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I was wondering if you like colored drinking glasses and stemware. I've been thinking that I might like to have a red set for the holidays, but I'm undecided if I like the look or not. Your opinions?

I personally would only get colored water goblets. I don't think I would like drinking wine etc. from a colored glass.

Reminds me of a story my mom told me: She received a set of Red Ruby dinner and glass ware for a wedding gift (back in 1950) and she used them for the first Sunday breakfast she cooked my dad. She made sunny side up eggs and he just couldn't eat them on the Ruby Red plate. Didn't look very appetizing!

Even as a kid I recognized that I didn't like drinking milk or Koolaid out of a transparent colored glass. My BFF chose green glass wine stems. YUK.
However, if they are water tumblers, I think any color would be fine, especially red for the holidays.
But fruit drinks, iced tea, milk, wine don't look too refreshing in anything of a different color from itself or clear glass.

The exception is Tupperware for kids, that's why I like the opaques they eventually came out with.

I've never been fond of colored glassware but I have seen some lovely tablescapes with it (green, red, cobalt and amber) and I think they look nice.

I must admit that I dislike restaurants that serve tea in those red plastic glasses -- I have a theory that if any restaurant uses them that their tea is weak and bad!!! LOL! (And actually, that holds true -- I've had more bad tea in red plastic glasses!)

Martha

No sorry, colored glassware is great for a special occasion for a specific drink but, over-all, no. JMHO

I like the look during the holidays, but I have to say that all of my glassware is clear.

Jo-CT, How funny about the red plate and eggs. I can understand how that might not be too appetizing.

Okay, that's four votes against. Thank you Jo-CT, Lurah, Linderhof and Idaho Resident for weighing in.

Anybody out there love the look?

Edited to add: Thanks, Zone9alady. I was composing as you were posting. Glad to have at least one vote on the positive side.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Graciepj,

For the holidays and if red's in keeping w/ your tableware (and compliments your room scheme), GO FOR IT!!! Holiday tables should be festive, colorful and FUN. A vibrant table will provide a memorable dining experience for a long time to come. Keep in mind that red glasses will be most suitable for a Valentine's table as well as an anniversary celebration. Red is romantic after all. You have but to check out Tablescape blogs to see the impact of red stemware. Note inspirational pic below where it's teamed w/ clear crystal stemware...

You can even mix other jewel tones with red stemware for a delicious touch. The example of this is found here:
http://www.google.com/imgres?u...=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:75

For everyday use, clear glasses are preferable, but they need not be standard in style, expected nor boring.

The only colored glassware I have are some wine Hungarian crystal. Oh, I also have a couple of hand blown wine glasses, too. Otherwise, all clear.

Dinnerware has some color to it, but not a solid color.

My stemware is clear. The everyday glasses are clear. However, I do have sets (of 16) of blue, red, and amber glasses that I use when we set the table with the "fancy eatin' plates" which are white. I would LOVE to have a dozen (or more) different sets of dishes for each meal, each season, each holiday, etc. But with limited cabinet space I picked white dishes and all white serving pieces, the colored glasses, and changes of table linens.

Thanks for the inspiration picture, Froo Froo and for your post, Florida Farm Girl. KeepYouInStitches, I'm with you. If I had an unlimited budget and storage, I would love to have many more sets of dishes, glasses, linens and flatware.

I guess my decision has been made by circumstance and procrastination because when I checked on the glasses I was considering just now, they have sold out.

Gracie keep looking for some.LOve to see a beautiful set table for the seasons.You will love them during the Christmas season.I bought these some years ago.I do have some other small red wine glasses my DM just gave me this summer.I'd love to have a cobalt blue or gold color for fall too.

This was Xmas 2009.As I look a my files,I did not take any pics after I added the napkins and water glasses.LOL

No worries. A missed opportunity means there's something even more tantizling in stemware awaiting you. Just know that featuring some colorful glasses on a holiday table is perfectly fine so do what pleases YOU. As you will discover in your search, there are sooooo many lovely options to consider. Enjoy the hunt and the find!

I have sets of blue glassware given me by my nephews partner. They are from Pottery Barn.

I think there are 8 each of two diff. sized glasses. I seldom use them but of course do when the guys visit!

I also have blue stemmed wine glasses. Never thought one way or another about colored glassware!

Back in the 60's, like so many other folks at the time, my Mom had a set of those lovely ruby crown thumbprint glasses and matching dessert plates. We used them for the holidays, mostly.

They were the best of both worlds: a colored glass at the top and clear glass on the bottom.

Thank you, Jackierenette and Lady of Shallot for the additional inspiration pictures. Aychihuahua, I like those thumbprint glasses. Very pretty. I'll take Froo Froo's advice and keep my eyes open. I'm sure more red glasses will show up in the marketplace as we get closer to the holidays, so I'll have more choices. Maybe Pier 1 will get some so that I can buy one and try it before committing to a whole set.

Clear glass or crystal with the exception of colored glass water goblets for the holidays. Only other color I use is occasionally cobalt blue tumblers for the kids table. I have two sets of blue/white china. My good china is cobalt blue with a white center. The china that I regularly use is blue and white. Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel and Willims Sonoma regularly have colored goblets around the holidays.

Thanks, 16paws. I'll try to be patient and wait for holiday introductions. Of course, those will be full price. I was kind of hoping to find a bargain since the glasses wouldn't be used that much.

I tried to find reasonably priced red goblets years ago when I was putting together my Christmas dinnerware. The only ones I found were from Crate and Barrel, and I hated them so much that I sent them back. I don't remember why???? But in desperation I bought 10 cheap glasses from Dollar Store. Of course, I started seeing reasonable red goblets shortly after that. But until enough of the cheapos have broken, I'll have to use them. Naturally, I still have NINE!!!!

Watch for sales at those places near the holidays and act fast! They will have sales online and the tableware including the glasses go quickly. I actually bought some green goblets for Christmas that I've never used, hmmm maybe I should dig them out this year.

Sms29s66, isn't that always the way? Settle for something and find exactly what you want a short time later? Then, that original thing lasts forever while some special splurge item that you love bites the dust after one use. Why does life happen that way? LOL!

16paws, good idea to watch out for sales. I notice that Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma are actually having sales these days, but they don't really advertise them. I know I could sign up for their E-mails, but they send so many that the volume gets overwhelming.

Graciepj, hang in there and you will find what you want. When I was first married I fell in love with some irridecent glass ware. Didn't get them until about 25 years later. Still love them.

Try checking consignment, thrift and Goodwill shops for tabletop items.
Occasionally I go in just in case they have something I don't even know I'm hoping to find.
The other day I found a small gold rimmed glass Christmas tree shaped relish tray and 9 holly & ribbon print bread & butter plates that will work great with my Christmas stoneware dishes.
The new boxed dinnerware sets these days only come with dinner plates, soup/cereal bowl, dessert plate and mugs so even for everyday, the smaller plates I chanced upon will be great addition.

Wow, Handie Ann, I'm surprised the glasses were still available after 25 years. I applaud your patience.

Lurah, I see all of the cool things other posters find at consignment and thrift stores, but the stores in my area never seem to have much in the way of dishes or glassware. They mostly have furniture and clothing. I do search eBay regularly, though. Sounds like you've found some interesting tabletop items and I know that Christmas Candy finds the most amazing dishes at thrift stores.

I prefer clear.

Thanks, Indexlady.

Gracie, do you have a Tuesday Morning store nearby? I was in there this past Tuesday, natch, and came across some really lovely colored stemware and glasses: bright jewel tones, like Venetian glass. There was a cute set of wine glasses that had clear glass bowls and colored glass stems.

TM merchandise is great; it is not seconds and some of their brand name things are pretty high-end. (Such as Sferra bed linens at a very reasonable price.)

TM is putting out all its holiday stuff, so now is a good time to check 'em out.

quote:

Originally posted by aychihuahua:
Gracie, do you have a Tuesday Morning store nearby? I was in there this past Tuesday, natch, and came across some really lovely colored stemware and glasses: bright jewel tones, like Venetian glass. There was a cute set of wine glasses that had clear glass bowls and colored glass stems.

TM merchandise is great; it is not seconds and some of their brand name things are pretty high-end. (Such as Sferra bed linens at a very reasonable price.)

TM is putting out all its holiday stuff, so now is a good time to check 'em out.

Thanks for the recommendation, Aychihuahua. Tuesday Morning is a bit of a trek for me, but if I find myself on that side of town in the next few days, I'll definitely check it out. I know their items move pretty fast.

These aren't solid red, but sure are festive and not too pricey. It would be a breeze to team them with clear crystal or glass stemware:

http://www.pier1.com/Red-Spira...7431,default,pd.html

quote:

Originally posted by Froo Froo:
These aren't solid red, but sure are festive and not too pricey. It would be a breeze to team them with clear crystal or glass stemware:

http://www.pier1.com/Red-Spira...7431,default,pd.html

Thanks, Froo Froo, for thinking of me. I looked at those when I was in Pier 1 the other day. I think they are a bit too contemporary looking for the table setting I had envisioned. I asked the staff if they would be getting more red stemware for Christmas and they assured me that they would, but they didn't have a look book yet so I could see them.

quote:

Originally posted by aychihuahua:
Back in the 60's, like so many other folks at the time, my Mom had a set of those lovely ruby crown thumbprint glasses and matching dessert plates. We used them for the holidays, mostly.

They were the best of both worlds: a colored glass at the top and clear glass on the bottom.

I have a set of these and a pitcher, tumblers, dessert compotes, too. When I bought mine in the late 60's they were a buck apiece...worth about 20 times that now!!!

CJO, just remember, a buck apiece was expensive in the 60's. When I got married in 1967, my wedding dress cost $40.00--and it was a real wedding dress!!! Nice dresses to wear to work cost $19.00. I remember my husband having a fit when I bought center-cut pork chops at $0.89/lb. But I know what you mean. I was thinking of replacing Corel Crazy Daisy dinner plates after breaking two of them. On Ebay, they are very expensive. And the KMart Christmas dinnerware I bought for $10.00 for a box of four place settings about 10 years ago are now quite expensive on Ebay.

Found these set of six...
http://www.target.com/s/stemwa...08-6a61-000006f9e648

quote:

Originally posted by Froo Froo:
Found these set of six...
http://www.target.com/s/stemwa...08-6a61-000006f9e648

That's definitely closer to the look I had in mind. Thanks, Froo Froo. The set I that I missed out on is Arlington in red on the Horchow site. I liked that there was a water and a wine glass, although most here didn't like the idea of drinking wine from a colored glass. Another option would be to use a small clear etched wine glass with a larger red water glass like I've pictured. What do you think? Are the shapes too disparate to mix together?

quote:

Originally posted by sms29s66:
CJO, just remember, a buck apiece was expensive in the 60's. When I got married in 1967, my wedding dress cost $40.00--and it was a real wedding dress!!! Nice dresses to wear to work cost $19.00. I remember my husband having a fit when I bought center-cut pork chops at $0.89/lb. But I know what you mean. I was thinking of replacing Corel Crazy Daisy dinner plates after breaking two of them. On Ebay, they are very expensive. And the KMart Christmas dinnerware I bought for $10.00 for a box of four place settings about 10 years ago are now quite expensive on Ebay.

I know what you mean. I was showing my mother some Christmas dishes on eBay that I thought were pretty and she told me that she remembered when they were offered at the department store for significantly less than the eBay price. And, don't get me started on what Replacements, Inc. charges...their prices are insane.

Graciepj, I'm a believer in mixing up things, so I'd be happy to use the red water coblets and the etched wine glasses.

I love this discussion!
I have only clear, but if space allowed, I'd have lots of colored stemware.
I have lots of sets of dishes (plates take up less space) & stemware that goes with everything.
I love to change it up for holidays & celebrations.

Thanks for replying, Florida Farm Girl

Quiltzilla, it's a shame that shipping dishes is so expensive because it would be so much fun to be able to share our dish inventories with one another. We could have a different set each season or for special occasions, but not have to own or store all of them ourselves.

Mixing things looks far more interesting than a matched set. Go for it!

quote:

Originally posted by Froo Froo:
Mixing things looks far more interesting than a matched set. Go for it!

I may, but I have a couple more months before I have to make a final decision.

Mix and match glassware on your table. Even Martha does this all the time. If you see some of her holiday tables from the past she does this often.