Fiesta ware??? Really???

The Willow pattern, more commonly known as Blue Willow, is a distinctive and elaborate pattern. The pattern was popular in 18th century England designed by Thomas Minton around 1790 and has been in use for over 200 years.. Willow refers to the pattern, a specific treatment either applied transfer, or stamp, known as transferware.

A big discovery I made regarding how things aren't always what we think they are! I 'need to remember not to forget' that things do not always appear 'how they look'.

Two Christmas' ago, I received 2 gifts from a dear friend. When I opened them I was pretty taken back with awe. Two brand new boxes of Fiesta ware! I was speechless and surprised. My first reaction 'Oh my gosh!' and first words...'how could she?' After pondering what I would do with them, I put them away. Thoughts came here and there over the many months. I offered them to my daughter who collects beautiful items. She got back to me and shared that she wasn't really interested however she does like Fiesta ware. I thought to myself 'now what?'. I had an idea to have my friend for a Tea to set the table with the dishes however life for the two of us has be very full in other words...I never got a round to it.

Spring came then fall and another Christmas. The boxes of Fiesta ware set carefully in our office. I even picked up an orange Fiesta platter at a favorite resale store for $2.99. 'What a deal!' I thought tucking it into the bigger box with the treasured boxes of Fiesta.

A few weeks ago we had a HUGE Garage sale. It was truly 'The Sale' to let go of so many things we've collected, saved over the many years. It was exhausting, fun, exciting, interesting and challenging. Day 2 of our sale, I thought about the boxes of dishes and decided I would have some fun setting 'a beautiful table up' wit batten burg table cloth and the dishes. When I opened the first box I laughed it up. The boxes didn't have Fiesta dishes in them. My daughter came to see what was so funny and I whispered into her ear "Amy, this is an example of how things are not always what they seem." We both had a good chuckle as I unwrapped eight beautiful tea cups and saucers. A visitor who just arrived to our sale said 'Oh, that tea cup pattern is about a love story many years ago.' 

Oh of course the cups were not placed for sale. Actually I couldn't wait to google for their story. My friend tucked in one of the boxes a book titled 'Sunsets with God' which I'm really enjoying.

You might be wondering was I disappointed not receiving 2 sets of Fiesta dishes? No, not at all! Girl friends do this sort of thing...wrap in a different box and such... Last Saturday at our 'Cursillo group' we enjoyed drinking a special mix of instant coffee & coco mix and my friends enjoyed the story that was just shared with you. What a fun discovery! What an awesome Christmas gift the Blue Willow tea cups and book are...making my heart smile. Read the romantic fable...sweet...


The Romantic Fable ~ One there was a wealth Mandarin w, who had a beautiful daughter (Koong-se). She had fallen in love with her father's humble accounting assistant (Chang), angering her father because it was inappropriate for them to marry due to their difference in social class). He dismissed the young man and built a high fence around his house t keep the lovers apart. The Mandarin was planning for his daughter to marry a powerful Duke. The Duke arrived by boat to claim his bride, bearing a box of jewels as a gift....where there REALLY jewels in that box??...The wedding was to take place on the day the blossom fell from the willow tree.

On the eve of the daughter's wedding to the Duke, the young accountant, disguised as a servant, slipped into the palace unnoticed. As the lovers escaped with the jewels, the alarm was raised. They ran over a bridge, chased by the Mandarin, with  jewels  in hand. they eventually escaped n the Duke's ship to the safety of a secluded island where they lived happily for years. But one day, the Duke learned of their refuge. Hungry for revenge, he sent soldiers who captured the lovers and put them to death. The gods, moved by their plight, transformed the overs into a pair of doves (possibly a later addition to the tale, since he birds do not appear on the earliest willow pattern plates).