by Lydia Ellison

Last time we were in the South (right after we were engaged), Drew estimated that 75% of all conversations we had with his family were about china patterns. China is an important part of a family’s lineage in the South, all of the women in Drew’s family have at least three sets of china (everyday, wedding and Christmas) and maybe one or two sets they have inherited from a grandmother. I love to look at all the sets and hear the stories about the women who owned them and the time in which each pattern was popular. Just image the meals some of that china has tasted, the conversations it has absorbed over the decades.

For me the penultimate in china patterns has always been my Grandmother Mary Sullivan’s. It’s the Castleton Turquoise that she received for her wedding to my Grandfather, 55 years ago.

It’s Tiffany blue-turquoise color captured my childhood heart and has reigned supreme all these years. I always knew I would “register” for this same pattern in honor of my Grandmother and her classic good taste. Today she gave us two settings from her collection as an engagement gift. I’m so touched and honored.

She also gave us six linen cocktail and dinner napkins handmade by my great Grandmother as part of my Grandmother’s wedding trousseau. The linen color matches the china and they are embellished with silver thread to pick up the platinum edge of the china pattern.

I couldn’t help but do some mix and matching with some dishes I already own…

accent plates from Anthropologie.

And, after Gram left today and I laid out the plates to show Drew he said “I couldn’t have designed a more perfect china pattern myself, I love that blue.”

Wow! Last words I ever expected to hear him say…

Thanks again Gram. We will treasure these always.

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