The (great wall of) Grandma's China.

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you have probably noticed that many of the elements in our home are from my grandma. I love to incorporate things from the past and pieces that are more like heirlooms in the home, because it gives me joy thinking of time spent at grandmas Pat's house each time I see her little treasures. Many of the details in my kitchen post are from her home. I hope one day to share photographs from my cousin Jenna's little abode as well, because she has this same way of mixing heirloom with thrift store find (and is even maybe more true and blue than me in this category). It must be in our genes. Just the other day my family on the other side gave me a big surprise. My grandma Barbara  moved out of her house and closer to family this past year, which meant the ultimate cleaning and sorting of her things. Being the littlest of all the cousins on my mom's side, I did not expect to receive the wonderful gift of ...wait for it....her  porcelain china set! Octagon shaped, dainty floral prints, and a set fit to serve a feast, the china is absolutely lovely. Its classically timeless in my opinion. Where some people might deter from floral, I just love the yellow, pink, deep purple, blue, and green details. The inner girly in me is utterly excited and ready to have a tea party. Who wants to whip up cucumber and cream cheese finger sandwiches and wear knee length vintage dresses with me?

 

I soon discovered there was more than just china in those boxes. What, more? That's what I was thinking!

It's in the details.

Handmade by my talented Grandma. Bright and cheery yellow.

How adorable is the worn in yet girly look of this little plastic box?

This ring isn't mine to keep, but I tried it on anyways!

Chunky gold bracelet to dress up my wrist. Loving the over the top pearls on this costume piece.
 (And the blue flower pin inspires me to make a bouquet like this...)

Photo credit: Bluebird

Quite possibly, the best for last.

I'd love to have a place to display my china like this.

This color palette is bright and airy. Pinkies up! 

Photo credit: Bluebird

And now I can't stop browsing images of ways to use and make the china functional in my home. This post at Vintage Origami makes me want to get out lacey gloves and do lunch in the sunshine. How do you use your china? Are you a "special occasions only" gal, or an every day functional "I eat my microwave meals off that porcelain ware" kind of woman?