Hi. My Name Is Vicky and I collect CHINA. Here’s how it started.
I grew up in a house with a lot of china – my mother loves having different sets of dishes. You could say she has a collection!! There’s a set for brunch, a set for formal dinners, a set for every day, a set for special holidays, a set for no specific reason etc etc.
Guess who is in the same situation these days? that’s right…me! I have a collection of 6 different sets as well. Despite the fact that I just moved from a house to an apartment, I could not part with one set. They all have some form of meaning to me, not to mention, I really do hope that I will USE them and they won’t just sit in the cupboard.
Here’s some details about the 6 sets of china I own:
1. This set is called Black Onyx from Ainsley (now discontinued)) and was purchased 21 years ago. Back then it was a FORTUNE (let me repeat – a fortune). I use this set mostly for formal holiday meals and I’m proud to say that 21 years later – the entire set is in perfect condition.
pretty formal!!
2. This next collection consists of 12 different tea cups with matching saucers. I can’t even remember the last time I used it but I know it’s been YEARS. However I love the “look” and I love the IDEA of having tea on a Sunday afternoon. (with 11 friends of course)
Pretty, non?
3. This set was buried so deep, I didnt even know I had it till I moved. No joke.
4. This set I bought at Target just before I moved and it’s now my every day set. However I have been using these dishes for Friday nite dinners as I’m really enjoying a more contemporary look. Do you know what I mean?
Really enjoying this set!!
5. This set I inherited from my grandmother. I couldnt part with it. Again, I havent used it for YEARS but it’s meaningful and it’s going nowhere. I also inherited another set of dishes from my grandmother that I use every year during Passover. This means that I have 6 different sets of dishes. This is a problem!!
Cant part with this set!!
You are probably asking “where oh where does she store all these china sets”? Here is the answer: I have an entire shelf dedicated to china in my ONE hallway cupboard. I invested in those “china storage containers” and believe it or not – they are all labelled. Plus I have one box of china in the storage unit that came with the apartment.
Is there anyone out there with the same type of china collection?? I should start a club – “The China Diaries” as each set of china has a story!!
ps I also collect postcards…..stay tuned.
My mom had a fetish for dishes in general. She passed away 15 years ago. When we were sorting through all of her belongings which is a incredibly emotional and difficult job, I started laughing as I counted out 52 chinese rice bowls! Who was my mother planning to feed?! She just couldn’t resist all the delicate, gorgeous patterns. Anyway, I have them in my house today, and I use them regularly. The bowls are beautiful, they make me happy and of course they make me feel close to my mom.
Thanks for leaving a comment on my blog Nily. Would love to see those rice bowls one day – Im sure they are stunning.
Please add me to the guest list for high tea when set 2 next gets pulled out.
Thanks Val. Adding you to the list – hoping to have a tea party in January on a Sunday from 2-4 p.m Will keep you posted.
Hi,
Love reading your blog….always fun and interesting. (our girls are in school together and went to camp ramah together..hope ur well, kids should hang out soon)
Thanks for your kind comment. I remember you well!! Will send you an email shortly.
p.s loooove the tea set best
@Nily Steinberg
Hi Vicky…thats amazing…my mother is a huge collector of well…anything…over 100 rolling pins alone! So when she started to collect for me, over 20 years ago, I even way back then, picked teapots! So guess what? I have over 100 teapots. I need to get them out and photograph them for my book! I love these types of collections though…enjoy!
Hi vicki, loved the tea cups the best. Have just recently started my own collection with 2 from my mom. please include me in the sunday tea!!!
I also have a gorgeous china lunch set that i inherited from my grandmother- sitting in my dad’s basement in wpg- have to ship it here- really looking forward to using it!
Love this post…! And the set of tea cups? Did that bring back memories- I remember buying my mom one for every birthday/holiday etc. No idea where they are now!
And yes..love that new modern set…Target eh???
and postcards???????