Tablescape Highlights 2011

It's been really fun looking back over the year, it's hard to believe that in a few days we will be kissing another year goodbye. This week projects and Before and Afters are highlighted, and I could'nt leave out tablescapes. In a strange way they are like a hobby. I really love pulling a look together with doable, affordable ideas in hopes to inspire...and of course to eat! :)

Yellow Tulip


Monaco Breeze


America the Beautiful

Woodland

Harvest Green

Chevron Table

Russet Red Evening

Smokey Quartz

Yuletide Christmas

Old World Christmas

Blue Willow

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

Old World Christmas {Tablescape}

Hi and welcome to an Old World Christmas! It's no trouble pulling different looks together at this time of year, I love so many!

This tablescape came together relatively easy, practically by itself. I was pulling linens and dishes out because I had grand ideas of going outside to create a tablescape but the weather just didn't cooperate. I think the freezing temps and wind chill of winter have officially arrived. :)

I pulled my lantern knowing I wanted that as a centerpiece. While it would have fit wholly on my rustic table outside, it's a little snug on the dining room table (oh well). The lantern really set the tone and I came up with a name right away (you name your tablescapes too right?)

I have had a couple of 'old world' figures for years now, and they really look at home. This is the snowman, with his not-quite-white snow, red scarf and broom.

and the Santa with his toy bag and lantern staff.

The glassware I chose, you've seen before, but probably my favorite.

I've had my linen runner on the table for a while now, I'm really glad I went ahead and made it. It sets a neutral background for everything.

Little Christmas tree s-n-p shakers, love these, and love that they were inexpensive.

I put a wreath around the base of the lantern and I did a little doohickey on the flue. I showed you how to embellish a lantern for Fall, so here is a Christmas version. The doodad would have been a little more involved had I not used the wreath, so a little bit of berries, webbing and candy canes did the trick.

I was inspired to use the webbing after seeing it in the PB catalogue and it goes so well with this look! I didn't even look at the price in the catalogue, I just trotted my butt down to Walmart and got a couple of yards of chair webbing. I think it's around a dollar per yard {I think} I can't quite remember. At any rate, it's got a great look to it and not any harder to use than burlap ribbon, there just isn't any wire.

I found these holly berry plates a couple of years ago at a antique store, although the stamp on the bottom that says 'Home' next to the Target symbol leads me to believe they are not antique. :) But I guess they will be eventually. My twiggy chargers look nice under them.

I recently found a couple of fun plaid runners at Dollar General and used them across the table. That is a fun alternative to placemats. The captain's chair layout looks a little different, I even used wooden chargers instead too.

For the napkin rings, I used tiny grapevine wreaths and snipped little red berries apart and wove them around. The celery green napkins are casually folded on the ring.

So while this would have looked so fitting outdoors, it's not too shabby inside.

Thanks so much for stopping by I hope you're inspired!

I will be sharing a fun paper craft with you tomorrow, see you then!

Joining Susan

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

Smoky Quartz Tablescape

This by far might be my favorite table inspiration to date. Ever. It is certainly different than what I typically do, especially for Fall, I usually like a lot of color....but....after finding my Mother's vintage Libbey frosted leaf glassware in storage, I decided to set the table for her. In loving memory.

My mom was a perfectionist, and liked the table set a certain way and while she might shake her head at some of the elements I've used, I think she would delight in a formal place setting. I have never gone this formal before....I even broke out my wedding flatware!

Mom's collection of the Libbey glassware is pretty big, I only used the wine glass and cooler here, but there is also a beverage glass, and juice glass. I remember loving it as a kid (from afar :).

This is the flatware I received as a wedding gift, this is the first time it's seen the light of day in many years...it's too so fancy!

I did a very simple centerpiece. It might shock you to learn that the beautiful metal filigree hurricane is actually a vintage wastebasket (without the original liner) circa 1965. I found it at an estate sale and thought it would make a beautiful centerpiece, and yes, I cleaned it well. :) I used one of my cylinder vases inside to house a single column candle. Around the centerpiece, I used porcelain antlers that I found on a recent trip to St. Louis. I love these and have never seen porcelain ones before!

The dinner plate, fairly modern, in a olive/brown color, white salad plate, and magnolia leaf place markers. I glittered little tiny pumpkins to go along with it. I just used a Sharpie to write every ones name.

I picked up these fresh roses just to add a hint of seasonal color.

You might notice that I have made yet another table runner. I absolutely refuse to blog about it because, how many runners can one person make, I mean really. In this case, I wanted to try my hand at a ruffled runner, and I threw in some fringing just for fun. I should have used a tutorial from somewhere, but I just winged it. Apparently, I'm going to teach myself how to sew if it kills me. Notice (again) that I used the same fabric for the runner as I did on the chairs. I used the additional yardage I bought as 'back up' for the chair covers, in case any accidents happened, so I could just swap it out....which is not the right thing to do, but I did it anyway. I just decided that it was silly to have the fabric, just waiting for accidents, I am going to make something. Hopefully it won't bite me in the butt.

I think that mom would be contented to sit at this table. Enjoying Thanksgiving dinner.

After doing my Magnolia Leaf Wreath, I decided to hang it on my hutch. I just couldn't see it enough with it hanging on the front door, so I moved it in. :)

I found this beautifully fantastical phantasmagorical ribbon at saveoncrafts.com. Be forewarned though, I was so captivated by it's beauty that I did not read that there was only 17 feet on a roll (I mean who sells 17 feet of ribbon, hu?) which based on the price is OUTRAGEOUS very bad. Saving grace? It really is gorgeous and made of linen in Germany, ok, ok, ok...but I will not be duped again.

So how are you liking the neutral coloration for fall? Do you like it?...or are you missing the color?

I hope you're inspired and thanks for stopping by.

Joining Susan

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!

A Rustic Russet Evening {Tablescape}

You just can't beat the colors of fall, it really is my favorite time of year. With the maple tree gleaming with color, I just can't help but follow suit with a rustic but casual dinner table.

Combining my favorite fall colors, russet reds, bittersweet orange, and spicy yellow, this plaid/check tablecloth is my starting point (I really will use plaid anywhere ;). I usually don't ever buy the matching napkins to a tablecloth, I like mixing patterns, like this leafy napkin, for example.

For the centerpiece, simple....pine cones and candles. I have a pretty good medley of pine cones and nearly all I have stockpiled as a centerpiece. I placed the varied types and heights of the candle holders in and around them

I have used my Walmart leaf chargers a lot lately, they really are great looking, a simple stoneware plate, leaf bread plates, and my Mom's silverware finish off the place settings

I think I've told you the story of these pine cones, when Keegan was little he helped me pick up a slew of them....( just like Logan helped me pick up Magnolia leaves the other day) they are huge and are all the way from NC, boy I miss my Carolina pines.

I've had these leaf plates for many years now, I've got them in red and this yellow, I've used them many times.




Simple clear glassware





Here is the red leaf plate.




Very soon all the leaves will be gone from the trees and winter will be here before we know it.
I can't believe another year has nearly passed.

Thank you for stopping by, hopefully you can draw some inspiration for your Thanksgiving dinner!
Next week I have a very special table dedicated to my Mother, be sure to follow along!

Joining Susan

Need a design boost? For advice and guidance on style, contact me!