But last Friday, I did an event in Philly with another crafter, and he's getting these plates. He was kind enough to give me a ride -- the event starts at 2:00 p.m. and my knight in shining Subaru isn't available until 6:00 p.m. -- and he makes really amazing jewelry from old china.
I have a plate rail in my dining room, lined with old plates in blues, browns and reds. These are extras. The top left is mutton dressed as lamb (new plate masquerading as old). There are two chipped Blue Willow plates, a brown-and-white transferware called "Royal Mail", which I already have 3 of on the rail, and the red Asian-inspired plate.
That one has a story. A former co-worker went to Spain at least 10 years ago, and asked what I wanted. I asked for pottery -- preferably folk art style, something that definitely said Spain. She brought back this sort of Red Willow-looking plate, which is lovely but not what I wanted. I thanked her, because it was a gift and it was nice of her to think of me, much less schlep a plate all the way from Madrid, but I've never found the right place to display it.
And it's gone now, because I realized that the gift and the gratitude and the memory are sufficient; I don't need a plate that I'm never going to use, stored away in a cabinet that could be holding something else. It's going to make some lovely jewelry, and I might even treat myself to a piece of it -- it might not look good on a plate rail, but I'll bet it will be lovely on a silver chain.
3 comments:
What a great idea to make something out crockery. How often have we broken a favourite item and feel sad about throwing it out.
Your new friends just made a sale! What lovely work, so original.
Excellent way to let go.
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