Modern Turquoise Table

Welcome to another Tablescape Thursday, where dishes rattle and glasses clink and Susan over at Between naps on the Porch hosts a most favored blog party. Be sure to visit all of the talented bloggers!

To begin this week...I'd like to introduce you to my "inspiration" placemat. I know that sounds odd, but I start each table that way: with inspiration. That usually comes in the form of linens. I really enjoy linens, and they lead the way in most of my tablescapes, either at home or at work.

I have had these placemats for years and I like that they have several looks: retro, tropical, colorful, floral...

The color combination is a little unusual, not something I've seen often in linens. I decided to go with a sort of modern, organic feel.

I really love Bells of Ireland, and decided to display them in a small collection of turquoise bottles down the center of the table. I wish I had $$$ to get the real ones! :)
I used the Claremont saucer as a coaster of sorts under the glass
I've been trying my hand at napkin folding...and have featured a couple on the table. The napkins are from Target...a few seasons ago.

I used white candles and the cutest little colored votive cups.I kept the Bells of Ireland simple, I just added a little willow and a little grass...
I used the same chargers as on the Creole Tablescape...they are very versatile

I love the salad plates, I think the leaf pattern mimics the pattern on the placemat, and they are brown underneath. The Claremont dishes make their appearance too, of course! :)
I like the origami fold, but how I did it covered up the salad plate so I did a pocket fold too!

I like the glass in the middle of the napkin

That is the end of another Tablescape! I know it's a little different, but I hope you are inspired!

Happy Tablescaping! I'll be visiting you soon!

Michelle

Rainy Day

I woke this morning to clouds and rain, mornings like this I wish I could just stay in bed...like this:)

But alas, I must get ready for work..................have a wonderful day everyone!

Michelle

Brass Lamp Makeover

I stopped off at a local thrift store on my way home on Saturday and found some milk glass (yeah!), baskets and this lamp, I paid $3.98 (another yeah!)

(See? $3.98)

I'd like to apologize in advance to the brass lovers out there, but I AVOID brass at all cost...I'm a nickel, chrome, kinda gal...but the shape....divine!

I masked off the harp and cord and gave it a good coat of metal primer. I don't cheat when priming metal...if it's not primed, the paint will come off. I tried that on some sconces, not so good....lesson learned.

Out came the spray paint, and I actually hesitated...I kinda liked the white primer, I could just finish it off with a coat or two of satin white...but black was my original thought, and after considering all the black I use in the living room, frames, etc. Black was the final decision...

Here is the final result, I had it in place before the paint was even dry!! I was so happy with how it turned out, even Justin commented on the result. I think it kinda looks like turned wood! Ahhh, my lamp fetish is justified!

I topped it with a shade from Target and VOILA! I photographed some of the things I'll be using with the lamp...just for you to get the idea...pillows usually hang out on the couch :)

I think I'll be on the hunt for more brass lamps...whatta think?

Love It!!

Thanks for visiting, hope you are inspired!

Michelle

Are you down?

I was struggling on whether or not I should post this...but I notice that a lot of the people I read and follow me have the same Christian belief I have...so it prompted me to continue...I won't bore you with the details, but I am down, not just down, I think I am down-right-depressed...then I watched this, and it made me feel a little better...I thought I would share it with you, just in case you're down too

Thanks for visiting, Michelle

Hooked on Daisy!

Welcome to another edition of "Hooked On Friday" Thank you Julia for hosting! Be sure to visit her and all the other participants!

http://hookedonhouses.net/

I would like to introduce you to Daisy...she is what I'm hooked on (the whole family is!) Daisy is a rescue animal that we've had about a 1 1/2 years now. She was very skinny and pitiful when we got her (notice this in some of the pictures.)I have never met a dog like Daisy, she is calm, serene and quiet, she takes a lot of abuse from my 3 year old...you know the standard: pulling of ears and tail and just generally squeezing her...she doesn't seem to mind...

(This is right after we got her)

She has funny habits too that make us laugh...I know this sounds weird...but she is a "stander" She kinda stands around...not all the time, but you'll walk around the corner and she'll be standing there...
My eldest son and her are 2 peas in a pod, they are found together most often...when she finally does lounge; it's with him. Isn't she cute?
Daisy smelling the roses!
Relaxing!
We are hooked on Daisy!
Thank you for visiting! Are you hooked on a dog too?

Thanks again to Julia for hosting!

Citrus Sorbet Tablescape

Hi everyone and welcome to another week of Tablescape Thursday , hosted by Susan @ BNOTP. Make sure you visit all the participants!
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I wanted to do my tablescape outside this week, but it was SO windy, it quickly became a lost cause! You'll notice some of the pictures are outdoors and some are in...bare with me!

I really had fun putting this table together, lately, I've been really drawn to yellow and orange! I just love the color! I put this arrangement together in one of my favorite milk glass vases, using yellow, orange and white. I nickel and dimed all of the flowers and finally had enough to put a centerpiece together...

The little orange Fire King bowls were Justin's Nana's, perfect color! :) If you are familiar with origami, then you probably know this napkin fold...this is all on top of the beautiful Claremont dishes.
I only had 2 of the little red/orange plates, but that's ok...



Here is a semi-close shot of the centerpiece
I used my artificial lemon and oranges in a tall vase as part of the centerpiece, I just love the citrus color!

I really wanted to be outside! You can't beat natural light!
For a different idea, I put the fruit in my favorite milk glass bowl...I think I use milk glass in every tablescape...it's so versatile!



I really love the placemats, and that they are square was a bonus!
Gosh, It's all over!! I had a really nice time! Thank you for stopping by! Thank you Susan for being a great host!

Painting Ceramics

Welcome to Metamorphosis Monday!! Yeah!! Thanks to Susan @ the porch for hosting a fun party! Make sure you visit everyone and get inspired!!

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Thank you for coming to see me! :) It never fails that I have TINY metamorphosis'! I do do room re-do's but these tiny projects are so fun! I hope you are inspired!

I frequent the GW a lot and often find old, ugly, done-wrong containers...like this:

#1 Before

This is not too bad, kind of a coppery color..the paint job...ok. It was a funny paint too, very slick, I had to prime it first and I'm not really a primer-kind-of-gal! It was really slick!
It's just a terra cotta urn shape, with an egg and dart motif around the mouth and some simple fluting underneath, I always like this shape...

#2 Before

After a good coat (2) of primer, it was ready to go! I painted it white and it was better already...

#3 Paint white

Next, I used some watered down acrylic paint to age the pot. I love how aging looks in the detail...I used the paint-on/wipe-off method...I really have no good dish towels left! :)

#4 Age The egg and dart looks great and really stands out now!
#5 Age
This process took no time at all...I let it cure overnight and the next day I sealed it with a coat of poly.

#6 Seal #7 Finished project

Using seashells and angel root, I put together just something simple....and easily changed

(See my bottles I got @ Nell Hill's?:)

I hope you have enjoyed my mini Met! I hope your inspired to look at poor ugly pots in a different way !

Thanks again Susan for hosting!