Themed Thursdays – Blue Transferware

KD at Southern Whimsy has just begun a new weekly meme called Themed Thursdays. As a collector of blue and white dishes, I was glad to see that the theme for Thursday January 29th is Blue Transferware.

I’d like to share an old pattern that has been seen in many variations in many countries. While we are all familiar with the much-loved Blue Willow patterns, some might not be as acquainted with the Blue Onion pattern. Here is a brief introduction from Edish.com:

"The still popular blue onion pattern originated in Germany over two hundred and fifty years ago. According to the Meissen factory, the originator of the pattern, the onion pattern represents the Chinese pomegranate, peach, bamboo, and lotus flower. The first patterns produced in the west were exact copies of, or heavily inspired by the Chinese porcelain patterns that had been exported to Europe. The blue onion pattern has probably been produced in every major china producing region around the world. The original pattern was a blue, handpainted, underglaze decoration on porcelain, but there are transfer on earthenware versions as well."

Here are items that I have collected, starting with selections from my blue and white teacup collection:

"Blue Danube" - Made in Japan. Note the interesting handle on the cup.

Corelle by Corning "Old Town Blue’ - Made in USA. I got this at the hospital guild thrift shop last year.

J & G Meakin "Blue Nordic" – Made in England. Note the lovely band inside the cup rim.
Royal China "Blue Onion" - Made in United States. A very sturdy design.

Many, many different tablewares and home accessories have been done in the Blue Onion pattern. Here is a sampling from my home:

Pair of Candlesticks – "Blue Danube" - Made in Japan. I found these brand new at an antique store for $8.00.

Platter 12.25" - "Blue Heritage" Enoch Wedgwood – Made in England

Bread and Butter plates 6.5"- "Blue Heritage" Enoch Wedgwood – Made in England.

Dinner Plates - Oxford 7810-2 - Made in Brazil. More sturdy everyday wares.

Salt and Pepper Shakers – Unmarked. A gift from my two youngest sisters.

Small Bowls, 6" dia. - Made in Korea. The edges are beautifully carved.

Sugar Canister - Made in Japan. A thrift store find, it is missing its lid.
Mugs - "Oriental Blue" by Ming Pao - Made in China. These new cups are very sturdy and heavy.

Picture Frame for 3 ½ x 5" picture – Unmarked. I picked this up at Marshalls or TJ Maxx.

As I was looking into the hutch I focussed on items in "Hardwick" by Minton, made in England; I again realized that the design is a take on the Blue Onion pattern. What do you think?


Well, that’s a brief survey of designs in the Blue Onion pattern. I hope you found it interesting. Do stop by again soon.

ABCs of the Word - Y

Pam at Grey Like Snuffie hosts ABC’s of the Word to focus on a scripture in which the week’s letter is highlighted.

This week’s letter is Y

"Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,'

and your 'No,' "no";

anything beyond this

comes from the evil one."
Matt 5:37 NIV

In His teaching called the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus covered many topics, giving His listeners principles of truth and simplicity. Regarding taking oaths, He advised them to simply speak the truth in a direct manner. Here is the full context:

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago,

'Do not break your oath,

but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'

But I tell you, Do not swear at all:

either by heaven, for it is God's throne;

or by the earth, for it is his footstool;

or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

And do not swear by your head,

for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No';

anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matt 5:33-37 NIV

Jesus’ words imply our communication should be direct and never complicated by double meanings or innuendo. From a pure heart, the words must proceed in clear-cut dialogue.

For more ABC’s of the Word visit Pam at Grey Like Snuffie.

What’s On Your Walls Wednesdays – Wall Shapes

I just learned about a new weekly meme for Wednesdays, called What’s On Your Walls. It is hosted by Barb at Grits and Glamour.

I thought I’d share my use of round and rectangular shapes on the wall in my study.
Just inside the door to the right is a grouping of two Spode plates and a framed floral print.

Plate with Portland vase, from Spode’s Blue Room collection, Transfer-printed in green

Floral still life print

Plate with urn, also from Spode’s Blue Room collection

While that grouping is simply symmetrical with repeated shapes above and below the middle print; the groupings on each side of the windows are sort of reverse images of each other. The groupings are both anchored by rectangular prints in the middle. However, the left side has a round object on top, while the right side has the round object on the bottom. I tend to like a bit of idiosyncrasy in my décor.

On the left side of the window

there is a round wood clock,

above a framed oil painting,

and a framed and matted watercolor painting.

On the right side,

there is a pochoir print [See post on this vintage stencil print]

above a framed oil painting,

and a round plate of the Parthenon, a gift from Greece brought for me by a co-worker.

Thank you for looking at my funny wall groupings. See more wall display treasures at Barb’s blog.

Word-Filled Wednesday Romans 13:12

The night is nearly over;
the day is almost here.
So let us put aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.
Romans 13:12 NIV

For more Word-Filled Wednesday please visit Amydeanne.

Tablescape Tuesday – New Breakfast Table Setting

Tablescape Tuesday is sponsored by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

For the Christmas season the breakfast table was set with Spode "Christmas Tree" dishes and goblets, and Avon "Cape Cod" Ruby Red glasses, napkin rings and salt and pepper shakers. See post here.

Now for the next month or so, I’ve set the table with Churchill "Bermuda Blue" dishes, which are one of the everyday sets. Just before going to the hospital last Thursday to bring my mother home, I quickly put together a new daily place settings for our breakfasts, lunches and supper.

To save time I left the white tablecloth on (which is over the usual blue and white with dark aqua topper).
Churchill "Bermuda Blue" dinner plates
Canonsburg "American Traditional" square salad plates
Churchill "Bermuda Blue" cereal bowls
Oneida "Raphael" stainless flatware


Clear Water tumblers for water
Cobalt tumblers for juice
Churchill "Bermuda Blue" cups and saucers

Canonsburg "American Traditional" salt and pepper shakers
Blue and white ceramic napkin rings with dark blue cloth napkins.

On Saturday my youngest sister and her daughter brought the flowers for mother. I placed them in a blue and white vase.

In the center is a covered bowl in Churchill "Blue Willow" with a blue and white crocheted doily underneath. There is also a cream compote with a small pitcher by from Spode’s Blue Room collection.
So these are our dishes and basic tablesetting for daily meals. If we ae having a chunky soup, I'll use the rimmed soup bowls by Canonsburg "American traditional" or Churchill "Bermuda Blue". When other family or friends come, we use the dining room table.

For more delightful table settings please see the list of participants at Susan’s blog.

Metamorphosis Monday – Kitchen Walls

Today is the second week of Metamorphosis Monday, which is hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.
When I moved into my house in 1992 I was so disappointed that the kitchen was wallpapered. The wallpaper was a light pink plaid with tiny blue flowers.

It did not suit my taste. It was also a huge problem with my use of blue and white in the kitchen. After a while, though, not wanting the job of stripping the wallpaper, I went ahead and put our my blue and white dishes, curtains, etc.
As it is, the only photos I can find of the pink wallpaper are these taken Christmas 2002 and 2003.

But finally in 2006, I hired a painter to do some work and then hired him to strip the wallpaper and paint the room. Apparently, the sheet rock had not been properly prepared and the stripping process gouged out the surface of the sheetrock. So then, I had to have the walls textured and then painted.

The paint I chose was Benjamin Moore ‘Stratton Blue’ which is a blue-green. I wanted to have a setting for my green leaf plates, my Christmas Tree china, as well as the blue and white.
These photos gives a closeup of the texture on the walls. It also shows how it makes a nice background for various colors.

Well, I must go back to putting away my Christmas décor. I’m still working on it.
For more transformations see the listing for Metamorphosis Monday, at Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

Blue Monday - Gifts That Feed a Blue and White Habit part 2

Blue Monday is sponsored by Sally at Smiling Sally.


Today I continue sharing gifts from family that contributed to my blue and white collections. As an accomplished seamstress, my youngest sister has spent much time shopping for fabrics. Along the way she saw blue and white fabrics which she gave me.

Blue and white toile fabric - youngest sister

Fabric in Pflatzgraff "Yorktowne" pattern - youngest sister. I happen to have burner covers on the stove that match this design

Fabric for the custom-made kitchen curtains and tablecloth - youngest sister

Kitchen window – in summer I used only the valance and displayed items on the window sill.

Round tablecover for breakfast table

Six napkins. The ceramic server is from the eldest of my three sisters.

Pull-up shade for the kitchen side door.

Packets of paper napkins – two youngest sisters. The holiday pattern is named "Porcelain" and has blue and white oriental wares along with greenery, red berries and gold ribbons.

Eight store- bought Placemats and eight matching napkins - youngest sister. The placemats has a pleated inset with lighter blue border.

Kitchen towels and dishcloths – mother

White handkerchief monogrammed in blue – mother

Thank you for looking at my blue and white items. Do visit Sally for more lovely blue treasures.