A plate full of Thanksgiving

While on the way to my nephew’s birthday party on Saturday, I stopped by the Sewell Market Co. in Bremen for their Christmas Open House, and while I did find a few vintage Christmas goodies, I was absolutely thrilled to find an old flow blue plate featuring pilgrims! There’s no back stamp, but Google Lens informed me that the scene is called “Pilgrim Exiles” and that it’s by Sterling China of Ohio—and I also learned there are matching teacups, which has sent me off on another fun quest! You know, I sometimes worry that Thanksgiving is getting lost in the holiday shuffle these days, but I love Thanksgiving, and I believe the literal giving of thanks is something that is so important for our souls.

I’m intrigued that this pilgrim plate is trimmed in blue. I’ve long been fascinated that some experts believe those inky blue edges were a manufacturing mistake and weren’t originally supposed to look this way.

I also found this vintage tin, or at least a tin with vintage graphics. Not sure how to date pieces like this.

And as a longtime crafter, I am completely charmed that someone once used a milkweed pod to craft a nativity ornament. Eventually, I’d love to have a whole tree covered in nothing but nativity ornaments.

So where do you stand on this whole put-your-tree-up-in-November thing? Is yours up? Mine won’t go up until after Thanksgiving, and I was all judgy about it with a friend the other day (hers is up) until she told me that putting out the Christmas decorations just makes her feel better, so I shut up!