Blue Willow Tablescape

Can you believe that Christmas is this weekend? Time flys by so fast! This will probably be my last tablescape for Christmas, so I hope you draw lots of inspiration.

I have ALWAYS wanted to do a tablescape like this forever and and a day and finally, I decided to do it. Why not? I had the fresh greens from a party I decorated for and the faux fruit is from my arsenal of supplies.This is such a classic look and really, you can't go wrong with fresh greens and fruit and Johnson Brothers blue willow dishes. This will especially appeal to all you southern ladies. :) I wanted to use some magnolia leaves too, but my table just isn't big enough. Had I been working with my table outside, you bet your bottom I would have. The weather here has been so cold (and now rainy) indoors I had to stay

I borrowed part of my MIL's collection and mixed it with my everyday Gibson dishes. Simple glassware and contemporary flatware.

For the centerpieces, I used traditional glass hurricanes (the same that I used at the party), white candles, faux fruit, red berries and fresh mixed pines.

I don't own any blue willow, but I do appreciate the style and history of it. I really do like the oriental landscape depicted on each piece.

I didn't use any place mats, but kept on my linen table runner. It's official, you have to make one, I haven't taken it off since I did. :)

The fruit looks really real, doesn't it?

I also used the gold magnolia pods that I painted for the party too. I'm trying to come up with a clever craft to create with them.

I added some black and white striped ribbon to really keep it interesting. Plus it speaks back to the black and white in the adjacent kitchen.

I think this look would look great for a buffet table too. Can you just see loads of food all around for Christmas dinner?

Thank you so much for stopping by to see a Southern Blue Willow Tablescape. I hope you are inspired!

I will not be posting again until after Christmas....I hope each and everyone of you have a fantastic and joyous Christmas Day! I will talk to you soon.

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!

At Home Thursday: First Spring Tablescape

I am seeing the promise of spring everywhere I look outside (I'm so ready!) and it inspired me to create a simple spring tablescape. I haven't done a tablescape since before Christmas, and this is the first one since the Kitchen Facelift! With the walls painted Bedford Grey, I love how the yellow tulips look against it, actually every color looks great against this grey!

If you missed how to create the distressed paint finish on the pedestals for yourself, you can check it out here.

I use these wicker chargers often (you know this right? :), I saw a different style recently at Pier 1 and I want to add those to my collection, have you seen those? I opted for chargers and didn't use placemats or a table cloth, keeping it simple.





A very simple centerpiece of yellow tulips in a mod vase that I found at TJ Maxx the other day, these are permanent botanicals, we're not that close to blooming season yet! :)

Yellow dinner plates from Big Lots last year and thrifted tulip bowls and plates. I found the yellow porcelain napkin rings at an unusual place, at Michael's down their 'bargain' aisle, these were 4/$3.00 and they had several colors.

I use the same glassware and flatware often too, I am on the hunt for another set of flatware though, the fork fairies have taken off with a lot of my forks, those stinkers.





I'm really enjoying the pedestal hurricanes, really just about any glass vase used as a candleholder constitutes a hurricane, flowers would look nice too (if I had not already used the tulips). I think a big bouquet of Casablanca lillies would look wonderful, maybe later this Spring.




The little butterfly votives are from Michael's too.










So are you ready for Spring yet? I know I am!






Thank you so much for stopping by, I hope you've been inspired to create a spring tablescape!




Joining Susan