My Plates
I don’t have one painting or picture hung on my walls.
I like white walls. …I also don’t own a hammer. No biggie.
I do, however, have a kitchen full of pretty plates, little cups, and wooden bowls.
I like to eat off of my art.
Since so many of you have asked me about my plates… well, here’s a few answers.
The answers mostly have to do with the Anthropologie sale table… just so you know.
These plates are the most often used and most often asked about on my blog.
They’re old. This set was my grandparents’ wedding china… the china they received as a wedding gift waaaay back in the day. I would love to tell you more about where this set is from, but all it says in the back is Made in China in a weird, fancy font. There’s no brand name, or design name I can offer you. Not ideal. Apologies.
(a) That stands for Anthropologie. I get a lot of pretty plates from the sale section of Anthropologie. It’s the spot. Check it.
(v) Vintage. I find most of these little gems at thrift stores. They’re usually a dollar. Bonus.
(gift)s are nice. I like plates as presents.
(super cheap) plates come from the 99cent store. I’m not too proud… but why do these stores always smell funny?
(oops) Maybe I accidentally ‘borrowed’ this little dish from a hotel in San Francisco. That’s bad. Don’t be like me.
(wedding) plates from my grandparents’ and parents’ wedding. Old and fancy.
Anthropologie plate + Ikea charger + wooden bowl from Whole Foods + random vintage spoon with stars on it = delicious carrot soup.
Tracy sent me a bunch of clever plates for my birthday. My favorite is this ceramic egg holder. It’s totally classing up my fridge. Thank you, Tracy!!
Speaking of eggs… these Robin’s Egg Wedges are too good.
Pretty little vintage plates + Ikea charger + wrapping paper + linens + old postcard + ceramic chic + baking sheet with used parchment paper = rad food styling?
Not everything has to match. I’m not a matcher.
I hope this inspires you to
a) hit up thrift stores and garage sales for pretty plates and bowls.
b) buy pretty things from Anthropologie.
c) use wrapping paper as a disposable table cloth.
d) eat off of pretty things. every day. because life is short. and we can make it pretty.
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i get a lot of my dishes from the anthropologie clearance rack, too! also, i love hitting up thrift shops and antique stores for old silverware, teacups, and fun bowls. i’d much rather have a cabinet full of mismatched dishes with tons of character than a boring, too-expensive matchy-matchy set. i’m so not matchy-matchy.
how do you store your dishes? i really want to get a china cabinet, but i gasp at the prices of brand new ones. i’m hoping to stumble across one at a vintage shop someday that i can paint a whimsical color!
I seriously LOVE it when bloggers such as yourself give us peeks into what goes on behind the lens. Thanks for sharing!
I got the cutest animal soup mugs at the dollar store once. I got a set of four because I must have things in even numbers, must eat M&M’s in even numbers…..I know, I am weird. I also have a cute little plate that I got out of a free cycle box. When I worked for Swiss Colony in Wisconsin I used to get dishes & stuff from the employee store & if I waited long enough I could get them for free. I am more of a drink ware person though, I have lots of odd glasses & mugs in my cabinets. It’s funny though because my regular dishes all match as does the silverware (we moved into a new house & my boyfriend bought these things) but I got to pick so they are pretty. Thanks for sharing pics of your pretty plates. :)
Stephanie…I am like that too, I have to have things in even numbers or eat things in even numbers. I would never just eat 1 cookie…have to have two. Wow. I never met anyone who does that…not that I have met you but the world of blog brings us all together now doesn’t? HA!
I am totally with you on the super pretty plate lust. I make it my bidnez to find plate prettiness wherever I go. Maybe I may have found one or two in a hotel. Maybe they’ve come home with me. Maybe not. Blame it on the mini bar.
Gorgeous! the Anthropologie sale table has added several little lovelies to my cupboards as well!
also not a matcher…..i’ve been a plate addict for years (although it’s now morphing into a tray addiction, ha)….love your collection joy:-)
I’ve wondered about your beautiful food-bling! At least I’m not alone in my soft-spot for vintage mismatched plates. Now, how to convince my delightful cohabitor to share the vision….?
I just LOVE all of your beautiful mismatched plates! And I love that you actually use your vintage plates. So many people like to keep those on display or hiding in a cupboard for fear of breaking. Like you I believe in using them as much as I possibly can. Eating from a beautiful vintage plate is 10 times as much fun as simply looking at them in my book!
I especially love the plate in the first group photo that is in the upper right and has red script and a picture of a rooster (I think). It is just charming and I was wondering if you could tell me what it says (looks like maybe French writing) and who made it. That would be awesome! :D
I love the egg holder. I got one for my fridge this spring and I love how it jazzes up the eggs and I always know how many eggs I have!! I have a bowl addiction and get some of my best bowls through Anthropologie and Uncommon Goods!!
I LOVE dishes! Especially cute plates and tea cups from thrift stores. I just know I’m going to accumulate too many and have a problem on my hands, but oh well. I’ll just tell myself I’m saving them for when I have my own food blog!
I had no idea Anthropologie had such cute plates! I’m dying to go there now.
Everything is so cute! Definitely feeling inspired now :)
You can’t beat grandparents’ wedding china. And I’m always amazed by how great unmatched things look together! Awesome collection.
So many plate stories! Maybe we can share our plates with you?
Those are beautiful!
I’ve been noticing the lovely plates that you’ve been using! I listened to your podcast and found out they were vintage ones from thrift stores! I’m totally going to grab some plates at my local thrift store! Using pretty plates makes the world a better place, yeah, sorta, at least I like to think it does. HAHA.
I always see neat plates out and now I think of you whenever I see them! Maybe I’ll be a non-matcher too!
I am in lust. Those plates are gorgeous!
Girlfriend, I do not need an excuse to buy at Anthro. I only hope there are some plates (napkins etc) left now that you gave away our secret.
I love your dishes. I have a major thing for tea cups and saucers. I can’t seem to pass them up. Add that to my tea pot collection and you would think I was a Brit. But I love them and tea just tastes better out of a china cup.
I love you!
Anthropologie rocks!
you’ve inspired me!
going plate hunting.
Is that a napkin from Picking Daisies? They’re my favorite!
You can never have too many pretty plates… and bowls… and cups… and… :)
I love your dishes, this post, and anthropologie! I will definitely try to ardently search thrift stores in the future..I just never seem to find any gems.
i just LOOOOVE your plates! they’re the greatest!
Thank you for the inspiration! I was at a local recycle shop here in Japan and came across a gorgeous lime green plate that I normally would have walked past but decided to pick it up! My collection has officially begun, hopefully one day it will be as glorious as yours!
I am obsessed with antique tea cups and other kitchen essentials. They make me happy to use something that has been used so many other times…I wonder if they played a part in a wedding, or baby shower, or graduation or homecoming :) They make me happy. I also love small dishes and antique silverware! My favorite things are my glass crab dishes. I got them in MD years ago, and I guess they are for crab dip or something. I’ve never used them though…may have to remedy that this summer!!! Got any good dip recipes Joy?
I also share a love for mismatch vintage plates, teacups and wine goblets. The boyfriend and I are collecting them for our wedding. Whenever we have a free Sunday morning, we scour the local swap meets. Our greatest find getting 7 wine goblets and several small plates for 25 cents each. I love the dishware from Anthropologie as well but we are on a tight wedding budget.
“(oops) Maybe I accidentally ‘borrowed’ this little dish from a hotel in San Francisco. That’s bad. Don’t be like me.”
Do you have any tips on what one would call this if dish if trying to find on Amazon? Or happen to “accidentally” email me the hotel’s number so that I can politely grill them on where they got them from? Does it have any manufacturing info on the bottom of the dish? Thanks.