BURLEIGH IRONSTONE

Good Evening to you,

As a rule I chat to you in the morning, but today, the day has been slightly different.

The reason is, earlier this morning, I had a lovely, unexpected, Skype chat with Natasha, which lasted about an hour or so. 

Then, I  decided I would boiled some new potatoes ready for lunch.  

Once I had done that, I fully intended coming straight to my sewing room, to chat with you, but as I was placing the potatoes into the pan of water, I stopped to look out of my kitchen window, at the new border which we had dug. Well to be truthful, George did the heavy digging and I followed behind with the hoe, breaking up the soil.  I had heard the weather forecast earlier in the morning and the weatherman had told us to expect rain later in the day. So I asked George if he fancied digging in some plants with me before the rain arrived. Luckily he said yes, and I am so pleased he did, because with both of us planting, it got the job done much quicker.

When we finished,  it was the middle of the afternoon, so we had a bite to eat and I made us both a cup of coffee. I came upstairs, ready to catch up with you and now that I have finally managed to sit here and talk to you, the rain has decided to arrive, so please excuse me for a moment, as I have to dash around the house, closing all the open windows.

..... the windows are now all closed and the rain is tumbling down.  I had a quick look at my newly planted plants and they are very happy, as they are receiving a good watering.

All of this means, I am quite a bit behind today. I know you will understand, as I'm sure this has happened to you as well,

but I am now going to make you smile, as look what I found in my local Charity Shop,

This fabulously huge Ironstone Cheese Dish.

It is a lovely size and whilst it is perfect for cheese, do you know what George has put on the dish...... chocolates.  Yes chocolates.  Actually, it is supposed to be George's hiding place for chocolates.   Let me explain, I am not on a diet, I am cutting back on my portions, to lose a couple of pounds, and at the moment I am not eating chocolates, but you know me, I love chocolates and I find it difficult to ignore them, if I know there is some in the house,  they seem to call my name. George isn't watching his diet, so I cannot deprive him of chocolate. George said he would find a hiding place for them, which was a great idea, but where did he put them..... right under my nose, in the kitchen, which was not a good idea. George said, he thought that was the last place I would look, as it was a cheese dish, but I said, the cheese dish had a cover, which was a perfect place to hide the chocolates, so it was the first place I looked. Anyway he has now moved them to a new hidey hole.... I can't help wondering how long it will take me to find them again.

Oh dear, I am going off on a tangent again, let's get back to the Ironstone cheese dish.  This cheese dish is made by Burleigh, which is based in Staffordshire, England. 

Do you see the small round marks? These marks are where the dish has been supported in the kiln. Plates are supported in three places with pins.  This suspends the plates and prevents them from sticking to each other in the kiln.

The glaze which is used is like a thick glass jacket (don't you just love that description), that covers the pottery.  

I am really pleased with this find and I promise you, I do intend using it as a cheese dish and not a chocolate dish.

Now, this is an interesting tablecloth.  When I first saw it at a distance, folded up, I thought it was green cross stitch.

but when I moved a little closer, I could see that it wasn't, it is actually hand stamped.

The material is linen and the stamping is beautifully done,

although you can see in this section, where some of the stamping has not taken cleanly, but I certainly don't mind as it adds to the charm.

This is the tablecloth opened out, for you to see.  I am sorry about the iron creases, but the material is linen and it has been lightly starched and beautifully ironed and before I wash it I need to find out the ratio of starch to water to give this tablecloth a slight crispness.   I feel this tablecloth has a certain Christmas quality about it and will be lovely on my table, so I am going to fold it back up and I promise you, when I have a moment, it will be hand washed, starched and ironed, ready to be used on my table.

I have managed to find some other wonderful things when I was out and about..... but those I will save for another time.

Take care and I will see you later in the week.

This week I will be joining,

Yvonne at StoneGable