<p>chocoholic, I really enjoyed that pattern for a decade. We just got bored with looking at those dishes. My SIL has them too. What we did was we kept the larger bowls since we go through them between soups, ice cream, cereal etc., and we offered our old dishes to her. I was surprised that she wanted them (I guess add some more, and get rid of any of her chipped pcs.). Now we have Arabella, which I like less, but it is growing on me. My H likes them more. Go figure.</p>
<p>If any of you have partial sets of china/dishes in a discontinued pattern, you can almost certainly sell them to Replacements or on Ebay for enough $$ to buy a new complete set. Replacements will send you a quotation immediately.</p>
<p>I have Johan Haviland china that I bought at a grocery store piece by piece with my first job in high school when I was about 16! I was so proud! As china goes, I think it’s fair to say it’s nothing special! But maybe because it’s cheap, I’m not so concerned about it getting chipped or broken. I put it in the dishwasher, too. It’s a beautiful pattern, and I still love it, and I use it regularly! I bought myself a set of 12 of everything, plus a bunch of serving pieces. I use it every Thanksgiving and Christmas. I use it for birthdays and special occasions. It makes the day seem even more special, when Mom brings out the good stuff. </p>
<p>As far as I know, no one has ever turned it over and sniffed and said, “Oh, this was a special at the grocery store 30 years ago.” 
</p>
<p>But I’m all for using things. I also have a “formal” living room, which, at our house is the “music room.” It is where I give piano lessons, so it gets used daily.</p>
<p>Thank you NYMom, but I would rather give them to my SIL than sell those, b/c I knew that she already had the set and would like them. I do have an antique set of dishes from Austria, and if I cannot sell them at some point, I will go to the replacement website. I am hoping to sell them, but have not even gotten around to getting an estimate.</p>
<p>Of course I would give dishes to someone who wanted them before selling them, northeastmom. My suggestion was just a general one. I was very surprised when I learned, when I finally decided that we had broken so many pieces of our old, discontinued Arabia set that I needed a new set of everyday dishes, that there was such a good market for the pieces I had.</p>
<p>I have the most froufrou early '80s Reagon/Princess Di - era Noritake china that I’m so sick of looking at as well. The upside is the stuff just isn’t that precious to me and I don’t mind using it all.</p>
<p>The china I’d really like to get my hands on is my Mom’s old Mid-Century Modern stuff. Cream plates with aqua blue and gold ‘Jetsons’ looking stars set off-center… and solid aqua blue accessory pieces. Toooo cool. It’s good china, but I believe it was lost in a move. Wish I knew who made her china or at least the name of the pattern.</p>
<p>NYMomof2, and somebody will be thrilled to buy those pieces to complete their set.</p>
<p>Is anyone familiar with Kuhn Rikon cookware – stainless steel, not the pressure cookers?</p>
<p>Wow…I just saw this thread and read it thru…every post… I am so sorry I am late to this “meal” … what a feast!! Please be patient with me if I post too much…but I cannot resist…</p>
<p>Mollie, I got a set of Farberware pots for my wedding shower…25 years ago this June…they were very good to me, and I still have them…but, the pots I use EVERY day are LeCreuset…and yes, I have gotten almost all of them at the Kittery Maine outlet…I do buy the seconds…and I also have many different colored ones…a small red one, a medium orange, a medium green one, a larger blue and a couple of giant red ones…I have several more at our ski condo…I buy them one at a time…and I have a bunch of their ceramic baking dishes too…they all clean up sooo easily… I have the ceramic baking dishes in different colors too… </p>
<p>I have had a few Henkles and Wustoff knives…and several years ago I got on the pyramid list for Cutco knives…and I have been a good sport and bought from 3 or 4 college kids selling knives…and I actually do like them a lot…have never seen Global knives…will watch for those…</p>
<p>One of my favorite baking tips I learned is to have the mini-muffin tins… and the equivalent muffin pan that makes 8 mini loaves … I use an ice cream scoop to fill these … with choc chip cookie dough, or brownie mix or any of the breads I make… it is a nice way to bring a “lot” to a gathering… nice, smaller bite size things seem to be more politically correct these days?? </p>
<p>Based on what you have said in one of your latest posts Mollie, I would agree that you don’t need china today…and probably not good silver either… but maybe take a close look at some silver patterns and see if there is one that speaks to you…a wedding is a wonderful time to get some fancier serving pieces that are fun…a gravy ladle…a carving knife and serving fork, a sugar spoon, serving spoons, meat fork. You get the idea. If you might inherit your own mom’s or your mother-in-law’s silver, see if you like their pattern or one similiar to it…so you can mix and match? I only have 6 settings of my sterling, but I have several of the serving pieces and I use them for every occasion… I can also suggest silverplate in addition to stainless… it is kind of in-between sterling and stainless… my good friend was a rep for a silver company when I was engaged…and I got silverplate for 16…and stainless for 16 in 2 different but very similiar patterns…I love using the silverplate and I love having service for 16 which is great for holidays and showers, both wedding and baby!! I wish I had asked for a piece of my sterling for xmas or our anny every year… I have several different sets of china…and kind of like the colors of my pots, I love having choices…I have 6 settings of my best china… I have a set from my grandmother, I have a set of china I got an a Mikasa outlet, I have a set of red glass dishes I got at Target, service for 16 too, that I love to use during the holidays or for Valentines… I just bought 20 plates at 50% off at our local supermarket, the Blue Willow ones, totally industrial strength, they cost $1.50 each and I figure they are better than paper plates…I don’t mind if they get chipped…and I have a large stash of them for a buffet table… you could ask for dishes that work with sushi… or just some great serving platters… Williams Sonoma has some fun casserole dishes too…</p>
<p>My hubby’s favorite wedding gift was a pair of binoculars…and we keep them in the kitchen to watch boats on the water…and check out birds… or fish… definitely not a pot or pan, but a favorite gift from a long time ago!</p>