Monday, December 26, 2022

January Organizing & a Candle Steal

Carolyne Roehm - One King's Lane

 
I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. One of my passions is china - I absolutely adore fine china and I use it every day. I am very meticulous about caring for it safely and properly. I know the new year is a few days away, but with cold temps outside, January is the perfect month for indoor projects like organizing your china. Here is a sneak peek at some home organization posts I have planned for January.

I have enough space in my kitchen that I have each set of china in its own kitchen cabinet. I prefer visually having each set in its own space. I also have two pantries so I converted one into a cabinet to store my blue and white vases and such.

This is my blue and white pantry.


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My cabinet with Lenox Morning Blossom.


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My wedding china Wedgwood Chinese Tigers - 


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Some tips -

I personally don't use the dishwasher for fine china - especially true with china over 20 years old and with gold or silver rims. Hand wash china at least once a year if not in use. I prefer Ivory or Dawn - lemon scented soaps can discolor gold or silver rims.

Don't stack too many plates - I don't like stacking more than 8 maximum. It puts stress on the bottom plates. Don't stack teacups and don't hang them from hooks. Both can weaken the handles.

Most important for fine china is to use felt dividers to prevent small scratches over time. 99% of the dividers on the market are very thin white spun material that I hate - the white discolors over time and it is not soft and cushiony. (Don't use foam or bubble wrap - it can damage the glaze.) 

I have done extensive research on this and I only use the Hagerty Fine China Separators which I highly recommend. They are a beautiful soft blue, scalloped, and a soft lovely thick flannel. They come in a set of 48 for 12 dinner plates, 12 salad plates, 12 bread plates and 12 saucers. 

Whether your fine china is your wedding china, a family heirloom, or fine china you have gotten for yourself, it deserves proper care. You don't want fading, chips, scratches, and crazing over time, right?


Hagerty Fine China Separators


Hagerty Fine China Separators

During January,  I will share more posts on home organizing tips - stay tuned.

****One of my favorite winter candles is on clearance and it is a complete steal. $7 and it will burn for dozens of hours and make your home smell fabulous! Not available in stores - it ships free with a $35 order - get a bunch at this price! The smaller 6 ounce size is only $3.50. This candle smells and burns like a candle many times this price - I just ordered six more and I already have a stash.


Forest Fir 15 Ounce Glass Jar Candle





16 comments:

  1. Thank you for the candle tip Beth!! Just ordered five🥰 I love having a stash so I don't have to pay full price at the beginning of the holiday season. Thank you so much!! Happy New Year, Darlia

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  2. All good advice. One thing I wish I could change is a way to store all china within easy reach. I tend not to use stuff as often if I need a step stool to get to it so in my next life I'll need a large pantry, deep lower drawers and no upper cabinets.

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    1. With my open floor plan, I have hardly any uppers.

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  3. I have Red Chinese Tigers and love it!

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    1. The red is beautiful and quite rare. I also love the blue.

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  4. I look forward to your organization series! Happy New Year!

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  5. Thanks for the tips about fine china, especially the Hagerty Fine China Separators. I have never heard of them until now. My dilemma as a Californian is that I live in earthquake country. There is earthquake putty and museum wax, and there is cabinet hardware that keeps cabinets from flying open in the event of a quake, but I don't know how the putty might effect fine china once it came in contact with it, though I suppose it's better than broken china.

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    Replies
    1. The museum wax is completely safe - I have been using it forever.

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  6. Excellent tips for fine china!

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  7. Using the fine China on a daily basis feels so elegant!

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  8. Oh my goodness! You have Chinese Tigers Green! That is my treasured special occasion china( Blue willow is my every day). I love it and am always looking for it on the secondary market since it has been discontinued for many years. So unusual and I love it as much as I did when I selected it 44 years ago!💚Love your posts! Best wishes for 2023!

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  9. It was my wedding china 40 years ago! I love it so much. The prices on the secondary market have gotten insane.

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