...family, friends, home and other tidbits of a blessed life

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

A bit of nostalgia, an intimate pasta dinner and a CSN giveaway!

Today I was very nostalgic. I kept thinking of the many hours I'd spent at my grandmother's table with this tablecloth. I would say it's at least 50 years old. It has the aged faded look that I simply adore. All cotton, laundered hundreds of times. I'm just delighted that it is now in my caretaking.


I've set the table for just the two of us in the kitchen, so it's not a fancy get up this evening. Nothing feeds nostalgia more than food that warms the heart. For us, that's pasta. Primavera, con vogole, Lasagna, and of course Orlando's Green Chile Chicken Linguine

 A great sign for the kitchen... Purchased at an antique auction here in town. It's a shame that the auction is no more. It's not old, but don'tcha just love it?


I layered teak chargers, handmade pasta bowls, and Ironwood bowls. Lots of wood to blend in with the brown print in the tablecloth.


I love a heavy glass for our daily glasses. They just seem to last longer, especially since the house rule is that I cook and Mr. Two Left Hands does the dishes. I found these at - are you ready for this??? The Dollar Tree. Heavy, decorative and so far, no shards!


Thai brass flatware, a gift from my mother. 


The wood on the Ironwood bowls is very varied and has so much personality. You can just barely see the napkin peeking out between the pasta bowl and the Ironwood salad bowl. 



I love the folkart on this tablecloth. To think that this print has lasted as long as it has makes me appreciate it even more. My grandmother had no washer nor dryer so all her things went to the laundry each week. Wow! And they picked up and delivered. The bread board came from Big Lots and is a Paula Dean creation.

I hate to brag, but I must. See the chair in the background? Those are our new kitchen chairs. I went to a garage sale two weekends ago and saw 4 of the cane backed chairs and remembered seeing them at the antique auction years ago. The tags were still on them! I asked the price and now I realize I should have negotiated.. but at $5.00 a chair, I just couldn't. I snagged them up so fast it made my head spin!

See our floral arrangement? Sorry it's a bit dark, but twilight was upon us. It's parsley! In a cup! Paired with a wooden candlestick and a Poterie du Jabron olive dish. Made in Provence, the dish is segmented to serve wonderful Mediterranean olives. The smaller indention is used to store the pits.



Mr. Two Left Hands did good didn't he?? He found this wooden candleholder at World Market!



The antique highchair is in the background. The ivy loves the northern exposure in this window.

I think of all my dishes, these are my favorites. They are the perfect golden hue, too bad the camera didn't capture that. They are hand made. Made by my sister-in -law Becky. She 'threw' the bowls herself, fired them in a kiln, glazed them and then sent them my way.

I love that she signed them. It's incredibly personal to have something made especially for you by someone who means the world. I warned you it was all about nostalgia this evening.

Can you see the ridges on the side of the bowls? Those indentations were made lovingly by her fingers.

A homespun type of napkin folded twice and draped over the pasta bowl.

Glad you could join us this evening. Hope to see you again soon. It's always a pleasure!

And now for the giveaway!!! I am privileged to be able to offer you a chance to win a $40.00 gift certificate to be used at any of CSN's online stores!  Click HERE to enter up to three times. Drawing is August 26, 2010.

As usual, I will be linking this tablescape to Susan's wonderful Tablescape Thursday. Just click the link in the picture below to transport yourself into some amazing creativity!

19 comments:

Entertaining Women said...

Great job on your table! Of course, I adore your grandmother's tablecloth. It makes me smile just to think about you using it and taking such good care of it. And I am wild about your hand thrown dishes from your sister-in-law...what a treasure. I'm a clay artist, too! I do mostly slab structure because the arthritis in my hands prevents me from being steady enough with my hands to throw effectively...all my things end up way too wonky! The balance, texture, and warm color tone of your tablescape is wonderful! I like everything that you've done. Thank you for sharing your design for two. Cherry Kay

xinex said...

This is really beautiful, Marlis. The Chef frame goes so well with the table setting. I love this corner of your kitchen It is so cozy and decorated so perfectly. Love the dishes of your choice for this table, so pretty put all together.....Christine

Nancy's Notes said...

Oh my, Marlis, what a beautiful table setting! To have your grandmother's table cloth is just wonderful, what a special treasure. I think your wood blends are so unique and love the way you use it all for such a great look! I think you have just created a wonderful and serene setting for a fabulous pasta dinner!

Thanks for dropping in to see me!

Nancy

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Marlis, NOw this is really my kind of table. Earthy, warm and so inviting... I just know that the best food will be served. I love the wooden bowls~ they have such an understated elegance. I feel like I could sit down at this table and all the cares of the day would melt away.
YOur tablecloth is a treasure!
Just visiting you and your kitchen table makes me happy.
Yvonne

Debbie said...

I had to read this very slowly to drink in all of the details in this tablescape. It is just wonderfully warm and different with all of the wooden and hand turned bowls. The tablecloth is wonderful, too! I am such a lover of vintage linens, and this is a treasure.

The whole pasta dinner tablescape has been put together beautifully!

The Charm of Home said...

Marlis,
I love the pasta bowls, they are wonderful. I also love the wooden chargers and the wooden bowls. It all looks fabulous with this tablecloth of your grandmothers. What a wonderful table.
Sherry

Kathleen said...

Great tablecloth, Marlis, such memories.
Love the table, the bowls, the glasses and the narrative! Great job and so nice to meet you!

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

"I always LOVE natural colors" and this is "PERFECT"... Yes Ironwood is so wonderful! Thank you for sharing... Donna

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Very nice! I like the neutral tones! So nice to have your grandmother's tablecloth and sweet memories! Great buy on those chairs!

Katherine

Joanne Kennedy said...

I love your chargers and am in awe of the flatware you used. This is a great tablescape.

Hugs,
joanne

Tricia said...

What a wonderful table full of family memories and treasures! I love the earthy feel from the wood and pottery, and the parsley in the crockery was an inspired touch! Thank you for your comments on my table this week!

Unknown said...

GREAT table and I love all the history! I'd love to have a meal at this table :)

Blessings!
Gail

Marigene said...

I love your rustic table, with all the wood pieces

...beautiful tablecloth.

Sandi (Meme) said...

I have to agree the tablecloth is awesome - but I have to admit I LOVE the glasses! Are they as heavy as they look? Hope you come to visit me, I've become your newest follower, and hope you will too! Have a blessed week!

The Tablescaper said...

what a great table. I love all of the texture that the different wood provides. I think the flatware from your Mom is my favorite.

Thanks for your visit.

- The Tablescaper

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

How pretty -- I love the layers of wood on your table. What wonderful caned chairs! I'd have scooped them up too. Thanks for your very sweet visit to my table this week -- always fun to have sweet visitors.

Unknown said...

Very pretty setting, love the wood pieces, and your kitchen looks so cozy!!!

Hugs
Charo

Mary said...

LOVE your grandmother's tablecloth~ what a wonderful heirloom. And I have to say your menu DOES sound like Fine Food...what a great sign! Love your signed pottery dishes from your sister-in-law too :-)

Tea in Texas said...

When I look at your tablescape I love all the different textures. My favorite is the love your sister-in-law put in the pottery bowls. Then, the history of more family with the tablecloth. Just Loely.

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