Life in Blue and White
and some of my
Vintage and Antique Finds
I am a magpie, a collector of old, antique and vintage bric-a-brac…….I haunt the local Brocantes in France and love browsing through Charity shops and car boot sales in the UK…….I collect cake stands, meat ovals, blue and white plates, cups, saucers, spoons, egg cups, toast racks, cast iron cookware…….oh yes, and teapots!
I don’t care if they are cracked or chipped, I love to see the age reflected in the things I collect………I use all my treasures for food styling and photography, as well as on my tea time table……some of my rarer finds are well over hundred years old and one of my meat ovals is late 18th century and I still use it for the festive bird on the Christmas table.
I always think of myself as the foster parent of any new items that come into the house ~ I will nurture and love what I have until it’s time to pass them on to the next parent or guardian…….I use them all, cakes and biscuits have graced many a Willow patterned plate and sticks of pale green celery have relaxed on a vibrant blue plate with a pat of butter and a twist of salt…….
Pies have reclined seductively on Oriental dishes whilst winking at the Colman’s Mustard…..large crumbly wedges of cheese have hidden beneath cheese domes, whilst Christmas puddings have flamed in glory on Minton compote stands……
Salads have luxuriated in dressing whilst lounging in large French faience bowls set on wooden tables with crystal glasses glinting in the late winter sunshine……..
Teapots and teacups, saucers and coffee pots……..they all live happily next to each other on old buffets and dressers….
I love my blue and white bits and bobs, and more importantly, I use them……for high days, feast days and holidays or just for daily tea and toast by the fireside, they are all aired and used regularly.
Jugs for flowers, jugs for cream and custard, they all have a place on my dresser…….jelly bowls and plates for cakes, salt cellars and two wee Dutch lovers…….these are just a few of my eclectic mix of old, antique and vintage bric-a-brac……
Ringtons, Maling, Minton, Ridgway, Wedgwood, Booths and Royal Doulton………wonderful old British potteries…….and so many more names we all grew up with, they all have a place in my home……these are just a few of my favourite things.
See you later.
Karen
Oh, so wonderful, Karen! I really think we have the very same philosphy about our found vintage treasures…I want them to feel loved, used & needed…makes me so happy!
Would LOVE to go treasure hunting in England and France–what a thrill that would be!
Thank-you for sharing some of yours with us, my friend…
Julie
Oh what pretty things Karen! Love the white and blue. collecting is fun and hard to stop ;-))
I have long held a love affair with anything blue and white. Especially china. It's my favourite thing. Your things are so lovely. Lucky you! xxoo
Snap! I collect old china (& glass) too, just can't resist a bargain…
Just seen your comment Karen- am around today (Friday) but not tomorrow. I'll email as well incase it's working again…(phone number on last email) or we'll have to post!
Such a wonderful collection of blue and white. Just the thought of old polished wood dressers piled with such items makes me swoon!
I have to say I'm a magpie for this sort of thing too. I have more teapots than I will ever need and as for teacups…a stupid amount. A place for everything and everything in its place.
Love blue and white china – perfect!
Love to collect china and pottery but especially small plates and jugs . Maling is one of my favourites but it is more dificult to find in the South.
I used to collect blue and white plates and platters, but there just got to be too many. I gave the best ones to my SIL. I have far too much stuff, but am now on the look out for things to 'dress' my food photos!
I love all your blue and white, Willow Pattern is my all time favourite. I used to eat my dinner up as a little girl so I could reveal the story 🙂
love these things Karen! look amazing! gloria
Oh Karen u have collected valuable things from the brocante. I wish I could go too one, I love spending my houres in this kind of flee markets. You never know what yu get too find, its like a treasure hunt. Full of surprises, like your blog. =)
Oh boy I'm in BIG trouble because I now realise looking at all your beautiful treasures, that I need to out hunting.
My daughter already thinks I have too much but can you have too much….I think not! ;D
Oh boy I'm in BIG trouble because I now realise looking at all your beautiful treasures, that I need to out hunting.
My daughter already thinks I have too much but can you have too much….I think not! ;D
What lovely china, I bet you could set up the most beautiful afternoon tea with all that stuff.
*kisses* HH
Fabulous, fabulous, fabulous!!
What a lovely collection!