<p>So…here is my rationale about having so many sets of china. I have three children. Now I will put this out as a given: The odds that my children will want my china…not so much. BUT grandchildren (who will be in rebellion against their parents’ style) who may number six plus will like my stuff. And I fully believe that all the sets will be grabbed up. And if I have more than six grandchildren…I’m still good.</p>
<p>No need to rationalize to me. I am in awe.</p>
<p>I posted a few times on this thread about my problems with gray marks on plates in this pattern. I finally emailed V&B and sent pictures. A representative got right back to me, said that there were some issues with the glaze at around the time I bought mine, and offered to replace the damaged pieces! This is a great relief, because I love the pattern and spent a lot of money on it. Now I will have replacements for the bad pieces and I can go ahead and buy replacements for the pieces we’ve broken.</p>
<p>This was driving me crazy, because I didn’t understand why I was having the problem. Reviews of this china/pattern are uniformly positive, and I couldn’t understand why I was the only one having a bad experience. </p>
<p>I’m sorry if I discouraged anyone from buying this. Thank you so much for the suggestion to contact V&B!</p>
<p>Wow, thanks for the update. As a new proud owner of their Twist Alea casual dishes, I’m glad to hear that V&B has such a responsive customer service. The pattern looked so cheerful and happy to me, and the price was terrific, so I pushed the buy button. 
I bought matching platters, salad bowls, coffee pot, etc. Yay. Mr B saw my excitement and commented that he has never seen someone to be so excited about a few chunks of porcelain. LOL.</p>
<p>The Twist Alea is beautiful, BB! So cheerful; I love yellow china.</p>
<p>So I went with my future dil to start her registry. I was the extra. The only advice that I offered was that when she was looking for fine china was to think in terms of what pieces that she would use AND cost. She received her grandmother’s china…although purchased pre WW2 were very mid century modern. I suggested that she register for dishes that she could mix and match and the cost of certain plates ($300 for a plate might be too costly). </p>
<p>After that…not a word. And, I can say modestly, our sales person was quite amused. She knows me and I definitely have opinions. But this time…no way.</p>
<p>MDMom: in awe? Please…one of my dearest friends has so many more sets…</p>
<p>BB" enjoy your new V and B. I had, as my everyday china Basket. I still love it and would choose it again. </p>
<p>BTW: Christmas Eve party…casual…35ish people coming…plastic plates, knives and forks…easier.</p>
<p>Thanks, NYMom and ellebud. I like yellow, too. I also mixed in a few greenish-teal rimmed plates. Mr B said that yellow makes people eat too much, so he will be eating off the green ones. :)</p>
<p>For a 35-person party I would too pull out my finest… plastic and paper dinnerware. :D</p>
<p>For 35 people I use three sets of dinner plates. No plastic! :D</p>
<p>If you like yellow china, check out Minton Lady Rodney (Ebay or Replacements.com) and Coalport Yellow Athlone (same). I love Lady Rodney. It is very gracious, classic, and feminine in a non-froufrou way.</p>
<p>Those are great patterns, Consolation. I bought 6 place settings of Royal Worcester Serenade on a trip to England in my early 20’s, long before marriage was on the horizon. By the time I did marry, it had been discontinued. So I still have only 6 place settings. They look as perfect as the day I bought them. We have some china from my husband’s grandmother - mostly large and small plates. The pattern mixes will with the Serenade so I use them together.</p>
<p>I am in love with Wedgwood India.</p>
<p>That is great news, NYMomof2, especially considering I’ve purchased at least $500 worth of Audun in the last month. I did notice a grey mark on one of my pieces, so it’s not just you that is having a problem. </p>
<p>Twist Alea is my second favorite pattern.</p>
<p>consolation: I am amazed. You have to have a lot of help to wash all that. I confess that my husband and our kids figured out how many people I could serve in a formal party…you may notice I didn’t say “we” I believe that they stopped counting at 100.</p>
<p>Please know that ebay has all manner of china patterns, from single dishes to sets. I would check there (after the holidays) to see if you can make you set more complete.</p>
<p>I just completed a service of 6 of Franciscan Apple. It is a pattern I’ve loved for years. I’m thrilled to have it. I will be looking for two more place settings which should be easy to find! I have been collecting serving pieces for a while. And it mixes and matches nicely with my cream colored Lenox plates.</p>
<p>That worries me, toledo, given that you bought the Audun so recently. I thought that it was a transient problem some years ago.</p>
<p>Maybe Toledo got it on eBay?</p>
<p>Audun is the only V&B pattern that really appeals to me, but I like it a lot. If I had the $$ to spare, I would buy some.</p>
<p>I must say that most of the pictures of Lady Rodney on Ebay fail to capture the delicacy of the colors.</p>
<p>I love Tiffany’s Cirque Chinois. For yellow china lovers, there is their Birds of the Nile. There was a Tiffany pattern featured in a Gourmet “centerfold” several decades ago that I just loved. I’ll see if I can find it somewhere and post a picture.</p>
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<p>She did 
, at least most of her pieces. That’s the only way I could afford it. Plus, I’ve found many discontinued pieces on ebay. I’ve had so much fun that I’ve started a little business in V & B china.</p>
<p>There you go NYMom…toledo’s pieces are probably older like yours…and we’re being sold on eBay because of the grey issue. Now, thanks to CC, Toledo can get replacements too!</p>
<p>P.S. good tip about waiting until after Christmas to buy on eBay! I will wait for my two place settings of Franciscan Apple.</p>
<p>LOL, every time I see this thread, I assume it’s about China the country!</p>
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<p>And a tip for you, thumper…After Christmas you should be able to get a good deal on “Fransiscan Apple”.</p>
<p>Right Toledo! There are a LOT of hits for what I want…but I bet if they don’t sell before Christmas, they will be even less expensive afterward!</p>