I love nothing more than flapping and fluffing a tablecloth and setting the table for afternoon tea.I’ve always loved entertaining and in years gone by have been known for my ‘great spreads’, but then I got sick and all that went out the window. The kitchen had a force field that wouldn’t allow me to enter…uhuh I had an aversion to cooking for what seemed like forever.
Then early this year it was like someone turned the force field off and once again I found joy in baking, cooking and entertaining.
We don’t entertain all that much these days, instead preferring to head to a cafe and be waited on but when we do I have fun with the table. For years I went through a stage of having ALL my crockery and serving ware white. I thought it was cool and clean and had an air of ‘cook chic’ about it. Were you the same?…think Maxwell Williams and Freedom.
When I was coming out of treatment I made lots of changes to how I live each day and one of them was out with the beige and white and in with colour. Not just a few accents but these days it bursts from every corner of my home. Yeah it can make my small home look a little busy but I wouldn’t have it any other way, colour brings me joy. It’s lively, fun and creative…which is how I choose to live life. I’m tired of beige and vanilla, life is short… let your true colours shine.
So with each chipped ‘white’ plate and bowl I do a happy dance as I throw them in the bin, the white collection is dwindling and my colourful and vibrant lot is growing. I don’t eat or drink from white anymore instead choosing my favourite bold pieces with their lively print and tactile forms.
It started with some Christopher Vine dinnerware, then I added Villa and Eb&Ive and some Freedom. It seems retailers are tired of vanilla too as I’m spoiled for choice.
I don’t save anything ‘for good’ any more. Pretty glasses aren’t for visitors or ‘best’… Today is my best day as far as I know. Today is a special occasion.
I don’t care that the plate I’m eating off cost me $15 and if I break it I can’t replace it, what good is your ‘best dinnerware’ to you when you’re gone? Inject some joy, honour your food and respect yourself enough to always have your best.
Here’s another thing I love about my colourful, patterned collection…its eclectic. It’s not stiff n predictable but instead anything goes which means I can find pieces anywhere and keep adding to my collection. A piece (or 3) while on holidays, from boutique stores or chain stores… it really doesn’t matter.
What about you? Do you have a favourite dinnerset that you keep ‘just for best’?
Do you think you might start using it everyday? I hope so.
Hi Jen, I am so over the White and beige! I have tried to find Morrocan inspired crockery and haven’t been able to find it, except at BigW of all places ( chips and cracks).
This is my year of colour so will have to keep looking, just love your plates etc.
Have a great Sunday!
Mary-Anne try christopervinedesign they do a whole Morocco range
OH I have so much YES for every part of this post!
Beige is my least favourite colour, and my least favourite state of mind!
My home is also filled with colour, clashing patterns and loads of ‘eclectic’ goodness.
We would have the most fun sharing our best plates and glasses together over afternoon tea, wish you lived closer xx
Now THAT would be awesome Lisa…there would be so much talking and lots of pots of tea x
Good Morning Jen, I have and still use Maxwell Williams White, but when we finally find another house colour will certainly be the next purchase. I have some blue with white spots and some Morrocan mugs. I hunt around at Target and KMart for colour crockery. I have also beautiful Crystal Champagne flutes and wine glasses that really need to be used. I when I feel special a flute does get used. But I have to get over the fear of breakages. Thank you for you beautiful colourful spread. I loved it. Have a lovely dayxxxxx
Start looking now Maggie because there is so much out there…spoiled for choice.
When we moved to Australia, we had nothing, so we started with an all white set. Like you, as years have gone by, we’ve added pops of colour and nothing in our house is best, and even if it was, we wouldn’t save it. Like you say, today is a special occasion. I used to be like that with fancy undies, or special clothes, or even perfume, I would also save it for best. But since my diagnosis, I’ve realised that every day is my best! I’ll let you know when I’m coming to town, because I’ll be putting in an advance order of custard slice! And thanks for linking up to the Ultimate Rabbit Hole! xx
Colour brings joy doesn’t it Sammy and I love your ‘rabbit hole’, great Sunday reading x
LOL I’m still doing the ‘purist’ thing….might need to break out some color…love the idea of eclectic hodge podge over matchy matchy royal doulton
Try it Chrissy, so much fun x
So lovely! I love my plain white set from IKEA- ha! x
If it serves you well Erin then that’s awesome x
I love this!
A few years ago I decided that toast and coffee needed to be jazzed up so I went out and found some colourful mugs and plates. The everyday stuff doesn’t have to be bland does it?
These wonderful photos inspires me to add MORE colour to my kitchen.
My mother has stuff locked away that belonged to my grandmothers and it may never see the light of day again… what’s the point of that? Although… two platters did come out for Christmas time!
Keep being your TRUE, COLOURFUL self.
I hope more of your grandmothers tableware get out and on the table Annette
This is such a fantastic post Jenni! You are so right – today is your best day and what’s the point of saving something for “best”? All my dinner ware is white… It would be so much more fun to have some colour and pattern. Great meeting you today at the meet up! 🙂
It was fab to meet you too Lauren
oh Jen, I am with you about not leaving things just for special occasions..every day is special. I have a couple of vintage dinner sets and I seem to be using those more, which the kids hate, as they have to be washed by hand..lol..no dishwasher for them! I do have a cheaper set that is just a cream but they like that one of course, as it can go in the dishwasher..
But use your favourite things whether it is a dinner set or your perfume every day..xx
Absolutely Ann…especially perfume! We don’t own a dishwasher so my boys wash up anyway (often while grumbling), sometimes I do the pieces that I don’t want to chance to breakage but what will be will be…breakage means time for change
I love CVD products and have collected a few over time.
I realised 12 months ago that saving for ‘best’ meant that the cutlery we received for our wedding was only being used once a year. Better it’s used everyday and I get to enjoy it. I do have a ‘best’ dinner set, it was my grandparent’s everyday set. Sadly, if it is broken, I can’t replace it and I don’t want to lose it all, so it comes out at Christmas and I am happy with that.
Well I’m so pleased that cutlery is getting used Kara, isn’t it so much better getting that daily joy …and you deserve it xx
I love this post Jenni! Everything I have is boring white at the moment. I would live to introduce some colour and vibrancy like you have. Such a fun and eclectic look you have going on there! This reminds me of my mum. She always saved her best china for that special occasion. Sad thing is, she never really used it. When I turned 30 she gave me some beautiful wine glasses. I told her I would save them for good. She looked me in the eye and said “and what if that day never comes? Use them everyday!!” And I do use them when I have a wine. I have broken one already, but I am using them like she asked xx
Ahhh it seems your mum realised Fleur…receive the fun and enjoyment of using them. Have fun collecting some colourful pieces too…checkout Freedim, they have some spesh pieces at the moment x
I’ve been doing much the same with my crockery. I’m also starting a collection of eclectic tea cups and saucers and bringing out my special occasion ones daily. It’s such a quick and easy way to indulge myself.
I love an eclectic tea set Raychael
just seeing the colourful pics has elevated my mood and made me happy.
Love it! Thanks xx
I love that Kath!! Made me smile
So awesome Kath!
What gorgeous colour. All our everyday is white and it works for me at the moment but I am finding little pops of colour finding their way in and I love it. I must admit that out stunning Jasper Conran for Wedgwood dinner set we got for our Wedding has never been used. I must get to that. I see a possible romantic dinner for two in my future. Time to spoil the hubby and put my limited culinary skills to the test!! Jx
Oh a romantic dinner with those plates sounds like a ‘must do’ Jess! Enjoy x
what a refreshing post, nothing like sharing a meal at home for family and friends. I’ve hardly ever entertained people in this home, in four and a half years. Building a business has taken much of my time and energy. I need to change this, thanks for the inspo Jen <3
It’s tough finding a balance Louisa, something I sometimes struggle with too. Sounds like you might need to have an awesome BBQ or dinner party 🙂
What a beautiful table setting. You are so right about keeping stuff for best. My mother gave me her mother’s serving bowls and other dinnerware sets, all kept for best, my mother kept it for best, which meant they were never used, because she wanted to look after her mother’s things and I now have them and would hate to break my grandmother’s stuff. I used some of the stuff once and was so scared they would break. It is really silly to buy things and not get pleasure out of using them.
By the way lovely blog, which I found on Sammy’s The Ultimate Rabbit Hole last week, but only managed to comment on today. Also loved her post on your inspiring story
Thanks Dianne, it’s respectful to want to look after snd keep pieces but so much pure Joy when we get to use them. Accidents happen of course but then we deal with that when and if the need arises. Maybe you could keep a few pieces aside and use the rest? Isn’t Sammy just gorgeous? Thanks for popping over xx
I love this post. I agree too after going through treatment for Breast cancer in 2012 and sarcoma last year I love pops of colour everywhere. I don’t save anything for best , because you never know when will be the next best day unless you make it happen every day. I hope it makes sense.
I’d glad you are doing well Jenni.
Hi Trish I know exactly what you mean, perfect sense. I’m doing well…hope you are too xx
So happy I found your kindred spirit blog today! I love: “Today is my best day as far as I know. Today is a special occasion.”
In our family we muddle on, use and break, bright and mismatched crockery. Lately, I’ve been to-ing and fro-ing whether to accept some blue and white patterned heirloom crockery that my Grandparents wanted me to have, rather than selling it. Just before reading this post I decided “yes!” – for Quality of Life reasons!
Love Meg x o
HI meg and welcome 🙂 Serendipity hey…I hope you enjoy your grandparents crockery, blue and white is always nice in my book x