shrift, please do report if the beamish boy contacts you again.

I used to have matching luggage, but one of them perished in the cargo hold of a 747. It was a good death.

I have matching dishes - a discontinued Corelle pattern that I add to ever so often from eBay. I love Corelle; that stuff has made it through the last 20 years with only one breakage, and it still looks good. Flatware, though, I can't bring myself to shell out money just to have flatware that matches. All mine is random stainless in patterns I thought were pretty, cobbled together from thrift stores and yard sales. Doesn't matter that it doesn't match.

Flatware is another thing that is terribly cheap at TJ Maxx and the like.

Mine are from Ikea. I also have a fawncy set that comes in its own box. Haven't used it yet. It was a gift from the parents. As were the Ikea ones.

I kind of want new dishes and flatware. but it seems silly. I love Robin's fiestaware though.

Flatware I have. Oneida. Wedding present.

Flatware, though, I can't bring myself to shell out money just to have flatware that matches.

OTOH, I bought myself a 12-piece set of good solid (stainless) stuff as soon as I was out of school and into my "I'm not getting married any time soon, so I'm'a outfit my own damned kitchen" phase. I couldn't be arsed to get matching dishes for many years after that, but I just hate using the cheap forks that feel all light and flimsy in my hands.

eta:

I love Robin's fiestaware though.

Fiesta rawks!

My "china" and flatware are the sets my dad bought when he and Mom separated nearly 30 years ago. He had put them in storage when he remarried a few years later, and my sister had them for a few years when she graduated from college. When she moved west about 15 years ago (God, has it been that long?!?), she left them in Mom's basement, and I ended up with them when I got my first apartment on my own. I donated the cups and saucers to Goodwill last year (never did use them), so I just have the plates and the flatware. I keep meaning to replace them with good quality ones whose pattern I actually like, but that's waaay down on my list of Things to Spend Money On.

"8 November Must-Haves."

Apparently, it's the season of the must lists. I blame Ugly Betty.

Flatware I have. Oneida. Wedding present.

Me too! My dishes are a discontinued Pfaltzgraff set that I found at Kohl's for $150. Nice heavy stoneware that's lived through many moves, with only the occasional pilot error to account for breakage. Plus, black.

I don't want china. Too easily broken.