frugal to pay the plow guy (who you remember bent our fence earlier this winter) but I think this time we’ll let him do his thing.
I must show you something pretty in the midst of this snow. I recently discovered a wonderful blog that many of you already know about, My Faerie Window. Lori is such a wonderful artist and has a beautiful sense of style. She blogged about a set of dishes she fell in love with and that eventually became her Christmas present. I fell in love. I couldn’t stop thinking about them. Does that happen to you? That day, the obsessive streak that runs through me grabbed on and wouldn’t let go. The china was made by Edwin M. Knowles in the 40’s. I researched and researched but couldn’t discover the name of the pattern.
Not to be deterred by this little glitch, I poured over every page (and there are many) on the Replacements website. I finally found one photo of the pattern – no name – and registered with them just in case any pieces came into stock.
I kept going back to Lori’s post. I stared at the pretty photos. I obsessed.
Did the usual eBay search for a few days. Nothing. Then one day a photo came up that looked suspiciously like the pattern. I hit enlarge. Bingo. It had just been listed. In fact many pieces had just been listed. I was beside myself.
Of course, I am on a budget and cannot snap my fingers and buy a whole set of china. Luckily the seller had listed the pieces separately, so I bid on 11 dinner plates and 11 salad plates. No one else offered a bid so they were mine. This seller, by the way, was so lovely. He sent things out immediately and since he didn’t live far from me, I got them the next day. And he included a little 8″ platter – just to be nice.
I had to go back to eBay. You understand, don’t you? It was calling to me. I bid on a vegetable bowl and 11 salad bowls. Again, no one bid but me. They were mine. Again, the seller added something I hadn’t bid on – a gravy boat. What a nice, nice man.
Do I need 11 plates and 11 salad bowls? No. We don’t entertain all that often, although we did have a friend to dinner last night. We certainly don’t have room to have 11 people here for a sit-down dinner in this tiny cottage. But you do understand, my friends, that an actual dinner is not the point? I am nuts about pottery and china. Crazy about anything old and chippy and beautiful. These have a few flea bites and some lovely crazing here and there. All the better. I am so in love with this beautiful china.
I was singing away as I lovingly hand washed each plate and bowl. Husband wandered in and, thank goodness, actually liked the pile of dishes on the kitchen island. Yesterday, before our friend came to dinner, I had to do some creative rearranging in two hutches so that I could find a place to put everything. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
When I first read Lori’s post, I wrote to her and thanked her. Without that post, I would never known about this lovely pattern. Thank you again, Lori. You’ve made a china addict very happy.
Edited to add: The weather report has changed since this morning – now it looks like we might get up to 24″ and it is heavy and wet. We’re are hoping the power stays on! Cross your fingers!
Very Beautiful!
You are right; they are beautiful, but your photos of them are stunning also, sugar.
xoxo,
Connie
Hey Claudia,
Those dishes are to die for! I do entertain a lot, and I do have the need for that many dishes, but I’d be so afraid I’d get them all broken. They are right where they belong, with an owner that will love and care for them…….good job.
Hugs,
Meri
Hi Claudia,
I just found your blog and I’m loving it!. It’s a pleasure to meet you.
Your china pattern is so lovely, I would have chosen them too.
I have become a follower so I can keep up with your posts.
Stop by for a visit anytime.
Elizabeth~Home is Where the Heart is~
hi claudia,
i completely understand being smitten with this kind of thing. i actually saw lori’s dishes in person while visiting and meeting marilee at rose brier studio. it is a lovely set and i can see why you would go ga-ga over it.
i felt this way over the cath kidston bowls. as soon as i saw them on the cover of the latest cat/mag, i knew they would be mine someday!
enjoy enjoy!
no snow here, just LOTS of rain (and brownies).
xo
elyse
I too am a china addict…this set is beautiful!!! Love the pattern and cheerful colors ;) They definitely remind me of you!
I girl after my own heart— awesome dishes… I love the adventure story…. Enjoy them.
Oh Claudia, I’m in love all over again!!! I remember seeing these on Lori’s post…they ARE gorgeous. I’m so happy you found you a set. The only bad thing is I have to put you on my “jealous of” list, along with Lori! haha
Seriously, those salad bowls are just lovely with those little side handles…ooooo I love it!
flea bites, crazing and all~
Enjoy them,
:)
Wow, gorgeous dishes! Love, love, love them!
Pretty. PRETTY! I love them! I’ve been trying to collect a hodge pod of a Easter setting for 12, but they are all in those colors. They just scream spring time.
You poor dear, I have no idea how you deal with all that snow!
Hang in there, warm days are coming. At least that’s what I keep telling myself.
Lynea :0)
Beautiful!!! You have inspired me to do a post about my grandmother in law’s china and how great it looks with mine.
I love your blog and the beautiful china.
We got dumped on too, but not like you guy’s, wow alot of snow for you.
Thank’s for dropping by, keep in touch.
Love ya, Debbie
Those are so beautiful!! I’m so happy for you that you found them! How sweet of the seller to add in an extra piece each time! Enjoy gazing at your pretty new dishes and try to stay warm with all that snow!
Michelle
Claudia,
I am an dish addict, too. I can be absolutely obsessive about finding something.
The dishes are beautiful – I love the handles on the bowls. What was the name of that pattern?
Carol
I have to admit I am in love with this pattern also, very beautiful. I would use it for every meal just me and my husband. Congrats!
Claudia, your new dishes are just gorgeous! The blue edge, the floral center… the handles on the soup bowls, etc… What a sweet e-bay seller to include a couple of extra serving pieces for you!! Have a great time using them!!
Oh Claudia how perfectly wonderful that you found your china! You were definitely meant to have it and it is such a pretty pattern. I so understand obsessing over something until it’s found, strangley enough things start to fall in your lap before long. One can never have too much vintage china, I’ve always dreamed of having a butler’s pantry where I could house sets of all different china as I often fall in love with more than one pattern. Thanks for visiting my blog, go ahead and get yourself some african violets, place them in that beautiful aqua mccoy pottery you have and find yourself a windowsill! Mine are actually in a southern exposure room but the light is filtered so they are protected. Some nice indirect sunshine and they should do fine.
I can certainly see how you fell in love with those beautiful, beautiful dishes. I love the pattern. It must be heavently to eat off them. I bet you have been looking at them lots and enjoying them so much. That is what I do when I get something new.
Stay warm and cozy and have a sweet evening…
Oh, it is a beautiful pattern! I’m so happy you found it. We with a dish and pottery addiction we must do what we must do. Just keep telling yourself: it’s not a bad habit to have. And so lovely to gaze at! Especially during a snowstorm when you can’t get out.
Brenda
Love, love, love your china. I sooo understand the china/pottery obsession, as I have one of my own going on right now. I’ve been stalking ebay, replacements.com, and every antique/vintage store within driving distance! I’m so obsessed that I won’t even blog about the patterns for fear of everyone else falling in love with it before I can get the pieces that I want! I know, it’s kinda’ silly, but that’s me.
Your ebay seller sounds like such a sweetie– so generous! Enjoy your china– it’s beautiful! Well, I’m off to stalk ebay now…
oh boy…you got our snow! we were supposed to get it, but you got it….tag….you are it. be safe!
i love that china. if i come across any like it, it is yours! do i need the umpteen million plates i have???? how many gravy boats do i have??? ugh. at least yours is beautiful and it matches!! lol. i love it.
take care….enjoy the white stuff.
sue
Oh Claudia, I totally know what you mean! Those dishes are absolutely beautiful! The blue outline is just perfect!
I am so glad you were able to find them online. What a joy!
Now Claudia.. you make me envy!!! hehehehe.. I really love your dishes! love love love it!.. I’ve been staring at it for most of my day!.. hehehehe.. you are so lucky to have this in almost complete set..
Claudia, i am so happy that you were able to find some of this china!!! and how sweet that you were sent some extra pieces…isn’t it the prettiest pattern? i understand your obsession totally, after Marilee posted the china on her blog, i could not stop thinking about it…and i kept going over to her blog to look at it…i was so thrilled when she offered to bring them to me!!! enjoy your new pieces!!!
Oh Claudia
I’m soo happy for you. The pattern is lovely and the fact that it was “well loved” before you got – it all the better!
Stay safe!
Leann
those dishes are darling..i have the addiction too…
love the beadboard in the back of that cupboard…
they kind of remind me of my personal addiction to sprigware..and the only place i have scored that is off ebay…most all of it coming from new england….
i want to do a post about it this spring….
stay warm…and i am praying the lights stay on..i have on the weather channel and am thinking of you…..
Such a pretty blue in these dishes Claudia. I love the way you’ve displayed for all to enjoy!
xo
Love the pattern on those vintage plates! I hope that your power stays on. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
Hi Claudia,
How pretty that china is! I don’t think I have ever seen that pattern before. I was just like you when I discovered I could get Rose Chintz on eBay; I couldn’t relax until I had at least six place settings. I am such a dishaholic!! Then my sweet Auntie who has the pattern started giving me some of hers because my darling uncle bought her a whole new set of dishes. Needless to say, I was in heaven! So, I share your joy! Have a delightful weekend.
Blessings,
Sandi
Claudia, that is such a lovely find! I have lots to catch up on in blogland, and will read past posts. If I don’t catch you tomorrow, Happy Pink Saturday!
Vermont has seen so much less snow than most this year. I am grateful although The Mountain Resort is probably not sharing my glee. Plus, we have kept more than normal since the plow guy doesn’t visit as often. (Hey, I could go dish shopping!)
OMGosh Claudia this china is gorgeous! I’m so glad you found it. I think I’ve had a piece or two of it at one time or another. I must have sold it when my friend and I had our antique mall shoppe, as I don’t see it here now. Lori’s blog is beautiful too and I wasn’t aware of it, so will go right over and visit. Thanks for sharing such beauty! Your posts are always wonderful.
PS:
I found the journal and will start on my pages soon. I’ll do a blog post about it at some point. Thanks again for your inspiration and help! ♥
I’m so glad you found your pattern on eBay, Claudia, because when the dish desire strikes there’s nothing to do but search until one finds success! Your dishes are beautiful and what fun to find the separate pieces available. What a thrill! Great sleuthing job!
Claudia these are so pretty! Hope the weather was not as brutal as they said! We got a little over a foot and apain to clean up. But happy to report I can take the car out to go to Michaels lol! Hugs Grace
Claudia..what gorgeous dishes. I don’t blame you for being obsessed with them. I’m glad you persevered and found them….how great that the seller isn’t far away from you! I love old dishes, too. It’s a good addiction! :)
Hope you survived the snow! I have heard that your area really got pounded. Thankfully, we are FINALLY having a snow and ice-free weekend. It hasn’t happened in a LONG time!
Have a great weekend! Dana
Beautiful! Oh Claudia I am a sucker for china myself~~What a wonderful collection:)
Have a great weekend!
Take Care,
Kay Ellen
claudia, your blog is gorgeous and the china is yummy!!
The dishes are gorgeous! I can totally see how you fell in love with that sweet pattern. They are perfect in your beautiful home!!
xoxo
becky