Thursday, May 13, 2010

Grandma's China

The past few weeks Mr Beeper and I have been on a mission to sort through all of our unwanted stuff--stuff long ago stashed in the attic where we would not have to think about it, stuff lurking in moldering boxes in the basement, and just stuff that has been accumulating around the house...all in preparation for the ENORMOUS yard sale we will be part of this weekend. And aside from the good feeling of knowing we are clearing out all the junk and helping it to find a new home where it can be used and appreciated, it has also been a bit of a treasure hunt because we have found things we had forgotten about and that we actually want--like these mismatched pieces of china that belonged to my long-since departed grandma.
Unwrapping these from the yellowed newspaper that enfolded them was like Christmas, each a lovely little surprise for me--the milk glass chicken, the blurry delft-blue print bowl, the yellowed crackle on a teacup-less saucer. And some, like those tiny crystal salt and pepper shakers with the tarnished silver caps, I actually remember seeing in Grandma's curio cabinet...so it was also a bit like unwrapping memories of her and her little home filled with so many interesting antiques that she was never fussy about.
But these are my favorite--this mismatched assortment of butter pats. They are like little doll dishes--so tiny, so lovely. I wish you could see their patterns up close--the little strawberries , the curling wildflowers, the pale tea roses, the schooner, the ferns...all of these pieces are now upstairs, in my own china cabinets, where I can put them use. I am not quite sure how I will use them, but I will find something because they too pretty not to use, and they connect me to my past, my dear Grandma Keller.

12 comments:

Sarah said...

How fun to find these (again)! All so pretty and unique.

Shawnna said...

I'm doing a similar thing, only for moving purposes! Mine are already packed up, but it was so bittersweet to go through all my Nana's things and remember each item and remember her. Who would we be without our grandmas, huh?

Thanks for sharing!

LEFTZ said...

Beautiful patterns! We went through everything last fall when we cleaned out our basement and ended up donating a lot. Sadly, yard sales fall short in our neighborhood.

Anonymous said...

I love those butter pats! They are so sweet and charming. I have a set of ironstone butter pats. I put little tea light candles on them.

Christina said...

What beautiful dishes! I have some treasures like that in my basement too. Ironically enough, I had a perfect place to display them in our first newly-wed apartment but no perfect place in our new home. You've inspired me to dig some out and find a place for them! Truly such treasures should be enjoyed and not stashed, forgotten, in the basement.

Ann said...

Oh a lovely post! I love family treasures that bring back memories of people lost long ago. Whenever I memory comes to mind I write it in my little notebook as you never know when something forgotten will come to the fore again.

Holly said...

That is a great idea about keeping a little book to write memories down because as I get older and busier it does seem like there is less and less time even spend recalling people from the past...even memories of Beeper when he was a baby, or funny things he has said a long the way...having some good way to capture these is such a lovely idea. I have read about people who keep memory jars where they write down the funny things their kids say right away on a scrap of paper and just stick it in the jar...anyone actually do this and find it works well?

Pam said...

I love those little plates! I would hang them on the wall exactly as you have them arranged in the photo.. what a lovely thing to find.

Secondhand Nation said...

I have a notebook, but I also write down funny quotes on scraps of paper and post them on a bulletin above my desk.

Love this post. Finding old treasures like this is so fantastic.

Unknown said...

Love all your mismatched butter pats.
I actually love setting my table with mismatched plates and glasses!

Holly said...

I love mismatched too and actually thrifted a bunch of mismatched dishes which serve as our main dishes today...I love the effect. I actually looked for some more butter pat dishes to add to this little collection at an antique market in London, but to no avail.

Mama Rose said...

How lovely to have found those items that mean so much! They are all absolutely beautiful!