I wouldn't paint them! They're pretty cute just the way they are.....

If you hesitate to hang them as they are (maybe because you think they clash with your kitchen decor?) you could hang them on the inside of a few cabinet doors. Then you'd have a nice, warm fuzzy feeling every time you opened a cabinet....

I have a "Grandma" favorite, too. It's a Shawnee Pig cookie jar. It goes with nothing in my whole house, but it sits on my kitchen counter and holds my net dish scrubbies. It makes me happy to see it every day!

Paint them? You can't paint them! Here is what I would do: I would have a shadow box made to display just a view of the fruit. You can swap them out every so often while you store the rest.

The trivets can be used. Display one or both behind your stove.

I would get a plate stand for the God Bless our Home plate and put it on your fireplace mantle or an end table as part of a grouping in your living room.

I really only want to hang the smiling fruit. They are pretty big--maybe 5 or 6 inches across.

I REALLY like the shadow box idea! Our Hobby Lobby has a nice selection of larger/deeper shadow boxes, and you could always use a 40% off coupon. How about incorporating a photo of your grandma?

I'm not sure the shadow box idea works. I want to put them in my kitchen and the only space I have is the 12 inches above the cabinets (I forget what it is called). Also, my husband hates how they currently look.

They're precious! I love that they remind you of your grandmother. I have some of those sentimental things too, and I wouldn't trade them for the world. I also think the shadowbox idea is perfect.

Please don't paint them; the "charm" will vanish. I have several of the fruit from my maternal Grandma... 10 cents from Woolworths according to the pasters. They're hung under a big round clock in my kitchen.

If you paint them, their impact will be gone. I really like the idea of a shadow box or like this:

Or in a vertical narrow row.

They are wonderful! Can you hang them on a backsplash? Or, use a clock kit and make a wall clock with some or all of them.

You could certainly hang them on the soffit. Maybe frame the soffit with trim to create a shadow box "look" and add to the cohesiveness of the grouping. I think I'd put the plate and trivets in a different place, though. Use the trivets! Use the plate for cookies!

Instead of painting, you will loose the connection to grandmas kitchen, put them away a bit and see if you like them in a year.

You coukd always ways use some command style hooks and arrange for the holidays and remove when they are over

I probably wouldn't paint them either, but I understand them not fitting your aesthetic. My DM had a set of 4 1960s flying plaster ducks, which first hung in our family room, then later in the guest room. I have a picture of her posing proudly in front of the new fireplace my DF built, where she hung them. When I cleaned out her house, I took the ducks, though they were a very ugly brown with some black shading. Though I hesitated, I knew I wouldn't use them as they were, and they would just gather dust in the basement. I spray painted them lacquer white and they now fly up the walls of the bathroom at our lake house. They still remind me of her.

I think if you paint them, they'll definitely lose their charm.

Hmmm. Now I'm not sure what to do. I was all set to paint them. They have been boxed up since Grandma passed away, gosh, 16 years ago?? I still love them but the colors are really not going to work. My husband hates them. My kitchen has no bright colors. I don't think I need to keep them the same colors to remind me of my sweet Grandma but I can't really undo that decision once it is done. Hmmm.

Is there a doorway where you could hang them in a line, vertically, alongside the door? Maybe tucked away a bit so you can still see them, but not as much of a "feature" in the kitchen? I think if you hang them in a row above the cabinets, they are going to sort of define your whole kitchen...if that's what you want, that's great, but it's not sounding like that's your goal.

Do you have a laundry room you could put them in? They would look like a fun accent there and wouldn't be in the kitchen, but you would still see them everyday. Maybe a soft yellow on the walls and a fun rug on the floor. I wouldn't paint them either.

Maybe you could take an arty photo of them and hang that instead.

Don't paint them, they might be valuable someday. I found them on ebay listed as vintage chalkware fruit.

Edited to say: I'm talking about the fruit with the faces. I would let go of the other items if they aren't your favorites.

I'm not sure what you were thinking when thinking of painting them...? are you thinking a solid color, like white or teal?? if painting them will still make you smile and think of your grandmom, go for it!! lots of colors could go with white and seasalt... what are you thinking???

what would make me smile is their goofy, smiling faces... (tho I don't think I'd want to hang them in my kitchen-- I would probably hang them- as is- in my pantry)

Are there some that you prefer over others, or is it the whole set that brings you a smile? I would think about how to group them. You don't have to group them all together. I like the suggestions given here. If they won't fit in a shadow box you could hang a small shelf and display there. Add a few accessories to your kitchen (hanging planter?) in one of the bright colors to tie them in. I really like the idea of taking a picture of them, as suggested. Maybe in groups.

I didn't even think about putting them elsewhere! The pantry is a great idea!!

Next question--how do I hang them? They each have a thin, rusty wire embedded in the back. I'm afraid those will give way. I doubt command hooks will stick to the plaster. I'm afraid they will crack if I try to put a proper hook on them. Suggestions??

No, don't try to put anything into them. The Command style hooks might work. eYou could also put 2-3 brads into the wall (sticking out 1/2" or so) to support them and then probably 1 on either side to hold them straight. Put a piece of wood trim on the wall to create a ledge or mini shelves. Use museum or earthquake wax to make sure they don't fall off if needed. Figure out the space and then the best approach for securing them.

Oh, please don't paint them. If nothing else appeals to you, put them back in the box. In a few years they will look different to you. As for hanging, the little wire most likely will not break. The plaster isn't that heavy. Mine hang on the back splash. I used straight pins as hangers and hung mine on those. Tiny holes that don't show when I take the pins out to rearrange. They aren't intended to hang "straight". Just use the hangers that are in them and let them hang. Or send them to me!! I'll hang them on my wall!

Another vote for not painting. What about using Command velcro strips. Each of the medium size set of strips holds 3 lbs. You put one strip on the back of the fruit and one on the wall. (I'm making an assumption that the back is solid and not hollow.)

I would put them in something like this so the pieces don't get altered ( the tiny trivets can be hung on tiny nails - even inside the box) :

I love vintage kitsch, but in small doses! But if you paint them, they just won't be what they are, which is goofy smiling fruit! My SO would hate them too, but I hate his mug collection and inspiring Vince Lombardo framed quote too. I love, love Nosoccermom's montage, but that would definitely not work in some kitchens. But there might be some place in your house that could use a punch of color, like a half bath or a skinny wall spot next to a door or something. I'd find a place to hang a set of three and rotate them. I have two ceramic parrots that came from my grandma's old house and I'm gonna have to find a discrete little corner to hang them because they remind me of grandma's house and I always like them as a kid. They do not go with the current decor, but they could brighten up a little nook or corner and just be a fun surprise, not dominate the whole room. Grandma had them in a place like that, a skinny wall between a door and another wall. My friend had some goofy old fruit advertising pictures framed in a small plain half bath on one wall.

mommyad76 already said - "I didn't even think about putting them elsewhere! The pantry is a great idea!! Next question--how do I hang them? They each have a thin, rusty wire embedded in the back. I'm afraid those will give way. I doubt command hooks will stick to the plaster. I'm afraid they will crack if I try to put a proper hook on them. Suggestions??"

So telling her to not paint them, and put them elsewhere is already in the plan. I would make an old wood shelf gig for you mommyad76...I did that for old and retired spectacles and it hangs in one of our bathrooms.

I too thought "frame them" make it obvious they are something special in and by themselves.

Did you find a place?

Velcro! I've used it to hang a small wood shelf, and it's going on 5 years! The little fruits should be fine. Just stick a 1" square on the fruit piece(both sides)and press it VERY hard to the wall, causing the other side side to stick to the wall. FYI....you may never get the piece on the wall, off!

Could you buy wooden picture frames, take the glass out, cover the back with fabric or paint and hang each of your fruit in a frame. Make a set of them....I would think velcro glued to the back of your ceramic fruit and on the back of the frame would hold them in place. Might have to experiment a little. The frames could be the predominate striking color in your kitchen or other place. A wonderful remembrance of your grandmother.

The fruit is plaster of paris. I wouldn't press too hard. Be careful of the paint that's on them now. It flakes off pretty easily sometimes. I love looking at mine. They're smiling and it makes me smile. If the hanger is still intact, use it. The fruit isn't heavy. Like I said above, use a straight pin or used sewing machine needle as your nail. Barely leaves a hole when you take if out.

No paint. They are quaint and deserve to stay the way they are.