This is fun, Red. THanks for starting the conversation. 1. Do you always buy new furniture for your home? (When I can find what I want, but I often can't. I'm in a small town with only a few furniture stores, and most of their stuff is either the wrong style or cheaply made and sold at ridiculous prices. My LR couch, LR chairs, DR set, DH's collapsing DIY-from-Target dresser, and kids' bunk bed were new: pretty much everything else is used.) 2. Do you Ever order furniture online? (Yes, but I've been burned. An Overstock chair described as aniline leather was actually bicast, and looks like vinyl. A Crate and Barrel chair needs constant tightening to keep the frame sturdy. I am especially wary of Ebay stuff, though I know other people have had good experiences...) 3. Do you Ever shop for used furniture through Ebay, Craigslist, The newspaper classifieds, Estate and garage sales? (Yes to all but Ebay. I agree with previous posters that if you don't get up with the birds, it's not worth the bother. And I have definitely gone on some wild goose chases. But I've also had some real luck with the classifieds and Craigslist, also our local Habitat Restore.) 4. A. In your area, Do you have good garage & estate sales? (No -- they're an exception.) B. Good things attractively priced on Craigslist? (Feast or famine. Enough terrific MCM stuff of late to make Flyleft jealous. (: But not always.) C. Nice things available through classified ads or thrifty nickel papers? (Haven't pursued these in a while, thanks to Craiglist. I'm spoiled now: I want to see a pic with the listing!) 5. Do you see other's estate sale finds or CL purchases and wish you could find stuff like that or have the courage and time to look for used? (Yes: I never have enough time. That, and I'm unwilling to get up and out early on the weekends.) 6. Does worry over not being able to return things purchased used or not being able to do layaway or credit deter you from looking in those areas? (No, not really.) 7. Are you uncomfortable buying used or antique? Do you worry about 'other people's stuff' or negotiating prices? (Not at all, esp after your wise words about dealing with cat dander, Red. In fact, I just scored a great upholstered chair at the Restore yesterday!) 8. Has this board and it's great stories/photos/threads inspired you to take the leap and look at used stuff, try Craigslist for the first time, or bid at Ebay for furniture or decor? (No, I was already into it. I do get good reminders here. I'm wary of my Ebay karma, so while I applaud lucky buyers who've posted here, I'll never go that route.) 9. Have you ever bought something at retail that you felt 'stuck with' because of the amount you spent? (Yes, my heinous, oversized, cheap-looking Flexsteel couch. It wasn't one of the floor models; we found it in the store's Flexsteel catalogue, and I persuaded DH it would be OK. Was I ever wrong. I hate the damn thing more each time I look at it. I am thinking of entirely remaking the back and side cushions to make it more bearable. Plus it's too big for the room, and makes rearranging furniture really hard. I will never buy another couch without giving it the tush test, and will measure many, many more times.) 10. If you've Mostly bought furniture and decorative items at retail stores, what antique or used venue would you most like to try right now? (I wish we had a really good antiques mall here, with more furniture and art.) 11. How much time does it usually take YOU to find what you want.... A. At a local or national retailer? (We don't have many of them here: a few weeks, but I usually don't find what I want.) B. Through Craigslist ad? (I don't really time these finds, because they're so random. I've been looking for a nice bed for several years: just found a solid-wood classic-lined bed from NC for $150, so my patience paid off!) C. Through Classified listing? (using these infrequently of late) D. Garage or Estate sales? (like Craigslist, these are chancy. I'd say I stumble across a good one a few times a year.) All in all, the more I read here and at the Furniture Forum, the more interested I am in used furniture. I like the hunt and the creativity involved in remaking it; it's in my price range; and I think it's a better value than today's laminated frames and polyfill cushions. I'm about to embark on my first experience with reupholstering an old chair. Wish me luck!

Nuts - I've met him several times and his wife twice so I wouldn't say that I really know him. However they are very easy to talk to - very open and congenial. The last time I spoke with him I was wearing an emerald ring that my DH had designed with our jeweler and when he complimented me on the ring I was thrilled. Granted it could have just been a savvy business comment to make a customer feel appreciated but it didn't sound that way - in fact, he noticed my ring and then blurted out "Now, that's an emerald!" When I thanked him he asked about the design and seemed genuinely impressed that my DH had drawn up the original sketch. Most of his jewelry is sterling with or without gold and many pieces have small diamonds or semiprecious stones. My favorite pieces are his bracelets. He has his annual sale in mid November and if you check his web site in October you'll find the dates. He usually does it on 2 consecutive weekends and it's rather an ordeal to attend. They have a sign in sheet and only a limited number of customers are allowed in the factory showroom at a time (maybe 25 or so) and depending on when you arrive you may have to wait a few hours. I'm lucky that both of my sons live within a few blocks so in past years I've parked at one of their apartments, took them out for breakfast and then walked over. Who knows - maybe you'll have a business trip next November.

So pretty! My favorite everyday casual plates (melamine but so pretty) are getting damaged after a good 7-8 years of use. I might look for something like this, I think it would fit my house well.

I really appreciate the responses. So far thanks to the responses I have it narrowed down to 4 potentials: GE, Andrew, Golden Meadows, and Hans. I am not eliminating any of those 4 choices but am leaning toward GE. GE is more common and sold widely including big box stores. A little background on the estate owner whom I met: she is in her 90's and no longer able to take care of her garden or house and always using a walker now (still driving though). She was an avid gardener but NOT a hostaphile. She had very few hostas. It would be more likely that she would have a more common hosta! I've been on these hosta ID hunts before, going around and around like a dog chasing its tail. Before driving myself crazy I pick an ID and stick with it until evidence proves otherwise keeping in mind other possibilities. I hope it is not GE as I have low expectations of GE.