A little bit of napkin embellishment

Now here is an idea that really adds some personality to a napkin. Adding a few stitches from your sewing machine. Most machines no longer come with just the utilitarian stitches, but have a bunch of decorative stitches add as part of the package.

After you've stitched them out, then what do you do with them. Too many stitches are never used.  I love, love my stitches! For this napkin I chose 3 stitches on the Bernina artista 730; lime green: #427 as is; orange: #411 SW 5.9, SL 1.71; yellow: #711 SW 5.1, SL 3.01. These were previously used HERE and HERE. Because of the triple thickness of fabric on the hem of these napkins, I was able to forgo using a stabilizer.

And my tip for the week.. Wind your bobbins with the same thread that is in the needle. That way you have the same look on each side of your napkin. I also use a less fussy thread, no rayons in bright colors.. I use a polyester embroidery thread because it will stand up to much use and many washings. Sample uses Isacord thread from EmbroideryOnline.com or your favorite Bernina dealer. Forgive me, I still bleed Bernina red.... ;-)

Enjoy.. Come pop over to Yvonne's at Stone Gable for links with more tips and tricks!

Una tabla de colores vivos tablescape

This was not what I had planned this week. Oh wait, I didn't have anything planned this week. I do have two tables that I haven't yet shared, but....

And then I came across these plates at TJMaxx on Friday. At lunch on Friday. And I snagged 8 of them. What was I thinking? I loved them. Why didn't I get more right then???? I love how the glass swirls inside the plate. And I loved the color.

This gorgeous plant arrived on Friday, too. Orange and teal.. wow what a great combination. But still not how the table came about. Friday evening I was "auditioning" the teal plates. Tried them with this and that. And then I pulled out the next best thing to a quilt.. a serape.

Saturday morning I sent asked my sweet, darling son to run over and snag pick up the remainder of the plates. He did. They are going to be fabulous for summer entertaining.

I also remembered that these glasses have a matching colored rim to the plates.

So for today, the table fits the menu and the hot temperatures! Una tabla de colores vivos. A brightly colored table. Using the napkin that I embellished last year with the napkin rings the grands call the birthday napkin rings, gave way to using a brightly colored flatware set picked up at Ross's last year. Adding the white charger and white salad plate kept the table from getting boisterous.

We will be dining late, otherwise the outside temperatures would cause much discomfort. It's just been too danged hot!!

The sun will be setting soon, and the table will be shaded. We'll turn on the outside lights.

 The sun is setting, its' time to turn on the lights.

 Oh yes. My dream of tiny white lights is long gone. At first, we had smaller colored bulbs strung over the patio. But this year, Mr. CJ found larger, more brightly colored bulbs and changed them out. Oh my oh my. This could be why he doesn't decorate inside.

We will be dining on Cilantro Rice (HERE) and Margarita Pork K-bobs (HERE), a fresh green salad and an adult beverage of your choice.

Cast:
Serape - Jackalope, Santa Fe
Chargers - Pier One
Dinner Plates - TJMaxx, Artistic Accents
Salad Plates - Wedgwood Windsor
Napkins - self embellished (tips and tricks to come Thursday at Stone Gable)
Napkin Rings - Pier One
Flatware - Ross and salad fork by Wallace Silversmiths
Margarita Glasses - World Market
Plant - from a friend sitting in a Wedgewood Windsor bowl

Gracias  por venir. Thank you for dropping in and spending your time with me. I'm truly honored. You can find me at Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish on Wednesday and Susan's Tablescape Thursday on Thursday.

Happiness is...

Happiness is ...
...seeing a smile on this young man's face.
...being able to pray for him, that he keeps his head up and sees his circumstances as a new beginning.
...knowing that Regan likes him, ;-)
...knowing that my mother-in-law got to meet Jesus a week ago this past Thursday.
...seeing life take a calm, steady pace.
...enjoying the moment.

Dreaming... a beach tablescape

 

Welcome to landlocked Lubbock, where it's just a wee bit difficult to conjure up anything with a beach theme!

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At first I thought of something a la Margaritaville. But then... I didn't think I could pull that off.

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And then I thought of a picnic on a tropical beach. Well, you could just imagine the face my dear, sweet husband would make if I had a truckload of white sand brought in. Let's just say, I'd be changing residences. Probably into something with a straight jacket.....

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So we are gong to keep him happy and let him have this view...

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While the rest of us luxuriate with a beautiful sunset on the beach in Hawaii. How's that for dreaming?

 I wanted to create a fun, happy feeling, so I brought in lots of color and many textural elements.

 Can you believe I found these fun, colored, eternal ice cubes at the Dollar tree? And the exotic drink containers with straws, and leis too!!

 Wrapping a darker green cloth napkin in this fun, colorful parott napkins and then holding them together with a napkin ring made up of bits and pieces of shells certainly carries the theme right to the lap!

 Fun dinnerware certainly played well into the theme. Mikasa's leaf dinner plate on the fun woven charger/placemats grounds the dishes. Then I topped that with a colorful salad plate from Pier One. Doesn't the hibiscus remind you of Hawaii? Topped those with a white clam shell dish for the appetizer.

 

Because the table is quite full, I placed the rattan flatware on the top. 

 

Used an existing hurricane and filled it with shells and a white candle. See my beach hat? Of course I'll need to have that in Hawaii... right? And our leis.. well everyone needs one. I still remember the smell of the plumeria from my trip there. Heaven!!

Love the ferns on this hurricane, it just blends so well with the tropical theme going on.

Pinning these grass skirts around a table covered with burlap certainly makes it all seem a bit more beachy!

 I've had fun trying to give us a bit of a beachy feel in our own backyard. I guess you would call this a staycation?

 I just love the conch shells with their pink insides. They just make me smile.

 The candlelight is working it's magic. What do you think?

Cast:
Placemats - World Market
Dinner Plates - Daylight by Mikasa
Salad Plates - Fun Floral from Pier One
Shell appetizer plates - unknown
Short water glasses - Riedel
Exotic drink glasses - Dollar Tree
Flatware - Cambridge; Horchow's
Napkins - green: World Market; Parrot: World Market
Napkin Rings - Pier One
White shell votives - CTS
Large hurricane - Tuesday Morning
Hat; leis, ice cubes, beach ball, grass skirts - Dollar Tree

I am joining up with Cuisine Kathleen for her party - Let's Dish on Wednesday evenings.. and then promptly on to Susan's at Between Naps on the Porch. Hope to see you there, I promise there will be some lively tables this week!

Waning days of Spring Tablescape

Summer is almost upon us. Spring is not yet behind us. The temperatures are soaring. How much long can we continue to dine outside? I guess it depends on the day. I thought I'd try one more spring themed table. Won't you come along for the ride?

I picked out my beautiful Mikasa Daylight dishes. I love their simplicity and how graphic they are. Perfect to help one feel cooler I think. Green napkins. Darker bamboo handled flatware. And the cutest bird napkin rings from World Market. I picked up what they had but I need more and they aren't on their website anymore. Drats.

I will remove the begonias during the meal, but don't they look wonderful with the dishes? Their green leaves and white flowers fit perfectly with Mikasa's Daylight.

Replacing the large pot will be a cluster of 3 smaller pots of begonias. Remember to pick off the spent blooms!

I do love these birdies.. And I'm not usually into such ornamental accessories, but I love how they are perched on the plates.

Using Mikasa Parklane for water goblets.  Also used another charger plate as the underplate for the begonias. Certainly keeps more green on the table.

You cannot possibly notice that I missed putting a votive in the green holder seen here. Oops. They are the perfect color though, aren't they?

Now there is one there is one in it.. Whew!

I'm with Mary (Home is Where the Boat Is), who always shows us some of the best tables;  quilted table coverings are the best. No ironing. It's hot enough already around here.

Just wash, dry and plop on the table....

I succumbed. Are glasses dishes? I don't think so. Do you? Remember, not buying dishes this year. Well, except for the Lenox in January, the Dresden in April/May/June. (Pssst.. I missed out on some Lenox waiting on the half price day this weekend.. oh well, didn't need them)... But back to this story. I hot footed it to my local Dollar Tree one evening after work and....
and....
and...
bought a dozen of the green stems.
And...
And...
are you ready?
24 Libbey faux cut glass goblets that I've been needing wanting for outdoors. Shame on me.

I hope you enjoyed my tribute to the waning days of Spring.Summer will be upon us June 20th at 7pm (EDT). Thank you for dropping in. I hope you can stay a while and enjoy this balmy evening with me. It will be dark soon and we'll turn on the lights and enjoy a cool repast.

Cast:
Table covering - Matelasse
Dishes - Mikasa Daylight
Flatware - Faux bamboo - Horchow's
Crystal goblets - Mikasa Parklane
Green goblets - Dollar Tree
Green votive holders - Crate and Barrel, Chicago
Napkins - Fern Green, World Market
Napkin rings - World Market

I'll be joining up with Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish Party on Wednesday.  And since I'm quite the party girl, with Susan's Tablescape Thursday on Thursday morning. I do hope you'll drop in and join us there. It's just dishy!!!