 Fluted measuring cup by Anna Gare, Australia Call me quirky if you will, but the older I get, the more I love having mismatched blue crockery. Once upon a time, I was ever-so proud of my pure white Australian Fine China dinner set. I would scour second-hand stores looking for pieces to go with the collection. When I found a large Pillivuyt soufflé dish, I thought I was the bee's knees. Another time, I thought I was in cook's heaven when I acquired a Mayfair & Jackson soup tureen with eared lion's head soup dishes to match (not that I ever actually used it!). I bought ramekins in every size imaginable, square bread and butter plates, tiny oval cake plates, and basin-shaped pudding bowls. All sparking white. I looked upon my white dinnerware as an investment, much as others might with their Mikasa or Wedgewood. A couple of years ago something happened. I took a shine to blue... although I can't quite put my finger on why. Perhaps it's because our house has stuccoed exterior walls in deep-ocean-blue. There's a Bermuda blue feature wall in our living room, and my kitchen cupboards are a mixture of dusty blue-grey and taupe. Or maybe it's because, to me, food somehow looks more enticing when presented on a blue background, as opposed to plain old white. Slowly, I'm phasing out all of my whites... donating several items to charity stores, and selling a few others. Meanwhile, if I happen to be browsing in a thrift store or op shop (which, incidentally, is among my favourite pastimes), and a piece of blue dinnerware charms me, I'll snap it up... on the proviso that it doesn't cost more than a dollar or two. Here are a few of my most favourite pieces. Cheap and cheerful, and yet unique and rather lovely, each one has proved to be utilitarian in its own way. At the top of this page is a measuring cup by Anna Gare, Australia. The others follow below:  A pale blue saucer by TopChoice, China  Embossed bread and butter plate by Tiffani Boutique, Italy  Three of a set of four Royal blue deep dinner plates by Home Café  Hand-painted oven-proof pottery platter by Home, Italy  Vintage English Ironstone Tableware dinner plates (I have the soup bowls as well)  A deep saucer by Calico, Staffordshire, England  Oven-proof platter by Chasseur  Polka dot saucer with butterflies by Ashdene, marked copyright Chris Chun  Hand-painted pottery salad bowl by La Maiolica in Fremantle, WA  Ardena bread and butter plate by Choice HanJade, China  Hand-painted glazed pottery platter by Inga Szimke, Australia  Teapot-shaped teabag holder, unknown (no markings)  Ramekin by Potts & Co, England  Chip 'n' dip plate by Paul Bruce, Berrima Village Pottery, Australia IMK update...The Good Things team will be travelling extensively over the coming months, so I have asked my friend in food, the lovely Sherry, from Sherry's Pickings, if she would be kind enough to take over hosting duties of IMK (thank you!). Please pop in and say hello from me. xx Over to you now, dear readers. Tell me, are you a stickler for matching crockery, or do you enjoy having mis-matched pieces in your kitchen? And do you like blue as much as I do?
66 Comments
I am slowly phasing out my white things too. Before white came along, I had a vast collection of handcrafted pottery plates and bowls. Funny, but that stuff is now making a re-appearance. By the time I get some choice pieces, white will be back in fashion.
Lizzy
30/4/2017 08:42:02 pm
It is funny, isn't it. And what you say is so very true! (I took five carloads to Vinnies a couple of months ago!). Thanks for stopping by x 3/5/2017 04:43:00 am
lots of lovely blue! I've also gone back to buying more blue bowls and plates. Check out Made In Japan (Australian website), some of my favourites are from their store at Queen Vic Market in Melbourne but they're online as well!
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:07:14 pm
Hi Mae, what you say about variety is true. Thanks for stopping by.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:08:12 pm
How interesting, Sherry. Thanks once again for taking over the IMK hosting. Have fun with it. And thank you for the good wishes xx 30/4/2017 10:52:21 pm
I had noticed one of your white soup tureen's for sale - it looked fabulous. I must admit I am partial to the whole blue and white willow pattern thing - and Qing dynasty blue and white ceramics. There is something so calming about them. Your collection looks fabulous.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:09:19 pm
Yes, I'm selling my tureen. Blue and white willow is lovely too. My father bought me a huge oval willow platter before he moved overseas.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:09:49 pm
Nicely put: the water, the sea, the sky and Earth. Thank you x 1/5/2017 02:15:17 am
My cottage kitchen has mismatched crockery which I love. For the house I have my Villeroy and Boch dinner service which has a special family connotation. I try and match things to it. Love the blues of your crockery Liz.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:10:16 pm
Nice one, Tandy. 1/5/2017 02:31:10 am
I do love a theme and interesting how food looks so different on different backgrounds!
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:10:39 pm
So true, Michele, thanks for stopping by. I love the injection of colour in a kitchen, and your blue dishes are just delightful Liz. I especially like the Calico saucer, so intricate. I too have gravitated towards colourful dishes as I've grown older. I smile every time I unload the dishwasher (now who can say that!!!).
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:11:12 pm
That's a good thing, isn't it Kirsty. : )
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:11:49 pm
Boo Simone, time to get rid of the boring white and welcome a little colour into your world xx
Bob Bennett
1/5/2017 07:24:11 am
Liz, the missus and I like op-shops as well. I don't think we're bought anything new for ages.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:12:13 pm
That's a great way to be.
Marjorie W
1/5/2017 07:24:36 am
Love blue. Love mis-matched everything.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:12:34 pm
Nice.
Peter
1/5/2017 07:25:47 am
You forgot to mention the rule you set for yourself. Buy a piece, get rid of a piece. Remember?
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:13:12 pm
True, true. It's a good thing to do. Avoids the clutter.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:13:43 pm
Thanks so much, Elissa. 1/5/2017 10:19:58 am
We have way too much kitchen crockery! A lot of white, but other colors too. Not very much blue, oddly enough. And more than a few mis-matched pieces!
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:14:35 pm
It must be the age group, John. I stashed most of it away in the hall closet, so that I couldn't see it all... and I used only a setting for three. 1/5/2017 11:31:06 am
Liz, your Blue Edition is absolutely lovely... such pretty pieces. Hear, hear on thrift store finds! My previous dinnerware consisted of "shades of the lake" -- cobalt, azure, baby blue, aquamarine -- ironically, I replaced them with plain ol' white -- funny how we go through phases in our crockery! I add "accent colors" as often as I'm blessed to run across them. May you find more mismatched treasures that appeal to your heart and "eye" on your travels, xo.
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:15:20 pm
Oh Kim, the shades of the lake sounds so romantic. Just beautiful. Thanks for your very kind words xxxx
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:15:46 pm
Thank you, Liz x 1/5/2017 06:22:39 pm
I love mismatched crockery too although I confess the everyday utilitarian stuff is white. 25yrs ago I inherited my Grandma's fine bone china tea set. It's white, but heavily decorated in navy blue, burnt Sienna and gold. I've built up a collection of mismatched plates with similar pattern colour, collecting them one by one in op shops, at antique fairs etc. Now I have a mismatched dinner service for 8
Lizzy
1/5/2017 07:16:30 pm
Oh Sandra, how special to have your grandmother's setting. Thanks so much for stopping by. Loving all your recipes of late, BTW. x
Donna Jamison
1/5/2017 07:17:18 pm
Loving that dip n chip platter. I've seen those ones around before. Really pretty.
Lizzy
2/5/2017 01:14:26 am
Aren't they. I love the tulips. 1/5/2017 08:42:27 pm
Love a mismatched, eclectic china theme, but I am very much into white, mismatched definitely, but still predominantly white. I add accents of ocean colours with it, so blues and turquoise are still allowed. Love the whole house eclectic decorating theme. That way, anything that takes ones fancy won't be automatically discarded for the silly reason that, 'it doesn't fit my current decor'.
Lizzy
2/5/2017 01:15:15 am
'i love mismatched everything, Chris... and I particularly love it with furniture (and second hand pieces are awesome!). Ocean colours sound lovely.
Eha
1/5/2017 09:29:08 pm
Oh what a fun post which I have just reached !! Isn't it delightful we are all different! My mother made me wear so much blue as a child [I must have had a cupboard-full of navy-inspired dresses!] that I swore never to have the colour in my home and I barely have :) !! I have lived with white and earthenware brown tones [artist friends have made whole crockery sets for me :) !] most of my life but must admit the quirky side of mismatched stuff has reached me and I am enjoying it :) !! Love the variety in your post . . .
Lizzy
2/5/2017 01:16:30 am
Wow, how interesting, Eha. My mum tended to buy things in bright orange and lime green, for me... and I hated both. Funny thing is, they are among "my colours" and really suit my eyes. Isn't it great being quirky enough to love and live with mismatched stuff xx 1/5/2017 10:23:56 pm
Those blues are really lovely. It really makes red and orange foods pop! :D
Lizzy
2/5/2017 01:16:47 am
Indeed : )
Lizzy
2/5/2017 07:26:44 pm
That's so true, Moya. Thanks for stopping by. 2/5/2017 02:53:16 am
We are totally over the white crockery in our household too. :) Love your blue theme, its aqua and coral for us.
Lizzy
2/5/2017 07:27:11 pm
Aqua and coral, how divine! 2/5/2017 03:03:14 am
I love your blue dishes. I'm still stuck on white but now that I can get out more, maybe I'll find something at the op shops that call my name.
Lizzy
2/5/2017 07:27:51 pm
Glad to hear that you are getting out and about my friend. If we lived closer, I'd give you some of my white.
Lizzy
2/5/2017 07:28:22 pm
Thank you, Lori. 2/5/2017 04:56:27 pm
Blue Edition features too many treasures to pick just one favorite, though your Staffordshire saucer and fluted measuring cup might top the list for permanent display. I alternate between all-white and blue patterned plates, occasionally break out a set of blue chargers for a pop of color and love mismatched tablescapes. Share some photos of your blues in use?
Lizzy
2/5/2017 07:29:18 pm
Aha, another one after my own heart. Thank you, Dee. Share some of my blue in use? Take a look at the recipe photos on my blog, love. x 3/5/2017 12:48:47 am
ah, but my attention goes straight to the food ON the plates. ;>) 2/5/2017 09:54:31 pm
Forget the crockery!!! LOL I'd love to see the Bermuda coloured living room wall.
Lizzy
4/5/2017 11:56:58 pm
Oh boo! Teal or aqua sound lovely! Thanks for stopping by, Sally x
Fiona Ryan
4/5/2017 07:45:29 pm
A delightful collection. I particularly like the textural border of the embossed bread and butter plate. As to ramekins... I have so many of them! They seem to breed. I'm back from a break from blogging and reading blogs so enjoyed reading your post. Thanks for sharing and for hosting IMK in the past.
Lizzy
4/5/2017 11:56:25 pm
Welcome back, Fiona, and thank you for your very kind words x 5/5/2017 01:38:57 am
So pretty, I love those brilliant shades of blue! I hope you have a wonderful time on your traveling adventures - can't wait to hear more about it! :) 8/5/2017 12:30:02 am
I love adding colours back with my white. I must say Liz, you have a few beautiful blue pieces. My favourites are the ramekins and the deep saucer from Staffordshire :) I also love Donna Hay's blue crockery & napery and Gordon Ramsay had a beautiful duck egg blue range too - which I can't find too much at the moment. Lovely as always xx
shaheen
9/5/2017 03:42:24 am
so much blue in your kitchen. I love that it is all mismatched though, Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Photo Jay Cranon, The Canberra Times
Hello. I'm Liz, a writer, cook and traveller based in Canberra, Australia.
Join me as I share with you my favourite recipes, postcards and morsels from my adventures, conversations with cookery writers and chefs, and news on food and cooking.  Search by topicNB: I use Australian standard measuring cups and spoons in my recipes.
All
 |
