Cup Woes

I have a problem with cups.  Coffee cups in particular.

I'm really fussy.

For my morning latte, I like a bigfat (think mini-soup bowl), thin rimmed cup, both microwave and dishwasher safe, with a comfortable handle for my littlish hands.  Not an easy combination to find.  I had one, which I blogged about previously, that I loved loved LOVED.  It was big enough, had a lovely thin rim, pretty blue with little flowers on the outside.  The perfect cup.  Look what happened to it.

Is this not the saddest thing you've ever seen?  I didn't do this all by myself, I had help from a four-legged friend who got a little too rambunctious and paid for it by wearing spilled coffee on his head.

I went back to the store whence it came and tried to find another.  Unfortunately, there were none.  Line discontinued. 

I tried to glue it back together, but ... no go. 

So I got online and searched for the maker - it's one of the dine series made by HD Designs.  I found some HD Design stuff, but no dishware like this. 

Majorly bummed, I bought this, because it was the only BIGCup I could find.

Whimsical, yes.  Colorful, yes.  Big, sure.  But it's got an equally bigfat rim, and it's heavy.  Clunky even.  Not only that but - although it claims to be microwaveable - it heats up way too much in the nuker.  Don't know how to get around that problem.

Anyway, lo and behold, the other day I found a new cup that is almost big enough - just a skoche bigger and it would be perfect - and has a nice thin rim AND is safe in the nuker.  Not blue or flowery, but kinda classy in a country sort of vein.

Guess who makes it?

Yep, same company.  HD Designs.  I wish I could find a website for them, I'd email somebody and say - You're my kinda peeps!

Ok, only one more pic, in homage to this new, almost-perfect cup, and then I'm done. :)

Comments

[Cheryl]

Nothing like a robust cup to get you going. I like the huge wake up with AL on the Weather Channel.

[Brian C. Steinberg]

I am looking for that same Dine by HD Designs Coffee Cup as I broke mine :(

I got it at Fred Meyer (Kroger) a few years ago and can't find any like it anywhere!!!!!

[george]

I really like this new coffee - Mission Grounds Gourmet Coffee. My cousin gave me some and its terrific.
They help homeless children in Atlanta with the proceeds.
Has anybody tasted it ? or found it locally? I found it at www.missiongrounds.com

[Ray]

I agree that "HD" Designs makes the perfect Coffee cup. I just bought one this weekend. I also bought a "HD" Designs "pasta plate" for $4.95 and then found it on Ebay for $17.95+shipping.

For those of you looking for the "HD" website, you can stop looking as there isn't one. The Brand "HD" is a private lable exclusive to Kroger (and with the merger) Fred Meyer stores. HD Designs – upscale home goods

[Dave]

I've just come to this blog and must say i'm having a great time reading the posts.This definitely merits a bookmark!

[Chris]

I just read your blog.... every single post (sorry not all the comments) and throughly enjoyed it! Keep it up. Coffee lovers unite!

[my-mia-mie]

Oops, I thought http://muglamania.com/index.html was US. I have always planned to buy more of them. I bought my Nevis in Oxford and my husband bought the Suffolk for me at a mall coffee shop. I think they turn up in random places over on this side of the water. Good luck with your search.

[sydney]

i too am looking for an hd designs website. if you find one please let me know. and i will do the same.

[Christine]

Thanks my-mia-mie! I went in search of Dunoon today. Great designs!! I can't seem to find a U.S. distributor for them, but I'm not done searching yet.

[my-mia-mie]

De-lurking! I look for the SAME thing in mugs! I hate, loathe, despise and abominate thick rims. My favorite mug brand is from the UK, Dunoon. They are microwave and dishwasher safe. Google them and you will find so many shapes, sizes and patterns that your head will spin. I have a HUGE "Nevis" and a dainty "Suffolk," both with thin rims. I think you would like them.

[Kevin]

I, too, take my big coffee mugs seriously. In fact, I have a bit of a collection going. So I know how terrible it is to lose that perfect mug! My sympathies :)

[Christine]

Hey Steph! Thanks, it's good to be back.

D, my favorite blogdaddy, how the heck are ya? No, I didn't try epoxy, because a big chunk of the cup appears to have disappeared. I'm starting to wonder if maybe the dog ate it.

Jana, I don't mind you asking at all. I found both cups at my local Fry's. It's kinda like a Target superstore, with furniture and china and appliances as well as groceries and stuff. Huge.

I wonder now if the HD Designs folx only sell wholesale to big chains like Frys, because I cannot find ANYTHING about them online. It's very frustrating.

[Steph @]

Welcome back! I've missed your blogging! And I am so sad for your cup loss! Big sigh.

[David]

Nice, Christine! I have a big "first cuppa the morning" brew cup (white, has a pattern that makes it look like a small basket) that is similar in size-shape to your new cup. Who can live w/o that BIG a.m. cup? Or would want to?

Also makes a nice, quirky cup that perfectly holds one 12-oz bottle of beer. *heh* But that's not a morning brew for me.

On the broken cup: did you try a 2-part epoxy like JB Weld? I've used the stuff for everything from fav coffee mugs to engine blocks (engine blocks?!? Yes) with success. In fact I have a "Broken Promise Keepers Mug" (the perfect metaphor for the organization, IMO--and I thought so when I recieved the mug :-)) that is one of my son's favs. Been going 10 years, now, on the same JB Weld repairs. Holding up to microwave, coffee--whatever he's thrown at it. Of course, it's just the handle and a large chip out of the rim I had to repair on it.

[Jana]

Do you mind my asking where you bought the blue cup and the new one? I loved your blue cup--after I saw your earlier post I tried to find a similar one for my lattes! :)