Just for you,
A few decorations on my dining room console table.
This wreath is on a black iron stand from Williams-Sonoma.
Love the color of this cup full of candy eggs.
A mix of vintage goblets.
Hope the Easter Bunny comes to your house.
Summer
Photos: Swede
I am participating in:
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
This week I decided to do a very simple white table. Just simple. Just white - no real color other than gold trim. Nothing over the top.
When I was at the Fresh Market grocery store last week, I spied these small four inch pots of White Robe Hydrangeas and they stole my heart.
There are three four-inch pots in this large Raj Party Bucket from Pottery Barn. It would have taken four of them but the store only had three. I like the gold etching on the outside of this cachepot.
There is no easier centerpiece than plopping a plant inside a planter or cachepot. Something you can do on short notice when company is coming. I like collecting a variety of these pots so I have a choice of which one goes best with the color of flower I purchase.
White Robe is the first macrophylla Hydrangea I had seen, so I was enthralled with it. I have white Annabelle's but only pink and blue macros. When the blooms croak, I am going to plant them in my shade garden.
On the Swede Collection console table, I placed a white French Haviland porcelain tureen and some white candles in an old black iron candlestand with my standby coral and Pottery Barn candlesticks.
For the table items line up, I started with this Anna Weatherley white charger. The rim has a slight ruffle and it is a great size. When I use white, I always reach for my vintage and antique mother of pearl flatware. Also using Durgin's Empire and Iris patterns to fill in. Don't know why I've never come across antique tablespoons in mother of pearl.
The dinner plate is from a porcelain maker in Poland called Wawel Recznie Malowane. That's a mouthful to pronounce, but I think their quality is awesome. Just as nice as Haviland. I had never seen Polish porcelain dinnerware before and was very impressed by the quality and I liked the gold pattern.
Here is the covered vegetable bowl. I was fortunate to find platters and bowls as well as all the plates in one set in mint condition.
For dessert, I am using these monogrammed French Haviland plates.
French vintage monogrammed huge lapkins with Mr. Swede's initials that I purchased from a favorite seller in western France.
A place setting.
For stemware, on the left is Waterford's Colleen wine glass and on the right is French white opaline water goblet by Portieux Vallerysthal.
I like the opaque glass on this white table. It does add something as all clear stemware would not give the same look.
Another view.
The cutwork tablecloth was made in China but I bought two of them in Canada. It is a bit more formal than my personal style is now as I have grown out of this look. I have layered it on top of a beige canvas cloth.
A wider view.
This week, I am linking to:
http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
and http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
I love when Spring Tulips are in the market at the end of February and first weeks of March.
This Tulip centerpiece is four packages of Tulips in a clear vase inserted inside the grey Napa Home cachepot to hide the green stems.
For this dinner, I chose to use my antique French Limoges fish plates by Delinieres & Co. which are hand painted and signed Albert.
Here is a wider view of the table with the six placesettings.
The dinner plates are vintage Minton. I do not know the pattern name. If anybody recognizes it, please let me know. They are in mint condition.
On the bottom, the charger is JL Coquet's Hemisphere Gold pattern.
The green hand woven placemats are from Pottery Barn made from the fibers of the Abaca tree. Although very casual compared to the plates, I decided to use them rather than fabric placemats.
Green napkins are from le Jacquard Francais. Napkin rings beaded in green and navy are from Dillard's. On the right, you can see the line up of the plates. Gold plated flatware is from Ricci of Italy. I like how the fish scales on the pattern of the handles keep the fish theme of the Limoges plates.
I purchased the bone handled knives in Paris at a brocante in the Marais district last May.
Hi-lo drinkware here is Varga's Amelia pattern matched up with tumblers from Target.
If you are a regular follower, you know I have a thing about collecting French fish plates and game plates as I think they add so much color and style to the placesettings when they are hand painted. Certainly a thing from the past. I just don't see these produced anymore. These have a navy border with gold embossed design.
Fish services generally have 12 plates, a sauce boat and large platter. The platter had been separated from this set when I purchased it and it only had 10 plates.
I designed this vitruvian scroll wave table for Swede Collection. Carrot layer cake is waiting. The aqua glass demijohns are from northern France.
Above is a wider view of the Minton dinner plates.
I really enjoyed having these Tulips in the house. Just what I needed when Mother Nature was spitting snow and raining.
I am participating in:
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Summer
Photos: Swede
Today's Daily Thing of Beauty: Hyacinths
Spring wouldn't be spring without these fabulous bulbs in the house.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Today's thing of beauty: Prunus 'Okame'. I know it is spring when I see my Okame flowering Cherry trees blooming. They are the first of the Cherries to bloom starting in February.
I thought I had better take her portrait today before the petals fell to the ground. They don't stay on the tree very long. Okame is the type of Cherry tree that you see in Washington, D.C. for the famous Cherry blossom time.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Continuing with the Week of Love, today's daily thing of beauty is my Dicentra plant - Bleeding Hearts.
Hope you are being cherished all week.
Summer
Photo: Swede
For Mr. Swede,
Summer
Photo: Swede
For today's daily thing of beauty, since it is the week of love, I want you to see this hand-painted antique teacup of a cute couple from the 1700's.
They hold hands while he reads her love poems and she caresses his hair. Ahhh, soooo sweet!
Here is what the cup looks like in a different view. I was smitten with it and purchased it many years ago.
I hope you are all cherished this week.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Birds are singing. Quince, Forsythia and Daffodils are blooming. I can see the Flowering Cherry trees just wanting to bust open.
I picked some Daffodils and brought them inside just in case the temp dropped and they froze. I did a little grouping on the console table.
We have early, mid and late blooming Daffodils. These are the early ones and they are about two weeks early, usually appearing at the end of February. My favorite ones with a red center called Ring of Fire will appear mid March.
My second favorite is the all white one.
There are many of these two-toned ones. When we first planted the bulbs several years ago, we purchased the 100 count bags and put several thousand in. Many of them no longer bloom even though they put up leaves.
The all yellow are the most prolific.
I'm sending cheery spring thoughts to all those in Connecticut and Massachusetts who received Mother Nature's snow dump. We only got a little rain here.
Summer
Photos: Swede
To everyone who follows me, I want to introduce you to the most excellent blogger and publisher of digital magazines on the planet, if you have not already found her, meet Coty Farquhar of New South Wales, Australia.
If you've ever wanted to be a photo stylist when you grow up, this is the ultimate place for inspiration.
I don't want you to miss the third issue of her digital magazine, due out Tuesday, February 12. Sign up on her blog to receive this magazine Tuesday.
Her blog also has links to the December and January issues of the digital magazine. And, don't miss looking at her Pinterest boards.
I cannot put in words appropriately how talented Coty is. I have been following her blog for several years and when I see she has posted something new, I have to look at it immediately. Her photography skills are out of this world -- the styling of the photos -- the subject matter -- the commentary -- beyond incredible.
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Remember that Australia's seasons are reverse of ours here in the US. It is Summer there now, so lots of fabulous flowers are in bloom.
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Photo: Coty Farquhar
Don't waste a minute. Go look at her site.
Summer
Photos: All Coty Farquhar
To all my followers,
This year I created a simple dinner for Valentine's Day. Since Mr. Swede is home, we are doing it a week ahead of time.
I wanted to use china I already owned which I think has a romantic theme.
At the bottom of this post I will show you how I made the centerpiece.
This is the overview of the table and console table. Simple - nothing over the top here.
Mr. Swede is a traditionalist and wanted me to use red on the table. I do not have red china so used red flowers.
Here is the plate selection I am using. On the bottom is an Anna Weatherly white charger with gold rim. Next is a service plate with a romantic couple in the center and wide gold rim. On top, the appetizer plate has cupids in the center. This is what I call the Vanderbilt china. I have shown it before HERE in a tablescape on August 10, 2011.
This vintage plate is by Schlaggenwald of Czechoslovakia. They would be fun to use for a bridal dinner. There were 18 in the set each with different couples in the center.
For flatware, I am using vintage and antique mother of pearl handled knives and Durgin's Empire pattern forks and spoons.
For stemware, I am using on the right - Varga's Imperial pattern in raspberry for water and an antique bohemian style stem for wine made by Romer in cranberry with gold enamel work.
The flocked velvet glass hearts are from Hobby Lobby.
As a rule, I try to keep novalty items in my decor down to a minumum. I would like to be able to do a tablescape with all antique Valentine's items like old love letters, shell box hearts, card-stock old Valentines, etc. rather than use new items, but alas, I don't have any of those things. On this table, I did use new glass holiday ornaments that are heart shape.
Close up of the centerpiece using four red flower types.
The tablecovering [shown below] is two French white quilted boutis overlapping in the center. I used two placing them crosswise so they would touch the floor. Napkins have Mr. Swede's monogram on them and are vintage lapkin size purchased in France.
Above you can see I switched out the Aubusson flat weave carpet for this diamond pattern neutral one made of jute.
Dessert is placed on the console table on antique pink Royal Worcester low pedestal dessert stands. Cheesecake on the left and carrot cake on the right, both with fruit toppings. The figurines in the center of the sweet couple belonged to my Mother-in-law.
Yummy, yummy.
This is a carrot cake on the inside with white frosting and crumb edges.
Another view of the table.
A collage of photos of the table elements.
For those who would like to see how I made the centerpiece, below are the steps.
I had a round soup tureen with cranberry borders. It was in the 1989 San Francisco earthquake so the lid was chipped but the bottom was perfect. It was made about 100 years before that earthquake and marked on the bottom with the San Fran retailer's shop in the 1890's. The flowers are hand painted.
I usually don't like round floral arrangements and prefer oblong or rectangular ones for the table center, but the colors of this round tureen worked nicely.
I soaked a full Oasis brick and smaller pieces from another project in water and inserted them in the tureen making sure the edges were above the lip of the tureen so I could insert downward fronds of the Nandina plant.
The greenery is from my front yard. I seldom purchase greenery.
From the floral department of the grocery store, I selected four flower types: Two-toned white/red Roses, two-toned Carnations, red Alstromeria and red Godetia.
After getting the greenery in the floral foam, I started with the dozen red Roses placing them by eye where I felt they were balanced. Photo top left.
The next flower added was the Godetia, bottom left. Then the Alstro[top right] and finally the Carnations [bottom right].
The last thing I added was clusters of Nandina berries off the shrub in my front flowerbed. I also have red berries on my Holly tree but was afraid they would drop and stain my tablecloth.
I am participating in:
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Wishing you a romantic week.
Summer
Photos: Swede
In our Zone 7B, the line up for Spring flowers is Quince, Camellias, Daffodils, and Forsythia. It is not cold enough for Tulip bulbs here.
By Christmas we are seeing Daffodils trying to push through.
The second week of January we see lots of promises.
This is now the 19th of January and the Daffodils have started blooming.
Promise fulfilled of another year of beautiful things to come.
Summer
Photos: Swede
This Texas Scarlet red Quince shrub starts blooming the first of January along the trail and creek behind our house. It is the first sign of Spring. This year it started blooming early and got caught in the ice so some of the blooms have damage.
All the rest of the trees and shrubs are still too cold to leaf out.
Miss Quince is loving the sun.
There are lots of buds still to open up.
Such a lovely sight to see in the midst of winter.
Lots of thick branches full of buds.
So delightful.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Today I am honoring the color magenta. It seems fitting in the winter being a warm color.
Baker Furniture chair with magenta and gold metallic embroidered pillow. Swede Collection console.
Magenta Williams-Sonoma hemp napkin brings out the color in the seaweed and the fish who is giving us the eye on an antique Limoges plate.
Glass magenta colored heart ornament on antique Limoges plate.
Lovely Petunia and Coleus from the summer garden. Love the magenta with the crisp green foliage.
We had ice today but so far still have power. Hope you are staying warm.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Today's daily thing of beauty is the cachepot of Hyacinths that I had on my dining table. I moved the pot to the Swede console for a photo shoot.
I have really been enjoying the scent of these for the past ten days.
I found out that this gray ceramic cachepot is from Napa Home and Garden of Duluth, Georgia. Made in China, it is in the Kings Road pattern. It nicely holds two small pots of flowers.
Love the purple.
I think the Hyacinths enhance the purple English transferware.
I was very lucky to find this large platter in perfect condition.
It is a charmer.
Have Hyacinths arrived at your local stores yet?
Next to arrive will be the little pots of English Primroses. Love those too.
Summer
Photos: Swede
It has been raining here the last three days and the temp got up to 70. Miss Red Camellia decided it was time to pop.
And, there she is.
You can see her over at the far right.
The trees are loaded with buds so I hope the temperature doesn't drop and they all freeze. Usually they bloom in February, so they are about a month early.
Pretty in red.
Lovely lady showing her stuff.
Summer
Photos: Swede
One of my main missions in blogging is to share my belief that a person should be able to find something of beauty in their lives daily. It can be anything from a sunset to a mud puddle. Beauty is everywhere if you just look. How much you miss if you look but don't see.
I am showing today the six Hyacinth bulbs in the gray cachepot or footbath, tub or whatever you want to call it. I wish I could tell you who the maker of it is, but I purchased it in an antique shop that has more new items in it than antiques and it was not marked as to the manufacturer. If anybody knows, please email me.
I love these large containers just for this purpose -- to hold a couple pots of bulbs or plants from the nursery, garden center or grocery store.
Here are the purple Hyacinths I bought a little over a week ago. They do grow fast.
The scent of these is just marvelous.
I highly recommend you run out and find some.
Finding something beautiful inspires me and makes my world go 'round. I'm sure I could find something beautiful even at the North Pole.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Today's tablescape I just threw together without much planning to examine how my new Versace chargers would look on the table. After months on order they finally arrived just days before Christmas.
The pattern is Grand Divertissement by Versace made in Germany by Rosenthal a great old porcelain firm. This is the charger at 13" diameter hosting "Mr. Eyebrows" in the center. The other items in this pattern have different designs on them. Love the big swirls.
You can also see this pattern in the November/December 2012 issue of Victoria magazine on pages 28-33. The purple of the plates on those pages look much richer and darker than these are in person. As you can see in my photos they are more lavender color.
I had a crinkled taffeta tablecloth that was approximately the same purple. The Sferra napkins I have are a bit too light so I need to look for darker ones.
Napkin rings are by Kim Seybert in the Mogul pattern.
I do love the way they used gold to accent the design. The dinner plate at top is an antique set of Wm. Guerin from Limoges. When I bought the set I thought the flowers were Bachelor Buttons or Cornflowers but now I am thinking they are Thistles. Anybody know for sure? I have no idea what the pattern name is. Most likely made 1890-1910. Purchasing this set on eBay carries with it some horrid memories of dealing with the seller who didn't seem to know the difference between a lie and the truth on condition. No chips or cracks has a different meaning to her.
I first fell in love with the HUGE soup tureen she was selling and ended up purchasing most of the service. I do want to mention that I was crazy over this set and I do NOT buy china with little flowers all over them. I'm sure you have seen Limoges plates with little blue, pink, yellow, etc. sprigs scattered about. They just don't appeal to me. So I broke my rules in buying this pattern. I am a nut case for any old French porcelain and had this not been French, I definitely would have passed on it.
Here's how they look on the table.
Hyacinths from the grocery store inside the gray ceramic cachepot.
One of the beautiful things that make January liveable. LOVE-LOVE-LOVE these in all colors including coral which you don't see commercially grown for the floral industry.
Glassware is !Home, James! on the left in Society amethyst pattern and on the right is one that I've had probably 20 years. I'm not sure if I ever knew the maker or pattern.
I thought my antique English purple transferware platters would look good with the Versace purple so brought them out for the console table.
This pattern was only made for two years, 1852 and 1853. I've never collected blue and white transferware, but I do love the purple and mulberry colors.
I think I'll cook Mr. Swede some pork chops in sauerkraut with gold beets, green beans and applesauce. Something simple.
I am participating in:
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
Awe. You know what I wait for all through the holidays? Finally here. Now tell me why these can't be put on the shelf at Christmas time? Nope. Every year -- only on January 3. I get it. Market timing. But surely they are ready to go at the greenhouses.
Love at first sight. Pure thing of beauty.
|
Scientific name: Hyacinthus
Rank: Genus
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Life is good again. I can watch them grow and take in their scent.
Summer
Photo: Swede
For those who are like me and suffer from Swedish furniture love [or serious disorder], I want to share this beautiful occasional chair.
This chair is in the style called Late Gustavian/Early Empire.
The little faces make it Empire. I wish I had started collecting Swedish antiques when I first started decorating. The issue was access not funds. Nobody I knew sold Swedish furniture and I have lived in some large cities. One thing the Internet has done is provide access to markets. Can we back up time thirty years with today's technology so I can go shopping?
Maybe I can convince you youngsters to develop your Swedish furniture addiction early. What I love about these pieces are how elegant they are in style but are not overdone. No shouting here. Incredible detail.
Makes my heart sing.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Continuing from Thursday's Winter Dinner post, here are a couple more photos. Today's daily thing of beauty is this gold metal crown underneath an etched glass cloche which is sitting on a mirror-topped brass plateau. I love how the gold of the metal looks with all the neutrals.
The plateau is on my dining table and is surrounded by mercury glass votives holding flameless candles. I like how the plastic "ice" garlands from Hobby Lobby bring out the sparkle of the mercury glass.
Below is a snowflake ornament from Hobby Lobby placed on the salad plate prior to dinner. You could add a name tag to the cord and use it for a placecard or if you wanted to give them as take-away gifts.
I also want to share the receipe for cream cheese white sauce that I use for fruit. Everyone who tries it wants the receipe and it is so simple.
Fruit is in a rim soup in the Arizona pattern by Charles Field Haviland. When I have a choice, I buy rim soups and skip purchasing salads and dessert plates. Using the rim soup for all three saves significantly.
Above, the fruit is cut strawberries and pears with whole dark red raspberries and blueberries. Sometimes I cut up cantelope if it is for a breakfast.
The sauce is equal parts Philadelphia cream cheese and sour cream. I use 8 ounces of each. Next add 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla and 2 tablespoons of white sugar. It helps to get the cream cheese to room temperature before combining all ingredients in a bowl with a hand mixer. This stuff is so good I eat it by the spoon full without the fruit.
Summer
Photos: Swede
I see many of you suffer from the same disorder that I do: too-much-stuff-on-the-tabletop disorder. I have been trying to scale back on my tablescapes.
After taking down some of the Christmas decor, I did a tablescape with my disorder and had to remove half of it. I took photos first and when editing them, said to myself - this is just too much stuff.
I am always amazed when I see Nordic, Swedish or Danish interiors and they are beautifully done with very few decor items. I am trying to get there. So here is my scale-back table:
The items on the console table fight for attention with what is on the dining table, so I have been removing more and more of it. I have since removed two of the gold finials on the console.
For placesettings, I am using my favorite French maker Jaune de Chrome's Big Bang Bronze pattern chargers, Rici gold plated flatware, antique monogrammed white linen lapkins, Coalport's Admiral dinner plates, Royal Worcester's Contrast pattern salads, Flavia water goblets by William Yeoward and Waterford's Colleen pattern waters used as wines.
The centerpiece, after removing most of the first items, consists now of a brass plateau with a mirror top surrounded by clear ice garland from Hobby Lobby and mercury glass votives from Pottery Barn holding flameless candles. The plateau is the base for an etched glass cloche with a gold metal crown inside.
Below is a close up of the console table. This is one of the consoles I designed for Swede Collection at www.swedefurniture.com.
The design is basically gold leaf and creme. After removing my Santos dolls, I added two iron tall flowers in pots, another central candlestick and the finials. The pots of white coral have always been there.
I was in the mood for a lot of neutrals.
This antique Swedish chair is in the Late Gustavian/Early Empire style. Note the heads near the back of the arms. You can also see in this photo our new diamond pattern jute area rug which I am NOT thrilled with so I won't talk about it.
Are you ready for a little less color in your house after the holidays?
I am participating in:
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
Wishing you the best of the season.
Summer
Photo: Swede
For all of you,
I purchased this angel on a stand from the Wisteria catalog a couple years ago, then gave her a watch on a gold chain to wear.
Sending you angelic wishes.
Summer
Photo: Swede
For you,
Summer
Photo: Swede
Showing you my newest addition to the mercury glass tree collection.
About 22" tall. From Pottery Barn.
Summer
Photo: Swede
As you know, I'm crazy about white interiors in the winter.
This is an aging thing. I wasn't in love with white when I was young.
Above is our antique iron console table with limestone top and central marble disk in the foyer.
Potted white Cyclamen to go with the white of the coral pieces.
Mercury glass compote holding white coral. Mother Nature did a marvelous job designing white coral.
Close up of the coral in the mercury glass bowl.
And I made a collage for you adding on the right side a stack of Coalport Admiral dinner plates and a Limoges vegetable bowl.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Here is a photo from last year's holiday decor in the living room where I placed eight silver mercury glass trees, two turquoise mercury glass finials and some turquoise glassware on an old silverplate tray.
I added to my collection this year with one more silver tree but I didn't do turquoise in my holiday tabletops this year.
The marble-top table is a center table that I use as a tea table in front of the sofa. The table was made around 1904.
I don't use the same color theme each year with my silver and white items. I saw a tree done in orange and it was a knockout. I'm not really a fan of the color orange in decor but I might be brave one year and try it.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Today's daily thing of beauty is this collage of gold items on my console table in the living room.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Today's daily thing of beauty is this collage of holiday decor on my console table using magenta and crystal and a magenta pillow on the sofa.
Summer
Photo: Swede
A photo of my favorite four gals. I started collecting Santos dolls last year.
This is a display on my console table in the dining room.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Today's thing of beauty: a collage I made of my Parrot Tulips.
Summer
Photo: Swede
My favorite Tulip is the Parrot in any color. Just love the ruffled edges.
I think the white ones are wonderful in the winter. Here I have used two bunches on my breakfast table.
These Parrots have spring green which highlights the white.
Love those ruffled edges.
If only the stems didn't hang down, they would be much easier to work with in an arrangement.
So lovely.
In a word, elegant.
But seem so simple.
An early hint that Spring will come.
Summer
Photos: Swede
I made this collage of scenes around the house.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Today's daily thing of beauty is this tabletop decoration using magenta and crystal clear beaded garland that looks like ice.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Today's daily thing of beauty is this arrangement on the center table giving a little bit of sparkle to the holidays.
I like using unusual holiday colors like orchid or lavender for holiday decorating.
Summer
Photo: Swede
On one of my console tables in the hallway, three large aqua demijohns from Northern France holding dried Annabelle Hydrangeas. Candles and votives giving some winter light. Zinc colored lanterns from Pottery Barn.
Summer
Photo: Swede
A new angel I got last month at Annelle Primos Interiors shop in Jackson, MS. I do not know the maker. If you know, could you please tell me in an email?
Working on getting more holiday decor displayed. Running out of time.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Now that Thanksgiving is in the past, I have been changing out the vignettes on the console and center tables. The Christmas tree is now up and I have been decorating with my Santos dolls. Here is a look at one console table showing my love of winter white.
White coral and Cyclamen made by Mother Nature who loves white like I do. Candlesticks by Pottery Barn and embellished with gold leaf. Cachepots from Home Depot. Cyclamen from Lowe's. I like how the canvas I painted is a great backdrop for these items.
Summer
Photo: Swede
I am in the process of changing the dining room. Tired of the old look -- want something different. More posts to come as I make changes. I am changing the chandelier, rug, wall paint and chairs. I am aiming for a total neutral look so that any tablescape I put together in orchid, aqua, purple, etc. will not clash with the room. I want colors to only be accents in the design, not a major part of it. That allows me to switch the accent colors with the seasons.
Anything that I can do myself at home, I enjoy doing. Particularly if I can get a good look and save money.
Some people hate to paint. I enjoy it. Love to see the color change. First, I had to paint this accent wall from peach [Martha Stewart Nasturtium] to beige [Lowe's Soft Camel].
Today, I am sharing a gallery wrap canvas painting that I did for the dining room. I am sorry but I forgot to photo the canvas with the base coat on.
I purchased a 60" x 48" large gallery wrap canvas at Michael's. I only get them when I can use a 40% off coupon as they are a bit pricey - about $100. To put the base coat on, I used various beiges in acrylic craft paint.
I just wiped the various colors on dabbing a little here and there in small sections until the entire white canvas was covered. You will be able to see the variations of the beiges in the finished canvas. I also taped off the side edges with blue painter's tape and painted the four outside edges a medium brown. Sometimes I use black or bright gold, but did brown this time. After the base coat dried, I stenciled it.
PLEASE keep in mind this is NOT how I would do it if I was going to sell it or do it for someone else. I wanted this for something quick to put on the wall that I could do in two days. You will DIE when you see what I stenciled it with.
I already owned a large damask stencil from Royal Design Studio, No. 724L which is 24.5 tall and 21 wide. I love damasks and the bigger the better. I was going to paint the wall beige and then stencil this damask on with irridescent pearl paint. Then I decided to not do the dining room wall but to do the canvas and then I could move the canvas anywhere I wanted in the house when I was ready for a change. Look on Royal Design Studio's website to see how fabulous this looks on a wall. Loved it!
Since I was in a big hurry to have it on the wall for Thanksgiving Day, I didn't have time to use actual stencil paints -- would have taken many hours. You will die -- I used spray paint. I am the disgrace of the faux paint industry!!
There it is. Brilliant gold spray paint from Michael's. Notice the size of the stencil compared to the paint can. That will give you some idea of scale. If you get the crazy idea to do what I did, here are some tips for you.
1. Put blue masking tape over the dashed and open registration marks. If you don't you will spray paint over them and then cannot align your repeat designs.
2. I also put 2" blue painter's tape around the outside edges to keep spray off the brown paint.
3. If you are right handed, use a disposable glove on your left hand or you will paint your fingers. Since the canvas "gives" you will need to hold the stencil down tight with your left hand or spray will go underneath the tiny parts to mess up your design.
4. Do NOT use stencil adhesive. All it did was deposit the glue onto the canvas and keep the paint from sticking. Wish I had not done that. Also, spray the paint down directly from above, not at an angle, or paint will spray underneath the stencil.
5. I also used 2" wide blue tape along the edges of the stencil and put newspaper over the remaining canvas so it wouldn't get spray residue.
6. I also recommend putting the eye hooks for the back wire into the frame interior itself so the canvas will lie flat against the wall with no gaps. I place my hooks 11" down from the top for better balance.
On this 60" x 48" canvas, the hardest part was finding the center of the stencil to line up with the center of the canvas. Not hard to find the center of the canvas, but finding the center of the unusual shape of the stencil was a pain. Of course, they are never marked with grid lines. I think I came pretty close and see where I am off by 1/8" horizontally on one repeat, but only a professional could tell [don't look]. This size canvas will take five full designs and then you fill in top and bottom with partial repeats. I put the first stencil in the center and then worked out top to bottom.
Keep in mind, I am doing this on the dining room table covered with a dropcloth with the front door open to get the fumes out before Mr. Swede sees me using spray paint in the house. Thankfully, he was upstairs on the computer for the 30 minutes it took me to do this.
So here is what my crazy project looks like.
Wahhhh-laaaa! Since the height of the canvas is 60", it goes to within 4" of the crown molding in this room with 10 foot ceilings.
The console table is 37" high and 50" wide. It is hard to get a good photo without getting the chandelier. Have to take the photo at an angle and it distorts how big the canvas really is.
Need to have Mr. Swede mount the sconces for each side. I have an antique pair that has been in a box for 20 years.
I like the reflected sheen off the metallic gold from the light of the chandelier. I made the deadline of Thanksgiving morning, and I actually like how it turned out. Although there is pattern in the damask design, I don't think it will conflict with my tablescapes.
I wanted the metallic paint to pick up on the gold leaf on this Marsta console table I designed for Swede Furniture HERE.
For accessories, I am using beige with gold leaf candlesticks, white coral in cachepots and my wire shell sculpture from the Phillippines that I found at Round Top.
I like how all the cremes, beiges and whites go together. I added more gold leaf to the candlestands after I purchased them.
So what do you think? You will keep my secret, right??
Summer
Photos: Swede
One tradition at our house that was kept by Mr. Swede from his maternal grandparents is fried oyster breakfast on Thanksgiving and Christmas mornings. I like oysters if I cut the green part out, if you know what I mean. This year Mr. Swede had forgotten to purchase them in all the rushing about but I surprised him and found some. He only likes the Willapoint brand from Washington state since he grew up in both Connecticut and Seattle.
He fries them in olive oil after dipping them in beaten eggs and saltine cracker crumbs.
The only time I use blue and white for a tablescape is with these plates. I am not a fan of blue and white decor but these plates were so wonderful I couldn't pass them up. They are English transferware by Cauldon. They were made in two shades of blue. This is the brighter one. The other shade is a darker more flow blue one that is not as crisp in the design. I purchased the oval cachepot at a charity consignment shop to use with these plates. White Cyclamen are in stores now and one of my favorite winter plants.
All of the plates have the turkey motif. I do not have any other plates or cups from this pattern and have not seen any for sale.
Each Thanksgiving I bring out my Smith Glass turkeys. I think they were made to hold cranberry sauce but some people use them for soup. Here I am using them for fruit with a rich cream cheese sauce. For the main Thanksgiving meal, I place little gifts inside them for each guest. The blue plates are used for breakfast and then I switch to another Spode/Copeland bird plate set for the main meal.
Another look at Mr. Gobble. Metal turkey placecard holders are from Pottery Barn.
I like bright green with the cobalt blue. This stem is from Varga.
Royal blue napkins from Sferra. Chargers are Anna Weatherley and sterling is Tiffany English King.
Fried oysters with scrambled eggs.
Did your family carry down any Thanksgiving traditions through the generations?
Summer
Photos: Swede
Have a wonderful holiday.
Summer
Today's Paris photo is taken at the Louvre. Notice this wall niche has relief-carved Napoleonic bees in a grid behind the cherubs.
The Louvre at one time was the royal seat of government so many of the rooms' original architecture is fabulous like Versailles and other French palaces.
Summer
Photo: Swede
I have been very bad about blogging on a frequent basis lately, in a slump. Today, I thought I would share some photos of fall at our house. I made a couple collages.
I wanted to catch our Autumn Glory maple before the leaves fell. We have two in the front yard that were a housewarming gift from my brother.
He even planted them in the ground for us. We also had one in the backyard but it died this spring.
I have two pots of Mums on the front porch. Here is one of them.
This is the second set of Mums in those pots this year. The first goldenrod colored ones I put out in late August when the nursery got them in. After they bloomed, I put them in the backyard and got more for the front porch but in a different color - rust.
The Zinnias are still blooming - love the color of the one above. We can usually get to Thanksgiving week before having a heavy enough frost to do all the plants in for the year. So far, only a light frost.
Hope you have fall color to enjoy at your house.
Summer
Photos: Swede
Last week I showed you a table using nutmeg, russet orange, amber and bittersweet.
If you follow my blog, you know that I like to do back-to-back tablescapes by doing change ups the second day. This is great when you have weekend guests who stay Friday and Saturday. You can spend more time chatting with them if your tablescape is already previously thought out.
So I am showing today the change up from last week HERE for this next day dinner by only switching out the charger and dinner plate.
The bird plates in brown and creme are English transferware from Copeland Spode that I found 12 of in perfect condition. I can't determine the age as the backstamp mark is not in any of my Kovel china marks books. I am sure that Copeland and Spode split up many years ago.
The charger is from my favorite new French porcelain maker, Jaune de Chrome of Paris. This is the Flemenco pattern. Jaune de Chrome's incredible glazes is what they are known for. Notice the fire in this glaze and how it changes with the light. It is one of those colors that you can't describe.
I enjoy using these plates with birds on them in the fall. Just seems appropriate because of the colors they always use on plates with birds -- browns, rusts, oranges, russets and golds.
I like using these colors from mid-September up through Thanksgiving week.
I am participating in:
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch.
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
Orange. If you asked me what colors I don't like, it would be orange, yellow and red. I think we are born with color palette preferences in our genetics. As far back as I can remember as a child, I didn't like these three colors. But change the hues from primary to mid-tone peach, gold and coral pink and I'm good.
For me to select orange as the predominant color in china in my past would have not happened. But I have "aged" or "awe-ged" as they say and different things now appeal to me.
When I got married after college, I won't tell you how long ago that was, selecting a china pattern like Royal Worcester Chamberlain would have been a definite "NO". In my day, most gals selected conservative china patterns, mostly white with gold or silver bands. Nothing wild or colorful. I didn't pick formal china until I had been married for five years. Not only did I not know what pattern I wanted, but I was not sophisticated enough to select one that would last my entire life. Nobody in my family gave formal china as wedding gifts anyway. I'm glad I waited and chose a Wedgwood pattern. Also, in those days you only chose ONE china pattern. Now I probably have 50 and am more daring to choose something wild and what would have been hideous in those years like Green Tigers. I don't have that pattern now, but I can enjoy it when I see it. I guess I understand it now.
Chamberlain came on the market when I was a sophomore in high school. Yes, that's how long ago it has been. I hate thinking "vintage" today is what was "new" in my day.
Now that I am a "mature" woman, Chamberlain appeals to me in the autumn. I recently found this service for eight that had never been used. You gotta love people who buy china and put it in their "hope" chest or china closet and save it for "good" and never use it. Makes it a perfect find for me -- I am thrilled to get it. Not a scratch on it.
Royal Worcester Chamberlain has bittersweet orange florals and a bittersweet five point design in the center of the plate.
Here is the center of the table with the ceramic pumpkins and a garland of Bittersweet.
I like these three stems in the fall: Richard Strini's "Bella" pattern in Iron Flame, Indiana Glass's Mt. Vernon Amber and a green crystal [unknown].
I liked the unusual Nutmeg color of the placemats the moment I saw them at Macy's. They are like quilted silk with a shine but are a poly blend made by C& F Enterprises. I wish I had more of them but caught them at the end of the season last year when they were nearly sold out. Flatware is my standard Ricci Silversmiths fish-scale pattern. Napkin in russett by Pottery Barn and lattice napkin ring by Reba Home.
I can see mixing my antique fish plates with this pattern as well to bring out the nutmeg, bittersweet and golden tones of those plates.
I am participating in:
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch. http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
On May 19th, Mr. Swede and I toured the Sevres porcelain factory on the outskirts of Paris. I had always loved the quality of Sevres work but never imagined I would visit their museum. [You do know that I am not the kind of pre trip planner who studies every map, review and book before I go! I'm lucky if my passport is still current.] You can purchase a Museum Pass at the lower level office at the Louvre [I highly recommend getting a pass]. When I looked at the list of what museums it covered, Sevres was on there. Mr. Swede wanted to go and lead the way -- good thing I had a personal tour guide as he knew how to get there.
When you get off the train and come up to ground level, you cross the street and then cross over a bridge and it is right there. You can see it when you get to the bridge.
It had been raining so this photo is a bit misty.
You have arrived. Museum of French ceramics.
As you enter the courtyard, Mr. Bernard Palissy's monument is there. The dates are 1510 to 1590. Notice how tall the blue and white vases are compared to the tourist at the door.
He is the guy that Palissyware is named after.
When you enter there is a bookstore on your left and the ticket desk. I only found one book printed in English. And, before I go any further, I want to tell you that I had been pronouncing Sevres wrong. When I asked the guy at the desk about books in English, he very swiftly corrected me. It is "Sev' RUH". I had been saying "Sev-zzzzz".
Then you go up these marble stairs to the exhibits. I think these paintings are done on porcelain not canvas.
You enter a large red room and see all these gigantic vases. I do mean HUGE. The pedestal supports they are on is above my waist and the tops of the vases are way, way, way above my head.
The other side of the room.
My brain just could not grasp all the details of these or understand how an artist could design and make one -- mind boggling to think of what all would have been involved in those years before electricity to produce such masterpieces.
Here are a few close ups of the details. Love the little white face towards the top. I could take this one home.
This really makes me aware that I have no true talent in artistry. I think the lettering says it was made for the President of the Republic of France.
So fabulous. How do they do it?
Pretty green plate. The side rooms were full of glass cabinets with displays of china they had produced there.
Always learning something new - I had never seen this style of deep protective saucer before. Sort of like a little tutu. Sorry but this was taken through security glass.
How about this?
Must be for Louis Philippe Prince Regent. I kept seeing RF on things and finaly figured out that meant Republic of France. I want to find one of these at a garage sale, don't you?
Looks like Madame DuBerry shopped there.
And, Catherine The Great of Russia came by for a little shopping.
I just know that if Mr. Swede would let me spend the summer traveling around to all the flea markets in France, I would find some of this. Well, I won't bore you with all the photos of dishes in this museum.
The worst part of it was we were there on a Saturday and the gift shop was CLOSED!!!! They told us where their retail store was in Paris and we went there the next day. Can you believe it was CLOSED for remodeling and was going to open back up on May 30th after we had gone home? Oh well, Mr. Swede now knows where it is. Remember, honey, it is near that pharmacy.
A little history. There was not ONE poster in English in the entire museum. I was just kicking myself that I didn't take French in college.
I wouldn't mind using this desk to pay my bills or use my laptop.
Here is one of the factory buildings where they make porcelain. It was under some rennovation. We could not go in. I really wanted to watch the process.
If you plan to visit the museum, I hope this gives you a little glimpse of what to expect.
Summer
Photos: Swede
My favorite color to use in fall and winter is purple in all its tones and shades. As a china addict, I am always looking for old and new things for the tabletop. This week I added to my hoard two purple items.
In Kim Seybert's fall line are these Mogul napkin rings with the purple glass inserts. The glass seems to turn color with what shade of purple or pink you put it with. Sometimes it looks dark purple and others magenta.
I will probably use these napkin rings with my holiday placesettings that I do in magenta. It's funny how the light changes what the camera picks up as color. If you saw these napkins in person, you would say they are dark purple with no berry red in them.
The napkins I am showing here are 100% hemp from Williams-Sonoma. I also love using my antique French fish plates whose colors are drawn out by the purple glaze on the charger.
Notice how the eggplant pulls out that same color on the top of the fish from this peach antique French fish plate. That is what is thrilling for me in using these old porcelain pieces and giving them new life with current pieces made in France. It is the joinder of two generations.
My other new purple item is the charger. It is sold as a large dinner plate at 12.25" diameter. The maker is Jars, a French maker of stoneware. Pattern is Tourron in eggplant or sometimes called aubergine.
In the photo above is an amethyst water goblet by !Home, James! and flatware by Ricci Silversmiths.
This is what the front of the plate looks like with its deep rich glaze.
I found that Williams-Sonoma online sells these as well as other French formal china patterns like Haviland in some colorways. I didn't know they sold china from other makers until I clicked on the word "formal" while looking for something else. They don't carry porcelain china in their stores. What I like about this Jars pattern is that it is finished on the backside as well.
This shows how the eggplant glaze is carried around to the backside rims.
I like the large size that I can use as a dinner plate or as a charger.
How do you feel about purples? Do you enjoy them more in the cooler months than warmer months?
I am participating in:
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch. http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
Interior sliding barn doors look fun. I've seen many of them on decor blogs. Here is a set that I saw last week in our local annual showcase of homes.
Finding good looking hardware to hang them seems to be a problem. I don't like the exposed track or supports. This one is better than most at hiding the apparatus but more improvement is needed. If you Google barn door hardware, you will see a lot of different styles, but most are exposed tracks. These were custom made by a local door company. I like the finish, though. For me, it would be a debate about whether to have this style or pocket doors. I do like being able to close off rooms.
Summer
Photo: Swede
Saturday I made another tablescape using the floral arrangement I used in the office lunch tablescape Friday. HERE I like getting double duty out of the centerpieces whenever I can.
When fall comes, I like getting out my French orange hand-painted fish plates. It just seems the right time of year for them with all the oranges and chocolate colors of the season.
I love the pairing of two different generations of china. Here we have the new Jaune de Chrome Tortoise Gold Encrusted charger paired with the antique French Limoges hand-painted fish on Coronet blanks by French artist Puvis. The joining of these two worlds is awesome. I am using the same products as in Friday's lunch:
Placemats: Copperworx
Flatware: Vietri's Alladin Tortoise Brilliant
Dinner plates: Vintage 1920 L. Bernardaud
I switched out the napkins to Martha Stewart peach hemstitched ones and changed the napkin rings to a Kim Seybert peachy/orange beaded one.
Same stemware: Vintage Indiana Glass's Mt. Vernon on the left and new Yurana Designs amber button on the right.
Another look from an angle.
Here you can see the centerpiece used in the office lunch.
My preference is peach roses over red ones any day.
Lovely bronze Mum.
Here she is for her portrait.
Overview of the table.
Here's another pretty face.
I am participating in:
Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/
Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps On The Porch. http://betweennapsontheporch.net/
Summer
Photos: Swede
