Tag: vintage

Vintage Tablecloth: Blue scrolls and roses

Happy Finds, Linens

My last fun purchase while thrifting in Colorado is this lovely vintage tablecloth.


I haven’t added to my tablecloth collection for several years.  I manage my collections like this:  I decide what I’ll use it for, and a place to keep it in.  When the space is full, my collection is complete.  I started this 10 years ago when I fell in love with a teacup.  I built myself a display rack that would hold ten teacups and saucers, and collected until it was full.  Done.   I like having limits like that.

When we built our house, I found a couple of awesome cupboards at Costco that fit my kitchen perfectly.   I store my table linens in them.  It’s a perfect arrangement, right next to the table where I use them with glass sliding doors that make for beautiful display and easy access.  They’re just about full, so I quit collecting a few years ago.

Until I saw this one.


It’s just me.  The bright blue is my blue.  Combined with the deep red roses, the white background, and the beautiful blue scroll design, it’s perfect.  So I made an exception.


It’s in beautiful condition with only a couple of faint yellow spots.  It measures 47 by 50 inches, with no tag or manufacturer’s markings of any kind.


It’s also my new favorite.


Taking these pictures also reminded me that I got busy last spring and never finished posting my collection.  Time to work on that again!  Look for more gorgeous vintage linens soon.  Until then, I think a backyard lunch is in order, complete with the tablecloth.


Have a great day!

Hopeful Homemaker

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Warwick China, Adam Pattern

Dishes, Happy Finds



I found these plates at a yard sale in Colorado.  Something about the pattern really appealed to me, so I picked them up to get a closer look.  I turned one of the plates over and saw this:


1945!  My heart started beating a little bit faster.   I should have known.  I seem to have an innate ability to pick out and love things dating to the 40’s.  The other plates read 1945, 1947, and this one had a different stamp on the back, dating to 1940.  Seventy years old.  So cool.


I approached the woman selling them and when she saw what I held she said, “Oh, I love those.”  I asked where she got them, and she said that her friend’s mother had given them to her.  I purchased four dinner plates and a butter pat dish from her for $3.00 and walked away giddy.


I’ve since done some research on this china.  It was restaurant china, and the Adam pattern was produced in green, blue and black.  Warwick China went out of business in 1951.


Typically I’m not drawn to dark greens, but I think these plates are fabulous.  I love the simple elegance of the pattern. I think they would be beautiful to use for Thanksgiving dinner or Christmas.   In my online research, I found only three pieces of this china for sale, and a plate is selling for around $10.   It appears that I just fell in love with dishes that are hard to find!


Can I ask a favor?  If you ever see some of these plates at thrift stores, yard sales, etc. will you snatch them up for me?  I’ll pay you for them.  I would love to collect enough of them to serve dinner on, which at my house means 10 plates.

Warwick China, Adam pattern.  My new favorite dishes.  Do you have a vintage china pattern that you love?

Hopeful Homemaker

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Treasure Hunting in Littleton

Happy Finds



Any time you spend 7 hours checking out yard sales, a flea market, and a store that sells the leftovers from yard sales, chances are good that you’ll find something fun.

This is exactly what happened to my parents, sisters and me last weekend.  The above picture is a sampling of some things I picked up.  Don’t worry, the painting is NOT becoming part of my decor.  The frame, however, is.


It’s seen better days, but I only paid $5 for it.  I’ll give it new life with a fresh coat of paint.  It’s going to be beautiful.


This vintage set of eight silver plated goblets will be right at home with my collection of vintage silver.  Later in the day I added a 9th to the mix for less than a dollar.  The size is a bit off, but it fits right in.  If  I can find one more, I have enough for my whole family!  I love the patina of old silver.  So beautiful.


I scored the mirror for only $1.00.  Again, paint will give it a whole new life.  Please don’t ask me to explain why I can’t seem to leave mirrors behind.   They just call my name, I guess.


I found a silver bread plate, a gravy boat, 4 napkin holders, 6 china butter pat dishes (for my little girls’ toy kitchen)  and a couple more silver pieces for a total of $4.00.  The card games were 10 cents each.


I am not a collector of vintage tin canisters, but every once in a while one gets my attention.  I liked the green illustrations of different herbs along the bottom of this one.  I paid 50 cents for it.

I also found a US flag on a nice wooden pole for $2, a pair of crutches for $1 (which my children haven’t stopped playing with yet), and a Littlest Pet Shop set for $2.    I’d say that the best deal of the day went to my sister who found an awesome little dresser for $3.  My favorite find of the day was also $3, but it deserves a post all its own.  I’m excited to share.

It was a fun day full of surprises, good memories, and some fun finds.  I’ll take shopping like this over the mall any day!

Hopeful Homemaker

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