Wednesday, March 18, 2009

3/19 Tablescape Thursday- Gollum’s dishes

It’s time for Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan and her blog Between Naps on the Porch. Today my table is set with a set of dishes known in my house as “Gollum’s dishes”. Yes, there is a story behind them!

A couple weeks ago, Gollum posted a Dishspotting Alert post about Big Lots where she had seen, among other items, this set of Gibson Claremont dishes….  a set of 46 pieces for $35…. which was a VERY good deal…. (yes, she picked up a set).

Gollum dishes

I must have commented about Gollum, Big Lots, and dishes to my husband…. because a week later, I got a phone call from my husband saying he had stopped at Big Lots and had looked everywhere for “the Gollum dishes”. I did not laugh (but you all know I wanted to) at my husband. He said when he told one of the salesladies that he was trying to find a particular item as a surprise for his wife… that the lady stopped what she was doing and helped look. They even got the manager in on the quest…searching for “Gollum dishes”. He was almost apologetic… he had really wanted to surprise me. Instead, he told me to go and see if I could find them….. and if I did….. to get them.

Well, you KNOW I had to go right away and look. I easily found the dishes and brought them home. I told him they were at the end of an aisle (and they were) so they could have easily been overlooked. I took them out of the box and took the box out to the trash . Yes, they are Gibson Claremont dishes… but they will be called “Gollum dishes” (with love, of course, in our house).

So here they are in the kitchen……

Mar19table

Mar19table2

and the salt/pepper and cup/saucer……….

Mar19salt

and the place setting (came with matching napkin rings!)……..

Mar19placesetting

and the dinner plate is LARGE!

Mar19placesetting2  

Aren’t they pretty? And such a GREAT deal!!! Thanks for stopping by and visiting my Tablescape Thursday and don't forget to visit Susan's blog Between Naps on the Porch to see more wonderful table settings!

Tablescape Thursday logo

69 comments:

  1. Susan
    Isn't your husband a sweetheart? What a lovely surprise he was going to give you. I like that! But the good thing was you were able to get them for yourself and I love them. They are soooo nice and I sure wish we had Big Lots here in Canada and I don't know whether there would be one by Marc's place.hmmmmm lucky you. Enjoy
    HOpe you've had a great day
    Judi

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  2. Susan... I really love the simple green and white... just beautiful... and a great story about your sweet hubby... If mine ever called from Big Lots looking for dishes (or anything else really) I'd probably fall over dead...LOL.. Ricky is more of a Tractor Supply guy... What a sweetheart your hubby is!

    have a blissful Day. Dixie

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  3. I love this story, Susan!! Your Gollum Dishes are beautiful!!

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  4. Oh, I just loved this story. That was so sweet. I can hardly stop laughing now as it is...that was great that you didn't laugh. Husbands can be so sweet and yours was very thoughtful to do that for you. I really love the dishes-they are really pretty.

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  5. What a sweet husband- but you know men, they can't find a snake if it jumped up and bit them! Glad you got them in the end!

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  6. What a terrific story, and what a sweet man your husband must be! The dishes are very lovely too Susan! Have a lovely day.....
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

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  7. Susan...girl, I'm loving you dishes! I took myself right down to Big Lots and bought some, too, after "Gollum's post! :-) Can you believe I did not own a set of white dishes?! I had two sets of cream ones...but no whites. They are great aren't they? And when have you ever seen dishes come with napkin rings? And all for $35! What will you use the little tiny bowls for...maybe fruit? Endless tablescaping possibilities with white dishes! Love your tablesetting! Susan

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  8. You have a sweet, sweet husband. Enjoy those Gollum dishes...and all the memories with them!

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  9. LOL! What a funny story, Susan! Your Gollum dishes are very pretty, love the scroll on the cups and your hubby is a darling to wanna surprise you....Christine

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  10. Wow! So beautiful and great story! I'll be in Big Lots in the morning! Deb

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  11. That so nice of your husband. Are the flowers in the center piece real? They look so lovely!

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  12. I love your Gollum Dishes Susan and they look beautiful with your place settings. your hubby is such a sweet guy. Kathy.

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  13. Absolutely darling story! I'm hunting for white dishes now and I'm thinking a trip to Big Lots while our daughter is at swim practice tomorrow is in order!
    ~Katy

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  14. Susan...you're one lucky wife...your husband is just the sweetest! I luv your white dishes. Dishes that are pure white is one of my favorite. The food just stands out more.
    -marie

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  15. What a great story and I know the dishes will always be special to you as well as always be "Gollum dishes"

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  16. they look great, but i am so enamored with your husband, what a sweetheart! large white plates go with everything, you will have a ball mixing and matching like mad. and a bargain too, win win for you!

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  17. How cute! What a sweetie you've got for a DH!! I love those "Gollum" dishes and I know you are going to get a lot of use out of them, too...pretty and practical!! Happy TT...Debbie

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  18. Wow, Susan! You and Gollum made those dishes look very beautiful to use! After my 10-day "spending" fast, I'll definitely look them up! Happy Thursday!

    My tablescape will be up in about half an hour! :-)

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  19. Aaaawwww what a sweet husband you have. But of course, it's because you're the same as well :-).

    Those set is beautiful in all white with their designs. I like how you arranged them with just the soft pink and greens.

    I'm sure you had a laugh and will have a laugh every time you use those dishes because it'll remind you of the sweet story behind them :-)

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  20. What a sweet post... I love how they will always be referred to (with much love) as Gollum dishes! How thoughtful of your hubby. They are beautiful!! ...Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage

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  21. Oooohhhh! Your Gollum dishes are sooo pretty & your hubby is such a sweetie for trying to surprise you! Great tablescape & thank you to hubby too! ♥ Diane

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  22. LOL Susan! I love your Gollum dishes and everthing looks so pretty. Great story. Cindy

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  23. Congratulations on the Gollum dishes. What a sweet man you have.

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  24. Got to love that Gollum look! and what a blessing with your man.
    Ta-Ta, Candy

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  25. Hi Susan...The dishes are pretty...I've been debating about them myself...your hubby is a real sweetheart for thinking of you. ;-) Bo

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  26. LOL! I love this story, Susan! Now, I'm convinced that there should be a set of dishes named after Gollum! And the dishes, of course, are wonderful! Great tablescape.

    If I'm MIA with my posting on your blog, know I still love you! The wedding push starts today! :-)

    XO,

    Sheila

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  27. Your husband is a real dear! How sweet to try and surprise you. I love the white dishes. I don't own any white dishes at all and I may just have to go to Big Lots! Great table! :D Jewel

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  28. Susan, this is one of the sweetest things I've ever heard of a hubby doing!!!!!!!! Searching for Gollum dishes! Holy crap! Of course, the doofus didn't find them, but still. He TOLD you to go buy them if you could find them! And, they look beautiful. Gollum has exquisite taste, doesn't she?

    Justine :o )

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  29. Hi Susan,
    What a great story. Your dishes will be so much more meaningful with the story associated with them!
    You can't go wrong with white. Food looks the best on them and yours have a great border to boot.
    Happy tablescaping,
    Zoey

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  30. My husband thinks we have too many dishes already. :-(

    Those are going to be so versatile.

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  31. Susan, yes I had bought Gollum dishes right before Gollum's post. I had a dinner party and I was talking to one of my friends that is the manage in Ohio and she told me that they had gotten new dishes in the store and told me to check them out. She knows all about Susan's tablescape and Gollum wonderful displays of dishes and awesome food displays! So I went down and bought 3 sets. Two for me and one as a gift for a girl I am doing a wedding for. I just love these dishes and they go with everthing. Now, that husband of yours was so nice to look for these and I can visualize him asking for them.. LOL

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  32. Love the story your dishes will always bring a smile. They are great oh boy I wish we had a Big Lots. Have fun with them.

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  33. Lovely story! What a sweet husband. I love the dishes and I believe a run to Big Lots is in my future! Have a great day!

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  34. Your tablescape is really pretty! I got a set of these from Big Lots about 4 years ago, but they didn't have all the extras that ya'll's set has. But it is a great versatile set! ~hugs, Rhonda :)

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  35. Susan, Everything on your table looks fabulous, and those dishes are really something else. Are they microwaveable? Having white dishes is great because of the versatility. I have a big lots in the area, and I'm going to check them out. Thanks a lot!

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  36. That is so funny and so sweet! Your tablescape looks very inviting and beautiful.

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  37. lol What a darling story. That reveals just how sweet your husband is.

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  38. What a sweetheart your husband is for wanting to surprise you with new dishes and for even knowing what Gollum dishes are.
    Your tablescape with your new dishes is very beautiful.
    Hugs,
    Sue

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  39. We are so lucky to have husbands who LISTEN! White is just so elegant and it makes the rest of the table stand out. I've heard it said that chefs prefer white dishes because they highlight the food best!

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  40. Susan, I love that story. What a thoughtful husband. Your table looks great, and now I might have to see if our local Big Lots has "Gollum dishes" White is always so nice to have and I love how they look on your table.
    I missed you on Outdoor Wednesday but I will be back next week.
    Thanks for the peek, Maryrose

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  41. Just lovely dishes and if I can ever get to Big Lots I will look around and find a set of "Susan" dishes for my table.

    Have a Thankful Thursday
    from the Raggedy Roberta Anne

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  42. If I hadn't already bought dishes this week, I would be over at BL today! But I not only bought dishes Monday, I bought some more last night! Just 3 more place settings!!! And other stuff....Husbands wallet is still recovering!;D

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  43. Wow, what a lucky girl you are to have such a wonderful husband! I love those dishes because with white, the possibilities are endless. Any color, any style of setting looks wonderful. Think I may have to run over to my local Big Lots and see if they have any left.
    Have a nice day. :) Brenda

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  44. Cute story, nice husband, great dishes!

    Our Big Lots went away...

    Scribbler

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  45. Simple, beautiful, elegant. :)
    I love your blog..
    Mona

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  46. What a sweet story...and a sweet guy you've got there!
    Those are great dishes...imagine all the ways you can dress them up or down?!
    Happy Spring!
    ;-D

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  47. That's really sweet! And funny!

    Have a great day, Denise

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  48. You have a sweet guy too! I love the story. Your dishes are so versatile, and they look expensive. The hyacinth just adds to the pretty setting. I miss that wonderful fragrance.

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  49. I loved your story of your husband wanting to please you. He must be a sweety! The dishes are lovely. I can't believe all the pieces that came with the set! Your lucky. Thanks for sharing!

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  50. The cute story behind the dishes will make them even more special. Here is to enjoying many yummy meals served on your Gollum dishes.

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  51. Husbands are so lucky they are cute! (And we are lucky they are, too!)

    Gorgeous table -- I love your new white "Gollum" china ... very chic and versatile, too. Nice!!!

    CAss

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  52. How sweet of your hubby! Don't ya just love that?! Someone needs to call Gibson and tell them that the dishes must be renamed immediately : ) Linda

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  53. Love the story. I have the same "Gollum" dishes from Big Lots, but I got mine for $25.00 on a special. But my son just broke one of my plates. Boo hoo. I love this set. Your table looks great using them.

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  54. That's the sweetest story and how neat of everyone to stop and help him look. I am so glad you found them and I would always call them Gollum Dishes. Your tablescape is just gorgeous. Hugs, Marty

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  55. What a great story. Sounds like you have a great husband, who knows how to take care of his wife. I am also super impressed that he asked the employees to help! I love the centerpiece. I hope you have a great Thursday!

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  56. Hi Susan...

    So glad that you stopped by my place today to take a peek at my Spring & Green tablescape...thank you so much for all of your sweet comments!!!

    Girl, your honey is the sweetest!!! I just got a visual as you told the story about your honey in Big Lots telling the employees that he was looking for Gollum dishes!!! I really do love these white dishes...I'll have to check out Big Lots here! You made a beautiful tablescape using them! Love your pretty pink and white vase and pink hycenths (sp)! Just gorgeous!!!

    Hope that you're having a terrific Thursday, my friend!
    Chari

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  57. Susan, that was such a cute story! You had me laughing. Bless your husband's heart. What a sweet thing to do! That sales girl is probably still look for Gollum dishes! Your table looks so pretty, and I'm loving that vase with just a touch of pink. laurie

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  58. Oh, Susan, I loved the story about your hubby tring to surprise you! So wonderful! Your table is just Simply Lovely! I love your Gollum dishes! I wish now I had gone to BL to get them! They are wonderful! Tell your hubby to call mine! lol

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  59. Susan, my daugter says I can go to Big Lots on line to see if they have them in the nearest town near me. Before we drive all the way there. I want to know how many place setting came with this set????????????????

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  60. What a sweet thing for your husband to do! I love these dishes, and I may just have to check Big Lots - have to go into the big, bad city tomorrow anyway, might as well have some fun! Kathy

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  61. How sweet of him to look for them!

    They are very pretty and a great buy. ;)

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  62. I love the dishes! What a sweet story. I did get tickled that the manager was looking for the dishes also! Thanks for sharing.

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  63. Very pretty, Susan!
    I have that set too..got them 2 yrs ago at Linens & Things, but mine didn't come with all the extras! :(
    Sweet of your dh to try and buy the dishes for you! That would never happen here...he tries to give them away!
    Happy T TH..

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  64. Susan,
    I love your Gollom dishes! I purchased Mikasa English Countryside dishes several years ago and have been so disappointed in them. They've discolored in spots and when I tried to return them, I was told there wasn't a warranty on that. Might just have to run over to Big Lots and see if I can pick a bargain set of these.

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  65. This are wonderful, guess who is going to Big Lots.....hope they still have some!

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  66. Beautiful and what a sweetie to want to do that for you. I need to go to Big Lots!

    JudyBug

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