The Winner Is....and a look at a Collection from the Past

I'm back! Sorry for the down-time. I had a few "unexpected" delays hinder me from posting yesterday. First, I want to announce our WINNER of the $100 Gift Certificate to Home Interiors! The winner is........

MELISSA MILLER at MELISSA'S HEART AND HOME!

CONGRATULATIONS, MELISSA!

Please email me so I can obtain your address and give your all the wonderful details about how you can use your $100 gift to purchase lovely home accents!

Now, I had promised to share a special collection with you. This collection is very near and dear to my heart because it was inherited from maternal Grandmother, Mary Catherine.

Have you ever heard of MILK GLASS? Well I had not until my Grandmother introduced me to it when I was a young teenager. I used to spend weeks out of the summer break with her, helping her cook and garden. It was such a wonderful time. I always admired the pretty white dishes, cups, serving bowls and vases she kept on display in her kitchen. When she passed away in 2002, she left this collection to me. I don't think it's worth very much as I can not find any distinguishing marks or names on it, but due to the sentimental value it's priceless!

This is a punch bowl set that originally came with 10 cups. Grandma always used this at Christmas, New Year's and Grandpa's birthday dinner. Somewhere along the way one of the cups was broken.
The punch bowl is a two-piece set. The bowl sits on top of a detached pedestal.

I love the delicate pattern and the tiny scallops along the rim of the bowl. This is the bowl turned upside down in order to see the details. The bowl can also be used as a serving bowl since it has a ring at the base to balance it on the tabletop.

Oops! Forgot to rotate this picture...okay just tilt your head a bit. ; )

This it the detachable base.

This is one of the punch cups. It has the same delicate pattern as the bowl. So pretty! Just looking at all these old pieces made me get a little melancholy. My Grandma was an incredible lady. Talk about a cook! She made everything from scratch. She had a recipe for a Banana Cake that she coated with a meringue. I've never seen or tasted anything like it! Unfortunately, she didn't write down her recipes and it has been lost. My Mother and Aunt have tried to remember the ingredients and measurements but something just isn't the same.

Isn't this platter pretty? I just love the open scallop design. This was the only platter she would use to serve her Easter Ham.

I like to place it on a plate stand and display it for decorative purposes.

Several of her serving bowls were the same pattern.

An embossed cluster of grapes and grape ivy leaves.

Here is a closer look at the pattern. You can see the grape clusters clearly here.

The serving dishes were in various sizes, some on pedestals, some footed, all of them beautiful.

In the picture below, you can see a different pattern of what looks like an oak leaf.

I am thinking of designing a trio of floral arrangements for my dinning room table in these. Something light and springy just in time for Palm Sunday and Easter. Maybe some pretty daffodils or tulips. Hopefully my bulbs will bloom and be plenteous this spring.

In this picture, you will see my favorite three pieces - an elegant pedestal fruit bowl and two matching candle holders. You can you tapers or place votive cups in the holders for a different look. Wouldn't this look lovely with an arrangement of soft peachy-pink roses and lilies for a nice dinner party?

These two vases are smooth and creamy. The only details are the flared tops and a raised band of vertical detailing just below the rim.

Here is a fun assortment of bud vases - only two alike in the lot. I envision using these with single stems of Gerbera Daisies in bright shades of Red, Orange, Yellow, and Pink this summer for a Garden Party on the back deck.

Whatever purposes these cherished items serve this year, I will always remember them in Grandma's house, on her table, filled with delicious, homemade food seasoned with the kind of love that only Grandma's can add.

My next mission is to find a cabinet worthy to display these priceless memories.

Until then,

Happy Decorating!

~Alisa