Friday, July 31, 2009

Heirloom Party

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I'm late to the party but I'm here now! I'm joining in on Marie's Heirloom Party today! There are now over 80 others at the party too so be sure to stop by Marie's blog to see who else is joining in!

I don't really have any heirlooms that have been passed down through many generations but I have a feeling that I have many things that may become family heirlooms one day! That is if my kids will even want all my "junk". Right now, they have no interest in it at all but neither did I at their age.

I could see this cabinet that my wonderful dad made me becoming a family heirloom one day, along with all the chintz I have filled it with! This cabinet and one particular piece of chintz in it are very special to me...

My mom bought this chintz cup and saucer in the 1940s while they were visiting Niagara Falls. My mom had kept it in her china cabinet throughout my childhood and I always loved it so a few years back she gave it to me! I have since bought another one on eBay but this is the special one!
Another heirloom that I hope gets passed down for many generations is my mom's tiered dish...
Even though it's in my home I will always think of it as my mom's. I can't tell you how many emails I've received about this tiered dish! I've even had offers from people that want to buy it. I won't ever sell it though because it's so sentimental to me. I know some of you have already heard the story behind this but if you haven't this is it... My mom bought this in a cute little shop in Disneyland (of all places) in the 1960s. I was around 7, 8 or 9 years old and I remember her buying it! It was a big splurge (around $100) for my mom back then but she fell in love with it and had to have it. I remember my mom and the sales clerk removing the ceramic lemons they had displayed in it. My mom loved the lemons but it was too expensive to buy those too. The funny thing is my mom doesn't remember the lemons at all! I guess it all made a lasting impression on me because that memory of being in that shop is so vivid! I think that's what makes the dish even more special to me...the memory of it all.

So, I'm hoping at least one of my kids will appreciate my things and consider them family heirlooms...who knows maybe they'll even be arguing over them someday, although I hope not!

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can see why so many people are
interested in your tiered dish.
It is a beautiful piece!
Thanks for sharing such a nice
story about your Mom buying it.
Isn't funny how some memories are
so vivid. Your cabinet, that you
Dad made is nice to have too!
I think heirlooms are really special!
Enjoy the weekend,
Andrea

Shari @ My Cottage of Bliss said...

Isn't it funny how when we are young, stuff is "junk" and then when we are older (and wiser) it becomes family heirlooms which are sentimental and priceless.

I, for one, would be honored to have any of your "junk" your kids don't want, and I'm sure many others would too! Lol. You have the most beautiful collection of "junk" I have ever seen! There isn't one thing I wouldn't be thrilled to have. :)

Claudia said...

I've seen that tiered dish before on your blog and you're right - it is beautiful! The fact that you remember your Mom buying it makes it even more special. Some day your kids will really appreciate your china - your chintz and the beautiful cabinet your father made.

Jenny Froh said...

Your cabinet is beautiful and I hope it gets passed down. All your items are so fabulous... someday your children will want them, just wait. I wanted all my parents stuff as soon as I had kids of my own. I think that's when we realize the value of family and our heritage.
Have a lovely evening! Jen

Pauline said...

I really like the cabinet and all its contents :o) so pretty. Fabulous 'junk'.
Hugs

Annabelle said...

Hierlooms are precious and should be celebrated. I adore your mom's platter and even more the story behind it.With time we change and something you once thought ugly may surprise you in later years as being comfortably securing and a vessel for a sentimental journey.
All of your treasures are lovely Cindy.

Hugs ANNABELLE

Jennifer said...

Adopt me, Cindy! I'll inherit your lovely treasures and take wonderful care of them. Hehe.

What makes them prettier is the way you display your pretties...and the fact that they belong to a very lovely person. :)

Anonymous said...

Disneyland! Who would have thought! It was also in the 60's that I saw a cranberry blown glass lamp at Disneyland that I fell in love with. My husband bought it for me, altho it was really not in our meager, newly wed, budget. I have never stopped loving that lamp and it still gets oohs and aahs from guests. I so enjoy your blog. ~~Annie

Anonymous said...

Hi Cindy,
Like Shari, I also think it's funny how when we're younger everything is just junk but as we get older they become so important to us. Thanks for sharing all your lovely memories & heirlooms with us. This party has made me realize that it is really the sentimental value that make them true heirlooms! TFS! Sheila

Sandra said...

Wow! The tiered dish is absolutely beautiful. The cabinet is really special too. Thank you for sharing with us. :)
Blessings,
Sandra

Cottage Rose said...

Hello Cindy; What a beautiful story about your Mom and tiered plate set. I am sure that when you children are older they will want most if not all of your lovely things,,,, and if not.............. well you can adopt me then...... lol thanks for sharing you lovely memories...

Have a great weekend

Hugs
Alaura

Decor To Adore said...

What wonderful treasures you have!

Pink Roses and Teacups said...

Hi Cindy,

Oh yes, your treasures will make beautiful heirlooms one day. You can leave them to me if your kids don't want them. lol I have to agree with what Shari said. You don't appreciate things until we're older.

Debbie

Andrea at Opulent Cottage said...

Beautiful things, and wonderful memories too -- what a great story! And I'm pretty sure that your darling daughter will want all of your "junk!" (but I wonder the same thing with my girl, too)
Cheers, Andrea

Southern Lady's Vintage said...

I am pretty sure that one day your children will want your special items. It just takes them a while to realize it. Beautiful pieces...each one!

Lotta Dahl said...

That white dish is awesome!

Lynn said...

Anything handmade and/or has a special memory will always be cherished. My mom died in March of this year. My daughters and I divided the dishes as I don't have room for all of them. My daughters are 35 and 32 so they are old enough to appreciate and love dishes. To me, what is even more precious are mom's needlework pictures she made. I have several in my home and whenever we have a hurricane evacuation, they always go with me. That tiered dish is stunning and the chintz cup and saucer fits so well with others in the cabinet your dad made. BTW you said your parents were getting a computer recently. I bet your mom just loves being able to see your blog. You are blessed.

Kathleen Grace said...

Your mom's tiered dish and the cabinet that your dad made for you are two of my favorite things that you show on your blog. To have something made with love for you by your fathers own hands, well that is the meaning of priceless isn't it? And your mom's tiered dish, you know we all just covet the heck out of it every time we see it:>)

Yansy said...

Your tiered dish is beautiful. I wanted to invite you to participate in my giveaway. It started today and it will go on until Monday. Good Luck!

Irma's Rose Cottage said...

Love the tiered dish, sooo pretty! Love all of your pics.

Hugs :)

Irma

NicNacManiac said...

Love the chintz cup and saucer...very pretty, I also love the stand that they are on. You are so lucky to have that tiered dish it is so charming and the fact that your dad, who by the way is quite the craftsmen made that lovely cabinet for you!!
Wonderful treasures!!

Anonymous said...

Oh I hope your children will! And it is so hard not to fall for such pieces. Then again, an heirloom is more than just loving it as is. It's the number of generations it has been passed down and the memories of each family members that went by it. And because of that there is no doubt your children will love it so :-) Of course it wouldn't hurt that your pieces are just beautiful too. Love your tiered dish and the story that goes with it.

Li

rozetta said...

You have so many wonderful things that are sure to become heirlooms, including the things that your dad built for you.

~elaine~

The Redhead Riter said...

for you...

http://theredheadriter.blogspot.com/2009/08/secrets-friends-and-sharing.html

Joan@anythinggoeshere said...

What a cool tiered dish. Part of its appeal to me is that it is full of shells. Such a dressy piece with such an earthy filling. Heaven.

Marie said...

Hello Cindy - thank you for joining the party! How beautiful is the cabinet your Dad made for you! How special is that! And wow, your Chintz collection is amazing. The color pops out of the cabinet. The teacup is so sweet. Oh my, the tiered stand is absolutely gorgeous! Love the story behind it! I can imagine your Mom spying it in the store - Disneyland is so magical. I can see why it's so special to you and you're not willing to ever part with it! What a neat display of shells.

Blessings,
Marie
http://emmacallsmemama.com

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I think these are already heirlooms. If your dad made the cabinet and your mom passed down the tea cup and the tiered server, then they are heirlooms, and such beautiful ones at that. My chldren are adults, and they've already said they are going to back a dumpster up to the back door and get rid of everything! (They laugh after they say, but I think they are sort of serious!)laurie

Caleen said...

Love the cabinet. How talented your Dad is.. Love how you displayed everything. So pretty. Love the tiered dish. Very beautiful piece. I am sure your Children will want your beautiful treasures. They will be reminders of you.. That is what heirlooms are about. A little piece of us.. Thank you for sharing. Have a lovely weekend.

Anonymous said...

Heirlooms are the most meaningful gifts, thanks for sharing the tale behind the tiered dish.

Anonymous said...

I don't remember the story of your tiered dish- thanks for sharing it again! It is amazing the things we remember from our childhood-

blessings
mary

Rebecca @ Belle Blog said...

I ♥ the chintz teacup!! Family heirlooms are so much fun. My favorite is a beautiful white bible with delicate paper pages with golden edges. I loved it as a child.

violetlady said...

I love the family heirlooms I have. They are only a few generations old, but I cherish them all. It is funny how certain memories stay in our minds - like your mother buying that beautiful tiered dish. I am glad to see you are back into the swing of things with blogging. You had me worried, Cindy!

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com said...

Hi, I'm not apart of this party, but I love to check your spot, so here I am. Beautiful heirlooms. I'm looking for a lovely teapot with purple flowers. What a special gift from you father, the hutch, priceless.

cindy-stitches-n-stuff.blogspot.com

Donna @ Party Wishes said...

I love the story about the tiered dish. I wonder if it had anything to do with the opening of Mary Poppins? It's a beautiful piece.

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home said...

Your dishes are just lovely. Thanks for sharing.

Dena said...

Hi Cindy,

I think that your cabinet is amazing and that cup and saucer are so lovely! Now about that three-tiered dish...I have been looking for one like it ever since I saw it! It is truly one of a kind :)

Hugs,
Dena

Recycled Rita said...

That tiered dish is great and that is a great story! I think I even know the store she got it in! (grew up in southern cali.) Your kids will love the story too!
karen....

Karen Deborah said...

lovely. Memories that come from looking at familiar objects is a part of what makes a home a home.
My grandma always used to love to come and visit me and she would also say how nice it was to see her old familiar things.

ch said...

Ah, what beautiful things you have. That tiered dish is gorgeous! You have so many beautiful things, a true feast for the eyes
Have a great day!
Cindy

Reginas Cottage said...

Hi Cindy
Your china is so pretty!!!!!
I love roses!
Have a nice day.
Greetings from Germany,
Regina

A Southern Rose said...

Cindy,
I love the cabinet that your dad made for you. That will be an heirloom for sure. The tiered tray had aways been a favorite of mine. I always look for it on your blog to see what you have done with it each time. I can see why your mom just had to have it and I know that you will treasure all of these things forever. My kids don't like my taste...for now at least. My 2 boys couldn't care less and my daughter thinks that I am to fru-fru. She is more into contemporary and modern. Oh well...that could change in time.

Your home is always so beautiful.
Hugs,
Lee Laurie

FrenchGardenHouse said...

I think that "later" your kids will cherish you beautiful things because it will remind them of you, and the sweet times you all had living in your home, where you made it so special for all of you. My girls are starting to really love the same things I {we} do now that they are a little older.
xoxo Happy Sunday, sweetie. xo Lidy

Rue said...

Hi Cindy :)

I've always loved all your heirlooms, but I had no idea that Disneyland was where your mom bought that tiered dish! What a wonderful story :)

xoxo,
rue

Mary said...

Oh Cindy, I love all your heirlooms! I was buying some things at the thrift store one day when the older woman at the sales counter said she loved them, but was trying her best to de-clutter her house so that her children would not have to deal with all her "stuff."

How sad is that? Growing old is hard enough without having to give up all your cherished things...

Hope you are having a nice weekend. We just got a storm with rain falling at 2-4 inches an hour here. Scary!
xoxo,
mary

Petit Coterie said...

Your tiered dish is lovely, I can see why your Mother bought it. Strange how we can sometimes remember the smallest details. Thank you for sharing such a sweet story.
Happy Sunday!

Marysol said...

Not surprisingly, I'm not the only one in complete awe of that lovely, multi-tiered cake stand. And the story behind it is just as lovely.

Ola said...

Wonderfully,best regards