Help me to fall in love with my

Now, at the age of 68 I have stopped keeping things I don't like or find impractical and a good deal of the stuff that is just cluttering up cupboards and is never used any more.

Sell it, give it away or throw it out and find something you do like instead.

I’ve never had posh China. Have I missed out?

Things you dislike in your house = clutter. Get rid. As others have said - life is too short. Find something lighter and that you love - that will lift your heart every time you use it.

Life is too short to keep using something you dislike and so easy to put right. Give it to charity so you can feel the glow of doing something which will help someone else and then choose something you like to use.

Oh my goodness, I still love my blue Denby set!!! Cannot see myself falling out of love with it after using on a daily basis for 25 years!

I love imperial blue. I could never justify it. I bought myself two of the beautiful mugs recently.

Sell it, it's worth something. Can't say it floats my boat, heavy cluncky pottery! Think it's a name dropping thing!

My first Denby is Potters Wheel - from first wedding, I use bits of it as the serving dishes and large bowls are really useful for dinner parties (not in Covid times). Mostly use Denby Juice, we like the eclectic-ness of three different colours. We did buy an M&S white service but it quickly looked won, so we went back to Juice.

Candelle what a shame, sorry I am still using mine, but I believe if you go on the Viners website it is still being made.

GreenGran78

I had two sets of china, inherited from Mum and MIL, which had been stored away for years. I passed them on to a friend who makes 3-tier cake stands from them, and sells them for charity. They are very popular, right now, for afternoon teas.

I no longer do any fancy entertaining. Rather than have everything matching, I enjoy using a mix of ‘odds and ends’ so I can choose whatever suits my mood at the time. Variety is the spice of life.

I have sets of Royal Worcester plates given as wedding presents, never used. I'd love to find someone who makes cake stands. The plates would be ideal, with tea plates, sides and dinner plates.

But how to find someone?

What brilliant recommendations for Denby. I have a Denby set which we used to keep for dinner parties but now use it every day. I have unearthed 3 of MIL china sets, all with 12s of plates cups bowls etc plus all the sundries including tea pots and china handled knives. I and the family do not like the designs and they do not go in the dishwasher so we have to decide what to do with them. As someone else said they do not have much resale value. Our local charity shops are all shut at the moment.

vickymeldrew If you decide to bring it out and use it, it might not be dishwasher safe...

I have Denby Luxor which I did keep for special occasions but is now for everyday. I also have then linen cups which I like. I did have a Wedgewood set which was more attractive but only have a few pieces left now. However if you have had it for 51 years and don't like it then its time to part with it and get something that you do like.

vickymeldrew I'd be wary of donating crockery of any sort to a charity shop. A friend, who used to volunteer in one (unnamed), was given the task of taking the crockery outside to smash it all because it was surplus to requirements. She was disgusted and refused to do it, suggesting instead that it could be donated to a different charity, but the shop manager didn't agree and was pretty cross with her. She left there and volunteered in a different shop.

If you don't want to sell it, you could offer it on Freegle or on your local community WhatsApp group. If you do, bear in mind it might go to someone who will sell it. Otherwise, have a great time throwing stones at it outside! (Beware of flying shards!)

I think some care homes appreciate vintage as it brings back memories for the residents x

There are local selling sites or try collection only on Gumtree. Why let it all gather dust. My mum had all her sets in a china cabinet for years and when she died I bubble wrapped the lot and put them in my loft. I was moving house and ended up giving them to charity instead of putting in another loft. I felt guilty after my mum cherishing for years, but I knew I would never use them.

Lexisgranny we also have the original Studio cutlery plus a supplementary set made in Korea (subtle differences and not nearly as nice). However, the knives of both sets have tarnished in places. If you want to sell your knives, please let me know!

My Denby is Boston, still going strong, mainly because it sits in the dresser unused most of the time. Our wedding crockery was Hornsea in a horrible brown of which I have only two bowls now. I also have my grandmother’s Crown Derby in the loft.

Have never had Denby so didn’t know it’s heavy. Can never understand people buying the really heavy and very expensive French cookery ware.
Mine is white, not always matching but it looks nice and can introduce colour with mats, cloths jugs and vases of flowers etc.
I do have patterned sets some quite old which are packed away. Considered donating but when I see these sets in charity shops they are so cheap presumably because no one wants them.
I have a royal doulton set collected via Safeway never used. That’s in a box under the bed. Just don’t entertain these days. A bit sad really.

We were given Denby Arabesque as a wedding gift 52 years ago.

Twenty years ago I gave a surprise party for my mother at her house taking the Denby with. My teenage nephew later helped clear up but put the box containing the Denby in the dustbin and the box full of rubbish into the car......

The mistake wasn't noticed until the following day by which time mother's dustmen had finished their collection. It's safe to say that I was not a happy bunny!

There is a happy ending as when hearing of the mishap, the original purchaser of the Arabesque found a full set at auction and has since topped it up with every conceivable piece, which was extremely kind of him.

MiniMoon

I could always use my Haddon Hall china but it isn't dishwasher safe.

My father-in-law bought some very expensive silver plated cutlery from Mappin & Webb. I was going to wash it by hand but he bunged it in the dishwasher and said, 'Life's too short'. I recommend the same approach to your china. It'll probably be fine. The in-laws' cutlery didn't seem to suffer!

I still have quite a few pieces of the Denby Arabesque dinner service which was a gift when getting married.
Like others have said, plates are large and chunky, and cups are wide and drinks cool too quickly when using.
And the dark brown colour is no longer fashionable.
Just looked on Ebay and plates are averaging about £10 each.
Might be worth selling ...

www.chinasearch.co.uk/

This company buys china in good condition if anyone has items they want to sell, I have the Thomas Quince dinner set over 40 years old but like new as only used at Christmas - it is worth more than I paid for it, looking at the prices they are selling it for on their website, I will pass on to one of my daughters-in-law who admires it.

I love Denby. I only have the imperial blue teapot, sugar bowl and milk jug. Would love an imperial blue dinner service but alas, finances don’t allow it ?

I love my indestructible Denby.