Welcome to the Blog today, Friends. I am so excited that you are here today. I love going to estate sales and one thing I frequently find are beautiful china patterns for a much-reduced price. It allows you to have a variety of quality dish ware that you can mix and match in your table settings. The Noritake dishes you see above were acquired at an estate sale a few months ago and this is the first time I’m using them.
This pattern of ivy leaves with an inner border and a thin line of green around the rim is perfect for a relaxed meal. Even though the pattern is quite intricate there is a feeling of spaciousness and lots of white space making the design quite light and airy.
Here’s a closer look art the pattern. You can see all the different shadings of green with a touch of brown around the inner rim.
It’s an Irish pattern called “Ivy Lane” and looks like it is actually made in Ireland. I have such fond memories of our time in Ireland and it is nice to have a pattern that reminds me of those visits.
I wanted to keep the setting simple and in keeping with the meal I was planning to serve so I opted for a woven place mat in a natural color. Next came a dark green wooden charger that picked up the darkest green in the china. The dinner plate and the salad/dessert plates have identical patterns. I separated the two plates using a very dark green napkin folded in three, lengthwise. The setting is simple and casual.
The beverages are served in a pottery glass from England that holds the water and a green, glass, wine goblet. The greens blend well and the designs are simple and reflect the relaxed feel of the table.
I used my every day Fiddlehead flatware that I have had for many, many years. I still love it. The handles resemble the fiddlehead fern you find in forests.
The flowers add that “pop” of color and are in a simple glass vase.
This overhead view shows that the flowers, like the china pattern, have lots of space in the design keeping the feeling nice and light.
Here’s another view.
I made a French stew from one of Julia Child’s great recipes to serve for this get together. The meat is fork tender and the dish has rice, tomatoes, and wonderful flavor. I served it with a simple green salad and some French bread hot from the oven.
I was lucky to remember to take this photo as I was serving the stew. After that we were too busy talking. LOL
This lovely estate sale china worked perfectly for this setting. Hope you give estate sales a try and see what wonderful finds you can snag.
I love seeing casual table settings that take the extra step to elevate them beyond the ordinary. The dishes are quite nice but it’s the placemat, napkins and pottery glasses that seal it for me. Well done!
Thnks, Sandra, I agree that the china is just the beginning of a table setting. Thanks for stopping by and sharing. Have a great week.
Lynne
I am echoing Sandra’s comment. The leafy green forest theme is just right for our in-between weather patterns.
Thanks, Robin, I love the pattern and it was a lucky find. I do love that this china works for multiple seasons. thanks for sharing. Have a wonderful week.
Lynne
Lovely setting. Change out the flowers to a pot of shamrocks and you would have a nice subtle table for St. Patrick’s day. Green with envy or should I say ivy?
Great idea, Jan, I love to use china from Ireland and England. It would be so appropriate for St. Patrick’s Day. Thanks for sharing and have a great week.
Lynne
This is such a beautiful spring-like table! I really like the pottery glasses, too!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Thanks, Marsha, the pottery glasses are English and are called milk cups as they were used to hold milk served at breakfast. thanks for stopping by. Hope you have some warmer weather this week.
Lynne
thanks for sharing I love vintage dishes. I think this is rather cool because it is a pattern of greenery and comes from ireland. come see us at http://shopannies.blospot.ocm
Thanks for the invite, Angie. I really felt a connection to these dishes because of their origin. Thanks for visiting and have a lovely week.
Lynne
Lynne, that pattern is beautiful. And the French stew sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing your post with us at The Crazy Little Lovebirds link party. 🙂
I really enjoy the link to Ireland with this pattern. It was a nice find. Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely week.
Lynne