A Thrift Store Find and Using Heirloom Pieces

When my husband and I first got married, we bought a very inexpensive set of china (think much less expensive than a regular set of dishes) so we could have enough dishes to host our families during the holidays. One of the first times we used it, our guests made fun of us for serving them on such nice dinnerware. They insinuated that we were showing off by using nice dishes. I was hurt and became reluctant to use the dishes again. This was the only set of dishes big enough for larger family gatherings, however, so I found myself feeling the need each time we used them to explain why we were using our china set – it wasn’t to show off, it was just because they were the only dishes we had enough of to serve everyone...even though they looked expensive, they were really inexpensive, etc. There was no reason we shouldn’t use our dishes, but that early experience made me wary of the criticism that would come with simply enjoying the use of something beautiful in our home.

When we were planning to move, we needed to downsize our possessions. I had the choice of giving away our everyday dishes or our china set. Our china set was so pretty that I hated to give it up. We decided to use the china as our everyday dishes and give away our regular dishes instead. I was thrilled with our decision. I loved using our beautiful dishes every day. Why not use nice dishes? Why do we put away all the beautiful things to use only once or twice a year?

When we were in England, I had the pleasure of meeting a very wonderful, wise woman that bolstered my confidence in our apparently unpopular view. She had a piece of Belleek pottery that she used frequently. We talked about having expensive or beautiful items in our homes and the reasons we choose to use them. Her support in using the beautiful items we have and not just letting them collect dust on a shelf was a breath of fresh air. Before we left England, she gifted me with a Wedgewood mug – on the condition that I actually use it. I use it often, and each time I do, I think fondly of our English friends that gifted it to me.

While thrift shopping recently, I saw a gorgeous set of quality china for an incredible price. We absolutely did not need a new set of dishes (even though several of our were chipped in a shelf mishap a few years ago), but I have to admit that I mulled over that set off and on all night.

My husband is the best. When I told him about the dishes, what a great price they were, and how much I liked them, his response was, "It is a fair price...If you like them that much, we could always switch our dishes out." I had a bit of money saved up, so with the idea that we could re-coup some of it by selling our current dishes plus a few other items, I called our youngest daughter the next day to see if she would be willing to see if they were still at the store. Bless her and her husband - they drove to the store mid-morning. I purchased the dishes over the phone and our daughter and her husband brought them home for me.

I understand that not using your beautiful items keeps them in pristine condition and that using them frequently causes wear. I also understand that this is highly controversial for some people. If you choose to keep your china, your Belleek pieces, or your expensive vases on the shelf to be looked at and never used, that is great. If this is what makes you happy, please do that.

For us, we find that using the beautiful items in our home for the purpose they were intended adds beauty into our everyday lives and a bit of extra happiness to our day. It is said that beauty raises our thoughts to God. I like that. We choose to add beauty to our lives, even if it is in a small way.

Today, we are using our new-to-us set as our everyday dishes. If you come to visit us, you will be served on our china - not only because it is beautiful, but because it is the only set of dishes we have!