Monday, August 30, 2010

Blue Quail Breakfast

Most Sunday evenings, you will find Sweet Mr. and me enjoying 'Breakfast for Dinner.  It's one of my favorite meal choices.  We tend to like the traditional fare...fried eggs, crisp bacon, toast or English muffins, juice, and a large glass of cold milk.  Yesterday, we added scrambled eggs to the mix (pun intended) for our precious daughter and son-in-love, who were joining us for supper.  Late summer sun was still filtering through the Western exposure of the breakfast room as I finished setting the table.

I have always appreciated the design value of English Transferware, but there are several other significant reasons that I chose to collect and use it.  Entertaining Tip:  Like so many young brides, I went through a season of being enamored with Italian pottery.  It was gorgeous; it was heavy; and it chipped every time that I looked sideways at it.  Furthermore, many Italian pottery designs are manufactured for a short time and then discontinued.  It became a burden to try to replace broken and chipped pieces, and I was not a happy camper.  Next, I spent a number of years using Dansk Pottery, "Bistro," as my every day pattern.  It was gorgeous, it rarely chipped or broke; but oh my, pulling it out of the cabinet and putting it away was like a full upper body workout!  Heavy just doesn't adequately describe the weight of this dinnerware....Enter...my mother-in-love.  She loved English Transferware, and one year for my birthday, she started my collection of Spode Tower Pink.  We are blessed that we now also are the caretakers for her Copeland Spode Tower Pink.  You can spot a portion of it in the Welsh Dresser in the background.  English Transferware...it was a wonderful new world of dinnerware.  It's gorgeous, it rarely chips, or breaks, I can find replacements on the secondary market if needed, and it is relatively light weight.  And so it began...

After the service of Spode Tower Pink was completed, my generous Mother-in-Love asked me what I next would like for my birthday, Christmas, etc.  I had seen and fallen in love with Furnivals 'Blue Quail.'  Between my MIL and the rest of my family, it didn't take too many holidays to complete a
service of this wonderful blue and white transferware pattern.  Furnivals eventually went out of business, but their designs were bought by Mason's, who continued to produce this pattern in the blue and in a wonderful brown.  The blue/yellow laminated fabric placemat is by Patricia Spratt for the Home, www.patriciasprattforthehome.com.
The blue quilted tumblers have been in use for years.  A number of manufacturers make this design, including Fostoria.  I think that these were made by Colony.  The cut crystal juice glass belonged to Nana, and I don't know who made them.  The stainless is Towle, 'Antique Bead.'  

I didn't spend a great deal of time planning this tablescape, maybe ten minutes before the kids arrived.  There were no plans for a floral centerpiece; I grabbed the Blue Quail tureen and a pair of blue and white candlesticks from Portugal.  A cobalt butter dish by Mosser Glass and a blue glass pitcher from a local thrift shop completed my design for a simple family meal.

The last of the day's sunshine is gently dancing across our table.  The bacon smells so good, and my Sweet Mister is preparing to fry and scramble the eggs.   My precious daughter and SIL are fixing the toast and English muffins, and I'm ready to pour the juice and ice cold glasses of milk.  We're right here most Sunday evenings; I hope that you'll join us some time for a simple meal and fellowship.  You would be welcome at our table.


I'm linking for the first time to "Blue Monday" sponsored by http://smilingsally.blogspot.com
Thank you Sally for the opportunity to immerse myself in my favorite color, blue!  Click here to hop on over and join other bloggers who are participating in this wonderful meme.


Entertaining Women
Entertaining Women

Hello, I'm Cherry Kay I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience.

20 comments:

  1. Ah, the pattern that got away! I am so sorry now when I look at yours -- it is so pretty. I love English transferware and have some and do use it. But I do like this quail -- which can be used year round but would be so appropriate for Thanksgiving -- so much better than turkey plates!

    A beautiful tablesetting and a perfect blue Monday post!

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  2. Such a lovely table setting. Your collection sets are gorgeous. Lucky you! I can almost smell the bacon. mmmm

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  3. You have set such a pretty table. Enjoyed seeing your post.

    God bless,
    d from homehaven

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  4. How fortunate you are to have a family give you so many beautiful blue pieces.

    Happy 1st Blue Monday! Check out my book giveaway.

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  5. lovely collections you have- brinner is a favorite meal around my house as well.

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  6. What a treat to return home after work to find this delightful post - like finding a special magazine article to be saved and savoured for later.
    I too love transferware and enjoyed enlarging the view of your collection.

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  7. What a beautiful table **sigh** - gorgeous photos too - and what's not to love about breakfast for dinner - Cheers!

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  8. I too love Furnivals Quail. I just sold a few pieces in brown.
    Your table is just lovely as is the Spode, which immediately caught my eye, on the hutch in the background.
    I like the blue glassware you used at the table as well. I have the same glasses in green.

    Have a lovely week,

    Nancy

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  9. WOW Girlfriend,,,GORGEOUS table... Love how you lay out all the photos too.
    I know its BLUE Day but I must say,,, the Pumpkin Piece in the hutch is my Favorite!!!!
    Blessings and Hugs Dena

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  10. Oh, it's so lovely!! I almost missed it too since I have been too busy to snoop around blogland of late.

    Glad that I didn't. It is very much my taste, and as usual, you set a perfect table.

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  11. Thank YOU SO MUCH FOR VISITING AND YOUR COMMENT. WHEN I HAD A FAMILY, THEY WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I HAD LOST MY MIND IF I SAT A TABLE LIKE THAT. YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO TO DO THINGS UP RIGHT. VERY PRETTY.

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  12. Sounds like fun... I'll be there Ü Gorgeous tablescape.

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  13. Oh your transferware are just beautiful! And your kitchen is a haven for dishaholics, I love it!..Christine

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  14. Oh, I'd love to sit down at your beautiful table and enjoy the good food and the company, sharing fun stories as well as solving difficult problems!

    So inviting with the sun lighting up it all!

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  15. Oh what another beautiful blue table! Everything is just lovely--especially the blue glasses! You're so lucky to have so many dishes and so many family members that gift them to you. Love it.

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  16. Denise, thanks for stopping by for a visit. Come back often, please! Cherry Kay

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  17. Oh, how fun to see the dinner plates in the Blue Quail pattern! Thanks again for identifying the pattern for me in my recent blue and white table. Your plates look so pretty with those blue glasses and the gingham napkins!

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  18. I love beautiful china. Awww....I would love to sit down and eat a meal at your table. Dreamy!
    creationsbyladeeda.blogspot.com

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  19. Wow, You have an amazing collection of transferware and the Welsh hutch is beautiful. Love the dining room!

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  20. I found the post! I guess I somehow missed this post in 2010 because If I had visited I would have left a comment. Love seeing this pretty set in blue and white. Time to pull it out and add in some orange details.

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Thank you for spending your time to leave a comment. I read each and every one of your generous thoughts. They encourage me in so many ways.

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