A Pre-Valentine's Day Tablescape

Playing with dishes really is a lot of fun! While I have another table planned for next week. I was dying to use these new Juliska plates! And it is still winter, you know. Really go check the calendar.. not the thermometer. LOL, we sat outside and had lunch today. Kind of unheard of.

So I paired those sweet dishes with a red plate I found, wait, that found me.  Added a silver heart, some lace and tulips and the red flatware and called it a Valentine. It could pass, couldn't it?

I think the lace on the napkins really does tone down winter and brings out more of the love.

Yes, these red plates jumped into my basket at Tuesday Morning, after Christmas, during one of their sales. They were a whopping 1.87! Now with that price there was no second guessing. And for those who played along earlier, HERE, those dishes haven't made their trek back to Pier One. Yet.

I really love the edge of the Juliska plate. So curvy!

I "planted" the tulips in a vintage Burgenland serving bowl. They are really not too tall to leave on the table. A silver candlestick and a red votive holder complete the centerpiece.

There's a story to the red votive cups. Our youngest son and my father conspired to bring a lot of mom's stuff (that no one else wanted) to rest in our garage. What a horrible mess it was. Last Saturday, I bagged up 8-10 bags of fabric, a vhs player, a bag of ribbon, some clothes, etc and we took those to Goodwill. Amongst some of her things there was a bag purchased at a now defunct Christmas store. Inside the bag, amongst some pinecone ornaments that I love love love, I found these red crackle glass cups. Love them too. You might think I rescued them, but they rescued me.

Sweet Mr. CJ bought these hearts for me last year. Aren't they precious tucked into the braided, red napkin ring with the lace napkin.

 

Here is the start of my latest obsession with Juliska. Youngest son gave this platter to me for Christmas. It's their Holiday Country Estate line. He loved it, I loved it. And I love him for it!

 Flowers were very scarce last weekend. What's up with that? So I found these red and white potted tulips and thought they added a good mix of pretty to the table. 

 

 I added a bit of green dried stuff to the edges of the bowl to soften the look and plopped an unused heart into the bowl.

Because the Juliska plates were so curvy, the Mikasa French Countryside goblets fit the bill for a glass. Their curves mimic the edges of the plates. Repeating elements on a table or any other design, is always pleasing to the eye.

As if to give a stamp of approval, the sun broke free of the clouds and danced across the table with joyous abandon.

I was skeptical of the red flatware, thinking it might be too much, but it just brought the plate outward and completed the setting perfectly.

 I brought this lace runner back from Switzerland as a remembrance of working there. Andrea took me to the textile museum in St. Gallen. Also HERE if you can read German. It is certainly a place that is a must see.

Each set of Juliska holiday plates has 4 plates with 4 different scenes. Well, I had a tray, I needed something to go with it, right? It was perfect by itself, but so much happier with friends!!

Cast:

Chargers - Pier One

Dinner Plates - Thomson purchased at Tuesday Morning

Salad/Dessert Plates - Juliska Country Estate Holiday

Glasses - Mikasa French Countryside

Napkins - vintage

Napkin rings - World Market

Hearts - United Market Street

Flatware - Cambridge

Lace Runner - St. Gallen, Switzerland

Bowl - Villeroy & Boch Burgenland

Silver Candlesticks - Gorham Chantilly

Thank you so much for dropping in on this post. I'm always so happy to see you've been by and love reading your comments. I am joining the following ladies at their parties this week. I sure hope you will join me. There are so many pretty tables set just for you! 

Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish on Wednesday evening, and

Susan's Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch on Thursday.

Dish Auditions

Do you hold auditions for dishes? I do and so should you. Why you ask? Well for one, dish storage space is probably at a premium at your house, too. Right? So other than a complete set of special dishes, each new purchase should be either 1) special enough to stand on their own, or 2) versatile enough to play well with many other playmates (your other dishes). And if you are wavering, as I am now, they should probably not stay.

There were so many questions as to what I bought at Pier One.. see this post HERE, I actually went back to pick up a few of these, just to audition. I did buy a few things you will see later. These plates are more of a grayed white, less creamy, weigh a ton, and take up a lot of space when stored. I did prepare a spot for them, if they stay.

They did not play well with this stack of salad plates. And this is the short stack. There were more. 

The problem? Well the plate part is deeply inset from the fluted edge. And they are gray white, not a creamy white. The deep inset is the biggest issues. Many salads will just sit on top of the fluted edge and just do their own version of the slip and slide. 

So as I brought out more and more dishes, the table started to look like this. Add a few chargers, placemats, flatware.. you get the picture, right?

This is the short stack that works for the depth issue.. but I'll let you be the final judge.

Not sure, but with the right flatware?  A charger? What kind? Placemat? 

 

I do like them better with things rustic. These chargers seem to carry the weight of the plates well.

 Because the brown dishes are bowls, used for stews, soups and salads, they work great on top of the fluted edges. 

 

I keep thinking of giving these salads away. I guess I just don't use them much. You know, use it or lose it!!

 

 The white Wedgwood seems to work. But you know, just not sure. What do you think?

So, now you need to vote.. stay or go? 

I've put up the mess and am waiting on your opinions!

Pier Inspiration tablescapes

 

Now don't these just look like fun. F. U. N. In capitals, with a bit of awesomeness mixed in around the U. I could see these outside on the patio. With some bright dishes, bright napkins. Probably pick more than one color. What would you serve in these goblets?

Not much shopping in Lubbock, Texas. Trust me, for a city this size, it's really a dismal place to shop. Not lamenting, just the facts m'aam. So, as I popped into Pier One this week (no not being compensated, just needing inspiration) with an open mind, a bit of time and my new phone. 

And then I spotted these napkin rings. Chartreuse? Turquoise? Red? Twelve of each or mixed? You tell me.  What dishes? Plain white? Some with lots of color?

And these were on sale.. yep. beaded, white-silvery magnificent napkin rings. These would be as cute with denim napkins and white dishes as with wonderful china.

See how Pier One popped that red beaded napkin ring on the orange napkin? Love the joy found in these dishes.. Gotta love the colors!!!

And then there were darling bunnies, yellow dishes and this fabulous pale green feather tree. Do you have Easter ornaments? Or some for the spring? I think two of these darlings need to come home with me. And some bunnies too. So simple and easy to use in vignettes or on a table.

Still debating these dishes. Really having a struggle. Should I or shouldn't I? I love the scalloped edge. I cannot..... should not bring anymore dishes into this house. Notice those faux drippy branches.. wouldn't they be pretty neat in a vase or pitcher, brighten up a corner for sure.

Love the large elephant plate. I have no spot to put it, but the colors are fabulous. There were lots of less bright,more sedate items for those of us who shy away from the bold and beautiful.

And then I saw these. Burlap Bunny ears on a burlap napkin ring. And I loved the pale green crochet trim on the yellow check napkins. What a cute statement these would make..

Pier One

Just look how darling this setting is (Pier One website). I love the green plates and the lace. The rustic placemat, the cute candle rings. 

Pier One

See how great the scallop plate looks in this setting? Cute birds, shiny napkin rings and napkins. 

Pier One

I saw these white dishes also. Silver charger with the red dinner plate. On a white placemat with red flatware. 

Pier One

What a cute idea for Valentine's Day! The chalkboard glasses are looking good. Cute frog.. ribbons tied in a bow around napkin and flatware. 

I hope you got some great ideas. I know I did. Got the creative juices flowing. I'll be sharing over at Cuisine Kathleen's Let Dish and Susan's Tablescape Thursday. I do hope to see you pop in over at those great venues!