That's St.Patrick's Day in Irish. To celebrate the life of St. Patrick [387 to 461 AD] gosh that is a really, really long time ago, I set our table with green this week. Did you know the official color used to be blue???
The only items I own officially made in Ireland are stemware from Waterford and a couple Belleek pieces. I will use English Coalport china for this tablescape for his place of birth - Britain. [He was kidnapped and taken to Ireland].
One thing I want to mention here and perhaps this is a good time to discuss it is that my style of tablescaping is to suggest the theme. For example, here I want to suggest St. Patrick's Day without the use of novelty items such as green clover shaped dishes, Shamrock plants, leprechauns that shout the theme. For me, I have found it better to hint or suggest. Same thing for other holidays as well. That's just what pleases my eye. Everyone should do what pleases their own taste and be true to it. I also like to get the most versatility out of my china. This green china can be used at any time of the year for any meal not just one occasion.
These batwing-style plates are part of a dessert service that I purchased in Canada. The service, in addition to the plates, had four flat cake plates instead of the pedestal ones you usually see. The green porcelain is kind of an acid-y green or Granny Smith apple green.
The dinner plates are Simply Anna by Anna Weatherley, chargers are Hemisphere Matte Gold by JL Coquet.
Oval scalloped placemats are made of green capiz shells backed with cork. I purchased them at a china shop five years ago but I have seen them in beige and white more recently other places such as Neiman-Marcus but not in green. Damask napkins by French maker Le Jacquard Francaise and the napkin rings are by an unknown maker sold at Dillard's.
Stemware is Tall Colleen by Waterford, a white wine and an over-sized wine. These were purchased in 1980 when I lived in San Diego and when Waterford was all made in Ireland. Now it is made in other countries. The tumbler has a green flash around the top and was a Dillard's purchase about five years ago.
Sterling is Grande Baroque by Wallace, bread and butter plates are vintage by Royal Doulton and glass candlesticks, rings and candles from Pottery Barn.
For the centerpiece, I decided not to buy anything and instead looked around the house for what I could find in green. The tall vase holding dried Hydrangeas from my yard is an import from a gift shop. I placed English orange Primrose pots on two stacks of old books from the 1800's, found my green porcelain lettuce and green porcelain asparagus bunches. The vegetables my husband gave me while attending the Antiques and Garden Show of Nashville, TN a few years ago. I really don't like covering the entire center of the table with stuff and this one is pretty crowded - more than to my liking.
For dessert I will use these green plates from Portugal only because they are green.
Plate of frosted and decorated cookies.
Hope you all have a fun St. Patrick's Day.
I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch.
To see all the entries, after 9:00PM Eastern on Wednesday, go here:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
All the best to you,
Summer
Photos: Swede
