Sunday, January 6, 2013

Winter Blues With a 25 cent Find


When the winter winds blow and my white ironstone dishes remind me of "cold snow," I like to warm up our table with Blue Transferware--a mismatched jumble--but perfect for the farmhouse. . . .It brings back warm memories of visiting my Granny, too. . . .Her everyday dishes were much like these. . . .You know me by now--I'm all about memories. . . .and warm, cozy feelings. 

So, I pulled out a galvanized tub from the garden house. . . .did a thorough cleaning--no telling what critter had set up housekeeping in it--and started placing the plates inside. . . .One problem--they wouldn't stand up on their own. . . .I looked through all the cabinets, in my butler's pantry--even John's workshop--trying to find something that would fit inside the narrow tub to hold them. . . .nothing. . . .Do you ever start a project and have to give up before it's finished? Isn't it frustrating?



Then I remembered something I'd bought one weekend when we visited the White Elephant Sale in a small town close to here. The sweet ladies who run it are there every Saturday. . . . It's one of our favorite places to go--for the bargains--but also because we love those ladies. . . .and they love junk about as much as we do. . . .always an adventure. . . .and believe me, the price will be right. . . .


At that time, I'd been scouring the flea market, thrift stores, and antique malls for something to display vintage platters--with no success. . . .But, that day at the White Elephant, I had found a plate rack--of sorts. . . .It didn't spend it's previous life holding plates. . . .no. . . .it was made for holding. . . .


towels!. . . .Yes, I'd found one of those old metal towel holders that motels and hotels use. . . .for 25 cents. . . .

I've run into these racks many times before and thought to myself, "Who in the world would want those old things in their bathroom?". . . .They are almost always rusty and dirty--well, I just couldn't see ME ever buying one. . . .til I thought out of the box. . . . .I was more than thrilled to find this one for the platters--even hugged the ladies as one of them was asking, "Why do you want that old thing?"

My words from the past had come back to haunt me. . . .

When I placed an old dresser scarf in the bottom of the tub and laid the towel rack on top, it was perfect. . . .


All I had to do was load it up with the dinner plates. . . .Where there was a wide gap, I'd place two or three together. . . .


The moral of this story is. . . .think outside the box. . . . and be careful what you say about someone's junk. . . .it might end up in your house one day!

That's not the end of the story, though. . . .That day I also found another Fannie Farmer Cook Book for 50 cents. . . .fell in love with the blue check. . . .

I actually have five of these cookbooks, different printings. . . .in various cover colors. . . .This is the first one I'd found in check. . . .I was thrilled--again! More hugs!


That's a Watkins Cookbook below Fannie Farmer. . . .50 cents. . . .

Is that all?. . . . No. . . . .


The cow pitcher came home with me, too. . . .He has a broken but mended hoof and his horns are chippy on the ends. . . .do I care? . . . .I like mended, chippy. . . .75 cents. . . .


The Blue Transferware has given the kitchen a warm farmhouse feel. . . .We'll enjoy them the rest of the winter. . . .Come Spring, I'll bring out the white ironstone again. . . .but, for now, there's nothing like a cup of tea in the afternoon, sipped from those delicate vintage cups. . . .Reminds me of Granny again--and how she'd only drink her tea out of a "proper" cup and saucer. . . .Just warms the body---and the heart. . . .



. . . from my farmhouse to yours. . . .
 

64 comments:

Unknown said...

Good morning. Thanks for the memories... my granny also had blue willow transferware as her everyday dishes. For years I couldn't not look at those without feeling the pain and loss of my beloved grandmother.Now I want some... I have searched locally for a set, and nothing. Might have to broaden my search.
I am feeling surrounded by love after reading your sweet post.
hugs, Gee

ANNE said...

Beautiful display! LOVE that tub!!!!

Ann said...

Love, love, love this!!I does emit a hugh homey and cozy feeling.
Happy Sunday.
Ann

Anne said...

What cool finds! LOVE the idea to use that towel rack as a plate rack!And when you are done using it for your plates I am sure you think of another idea for it too!Great old dishes and cook books too!So pretty!
xx
Anne

Vicki @ lifeinmyemptynest said...

My mother has the blue check Fanny Farmer Cookbook :-)

The Charm of Home said...

This is gorgeous!! I love how you used this towel holder! You are after my heart with your vignettes! Perfection! Love that cookbook too.
Sherry

Anonymous said...

I really love your project. And I know the feeling when you just need something to fit in..Hugs, Cristina

Mary Ann said...

What a lovely post!

Revi said...

Thinking outside the box, indeed! LOVE the look of the mis-matched blue and whites. I have a collection similar...which I'll bring out again sometime when I crave color again.
-Revi

Barbara F. said...

I love the tub and blue and white dishes. Great find on the cookbook! xo

Dawn said...

It's just perfect and such a pretty display. Even better when it brings back memories.

Anonymous said...

Dru, I am not sure if you have thought of it, but please write a book about displays/vignettes for ones home. Some of us are totally clueless and need lots of help. Your displays are always so beautiful. LOVE the blue check Frannie cookbook. I have never seen one is blue neither.

blessings, jill

Pamela Gordon said...

I love your blue and white transferware and your Fanny Farmer cookbook. That is a great idea for the old towel holder. The display in the old metal container is really sweet. I love old china!!! Blessings for a great week.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Love the display of the blue and white dishes in the old tub. Glad you though outside the box and found the old towel holder.

Anonymous said...

Your vignettes are so pretty and love the blue and white! Happy New Year!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Egretta Wells blog said...

I love that tub full of your blue transfer dishes....so pretty. I want to copy it!!Now I have to find first a tub.....you suggest thinking outside the box, so I think I will use a wooden box I have and surely I can find SOMETHING that can hold the plates! Love this post!Egretta

chateau chic said...

Great idea for holding your pretty plates! Love the blue checked cookbook too.
Mary Alice

Carlene @ Organized Clutter said...

The towel holder was the perfect prop for your tub of plates. I am a collector of blue transferware so I love this vignette. Just lovely!

TracyMB @ Crows Feet Chic said...

Fantastic deals and wonderful finds!! LOVE that cookbook cover!! :)

Old Time Cindy said...

All so pretty! The towel holder is a good idea. I used a desktop file holder for some of my plates. We use what we have!
Farmhouse hugs,
Cindy

Unknown said...

I love the blue and white dishes. I have many Straffordshire plates in blue and white. I love them!

Jamie @ Domestically Vintage said...

What a beautiful display of your china! That's amazing that you had the perfect piece for displaying them, and only for 25 cents! The cookbook and the cow are perfect. Have a cozy and happy winter!! ~ Jamie

cynthia lee designs said...

Love your Winter blues...so pretty!!
I almost picked up a white pitcher with light blue trim at the thrift store on Friday, but I didn't and know I can't stop thinking about. Keep thinking I should of gotten it.
hugs,
Cindy

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Such a wonderful display to cheer up the Winter and bring back wonderful memories....the towel rack was a perfect solution!....Beautiful vignette!!

❁Velma ~Down Our Country Road❁ said...

Love, love our display! I'm all about the warm, cozy feeling that comes with the things that are displayed and/or used. And it can happen with the simplest things. I love it!!

Marina in Blue said...

What a beautiful blog, a love every detail, you have a new follower.

http://marinainblue.blogspot.com.es/

Heirloom treasures said...

Oh yes,blue and white china,that is very me. I have a hutch full. Love it. Enjoy xx

Unknown said...

Love your stories.
Love you, too.
Guess Who

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

I packed my blue & white transferware away during the Christmas season, but now it's time to bring it back out again. I'll have to scour the basement for a "plate holder" of sorts. Good idea!

Anonymous said...

Love this display. It is cozy, warm and inviting.

Down Blueberry Lane said...

Your winter blues are very pretty and so soothing to look at. Such great thrift finds. Sure wish our thrift stores would stop acting like antique dealers, they've gotten ridiculous. Have a good day!

Pam said...

Oh my goodness, I absolutely love dishes! Your display is just beautiful! Great finds! I do believe I have one of those Fannie Farmer cookbooks in a tote somewhere. Great idea to use the towel rack in the galvanized tub! When we are determined, we find a way! Great job!
Pam
scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

Tanya Breese said...

what great finds! i want to go out junkin right now! i love chippy and imperfect too!

A Bit of Colour said...

You are my kind of person! You shop like I do! You can take a "mistake" or something "broken" & make it work!!!!
love the dishes; i have a set too!

We will have to go shopping together someday!!!

Deb said...

I understand your love for the blue and white china. My grandmother also had some and it was lost in a house fire. So sad to think about it. I'm collecting mis-matched china now and I think we may have some similar cups and saucers. Love the way you displayed your beautiful blue and white. It just makes me smile. Hugs

Unknown said...

Wow, nothing like a great deal! I am missing yardsale season... I need to have my own so I can get more new stuff!

Love the blue...

Okay, one of my New Years resolutions is taking the time to leave more notes for my blogging friends! I always read posts in a reader and it makes it hard to leave a comment or two. But I do not miss a post! Love seeing the things you share and your lovely home. I wish I had more time to blog, but I work part time at our local library. I wanted to share with you my new blog, just opened this week.... http://www.brookekroeger.blogspot.com.... it will be for my vingage and digital work... including printables you might enjoy. I also have my home and garden site, http://www.creativecountrymom.blogspot.com. This week I am doing a look back to my spring garden.

Hope to be able to connect more in this new year. I am spending less time on Facebook and gave up twitter and everything else. A girl needs time to create, decorate and GARDEN ya know!

God bless....Brooke
creativecountrymom@gmail.com

Chenille Cottage said...

Hi my sweet friend,
I have enjoyed your beautiful post so very much. It is always such a joy stopping by and visiting your lovely home. You have such a gift of making home even sweeter. Just look at all the blue dishes. You created such a delightful and homey display with your big old tub.
Thank you for your kind comments and visits...You have blessed me in so many wonderful ways, Dru!
Have a great week.
Blessings,
Carolynn xxx

Olive said...

Transferware makes me ever so happy. Beautiful vignettes.

20 North Ora said...

What a wonderful vignette you made with your goodies. Love the blue and white dishes, the old tub, and the dish drainer. I,too, love old, chippy pieces. Great post.

Judy

Sharlotte said...

What a lovely post...I love your blue dishes, perfect for your new find! I too love the story our "treasures" could probably tell.
Your pictures are beautiful...I'm going to stay awhile and have another look around!
Stay warm in this winter season!

okcamp said...

Pretty. Great finds and display.
Diane

Celestina Marie said...

Hi Dru, simply wonderful. Love your displays using these cherished treasures.
I also have the blue willow and transferware in blue given to me and passed down from my grandma to mother to me. I love it and the special memories around it.
I also have that Watkins cookbook and love it too.
Thank you for sharing the old and wonderful.
Hugs, CM

Susie said...

You are the clever one and that display is so beautiful.xo,Susie

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson said...

Dru, when I first spied that checked cookbook I started drooling. Love it! Your blue transferware is just the right touch for Winter. Love it in the galvanized tin. I have never ran into one of those towel racks. Would surely nab it if I did.
Hugs,
Jann

Jane@Cottage at the Crossroads said...

I just love how you've displayed your blue and white transferware dishes in the galvanized tub! I put mine away for Christmas but it's time to pull them back out. So pretty!

Poppy said...

After 45!! comments, compliments and adoration, here's #46: DITTO!!!

Adore everything about your beautiful, charming farmhouse, including your hotel towel rack for the gorgeous display of these blue dishes (and one red apple - my favourite pic)!!

Poppy

sweet violets said...

Love the blue and white and the sweet memories. Good idea on the towel rack.....I use a clear plastic folder/letter holder from Staples...holds 4 or 5 plates....

Unknown said...

I love how you've displayed your transfer ware. I too, have blue willow from my mother-in-law and love it! Patti @ OldThingsNew
http://patricia-krank.blogspot.com/

Anonymous said...

I just LOVE your decorating! These are exactly the things I want to fill my house with! =)

Kathy @ Creative Home Expressions said...

Your blue and white transferware is beautiful! It looks wonderful in that tub, too. I have had that situation happen, too; so glad you found something you already had to take care of the dishes.

Jeannie and Linda said...

Your display is so pretty. There is nothing prettier than blue and white. We are your newest followers, and would love for you to join us.
Jeannie

of The French Hen's Nest

Jeanette@Creating a Life Studio said...

Your blue transferware is so pretty!

Jeanette

Carolyn said...

I love your blue and white transferware but also how you styled it-so pretty!

Carolyn

Rita said...

Hi, I'm visiting from The Charm of Home.
your transferware is gorgeous and you have displayed it so beautifully. love the hanging cups.
i love transferware, red and White being my fav.
so glad to have popped over today.
rita

On Crooked Creek said...

Farmer's Daughter,
The first thing that caught my eye was your childhood photo and the fact that you love "old" things!!! Me, too!!!
Love the blue & white transfereware! Your story about Grandma caught me hook, line and ...well you get the idea! I was a Grandma's Girl. Grandma taught me to drink Coffee, yes she did.
I'm linking your blog to my friend that is recovering from a broken hip. She loves "junk" er, vintage and reading, and she will love this post.
Thank you twice!!! Once for brightening my day, second for brightening hers!!!
Fondly,
Pat
P.S. Visiting from Common Ground!!!

Shabby Brocante, Karen said...

JUST gorgeous! Hats off to you for being so clever and artistic. This is a beautiful vignette. This is so pretty. Everything about it is perfect!
Karen

Unknown said...

If we look around enough we can usually find what we need, indeed!
Beautiful, warm vignette, thanks for sharing.
Michele

Tammy said...

First of all I love your Header! I love your dishes in that galvanized tub. Isn't it great when you find what you really need and it works out perfect! I am so envious that you found an old Fannie Farmer cook book for just 50 cents!!! I've been looking for one. Love the checks on it too!

Lola and Bea said...

The old checkered cookbook really brings back memories. I think it found a good home. I love how you repurposed the old towel rack, very clever.
~Joanie~

Judy at GoldCountryCottage said...

Hi Dru. I hope you can find me way down here at the bottom. Wow, so many loved this post. There is something about blue and white in a farmhouse setting that is so wonderful. I love how you displayed yours and bet it's a standout in your lovely kitchen..Happy Wednesday..Judy

Kassandra said...

Hi, I have to say I´ve loved the blue and white transferware for all my life, but it´s not easy to purchase here in my country (and when it apppears, usually is out of my budget!) However, for a lucky coincidence last Sunday I found at a flea market the loveliest tea set in blue and white... that´s why your post made me smile! And you had a very clever idea on using that towel holder to display your plates!!!
Well, I´m visiting from Common Ground and following since now...
Hugs,
K.

Jaybird said...

You are too cute and I am so glad I found you today!!! I have collected the red and white covered cookbooks, and in the fall and winter we switch from white ironstone to..............red and white transferware!
Now I just have to find an old towel rack, because I already have the tub :^) It will be a copycat vignette, and I will think of you! Thank you for such nice reading today.
J

Rita's Recipes said...

Love how you've displayed your dishes. I've pinned it!

Andrea at Opulent Cottage said...

This is such a lovely display! I have two of those galvanized tubs that I took from someone's trash heap :) I hope you don't mind if I borrow your idea! Now I just need to find a little towel rack, haha! Have a wonderful weekend,
xo, Andrea

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