I’ll be honest right up front, this post is mostly eye candy. Two of my favorite collections are dishes of different blue & white transferware as well as white Ironstone. I have already touched on collections in a previous post. And, although most everything I have I can use in some form or fashion, these dishes are used often, even daily.

White dishes for every day as well as fancier ones for special occasions. White mixing bowls. Creamers and sugar bowls. Tea pots and pitchers. Platters! I have platters hung on the walls of my kitchen. Some are huge, others are small. But they always make me smile.

This piece of furniture is an island that is a built in cabinet on one side and our pantry on the other side. When we moved in, we had to have our kitchen remodeled. The home was built for a wheelchair and so the stove was easily accessed by my then 13 month old son. He could turn the stove on by himself. So, within the year, we remodeled. However, the original wood stayed in many places, including this china cabinet. Note: even the hardware is original 1970s.

As I have collected, I have found several different patterns of blue & white transferware. These are Currier and Ives as well as Ironstone. Stacks of some, individuals of others. I love to mix and match them at family gatherings. They can be wintery and stand alone with a creamy tablecloth, or become a summery, patriotic backdrop with some woven chargers and an antique flag on the table.

This is a set I got locally second hand. The shop owners had just gotten it from an estate and I snatched them up quick. It is a Dickens pattern, all 8 place settings in tact. I am sure this doesn’t get everyone excited. But, I think it is a sweet thing to collect that can be used and beautiful. Isn’t that balance worth while? Oh yes… it is!

My sister got me this delicious stand along with a matching pitcher for my birthday one year. The tiny tea set, butter pats, cupcake stand, etc are all such fun to look at. The tiny pieces can be used as vases or a centerpiece.

Old white pitchers filled with fresh cut flowers in summer… creamers with sharpened pencils for back-to-school… little bowls of fruit and yogurt… hot tomato soup in the little soup tureen for a birthday party… and even an old chamber pot full of cookie cutters. Yep, you’ve come to the right place.

And finally, my little creamers and cups. The teeny butter holder is from a dear friend. The back right creamer my sweet mama just gave me for my birthday. I keep thread spools in the foremost cup for embroidery.

Thanks for bearing with me as I shared this pretty blue & white bounty I have gathered over the years. Now I may go pop some popcorn and fill those little bowls for my kiddos a snack… come join me?