I’m trying to wrap up like one hundred and one projects around here. Not sure what’s spurring on this, my guess would be the weather. It’s sunny hear, weird, right? No rain in the last few days (well of course there was some, but mostly sunny). I want to work on house stuff, sewing stuff, knitting projects, and especially organizing and cleaning. This brings me to the least used cupboard in the house: the one above the fridge. In it we have a crock pot, rice cooker, and thrifted pop corn bowl, a gravy boat, and our Brita filters. That’s the shelf I can reach… on my tip toes… on a stool. The shelf above that is really a lost cause for me as it requires me climbing up on to the counter top (there’s a reason Bj calls me monkey bones). Up there I have this:
My great grandma’s rose chinz china. It’s this kind:
Not particularly rare, or expensive and oddly enough by the same manufacture as the dishes we use
I don’t think you’re supposed to eat on plates that are like that. Bj thinks we should use that tippy top shelf for something else, to which I look way up at his 6’3" head and reminded him that I’m a foot shorter, with shorter arms, my reach, not so good. But still he’s determined to put things up there, and he did point out that I don’t use these. I can’t put them out anywhere else, because of the matchy thing:
I love my kitchen. 🙂 So I told Bj I could sort through and pick like four sets so I can have enough to have a tea party with Violet some day (and how cute would that be?!?!?!) But he just grumbled, "box them up." What should I do? Ideas on what to do with the rest of them, if they are so chipped up I can’t sell them. Help my blog friends.
And since I’m asking for your help, I have another question. My sewing machine has been a great friend to me these last six years (it was my 21st birthday present from my mom) and I think it’s time for me to upgrade. My two main problems with my machine now: no dropping feed dogs, and no button holes (Or I haven’t figured out how to do it yet). I stumbled on this new (to me) awesome blog: a stitch in dye. She mentioned she pieced and quilted this quilt (so beautiful) on her machine. So I asked, what machine?!?! Turns out it’s a Bernina 1008, not that expensive on eBay (like $300-$400). It’s a workhorse type machine with no digital stuff, but still does like 15 stitches. Does anyone have this machine? Love it, hate it? Have one like it?
You can’t go wrong with Berninas, especially the older ones in terms or durability.
My Mum has an Bernina Record 830, love that machine, has a gorgeous sound whilst sewing. Her newer machine is an Activa which also gets a beating with all the fibre arts things that Mum sews. I would go for a Bernina.
I don’t have any ideas on the china, I would probably still eat off it. Or you could make a mosaic.
Hey Amber,
I don’t know much about Berninas, I’ve always used Elnas, but I definitely like the regular style better than digital. I’m not sure about the china, I guess you just need to do what feels comfortable to you. You’ve always been so good about using things that I would have trouble using because I think they should be “saved”. They aren’t going to do much good in a box…
I have a Bernina artista and I’ll say it definitely is a workhorse. I love my machine and wouldn’t trade it for anything, though I don’t use it for half of what it is capable of!
I was going to suggest what Helen already has…if you could bring yourself to break it? Eek, a mosaic mirror or something would be beautiful!
I say mosaic too. That way you still have the dishes – but they don’t take up the space!
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Video_detail.aspx?id=789
http://www.thejoyofshards.co.uk/projects/tips.shtml
Angela
careful about buying a sewing machine on ebay. I bought a refurbished one when I was in college. His thing was that they used the machines at sewing expos and then sold them once they got new models in.
The motor never sounded right to start with and then things started to fall off. I took it to a sewing repair shop, but they said it would be $40 to tune and diagnose and then repairs and parts on top of that. I just couldn’t fork that over and finally ditched the thing just before we moved.
You could get a really good machine, but I’d recommend taking it to the repair shop as soon as you get it, let them tune it up and if they catch any major repair work, maybe you can return it to the ebay seller.
I finally just
Not sure about the sewing machine. But the china, I say keep it handy and eat off of it once in a while. What’s the point of keeping it if you’re not going to use it. And a tea party with Violet?!! How could you not?!?! You could keep a set of four for such occasions like you want, then make a mosaic out of the rest!
I have seen/heard of people taking old plates and putting new color glaze over them with cut out patterns that expose just parts of the old pattern underneath. It really looks cool and gives the dish a whole new look, I am pretty sure this is something that you can do at home with out a kiln because I remember reading it in a magazine, may have been a Blueprint, can’t remember. This link is sort of what I remember reading.
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/rm_home_building_recycling/article/0,,HGTV_3729_5573116,00.html
While I don’t usually like the idea of just saving things, the china is a bit different. It would be perfect for a tea party and I would put together enough for Six. It’s about the only thing you have from that Great-Grandma. And I only say that if you really like it. Otherwise I would try to sell it if you don’t like it, because someone else may be trying to complete a set. And yes we did eat off of it. How fun would it be to have an old fashioned picnic and use it. So lots of random thoughts here. But obviously you need to do what feels right to you.
No answers about the dish crisis (they sure are pretty, though).
I am a proud Bernina owner, though. I have a 1030. It was a wedding gift from my grandmother. I totally love it. That baby sews through anything! I say go for the 1008.
oh, it’s so pretty! 🙂
I’d definitely keep a small set (4-6) for tea parties…
or just for a summer dinner or what not.
Love the pyrex sitting in your kitchen!
I have this pattern myself, don’t box it up I’ll take the broken dishes !!! As for the sewing machine,
i’ve not used a Bernina , but I can reccomend Husqvarna and Phaff. Phaff is great for heavy duty sewing and
Husqvarna for beautiful embroidery . In other words Phaff is like a Chevy and Husqvarna is a corvette.