Wednesday, February 4, 2009

What's Hot


As most of you already know, I adore old bookshops. There is a perfect one in town that is owned by a delightful lady, who knows just about everything there is to know about books. The shop is bulging at
the seams with books, with a huge overflow stack on the floor in the back. It has tall ceilings, wonderful creaking hardwood floors and that curious inviting smell of old paper and dust.

Not too long ago, I stumbled across an old copy of The Story on the Willow Plate, by Leslie Thomas, copyright 1940. Remembering it from second grade, I was absolutely thrilled to find it. It tells the story portrayed on the pattern of Blue Willow china. To make a long story short, it is about two star-crossed young lovers who are running from her father, the wealthy mandarin. You can see them crossing the bridge in the pattern. The two doves at the top of the plate are the lovers who have been transformed by the gods to live forever. Isn't that just so charming?


I recently dug out an old Johnson Brothers set of Blue Willow dinner plates we had when we were newly married. I had forgotten how much I loved them. There is something very comforting and strangely nostalgic in eating dinner on a Blue Willow plate on a cold winter evening. It might be cold outside, but Blue Willow is so hot right now at the Manor!

43 comments:

  1. I remember Blue Willow from my Grandmother's house, and I'm sure it's around somewhere at my parents'; like you, it evokes warm memories too.

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  2. I have several Blue Willow pieces and I love them.

    I also have a beautiful set of blue and white china by Wedgwood called Countryside. The pattern has long been discontinued. It came to me as my grandmother's "breakfast" china and when I was singing in Victoria, British Columbia, I found several more pieces in one of the many antique stores there.

    I carried it home, v-e-r-y carefully as my hand luggage on the plane and I now almost have a complete set... except the soup/cereal bowls. Those, I have been told, are often the first ones to chip/break and therefore many antique sets are missing their bowls.

    So fresh, the blue and white together. Thanks for letting me reminisce, Willow!

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  3. That is a humdinger of a book! It's just perfect for you!

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  4. First of all, I love that such charming, one-of-a-kind bookstores still exist and that you have one in your town!

    Someday I will inherit a set of Blue Willow china (originally owned by my grandmother), but in the meantime, I'm enjoying drinking tea from a Blue Willow mug . . . which is just at my elbow. I enjoyed hearing about the legend - which I didn't know.

    I'm a sucker for blue and white.

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  5. I love blue and white china and have a fair few antique pieces from my grandparents - amazingly in perfect condition. Glad you found the book you wanted - always a great moment coming across something one wants in an old bookshop.

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  6. Thanks, I was just reminded the coffee is probably ready. My morning fix is just a short walk away. Later, Pappy

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  7. Steph and I have always wanted some china like this! There's just something completely soothing about it.

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  8. that bookshop sounds heavenly!!!

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  9. Like Betsy, I too knew the story behind the design...but a book! How marvelous!

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  10. I love Blue Willow dinnerware...changing dinnerware creates such a mood change at meals.
    I have involved you in a tag...no obligation. Please come over to Blue Sky for details!
    Mary Ann

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  11. What a beautiful china pattern that is Willow and the colour is so rich. How great you found the book too!

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  12. OMG Willow, that was one of my favorite books from my childhood too. It planted in me a lifelong love of the Old Willow pattern - one day I WILL have a set!

    We have so much in common, Sister Libra!

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  13. Love your new banner pretty lady! Thanks for the education on the Willow plates. My sister is a Libra, I know how special you people are.

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  14. Beautiful china, or pottery, is such a treat, part of everyday life. Always good stories here at the Manor. Thanks Willow.

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  15. loved this post - this willow pattern seems to suit you - is it just me, or did your post appear, then go backwards and is not current again? - love your new profile pic!

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  16. Hello Willow,

    Blue and white china seems to be perennially popular. The freshness of the colour, no doubt! Spode, I think, also did a Blue Italian design. We have what is called a lasagne dish, although I would never use it for such a thing!

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  17. Very nice China! My mother has some fantastic old Canton porcelain which I think is not the same, right?

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  18. You had a child's miniature set and a little black holder for them when we were young, remember?

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  19. I have some blue china and pottery of my parents....I agree with your contributors, its engrained in the memory of those of us 'of a certain age'....smiling.

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  20. Yes, we have Spode Italian and lots of Willow (!!!!) pattern.
    Even when they replicate it in different colors it doesn't work.
    One needs the blue and white to make it sing.
    Charles Lamb has a lovely essay on collecting old china.

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  21. Charming, yes, but also very beautiful. How cool that you have dishes named for you.

    I too love bookshops, new or old - whatever. My favorite bookstore is Powell's Books in Portland Oregon. It is a booklover's dream.

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  22. Hello i just found your blog
    great post about the willow pattern
    i have some pieces that my dad gave me after my mum died and i just love them
    andrea

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  23. I have a set of Blue Willow dishes from my Scottish grandmother and it's one of my prized possessions. She also gave me a tablecloth that matches, and it's stunning. I read that, too, when I was young, and always thought it was so cool that the dishes existed. I think my fascination with it is what made my grandmother give the set to me. You're gonna' make me want to get mine out and use them, Willow. Beautiful!

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  24. Willow pattern used to be very fashionable here in UK at one time but you see little of it now. I love it - there is something timeless about it -and I agree eating off those blue and white plates on a cold winter evening is very satisfying. And they go so well, semantically, with your home and the name of your blog!

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  25. Very appropriate for Lady Willow!

    I've always loved Blue Willow. We at off of it while sitting in my grandmother's sunny breakfast room.

    And the book... what a find!

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  26. I have always loved Blue Willow china.

    I never knew the story behind the pattern, so thank you.

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  27. I like the focal color of that one tree...

    I'm enjoying all the different headers...

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  28. Beautiful story.

    Finding things in old bookshops is priceless! The movie Serendipity is a prime example!

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  29. what a nostalgic feeling fills me as i see your blue willow plates. my mom had a set when i was very young and i loved it. i'm not sure if any pieces remain or not but i must ask mom if i may have them if they do. i too love old bookstores and old books. oh, to be off on an antique and old books jaunt today!! big sigh!

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  30. forgot to say how much i'm liking your new header!! how talented you are with the photoshop paintbrush!!! just like a magic wand, eh?

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  31. What a perfect collection for you to have. I should imagine dinner at the Manor would have to be on Blue Willow china!

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  32. How lovely that you have the Blue Willow dinnerplates from when you were newly married. You would have no idea then that you would be one day living in Willow Manor!

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  33. I love your Blue Willow !
    I have collected the blue and white dishes, for years now, it's such a timeless pattern.
    Once you start, it seems you are addicted.
    What a wonderful post Willow.
    (Like your new header by the way )

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  34. I have several pieces of Blue Willow which I treasure, but I must admit, I really love Blue Delft. My husband's family is Dutch and I have collected many pieces that I simply love.

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  35. Wonderful story and I so love old bookstores. So few here. If i ever come across anyhting with "Willow" in it, I think of you. We have street named "Willow" here that anytime I see the sign i wonder if i should take a pic and send it t yo, but i suspect you have enough of those already.

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  36. Willow,
    and YOU are charming!!!
    The Bach

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  37. I love the story of the plate, it is so nice that you found the book!
    Your post it brought back a funny memory for me.
    When I was about four years old, my best friend across the street had a Davy Crockett Plate. I wanted to have one more than anything in the world. I asked my mother to get me one, and she told me, "You already have a Davy Crockett plate."
    She took a Blue Willow plate out of the cupboard and set it on the table in front of me. It's right here."
    I protested. "That's not a Davy Crockett Plate, where is Davy Crockett?"
    My mother pointed to the tree. "He's hiding right behind that tree."
    I was happy with that. From then on the Blue Willow plate was my Davy Crockett plate.

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  38. they are truly beautiful Why would one store?

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  39. Willow...you just brought a huge smile to my face. We are long lost souls. I have a set of Johnston Bros. blue willow ironstone that we bought with S&H green stamps way back when first married. I had them packed away, but when I redid the kitchen 2 yrs ago, I brought them out and hung the cups all in a row. I enjoy them everyday. Now how weird is that???

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  40. This is the service my mother had when I was a kid! How wonderful to see it and I had no idea there was a book about the story, although in the nether regions of my memory I knew it. Childhood stories. Mother only has two teacups, saucers and side plates left. Perfect for tea for two.

    Thanks for the memory.

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  41. Old bookshops and blue willow patterned plates.....what a wonderful combination. Two of my favourites. Blue willow always evokes so many memories.

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  42. I love old bookshops too: often finding a treasure amongst the shelves. What luck on the book explaining the pattern of the Blue Willow. My grandmother had a partial set of those.

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Inject a few raisins of conversation into the tasteless dough of existence.
― O. Henry (and me)