The Technicolor Tablescape
Welcome to my home! Join me as I set the table, taking you on a visual journey showcasing some of the world's most beautiful craftsmanship. The dishes and glassware seen throughout this blog allow you, the viewer, to glimpse into the artwork and history of the creators behind these tablescapes. Take a seat, unfold your napkin, and freshen your cocktail!
So how does one amass over 675 pieces of Fiestaware? It has to start somewhere... mine began in the mid 2000s when I purchased two canisters in Cobalt and Peacock from Dillards. I didn't set out to become a "dish dude," but this story will tell how I became an award winning tablescaper at the Homer Laughlin China Collectors conference in 2018. I can partially blame, or credit, my sister Kathy. She helped my collection start growing with the holiday design called String of Lights. There were post-season deals to be had and she took full advantage and picked up a great number of pieces for me. From there, I bought more and more of the various colors Fiesta had to offer. Currently there are about 20 in production. One color is discontinued every year (based on sales) and one is created and announced late January so you can imagine there's a lot to keep up with! Then there's the decals, like the String of Lights pictured to the right. There are several Christmas patterns, and even more Halloween - which is my biggest weakness and passion.
Don't be fooled, I rarely paid full price for any dish. There are tent sales, antique stores and many other places to get a bargain. A drive to Newell, WV gains you access to Everything Fiesta. This store gets seconds (flawed) plates yet are often perfect to the naked eye. They also tend to stock the newest pieces first, and sell everything in the current colors so it is easy to drop a few hundred bucks on a trip there. We often go near Labor Day, or Memorial Day - it is a fine trip in the summer and there's good antiquing across the highway from EF, and we usually hit the Blenko Glass Factory and gift shop along the route in Milton, WV. Blenko is one of the last fine blown glass makers along the Ohio River still in business. We've lost a great number of incredible creators like Rainbow, Kanawa, and Morgantown Glass; all WV companies. The bulk of my collection comes from Ohio and West Virginia, with a bit from Indiana and a few finds from California. I try to keep my buying local else my home would need an annex for more glass! Mid-century modern glasses and barware are my current passion, eclipsing my Fiesta collection at this time. It just made sense that I needed cool, colorful glasses to go with my very festive plates and bowls.
So after a few years of buying I discovered there were other crazed collectors and table scape enthusiasts out there. Thanks to Facebook my sister and I joined the HLCCA and attended our first conference in Pittsburg in 2016. We didn't know what to expect except a lot of dishes. There were seminars about older patterns, and slideshows about members collections called 'Come Over to My House.' I did one of these presentations during our second conference in 2018, where I won 3rd place for a large table scape I did based on the table to the right. Kathy and I both entered several contests featuring parts of our collections with custom table cloths and decorations she created for us. We enjoyed seeing what the competition was, and what others enjoyed collecting. I recall one couple who had nothing but teapots, literally hundreds of teapots. To each his own! The highlight of the conferences is the banquet where you get to keep your dinner place setting in a pattern that was created just for the conference attendees. 2016 was Clematis, and 2018 was Ivory with a platinum ring around it - both of which were big surprises and pleased us! You'll see them featured eventually in the following months. It is my intention to wow, educate, and entertain you with pictures and anecdotes of my dish journey thus far. Please check back every week as I update and show you something festive and fun.
Pink Pineapples
Post one is giving you some older Fiesta, with some more current pieces. The Pineapple plates are a few years old and I found it interesting that they brought back a retired color, Rose, for part of the decal. This shade of pink was in production from 1986 to 2005. I've collected a large array of Rose pieces since bidding on some at my first HLCCA auction. I'd never bid before and it was exhilarating to say the least. The napkin ring you see to the right was part of my winning lot - I have a lot of these in various colors as you'll see in the near future! They were discontinued in 2001
Pink Pineapples
The glasses were a very limited item and mine were found on eBay. I have also included some basic white pieces such as the bean plate shown here, and a bread and butter plate. My tablecloth is a Charlie Harper fabric with a finch, I believe, about to have a spidery snack. I wanted a vintage looking material and this print from the '70s hits the mark for me.
Pink Pineapples
This third shot shows some of the serving pieces like the original butter dish, which is now much larger, and the teapot. The centerpiece is a latte mug with embossed vases and pitchers containing button flowers crafted by my sister, Kathy. Hopefully I've piqued your interest enough to join me again soon for another table full of color and tales as I continue to share my stories and collection!
Moroccan Amethyst
Table 2 brings you nothing but Hazel Atlas' glass in rich purple. HA, for short, is one of my favorite manufactures with such a wide, classic array of bar ware and more. The company began in 1885 and stopped production in the 1970s. You'll note a lot of their glasses grace my table - especially from the 50s and 60s era. You will see differing shapes and styles mixed here with pattern names on the square and rectangular pieces called Colony. The Swirl design is self explanatory, and can be seen in most of my tall glasses to the right and below.
Moroccan Amethyst
There are larger dinner plates in this style but I've yet to find a set for myself. Pictured to the left are the salad plate, fruit bowl, tea cup and saucer, and a large iced tea tumbler. HA glass was sturdily made, and has a nice heft in the hand. I've a large amount of the drinking glasses, ranging from the 16 oz. tumblers down to the shot glasses.
Moroccan Amethyst
The third picture here shows a creamer and sugar set from the Moderntone line which had about 20 pieces made in the Moroccan Amethyst color. I also have a large punch bowl set which I will feature later when I do some one off displays showing some of my larger pieces. It isn't rare to find some Amethyst at a local antique store so keep your eyes peeled if you're into this 60's shade like me. The orange and purple tablecloth was a recent find from a great quilt shop in Larwenceburg, IN and was only $5 a yard! I think it lends itself well as a fine backdrop to my second table. More soon!
Summer Ladybugs
This post shows us a very limited decal that was exclusive the the Dillard's retail stores. These ladybugs are on Scarlet, and White - a nice offering since most decals appear on only one color. The black napkin rings mix right in with this display with some fun gingham from my sister's table.
Summer Ladybugs
The ladybugs came in several pieces, the lunch plate, the 1 qt. nappy bowl (as we old Fiesta Folks call it,) the pedestal bowl, the coffee mug, and a large oval platter. Also featured here is a hot rocks glass from Morgantown, in the style called Seneca Driftwood - a crinkly finish. I've several colors of this pattern and it is one of my most used glasses for Old Fashioned drinks. There are more hand made button flowers as my centerpiece, and Fiesta's black ball candle holders.
Summer Ladybugs
What I also enjoy about this rare decal is the way they used the bugs on the inside AND outside of the bowls. You can see to the right how they crawl around the inner rim, then down the lower part of the bowl. This isn't Fiesta's first ladybug decal, there was an older, simpler one created just on Scarlet. It was a cute pattern and can be found if you give it a Google.
Summer Ladybugs
You can see more of the details on the Morgantown glasses here, along with some basic White pieces mixed in to help fill the table. In the back left of this shot you can also catch a Black relish tray from Fiesta. This piece often finds itself holding a bratwurst on my dinner table, a perfect fit on this little tray. People often associate ladybugs with good luck, until you find them all over your window sills. At any rate, please enjoy mine as I certainly do on this hot, humid day in Ohio!
