Hi! Long-time lurker and idea-thief finally joins in. I have gotten so many good ideas from all of you talented folks that I thought I should share mine. My old display system was to use old cream/milk cans with chicken wire over the top to put my plate flowers in. This was OK unless there was any signifant breeze or no one bumped into them. They were also prone to tipping over if not balanced well, even though I had a good amount of sand in the bottom. I had several mishaps where they tipped over and my creations broke. And boy does that get everyone's attention - not the kind of attention I wanted! I finally came up with this idea and it works much better. I got one of those plastic-topped folding tables, 4x6 feet (around $40 at Wal-mart). I measured and marked for holes, making sure they wouldn't hit any of the hardware underneath. My husband used a 1-inch hole saw and drilled holes through the top. The table can hold 24 plate flowers for display. I got a carpet runner to keep the bottoms of the pipes from slipping around on a hard floor. For outside shows, I take along some sandbags to drape over the cross pieces on the legs in case it gets windy, but you can also just let the plates determine which way to face to avoid wind resistance. I know it was a bit of money to spend, but well worth it, and with a tablecloth over it, you still have something to set up when you have a lot of company over to eat! It is also lighter to carry than the 4 sand-filled cream cans I used to have to take along. Was pretty proud that my feeble mind came up with this idea - only wish it hadn't taken so long! Diane

What beautiful displays! The site for the brass ball hangers is: www.finehomedisplays.com/plateracksandhangers.asp I took pics of some of the plates over my cabinets so if you look close you can see the brass balls(not one comment from you igloochic!!) the plates are resting on. Its just a matter of taste. Some of my plates are on the wires. Lest you'll think I am gaudy, my kitchen and dining room are not that hollering yellow in my pics. It is very soft Porter Paints Wheat Straw. Amazing how colors change in pics. Stacey, start hanging and with anything you choose. You will love them because because....well, they will look great! Show us pics. Linda

Okay, so it seems vertical is the way to go. I put two of the round papers up again, centering between the two points shown. It may be off a little, depending on the angle. I have found that if I don't center them more between these two points that the plates are not easily viewed from the living area, which looks off to me. Remember, the paper plate that is missing is the one up above, but pretend it's there. It's just too high to place right now without a ladder. But... they now look like they are hung too far left when you look at the entire wall that extends further right down the stairs. The light switch would have to be painted, so it doesn't stand out like a sore thumb, but still the one plate is really close to the white trim piece on the left. Horizontally, I did not line the middle plate up with the trim, as was suggested, so the bottom place is cut off, or bisected, by the railing. The reason I did it this way was because it seems like when viewing from the living area that the top plate should be higher on the wall. I have a lot of height on the other side of the room with the windows, so it just seems like the plates should be placed higher. I may be wrong, and please tell me if you think I am. Opinions now? Am I making this harder than it needs to be?

Someone was in Hanna Antique's, huh? Gawd I love their stuff and I think it is one of the best shops in Birmingham. Don't give away our secret! lol I didn't find much this week, but I've been twice this past month. I'll go again before the sale is over, just in case. The Mulberry transferware is in one of the small booths, to right of stairs going up. Can't miss it. Probably 4 or 5 pieces. My mom used to buy me a chocolate cream pie from the Bright Star for my birthday each year, but we've moved and now DH orders something from Edgar's Bakery - the new one on 119, just off 280. I told him "I hope it wasn't red, white and blue." ;D He said he told them to half the decorations on a display cake - I have a feeling he was calling them today to change. lol They are open tomorrow, so he'll pick up then. Can't wait!