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Monday, July 30, 2012

Paper Roses and Lace Tablescape

This is one table I've been wanting to do for some time. I first saw my inspiration on Lana Austin's Motif blog. And then the pictures scurried around Pinterest. So what's a girl to do? Collect and prepare! Right?

This is what I'm talking about.. Lots of doilies lined up down the center of the table. I really have several from my mom and a couple from my grandmother, however, mom liked to use a lot of color and I wanted to stick with beige or white. Lady Luck fell on me about a month ago at an estate sale. Can you believe that 7 of these doilies were $1.00 each? Yep, scarfed those up quicker than you could say Jiminy Cricket!!

Tip: Resist the urge to sew these together. They are much easier to wash as single doilies. It would be difficult to block them when they are one.


This was going to be perfect for a Kaffeeklatsch! That's German for an informal social gathering punctuated with coffee and fueled by conversation. I pulled out some dessert trios, aka Sammeltassen (collectors trios) and set this table just for us! You'll stay for a piece of cake and some coffee or tea, right? A couple of posts with the Sammeltassen HERE, HERE and HERE.

Because the trios have a smaller dessert plate, I chose to use my gold-rimmed European dinner plates as chargers. I think I really like this look. The silverware repeats the rose pattern from the napkin rings, most of the dishes and the coffee pot.

Tip: Repeating one motif or element at least 3 times is not only pleasing to the eye, but will also cohesively pull everything together.

I first tried the smaller, side plants in my Revere bowls because I loved how the lace reflected on the bowls. But I don't have two the same size and thought the center looked off kilter.

The addition of lace edged, cutwork napkins and these adorable paper rose napkin rings just send the sweetness factor through the roof. Ya think?

Simple greenery is perfect for this centerpiece. No plants were harmed - they were planted outside after our sweet get together.

I love adding a bit of the unexpected to the table, this time in the form of the cherub sitting on a crystal block of Bernina mountain in Switzerland. He's announcing that the "best is yet to come"!




 Sometimes the sun just pops in for a short hello.



 The delicate lace and exquisite cutwork rimmed in perfect buttonhole stitches make this set of napkin amongst my favorites. The cream and sugar belonged to my great-grandmother.


 The first time I saw these napkin rings, I left them to rest cure on the shelves. But when they were still there on my next trip to Tuesday Morning, they hopped into my cart and wept with joy as they knew they were coming home with me. Notice the small vine wreath that is covered with a sheer ribbon, these wouldn't be hard to copy.


A candy dish from my grandmother filled with after coffee mints looks just perfect on the lace doily, doesn't it? The sweet white flowerpots have the faintest of lace design on them.

Cast:
Doilies - Mom, grandmother, and estate sal
Sammeltassen - grandmother, all German in origin
Coffee pot - Schumann Arzberg; Antique Roses
Dinner Plates -  Rosenthal
Flatware - Old Company Plate; Signature
Napkins - estate sale
Paper Rose napkin rings - Tuesday Morning
White flower pots - Tuesday Morning

Thank you so much for dropping in. I loved having you. Maybe we can do it again?
I'm joining the parties at:
Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish
Yvonne's Stone Gable's - Tutorials, Tips and Tidbits
and Susan's Tablescape Thursday. Thank you ladies for hosting these great memes!!
See y'all there!

32 comments:

  1. Beautiful collection, the china, doilies, napkins. Great hint about the doily "runner", too. I would be tempted to sew them together. xo

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  2. The way the light dapples and falls on this beautiful table makes it all the more magical! This is a really special tablescape. So feminine and soft. I think the doilies down the center of the table gives the whole thing such a lacy look!
    I am so happy your napkin rings waited for you!!! They are gorgeous!
    Just stunning, Marlis... as usual!

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  3. Marlis,
    What a precious tablescape, dear friend! So~o~o romantic with the splash of roses throughout and on the napkins!!! I adore how you've kept the color palette soft and subdued. The heirloom elements capture my heart...especially the candy dish. That bound between grandmother, granddaughter ...and the candy dish bring back such warm memories...for me! The use of doilies was exquisite! Thanks for all the "added" tips, priceless!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  4. Marlis, Your table is lovely as always. The softness of the doilies and the color of the dishes present a soothing palate for the eyes.
    Hugs, Dawna

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  5. It will now take me all day to get the Marie Osmond song, "Paper Roses" out of my brain!!!!! :-) Those are gorgeous, Marlis! Really, really pretty!!! I love the doily treatment, too, and can understand why you would encourage people not to sew them together. The delicacy of doilies makes it really tough to work with them sometimes, especially where cleaning and care is concerned. The greenery is perfect for this table!!! There's almost no flower that could have competed with the paper roses! Beautiful!

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  6. Your lacy table is stunning Marlis! Even more so when the sunshine arrives and casts lacy shadows on your linens and heirloom garden bouquet of dishes! What a find on your doilies too~ much more versatile placed on the table than stitched together!

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  7. Your lacy table is beautiful. of course, you always make everything so pretty. Love the napkin rings.

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  8. Stunning! I love every detail about this. I saw the doilies on-line too and loved them. I have had my eye out for a great sale to find some doilies, but now I see where they are went! The dishes you chose are so sweet and those paper roses are really beautiful. Dianne

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  9. Oooooh....this makes me so very happy. I have a pile of doilies from Nana and Grandmama. I regularly use them between my charger plate and dinner plate to keep the dinner plate from sliding around on my guest....especially if cutting with a knife is involved. The trios are so special...I love them a lot! Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

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  10. Marlis, I have seen doilies sewn together and thought it looked so pretty as a runner, but I LOVE your idea about NOT sewing them. That makes much more sense. I do also, love doilies. I am totally going to do this. I love your little cherub, too. And yes, it would be a pleasure to stay for cake and have some tea!! xo

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  11. This is all absolutely gorgeous! I love vintage things, so lovely! The doilies all together create a wonderful centerpiece with your precious heirlooms!

    Katherine

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  12. Your table looks so beautiful! Those paper flowers are absolutely stunning! Hope you are having a great week! Angie xo

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  13. Beautiful idea with the doilies. I have quite a collection from Romania and my mom. I think I see this in my future! Your coffee set is exquiste. Absolutely beautiful. I have a 5 year old birthday party to prepare for, so my table is filled with felt and cape making stuff!

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  14. Oh Marlis, your table is so beautiful. The doilies really gavve it a very charming effect. I love your plates, so exquisite....Christine

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  15. what a beautiful collection of china and so perfectly accented with the doilies. Just lovely.

    - The Tablescaper

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  16. So glad you did the doillie table runner too! I think they are so very beautiful! Yours is fabulous, and I love the paper roses!!

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  17. The doilies are so pretty on the table! I love the different patterns!

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  18. Your table is so pretty set with your special things. It's great that you actually use the nice things that you have.

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  19. This is a lovely setting, Marlis! I love the dappled sunlight over your tablescape.
    The patterns on the dishes, the doilies, silver, serving pieces, and even the planters all come together for a beautiful table set for a time of fellowship.
    xo

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  20. Oh Marlis, how very gorgeous!! Everything about this table is gorgeous!I am so in love with your teacups and the doilys add such a romantic Victorian air. Beautiful.

    Jocelyn @
    http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com

    What time did you say was tea??

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  21. I love this table Marlis...the doily centerpiece is gorgeous. Your china collection is lovely.

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  22. Marlis, I am so enamoured with this table. The doilies are perfect as is the overhead shot. Your china pieces are exquisite and real eye candy for us dish addicts.
    I absolutely love the napkin rings. I really love paper roses. My mom and aunt used to make paper flowers when I was a child. They were so beautiful. After those ugly plastic flowers came out they stopped making the paper flowers. What a shame.
    Thanks for sharing this lovely table. The photography is great.

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  23. Very delicate looking and pretty, Marlis--I particularly like the doilies down the table's center.

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  24. I kept most of my mother's doilies for sentimental reasons and have wondered what in the world to do with them. I now have the answer. I love the way you have used different shapes and sizes and can imagine a number of different looks with them Your creativity is gift for all of us.

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  25. Oh Marlis, your lacy table is lovely! What a beautiful collection of linens and heirloom dishes. If only doilies could speak ;o) They remind me of snowflakes...no two alike.

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  26. Marlis, this is absolutely lovely. I always get excited when someone says they have been thinking about a tablescape for a long time--they are always a notch above the rest! This has such a romantic feel about it, vintage and yet fresh and new. Your lace doilies make the perfect runner, and your cherub brings a smile to my face!

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  27. This is just darling Marlis!!
    I love all the beautiful doilies and dishes that you have displayed. Those napkins rings are just the sweetest!

    Thank You so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful night!

    (hugs)
    Aledia @ Plum Perfect

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  28. Marlis,
    Those paper rose napkin holders and lace napkins are the prettiest.
    The china goes well with them.
    The doilies made a lovely table.

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  29. Marlis, your table is just so lovely. I, too, saw that table with the doyleys and had it filed away in my brain. Well done, yours looks so lovely.
    Suzyq

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  30. Beautiful, beautiful table. I love everything: the different doilies, those fabulous napkins rings and napkins, and of course the china. Just lovely.

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  31. Exquisite! Imagine all the work that went into those beautiful doilies!
    The china is gorgeous, and the rose napkin rings are beautiful!
    You treated us to wonderful eye candy as usual, thank you Marlis!

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  32. So glad I stayed for a longer visit; I missed this last week. You know I LOVE the doilies and sweet napkins! This is one of my favorite of all your tables.

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Thank you for visiting and commenting. I love reading your thoughts. Blessings, Marlis