A Calm Welcome Tablescape

 

After all the color from the past season, I was yearning for calm and quiet. White on white with a hint of nature. Which in my book reads green or brown or both. 

 I removed the greenery from my favorite box, will I ever get tired of it? Added the last of the paperwhites and some pine cones. I must tell you a bit of a confession. I pick these things up from everywhere we visit. I just love how they add nature back to our home. 

When it's hard to reach over or around a centerpiece, individual salt and peppers are a must on the table. Especially when, if like me, we have reduced our salt intake and others around us have not.

I force my paperwhites in a ceramic planter with rocks. I did a little bit of a test this year. I some forced in water, you know those special little containers where the bulb sits in the top bowl and the roots grown down into the larger cavity. And I forced some on top of small rocks. I forced 3 batches this year. Each bath contained some of both. The paperwhites came from various sources, but repeatedly and without fail, the paperwhites forced on the rocks (what a lively concoction) sprouted and bloomed earlier than the ones just forced in water. 

Sorry it's just a gloomy day. Rain is predicted, 90% chance and the clouds are hovering, but nary a welcome drop has fallen.

I know some say that the heady perfume from the paperwhites is too much for them, but we welcome the fresh scent that permeates our home.

I used three different vessels for liquid, one for the appetizer, a water and a wine goblet.

I love how they play so well together in the same sandbox. Each robust enough to stand on it's own, but somehow, together they create a 3 part harmony.

Is it really too early to use bamboo flatware? Is this akin to wearing white pants or sporting white shoes before Easter?

Should I remove the paperwhites before dinner?

 The pine cone napkin rings came back out to play today. I think they bring the pine cones from the centerpiece to the table.

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 Since there wasn't room for large candlesticks, I added individual candles to the "green things". I think these were originally individual ashtrays, but I've scrubbed to within an inch of their life and used them to hold candles and as salt sellers. 

Using a heavy matelasse covering does give the table a bit of warmth during these cold days of winter!

Cast:

Matelasse - vintage

Teak chargers - vintage

White dishes - Wedgwood Windsor

Bamboo Flatware - Horchow's

Napkins - Pier One

Napkin Rings - Kohl's

Large wine goblet - Dollar Tree

Water glass - handblown in France, purchased in Santa Fe, NM

Sherbet - Fostoria

Indivdual S&P's - old

Thank you so much for dropping in today! I love having company and wish each one of you could sit at my table so I could get to know you better. Do pop over to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish party on Wednesday evening and then on the Susan's Tablescape Thursday on Thursday for more pure dish entertainment!

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!!!

Rustic Roses Tablescape

Do you have a plan for when you have unexpected guests? 

Can you set a table in 15 minutes? Stay tuned for how I did it!

 A great tablecover (or not) is a quick way to set the mood.

The table outside is more narrow and therefore chargers don't work as

well. Especially larger, more rustic ones. So this table is set without them

for lack of space!

Some great dishes, estate sale silver, a water goblet (they'll have a drink

 in their hands when they sit down) and the necessary napkin are the 

fundamentals for this quick dinner set up.

In lieu of flowers, I used a log. Yep, you hear right. I keep one lying

 around for just this purpose. (Actually, I choose a perfectly shaped 

one with lichen on it when the winter firewood is delivered). 

I drill some hole into the log and then I can place my perfectly weathered, 

copper candle cups into the log. Those were a memento from Carmel, CA 

when we were there several years ago. I love how this log drips with lichen. 

Of course, being blessed with some perfect weather helps everything right along. 

The napkin is a beautiful jacquard with a delicate crochet edging caught up in my rustic napkin rings I made a few weeks ago. You can check HERE for the tutorial. I think I'm going to be able to use these frequently.

I find myself using these goblets quite a bit. They are handblown in 

France but I was lucky enough to purchase them on a trip to Santa Fe.

Am really loving how rustic this looks on the table. 

I couldn't resist these plates when I saw them. Roses. Filigree. Antique 

writing. I was sold.

The dinner plate is as spectacular, too.

Totally loving how the roses in the silver play so nicely with the dishes.

Just pop on over.. the table is set. I'd love to have some company!

Cast:

Matelasse - estate sale or Savers

Plates - Royal Stafford

Glasses - Handblown in France, purchased in Santa Fe, NM

Napkins - had them for a long time.. Rose Trellis in Sage

Silver - Old Company Plate, used HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE

Napkin rings - made by Moi, tut HERE

Candle cups - Carmel, CA

Log - probably pinion

Thanks for dropping by. I'm delighted you chose to spend some time here. I love knowing you were here by reading your comments! 

Going to link up to Cuisine Kathleen's Wednesday evening party - Let's Dish.

On Thursday, I'll be partying at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!

I hope I see you there.