When I mention entertaining guests with multiple patterns on your dining table, does it send chills down your spine? Do you like everything to match? With Polish Pottery, the more patterns, the "happier" your table becomes! Now let me explain.
In the summer of 2003, my husband & I were still living in Warsaw, Poland. I was pregnant and making plans to return to the U.S.A., but before moving back home, I had shopping to do! My husband & I love the pottery and had made a decision to buy an entire dinnerware set to bring home. There is a great, small shop in Warsaw, the shopkeeper - Anna is truly a gem. We had shopped with her multiple times for gifts etc. I had looked at many, many patterns and had my heart set on one particular pattern. I grew up in the Midwest and my Great Grandmother had a garden full of tulips, so of course the pattern I chose was Tulips. I wrote down all of the pieces that I wanted to purchase and took the tram to the store.
When I arrived at the store and told Anna what pattern I wanted and how many pieces of each, she looked at me and smiled. This is what she told me "No, no dear, you don't want just one pattern, you want to mix up the patterns because that makes a happy table."
Now, the thought going through my mind, is "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, why would mixing your patterns up make your table happy? and I'm quite sure I just want one pattern." My friends back home will think I am crazy - no one mixes patterns except maybe your Grandmother.
Well, I didn't want to offend Anna, so I let her show me how all the patterns mixed and matched. Since we were the only 2 people in the store, we laid out all of the dinner plates on the floor - 10 different patterns. I had to admit that she was right, all of the patterns looked great together. All of the plates had a blue edge with the blue and green flowers, leaves and lines throughout the patterns. Since it made me smile just looking at them on the floor, I knew it would make a "happy table" back at home. So, we found plates, mugs, bowls and all the accessories - in multiple patterns. They were purchased, boxed up and shipped to the U.S.A.,. I received them about a month later and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED seeing all the beautiful patterns!
I don't even know how many different patterns I now own, but rest assured, they are all beautiful and I love them.
Now every time I entertain friends and family, I always receive compliments on the multiple patterns and how beautiful they are and I secretly say a Thank you to my friend Anna for her wonderful advice.
My advice to you.....go ahead and mix up the patterns - every time you use them, I guarantee they will make you smile too!