Mismatched Fine China

It all started with this. . .

My mother in-law is an amazing host.  Every time she has a party she always has the cutest favors.  This adorable tea cup was one of those favors.  She found them at the DI, a thrift store.  She grew some wheat grass in them, and had one at each place setting.

I immediately fell in love with the idea of having fine china.  When I got married we didn't register for china (who knows why?!).  I mentioned to my mother in-law that I would love to start looking at thrift stores for fine china.  I didn't want them to match at all, the more eclectic the better.  This was in April, in December to my surprise and delight I opened my Christmas present from her and fell in love.

She spent 9 months combing thrift stores in search of fine china.  I now had a place settings for 8.  Each place setting has a matching dinner plate, salad plate, saucer and tea cup.  Some of the sets even have a matching bowl, or an extra plate.

Even though they match within each place setting, all of the settings are totally different.  To top it off she also bought me 8 water goblets, 8 wine glasses, and 8 sherbet cups, all of which are real crystal.

 I couldn't believe she had done that for me!  At the risk of sounding tacky, I asked her how much she ended up spending on the whole lot.  I researched the china and found the price for each item if I had paid full price.  I was able to find all of the patterns except one, if anyone knows what pattern this is I would LOVE to know!!

For the main dinner plate she spent $1 on each one.  For the other salad plates, bowls and dessert plates, she spent $.50 each.  The saucers and tea cups were also each $.50.  When you add this up it equals $22.50!!  I couldn't believe it.  After all of my research, the estimated (due to the one mystery place setting) total is around $275.

I wasn't able to identify the crystal glasses, but I did research how much it would be to buy a similar set.  To average out the prices I am going to say around $10.  This would mean that all of the crystal would cost around $240.  My mother in-law paid $1 for the water goblets and $.50 for the wine glasses and sherbet cups.  Add this all together and you get $16!

 Now I have a whole set of shabby chic dishes worth over $500 for less than $50!  I am definitely going to keep building my collection.  Even though it takes a lot of time and searching I think it is worth it, who wouldn't want these awesome dishes for that price!