Tuesday, July 24, 2007

A Great Thrift Store Find!

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I've been doing a lot better staying away from the thrift stores. For awhile there I was going almost every day on my lunch hour. I did go once last week and boy am I glad I did! I found my perfect china. It's not a full set but now I have something to hunt for. The pattern is Noritake Athlone and I only paid $12.99 for all these pieces. It's far from being a complete set though. There aren't any dinner plates. I looked this pattern up on this web site and just the 8 bread plates I have sell for $60. Each dinner plate on that site sells for $19.99 so I may just buy a couple every once in awhile...this is going to be a slow process getting a full set because of my budget constraints but it will be fun. Note to my kids: I would love any extra pieces as birthday or christmas gifts!

This set has a medium size platter, 4 salad plates, 8 bread plates, 4 soup bowls and 8 small bowls....makes me wonder where the rest are??? I went back to the thrift store the next day just to be sure they somehow didn't get split up but no such luck. I love the thrill of hunting for something so I'm excited!

Since there aren't any dinner plates I figure I can do the mix and match thing and use my bluebird plates that I got at the same thrift store. Oh, the thrift store I got these at was Savers...they have much better stuff than the Goodwill! I think both of these go together pretty well. (click to enlarge)
I'm trying to find out how old this pattern is. If anyone knows, please tell me! I even emailed Noritake and they just referred me to some book that someone wrote on Noritake china.
I also made another rose from the coffee filters last night. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, click here. This one came out even better than the first. The new one is one the right. I used yellow and pink watercolors on this one.

39 comments:

a pink-bee said...

Love those plates!The birds ones look perfect with them. What a super find.:)
I have my roses cut out of filters just waiting to get a chance to put them together. Your's look real!
Hoping to share a paper craft later today on my blog.

Anonymous said...

Oh Cindy - what a find! They really ARE perfect! And so mix-match-able!

Anonymous said...

I agree, awesome find, they are gorgeous. And there is nothing like a the thrill of a new hunt!! Congrats! :)

Anonymous said...

Cindy,
I love the china pattern! I agree with you about doing the mix 'n match. Actually that is so much more interesting than being too matchy.

I never find anything that nice at my thrift stores. Lucky you!

It looks like you have the paper rose technique down.

~elaine~

Heather said...

Fantastic find! I love the mix and match idea - they go so well together.
I am glad you are stalking the cake. It makes the time invested even more worth it when it can be enjoyed even after the eating part. Looking at the roses you made, I think you will have no problem making beautiful cakes. I too think about taking a class, but with the little people around here, it makes a class hard. I just jumped in myself - I found the recipe and said “what the heck it is only sugar!“ There is a recipe on-line for marshmallow fondant that is very easy to make if you are interested in practicing.

Heather

Rosemary said...

Cindy,
I don't know what pattern that is, but it is very pretty.
Your roses are amazing!!
They look so real.
Have a great day!
Rosemary

Michelle said...

THAT is a steal! Love them.

Anonymous said...

Very pretty plates and I think the bluebird plates go with them quite well! What a find!

Manuela

Deborah aka Miss Bee said...

Very pretty!I love mixing dishes. Those bluebirds plates...wish I could find those! Did you get them at a thrift shop?

Anonymous said...

Very pretty...You might try looking for this pattern in antique malls too. It will go with so much!

Anonymous said...

What beautiful dishes! Congratulations!

Mary
mrcarroll@optonline.net

Suburban prep said...

What a grand find. The china is beautiful.

Anonymous said...

I swear, you have the best thrift store karma of anyone I have ever seen! Those plates are absolutely gorgeous! Sigh! And those roses are spectacular--I can't wait to try it! ~A :-)

Chris@Cats On My Quilts said...

Good Find! And definitely worth it. I love to mix china. I hope you find some more.

Anonymous said...

I just love these plates..they are gorgeous! You find the best things.

Adrienne said...

Your new dishes are fantastic! They are just gorgeous and I love the way they go with your bluebird plates. I never pay attention to the sets of dishes in my thrift stores. From now on I'm going to be checking them out. Thanks for sharing your new treasures with us.

Anonymous said...

I like it better when the dishes don`t "match". Yours look perfect together.

Terri said...

Those are gorgeous plates! Way to go!
Terri

Leisa said...

What a great find - the two different designs look great together. Loving your blog, glad I found you!!

Anonymous said...

So beautiful! I love both of those sets together! The bluebird china is so sweet! I can't believe the coffee filter roses. I have to go read up now how to do that! Very inspiring!

Kelley said...

What a great find... I am so jealous!
I can never find anything when I go to thrift stores!
Enjoy your treasure *Ü*

The Feathered Nest said...

Cindy, what a wonderful find! I think they look beautiful with your other dishes, I love that it's all not so matchy. Your new dishes look so you! xxoo, Dawn

Anonymous said...

I agree with everyone. Those dishes are great. I love how you matched the blue bird dishes with your new dishes. I think it so much more interesting then if they all matched. When everything matches I tned I not to notice anything else on the table. This has your eye bouncing around looking at everything! Very nice!
Best,
Kathy

Kathleen Grace said...

I love the new plates, but I really love the bluebird plates. They look great together and I love the mix & match look. The coffee filter roses are AMAZING! If I didnt know better I could easily think they are real. Wow, have to try that myself!

Julie said...

Wow - that is so beautiful!!!! and it has just the right touch of blue. I love Nortake china!

blessings said...

I love this pattern. My son and I found a few pieces several years ago but with the light green edge. However, mine don't have that fab bird! I don't think I've ever seen that before! Blessings...

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful! What a find. And, they look great with the bird plates.

I might have to try out those coffee filter roses...they look real!

Betty Jo said...

Girl if I had your luck at thrift stores I'd be there twice a day!! Your china is gorgeous. You may just find more of it another day at a thrift, yard sale, eBay, etc. xoxo

Jen Kershner said...

What a steal! I love those bluebird plates and they good mixed together. I just love mixing up dishes.

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy, Make sure you check out eBay for your Noritake pattern. I collect an old Noritake pattern and find tons of it on eBay for way cheaper than that site you saw them for 19.99. Good luck with the hunt. They are so pretty.

linda t said...

Oh Cindy, I love mix 'n match sooo much better than matchy-matchy! I LOVE the way you can mix the two sets together! Go for it! SOOOO dang charming!

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

Hard to believe those are coffee filters?? cool!!

Sue said...

Cindy,
Wow, love you new china! It looks darling with the blue bird dinner plates. Good luck on your search for more pieces, I'm sure you will find them. Your roses are gorgeous.
Sue

Susie Q said...

These are just lovely! I really adore the blue birds.
Just perfect.

A great find! You always have such wonderful things!

Hugs,
Sue

Susie Q said...

OH! The roses are simply glorious!!
You are quite the talent dear lady!

Hugs again,
Sue

Cathy said...

Cindy, I will be happy to keep my eyes on the lookout for these dishes here in New England. I'm at the thrift store and the local consignments all the time. The prices are VERY good, so I will pick up whatever I find and let you know. I will make sure they are a good price!

I love these dishes.

Lallee said...

Those are an incredible find. They will make a beautiful table and look fantastic with the bluebird dishes.

cammy said...

Oh Cindy, you lucky girl! I am still coveting your little bluebird plates and think the new pattern work just perfectly with them.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!! The dishes are so charming, so dainty, so YOU. And that rose is amazing!
Tracey