I'm joining Chari for her weekly meme called Sunday Favorites
over at Happy To Design.
Originally posted about a year ago.
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The memories of both of my grandmothers inhabit my kitchen and guide me through the adventures that take place in the heart of my home.
My vintage Red Wing "Chef Pierre" cookie jar lived with my maternal grandmother for almost 50 years and came to live in my kitchen almost 20 years ago. This piece was designed by Charles Murphy, a wildlife artist who worked with Red Wing in the 1940s and 1950s. Chef Pierre was designed in 1941 and there were two companion jars in the series, a Dutch girl and a Monk.
My "country" Grandma 1952
Chef Pierre has been serving up cookies and baking other wonderful pastries for many years, but he now just oversees the kitchen from his perch above the range. He deserves a rest after all these years!
A few days ago I posted a couple of images of my kitchen as it recovered from the Christmas festivities, including an image of part of my vintage Fiesta collection.
Both of my grandmothers had Fiesta in their kitchens, but my paternal grandmother's sunny yellow breakfast room with white built in cabinets is what left the lasting impression of how wonderful all the colors could be.
My "city" Grandma 1949
Most of Grandma's Fiesta was eventually sent off to college with grown children and grandchildren, but a few pieces did survive. After my grandmother died in 1982, my Aunt gave me Grandma's Cobalt Blue Fiesta mug shown on the left-hand second shelf in this image.
I had that mug for about 6 years before I ever even thought about acquiring any other pieces. In 1988 I needed new everyday dinnerware, so I chose the recently (1986) reissued Fiesta and then began to pick up pieces of vintage too. The rest, as they say, is history.
Some additional pictures of the vintage Fiesta. I only collect the "original six" colors in vintage, but have not been as selective in the Post 86 Fiesta, as I have pretty much ALL the colors!!
Originally posted for
Show and Tell Friday over at Cindy's My Romantic Home
Posts
I enjoyed this post a lot! I love to learn how someone gets hooked on collecting something like Fiesta. Your story is wonderful and your collection is amazing! Love the display cabinets!
ReplyDeleteChief Pierre looks very happy with his view of the kitchen. Happy New Year!
Hi Candy!
ReplyDeleteYou have the most beautiful collection of Fiesta! I only own one piece and I must say, I treasure it!
Have a wonderful 2010!!
Now that cookie jar....not only an heirloom but....wow!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the eclectic colors of the dinnerware.
My show n tell is just catching up more or less, from the 2 week bloggin' hiatus. HERE
HAPPY 2010!!
What an absolutely great collection of Fiesta! I love the colors, and the fact that you have vintage pieces from cherished family members makes it all the more special. And your Chef Pierre commands a lofty perch on your hood mantel. Nice to meet you.
ReplyDelete~ Sue
I've just come to your blog from My Romantic Homee. Being quite the dish collector myself, I loved your post. That is some serious collection. You are so fortunate to have just awesome space to display it.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
- The Tablescaper
Hi Candy!
ReplyDeleteLove the images of your grandmother and of course, your magnificent Fiesta Ware!
Thanks for sharing...stop by!
Coming over from My Romantic Home.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love your happy kitchen. It is gorgeous. Lovin' the Fiesta collection, especially the plates and mixing bowls on the top!
Rhonda
I'm so glad to meet Chef Pierre! He's a great supervisor of your kitchen magic!
ReplyDeleteThat kitchen is fabulous! Love it! and you have an amazing collection!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and colorful home! Thanks for sharing and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI Love your Fiesta. I also have Fiesta and use it everyday. Mine is the newer fiesta, I have a few vintage pieces.
ReplyDeleteI love Chef Pierre, he is adorable, your fiestware is gorgeous, what great colors! You have the perfect kitchen for it, too. I love your range surround! Thanks for the tour, Hugs, Cindy S.
ReplyDeleteI love your vintage Fiesta and how it is displayed in your kitchen, really pretty!
ReplyDeleteWow! Love all the colors in your kitchen. It looks so bright and cheery! What a treat for the eyes and the tummy!
ReplyDeleteChef Pierre thanks you for all you lovely comments! He's a happy cook, but does complain when I forget to turn on the range fan....and he requires a regular soap suds bath with very steady hands. :-)
ReplyDeleteCindy, I love my range hood surround too! It was one of the elements that was difficult to put together just like I wanted it. Took a lot of research, but I found a Sacramento start-up company that hand casts these composite "concrete" pieces and then mortars them in place. It was amazing to watch the installer turn a couple dozen cast pieces into a surround in a little over an hour! The venting system is by Viking and I had the motor installed on the roof (about 13' above the cooktop of the range), but still sounds like a jet plane!! Does the job really well, but don't plan on carrying on a conversation while you slave over the hot range.
OMG......the sun is coming out!! Wahooooooo!
Wow! What an incredible collection of Fiesta! You have them displayed beautifully. I enjoyed your year in review, Candy.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year...Kathy
Wow, what a wonderful collection you have! I really love to see what people collect! The cookie jar is so special and it looks wonderful where you have it displayed!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection of Fiesta...and you have it displayed so beautifully.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year
Carrie
I'm new to your blog and found it so beautiful. What a great kitchen you have. I also have Fiesta ( in white ) and have loved it for many years now. I think it's going on twenty five WOW how time flies. The funny thing is I didn't know a thing about it when I bought it that many years ago. Just lucked out! Thanks for sharing your beautiful kitchen and collection.
ReplyDeletedonna
Good Evening Ladies!
ReplyDeleteWow, where did the day go?
Thank you for all your nice comments, I do love my dishes and my kitchen! I also like to hear the stories behind how collectors began their search for different things. I come from a long line of family members that amass objects whether they are stones or dishes or whatever.
Hope you all stop back again soon.
I love fiesta ware, but only have one vintage piece, an old yellow teapot of my mother in law's. I love all the color and the way you have them displayed in your kitchen it just the best!
ReplyDeleteThanks podso! It does help brighten things up on these gloomy rainy days!
ReplyDeleteWOW! It's hard to take it...its so beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you LillyB .... it is beautiful, but the windows and the range hood need a good cleaning, wanna stop by???? LOL
ReplyDeleteCandy
Your collection is amazing! I have a couple cobalt blue pieces but that's it. (and they're new)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post and kitchen. I can't wait for my mom to get home from church so I can show this to her! She is going to love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful post about memories of your Grandmother; and, your collection of fiestaware is fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous Fiesta collection!
ReplyDeleteHi Candy...
ReplyDeleteIt's such a treasure to have these sweet pieces from your grandmothers! I love Chef Pierre...he looks right at home and so very happy up on your kitchen shelf, Candy! My friend, I always stand in awe when I see all of your fabulous fiestaware filling the cabinets and shelves at your place! While viewing this post, the thought came to me...that I would love to shop those cabinets and shelves! Hehe! Thank you so much for sharing your sweet treasures and more of your awesome fiestaware collection with us this week for Sunday Favorites!!!
Warmest wishes,
Chari @Happy To Design
Thanks ladies! I do love my kitchen and my dishes, something so comforting about making something good to eat!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by to visit,
Candy
I also have my maternal grandmother's Chef cookie jar in yellow, just like yours. Nana kept him on the formica kitchen table. He stood on a hand-made doily my Great Aunt Julia made. I found this site when I was looking to see what his monetary value was...not that he is going anywhere in my lifetime :) Great collection. Nana is gone for decades, but her "Sunshine Chef" has been on the top of my kitchen cabinets for years! Thank you for sharing! Linda R.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda, I'm so happy you enjoyed your visit.
ReplyDelete