Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is coming up on Monday, so that gives me an excuse to use these dishes I bought on impulse at Gumps in San Francisco many years ago during a Christmas shopping weekend getaway.  (Say that in one breath!) 
The dinnerware is Heirloom by Georges Briard.

The rice bowls, lotus bowls and tea cups came from a less exciting location -
the World Market at the outlet mall.

We had to order Chinese takeout twice to get four sets of chopsticks.  (Stingy owner just wouldn't give them up.  Only one set per entree!)  I actually do have some nice ornately-decorated chopsticks, but only in single sets.  I use them to secure my hair when I twist it up in a bun.  Just one of those special skills of womanhood - being able to put your hair up with two chopsticks... or two pencils if you're going for the librarian look.  Then if you need to mesmerize a man while asking a favor,  you just pull them out and give your head the Super Model shake as your hair comes tumbling down.  Works every time.

So this will be the Year of the Dragon.  According to folklore, the dragon is the symbol of good luck.  I could certainly use a year of good luck, and I wish it for you, too.  Drat the luck, I have no dragons for my tablescape!

Mr. Helpful saved the day by toting in an old box of his junk fine Asian artifacts purchased from airport gift shops exotic back alley antiquities dealers, acquired on his business trips leisurely world travels.  We went through a half hour of  "How about this?" "Nope, that's Japanese," before settling on the China dolls and cloisonne ornaments.

The blue cachepot and candle holders were borrowed from the patio. The teapot was from a crafter's booth at an open-air market.  Hubby picked up the blue flutes at Dollar Tree and the pandam leaf chargers from Pier 1.  I've sent him there so many times I bet they say, "Here comes that nice old gay man again," when he walks in the door. 

 Gung hay fat choy!

I'll be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch  for Tablescape Thursday.