DH enjoys the final product when I've done a tablesetting. He does think I am a bit nuts while I am mapping out a table, but oh well, everyone has some hobby, no? That said, he doesn't approve of the cabinets in my office being filled with heavy dishes. He keeps warning me that the cabinets are going to just fall off of the wall sooner or later. I store all of my red dishes for Valentines, 4th of July and Christmas overflow in the cabinets over my desk in the office. Also in the office cabinets are my stacking plates, 20 Thanksgiving plates (Kohl's sale last Fall), 20 W/S white pasta bowls, 20 square white salad plates. Oh, 2 trifle bowls as well. Then there is the pantry closet - I store my "Autumn" china - service for 12, missing some pieces, which my DM gave me. The china was her wedding china so I love to use it as soon as the Summer ends. Lenox Holiday China - full service for 20 plus extra dinner plates stored in closet in D/R. Serving pieces are being stored at DM as she has a full basement crying out for dish storage. Lenox "Amythest", my wedding china is stored in the china closet in the D/R. Full service for 16. Everyday white W/S bistroware is in the kitchen cabinets - service for 16. Do you see where I'm going with this? I am not accounting for all of the stemware, serving dishes and the like which I have accumulated over the years:). Most are in the pantry closet, but many are stashed here and there!. I don't purchase everything in sets. My Thanksgiving plates from Kohls have a leaf pattern on the edge, so I picked colors from the leaves and purchased accompanying solid color plates to complete the place settings. Also, I've found with using white dishes, I can play with the table a bit more putting in different whites or colors if I like. No basement in our home, so I have made creative use of just about every other space, conventional or not. I just gave DB and DSIL my Mikasa (forget the pattern name) dishes as they have the same pattern, and I replaced the Mikasa with the bistroware which is much more versitile for me. Then there are the linens, oh my. I have so many tablecloths and napkins it is sick. But remember all of these were collected over 20 some odd years. I love to do nice tablesettings and to do them, a gal must have the things that are needed! We host all of the holidays at our home, so I guess I can somewhat justify having all of the necessary items to entertain 10-20 people at a time. I actually thought I had a dish problem until I found this forum. Can't wait to read more responses. Great topic!

Thank you :)! Karen : No, the jar doesn't have a base. It's actually just a very large flower vase that I tend to stuff all kinds of things in rather than flowers. lol Nana: About 9 hours from dragging everything out to finish. Oiiii. lol Luvs: The 3rd color is black. I've waivered back and forth for awhile about using it but decided , just go with it and see what happened.

Thank you ALL so very much. I enjoyed reading all your warm comments. I'm sure all of you feel as I do....when I'm setting these tables...even though no company is coming...They're being set for ALL of my friends here. Just knowing that you are 'eyeing' every detail...makes me want to see it through your eyes...and so I try to do my best. Since I've been here, I've learned (still am), so much from each and every one of you, by what you've shared. Thank you! DD...it's nice to hear from you. I know you are so busy with your blog. I just love All you do..you're a great 'Teacher'. Karen..I know what you mean about having 4 gkids all at once..I don't know how my DD does it, and you're right, little girls, with their chatter, do exhaust you. I experienced that when I was a teacher. Lee...I saw those chargers on someone's blog..and I thought the same thing..Then when I saw them at Walmart for $3, I couldn't pass them up. Jay.. I find it amazing that my Gson..likes being with us...I'm sure next year, when he's 13...he won't want to give us the time of the day. So we're really enjoying all we can have, of him for now. Tammy.. Check out the Walmart website..maybe you can find them online. Lynn..Thanks for the warning on the chargers. I haven't experienced that yet. I have many white/off white dishes and love to mix and match them in with other pieces..I find they work so well. Syble..glad I was able to inspire you..what a nice compliment. I would LOVE to see your flatware from Siam..when you do a table. Please! Luvs..as I told Tammy..check Walmart online, they may have the chargers there. It's sad, DH and I have only sat in that DR a couple of times...many times we say let's eat in here tonight.. and then forget...lol Luckygal..I like you're thinking...Average the 'Expensive' purchases with ALL the great buys to balance it off! That does make sense..and would make it easier to accept! I've got to remember that for the next time...lol Betty..First off... I'm hoping you and your Dgson are feeling much better. I'm glad to see you posting again and I'm hoping it's because you are. Those tall candles cost me $1.27 for a box of 6. They came from a place called 'Expect Drugs'.. It's almost like a big Odd Lot, with all sorts of things, even food! I don't go there often..but when I do, they have such amazing buys. I did the same thing you did with those chargers from Walmart...walked around with them..put them back..went to the register..then went back and took them. I said, what the heck, and put back some other item, to justify getting them! Kathleen... I'm not ready for Christmas yet either. However, once DH finishes his village, it will give me just enough time to do 'My Thing', and I hate to rush. Then I have to 'party shop' all the details that go with that too. Right now, DH & DGson...are fast asleep... whew! Thanks again everyone.. jane

I love this thread and hearing about everyone's china! I love blue and white and have: several different brands of Asiatic Pheasant (all English) in different blues, Johnson Brothers Indies, and Masons Fruit Basket Blue (This is what I use for everyday -- these blues) I have scads of Spode plates as well (in both Blue Room and Blue Italian) and use some as everyday dishes and some as company dishes -- I do have platers and bowls and covered vegetable bowls to go with the Blue Room/Blue Italian as well as blue and white turkey plates by Wedgwood and Myott. My Christmas dishes are Royal Doulton Tartan and I hand carried them home from England -- 8 plates, cups and saucers for $12 -- what was I thinking -- why I didn't get 16 or 24 at that price I don't know! Over the years I have accumulated 12 plates, cups and saucers. I also bought some Lennox Holiday salad plates which look good with the Tartan and gives me Christmas dessert/salad plates. I have my grandmother's china -- Noritake marcasite and it's a cream with gold trim -- I really like it and feel like it sets an elegant table. I also have some Famille Rose patterns which I mix and match -- Spode Famille Rose, Wedgwood Cuckoo and Aynsley Pembroke -- not the new Pembroke but the old one from the turn of the century. I have enough for 8 in those patterns and also have a tea pot, sugar and creamer (in the new Pembroke) so I can use the set for tea. And then I have Noritake Duluth which is a 1920's pattern which is a really pretty delicate pattern with a blue band and pink roses. (I use that one the least and have moved it down to the basement -- I can access it but it isn't filling up my china cabinets LOL!) My "wedding china" was Wedgwood Runnymeade -- which I still adore but my daughter admired it and wanted it and so it was our gift to her for her wedding -- we had 4 place settings and when the three of us went to England we bought 4 more -- and hand carried it home! I adore china and am always being enticed by a new pattern. I use my dishes a lot for we like to have company and it's fun to use different dishes to set a table. I also have my mother's wedding silver-plate, my husband's grandmother's sterling, a set of sterling that we bought for $25 at an auction (everyone saw "stainless" on the knife blade and thought that was what it was!). My crystal was Waterford Kylemore and I still adore it