Sunday, June 3, 2012

Look Again + 2012 Amendments


First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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The Tablescaper is hosting her 2012 edition of "Where Do You Store It All?"  I've reposted my 2011 contribution to her amazing meme, and I've added some new photos to show any areas that have changed significantly in the last year.  

We are empty nesters, and I've been blessed with numerous hidey-holes in which to store my "Collection with a Purpose."  Decorator Showcase House Tour it's definitely NOT...but here we go...the tour is leaving the station.  Just remember...at certain stops, you may think that you are looking at one thing...but Look Again!...you may be looking at something totally different!  WARNING!!!  This is a very long post.  I am not blessed with a wonderful basement like our generous hostess, The Tablescaper, so my collections are tucked away all over my house.  Enter at your own risk!

We'll start here because I receive the most requests from blogworld for information about these crystal cabinets...

Top shelf:  My wedding crystal...Lalique "Treve"; Lalique "Angel Flutes"; Rosenthal, "Iris"; and AJKA, "Arabella".  Second shelf:  Our precious Nana's hand blown, antique French cut crystal and Nana's Lalique, "Palm Fronds" tumblers.  I don't really know the name of the tumblers; that just what I call them.  Third shelf:  Nana's French crystal "Chillers" andWaterford "Simply Blue".  Fourth shelf:  Waterford, "Simply" goblets...all bought over time on eBay.  Bottom Shelf:  Barker-Ellis, "Mint Juleps" and Baccarat, "Harmony" tumblers, both wedding gifts.  The antique Imari chargers belonged to my beloved Aunt Ida.  I only have six of them, and I use them for smaller occasions.

2012 Amendment:

I've completed my collection of AJKA Arabella goblets.  They've been moved to stemware cases.  The Tiffin "Elyse" goblets now share the top shelf with my wedding crystal.

The second crystal cabinet is pretty much a duplicate of the first, with the exception of the bottom shelf.  The bottom shelf stores the Lalique "Plate of the Year" collection; the plates that match Nana's French crystal; and the set of silver goblets that were a wedding gift.

The Fitz and Floyd chicken ramekins live on top of the kitchen cabinets.  Inside, from left to right...


Top shelf:  Hunter green Colony goblets, Middle shelf:  Pearlized Pink Pier One goblets, and Bottom shelf:  Fenton "Empress" goblets in cobalt blue and red...

Top shelf:  Godinger, "Sutton Place", Middle shelf:  Dollar Tree, $1.00 each, cobalt goblets, random giant mugs with cherries, and Bottom shelf:  Blue Quilted low stem goblets.  They are not Fostoria, and I can't remember who made them...

Top Shelf:  Green Dollar Tree, $1.00 each green goblets and Black amethyst goblets, unknown maker, Middle Shelf: Blue Willow serving pieces, and Bottom shelf:  Burleigh "Blue Willow", our most frequently used everyday dinnerware...

Top and Middle shelves:  Mikasa, "French Countryside", and Bottom shelf:  Nell Hill'soversized tumblers.


The underneath cabinets hold assorted serving pieces, including the Dansk "Teak" bowls...and our Heller dinnerware.

I can often be found right here, perched on a stool, catching up on television news, or checking email on my iPad.  But..."Look Again"...behind these closed doors, you'll find...

...Top and Middle Shelves:  Furnival, "Blue Quail",  and Bottom Shelf:  Copeland Spode, "Tower Pink".



 The back hallway contains assorted coat closets and linen closets...I've found several spots for additional storage...this and that.


You probably think that you are looking at my little office/creative space...but Look Again!...

On the left, you can see some of the zippered storage boxes that I use for additional crystal.  I label each box to make it easier to access different patterns when I'm ready to entertain.  The shelves have always been in this closet, and do they ever come in handy!  Top shelf:  Fire King, "Jadeite Alice"; Copeland Spode, "Luneville"; Copeland Spode, "Peacock";  Coalport, "Z3137 Exotic Bird Pink; and WalMart Libby Glass plates.  Second Shelf:  Coalport, "Z3137 Exotic Bird Green"; Royal Doulton, "The Beaufort"; Haviland, "Saxon Flowers"; and Luneville, "Louis XV.  Third Shelf:  Copeland Spode, "Jewel", and its companion, Copeland Spode, "Jewel Heath & Rose."  Fourth shelf:  Royal Doulton, "RD199" luncheon plates; Ruby Flash Glassplates; and Coalport, "Sevres Group.  Fifth shelf:  Silver charger plates, which aren't supposed to be there; Ridgways, "Lynton"; Royal Crown Sutton, "Gold Encrusted"(Nana's); Schumann, "Empress-Dresden Flowers"; Wedgwood, "Albion"; and Royal Worcester, "Regency/Ruby".  Bottom level:  Grandmama's Yamaka, "Magnolia" (Occupied Japan); Copeland Spode, "Wildflower"; Copeland Spode, "Ermine"; Royal Doulton, "Old Chelsea"; Royal Doulton, "Lowestoft"; Coalport, "Spearpoint"; Tiffin, crystal plates; and Caspari, "Rattan Chargers.

2012 Amendment:
This closet has added a number of new additions.  The stemware storage containers hold our colored crystal patterns.  Dish-wise, the stacks that sit on the floor have increased in height.  New patterns include Copeland Spode "Aster" and Minton "Consort".

The second closet in my workroom, was fitted for hanging clothes.  I bought an old file cabinet, that had shelves instead of file drawers, in a warehouse sale and set it in the closet.  Voila!  Storage for dishes.

Top Shelf:  an assortment of blue and white import pieces.  Second Shelf:  Wedgwood, "Countryware";  Royal Doulton, "Old Chelsea" cups; Bernardaud Limoges, "Artois" serving pieces; and Coalport, "Athlone Brown."   

The third shelf:  Bernardaud Limoges, "Artois"; Coalport, "Z3137 Exotic Bird/Green" (my favorite pattern); and  Schumann, "Empress Dresden Flowers" serving pieces.  A stack of additional crystal storage boxes reside along side the file cabinet.

Fourth shelf:  Antique Rose Medallion Rimmed Soups; Val St. Lambert Crystal Bowls; Minton, Cobalt & Gold Encrusted dinner plates; Haviland, "Ranson" ramekins and underplates; Ruby Flash bowls by an unknown maker; and Fenton, "Pink Coin Dot Double Ruffle" bowls. 
Fifth shelf:  Royal Cauldon, square embossed plates; Miessen, "Blue Onion"; Bordallo Pinheiro, "Leaf Plates; and footed crystal bowls by an unknown maker.

2012 Amendment:
This closet holds the clear crystal patterns.  I've added some new variations in 2012.  In the dish cabinet, new players include the Wedgwood "Majolica Leaf Plates" in green and in cream, Coalport "Old Coalport", Coalport "Kings Ware", and Crescent Gold Octagonal plates.

At one time this was a custom-made stereo cabinet for my son's room.  It now houses theWalmart, rattan chargers and red "star" bowls.  I wonder where I stuck the blue "star" bowls?


You probably thought that this was a guest room...Look Again!...

Assorted charger plates...

...and special Christmas collections that I want to keep in a climate controlled environment.  I think that they visit with each other when no one is looking!


The hall bath, formerly my daughter's bathroom, now houses assorted candlesticks and silver charger plates...and a little Valentine music box given to me by a long forgotten high school boyfriend.

In the 1920's, this was my mother-in-love's childhood desk...can you imagine?  It now lives in the hall to the bedroom wing and holds an assortment of colored napkins.

You probably think that this is just another guest room.  The bed belonged to my daughter's great-great-great grandmother.  It was an old, dark brown, double bed.  I had it expanded to turn it into a queen-sized bed, and then I had an artist paint it.  The same artist designed the small bedside table...


The old bureau used to match the bed...just an old dresser?...Look Again!  This is where I stage a lot of tablescape designs.  The drawers hold gobs of Nana's wonderful antique napkins and place mats.  That blue quilt on the bed...I use it more as a tablecloth than as a blanket for guests.

Both closets are packed with tablecloths and accessories...

 Longer cloths for the dining table...

2012 Amendment:
I found some wonderful new tablecloths for the dining room table, particularly toiles in assorted colors.


...And assorted round cloths for when I'm entertaining small groups, or adding extra tables for large groups.

2012 Amendment:
The selection of cloths for our round tables has also continued to grow.  I've found some great deals on multiples of the same cloth for when I entertain larger groups.

You would immediately identify this as the powder bath...

...with what is called a "head knocker" in our neck of the woods.  Do you all call it a "head knocker"?  But, Look Again...

It's actually a storage cabinet for the Haviland, "Ranson", and Spode, "Christmas Tree"glassware.

Just a utility room?...

 ...With the old mobile server?...Look Again...


The server holds a good portion of my mother-in-love's Castleton, "Laurel", and some special serving plates that belonged to Nana.

When Sweet Mister brough this little dry bar home years ago, he thought that it would hold assorted liquor bottles...Ha!  Look Again!

Top shelf:  My mother's Royal Doulton, "Harlow".  Bottom shelf:  The rest of the Castleton, "Laurel" and my collection of Castleton, "Empire" plates.

The etagere is a revolving display of assorted tureens...

2012 Amendment:
I've continued to add to the collection of white and cream tureens in the past year.  I've had a lot of fun using them as centerpieces for my designs.

 The antique butcher's table holds cake pedestals...

and the Welsh Dresser is home to the rest of  the Copeland Spode, "Tower Pink".

The Spode, "Christmas Tree" lives underneath the Welsh Dresser with assorted serving pieces...

...and the Lenox, "Christmas Wreath" collection; my Oxford Bone China, "Filagree" wedding china; the handmade set of heart shaped dinnerware; and the Royal Doulton, "Ventura".


Even the garage gets called into duty.  I keep inexpensive bullet wines and the hand painted champagne flutes on hand for when we entertain large groups.

Another storage room in the garage is progressively used more and more for dishes, etc.  Second shelf:  Bordallo Pinheiro, "Cabbage Leaf" charger plates;  assorted colored glass salad plates; a set of Haviland luncheon plates; Pottery Barn, "Outdoor Collection" enamelware plates and charger plates; and Mackenzie-Childs, "Courtly Check" charger plates.  Third shelf:  Haviland, "Orange Poppies" (my name for them); Haviland, "Rani"; CF Haviland, "Schleiger 3628" Exotic Birds; and Wedgwood "Edme" tureens.  Fourth Shelf:  Johnson Brothers, White dinner plates with gold rims;  Haviland, plain white luncheon plates;  more of the CF Haviland, "Schleiger 3628; and Century, "Blueberry Hill" (my grandmama's).

2012 Amendment:
Several new additions in the garage storage area....in particular the wonderful glass charger plates that Alycia of Table Twenty-One told us about last week.  I already used the pink ones yesterday!

 A closed, lower cabinet holds the individual dessert pedestals and the frog jars...

and a metal shelf stores assorted majolica pitchers and carafes.  Bottom shelves house assorted containers for flowers.

I can't believe that I just showed you so much of my collection.  I'm at the point where I pretty much give something away before I bring anything else into the house.  Last year I gave away four sets of Haviland to friends.  I'm incredibly blessed that my girls, my daughter and my daughter-in-love, both appreciate and enjoy entertaining with lovely dishes.  I know that they will be good stewards of our family treasures.  I'm looking forward to seeing where you store your things.  I bet that I'll pick up some good ideas from you.  Thanks for stopping by!

A special thanks to The Tablescaper for hosting "Where Do You Store It All?"...and a Happy 2nd Blogiversary!  Click HERE to link to the blog party and explore all the different storage ideas found there.
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.

22 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness! I cannot wait to show your post to my husband! He will no longer think I have a serious obsession - just a medium one - lol! Haviland in the garage? Wow! I guess if I continue to purchase dishes, some will end up there. Seriously, you have the most amazing collection of fine pieces that I have ever seen. Thank you so much for going to the trouble tto name everything. It was so much fun reading about all the different patterns! I know you are so proud of your daughter - what a great cause. Thank you for sharing!

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  2. I don't think anyone could be anywhere close to using their storage spaces as wisely as you do. What a collection!!!! I think you have more pieces that Replacement's Unlimited. What a joy it must be to have such an assortment to choose from when entertaining. Yes, you are truly blessed.

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  3. Wow!! Now that is an extensive collection! I have things stored in a few places besides the kitchen at my house but mostly in my son's former room and our hall closet. So glad you have the room for all your beautiful pieces! You are such a gifted tablescaper and hostess! Thanks for sharing...always fun to look in other people's closets!!
    Miss Bloomers

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  4. Your collection and organization is amazing. Thank you for adding beauty to our lives every week.

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  5. Hi Cherry Kay, Wow, I'm so impressed at how organized your collections are. With so much to store you've figured out how to store and actually find what you are looking for with no problems. I absolutely love the two glass cabinets and your home is so lovely. You have so many beautiful collections and I see so many of my favorites patterns and designers. I really enjoyed your tour and appreciate you showing how you do it. Great inspiration! And, I loved looking at all your beautiful collections. I know it must be a lot of fun working with tablescapes using all your pretties.

    ~Emily
    The French Hutch

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  6. WOW! I feel like Leonardo Da Vinci has invited me into his studio. If there was an award (is there?) for best organization, you would certainly be a contender! Somehow your storage is as lovely as your tables! Thanks for sharing, Cherry Kay!

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  7. Oh Cherry Kay, you are so organized in your collections. Do you keep them on an Excel chart with items and locations of storage? You are so talented and every week I can't wait to see what you have to entertain us with. Bravo to you.

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  8. I have a three letter word for this and it's WOW! You are very organized. That's wonderful. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. Once again you AMAZE! I adore your collections as well as the great storage solutions. You, by far, absolutely win the race!

    The bureau you showed is just like mine and I have the bed and chest of drawers to match, circa 1949, I was told.

    Your blog and posts are always enjoyable.

    Georgia

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  10. I have to agree, you have won the prize! What a fantastic collection you have. I think it's wonderful that you entertain so often so that your things get to be seen and enjoyed! Very creative storage. We are also empty nesters but my husband has forbid me to take over all the guest room closets!

    Robin
    Robin Flies South

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  11. Wow I didn't share this year.. Yours is so organized. Goodness. I love that you have so much room to store all your goodies. I haven't added much to my collection this past year or this year.. focused now on the Dresden, the Holiday Tartan and some more Sky Ranch. ps.. the last plates were supposed to be 10 3/4.. but were only 9 3/4.. back they went! the search is fun though.. I wish I had had the opportunity to get some of the pink chargers that Alycia showed.. no store here frown... Thanks for being brave and showing it all. Have a very blessed week.. xo marlis

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  12. She knows where it is ... and she uses it all to bless others. That's what I like about you, Cherry Kay!

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  13. OK, I truly think you win the prize for most organized and the prise for LARGEST collection! I love all your glassware. I want so much more, but we will have to move to find places to store it all. I am so impressed with how neatly everything you have is stored, stacked and packed. Amazing! Dianne

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  14. HOLY COW!!! I barely have room for my everyday dishes and a small "company" set.... I can only begin to imagine all of the fabulous combinations you could make with all of those delicious dishes... They are fabulous... I wish I could see everything in person. Too fabulous.

    Huggies,
    Spencer

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  15. PS... your daughter's video is wonderful....her voice is heaven sent, for sure.

    xo
    S

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  16. Absolutely amazing!!! Your collection is jaw dropping and also so very beautiful. Your organization is unbelievable - it takes real talent to store so much china & accessories. Than you so much for sharing - I totally enjoyed this post!!

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  17. Absolutely amazing!!! Your collection is jaw dropping and also so very beautiful. Your organization is unbelievable - it takes real talent to store so much china & accessories. Than you so much for sharing - I totally enjoyed this post!!

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  18. Cherry Kay, I missed this post earlier. But my, oh, my you do have some amazing sets of china and tableware. I don't have dish envy as much as I have STORAGE envy. I simply have very limited storage space in our home that was built in the 30s. Fun to see how you've organized things. Great job!

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  19. This is fascinating and amazing!

    Francie

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  20. Wow! I am glad I got to see this. I was busy last week entertaining College friends so I wasn't able to visit. What an enormous collection you have and they are all gorgeous pieces. I love seeing your collection cause it makes me feel that I am normal, lol....Christine

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  21. first off, I have been looking at your site since before Christmas, but have only figured out how to blog (my hairdresser helped me) in the last month or so!! I have taken the tour of your storage in your home several time, it is awesome all the spots you have found!! Keep Blogging!

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  22. Thank you for the storage tour. Now when my husband asks, "Where will you keep it?" I can show him your post and say, "All over! There's always room for one more piece of china or crystal."

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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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