michelle obama 's office says she chose the bold hue to distinguish her family 's china from the red , green , blue and yellow used on more recently .
the obama state china service consists of 11-piece place settings for 320 people and the blue appears on all pieces but the dinner plate .
pickard china , of antioch , illinois , was brought in to consult on the project three years ago and it 's just now come to fruition .
the china as paid for from a private fund that is administered by the white house historical association .