Does amber glass work with these ... or are the shades too different? My vision at first was "oriental" ... black and/or gold??? Bamboo placemats/linens? Tall brass cranes for centerpc? The plates are quite beautiful ... almost "prairie-like" when summer turns to fall. Have fun, dream! Jeanne S.

I'm certainly not a designer, but when I first saw the pic, I thought they'd be pretty paired with blue. Maybe use a white salad plate and find/make some napkins with gold and blue in them and use the same colors for some flowers for a centerpiece?????

For Fall, maybe brown or beige colored placemats--or even wicker chargers on a light colored placemat. Gosh, the picture sure looks like amber glasses would be perfect with them. I'm sure you will come up with something terrific!

So where have you been and what have you been up to, DG, we've missed you? Come back and fill us in on things, okay?

Luvs

I saw the picture below and thought of your plates.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Pretty plates! No pics to show you for inspiration, DG, but following along with Jeanne's Autumn idea, perhaps some dark woven placemats, and use sage green salads, etc. I imagine that finding much in the way of mustard yellow dinnerware might be a bit difficult, but last Fall I did find some pieces in that color at Kohls or Target. What I do is take a good close-up pic of each of my various dinnerware plates to help remind me of their true color and patterns when I'm out shopping. I keep mine on my cell phone, but in the past have printed them out and kept them in a small notebook in my purse for quick reference.

I'm with Jeanne on the black, either chargers or a tablecloth. Black works as a nice neutral. My MIL has those plates and I see them around here every so often. I like them, I'm starting to rethink some of the seventies patterns with the browns and golds. Be sure to show us what you do with them and it was sure good to hear from you.
Frou

Pretty plates! and this is a great 'game', letting everyone use their imagination to see what we all come up with... :)

The plate colors come through as gold & white on this monitor, so I immediately thought of using solid gold-colored pieces (not metalic gold) and/or dark grey. We'll call it 'mustard' then, so you know what I mean. I'm not sure why I thought of grey -- it's just what popped into my mind!

They do seem to show a Japanese decorating influence, so the idea of using bamboo/wicker accessories sounds great. Brass accessories sounds great too! I think they would be beautiful on top of a solid 'mustard' tablecloth.

And, if really day-dreaming, I'd use Bird of Paradise for the centerpiece. lol!

I am idea dumb!!! However, I saw an entire set of those dishes complete with serving pieces and covered tureen, in the junque shop the other day. It's in Hillsboro, TX. :^)
Good luck I know it will be fun to see! Do I need to loan you my brass cranes?? They would love to go on a vacation from my mantle!
J

WOW, Dream, I can't believe YOU need inspiration. LOL.
I've seen what you can put together and its fantastic. But what fun to see ideas from the others. As you know, I'm clueless with dishes, so I'll just stay in the cheering section on this.
Glad to see you here again.
hugs, Karen

What do you mean, you're "clueless," Purplemoon!!!! You have some of the most beautiful vignettes & display of collections I've ever seen! Now, you need to *blush*...quit that! Love to hear & see your ideas! Jeanne S.

(now, hope you don't feel like I chewed you out (too much)! LOL!

I like the black idea too. Brown when Fall comes in Sept would be good too.
They are pretty Dream!

I knew I could count on all of you for some fantastic ideas!

Jeanne, after I posted asking for help, I was looking on ebay for some "mustard" colored plates. The very first ones I found were black and mustard. I really, really liked them, but there were only 2 listed and I haven't been able to find any more online. Then I came back here and you had posted suggesting black. Great minds! LOL

Luvs, I didn't think about using blue, but I bet that would be really pretty for summertime! I do have some white salads and cream ones. I need to put them with the plates and see which would work better. I'm going to keep an eye out for some napkins or fabric with the blue and yellow in it.

Trudymom, what a beautiful setting! I love all the colors they used in it.

Lynn, what a great suggestion to take photos of my patterns! I like the idea of having them in a small notebook to take with me. I'm going to get started on that today. I love the suggestion of using sage with this for Autumn. I do have some small sage ramekins that I could use for holding butter. If I used the saucers as bread/butter plates, then I could sit the ramekins in the depression on the saucer. Sage salad plates shouldn't be too hard to find.

Frou, I do have a black tablecloth that I could use if I find some black salads. I'm with you on rethinking some of the 70's patterns. I used to think most of them were so UGH, but I find myself drawn to them more and more.

Party, it's funny how colors look different on monitors. After I read Luvs suggestion of using white salads, I put the plate against white and cream. The background is definitely a cream color and looks really good with the solid color cream salads that I have. I do have a gold colored tablecloth. I'm going to pull it out and see how it looks with the plates.

I love the suggestion of Bird of Paradise in the centerpiece! That would be gorgeous!! I'm going to look for some when I go back shopping. Do ya'll think that would that work in an autumn setting, or would it be better for a summer table?

Jaybird, you just pack those cranes up and send them on over to me. I'll happily provide a vacation home for them! I bet they would look really pretty with these plates.

Karen, thank you so much for your sweet words and I totally agree with Jeanne! You are sooooo totally not "clueless"! This pattern had totally left me stumped for ideas though. This has been so much fun seeing everybody's ideas. I love getting suggestions that I never would have thought of! I can't wait to actually start trying out some of these ideas, but I've gotta do some shopping first.

Kathleen, I like the idea of using brown. Amber would be gorgeous with the brown and golds.

Thanks bunches for all the ideas! My aunt has some small amber goblets. I may go over and borrow them so I can get an idea of how that color would work with the plates. She also has a set of stoneware dises from probably the 70's. From what I can remember, the dishes are floral with golds, rust, browns and greens. I might also bring a salad plate home to try against the plates.

Ok, let's see (thinking out loud here)...black and amber, blue and yellow, sage greens, brown. Oriental, brass, wicker, bamboo, brass cranes, Bird of Paradise.

These are really some great ideas! I'm picturing at least 3 different tables in my mind using just these plates.

If I use some type of brass (like cranes) in the centerpiece, would I necessarily need to use brass candleholders? The only brass candleholders I have are really ornate, almost baroque, style 5-arm candelabrum.

Here's a link to the black salad plates I had found on ebay. I bet though the background on the plates would be too white to work well with my plates.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wedgwood Magnolia

Dream, I loved how excited you are with all the ideas (and how the Enablers here have made you need to go shopping for more stuff!! LOL) Looks like your new plates are going to very good for a number of different settings and I can't wait to see ALL of them.

I think the eBay salad plates are very pretty, but as you said...too white to go with yours.

(Jeanne and Dream, thank you for compliments on my vignettes and collections. I do ok with them, but truly
it is darn DISHES that throw me into a tizzy for some reason!
I feel like a first grader, and all of you are in college.
LOL).

hugs, Karen

What about something similar to these black and cream transferware dishes? Not necessarily this pattern, but more the colors.

Here is a link that might be useful: Black and Cream Transferware Plates

Or how about something like these dragonware plates?

{{gwi:1429786}}

Here is a picture of one of the plates with an amber goblet that I borrowed from my aunt. I think these would work perfectly with the plates, although they are rather small. Maybe use them for wines or orange juice on the breakfast table.

Any thoughts on the dragonware plates? Would they work with these plates?

{{gwi:1429787}}

Your Aunt's goblets go perfectly with the plates. I wish I could help on the dragonware, but I'd need to see it ON your plates as I just can't visualize it myself.

Hopefully one of the other gals will get out of the garden or come back from vacation and give you their thoughts. I can't wait till Fall and everyone gets back here, LOL. Its too quiet. Tho I sure appreciate when others do check in and let us know things are ok, and just busy. I'm a big worry-wart when it comes to my friends!

hugs, Karen

Does this help?

WOW! Yes, OA, that helps with my visualization, too! Those dragon plates are really COOL with your plates, dream! And also the amber goblets are perfect! Boy, are you going to have fun with these gifted plates! Jeanne S.

I love your Aunt's goblets with the plates.
OA, it is so cool that you can do the mock-up!!
I am so computer challenged that I am in awe of anyone who can do things like that.
DG, I know whatever you do will look amazing.

TTFN,
Candy

Gosh, OA, that is amazing you can do stuff like this. And yes it sure helps to see the two plates together. Thanks!

Its fun to play with others' dishes. LOL.

hugs, Karen

OA, thank you so much! I was trying to picture how the two sets would look together and having a hard time. I think this set of salads would be great with the plates.