45 comments for “Perfectly Imperfect: Transferware and Flowers”
Ellen Stillabower
February 22, 2016 at 6:16 am
Oh Mary, I know what you mean by dish addiction..I’ve got it too. How do I get over it!! HELP!!! I love all kinds, I have 2 sets of transferware and I would have more if I had the space! I have 4 sets of dishes counting my Christmas Spode and if I had more space, I would have more!! Love that platter and $7, I’d have bought it too..those throw away flowers were still full of life..you are very lucky to be in the right place at the right time! Gorgeous blue enjoy it as I know you will! 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Well, you know you’re addicted too when you look at your inbox of emails – full of blog posts – and your dish title is the first one I go to. Dishes [sigh] still draw my interest, and I always look forward to how you use them. I can’t believe you got such a deal (steal, really) on that platter! This is so pretty, so right. Happy start of a new week, Mary.
I have the same addiction, Mary, and I love seeing the crazing and yes, even chips, knowing that somewhere, someplace in time, those dishes were well loved and used. Your display in my favorite potting shed looks like a beautiful painting for us to enjoy!
What a beautiful display! I don’t know what was prettier – the blue & white transferware, or the flowers added to them!? I also loved that you mentioned having a “slight” dish addiction…..I’ll have to remember that one for myself! Thank you for sharing – great inspiration! Happy Monday!
Some women collect shoes, but for me it’s plates, I just can’t resist them…your transferware is beautiful and the blooms don’t look faded to me, they look impossibly beautiful Mary. Perfection is boring, it’s the imperfections that bring life and character…
Jenna
I have the same slight addiction. Where and how do you store and organize all of your dishes? Love your table arrangements and potting shed!! I look forward to your posts :)
I love blue and white dishes. I have quite a collection from yard sales and antique shops. Your blue and white dishes are beautiful, I love the soft blue with the pink flowers. Good deal on the flowers….
Mary, I have the dish addiction! Who can resist old transfer ware with a little chip! Your presentation always delights my senses! Happy Monday! Pam @ everydayliving.me
Mary, there is nothing imperfect about this post! Each piece of transfer ware is perfection. I gravitate to time worn pieces that have obviously been loved through the years. There is patina there that makes them perfection. And the flowers add another layer of patina in this case. Yes, perfection all around!
Enjoy your Monday!
Great way to start a Monday morning! It looks so pretty and springy, even though we will get more snow this week and the marina is full of ice! Have a good week!
WooHoooo….raising my arms and twirling around in plate/stemware addiction heaven!!! No guilt. Makes me happy! And I just love imagining the stories that might go along with old dishes…the times spent around tables when those dishes were used!
I wish I had the sweet bouquet in the pitcher behind my kitchen sink right now…hmmm,a trip to the grocery store today may be in order!
Yes, I too have the same addiction, and its even worse now that I am into tablescaping! When I see pretty plates at Goodwill, I am always trying to figure out how I could use them with what I already have to create something new. And since I love blue, your transfer ware is perfect! And the flowers are lovely too. Isn’t it sad what someone would throw away that still has so much beauty! Always look forward to your blog – you inspire me!
Darlene, I love to do tablescaping to I love dishes, ones with roses are my fav, but, I like all kinds, I am always stopping at Goodwill, and other junk shops looking for dishes, my family and friends think I am crazy, but its a hobby,, there are worst things right. I do up a different table at least three times a week, Yes I am a dish junkie too. and I always love reading these post, they inspire me and I drool over all the pretty dishes everyone has
Mary, I agree your newly acquired transferware is perfectly imperfect. Of course, my mother grew up during the depression and always wanted new and perfect things. I’m embracing the character of loved and worn objects now and appreciate older things.I mix old and new in my decorating.
I love your blooms and your window display is charming.
Enjoy your day.
Oh to be perfectly imperfect is to be just beautiful. A few cracks or chips weren’t even noticeable, it was just their beauty that stood out. The blooms were perfect with them. Such a gorgeous display for the window.
I to am a China addict.My favorite Christmas Gift growing up was a blue willow china set when I was 5 years old.I have 6 China pattern collections But I do not know how to store them so I can acces them freely.I do have an unfinished basement any suggestions would help me Greatly.If you do not want to be an enabler I will understand.Love your Blog you are so very talented I look forward to see what you are up to next
“I have *slight* dish addiction” ROTFLMAO!!! There is the understatement of the year. Hahahaha! You & I have Ellen & Maryellen beat ten times over, I’m sure. I’m scared to count my sets. My DD is going to curse me when she has to clear out the basement when I die.
These are beautiful, timeless treasures & I’m thrilled to see how precious they look with your bargain, slightly faded flowers. Just a lovely scene, all around….a breath of fresh air, for sure.
Rettabug ..LOL!! If I had a basement, I would be able to keep up but, I don’t darn it..I’m jealous..if I could get rid of some of the crystal, I think I could have two large empty shelves..but the real word here is “IF”.. Can’t seem to part with those either. Don’t know about you but I am also addicted to tablecloths & napkins…LOL!! Oh well, I gave up cigarettes about 20 years ago so I had to do something!! Have a wonderful Monday!! 😍😍😍
I inherited my dish addiction from my mom…she has so many sets of dishes she has been starting to give them away to the granddaughters…and her cup and saucer collection is amazing! I love bowls the best and find it hard to resist a lovely bowl…large or small. Your displays are so pretty and such a perfect way to begin the week…I am hoping to do a little early clean up in my kitchen garden this afternoon as we are expecting warmer (60’s) temps here in Boring, Oregon! Have a wonderful week, Mary!
I understand your love for your perfectly imperfect pieces because I have the same addiction…I have had to learn to curve it, but the urge never goes away when I see a piece I like…
My collection of china is quite eclectic and there are no complete sets of anything, (2 of this, 4 of that…even just 3 of something else) except for plain white porcelain dinnerware that I like to use mixing and matching…I have finally come to the point where I am trying to find homes for some of my china. Hard to do, but a must if I don’t want my son to go through what my siblings and I did when we had to clean out our parents’ two homes… :( That was not fun…except that I did get to acquire more dishes ;-)
How can anyone throw away such perfectly imperfect flowers?
Oh, I have that addiction, too, and without much budget for it! Thrift shop finds can be very special, though. Your blue and white pieces with the lovely flowers (who would throw those away?!) are just beautiful.
Love seeing all of the beautiful dish tablescapes you come up with. Unfortunately I don’t have any room to have different sets of dishes. Some of mine are chipped but it doesn’t matter.
Right there with you! I am a total dish addict. I have bought and sold more sets than I can count as my taste and budget changed. I have several complete sets of dishes with matching serving pieces, and a few sets of just salad plates or gratin dishes to use with the plates. I so agree, a lovely piece of stoneware is perfection with flowers. The pink goes so well with the blue transferware. Lovely pictures.
Love, love, love old dishes & vintage glassware! My love affair with blue & white started when I was a child (over 6 decades ago) when I was given a play set of blue willow china. In fact, I still have most of the set which are displayed in my kitchen. We are kindred spirits:)
It’s all so pretty, Mary. I love blue & white transfer-ware. If there is one thing I cannot pass by without taking a second look it is someone’s china cabinet. They are usually loaded with beautiful treasures. I, too, love both the old and the new in china. Deb
Love the look. Yes, addicted to glassware and dishes too. I want to pass along something I added. The office supply store has Lucite file holders. Since they are U shape, I flip them over to give me height in displays. I make seasonal vignettes over my kitchen cabinets. Looks better than the books I was covering with gift wrap.
I enjoy your dish addiction because your posts are lovely! BTW I have a blue and pink addiction, and I’m redesigning my desk area in my kitchen with those two colors in mind. So your pinks and blues in this post are inspiring me to get busy with it! ;P
If I had the room I to would have a dish addition. I love how they can be artwork to hang or artwork to place on your table. And dishes can be so versatile.
Oh Mary, I know what you mean by dish addiction..I’ve got it too. How do I get over it!! HELP!!! I love all kinds, I have 2 sets of transferware and I would have more if I had the space! I have 4 sets of dishes counting my Christmas Spode and if I had more space, I would have more!! Love that platter and $7, I’d have bought it too..those throw away flowers were still full of life..you are very lucky to be in the right place at the right time! Gorgeous blue enjoy it as I know you will! 🌸🌸🌸🌸
Fantastic colors Mary! Truly a breath of fresh spring air-enjoy:@)
Love the look! The flowers are just so perfect for the dish ware and adds a softness for a spring look! Have a great week!
Hi, my name is Sherlie and I have a dish addiction too. This display is lovely, the pink and white flowers are perfect. I love it.
Well, you know you’re addicted too when you look at your inbox of emails – full of blog posts – and your dish title is the first one I go to. Dishes [sigh] still draw my interest, and I always look forward to how you use them. I can’t believe you got such a deal (steal, really) on that platter! This is so pretty, so right. Happy start of a new week, Mary.
I have the same addiction, Mary, and I love seeing the crazing and yes, even chips, knowing that somewhere, someplace in time, those dishes were well loved and used. Your display in my favorite potting shed looks like a beautiful painting for us to enjoy!
Oh a beautiful display looking like Spring. I too love all dishes. Great post.
What a beautiful display! I don’t know what was prettier – the blue & white transferware, or the flowers added to them!? I also loved that you mentioned having a “slight” dish addiction…..I’ll have to remember that one for myself! Thank you for sharing – great inspiration! Happy Monday!
Some women collect shoes, but for me it’s plates, I just can’t resist them…your transferware is beautiful and the blooms don’t look faded to me, they look impossibly beautiful Mary. Perfection is boring, it’s the imperfections that bring life and character…
Jenna
Gorgeous. The pink and white flowers and the blue and white transfer ware make magic together! Perfection!
Mary, I’m so happy that you have this addiction as I love seeing what you create from indulging it! The pinks and blues are perfect together. Linda
I have the same slight addiction. Where and how do you store and organize all of your dishes? Love your table arrangements and potting shed!! I look forward to your posts :)
I love blue and white dishes. I have quite a collection from yard sales and antique shops. Your blue and white dishes are beautiful, I love the soft blue with the pink flowers. Good deal on the flowers….
Mary, I have the dish addiction! Who can resist old transfer ware with a little chip! Your presentation always delights my senses! Happy Monday! Pam @ everydayliving.me
Mary, there is nothing imperfect about this post! Each piece of transfer ware is perfection. I gravitate to time worn pieces that have obviously been loved through the years. There is patina there that makes them perfection. And the flowers add another layer of patina in this case. Yes, perfection all around!
Enjoy your Monday!
Great way to start a Monday morning! It looks so pretty and springy, even though we will get more snow this week and the marina is full of ice! Have a good week!
WooHoooo….raising my arms and twirling around in plate/stemware addiction heaven!!! No guilt. Makes me happy! And I just love imagining the stories that might go along with old dishes…the times spent around tables when those dishes were used!
I wish I had the sweet bouquet in the pitcher behind my kitchen sink right now…hmmm,a trip to the grocery store today may be in order!
Great find on the serving platter! It’s gorgeous!
Yes, I too have the same addiction, and its even worse now that I am into tablescaping! When I see pretty plates at Goodwill, I am always trying to figure out how I could use them with what I already have to create something new. And since I love blue, your transfer ware is perfect! And the flowers are lovely too. Isn’t it sad what someone would throw away that still has so much beauty! Always look forward to your blog – you inspire me!
Darlene, I love to do tablescaping to I love dishes, ones with roses are my fav, but, I like all kinds, I am always stopping at Goodwill, and other junk shops looking for dishes, my family and friends think I am crazy, but its a hobby,, there are worst things right. I do up a different table at least three times a week, Yes I am a dish junkie too. and I always love reading these post, they inspire me and I drool over all the pretty dishes everyone has
Mary, I agree your newly acquired transferware is perfectly imperfect. Of course, my mother grew up during the depression and always wanted new and perfect things. I’m embracing the character of loved and worn objects now and appreciate older things.I mix old and new in my decorating.
I love your blooms and your window display is charming.
Enjoy your day.
Oh to be perfectly imperfect is to be just beautiful. A few cracks or chips weren’t even noticeable, it was just their beauty that stood out. The blooms were perfect with them. Such a gorgeous display for the window.
I to am a China addict.My favorite Christmas Gift growing up was a blue willow china set when I was 5 years old.I have 6 China pattern collections But I do not know how to store them so I can acces them freely.I do have an unfinished basement any suggestions would help me Greatly.If you do not want to be an enabler I will understand.Love your Blog you are so very talented I look forward to see what you are up to next
“I have *slight* dish addiction” ROTFLMAO!!! There is the understatement of the year. Hahahaha! You & I have Ellen & Maryellen beat ten times over, I’m sure. I’m scared to count my sets. My DD is going to curse me when she has to clear out the basement when I die.
These are beautiful, timeless treasures & I’m thrilled to see how precious they look with your bargain, slightly faded flowers. Just a lovely scene, all around….a breath of fresh air, for sure.
Rettabug ..LOL!! If I had a basement, I would be able to keep up but, I don’t darn it..I’m jealous..if I could get rid of some of the crystal, I think I could have two large empty shelves..but the real word here is “IF”.. Can’t seem to part with those either. Don’t know about you but I am also addicted to tablecloths & napkins…LOL!! Oh well, I gave up cigarettes about 20 years ago so I had to do something!! Have a wonderful Monday!! 😍😍😍
I inherited my dish addiction from my mom…she has so many sets of dishes she has been starting to give them away to the granddaughters…and her cup and saucer collection is amazing! I love bowls the best and find it hard to resist a lovely bowl…large or small. Your displays are so pretty and such a perfect way to begin the week…I am hoping to do a little early clean up in my kitchen garden this afternoon as we are expecting warmer (60’s) temps here in Boring, Oregon! Have a wonderful week, Mary!
I understand your love for your perfectly imperfect pieces because I have the same addiction…I have had to learn to curve it, but the urge never goes away when I see a piece I like…
My collection of china is quite eclectic and there are no complete sets of anything, (2 of this, 4 of that…even just 3 of something else) except for plain white porcelain dinnerware that I like to use mixing and matching…I have finally come to the point where I am trying to find homes for some of my china. Hard to do, but a must if I don’t want my son to go through what my siblings and I did when we had to clean out our parents’ two homes… :( That was not fun…except that I did get to acquire more dishes ;-)
How can anyone throw away such perfectly imperfect flowers?
Love the transferware…I too have that addiction…LOL…beautiful with the flowers in pink and white… Thanks again for inspiring us!!!
Dee in Texas
The perfectly imperfect pieces are the best….You brought the imperfect back to perfect and they thank you! Love the blue transferware…
Oh, I have that addiction, too, and without much budget for it! Thrift shop finds can be very special, though. Your blue and white pieces with the lovely flowers (who would throw those away?!) are just beautiful.
Love seeing all of the beautiful dish tablescapes you come up with. Unfortunately I don’t have any room to have different sets of dishes. Some of mine are chipped but it doesn’t matter.
Shabby or imperfect you’ve made them lovely again.
Right there with you! I am a total dish addict. I have bought and sold more sets than I can count as my taste and budget changed. I have several complete sets of dishes with matching serving pieces, and a few sets of just salad plates or gratin dishes to use with the plates. I so agree, a lovely piece of stoneware is perfection with flowers. The pink goes so well with the blue transferware. Lovely pictures.
s heart good to visit your blog, thank you.
That went very wrong, I wanted to say that it does your heart good to visit your blog, thank you.
Love, love, love old dishes & vintage glassware! My love affair with blue & white started when I was a child (over 6 decades ago) when I was given a play set of blue willow china. In fact, I still have most of the set which are displayed in my kitchen. We are kindred spirits:)
It’s all so pretty, Mary. I love blue & white transfer-ware. If there is one thing I cannot pass by without taking a second look it is someone’s china cabinet. They are usually loaded with beautiful treasures. I, too, love both the old and the new in china. Deb
I think your presentation is perfection!
So very pretty as always! Eye candy for sure! Dishes are also my passion!
Love your style!
Love the look. Yes, addicted to glassware and dishes too. I want to pass along something I added. The office supply store has Lucite file holders. Since they are U shape, I flip them over to give me height in displays. I make seasonal vignettes over my kitchen cabinets. Looks better than the books I was covering with gift wrap.
I enjoy your dish addiction because your posts are lovely! BTW I have a blue and pink addiction, and I’m redesigning my desk area in my kitchen with those two colors in mind. So your pinks and blues in this post are inspiring me to get busy with it! ;P
If I had the room I to would have a dish addition. I love how they can be artwork to hang or artwork to place on your table. And dishes can be so versatile.