I've been engaged in a bit of spring cleaning, primarily cleaning and updating the kitchen cabinets. Far from being all work and no play, there were opportunities for a little bit of fun. But then perhaps I have a rather low threshold for what constitutes fun.
Some time ago, I had purchased some heavy organic flannel with the intention of making protectors to sit between my plates. Then I was either preoccupied, or lazy, or some combination of the two, and I never got around to making the plate protectors. Since I was already cleaning the cabinets, and hence removing everything from the shelves, here was the perfect opportunity.
Besides, I got to play with crayons and scissors. First I traced various sizes of circles, to fit my various sizes of plates, onto the flannel. Then I took a pair of pinking shears and cut them out, and stacked them by size. That part was actually fun.
Then I got to put everything back on the shelf, which was actually rather satisfying. Admittedly one could use other things, paper plates or napkins, even paper towels, to protect the good china, and you can buy plate protectors made out of thin synthetic stuff, but I like the flannel better. I suppose I could have even used the felt they sell at JoAnn stores, but although I have no real scientific basis for bias, I prefer the natural cotton to the synthetic felt that is generally available.
I suppose protectors aren't strictly necessary for everyday dishes except that I tend to use a mix of porcelain and pottery, modern and vintage. Increasingly I think if something is too good to be used, it is too good to own. But that doesn't mean I don't want to care for things. It really is not much extra work to remove the flannel as I use the plates, or to place the flannel between plates as they are returned to the shelf, and the between the plates as I stack them on the shelf, and the reduced risk of chipping and rubbing is well worthwhile.
There is flannel between all of these plates, although you don't always see it. In the end, I hadn't purchased enough fabric, only two yards, and I seem to have a lot of dishes. That two yard piece made enough protectors for all the plates seen above, plus 8 large Juliska pasta/soup plates, as I did accidently chip one by banging it a bit too heavily. I'm a bit of a clutz and I'd rather take the time to take care rather than waste time berating myself for my clumsiness. I am happy enough with the results so far, and I've ordered more fabric as this is just the everyday stuff, and I want flannel between the layers of the "good" china as well.
