The entries we received were all just terrific, and the potters at Emerson Creek Pottery had quite a time narrowing the entries down to just one winner. We thank all of the contestants for their excellent efforts, and would like to share the winning entry here, from J. Barnes of Vermont!

Well, this has been a tough year for me, I lost my husband and gave birth to our daughter 10 weeks after his passing. The dinner party that I would have, would be a party to celebrate his life and to thank my friends and family who were all there for me during this very difficult time. I would do all the cooking myself and the table and place setting would look gorgeous with your pottery. I am truly fond of the dragonfly pottery because at my husbands service a story was read about a dragonfly...and now I feel close to my husband whenever I see something with them on it. Your pottery is so beautiful, I am trying to save up some money to purchase some for myself! Thanks for this opportuity.

We asked our customers to tell us how they'd give a dream dinner party using Emerson Creek Pottery's Field of Iris dinner service for 4. Read all their fun replies here to get ideas for your own special dinner party!

From L. Fischer of Kentucky
There once was a lady named Fischer, Who said she really did wish her Party'd be merry With all of her very Close friends that don't ever dish her!

From S. Carr of NC
I'd have an outdoor dinner under the gazebo with lavender springs tied with yellow ribbons in a deep green glaze cache pot centered on a white linen tablecloth. Matching napkins would be tied with yellow ribbons with sprigs of lavender. Lavender scented candles would be arranged in tiers in a corner of the gazebo casting intimacy. The pottery would be set complete with my antique sterling silver. Deep green swags of lavender and lemon leaves would be used to festoon the entrance to the gazebo. The meal would be creamy pasta carbonara with a Caesar salad and hearty garlic bread. Chocolate mousse would be dessert served with Snickerdoodle coffee and brandies.

From P. Hasbargen of MN

I have been working out in the early mornings for the pas several years with the spectacular group of women of various ages and backgrounds. I would love to host a Dinner Party with many of these women in a social situation. We have seen each other at our early morning "worst" and accept everyone "as is." What great fun I imagine we could and would have together in a dirrerent element.

From V. Ross of CA
To have a set of dishes, and beautiful ones at that, that all match, would be the highlight of my dinner party. I would invite the 3 people I want to impress the most and serve the absolutely best home cooked meal I could come up with to show off the dishes. I'd have great music playing and have a ball.

From L. Hayth of VA
In a world of our own we maximize our inner brightness and our attention and energy go directly to the blue and yellow colors. Our table cloth a pale blue, the stem wear sparkels. The plates and bowes and tiny plates and cups and saucers will add to the majic of our table with the blue/yellow colors of the Iris flowers. These colors represent sky and sunshine. We are about to have a magical evening.

From C. Miller of MA
My Dream Dinner Party with Emerson Creek Pottery would be for myself and my three girlfriends. There is nothing we like to do better that go out (or in) to eat with very beautiful dishes and appetizing food. These dishes are beautiful and would compliment anything I could make. I would ingrave formal invites with the menu displayed for the banquet we would have. Roast Duck, & tender asparagus spears would be on the main course and delicious flan for dessert. I would take pictures of our elegant dinner of course

From A. Bradley of IN
My Mother is a gardening fanatic. She would be fist on my list of dinner invitations. I would have her fly up to Indiana from Florida. I would dress all the kids in their best clothes, teach the boys how to pull out a chair for a Lady, teach the girls and boys how to use all the extra silverware that goes with a grand dining experience. Also finally teach them the difference between a dinner plate and a salad plate. Something my mother absolutely loves, besides how much she loves her Grandchildren. Then afterwards I would give my Mother the dining set because she loves all Irises and this dinnerware set is beautiful.

From K. Murray of VA
If this is a DREAM dinner party then I'd have just the girls Margaret Thatcher, Helen Keller, and Rosa Parks. I'd serve them lobster Salad on Puff Pastry. Beef Wellington with Baby Potatoes and aspargus with Hollandaise. For Dessert, individual molton chocolate cakes.

From V. Sandberg of UT
My husband has two dinner groups that he has been apart of for about 27 years. Since I have married him I have become apart of these groups too. So we get our turn to be host and hostess of the dinner parties. It would be so nice to serve an elegant dinner on those beautiful service. I have silver and crystal that I could use with them. Help me to impress the groups by giving us this excellent dinner service to use for our dinner parties.

From P. Adams of Nevada
with a table setting this beautiful, it would be a select couple and a very careful few. JUST GREAT set. thank you.

From S. Umber of AR
I would have a get together with my son and his girlfriend and welcome her and get to know her better and let her know we value her as a person, every meal is special because so many families eat apart.

From C. Mealey of MA
My dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery would highlight the beauty of the iris design by being set outdoors on a gorgeous fieldstone patio surrounded by fields of lush purple iris and cheerful orange daylilies. Our menu would be a spring arugula endive salad with goat cheese, walnuts and balsamic dressing, a sesame crusted grilled chicken tenderloin and a wild rice croutin, finished with fresh ripe strawberries in devonshire cream.

From S. SoRelle of TX
The party should obviously be held when irises are available to complement the dishware. Easter sounds good. Decorated eggs (ceramic, of course) would make great place cards and party favors. The main dish would be the traditional ham. Other featured foods would be broccoli casserole (my brother's favorite), candied yams and a cake in the shape of a lamb. My grandmother used to make that cake, or a rabbitshaped cake, but now she has given the lamb mold to me and the rabbit to my sister. So, I make the cake, but it never looks like hers. She lies, though, and says it does. After dinner, we will have an egg hunt for the kids. Well, two, actually, one for the little ones and a harder one for the older children. There will, of course, be candy and money in said eggs. When all of the children are hopped up on sugar and the parents are tired, we will send everyone home. Thanks!

From S. Seneker of TN
The iris is the state flower of Tennessee! The small town that I live in Greeneville, Tennessee hosts the Iris Festival the 3rd weekend in May. This festival is held in the heart of Greeneville downtown with the streets blocked off for entertainment, food boots, games and crafts for sale all with the iris theme. It is beautiful! The GreenEville Basket Guild also holds their meetings the 3rd Saturday of each month. Our logo cantains a basket of irises. I am the President. After we weave we have a covered dish luncheon and visit the festivities downtown as a group. I would love for the GreenEville Basket Guild luncheon to feature this beautiful pottery for their Iris Festival luncheon the third Saturday in May. What a special day that would be! Thanks!

From J. Lintono of LA
My dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery would consist of all my family gathered around a dinner table set with beautiful dinnerware.

From B. Church of AK
It would be for my daughter, who is a great entertainer, but on a limited budget. She would love to have these beautiful, elegant dishes. I would love to surprise her for her birthday in July.

From T. Braswell of FL
Until I read the cover letter from owner Jim Leavitt, I was skeptical entering, being a guy talking about dinnerware and dinner parties. After looking at your pottery I figured I've got to at least try. Recently single I wanted to upgrade my boring old white plates with something much more hip. I have been looking at sets from Platzgraff, Mikasa, and others but I haven't been happy with any yet. I found your company when I searched for wisteria dinnerware. I really like that pattern and the Field of Iris. They would really make entertaining friends and family a much more festive event. I think they would be impressed with my taste in dinnerware. And who knows it might even help me catch the eye of that special someone. This new bachelor could use all the help he can get.

From N. Brannen of GA
I would have a beautiful table setting with Emerson Creek pottery.I would invite friends and family.Some friends i haven`t seen in quite awhile.I will be thrilled to see them!I know i would get a lots of complements on my lovely table setting!

From M. Ballard of MS
Since my husband and I had a "shotgun" wedding, we never registered for or received the typical wedding gifts of fina china or everyday china. Now, as we near our ten year anniversary, I could plan a dream dinner at my home with my own set of Emerson Creek Pottery. I've never had the whole family, my own relatives and my inlaws over, so we'd have a grand bash and show off our new home and our new pottery with a familyfriendly dreamdinner party!

From D. Griffis of Florida
It is spring, and time for friends and loved ones to gather for a celebration of life! I would gather four of the best friends in the world scattered over the US and celebrate the wonder of friendship and love. Life is a gift, the flowers will soon bloom and it is time once again to enjoy the beauty that surrounds us. I would relish the beauty of the company and the surroundings in a special time with friends. The table would be lavishly decorated in colors of spring and the table would be glorious with the dishes of spring. I would serve simple dishes and a lavish dessert so that at the end we could enjoy our coffee covered with mounds of whipped cream. Life is such a blessing, friends are the glorious blessing of God!

From R. Single of GA
I would purchase a large picnic table and place it by the water on Smith Mountain Lake on a perfect summer's eve. I would spend the morning cutting fresh Iris flowers in the rolling hills off the Blue Ridge Parkway and arrange them delicately in the coordinating vase. Then, I would add some candles, find an blues acoustic guitarist, and serve a blue themed picnic,...organic salad greens with blue cheese dressing, bluecorn tortilla soup, blueberry wheat muffins and fresh blueberries atop homemade french vanilla icecream. Then we can break into the blueberry wine, enjoy the sunset and listen to some blues!

From V. Wagenknecht of OR
I would find a way to have my 84 year old Mom and almost 90 year old Dad fly to Oregon (from Delaware) and have a dinner party with me and my sister and 2 brothers. Dad will be 90 on June 28th and his favorite flower is iris.A dinner party to honor both our parents for bringing us up in a home where we learned about God and developed a deep love for flowers would be a wonderful tribute.

From M. Noguerole of OR
This beautiful dinnerware deserves to be the center of attention at one of my Spring or Summer weekend patio parties. I would set the place settings against a lilac tablecloth, much like the lilac found in Iris ensata 'Oriental Eyes' (Japanese iris) which happens to be my favorite flower. I think this will help bring out the crisp white and iris pattern of the dinnerware. A centerpiece of made up of yellow and blue bearded irises would bring it together with some beautiful crystal stemware. Followed by a simple elegant meal with good music and conversation among friends it will make for a perfect end to a beautiful day.

From G. Pollard of AZ
would invite four friends over

From C. Meadows of Kentucky
I would share my dream dinner party with my husband and two beautiful children.

From K. Sholes of CT
I live in a log home with a rustic kitchen table. Your pine cone or rooster sets would look so perfect in my home! My dream dinner party would be my husband and my best friend and her husband, enjoying a homecooked "comfort food" dinner, sipping a glass of wine and sharing memories from years gone by and making new memories that night!

From C. Tucker of TX
My dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery would be held in my backyard. The only light would be from the many candles covering the the long table set with Emerson Creek Pottery's handmade, handpainted Field of Iris dinnerware on a crisp white table cloth. Soft music would be playing in the background. A fabulous pinot paired with simple, yet elegant appetizers of smoked salmon slipped through shiney black olives would start the meal. A nice homemade butternut squash soup would be served next, followed by a mixed spring green salad. The main course would be Beef Bourguignonne or Chicken Marsala served on a bed of pasta, accompanied with fresh steamed asparagus topped with lemon butter. Desert would be a simple layered chocolate tort, thinly iced with butter cream frosting and topped with an assortment of glazed berries.

From H. Warvolis of PA
This year my sister,who is a nun,is celebrating her golden jubilee as a teacher still active in her religious community. To celebrate this momentous event,I would use your Emerson Creek Pottery Field of Iris with its color of blue, the color my sister has worn for half a century. My sister would be surrounded by family members, friends, neigbors, students, past and present,who loved, encouraged, and supported her during all these years. Happily holding her Field of Iris mug, my sister would be laughing, chatting, and reminiscing with this wonderful group of people. For a loving, deserving person like my sister, this would be the ultimate "dream" dinner party!

From A. Hostetler of OH
I would invite my "Bosom Buddies" group over for dinner and use the pottery design as a focal point. All Bosom Buddies are survivors of breast cancer. Some have been disease free for 15 years, while some of us have metastatic breast cancer and are currently receiving treatment. These women are so inspiring to me! Ages range from 42 to 71, some are married, some single, some divorced, some have kids, some own their own businesses, the variety astounds me. I am the youngest (42) and I was diagnosed at 31 with metastatic breast cancer. Anyway, we have a standing monthly dinner (usually at a restaurant) and on my week off of chemp, I could have everyone over for dinner together. Thanks!

From S. Anthony of VA
My perfect dream dinner would include three very special teacher friends that deserve a pampered, leisurely, adult time. Each of us are busy with other people's children, besides our own, and I would love to be the one to show them how much I appreciate them as peers, friends, and educators. I would prepare a special salad that has baby greens, walnuts, ruby red grapefruit sections, and a special Asian dressing. With this we would have a Videliaonion soup with cheese toast. A special quiche with cantalope would look great on your beautiful dinner plates. To complete our meal some type of chocolate dessert would be a requirement, perhaps a Baked Alaska. Flavored coffees in those wonderful mugs, and great conversation are all that would be needed to culminate a perfect meal with wonderful friends.

From E. Morgan of VA
If I should win this, I would have a wonderful Dinner Party for my Nephew, his wife and babygirl due June 14, and then give them this beautiful Field of Iris Dinner Set for four as a housewarming gift for their newly remodeled kitchen in their Bedford County home. The colors of this pattern would be perfect for the new kitchen. A handmade and handpainted gift from our own local Bedford County Pottery would make this a treasured gift to pass to generations to come.

From J. Moomey of VA
I love pottery. I have several pieces of the Emerson Creek Pottery and I love knowing that it is made not far from my house. Pottery has such character and really gives character to meals and parties. I would love the chance to win a dinner service for 4! Thanks for the chance.

From S. Turner of Va
My "dinner Dinner Party" with Emerson Creek Pottery would not be a fancy fare or with friends far away. It would be with my very own familymy 3 boys and my husband. It seems like we are all going in different directions these days as our family calendar on the kitchen counter proves it! Listed on the page for the month are business trips for dad, ball practices for all 3 boys, preschool responsibilities for mom, school projects, birthday parties to attend and Sunday School lessons to teach. I would set aside one evening and have "Family Dinner Party" on the calendar written in ink! I would use the pottery to create a beautiful tableas I long for my boys to appreciate the finer things in life! I would even use cloth napkins and real cups (not the typical plastic ones!). I would make a wonderful dinner from appetizer to dessert. The menu would not be complicated, but be filled with a dish representing everyone's favorites. It would be a dinner to remembe! r! I am sure that they would chose to have fried chicken, steak, maccaroni and cheese, salad, garlic bread and lots of sweet tea! Desserts would have to include brownies and ice cream! Even though the food would be delicious, it is the company that will be treasured in my heart! I long for a relaxing dinner with laughter all around my table. To take a moment in time to have all the demands of our day just stop and just focus on how blessed we are to be together would be a dream come true for this mom. I work very hard to keep our boys happy and not over scheduled. I long for the days when they were little and so easy to keep close at home. If I won this pottery set, I would use it create special memories for my family, even making new traditions. I am learning that as they get older, we need to create more memories of "home" so that when they feel overwhelmed they will know that home is the best place to be and the only true place to have peace.

From N Dudley
My dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery would be a simple dinner of grilled fish, a salad, and fresh bread served outside on our back porch on a warm Spring evening. I would invite friends over and light tiki tourchs in the yard to set the mood (and keep away bugs) and also have candles that are setting in Emerson Creek votive holders burning on the dinner table. I would have an antique Coke cooler filled with drinks and a bottle of wine chilling. A platter of fresh vegetables and dip would be the casual hors d'oeuvre of choice. After dinner desert would include a homemade cake bought from the Lynchburg City Farmers Market and fresh strawberrys served with coffee to top off the evening. A great dinner party can be simple to pull off with fresh food presented on great looking dishes and off course good company.

From E. Petersen of New York
My dream dinner party would start with hors d'oeuvres served on Iris serving dishes. Chips and dips, shrimp and sauce, crackers and cheese, each in there own uniquely designed Emerson Creek servers. Dinner would be a familiar dish to the Northeast served on lovely Iris dinner wear and matching salad plates. Desert would be Southern pecan pie and coffee, all served on Iris plates. All complimentary plates and table wear would be Iris, my absolute favorite. The best part would be when my guests all oohed and aahhed over my matching Iris set. The center piece would hold my home grown Iris in several smaller Iris vases and candles on dishes. If the weather permitted, this would all take place on the desk with a Southern theme. If that happened the railings would be alight with candles in Iris votive holders thereby lending a peaceful, romantic atmosphere. Perhaps my guests would be asked to dress as Southern belles. After dinner we would walk through my iris g! arden and all guests would take home a bouquet.

From R. Mugridge of MI
I have been married six years and we still haven't been able to get a big matching set of dishes.We have red wing hockey glasses,american idol glasses,flower plates and kellogs cereal bowls.It's time to grow up and have a real dinner party!Please help!!

From C. DelGaudio of VT
My dream dinner party is a family reunion for my mother, my brother, and my four sisters. We would all meet at my mother's home in Moneta, VA, and have a family Sunday dinner together. I would cook dinner, including my chocolate caroot cake!

From D. Thomas of MO
My dream dinner party would be to have a chef come to my house and cook for me. I cook dinner for my family of 6 most every night. It would be great to have a night off. The beautiful dinnerware would be a prefect setting for a wonderful family meal.

From M. Wilson of VA
The Dinner table is set with the Beautiful Field of Iris Pottery. In the center of the table is a flower arrangement of tulips and buttercups to hint at Spring. The rock fireplace has a warm inviting fire to break the chill of the room. Dinner begins with my favorite ceasar salad. The meal is soon served: beef, scalloped potatoes, french almond green beans and yeast rolls. Dessert comes later, chocolate cake with chocolate icing served with a hot cup of french roasted coffee in a tall pottery mug. The Dream meal was wonderful, especially served on the Emerson Creek Pottery!

From S. Davis of TX
I live in the country, a rural area , since we don't have a "big city" life we love to have parties for just about everything. We celebrate, birthdays, awards, good grades, any special day such as Valentines and boy do we enjoy it. When I lived in a fairly good size city we never had formal meals, the children wanted to eat in front of the tv set and like it or not we had fast food for so many meals. Last weekend I had a dinner party which, not being my dream dinner party was kind of formal and fun for all. I found out that many of the relatives and neighbor folks had never had a leg of lamb, that set my head to thinking. I am going to describe how I would have done it had it been my true dream dinner party. First the preparations of the table setting began several days in advance. I got out my best silver, polished it and had it ready, also got out my Emerson Field of Iris Pottery, washed it and had it ready. I had the serving pieces of pottery and silver clean and ready too. The day of my party I cooked the beautiful leg of lamb after I inserted slivers of garlic and fresh rosemary, fresh pepper,etc. I also cooked golden mashed potatos and made green beans. Once the table was set, the food put in the serving bowls, the group was called to the table and grace was said. Tea was served in cut glass Waterford glasses and dinner was underway. I was tickled that folks remarked on my pottery and on my silver, they had never before seen the beautiful pottery which made me proud. The guests bragged on the meal and on the table settings. What a wonderful dinner party, we will do it again soon I am sure, this brought our family and neighbors together in a way and while good also, hot dogs and hamburgers sort of fail to do. This was a great excuse to get out our beautiful things and show them to others. ps. The beautiful pink roses that were on the table were sent by one of our neighbors, a dinner guest.

From A. Smola of IL
I recently purchased my dream home. I have a beautiful, elegant walnut dining room set. I would invite 4 of my best friends and serve a standing rib roast, baby golden potates and and wonderful bottle of wine. We could relax and enjoy the wonderful view of the protected wetlands that backs up to my property.

From B. Keck of Kentucky
The dinner party would feature seasonal Ohio valley ingredients. We have a farmer's market in Cincinnati Findlay Markey and I would not plan the menu until that morning. I would buy whatever is fresh. I know homemade goetta would be somewhere on the menu as an homage to Cincinnati's German tradition. I don't really like german food so the rest of the menu would vary. The Emerson Creek Pottery place settings would showcase the meal and make a perfect evening.

From L. of TN
Everyday with Emerson Creek would be a dream dinner party. Due to the simple elegance of the design and its natural origins, I always feel dreamlike when I use a piece of Emerson Creek. I would most likely serve Spindini with fresh fruit and iced spice tea.

From E. Overstreet of VA
The iris service transports me to a garden of a muchloved relative who raised many varieties of iris. My dinner would be simple, yet tasty, and as well as the iris dinnerware, would transport me back to familiar smells and tastes from the iris lady's kitchen. Memories of relatives, long gone now, would be evoked as I savored my simple meal served on this beautiful handcrafted service. My guests would be treated to the warmth of a special circle of love.

From M. Saben of VA
One of my greatest privileges as a homemaker is to make the ordinary extraordinary for my family and friends. For example, my family benefits from manifestations of creativity in tea time. It reminds them how precious they are to me amidst daily routine, when celebrating joys or easing trials. My friends are blessed with a warm welcome when I can honor them by having something on hand ready to serve with minimal effort, whether their visit was planned or spontaneous. In maintaining the ritual of afternoon tea with my children, or while hosting a guest at our tea table, Emerson Creek Pottery dinnerware would highlight the importance of each participant. I like to keep homemade muffins, shortbread (baked in my British Isles mold), lemon curd and unbaked scones in my freezer. When tea time is scheduled for four o clock, I would remove the muffins, shortbread and lemon curd to begin thawing at three, and set the table with Field of Iris mugs and the smaller plates. A selection of teas for each child or friend to choose from would be arranged on one larger plate; the others would be set aside for serving the baked goods. I would whip about � cup heavy cream until it was reached almost butter consistency and fold in a little sugar, then put this mock Devonshire cream for the scones into one of the Field of Iris bowls. Another bowl would be used to serve the lemon curd, and a third for jam. The fourth would be for fresh seasonal berries or cut! up fruit or for chocolates if I didn t have any fruit on hand. Time to bake the scones, allowing a few extra minutes in the oven because they came straight from the freezer. I might also wrap the muffins in foil and warm them for a few minutes while the oven is hot. Then I would set a kettle of water to boil and invite everyone to the table to choose a teabag and place it in their Field of Iris mug. I would set out milk and sugar, arrange the baked goods on the larger Field of Iris plates, and sit down for the blessing. The importance of efficiency in this ritual is to keep it simple enough to practice regularly, providing respite and a haven in our home. There should be time to stop for a treat in the long afternoon hours before dinner to listen and talk, enjoying one another and treating members of our table with honor, creativity enhanced with the art of Emerson Creek Pottery.

From H. Wilcox of AR
In my dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery, I would invite the most important people in my life over and we would dine together, and laugh together over the memories we've shared, we'd talk about our future and our plans on how to keep in touch. It would be a day of bonding, especially with those that live so far away and only get to visit once in a great while!

From Z. Bond, 8 years old of VA
My family would like to throw a dinner party with Field of Iris dinnerware because we need new plates, they're lovely, they're hand made, and made locally. You cannot get them at the Mall. The plates remind us of how beautiful Virginia is. The plates might be passed from generation to generation. If we win this contest we would use the plates for gourmet meals or just plain, old fashioned meals. If we pass down our dinnerware to our kids, even if they move out of Virginia, they would know how beautiful Virginia is.

From L. Handlin of WI
I would cover my table with the cloth my grandmother hand tatted 80 years ago and set my beautiful iris dinnerware on light green chargers. Grandmas silver would be used and I would have dozens of blue candles on the table and sideboard, a vase of fresh Iris' would be set on the sideboard. My guests of honeor wold be my best friend Joy and her husband. Joy helped me through a difficult divorce and I think is my guardian angel. Dinner would start with a salad made from greens from my garden topped with my homemade blue cheese, fresh door county cherries and cherry poppyseed dressing complete with homemade brioche. My entree would be a wonderful puff pastry enclosed chicken breast with champagnemorel msuhroom sauce and a side of steamed asparagus. I would serve Wollershiem Prairie Fume, a native Wisconsin wine that is easy to drink. I'd have remove and wash my salad plates so that I could use them to plate slices of cheesecake served with coffee and candied violets. I would play Chopin etudes on the stereo, and the windows would be open to let the night breezes in.

From J. Arthur of VA
The two words Dinner Party scare a country girl like me a little, they make me think of fancy dishes, beautiful decorations, elegant dresses and delicious food, can t say that I have ever had a dinner party before. This is however, my dream dinner party. I would use my Iris dinnerware, which you get many complements from my friends. There would be a simple arrangement of Iris in the middle of the table to add to the beauty of the dishes. I would serve chicken or something that all my guests would enjoy, because the most important part of my dinner party isn t the food it is that my guests feel special and welcome in my home. After I have served my guests on my Iris dinnerware, I m sure they will feel very special. After dinner I would make coffee and serve dessert on the salad plates, to remind my guest just how special they are to me. Hopefully we would end the evening chatting and sipping coffee. I know this isn t a fancy dinner party at all, but your typical Bedford county girl has never been to a fancy dinner party before she has however had dinner with her friends and family. She does know how to make them feel comfortable and special in her home.

From R. Mazeikas of IN
My Dream Dinner Party would consist of the 4 most important people in my life. That would be my husband and my two adult children. I would start it off with some homemade Cream of Chicken soup. Followed by a delicious salad made with only the freshest ingredients and homemade dressing. The main course would consist of grilled New York Strip Steaks with a side of homemade rice pilaf and another side of mixed, steamed oriental vegetables. I would bake homemade bread to serve with it. Our dessert would consist of homemade apple pie made with the very best apples and homemade crust. There would be soft lighting and soft background music. We would enjoy a slowpaced indulgent meal, as well as wonderful company! It would all be served on beautiful dinnerware made by Emerson Creek Pottery!

From K. Lewis of FL
I would actually clean off my dining room table which has never actually been used for dinner. I would set the table for 2, handpicked flowers from my garden, my special roast beef dinner and candles for just my fiance and myself.

From J. Athey of Kentucky
I would invite my best friend, Connie, and her husband, Rick! After dinner was finished I'd do the dishes and then give Connie, The Field of Iris Dinnerwear service for 4. The reason for this gift is because I recently gave her the new Field of Iris 12 oz. coffee mug as a gift and she loved it. She said, "Jeanette it's me". "It's my new favorite coffee mug". I began collecting the Cranberry pattern last November because it goes perfectly with the decoratating scheme in my new little apartment. For my dinner party, I'd serve on my County Cottage drop leaf table, on the pretty Field of Iris dishes, first hot and sour soup, then for the entree, shrimp stir fry with an egg roll on the side, and fortune cookies for dessert. I'd have to buy them though. My beverage would be hot tea in the pretty, perfect for, 10 oz. mugs. I chose to feature a wisteria dried flower arrangement for my centerpiece because while the wisteria vine is native to the usa, it is to asia as well. I, also chose an oriental menu for the same reason. Ok, I hope this was 500 words or less. I think Emerson Creek Pottery is the best thing since PopCorn!

From C. Cossey of MS
Hopefully my kitchen would be finished, it's in the middle of a remodel, but if it was I would break out my most delicious recipes and get to cookin. I love cooking and would love to have a dinner party in my new kitchen

From D. Woolsey of OK
My dream dinner party would be with the youth at our church. This dinnerware design reflects the calmness and beauty I feel when I am surrounded by God's love and his creations. I am moving to an area with a small amount of land and to be able to arrange a dinner party outside in the open air with dishes as beautiful as these would be bliss to me. as I am a vegetarian, I would try to select recipes whose colors would complement the beautiful iris on these plates. I know these dishes are too elegant to be used outside but I would take care of them with care, and I just think to be able to combine this beauty with God's beautiful creation would be an awesome experience.

From K. Kinsey of Virginia
Entertaining is such a wonderful way to express one's personality. Everything from the setting to the menu to the table decor says so much about the host. I love to entertain outdoors. My backyard is peaceful and comfortable, and using it for dining and parties expands my space! What could be more inviting than a warm evening shaded by beautiful landscaping with a table set to sparkle with candles? Fairy lights in the trees would lend atmosphere and warmth. Soft music would provide background to the lively conversation. Emerson Creek Pottery's Field of Iris dinner service would grace the table atop crisp white linens. Of course there would have to be flowers on the table, too something that compliments the dinnerware. And the food ... a pineapple and greens salad with grated sharp cheddar cheese to start, followed by grilled chicken and vegetables (asparagus, peppers and squash). The entre would accompanied by rich, nutty risotto. Dessert would have t! o be a blueberry cobbler how beautiful will that be on the Iris dishes? I'm going to have to start planning a party!

From A. Bever of OK
My dream dinner contest would include my husband and children. I love to give my family a special memory with thier meals and create a bond that can only happen at home around the family table.

From V. Bond of VA
I would love to throw a dinner party with Field of Iris dinnerware. I have a few pieces of the bakeware, and really enjoy them. They are very easy to clean and I love the fact that they are handpainted and made locally. The matching dinnerware would be a much needed addition to my collection. Gourmet meals or plain, oldfashioned home cooking would really add to the enjoyment of the Emerson Creek Pottery. My children, family and friends can't wait for me to spoil them with a delicious meal, beautiful dinnerware, and fabulous friendship using the most inspiring pottery I have ever seen. I'm sure the Emerson Creek Pottery would be the "talk of the table" and the "talk" for many weeks to come. Wish me Luck!! I Can't wait to start cooking!!

From T. Nelson of WA
My diner party would be centered around my beautiful Emerson Creek Pottery's handmade, hand painted Field of Iris dinnerware to show off it's royal beauty. Dinner would be seated in the gazebo over looking the Skykomish River in Washington State served and prepared by only the finest chef Seattle has to offer. The beauty of my dinnerware would be the highlight of the conversation, as I would proudly boast about the beauty and elegance of Emerson Creek Pottery.

From G. Mullins of VA
After seeing your beautiful Iris dinnerware my thoughts immediately went to my Mom and how I would have loved to set a pretty table for her with all the pieces. I lost her last summer and the dishes remind me of her love of flowers. I would fill the soup bowls with a colorful vegetable salad, and use the salad plates to hold fresh baked dinner rolls. The dinner plates would hold generous portions of homemade baked ziti. To cap off the meal, serve steaming mugs of fresh brewed coffee or cappuccino. It would be a delicious meal served in stlye with gorgeous handmade dinnerware.

From B. Garcia of NJ
My dream dinner party would be one I would give for my loving husbands 38th Birthday this coming July. We have overcomed so many struggles together and he is such a wonderful father,husband and hero, he works for the FDNY and is currently not feeling too well. He is very meticulous about how the table is set and about the quality of dinner plates, etc. I think a nice spanish style dinner party using Emerson Creek Pottery would be one to remember and one that would make him full of glee.

From A. Larson of MN
Nothing of mine matches anymore. If I won this, I would invite all my children and grandchildren for a lovely Sunday dinner, using this lovely dinnerware set. I would be so happy and proud!

From L. Emerson of MS
Our son recently returned from Afghanistan where he was stationed in the Army for a year. Although we live in Biloxi MS, we are here due to the Air Force, and our home state is Maine and New Hampshire. I would use the Emersson Creek Pottery to have a celebration dinner to welcome our son home. Many of our relatives will be coming down to Biloxi to help us celebrate his safe return. I would also invited coworkers from both my husband and my workplaces who have been so supportive and caring during this very hard year. I would have the most wonderful dinner party as if would be filled with so much happiness, love and friendship. The pottery would be a part of this very special dinner party and it as well as those who were part of it would be remembered for a lifetime.

From M. Flattery of NY
I would be surrounded by good friends, close family and delicious food!

From S. Curnett of washington
It would be a beautiful day with sun and white fluffy clouds. Perfect temperature and a very light breeze. The table is set with a lavender table cloth with matching napkins. A center piece of fresh lavender cut from my yard in a lavender bouquet vase. A lavender place setting for each quest. The meat is served on an oval lavender tray, and the side dishes are served in lavender serving bowls. Lavener scent candles finish off the setting.

From A. Lindsey of FL
First of all, I love irises! I carried them in my wedding, and I already have some servingware with an iris pattern. I would use your beautiful dinnerware to hold an intimate party, with just a couple of friends who are cinephiles, like my husband and I. We'd have them over to watch a movie while my famous lasagne is baking. Then we'd chow down on lasagne, salad, and garlic bread while dissecting the film, scene by scene. That's my idea of a perfect evening.

From M. Carter of ME
I just got engaged. We are going to tell his parents when when they come up in June. I am kind of embarressed to invite them over becuase I have all the same dishes I gathered when I was in collage. I would be so proud to set a table with Emerson Creek Pottery. I would set my table around your dishes. I would get a matching table cloth and napkins and a vase of wild Irises. It would be a dinner that would make his parents proud to have me join the family

From L. Garner of MO
I'm just learning to cook. We've always eaten alot of take out in our house. My dream dinner party would be to invite my mother over for dinner and prepare her favorite manacotti recipie. Not only would I be able to bake the dish perfectly but I would serve everything on beautiful Emerson Creek Pottery dinnerware with matching glasses. I would have a center piece of fresh flowers and matching napkins. The dinner rolls would be served in a beautiful ceramic bowl and I would serve a fresh salad. I would love to be able to impress my mother and husband with my own home cooked dinner!

From A. Jacobs of California
I would gather a guest list of lively, chatty friends and family, plan a sumptious meal to match the sumptious pattern, prepare and preplan to see that everything goes smoothly. Most of all, aside from making my guests feel comfortable and at home, I would want to accent the beauty of the dinnerware by complementing the colors with a beautiful centerpiece.

From S. McKenzie of AZ
My dinner table would be set with my new blus placemats. We just moved into our new apertment and have not had guests yet. I would invite Kim and Mark, and they would walk in to the low sounds of jazz and the smell of vanilla candles burning. The center of the table would have a simple arrangement of blue iris and babys breath. I would serve my special pork chops with potatos and gravy. For dessert we would have strawberry shortcake seved in my soup bowls for a different technique and coffee. There is nothing more beautiful than a well set table with beautiful dishes and fresh flowers, and special friends to enjoy it with.

From C. Miller of MA
My dream dinner party with Emerson Creek Pottery's handmade, hand painted field of Iris dinnerware would be so elegant to look at, I have hand embroidered linens from a vacation in St. Maartin that would match perfectly and of course fresh iris and white carnations nosegays places about. Pitchers of Iced Tea and Sangria sit ready on the sideboard and the menu is Pistou Soup, Boneless Chicken Breasts Provencale, zuccini with tomatoes and black olives and Apple tart with walnuts and honey for dessert. I would have my three best friends to this dinner as we all enjoy fine dining and elegant presentation.