I started Second Chance China when my mother downsized and asked me to take the four sets of china she'd inherited from her mother, grandmother, and great-aunts. These weren’t just plates—they were plates suffused with personal history. Each delicate dish told the story of the woman who had chosen it—their aspirations, their joys, and their heartbreaks. I had known and loved these women, who had absolutely intended for the next generation to treasure their table setting and all it represented. But there was simply no space!

That’s when I began repurposing these exquisite plates, bowls, teacups and saucers. I created tiered servers, jewelry trays, ring holders, bird feeders, key bowls, and planters, gifting them to dozens of relatives. I saw how much they appreciated holding a concrete memory from our shared past—and being able to use these upcycled items in a practical way. The china, no longer boxed up in storage, got a second chance at life.

Today, as Second Chance China, I reimagine vintage china from estate sales, antique shops, thrift stores, and networks of friends whose parents are downsizing. Items are available at craft and gift boutiques throughout the Washington, DC-area, or by appointment.