Melamine and Amy Stavis

In 1969 the number of people in the United States living below the poverty line was 24 million people or 12.2% of the population. I was 10 years old, and definitely counted in this 24 million. Being poor is relative. We knew we were poor, but we still enjoyed life. I usually write about entertaining or gardening, not about population statistics. You might then wonder why I chose to introduce my post with a historic poverty level.

It was approximately 1969 when 3 of my older sisters read an article that stated chipped and cracked crockery was a health hazard. I still remember standing in the kitchen while they showed my mother the mis-matched bowls and plates we used. These dishes had likely come from the thrift store, where most of our things were purchased. We went every week to the thrift store to see what we might need. No doubt we impressed the store clerks with our poverty, as they would often tell us to pull up to the back of the store. They would give us a box of assorted clothes or toys. As children we found this to be extremely exciting – the box held surprises! More often-than-not, the board games and toys were missing pieces, but we did not care they were something new to us.

My sisters were not able to convince my parents of the need to replace our dangerous crockery, so for Christmas they pooled their money and bought melamine dishes. Out went the mismatched, chipped and cracked crockery. We dined in style with plates featuring a pinecone design, and avocado green cups and bowls. New things did not often come into our home, so we thought we had really progressed to have new plastic plates instead of old crockery.

Times and tastes change, and I eventually realized plastic plates are not the highest form of dining elegance. Porcelain became my preferred material for dishware.

Fast forward to 2014. I had acquired Eigen Arts and was making ceramics. My first year was all about discovery. I met Amy Stavis, the publisher of Tableware Today. We met for lunch at a restaurant in New Jersey. She has an immediately likeable personality. We had a wonderful conversation. There I was, a novice at everything – design, production, and distribution, yet Amy found it interesting and asked to write an article about me and Eigen Arts. It was something I could never have dreamed would happen. I did not know at the time about Amy’s big heart in supporting everyone around her.

Tableware Today Interview – Paul Brothe Tableware Today : December/January 2014 (mydigitalpublication.com)

Amy knows everyone in the table-top business. She single-handedly started the magazine Tableware Today and has published the magazine for decades. Amy is a walking encyclopedia about the industry.

We have stayed in touch. At the beginning of May, Amy asked if I would be interested in writing the final column in her magazine for the August-September issue. I have been so grateful for Amy’s support of me, I would do anything she asked. It didn’t take me long to write it. While I am not a writer, I enjoy writing. Unknown to Amy, I was corresponding with her about the edited version while I was sitting in an urgent care facility anxiously waiting to see a doctor, because I had COVID and had been running a 103 degree temperature for several days. Did I mention, I would do anything for Amy?

Yesterday the FedEx truck backed up to my garage, just as I was pulling on my work boots to go work in the woodland garden. This seemed odd. I wasn’t expecting anything. The delivery man handed me a small, but heavy box. Multiple copies of the August/September issue of Tableware Today. Needless-to say this made my day.

We all have special people in our lives. I am blessed to know Amy Stavis, who is kind, funny, intelligent and understands why I have so many sets of dishes, sterling flatware and crystal. Thank you, Amy, you enrich all our lives.