Swede

Tablescapes: Winter Dinner

 

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 

Tablescape: Bittersweet and Autumn Colors Continued

 

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

Tablescape: The Fall Color Bittersweet

 

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

 

Tablescape: Using Purples in the Autumn

 

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

 

Tablescape: Autumn Oranges and Tortoise Browns

 

 

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

 

Fall Colors: Simple Fall Table

 

A couple of photos today of a simple fall arrangement I quickly threw together on my dining table.

I looked around the house to see what I could easily find for quick autumn decor.

Candle and glass bowl: Pottery Barn

Ceramic pumpkins with brass leaves: Tuesday Morning

Bittersweet: Michael's

Osage Oranges:  Real ones from a tree near my office

I am participating in:

Centerpiece Wednesday on The Style Sisters. http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Tabletop Tuesday on A Stroll Thru Life. http://www.astrollthrulife.net/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Fall Theme for Office Lunch

 

I haven't posted a tablescape for awhile, so here is an autumn-toned one I did Friday for an office awards event.  The conference room table is 25 feet long and 6 feet wide. My floral arrangements can quickly get large and tall, but I cut the height back this time so guests could see over them.

There were 12 guests so I used the center portion of the long table with six guests per side. Above is one of four large centerpieces I made to cover that span.  I used long low trays from Target's houseware's isle filled with wet oasis and clipped the shrubs in my front yard for greenery. Then added five dozen Roses, Chrysanthemums bunches and berries purchased from my local grocery stores. I am lucky that those stores have a fairly nice selection of flowers from South America each week to choose from.  I also sprinkled orange glass votive candles around.  This is pretty low key, not one of my over-the-top creations.

Here is a photo of half of the table.  I didn't have a tall ladder to stand on to get the complete table in one shot.

Each placesetting consists of tortoiseshell patterned chargers and rim soups [used to hold the dessert] from my favorite French maker Jaune de Chrome in the Tortoise Encrusted pattern. The dinner plates are also French made around 1920 by L. Bernardaud that I purchased at an estate sale in August. Pottery Barn russett hemstitched napkins and Kim Seybert leopard napkin rings. Placemats are copper with cork backing made by Copperworx in Clinton, Mississippi.  True to my style, I combine antique,vintage, new, high end formal and low end casual items to get my look.

In this photo, you can readily see the tortoise effect in the glaze of the porcelain.  Sometimes in the right light you can see a bit of purple in the glaze.  Brownies - one of my favorite comfort foods for a chilly fall day. If you follow my blog, you will recall that I like to use rim soups for dessert, salad and soup to get three functions out of buying only one piece of china.  The flatware is Vietri Aladdin tortoiseshell brilliant. I like the way the tortoise china and flatware looks with the copper placemat.  The placemats seem to get ignored with no comments from guests because you don't see much of them, but I think they are very unique.

Stemware is vintage Indiana Glass's Mt. Vernon pattern on the left and Yurana Designs amber button goblet on the right. I wish I could get more of the button ones but they discontinued them. The buttons are very fun.

Here are some close-up shots of some of the flowers.

I used three different varieties of peachy colored Roses.

I used two different kinds of acid green Mums.

Lots of orange and burnt orange Mums.

When these flowers arrive at the florist, fall is fully here.  No turning back to summer now.

My next tablescape post will be using one of the centerpieces at home the following day.  You know I like to get double duty out of my work.

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

 

Wedding Beauty: Found at Swans Trail Farms on Snohomish River

 

Mr. Swede's son was married September 9 at Swans Trail Farms on the Snohomish River in Washington state.  The bride and groom asked that photos of the wedding not be posted on the net, so I am only showing photos of the property and no people. 

This outdoor wedding venue has ceremonies at arbors on both ends of this pond.

Love the Cattails.

The wedding was at 5:00PM and it was threatening to rain, so light for photos was not great.

This is the side yard where Rugosa shrub Roses are planted at the top of the boulders.

White Roses - what could be more romantic for weddings?

They were just perfect.

There were many bridal-white flowering plants on the farm like this Lacecap Hydrangea.

And this Clematis vine.

So lovely.

Rustic bridge.

Small stream with little waterfalls that crossed the property and went under the bridge.

Lots of dwarf apple trees encircled the property line around the ponds.

Looks like they make apple cider out of them. Later, I had wished that I had spent more time taking photos of the crops and tractors.

My 1983 wheelbarrow at home will soon become a planter like this one as it is rusting out in the bottom.

Loved the turquoise paint on this old station wagon in the barn.

This cute metal sculpture reminded me of when I had a flip hairdo.

Swans Trail Farms has a building where receptions are held. There is also a large outdoor patio.

Purple placesetting.

 
The mother-in-law of the groom's brother made the cake.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescapes: Masins Seattle Hosts DIFFA Tabletalk Seminar

 

While in Seattle Saturday, September 8, I attended the tablescape event at Masins Furniture store in Bellevue HERE.  If you have been a long-time blog reader, you know my love for creating tablescapes.  I could not miss this.  Check my archives under the category tablescapes. I moved from the Seattle area in 1998 before the store opened in Bellevue so I had not been in the store before.  At the end of this post, I will show some vignettes in the store.  Thanks to the Masin family for making this seminar open to the public to enjoy. Friday evening was the fundraiser at the store for DIFFA [Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS].

The event panel consisted of three women. First, Tobi Fairley, an interior designer from Little Rock [remember that I blogged about attending one of her first design camps in Arkansas]. I have been a long-time subscriber to her blog HERE. Second, Kathryn Greeley, interior designer and author from North Carolina - I have her book and follow her blog too HERE. Third, Mindy Lockard who I did not know about - blog HERE, who talked about table etiquette.

Tobi Fairley [who was as stunning, lovely and friendly as I remembered her] in addition to doing a tablescape also designed the entrance vignette to Masins store using the young David Masin family as her pseudo design client. I want to show you those photos first before discussing the other 12 tablescapes of the designers.  

Tobi spoke about the design elements she used in this red, blue and white room.

Just ignore the price tags hanging off the furnishings. I apologize for the light reflections and quality of my indoor photos. I spy Tobi's design on the red lantern Rothesay sconce HERE.

I recognize the Hickory Chair Furniture Co. center table HERE.  The framed labels attract close examination and conversation.  The tabletop items on this table have great proportion and tie the blues and whites together.

Here is a close-up view of the accessories.

Aren't those red Tulips dashing? They bring the entire room together. This striped rug is by Dash and Albert HERE.  I am considering the purchase one of their rugs for under my dining table because it is in their indoor/outdoor collection which is easily cleanable. I thought it would be the perfect solution to food spills under a table.  I'm a bit tired of my flat-weave Aubusson and looking for a change.  I need a 9x12 rug which size they don't sell and Tobi gave the audience the perfect answer to my problem - sew two 6x9 rugs together.  Thank you, Tobi for solving my design dilemma. The stripes are too casual for me, but I am thinking of the solid white one. Should look great with Swedish interiors.

Above you can see the red lantern and stripe fabric of the table runner from Tobi Fairley Home.  The wall stripe paint is the same blue from the living room. I like the nine white plates on the wall.  When I've hung plates, I paint the tips of the wires the color of the plates so they don't show.  The white plates are simple but striking. I am also a fan of white dining chairs.  Of course, I have a secret fabric that I use that is extremely durable and cleanable that I have used throughout our home. It is No Fear White. Discussing the centerpieces, Tobi inserted a glass cylinder into a larger one to create space to place red ribbon.  I am going to steal that idea too, only use other items not ribbon -- just think of the possibilities.  Tobi used the David Masin family's blue and white china.  It looks like it could be the Blue Fluted Mega pattern by Royal Copenhagen. I see dark blue Kim Seybert capiz shell placemats [I have the aqua ones] underneath of some red spray-painted acrylic chargers.  I liked Tobi's idea of spray painting inexpensive chargers different colors for various tablescapes you do.  I sprayed some brass ones and the paint peeled off. I believe she said the napkins had an iron-on embroidered transfer -- I will have to look into doing that.  Hopefully less expensive than having my monogram lady do my napkins if they stay on after being washed.  Inside the napkin folds are Recipies For Life messages. 

I struggle with getting my centerpieces low so people can see over them. I'm always looking for ideas to accomplish this.  I will further discuss this later in the post in my thoughts on the other table designs.

I have mentioned before in my tablescape blogs my top five requirements for a successful tablescape.  The first one is relevance.  Tobi's table is a perfect example of my rule.  The most successful design relates the elements of the table to the guest of honor or event of the dinner. Here you see Tobi used red ribbons and chargers for AIDS to salute the DIFFA fundraiser event and each placecard has the name of Me, Sister, Brother, Mom, i.e., people in a family who are affected when a family member has AIDS.  The cards in the napkins also bring this message home.

Up next is this pink orange and black soft orientalist theme table with orange stools by designer Beth Dotolo.

I LOVE that wallcovering of large damask.  I just bought an extra large stencil to do that on one wall of my dining room which I hope to execute in the next few weeks.

The orientalist style on this table is delivered with the abundant white Orchids and Dahlias, metallic gold noodle bowls, chopsticks and black lacquer table. The stools which are probably drinks tables or garden-type stools rather than dining stools are an attractive color, but would be difficult to sit on through a three-hour dinner.  Comfortable seating is rule number two on my tablescaping requirements.

The Dahlias are so pretty and I love Cockscomb.

The moss in the tall vases appeared to be dry, so I surmised the white orchids were in floral water tubes.

It appears that the runner coordinates with the creme underplates to the bowls. The height of the vases was discussed at the seminar and it was agreed that they would need to be removed during the dinner.  I think they would be perfect on the buffet or console table against the wall.  I personally struggle with centerpiece heights in my tablescapes as it seems hard for me to be creative on low arrangements.  You want the impact that these stunning arrangements have yet they are not practical.  I feel bad when a guest gets up and removes my creation. I also struggle occasionally with just too much stuff in the center of the table. But I'm working on it.

On to the next exhibit.

I was very impressed by this purple table by designers Diane Summers and Deanna Dayment.  I loved the shape of the leopard placemats for round tables.  Nice mirrored chargers. Loved the tumbler and stemware.  What was successful about this table was that it had a "real" factor that invited you to sit down by having the red and white wine already poured into the stems and water present in the tumbler.

Congratulations ladies on knocking that out of the ballpark.

Notice the metal screen with stars in front of the purple painted wall. Its see-through effect added just enough visual interest. I also give these designers points for my rule of tieing the table elements to the theme. Here they were designing for a restaurant named Purple. They also conquered the urge to overdo the center of the table with stuff. 

The purple vases of orchids could easily be moved to the sideboard leaving the vase of white Roses in the center to be stunning in and of itself.  Nice job.

Moving to the next tablescape by designers Sue Trudell and Kim Beauregard.

This tablescape had a pink and lime green garden theme. I don't know for sure, but I would guess that the pink and lime votive candleholders are Glassybaby products since that company is headquartered in Seattle HERE.  People outside Seattle might not be familiar with their products and charitable mission.

The centerpiece was a child's chair with white Roses on the seat. Ivy vines ran on the tabletop.

And this moss purse with flowers in it.

Here is a place setting. Loved the pink napkins and silver napkin rings.

Another look at the table.

Next is this table designed by Rich Holliday for The Hunt Club in an animal theme. The blue and white ceramic elephant centerpiece is an attention getter. Note the texture of the three runners that criss-cross the table for the six placesettings.

I believe this china charger is Jaguar Jungle by Lynn Chase. Rich hit the target dead center with my rule number one of relevance to the theme for the Hunt Club.

The opalescence of this platter is stunning.  Maybe not something to eat off of but it is eye candy.  You could serve some types of appetizer on it but its impact is really for a serivce plate before guests sit down. This table design was done by Christie Long for the restaurant Seastar.

I just LOVE the sea colors of blues and greens which hits the theme for Seastar right on target. Love the clear sparkley flatware and the color of the charger.  I would have loved to see this on a much bigger table so there was room for the glass balls, seaglass and tealights.  The centerpiece is a very tall glass sculptural vase that was too tall to get it in the photo.

The rattan table and chairs are fitting for this theme. Notice that the tabletop is covered with irridescent cellophane.  I might use that idea sometime.  About my tablescape rule number five to leave blank space on the tabletop, I want to mention here that the most memorable table I have ever seen was nothing more than a white plate with an old sterling fork on a white tablecloth with an orchid color napkin and clear crystal goblet in an all-white Swedish room that had a crystal chandelier. It was so simple but heavenly I have never forgotten it. No layering of chargers and a multitude of plates -- no stuff. 

One more look at this stunner.

 
This table using green reindeer moss was designed by the team of Meredith Mallott and Lori Broznowski for the restaurant Crush.

Store owner Bob Masin did this sportsman's table for Steelhead Diner. The mission style of the chairs and table are very fitting.  Table elements include the fish theme plates with flies, runner and napkins, fly rods and reels across the tabletop and a fish net.

The centerpiece was a divided tray from a tacklebox holding flies, spinners and sinkers with white Chrysanthemum heads in the squares.

Diane Akana of Neiman-Marcus did this table with McKenzie-Childs ceramics.  I believe that is wild long-grain rice in the bowl.

This autumn design with the velvet pumpkins was for the restaurant Mariposa.

Next, this table for one is the entry of Renee Manier and Page Campau for the restaurant Pearl.

On to the next one, artist Kathe Fraga for the restaurant Rovers. The framed photo is of the chef in the straw hat, Chef Thierry Rautureau. Kathe also displayed a grouping of men's hats on a halltree. 

Kathe used all vintage and flea market finds for this table.  There are three tablecloths layered here with silverplate trays and flatware as well as many whimsical and decorative objects.

Above is a wider view of the area around her table filled with vintage items.  The bird dinner plates coordinate with the birds on her paintings and pillows.

Kathe was at the event and I had the pleasure of meeting her and talking to her about her art.  Her miniature paintings were at the placesettings and a large canvas was behind the table. Her custom pillows were there as well as her greeting cards.

This table is by Tim DeClue for the restaurant Spinasse.

Tim used vintage silverplate trays as chargers.  The metal mushrooms are interesting. You can also see the black stones in the center.

This table appears to be made of metal with log benches.  I like the clear stemware but don't know the maker - will have to ask.

Last of the 13 tables, but not least, is this tablescape by J. David Welch for the restaurant Volterra.

Here is a wider view.

Close up of the place setting.

I promised to show you some vignettes around the store, so here they are:

Vignette One. 

View from a different angle.

Close up of the chair.

Vignette two.  Seeing the black oriental lacquer screens tempted me to consider getting mine out of the attic.

Vignette three.

Vignette four.

Vignette five showing the black buffet.

Masins Furniture is located in the Bellevue area of Seattle at 10708 Main Street, Bellevue, WA 98004 or call 425-450-9999.

Hope you enjoyed viewing the tables with me.

Summer

Photos: Swede 

Paris: Shopping for Antiques at Saint Ouen

 

Today's photo of beauty is this tablescape in an antique store at the Paris flea market Saint Ouen de Clignancourt.  This was the view into the shop from the sidewalk as you walk down the alley. 

I loved the white chairs [would love them more if the frames were painted], white marble on the tabletop, the candelabras, white and gold trimmed compotes at the back of the table, and the oriental soup tureen.  Behind the table you can see a C-scroll desk. I am not a fan of cane-backed chairs, however.

I am still sorting, straightening and fixing all the thousands of photos I brought back.  I hope to do a post on my experience with this large flea market, including Paul Bert and the other divisions soon.

Summer

Photo: Swede

 

Tablescape: Awesome Aqua - Version Two

 

Last week I presented an aqua and white tablescape HERE.  I like to use the same table elements back to back when the occasion works.  Today I am using some of last week's tablescape -- the tablecloth, napkin rings -- to make a different version of aqua.  This week's theme is Hyacinths -- both real and metal. I love metal flowers, especially old ones, and love collecting them as they are so "permanent".

Today's aquas are:

1) Kim Seybert capiz shell round placemat. It is actually aqua but the camera reads it as a deeper shade of green; 2) charger in sage by Mikasa in their Color Spectrum series; 3) dinner plate by Royal Worcester with a date code of 1950. That color was popular then. I don't know the pattern name; and 4) shell-shaped French Limoges hand painted dish that I am using for dessert service.

Here is what the sage Mikasa charger looks like. They were made in many colors in the late 1980's and 1990's. You've probably seen them many times or own them.  That is not a mark on the charger, it is just a wierd light situation.

But starting the dinner off are these hand painted French Limoges bird plates for appetizers. I love them for their blues and greens and birds in the Spring seems a natural element.  Each of the plates has a different pair of birds.  The French artist's signature is there but I can't read it easily as I am not familiar with French last names - L. S ----; need to research that more.

The species of bird is not marked on the back so on some of them I would just have to guess. These are probably Quail.

A collage for you.

More cute birds.

Pheasants on this plate.

The bird appetizer plates go directly on top of the chargers. Often I show you photos of the plates stacked up, but I don't like them stacked when the guest is sitting there.  It is cumbersome and awkward for them. Use only one plate on top of the charger at a time.

For the center of the table, I am using fresh Hyacinths from the grocery store.  In our area we only have three florists left still in business in a 30 minute drive from my house. The cut flower business has gone to all the grocery stores and I can find upper end cut flowers at two of them but one has outrageous prices.  I wanted white Hyacinths for this table because I have the white metal ones and luck so had it that Fresh Market grocery store had them this week in both white and pink. Usually you can find the purple ones in pots.  When I buy them in the pots, after the bloom has ended I plant the bulbs in my front yard in the sunniest spot so they come up first thing in the spring.

I purchased three bundles and placed them in three clear glass footed vases.  You can imagine the great aroma these three bundles makes in the house.

Here you can see the metal ones clearer.  I purchased quite a few of these for a photo shoot I did previously and have some small, medium and large ones for sale still in the original boxes.  I am going to open an eBay account this week to sell the extra ones. They take spray paint well if you want different colors. Above you see light blue, aqua and white ones.

I am always intrigued with the line up of plate edges.  You can see the Martha Stewart Home aqua quilted tablecloth here and the Yves Delorme napkin with Kim Seybert aqua beaded napkin ring.  I chose antique Gorham in the St. Cloud pattern.  It used to be very hard to find, but I've seen alot of it come on the market lately.  Old Gorham patterns were hand tooled and very well made and many have romantic patterns popular at the turn of the century.

I've also added nests with birds' eggs which I enjoy doing only in the Spring.

And blue eggs.

Here is what the pattern looks like on the Royal Worcester dinner plates.

And how they look on the table.

The French shell plates came in four colors, pink, yellow, pale blue and aqua.  I like the aqua ones best.  I found mine in San Francisco about 15 years ago and I added a couple more that I found in the French section of Canada.

All the dessert shell plates have different florals on them.

It is about 5:00PM so the low sun is coming through the plantation shutters.

I am using clear glass today because I forgot to go upstairs and bring down my aqua bubble glass goblets. I have not had any luck finding aqua toned crystal stemware.  This is etched Zodax on the left and the Edward pattern by Williams-Sonoma on the right.

I wanted you to see the close up of this Martha tablecloth.  It has what I would call vermicelli style stitching in the quilting and then has tone-on-tone embroidered flower clusters all over it. The color actually is aqua in person but the camera is reading it as almost white which is a shame since it is truly a lovely color.  It also has a scalloped hemline. I purchased it at Macy's about four years ago.

Collage of the Yves Delorme napkin and Kim Seybert napkin ring.

Above is a close up of the metal flowers. They are quite sturdy and well made with alot of detail work to cut the petals in the metal and attach them.

I'll leave you with this last photo so you can take a deep breath of this tremendous aroma.  Can you smell them???

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch. To see all the entries, after 10:00AM Eastern on Thursdays, go here:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Awesome Aqua

 

Love aqua in the Spring.  

For the centerpiece, I decided on all white flowers. Photos of making the floral arrangement will be at the end of the post. Little white porcelain bird figurine is Haviland. Gravy boat with aqua rim and monogram is Old Paris found at a charity consignment shop as well as the aqua-rimmed bowl. Candles, glass candlesticks and prisms all from Pottery Barn.

I am starting with aqua hand painted fish plates for the appetizer.

The artist's signature is H. Davis and they are painted on Royal Worcester blanks.

A close up view.

On the bottom is this white charger by Anna Weatherley made in Hungary.

Next in the tablescape build is this dinner plate with aqua rim, gold lattice and a burnt-orange center motif.  It is by French maker Bernadaud in the Etoile pattern.  I only have dinner plates in this pattern as I like to do a mix.

A close up view.

View of the table with dinner plates.

For the tablecloth, I am using a thin quilted scalloped cloth with embroidered flower clusters in the same aqua tone made by Martha Stewart as well as the aqua hemstitched napkins. Napkin rings are by Kim Seybert. Love the big aqua stones and beads. I am using a mix of flatware, some antique mother of pearl and a Durgin Empire fork with a Durgin Iris spoon.

Stemware is William Yeoward's Flavia pattern for water and Waterford's Colleen pattern for white wine.

The centerpiece is made in an old white ironstone tureen with crown handles which you can't see.  It sits in a metal lift that has a glass bottom and swirled metal arms.

Above you can see the stems of Nandina I cut from the shrub in my yard. It is an evergreen.

Close up of Lily in centerpiece. 

I found the metal stand and white ironstone at Roundtop antiques show.

Close up of the gravy boat.

Dessert plates are in the aqua pattern Darley Abbey by Royal Crown Derby.

One thing about photoing aqua and white, the pictures look washed out. I think this is because the two colors are too close in hue.

To make the centerpiece, I put wet Oasis in the ironstone bowl in two layers so it would stick up past the rim of the bowl. That give me a place to insert the flowers that I want to hang downwards.

I picked some greenery from my yard.

All white flowers from the grocery store - two types of Lilies, Carnations, Spray Roses and Mums.

I add the greenery first to the shape that I want the overall design to be and then insert the flowers. Be sure to remove the stamens of the Lilies or you will have orange stains all over your tablecloth.

And, that's all folks.

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch. To see all the entries, after 10:00AM Eastern on Thursdays, go here:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: February is Primrose Time

 

Right after the holidays I start yearning for spring bulbs and plants. I look forward to English Primrose time -- the few weeks that stores sell the plants in January/February. This week's tablescape is to honor the Primrose.

The Primroses shipped to stores in our area are the intense pink, purple and yellow ones.  Sometimes they are sold in small 4" pots, but this year I could only get them already planted four to a pot. So in the wire planter there are eight plants and on each side is a single artificial plant that I purchased several years ago at the Nashville Antique and Garden Show held in February. Wire metal planter with removable bottom tray was a Hobby Lobby purchase many years ago.  I like putting potted plants in it.

I also like getting out my metal insects like this grasshopper.

Elements of the tablescape in a collage.

I am building the tablescape with these chargers by French maker Alberto Pinto in the Or des Airs pattern.  There are six different birds in the series.  I call this one Mr. Fancy Tail.  The borders around the edges are also different with each pattern.

Here you can see some of the different birds. To go with the intense colors of the Primroses, I am using a linen hemstitched tablecloth in bright pink from Williams-Somoma. I don't have napkins that look good with this pink, so I am using antique white monogrammed lapkins.

I picked these chargers for this tablescape because of the color in the feathers of the cute little birds.

Next, the dinner plate which is antique English Cauldon with the Tiffany's New York retailer mark on the reverse.  I am also using my gold flatware by Ricci since there are a lot of gold edges on the plates.

A stack of antique dessert/salad plates - can get a tablescaper's heart to pound at an estate sale.  I had the dinner plates first and then found these salad plates about a year later from another dealer. I usually don't like a lot of matching plates but made an exception here. 

View of the dessert plates.

The appetizer plates are from an antique English dessert service that consists of four pedestal cake servers and 14 plates only. These are made by Royal Worcester dated 1877.  Each plate has a different hand painted floral grouping.

Mr. Swede brought the rose wine back from a trip to Paris. The coasters the wine bottles are in are Waterford that I purchased in 1980.

I enjoy seeing plate edges in how they relate to each other when made many decades apart.

Another collage. Bread plates with a golden yellow edge are Coalport's Hazelton pattern.  Crystal knife rests are Shannon via Godinger, a gift from my sister.

Mr. Swede inherited two of the Moser stems on the right from his mother. I found more to add to the set.  His Mom bought them when in her late 60's so they were not in the family when he was growing up.

 

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch. To see all the entries, after 10:00AM Eastern on Thursdays, go here:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Tortoise But No Hare

 

You all know how I like to take one table design and change it slightly to get another one out of it.  Today I am showing how I changed my last all white anniversary table by adding brown. Here is the quick link to the all white one: http://swede.typepad.com/swede/2012/01/tablescape-winter-white.html

I am using all the tortoise tabletop items I have. Hare is not on the menu.

All the china is Jaune de Chrome except the Anna Weatherley butter plates.

I have a weakness for French porcelain and maker Jaune de Chrome is one of my favorite for modern non-antique porcelain. This is their pattern called Tortoise Encrusted.

I chose to limit purchasing this pattern to only the charger and the rim soup. I use the rim soups for appetizers, desserts and salads.

Above is the Tortoise charger and rim soup to start the meal with the appetizer served in the rim soup bowl. I like having the sides on the bowl instead of a flat plate.

The glaze on the rims is fabulous and unique. Sometimes in the light it has a lavendar cast.

Dinner plates are Jaune de Chrome's Gypsies pattern.

Tortoise flatware is from Vietri and tortoise napkin ring is from Kim Seybert.  Mocha chocolate colored Primrose Bordier monogrammed napkin is Le Jacquard Francais.

Close up of the Seybert napkin ring made of tortoise colored discs on a square gold beaded ring.

Jungle animal print tumblers are by Slant from Dillard's. Water goblet is William Yeoward's pattern Flavia.

Table view.

I switched out the big white coral pieces for smaller ones in the centerpiece.

I moved the seashell sculpture from the foyer console table to use at the center of this table.

I also kept from the last tablescape the white quilted tablecloth from Macy's as well as the clear candlesticks from Pottery Barn.

End view of the table.

Dessert plates are also Jaune de Chrome in their pattern Jungle Ambre.

I couldn't resist using white and chocolate colors in the dessert.

 

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Winter White

 

Still in love with white in all its various shades. Whether winter or summer.

Mr. Swede and I just celebrated our 20 year anniversary. This would be great for a bridal dinner anytime of year as well.

White coral is so easy to decorate with.  Put a few pieces in the center of the table and you're done.

Stemware is Simon Pearce's Stratton pattern on the left and William Yeoward's Flavia on the right.

All the china is Anna Weatherley.  I just got the chargers and love them. Undulating edge in gold and totally plain in a great size. Dinner plates are Anna's Simply Anna pattern in white on white. Bread and butter is very simple with a cute shape.  Butter knives are French made by Jean Dubost.

This is really a simple table. No flowers, no placecards, no service plates, no fuss.

Napkins were purchased from a very sweet American lady living in France who loves the brocantes and flea markets like I do. This is Mr. Swede's monogram, so I had to buy them. Also came with a tablecloth. Napkins are actually lapkins as they are 30" wide. It took me a while to learn how the French fold such a huge lapkin to get it this size.

Flatware is mostly antique mother of pearl sets I have found at places like Roundtop and from various antique dealers.  The forks and fish knives came as a set.  The ice tea spoon is new from Vietri. I'm not sure regular spoons were ever made in MOP as I have never found any.  You see mostly knife sets.

Heavy quilted cotton cloth with scalloped edge.

When guests know this can be thrown in the washing machine they relax. I have found many people have a fear of white. Pillow on the sofa in the back of the room is from Callisto Home.

View of the placesetting.

Clear glass candleholders and four inch chunky candles are from Pottery Barn.

Most of the large coral pieces were a gift from Mr. Swede over a period of years and are from the Iron Gate shop in Franklin, TN, which we love visiting.

There is more white coral in the mercury glass on this console table I designed for Swede Collection. This is the mercury glass I showed in my New Year's table last week.

Also in the dining room is this Swedish buffet cabinet I designed for Swede Collection with the leaf tip trim and stepped base. Of course, it is full of plates!

I love the natural beauty of white coral so much I can't imagine getting tired of decorating with it and storing it away.

I'm going to keep this one on the table for a few weeks as I never tire of white.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tabletop: Console Table Decor

 

I have switched up the decor on my hallway console table. This is the one that had my Santos Angels during the holidays.

I decided to put metal pieces here to tie in with the metal balcony in the photo on the wall.  This is a photo of a building taken by Mr. Swede in Paris this summer that I had enlarged and put on 30x40 gallary wrap canvas.

With this wider view you can see that it is a canvas.  Looks like I captured a creative cobweb as well.  This Franco-Swedish console table with brown marble top I designed for Swede Collection. The shadow box being a gray/blue goes very well with the color of the console. This hallway is narrow and has columns for the dining room which block being able to take a photo straight on.

The two metal candlestands on the ends are from Tuesday Morning. The shadow box is from Wisteria and other pieces are from Hobby Lobby.

This week I am linking up to Tabletop Tuesday viewable after 6:00PM Eastern on Monday evenings here:

http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/

Summer
Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Silver and Gray in January

 

Below is our New Year's table.  I wanted to use my mercury glass with some white coral pieces and as many silver china pieces that I could find, but keep the theme a simple silver and gray one.

I put together several collages of different shots of the table which I think I will show you in succession and then describe what I am using at the end.

The silver tablecloth is one I made and have shown before. I made it from 7.5 yds. of acetate satin. It is washable but loses its smooth texture and looks crinkled which could be a look that you might like. I spilled grapefruit juice on it New Year's Day at breakfast so it will look different next time.

Almost all of the large mercury glass pieces are from Pottery Barn purchased three or four years ago. The candlesticks are probably Tuesday Morning or Target. I like mercury glass so will pick it up wherever I see it if I like the shape.  I have never found an antique piece, however.

Chargers & Medium Soups:  JL Coquet Matte Hemisphere Platinum. Serving platters used as chargers.

Dinner & Bread Plates: Niderviller Grand Siecle Henri IV pattern with crown logo.

Napkins: Black and white toile by Williams-Somona.

Stemware: Stratton pattern by Simon Pearce.

Silver Mugs: Antique sterling. Close up shown from 1889 is Gorham.

Sterling: Gorham's St. Cloud pattern.  

Dessert Plate: English Cauldon.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede  

 

 

Tablescape: Maroon-Puce-Raspberry-Magenta?? What to call it?

 

Today's tablescape for the holidays is the third in a series. What has become almost my trademark style is to get the most stretch out of a tablescape by doing change ups for each meal over several days with the same basic design framework. Change ups give each one a different look.

First I showed you the Friday night dinner in magenta here: http://swede.typepad.com/swede/2011/12/tablescape-holiday-dinner-in-magenta.html

Second, I showed you the Saturday lunch in cranberry here: http://swede.typepad.com/swede/2011/12/tablescape-cranberry-and-magenta.html

So today is the Saturday evening dinner.  I have mixed all reddish-purplish colors so I don't know whether to call it raspberry, maroon or puce???

The changes from the previous two posts in this dinner tablescape are the goblets, tumblers, and dinner plates. The centerpiece has been changed up a bit and the ornaments on the plates are a different style. Jeweled glass ornaments from Target last year.

I kept the silver tablecloth, runner and the napkins.

 
The dinner plates with magenta swags of flowers are antique German.  I am also reusing the Haviland Malmaison magenta bread and butter plates, the Jaune de Chrome English Rose on Song chargers and Tiffany St. James antique sterling.

New to this tablescape are the water goblets which are Varga's pattern Imperial Grande in the color raspberry. The tumblers are from Bormioli Rocco & Figlio of Italy in the Bicchiere Sorgente pattern and colorway Fucsia.

Collection of the Varga stems.

 
Here is a close up of the place setting.

The flowers I arranged in the baby cups are still good from the day before.

Here is a collage of the stemware and the mercury glass pedestal bowl with new magenta ornaments added.

The only thing I changed in the centerpiece was the addition of more magenta ornaments.

Here you can see a partial overview of the dining room with the Swede Collection console against the window. To see the post on the arrangement on the console go to Holiday Decor in Magenta HERE.
A view of the end of the table. 

Another collage of the flowers and glassware.

I really enjoy making the switch ups to extend the tablescape theme over several meals for a weekend.

There is alot to do in preparing the meals so this plan works for me. Guests so far haven't complained about seeing much of the same thing.

A wider view of the table.

Antique sterling baby cups used to hold the flowers and a close up of the new centerpiece ornaments.

Bird's eye view.

Mercury glass pedestal bowl.

Large glass vases on the console filled with ornaments.

 
Another collage.

I love how all these purple-y colors seem to mix.

These silver mercury glass trees came from Dillard's last year. Love using clear sparkley bead garland with mercury glass.

More maroon and magenta.

This was taken before I put the flowers back on the table.

Lots of raspberry and cranberry colors.

I like buying bowls on pedestals.  It gets the focus up off the flat tabletop.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Cranberry and Magenta

 

Last week, I showed you this magenta tablescape: http://swede.typepad.com/swede/2011/12/tablescape-holiday-dinner-in-magenta.html for a dinner with guests.  Today I am showing how to take that same tablescape and change it for lunch the following day. I like to get a lot of mileage out of my tablescapes especially when guests stay a weekend and I don't have time to create totally new ones each day. Next week I will show the third tablescape for a dinner the second evening with a different switch up.

I have now added a cranberry color to the magenta table with these antique Spode Copeland floral lunch plates. They are hand painted and signed R. Wood.

I think all these pinky-purpley-red colors blend fairly well.

I guess the color of this charger is greige.  I didn't realize it was gray until I got it home as I thought it was beige with gray flowers. This is a pretty unusual pattern for Jaune de Chrome as they don't do many florals.

Here is a wider view of the lunch table. I have also switched out the gray Niderviller Boston bread and butter plates and replaced them with these Haviland Malmaison ones. I am using many of the same elements from the dinner the night before. Jaune de Chrome chargers in English Rose on Song patern, Tiffany St. James sterling, Pottery Barn stemware and Le Jacquard Francais napkins.

The Spode Copeland plates are a perfect match to the red Roses in the antique baby cups.

I kept the centerpieces the same and used the same silver tablecloth and runner.

Mercury glass is one of my favorite things to decorate with because of its reflective value.

Just a close up view of the shiny silver and bubbles in the glass.

I have candles on the table but don't light them. The light comes from the flameless candles in the hurricanes and the chandelier.

Such a pretty old plate.  These are the kind that I cannot pass up when I see them for sale. Finding a set of 12 or more of these at an estate sale can get me hyperventilating very quickly.

One of the things I enjoy most about tablescaping is bringing to life antique china by pairing it with new modern patterns like these French pieces.

This is your plate. Please be seated.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescapes: Traditional Setting with Holly and Red Hibiscus

 

In 1975 I wanted to start collecting Christmas china. There were only two patterns available, Lenox's Holiday and Spode's Christmas Tree.  I chose Lenox because it looked more formal. I wished they made it with a white interior rather than creme. Since then, of course, many manufacturers have done numerous styles of holiday plates.  I first purchased 12 salad plates and then the next year bought 12 dinner plates and then cups/saucers and a few serving pieces. It never did thrill me, but at the time I wanted to have china that became a holiday tradition through the years. Now my tastes have drastically changed, well, it has been 36 years!!!, so I was bound to change as I grew older.

To bring the Holiday pattern to modern times, I am using chargers by French maker JL Coquet in the pattern Hemisphere Matte Gold, and my gold plated flatware by Ricci.

Since I have it in the cupboard, Mr. Swede begs me to take it out and use it just once a year.  I am not into red and green anymore, but to honor his request, I will do a breakfast or lunch with it.

I am also using these pottery plates with red Hibiscus which are hand made by Faros Keramik Paradissi with 24 karat gold.  I purchased 12 of these around 1992 when I went to Rhodes, Greece to meet Mr. Swede who was a pilot on the Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga that had a port call in Rhodes. The Hibiscus is the national flower of Greece. 

I remember going to every china shop in Rhodes [it was summer] to find 12 of these plates.

I am using a vintage Northwood tumbler in the Memphis pattern, an emerald green stem from an unknown maker purchased 14 years ago, and in the center, a gold rimmed stem by Tiffin that Mr. Swede inherited from his mother.

Green beaded napkins and napkin rings are from Dillard's.

I am also mixing in these English porcelain plates by Coalport.

And these English porcelain plates from the 1830's. The green isn't Christmas green, however, I still like using them.

I love the romantic landscapes in the center of the plates.

I love mixing patterns and it really helps to add different styles and ages of china [new, vintage and antique] when you have a pattern you don't want to sell but your taste has changed. I am always trying to come up with new combinations.

I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch. I will have two entries.  Be sure to see the other one which is more "me".

To see all the entries, after 9:00PM Eastern on Wednesday, go here:

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Holiday Dinner in Magenta

 

Continuing with the magenta theme for the holidays, this week's tablescape is also in magenta paired with silver.

Magenta napkins set the theme along with the ornaments placed at each setting. Ornaments from Target last year. Napkins by Le Jacquard Francais, primrose bordier, in their colorway Cassis Black Current in the Graphic pattern.

I think magenta is such a great color for the holidays as a change up for brighter red and it looks so good with silver and grays.

The above photo shows the line up of the plates.  On the bottom is French maker Jaune de Chrome's English Rose on Song which has a dark edge and a multi-gray floral. Next is the dinner plate by Haviland in the Malmaison pattern showing magenta around the border and the central scene of the young couple fishing. I am using JL Coquet's Hemisphere Matte Platinum soup bowls for appetizers since they have such a small central cavity and to me are too small for soup. The silver grooved borders also stain very easily so I find it best to use them just for an appetizer. Even touching the Hemisphere with your finger will leave a fingerprint stain.

In the above collage, on the left side is the Jaune de Chrome charger and on the right is the Haviland dinner plate.

Here is how the dinner plates look on the table. The bread and butter plates are French maker Niderviller which is a pale gray in the Boston pattern. Sterling is Tiffany St. James.

Above is the JL Coquet soup with the small cavity and the dessert plate below.

I actually started this tablescape with the intention of doing it all in silver and then added the magenta after I got into it. 

The above collage shows the antique English dessert plates by Cauldon holding raspberry cheesecake. On the right is a tablecloth I made of acetate satin in a color called New Silver.  I take 7.5 yards of fabric and sew it together lengthwise so it will fit my table with one leaf in it to seat 8 people at the table.  Lower right is a photo of individual flower arrangements I made for each place setting in magenta-toned fresh flowers placed in antique sterling baby presentation cups.

Above you can see a larger view of the silver tablecloth.

Above are the six sterling cups.  The oldest one in the group is inscribed 1854 and the newest is dated 1891.  Inside them I placed wet Oasis to hold the stems.

I used red Roses, magenta Chrysanthemums and cherry Alstroemeria in the cups. Greenery is from my yard.

These are various table shots.

The above collage shows details from the center of the table. 

I am using my collection of mercury glass including mercury glass trees with garlands of clear beads and a few magenta colored holiday ornaments.

The silver hurricanes contain flameless candles.

The above photo shows a wider view of the table. You can barely see that I placed a silver damask flocked runner down the center on the tablecloth seam as the centerpiece items nearly cover it up. I always have good intentions on limiting what goes in the center of the table but have trouble sticking to that idea.

This collage shows more detail views.

The bubble glass set of goblets with ruby stems was a Christmas gift from Mr. Swede several years ago. They are from Pottery Barn.

Plating up the dessert.

As you know, I like to use my tablescapes more than once by switching the plates out which works great when guests stay for the weekend.  Next week I will show what elements I kept and which I swapped out to make tablescapes for a lunch and dinner the same weekend.

What color themes are you using this year?   

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede 

Starting to Decorate for the Holidays

 

Now that it is the first week of December, I've started getting some ideas together for decorating my console and center tables.  I begin by gathering some items up from storage in the attic and other places and group them by color.

I made this grouping in the living room using an old English silverplate tray, mercury glass trees, turquoise mercury glass finials and turquoise glassware.

As I continue to work on the displays, I keep changing them so every few days they look different as I add and delete items. Next, I will probably add some turquoise ornaments to this mix. All the tables in the house are different -- different colors and different themes. This is the only place I will use turquoise.

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Having the Thanksgiving Blues

 

This is part two of three parts of Thanksgiving weekend tablescapes.  When hosting guests for a weekend, I like to change up the tables at each meal. Part one was showing you the green table.  Now I've made just some simple changes to create a new look using many of the elements from the green table. This is for lunch the day after the first dinner of the holiday weekend when we usually have sandwiches.  Since it is for lunch not a more formal dinner, I don't feel compelled to do a large floral centerpiece. Novalty plates, whether they are for Christmas, Easter or Thanksgiving generally are only used once and then put away for another year.  By doing back-to-back tablescapes, I can use them more than once.  For the most part, I do not use novelty plates because of their limited use, but I make an exception for these Cauldon plates because they are exceptional and hard to find.

I am using again the green tablecloth and capiz placemats but have changed the centerpiece and switched colors to royal blue and green.

These blue and white turkey plates are English made by Royal Cauldon. I have been able to find 10 in fabulous condition with no crazing or chips.  It is very hard to find them without crazing. They also were made in a darker flow blue but I do not collect flow blue.  In fact, I don't like decorating with blue and white and have sold everything that I had except these plates. These are keepers.  Blue and white has just too much contrast for me.  If I can mix it with green or orange, I am good. I know there are alot of blue and white fans out there, but I am not one of them.  I do have friends and family members who are blue and white collectors so this is for them.

I removed the tall floral arrangement and replaced it with this cachepot filled with the gourds I used before.  Should I use it again for the same group of guests, I would next fill it with fresh flowers in oasis.

I found the cachepot for $15 at a charity consignment shop on the last day and thought it would work for the turkey plates. I was tickled with the price.

The dried and painted gourds are the acid green ones with the long necks and the Osage Oranges have the unusual bumpy skin. The other fresh gourds are the ones Mr. Swede bought for me in Texas.

I am using napkins by Sferra in their royal blue colorway. I think they are almost an exact color match.

When using antique plates, I try to kick them into the current day by using something contemporary or modern with them.  Adding new pieces to the mix makes the table more interesting. Here I have used royal blue goblets made in Poland by Block in the Stockholm pattern.  I like the slender shape.  They are called water goblets, but I use them for juice or wine or a cocktail if I am using bigger tumblers for water.

I think the large air bubble at the base of these Stockholm pieces makes them quite modern.

Napkin rings have blue beads as well as gold ones and are from Dillard's. I'm using my Ricci gold flatware again. The heavy metal turkey placecard holder is from Pottery Barn.

I am using the same green flash tumblers from before but have added a shorter one with a blue bottom and green top.

Above you can see a wider view of the table.

To serve more pecan and pumpkin pie, I am using antique plates by Copeland Spode that are a rich blue and have the same color green in them as the placemats.

I am using a gold support plate made by Concorde underneath the dessert plate just to bring out the gold in the dessert's design.

The pattern has an oriental cloisonne look to it having interlocking circles and sectioned round flowers on a rich royal blue spattered background.

Next week, for part 3 of this tablesetting change up, I am adding a red/orange color to the green and royal blue.

I leave you today with this collage of my October Glory Maple tree in my front yard paired with the blue and white container of gourds.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Celebrating Thanksgiving

 

I have created several collages for this tablescape to group the photos. Peach colored roses of any variety are a favorite of mine.

Salad plate is this year's annual Thanksgiving novalty plate in earthenware from Pottery Barn. Design was taken from an antique drawing. The brass chargers my husband inherited from his Mom.  I antiqued them to change them from bright brass to antiqued brass.

Two stems of amber glassware. The one on the left with the glass buttons is by Yurana Designs and the iced beverage on the right is vintage Indiana Glass pattern Mt. Vernon.

Jaune de Chrome chargers in the Tortoise pattern, dessert plate by Royal Worcester in Contrast pattern, Vietri tortoise flatware and 14" brass chargers with decorative border edge.  Le Jacquard Francais chocolate French linen napkins have a monogram applied at my local embroidery shop.

The collage above shows the tortoise charger being used as a dinner plate since it has the painted brass charger underneath, and then shown with the dessert plate.

This is the overview of the tabletop. Plaid tablecloth I made of Schumacher fabric in the color melon.

I found the metal turkey placecard holders last year at Dilliard's.

 

 

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Autumn Greens

 

There is a shade of green that I like to use in the fall.  It is sort of an acid green like Granny Smith apples.  I think this color comes alive when used with oranges and other fall colors. Today, however, I am using it primarily with other greens with just a little rust found in the Limoges bird plates.

I love using bird plates in the fall.  Somehow they just look better than in the heat of summer. These bird plates are Limoges hand painted by Max. I wish I knew more about him. Max painted on Coronet blanks but I do not know if he was a factory artist or had his own studio.

I believe these plates were designed to be wall or cabinet plates, but I am using them as presentation plates at the beginning of the meal for an appetizer as they set the stage for the entire dinner.

Above is a collage of four of the different birds on the plates. I have duplicate plates of a few of the designs and other designs like ducks that are not shown.

Below is a view of the table set for six people.

Starting on the bottom, I am using leaf green placemats in a scalloped shape made of capiz shells. 

I purchased these about six years ago from a local tabletop store but I do still see them in other colors online and in the round shape.  Also using my now new standby gold Ricci flatware and napkins from French maker Le Jacquard Francais in green linen damask Primrose Bordier and a beaded napkin ring from Dillard's.

Waterford crystal wine and water in the Colleen pattern and a green rim-flashed tumbler from Dillard's.

For dinner plates, I am using antique Minton plates with gold-embossed borders.

Surrounding the central vase arrangement, I am using mini gourds, fresh picked Osage Oranges, faux mangos from Apple Annie of Kentucky and two large dried gourds dyed green from Hobby Lobby. You can hear the seeds rattle inside them when you pick them up.

A little closer look. I got the oriental vase last year at a charity consignment shop.

The Nandina berries and Hydrangeas are from my yard.

Above is a closer look at the green orchids and the Copeland Late Spode dessert plates.

The green draping flowers are Amaranth and I dried Curly Willow branches.

Above is a wider view of the dessert plate setting with the Spode Late Copeland scenic plates.

Collage of various photos of the tablescape.

 

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Autumn Weekend Breakfast

 

This table is set for guests who spend the weekend. For breakfast the morning after a dinner, I will sometimes use part the same table elements. Here I am using the same tablecloth, chargers, flatware and beverage glasses.  I have removed the floral centerpiece and substituted a platter of gourds on top of a hand-made aluminum lazy susan. If it wasn't fall, I use this lazy susan just for a platter of mugs in the center of the table. Since it spins, guests can rotate it to take the beverage mug of their choice.

Mr. Swede likes colorful gourds in the house during the fall season, so he picked all of these at a roadside nursery in Burton, Texas when we were driving home from the Round Top Antique Show.  The gourds will last until next summer.

The plates and mugs are Vietri's Foliage pattern. Each plate and mug is a different color with a different leaf shape pattern on it.

 
The plates are a good size for a pastry and some fruit. There are also matching cereal bowls. I love the peachy tones of the painted earthenware.

Stacks of plates and colorful mugs.

Here is an overview of the table set for six. The gold napkins are from Williams-Sonoma and then embroidered with our monogram at a local shop. I am using the gold plated stainless steel from Ricci which goes from casual to formal.

Niderviller chargers made in France in the color vanilla.

Chunky heavy-duty amber goblet from Indiana Glass is in the Mt. Vernon pattern.  It is vintage from the 1960-1970's. I like how sturdy they are as well as the square footed base and they hold a nice amount of liquid which helps me to not have to refill guests glasses as often.  The Vietri mugs also are a nice large size.

 

 

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tablescape: Welcome Autumn

 

I finally have accepted that it really is fall now. The summer has gone for another year.  When I think about styling autumn tables, game birds always come to mind. I guess it is due to getting hunting licenses for pheasant, quail and turkey in the fall if you are a hunter. If you have an occasion to honor a man for his birthday, promotion, or other event, setting a table with game plates is a good fit for a masculine theme.

Fall harvested fruits and vegetables such as pears, persimmons, pumpkins, kumquats, quince and apples that have colors we deem to be fall colors - oranges, golds, peaches and reds are a perfect selection for a table using game plates. I have placed Apple Annie faux pears made of resin and nut shells in a leaf-shaped dish by Vietri.

The above collage is a sampling of elements for this table. Flowers are an easy selection of an array of Chrysanthemums, berries, seed pods and Roses in peachy-orange tones.

These Mums are in my bricked flowerbed. They were in a hanging basket last year and in the spring they started to leaf out. I didn't want them in the hanging basket anymore so I tossed them into a nearby flowerbed where they amazingly made their new home.

On the left the glassware I selected is a white wine by Rick Strini Artglass of Hawaii in Flame Bella Gold and a vintage iced beverage in the Mt. Vernon amber pattern by Indiana Glass.  I love using amber colored glass with this style of tablescape.  And, I love giving vintage pieces new life by incorporating them with new stemware. This is my kind of recycling. I made the floral centerpiece for this table from three packages of florist Mums from the grocery store, one package of spray Roses and greenery and berries from my yard. I took a three-week class at a florist shop about 25 years ago just to give me confidence that I knew what to do. The class taught us to do all kinds of structured arrangements for weddings, funerals, etc. so I have a good foundation of skills under my belt that allows me to now do my own thing.

I am using a very simple bread baking pan as my container since it will be hidden underneath of foliage. Notice that I have placed the Oasis up high over the lip of the pan. Make sure it is in the pan very tight. Extending the Oasis is so I can get the flowers to drape over the edge. If you are trying this for the first time, make sure you purchase "wet foam" not the kind for making silk flower arrangements and soak it in water for 30 minutes. I chose the bread pan because I need a long and narrow arrangement for this table not a round one. It was just the quickest thing I found, I could have chosen a porcelain or glass container if I wanted to search through the cupboards.

I am constructing this on my kitchen counter. When I place it on the table, I will put it on top of two old leather bound books as a lift for a little bit of height but not enough that guests can't see over it. Make sure you put paper towels and Saran wrap on top of the books to absorb any moisture. In the above photo, you can see I have started the green up with cut greenery from my shrubs and Nandina berries which are still green at this time of year. From here, I will add the Mums and Roses just by "eye" until I am pleased with how the flowers hang over the edges and drape outward.

Here's how it turned out.

I think this Schumacher fabric for a tablecloth with its rich peaches, melons, golds and raspberry plaid is perfect for a fall table. You can also see the moire shine in the light.

Chargers are by French maker Niderviller in the color vanilla. When I ordered them the photo showed the color to be more beige but they are a good match to the pale yellow stripe in the tablecloth. I am using my gold plated stainless steel flatware again by Ricci.

Dinner plates are vintage English from Johnson Brothers in their Game Birds pattern. There are several birds in the series. This is the Quail. The plates come in ovals and rounds.  I have the 11" ovals.

Here is the Ruffled Grouse.

The Pheasants.

This is a wider view of the table with the Game Birds plates set for six. I am using a red/orange hemstitched napkin from Pottery Barn.  With the floral centerpiece, I didn't want alot of accessories, so I chose to only use the faux pears scattered around and the chalkware bird statues which belonged to my MIL.

Here is a larger view of the glassware. I like the chunkyness of the amber Mt. Vernon as well as the shape and the square-footed base. Their molded sturdiness is a counterbalance to the mouth-blown hand-made Strini art goblets.

Here is a closer look at the chalkware birds. Note that the spray Roses and Nandina berries drape down to touch the tablecloth.

Close up of the peach colored spray roses.

I am using my orange fish plates to serve dessert.  When I first got these I didn't think I would use them very much because of the orange color, but I find I use them frequently.  In the Spring they look great with a vase full of orange Parrot Tulips.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Celebrating The Arrival of Autumn

 

 

Spode's Woodlands plates just speak fall to me. Here is the Red Grouse pattern salad plate on top of an antique Minton gold-embossed dinner plate. The green of the Minton plate pulls out the green vegetation surrounding the birds. I only purchased the salads in Spode Woodlands bird plates, not the full service as I think too much of it is just, well, too much of it. As you know, I like to mix and match to get a full variety of interest on the table.

The tablescape for this dinner brings together vintage, antique and new tableware. The very popular Spode Woodland plates are combined with new and vintage amber glassware, ceramic green pumpkins, and metallic tones in the copper pumpkin leaves, copper metallic placemats and metallic glazed Jaune de Chrome chargers in the Flemenco pattern. Great light is needed to see the great beauty of the glaze on these chargers. Dim light in my dining room does not do them justice.

The above photo of the plate edges shows the unique combination of browns and greens on the left and on the right the browns of the natural acorns in a marigold footed carnival glass dish, copper painted pheasants and brown metal detailed stems on the pumpkins from Tuesday Morning. I picked up the acorns from the ground under an Oak tree near my office. I spray painted the pheasant pair in copper to give them more life as the original finish was a flat dull brown.

Above left is the Spode Pheasant plate on top of the Minton dinner plate. Lower left is the orange metallic votive from Dollar General with maple leaves around the top. Top right is the Jaune de Chrome Flamenco charger and lower right is the Minton green gold embossed dinner plate.

To serve a choice of pies for dessert, I am using a green antique batwing scenic style plate by Copeland Late Spode. The red/orange in this plate is  brought out by the same color napkins.  Napkin rings are by Reba Home.

 
Pheasant and Mallard details in the center of the plates.

The details in these Snipe and Quail birds in vegetation are all about nature.

The collage above shows four of the designs I have on my twelve salad plates.

The placemats made by Copperworx of Clinton, MS are hard to photo due to the reflective glare the copper produces. The surface treatment on each placemat is unique with no two alike. They are cork backed so not to scratch your table.

Above is an overview of the table. Napkins are from Pottery Barn, flatware from Vietri and orange metallic glass votives with leaves come together to express fall. All is set on a tablecloth I made of Schumacher plaid melon fabric.

Amber button stemware is by Yurana Designs and the vintage amber iced beverage is Mt. Vernon by Indiana. I think amber colored glass is so fitting for a fall table.

Close up details of the center of the table shows the German majolica pedestal dessert plate holding natural acorns and faux mangos from Apple Annie of Kentucky.

My tablescape style is to coordinate details that provide the greatest interest to the eye as possible. It matters not to me whether an item is $2 at Dollar General or the flea market or pricey French porcelain.  My goal is to define the "look" and with each tablescape try to become better at this styling craft.  I am a dish addict who finds great joy in color combinations, honoring the skill of the dish makers and making a photo document to share with other tablescapers. By blogging I hope to improve defining the eye candy that excites and expires my daily life.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Fishing with Chocolate and Jade

 

 

 
This tablescape started when I ordered some French Yves Delorme linens online in the color jade. European companies name their colorways in their language which when translated sometimes misses the mark with the visual color.  I thought it best to go by the colors in the factory photo from YD. The photo showed the color a bright turquoise which is what I wanted. I was so disappointed when they came and were not turquoise. I consider the color jade to have some green in it. I would call them a soft blue/gray.

 
I started looking through my china to see if the napkins would go with anything I had before deciding to send them back.  I do love the quality of the damask of YD products. I thought they went pretty well with this set of antique Limoges fish plates.

 
I am using these as the first presentation plate for appetizers. The plates were made in Limoges, France by maker E. Alluaud & Co. and are hand painted with an underwater scene. I have not been able to find out anything about this company but there were hundreds of small makers before the turn of the century around the city of Limoges.  I bought them maybe 6/7 years ago because I liked the colors which had some lilac and they were in outstanding condition.

 
I already had the napkin rings by Kim Seibert.  I think they are very quirky looking but go with my Tortoise pieces.

 
I am using the charger as a dinner plate. I do this quite often when I am using placemats as I like larger dinner plates. If you have been following me, you know I am nuts for French maker Jaune de Chrome's china. This pattern is their Tortoise Encrusted which means it has extra wide patterned bands of gold. Tortoise is also sold with a thin band, but I decided if I was going to buy them I might as well go hog wild. I still remember the day I was in a china shop and saw the pattern for the first time.  It just pulled me across the room. I had never seen anything like that glaze before [when turned in the light you see hints of lilac] and had never heard of Jaune de Chrome nor would I EVER have considered brown china. [Emphasis on EVER not over stated, ha ha.] This dislike of brown goes with my story of Mr. Swede's brown couch which he is apparently deeply attached to [but needs to take a roadtrip to the dump]. 20 year standing commentary in our house about the brown couch. So you can imagine Mr. Swede's shock when these plates were delivered. [Smile] I think I bought these Tortoise plates around 2007, and I must confess, I have purchased other brown charger patterns of Jaune de Chrome since. So I probably shouldn't give Mr. Swede such a hard time.

 
For salad, I am using Tortoise rim soups. I only have two pieces of this pattern, the charger and rim soups, for 18 people because I don't like full services of china in the same pattern.  I only bought a full service once and that was at a rich newlywed gal's divorce sale -- it is Haviland's white/gold Arizona pattern which I have shown a few times. I like to mix patterns of antique, vintage and new too much to stick to one pattern.

 
I find blues not easy to work with as there are so many shades of blue so I went with chocolate. I like how the brown in the fish is pulled out by the brown in the chargers. Placemats, embroidered chocolate on chocolate, are Dillards Noble Excellence brand.  I like Vietri's flatware in Tortoise also with the brown setting.

 
The leopard print tumblers by Slant are also from Dillard's. The vintage blue short tumblers are made by St. Clair from 1967 in the Holly Band pattern. They are the closest blue to the napkins that I have and they are a bit bright. 

 
Dessert plates are from Italian maker Richard Ginori in the Mandova pattern. I am back to fishing again with the central motif on the plate of a young guy with his fishing pole.  The chocolate charger pulls out the brown of his hat, pants and the land around the water.

 
Ginori made this pattern on two different blanks. You can find it also on the Fiesole blank which doesn't have the swirls.

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/

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2011/10/serving-up-creative-table-with-fabulous.html

Summer

 

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Celebrating Autumn's Colors

 
I am showing today a tablescape done in autumn colors.

 
First I made a fresh floral arrangement and it looked like this. Good for a sideboard, but too big for people to see around it.  I had placed it on this lift.

 
The arrangement is made in my Vietri serving bowl. So then I took it apart and made it tall in the center and wide at the bottom.

 
After all the rearranging, I had to take it off the lift and put the bowl directly on the table in order for people to see around it.

 
With my antique French Limoges fish plates hand painted by Purvis, I am using Vietri tortoise flatware and Anna Weatherley chargers as dinner plates since I am using placemats.  Chargers are in the colorway honey. Striped placemats are by Tommy Bahama.

 
I love old fish plates and I use them often but not for fish.  I like starting the meal with them used as appetizer plates. I think this keeps them from getting knife cuts on the hand painted surfaces.

 
Linen napkins by Pottery Barn and rings by Reba McIntyre Home from Dillard's.

 
The Anna Weatherley honey charger will be used as a charger for the soup plate until it is ready to be used as a dinner plate.

 
This vanilla colored rim soup looks almost pale yellow. The set went to my garage sales a few times but didn't sell.  Now they are useful for this tablesetting to hold butternut squash soup with Granny Smith apples that Mr. Swede makes. 

 
Filled with the orange colored butternut soup and garnished, the pale color of these bowls doesn't look so stark and really fits in.

 
Dinner plates.

 
The glass buttons on the outside of these amber art goblets are very fun. They are made by Yurana Designs and were discontinued this year.

 
The other stemware I am using is the Bella Iron Gold pattern from Hawaiian artglass artist Rick Strini HERE.

 
Dessert plates are Foliage by Vietri.

 
The dinner plates have been removed and I decided not to put on another charger for the dessert plates.

 
Dessert is this toasted almond cake with raspberry garnish on a Vietri Foliage dark peach platter with a central leaf design.

 
Corner view of the table.

 
Different view of the centerpiece.

 
The plaid silk on the Henredon host/hostess petite wing chairs looks good with the colors in this tablescape. The silk fabric is just too nice to pull off to recover the two chairs in white/beige neutral fabric so they live upstairs most of the time and are brought down when I'm doing a tablescape they don't clash with. At some point when they look ratty, I will recover them as they are very comfortable to sit in while dining.

 

Good looking pear.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: The Color Purple

 

This is a two-part post. First my weekly tablescape and then a note about Mr. and Mrs. Perrin.

When Fall comes, I gravitate to the color purple.  This tablescape has a quick centerpiece that anyone can do. Just pick up two potted plants from the floral section of your grocery store and put them in a basket.  How easy is that? I am striving to use less in the center of my tables. All I have added are purple mercury glass votive holders. I decided not to add candlesticks.  When searching through the cupboards, I found some dark sweet cherries made of crushed walnut shells and resin. You may remember the Kentucky company called Apple Annies who made all kinds of fruits and vegetables in the 1990s that looked very real. I don't think they are in business anymore.

 
I sprinkled some of the dark cherries on the table.  I'm still debating whether they look dorky or fun. I've had them probably 15 years and never used them, so this is their debut.  People can't resist picking them up and looking at them.

 
I am using shameless flameless candles in the purple mercury glass votives.

I love the color of purple Asters.  Potted plants are great when you are in a hurry after work to throw a table together.  I find I can always count on the floral section of the grocery stores in my town to have blooming potted plants in many different colors. The Asters will be planted in my garden after the event is over just like I do with Hydrangeas.

 
For service plates, I am using old purple transferware. I think it is fine for an appetizer but I don't use them for a meal. This pattern is called Washington Vase.  I only collect transferware which is not crazed so the search is a long one. The charger is Anna Weatherley in violet.

 
When planning a tablescape, I generally decide what color I want to use and then look in the cabinets for china in that color.  I start with what I want to put in the center of the table.  Sometimes I select objects and sometimes an idea will spark when I see flowers at market in a particular color.  I am always open for ideas.

 
Dinner plates are Wedgwood's Cuckoo bird pattern. I am pulling out the purple color of the bird's feathers and the Peony flower.  I have had this china since 1977. It was the first formal china I purchased. Even though it is English, I bought it when visiting Germany and had it shipped. The dollar conversion rate was very good at that time so it made it worth shipping. My sister helped me add to the set when she lived in England in the early 1980's.

 
The tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma is a beige damask that has paisley designs among the leaves and flowers.  I love the scale pattern on the gold plated stainless steel flatware. It is by Ricci of Italy and was on sale at Neiman-Marcus last month.

 
Close up of the napkin ring and the true color of the hemp napkins. You will notice that the napkin is more of a reddish purple. Napkins are from Williams-Sonoma and are made of 100% hemp. Silver napkin ring is in a grape cluster pattern. 

 
The stem on the left is Royal Scot's Society pattern in Home! James amethyst. I never knew the pattern name of the stem on the right as it wasn't labeled when I purchased the set about 10 years ago. The camera light makes these look more reddish purple, but in real life they are a true purple. I've noticed that lighting really changes the colors a great deal in the photos.  I wish I could shoot this in natural light.

 
I still love this little bird and try to find ways to update this china by mixing it with other patterns.

 
Even though I have cups/saucers, salad plates and serving pieces in this pattern, I've never liked the look of using all the same pattern on a table. Two pieces alike is my limit.

 
The Wedgwood Cuckoo cream soups serve butternut squash soup that my husband loves to make with Granny Smith apples and the squash I grow in the flowerbed. It is very creamy and rich so these smaller bowls work very well.

It seems all my purple items are a slightly different purple. Some have more blue undertones and some more red. No matter -- I will blend them.  

 
Dessert plate is from Royal Crown Derby in Olde Avesbury. The Wisteria flowers are the exact shade of purple but there aren't many of them in the design. Not to worry, though.  The plate will be covered up with cheesecake.

  
Dessert is a mini cheesecake with chocolate stars and raspberries on top. I resisted the temptation to use dark sweet cherries.

Casa De Perrin   

Have you seen the website of Casa de Perrin? This husband and wife team have a tabletop rental business in Los Angeles.

 
I'm sure Mr. Swede thinks I have too much tabletop stuff. Ha! Honey, I've only just begun.  What a stash! So much eye candy here.

 
Have you ever seen so much beautiful colored glassware? I see my turquoise tumblers in this photo.

I have to admit as a dish addict it would be easy to have dish envy of their cupboard contents.

 
Where do they find all the beautiful plates? Maybe when I retire I can volunteer to dust their shelves or wash dishes just to admire them all.  Take a look at their site HERE. What a fun business. I wish them much success in following their passion.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede [except last three -  Casa De Perrin]

 

Tablescape: Celebrating The Osage Orange - Maclura Pomifera

 

Each year at the end of August I look to see if the Osage Oranges are ready on the trees at the back gate to my office.  I love picking them and decorating with them.  Last year I did a post on them HERE.

This week I used them in a tablescape as part of the centerpiece.

 
I have placed limes and the Osage Oranges in two oval plates from my antique Coalport dessert service. 

 
I think this acid green color was popular before 1860.

 
The Osage Oranges last about two weeks in the house, longer if it is cooler and you pick them off the trees before they fall to the ground.

 
I made a fresh flower arrangement in an acid green oriental vase that was new about 5/6 years ago.  It is the perfect color for this grouping. I've used Nandina berries from my yard as well as Annabelle Hydrangeas. I seldom have to purchase greenery for an arrangement as I can just go outside and cut branches off various bushes nearly year round.

 
Seeing a stack of plates with this type of edge at an estate sale is what makes tablescapers' hearts beat faster as it can only mean Coalport. This dessert set was originally made for T. Goode & Co.'s London store.  I purchased them from a collector in Canada.

 
Instead of using these plates for dessert, I am using them for service plates at the beginning of the meal for an appetizer.  Because of their acid green color, I like starting out with them because they look so good with the vase, linens and Osage Oranges.

 
Here is a close up of the appetizer plate.  I am using the gold plated stainless by Ricci again - you've seen it many times - but I love how it looks with the gold edges of the plates.

  
Starting on the bottom, I am using Anna Weatherley chargers in the Iris colorway.  These are no longer being made. When they first came out in 2003, you could get them in three purple colors, Iris, Perriwinkle and Violet. 

 
Then these Anna Weatherley dinner plates in the Seascape Waterlily pattern.

 
Anna Weatherley is known for hand painting insects on her plates.

 
Here is one of the insects on the dinner plate.  I tried to take the lavender color from these Water Lilies and pull them out into the Iris chargers and the purple flowers in the fresh arrangement.

 
The dark green stemware I purchased maybe 15 years ago and I don't remember the maker or pattern name.  The tumbler has an acid green flash around the top. It is from Dillards several years ago and I don't think it had a pattern name.

 
And for bread plates, this Anna Weatherly pattern with the cute bug.

 
The tablecloth is from Zina Vasi in the Marion Jacquard pattern [Dillard's]. Napkins are Primrose Bordier Le Jacquard Francais that I already had which happen to be a perfect match.  That's a good thing since the Vasi napkins were all sold when I found the tablecloth on clearance.

 
The tablecloth has swallows flying around and butterflies along with daffodils and other flowers woven into the damask. The grasshopper metal napkin ring was found at Pier One about eight years ago but I have never used them until now.  I'm sure the grasshopper is looking for all those bugs.

 
Salad plates are rim soups in the Morning Glory pattern by Anna Weatherly. I love the Dragonflies on these. As I have mentioned many times before, rim soups are good for soup, salad and dessert. Great multi-purpose piece that allows me not to buy the salad or dessert plates.  See, Mr. Swede, I'm saving money honey!!

 
Here is a close up view of the hand painted Dragonfly.

 
Anna Weatherley china is hand painted in Hungary. There are men and women who specialize in certain types of painting.

 
I like using the rim soups for salad plates so they hold  more lettuce and the dressing doesn't run off the plate.  I think most manufacturers make salad plates too small.

 
For dessert plates, I am using these Portugese leaf and vine plates made by Bordallo Pinheiro Rainha.  Not a perfect green but I have to use what I have. I have owned them about 20 years.

 

Afterwards, I placed the centerpiece on the console table.

 
It will provide colorful beauty for another week to ten days if I maintain it.

 

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Seasonal Decor: Falling Into Autumn

 

Today's daily thing of beauty is this arrangement on my table.  Are you starting to get the feel of autumn? I'm having a hard time believing that summer is over.

 
Fall oranges of every hue.

 
I've started photographing a few fall things. Faux fruit and gourds by former Kentucky company Apple Annie.  I believe they were made of nut shells [pecan or walnut] and resin and are very real in weight, size and color.  Iridescent goblet by Hawaiian glass artist Rick Strini HERE in the Bella Iron Gold Pattern.

Best wishes,

Summer
Photo: Swede

 

Tablescape: Staying Neutral

 

Today I am showing a casual table set with neutral colored elements.  This is an easy throw it together kind of table when you find out guests are arriving before you had time to do a lot of planning.

 
I run around the house and find things that don't have much color. Coral and seashells are good neutrals. And the candlesticks, you may remember I did a post on painting those gray/beige two weeks ago. I am also using two pieces of sea sponge that are a creme color.  

 
I borrowed the sea sponge from its place on the foyer console table.

 
I change out the display frequently. This is just what it looked like yesterday with the bird cage and my sample cabinet doors from a furniture painting class.

If you wanted more neutral beiges, you could use shells that did not have the peach tones in them.

 
Those seated on the backside of the table see this.

 
And this beige one.

 
I like pedestal bowls for their ability to get the centerpiece up off the tabletop. I always like a lift of some kind. The bowl has a fun logo on it which pulls out the off-white color of the Cat's Paw coral.

 
The center bowl is the same Medici pattern as the salad plates. I always debate how high off the table the centerpiece should be so guests can converse. I think they can see around these pieces okay.

 
I am starting with chargers made by French maker Niderviller. They are in the Grand Siecle Boston pattern. What I like about them is that they are 13" wide and lay very flat. Some of my chargers have a bowl effect and are deep so plates don't fit very well inside them. I love the wider width so I'm not compelled to use placemats which I find are generally made too small for today's larger plate sizes. Today's chargers at 12", 12.5" or 13" just swallow up the placemat and then there's no room for the rest of the placesetting. The Boston pattern is divited with a hammered look and a highly reflective glaze.

 
For dinner plates I am using Niderviller again but with their Grand Siecle Henri IV pattern which is odd shaped -- not round.  I love crowns, so when I saw these they just sucked me in. I was just about to order them when Mr. Swede and I were visiting Franklin, TN and went into the Registry china shop and the dinner plates and bread/butters were on sale for 50% off.  You know I couldn't walk out without them. I found the chargers later at another 50% off sale in New Jersey.  Guess you might say I "shopped around", ha-ha.

 
Here is a close up of the Henri IV design.

 
I'm serving the salad course in these wheat colored hand thrown Italian earthenware plates by Artimino in the Medici pattern. I like them not only for the cute symbol but they have an undulating shape which is very casual.

 
I like how the symbol designs play on each other.

 
Here's the cute little bread and butter. Notice the Niderviller moto at the bottom.  I am using butter knives from Sweden made by Nils Johan.

 
I don't have a full service in neutral mother of pearl flatware. I've never found sets of spoons. I purchased forks and knives at various antique shows. To fill in, I am using two patterns by Durgin. Chrysanthemum spoons on the right and Empire forks on the left. In this photo you can see more of the divit pattern of the charger and the little Niderviller logo at the bottom.

 
The neutral colors of the French Daniel Cremieux napkin are almost a perfect match to the plates. The Durgin Empire fork has a crown on the top of the handle.

 
For casual glassware, I'm using etched Zodax double old fashioneds for their pattern and the Edward pattern [my grandfather's name] goblet by Williams-Sonoma.

 
I'm using my neutral canvas tablecloth which is a standby for me since you can't harm it -- wash n' wear. Actually, I forgot to go upstairs and get my other beige damask one.  But this one will do just fine.

 
Here's the table overview before the salad course starts. I'm not using service plates for appetizers today as they are served in the kitchen.

 
For dessert, I am back to one of my favorite French porcelain makers, Jaune de Chrome again, this time using their Gypsies gold pattern.

 
Individual servings of crem`e brulee with fresh raspberries.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescape: Ladies' Summer Lunch in Orchid

 

I have chosen orchid as the color for this summer women's birthday lunch as I wanted to use it one more time before we get a nip of fall in the air. The orchid linen embroidered paisley tablecloth I made this Spring from nine yards of fabric from Hancock's Fabric.  To start the tablescape centerpiece, I am using four Italian water bottles with four stems in each bottle of orchid/pink Godetia. These patterned clear glass bottles are made in Italy by Bormioli Rocco & Figlio.  I noticed them when my husband and I were having dinner at Macaroni Grill one evening. The waitress transferred ice water from a large vat into these and then filled our water glasses on the table from them.  Very European.  While in TJ Maxx one day I noticed them and discovered they were the same brand.  They were $1.99 so I bought four to see if I liked serving water at home in that manner. I wasn't sure if I would like the wire closures. I have tumblers by this brand so was familiar with the label.  I had some long stemmed Godetia and decided to use the bottles as vases.  I wanted something simple for the center of the table that did not take up much room so the table wasn't crowded.

 
For chargers I am using Alberto Pinto's Or Des Airs as some of the birds have coordinating coloring with the orchid.  I also like the gold designs around the edges of the chargers which varies with each bird style.

 
There are six different bird designs. Here is another one. The placecard holders are gold hands that I found at an estate sale several years ago.

 
Since I don't have orchid napkins, I am using white vintage lapkins with my maiden name initial. These are 32" square so are difficult to place on the left of the plate.  I have folded them and placed them underneath the charger so the guest can just tilt the plate and pull it out.

 
Above is a wider view of the table. I have added two crystal candlesticks from Pottery Barn and am using my newest purchase, the Ricci gold plated stainless in the Raffaello pattern.

 
Water goblets are William Yeoward's Flavia pattern and wine glasses are Waterford's Colleen pattern.

 
This is what the placecard holder hand looks like. You insert the card between the thumb and fingers.

 
I am serving salad in these antique Haviland ruffled scalloped plates with pink rose border.  I found 12 of these at an estate sale this Spring.  Even though I am not fond of pink roses on china, I love French porcelain and liked the quality of the green rim with the gold edges.  I was also particularly intrigued about what they were designed to serve and am still researching it. If you know, please tell me.  I know they are not oyster plates.  
They have this unusual shaped well at the bottom to hold draining liquid. I have only seen these wells on meat platters and certainly nothing this feminine.

 
Above is the overall view with the salad plates.

 
Dinner plates are solid orchid rimmed buffet plates by French maker J. Seignolles in the Diplomate pattern. They are such an excellent match to the tablecloth. The bread/butter plates are in the Arizona pattern by Charles Field Haviland. Butter spreaders are by French maker Jean Dubost.

 
Above is the overall view of the table with the dinner plates.

 
For dessert plates, I am using Engish George Jones hand painted plates with Lilacs.  Even though Lilacs are out of season, I still like the color with this setting.  I like serving a white layered cake with raspberry filling between the layers. Our local baker makes these better, quicker and cheaper than I can so I just buy one.

 
This is the overall view with the dessert plates.

Menu: Embellished Ceasar salad, crab cakes, blanched green Chinese long beans and Yukon gold chunky potatoes simmered in a peach bourbon sauce.  Passion fruit iced tea and a peach flavored light wine.

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/

Summer

Photos: Swede

 

Tablescapes: French Porcelain - Big Bang Bronze

 

I have a love affair going with a French porcelain company, Jaune de Chrome.  When I walked into a china shop a few years ago and saw their plates on the wall display, I was struck with awe and couldn't quit staring at them.  Since that time, I have been able to aquire several of their patterns when I found them discounted. I love all the patterns for different reasons and would be hard pressed to choose my favorite. Today I am using Big Bang Bronze. It also comes in Gold and Platinum.

 

I am using this as both the charger and the dinner plate as I like larger plates when the rim is quite wide and leaves a smaller white center for the food.

The glazes and designs are so unusual.  I don't think there is anything like them.

 

This is a close-up view of the pattern Big Bang Bronze.  The glaze changes in the light as your eye moves. I suspect that "big bang" means explosion of pattern in the glaze or some translation between French and English.

 

Here it is shown with another French antique fish plate painted by Muville. The glaze seems to always pull out the shades of antique plates that you never noticed before. The aqua of the tumbler pulls out the color on the backs of the two fish.

 

I am using French napkins by Le Jacquard Francais and Italian flatware and Italian glassware.  The tumblers are from the Italian maker Bormioli Rocco & Figlio in the Bicchiere Sorgente pattern "acqua" colorway.  For flatware, I am using gold plated stainless steel made by the Italian company Ricci Argentieri in their Raffaello pattern. You can find these at neimanmarcus.com and the non-gold ones [all stainless] at some Dillard's stores. They were recently on sale at both stores with extra percentages off. The knife blades are not gold plated. I loved them because of the fish scale pattern and the handle is round. The fish scale pattern goes perfectly with all my antique fish plates. Sometimes sterling, being gray, just does not go well with gold rimmed plates. 

 

Above is another fish plate from the set with a slight color change. For this small setting, I am using as a centerpiece some old world looking objects instead of flowers. I am using one of my go-to tablecloths made out of neutral canvas.

 

I just purchased the French hand painted birds plates from an estate sale in Missouri.  They are in mint condition -- can't beat that.  And the painting on them is beautifully done.

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  

 

Romantic Tablescapes: Parisian Woman Reading

 

This magenta tablescape centerpiece is a statue called Parisian Woman Reading that was found at an estate sale in France.  I got it directly from the dealer in central France. I believe this statue was probably on the top of a clock or some similar object at one time.

 

 

I chose the magenta colorway based on the color of the cherubs on the service plates. The dealer I purchased them from told me they belonged to a granddaughter of Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly [died 1952], who was one of nine children of William H. Vanderbilt. Apparently there was a large set of this china but by the time I found it only the dinner plates were left. According to the dealer, much of the set went to a man who collects Vanderbilt memorbilia.  I did not buy them because of the V connection because I thought that was just sales talk, but checking into it further [I Googled], I did find the last name of the seller [Burden of Connecticut] and it matched the family name on her family tree.  That doesn't really mean the granddaughter got them from Florence.  They could have come from another source or even the other side of her family.  This is when I really wish antiques could talk and tell the story of their lives.  A lot of times there is more fiction than facts to inflate an object's value.  I know that I could never sell anything that I inherited from my Grandmother or GreatGM even if I was starving.  Here is a fun New York Times story about Florence's oldest daughter's wedding in 1904. Here  I wonder if these plates came down from her inheritance.  I will never know.

I do have a William K. Vanderbilt sterling slice from the special commission made for him by Tiffany.  Apparently, a few years ago a division of the Vanderbilt Tiffany silver service was sold at auction after it had been previously split among family.  My piece was bought from someone in Canada. When it came up for sale, I recognized it from a book I have on Tiffany sterling and was the only bidder.  I did make sure it was not a fake. 

 

I just know you are not going to notice I haven't polished it.

 

I'm not sure if it was used for slicing blocks of ice cream or something else.

Here is Florence's portrait by John Singer Sargent done in 1896. Photo: johnsingersargent.org. Here

 

 

There are several different cherub scenes in the centers of the different 12 plates. They are marked on the back with both the Dresden mark and Fraureuth of Germany. 

 

Since I am doing this dinner for two in the living room on the marble-top center table circa 1902, there isn't a lot of room for a floral centerpiece so this statue works out nicely.  On one end of the table I am also using a candlestand with white candles that I purchased earlier this year at a church rummage sale. It has cherubs in white porcelain around its base.

 

 

In the above photo, you can also get a glimpse of the milk chocolate walls and seagrass rug that I did as a loving gesture to my husband who loves brown.  I've never had brown walls in my life, so that was a big departure for me. I think he was very surprised when he came home and found me in the middle of brown paint. I'm sure he thought the walls would become some shade of fleshy peach. Yum, yum.

 

I pulled the chairs back so you could see this 1902 center table.  When I bought it at an antique shop, the dealer told me it came from Marble House mansion on North Parkway in Memphis when the mansion's contents were sold when the home became an office for a church.  There were two tables for sale but the other one was huge and although I loved it more, I had no place for such a big piece of furniture.  You always regret not buying those things later.  I did drive past the house once but it is on a busy street and there is no place to park and take photos.  It is possible the table came from there, but who really knows????

I think the Vanderbilt plates with frolicing cherubs are very romantic in style.  I am using French maker JL Coquet's Hemisphere chargers with another French maker - Jaune de Chrome's dinner plates in the Feuille Or gold pattern. These plates are currently being made. They are not vintage nor antique.

 

For salad plates, I am using another German plate with a magenta floral border.

 

Here is a bigger photo.

 

Bread and butter plates as well as dessert plates have a darker shade of magenta in them. They are made by Haviland of France in the Malmaison pattern.  I think the couple fishing is romantic as the wife is sitting  on a rock holding their baby while keeping her husband company as he fishes for their dinner.  So French!

 

Below,  you can get a better view of the Jaune de Chrome dinner plates as more edge is showing.

 

I do love the unusual glazes that Jaune de Chrome puts on their china.

For napkins, I am using French maker Primrose Bordier Le Jacquard Francais's pattern Cassis Graphic Black Current. I have tucked them in between the charger and dinner plate as well as using them for a runner. They were a gift from Mr. Swede when we toured the cute little town of Franklin, TN and stopped in The Registry china shop on Main Street.

 

In the above photo, you can also see the glassware I have chosen to use in the closest color to magenta that I have.  The stemware is by Moser in a cranberry cabachon panel pattern that I do not know the name of.  They were inherited by my husband from his Mother. The tumblers are from the Italian maker Bormioli Rocco & Figlio in the Bicchiere Sorgente pattern "rosa fucsia" colorway.  The day after I ordered these from a local china shop, I found out that Marshall's and TJ Maxx purchased a warehouse inventory of them in every color they were made in.  I went down there to see if it was true, and sure enough they had the factory stickers on them.  Price: $2.99.  Well, you lose some and you win some, as they say.  I purchased all the aqua ones they had but didn't like the other colorways that were left. When I was checking out, the clerk confirmed that they did indeed have them in all colors.  What do you think Miss Vanderbilt would say about my putting these cheap glasses with her fine plates? The sides are undulating??? so you can put your fingers in the recesses to hold on to them better.

 

For flatware, I am using gold plated stainless steel made by the Italian company Ricci Argentieri in their Raffaello pattern.  You can find these at neimanmarcus.com and the non-gold ones at some Dillard's stores. They were recently on sale at both stores with extra percentages off.  The knife blades are not gold plated.  I loved them because of the fish scale pattern and the handle is round.  Sometimes sterling, being gray, just does not go well with gold rimmed plates.  This is a good alternative.

 

Below, and above, you can see the Coquet Hemisphere's deep groove lines. They are very heavy.

 

It is fun to turn the forks upside down like the Europeans do.

 

 Put on some romantic music.

 

 I do like using the height of a center table as a coffee table so it can be used to dine on occasionally.

  

On the sofa in the back of this photo, the center pillow is a new one I just got made by Callisto Home here.  I love all the embroidery on it.  Don't tell Mr. Swede it was about half the cost of the Vanderbilt plates. Lovely, but ouch! Good thing my bonus check came in.

 

 

 

  

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

 

Tablescapes: Introducing My Virtual Dining Room

 

 

I decided to try something new for me in tablescaping -- the virtual tablescape.  Several reasons for this: 1) I want to introduce my readers to dinnerware that they may not know exists, ranging from the stunningly beautiful to the quirky  2) I cannot ever afford most of it to do an actual tablescape, and 3) I cannot do 52 weekly tablescapes each year at home for Tablescape Thursday.  So, on the weeks I don't do a real tablescape at home, I am going to try to do a virtual one.  Nice thing about virtual ones -- you can spend the king's money and pretend to be Queen Antoinette and pick anything your heart desires!   Since money is no object, let's just pick a beautiful home in Paris. Today's color theme is turquoise.

 
Photos: Mr. Swede

This beautiful Paris door photo that my husband brought back for me is the perfect color for today's turquoise tablescape theme.  Let's put our dining table in this Parisian dining room. I have chosen one from Amy Howard Collection called the Manhattan Spider.

 
Photo credits: amyhowardcollection.com [top table] and [email protected]  of Laguna Beach, CA [console table below] Let's put the console table on a short wall with the Swedish mirror above it.

Dining table is mirrored [price unkown].  Beautiful turquoise and gold console table is $7,500. Luvvvvvvvvvvvv that console.

 
Photo credits: bjorkantikt.com [left] and massant.com [right].

Swedish 1820 mirror from bjorkantik in Atlanta is $2,450. That will look nice in our white room with turquoise accents. On the right, gold carved wood chairs by Massant. Surrounding the dining room table, let's place 12 of these Louis XVI beauties.  They are Massant's L16TF9 designed by Poirier Cabriolet in 1777 the original of which is currently in the Louvre.  These chairs are just 2die4. I have no idea what the price is, but way beyond my budget, I'm sure. Sigh!

 
Photo: massant.com. More swooning! A closer look at the chair. I love white upholstery with gold leaf frames and the running coin carving.

Now lets put in a chandelier or two and some sconces from julieneill.com. Since I like white, I am picking her Lizette models.  Don't know the price of these either.

Photo credits: julieneill.com.  Love the leaf fronds formed into a crown.  I love crowns as a symbol. The chandelier would look great in a Swedish dining room. [hint, hint Mr. Swede]

Since the dining table is mirrored, I think I want to put the chargers right down on the table without a tablecloth or placemats.   

 
Photo credits left to right: 1) limogesfrenchchina.com 2) albertopinto.com 3) kimseybert.com and 4) kimseybert.com.

French maker J. Seignolles chargers are $313 each in the Petrouchka Bleu pattern.  Have you seen these before?  2die4  Dinner plates by Alberto Pinto in the Mer Turquoise pattern at $220 each. I like how the gold centers of these dinner plates will pull up the gold on the edges of the charger.  Next, Kim Seybert tumbler in Bubble Teal at $60 and knobbed goblet in Bubble Teal at $130.  Here is a closer look at those fabulous Seignolles chargers.

 

These were love at first sight - brilliant turquiose and gold. As you may know, I don't like my china all from one pattern or one maker.  I like to mix up the patterns but keep things all in the same color theme.

 
Photo Credits: 1) Top left: linens from kimseybert.com and her cuff napkin ring below left at 4/$112. The dessert plate, top right, is by French maker Raynaud in the Jardins Celestes pattern at $78. Let's use Alberto Pinto's bread and butter plates in the Filet A Papillons butterfly pattern at $135.

 
Photo Credits:  Left: bernardaud.com; Right: raynaud.com.

For after dinner coffee, let's select another French maker, Bernardaud's Eden Turquoise cup and saucer at $230.  And let's use a salad plate from Raynaud in the Cristobal Turquoise pattern at $95.

Since we are in Paris, it is only fitting that we select French flatware. I will let you pick from my two choices.

 
Photo Credits: Left: Alain-Saint-Joanis.com.  Right: puiforcat.com

Turquoise or gold?   You may wish to stay with the turquoise theme with the color handled pattern from French maker Alain-Saint-Joanis's Tendances Seville pattern. Five pieces for one person runs $520.  Or on the right, Elysee vermeil from Puiforcat at $5,025 per place setting. This was the official service in the 1940's of the French Presidency for the Elysee palace.  Also available via neimanmarcus.com.

 
Photo credit: tacori.com

Before dinner, let's slip on this ring from Tacori's 18K925 Collection made as a doublet from quartz over green onyx with 18K gold and sterling "ringing" in at $1,150.

So there's my turquoise dinner in Paris. Did I forget anything other than food and flowers?  I used Picasa3 software to make the collages to double up the photos to save space.  If you know of a better way to do this, please email me.  I am a true novice at this. Doing the virtual tablescape certainly took more time to put together than a tablescape at home. 

Hope you have enjoyed shopping with me and spending alot of virtual money.

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

 

Blog-aversary Giveaway Winner & a Tablescape on the Porch

 

Of the 547 viewers of my blog-aversary post, only 13 left comments. The winner is #2 Maureen.

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Maureen is the winner of the book by Carolyne Roehm, A Passion for Blue & White.

 

Congrats, Maureen, and thanks to everyone who left a comment. I wish I could give each of you a gift. I truly appreciate all the nice things you all have said about my little blog.

This week's tablescape is a cookout on the back porch.  Have you ever brought paintings from inside your home and used them on the porch? I did this week since I had one in aqua tones in the master bath.  I also like huge mirrors used outdoors on porches, patios or even garden fences.  Here we would have a problem with birds crashing into a mirror outdoors though since we feed so many birds. I really do like the way mirrors reflect the garden and open up more space.  I've seen them used on tiny patios to great effect.

 

This is an acrylic on gallery wrap canvas that I painted in rectangles and then stenciled fleur de-lis designs in metallic gold paint over the top of it. It certainly doesn't hurt it to take it outside for a day.

 

This is a very informal meal. I just wanted to show you the set up and not the food.

 

I found some new outdoor serving items on clearance at Target this week. Look on the end caps at your local Target to see if they have any left. They are truly a bargain. I've itemized the information below.

 

The color of the tablecloth is a beautiful aqua. Unfortunately, the camera has faded the photo out to make it look like it is almost white.

 

I loved this tray because it had aqua on the outside and melon colors on the inside in the abstract floral. The tray, two bowls, and fuchsia tumblers were all on clearance. I love a great sale!

 

The aqua tablecloth is a scalloped edge embroidered quilt in the Martha Stewart line for Macy's.  I swiped it off the guest bed for this occasion and then put a piece of fish net on top of it. Everything in my house is fair game for my tablescapes.

 

The aqua napkins were a Martha Stewart Home sale item last summer at Macy's and the sea glass napkin rings are from Pottery Barn in 2007. Acrylic handled flatware is from Pier 1 Imports and the blue acrylic dinner plates with a wave edge are from the seasonal isle at Kroger grocery stores.

 

If you had not thought of using a painting outside, maybe I have sparked an idea for you.

 

I had second thoughts about the melamine scallop top turquoise Ikat design bowl, but when I got it home and mixed it in, I loved it.  I did not buy the matching tray.

 

Target items:

1. Tray with open handles: $7.49
2. Large bowl with floral design holding peaches: $3.74
3. Turquoise bowl with scallop top: $7.48
4. Fuchsia tumbler: $0.74 each. It also comes in aqua and purple. What a fabulous price!

 

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, that I am going to try something new with Tablescape Thursdays.  Since I can't do 52 tablescapes a year, I am going to occasionally do virtual tablescapes. I want to show you some china you may not have ever seen. I can't afford to purchase all the beautiful china out there, so a virtual "borrowing" of it could be fun.  I tried doing my first one and it was harder than I thought.  More about that later.  

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 for Swede

Photo Credits: Swede

 

Tablescape: Gone Crabbing & My 1st Blog Anniversary Giveaway

 

 

 

Today's tablescape for two has a seaside theme. Crabs and seashells. And, I am celebrating my first year of blogging with a giveaway of Carolyne Roehm's book a Passion for Blue & White. Even if you don't decorate your home just in blue and white, as I don't, you will still find beautiful inspiring photos to look at and ideas for other design styles. I love Swedish antiques and there are many featured in this book. More about this later in the post, but first, here's the tablescape.

 

This is a weekend casual dinner for two with a seaside theme.

 

Nearly all the table items are from Williams-Sonoma.  The tablecloth and napkins are from their Bretagne Jacquard line.  I am actually using two 70"x90" tablecloths to cover the table.  The silver metal crabs add some novelty and are also from W-S.  I like the design on the platter and it is a nice large size. 

 

The platter and appetizer shell plates are from the La Mer collection by Marc Lacaze at Williams-Sonoma. 

 

Silver metal napkin rings in a starfish shape are from Pottery Barn purchased in 2007 for a party I did then.

 

The salad plate from Williams-Sonoma is in their Ocean line.  The large white charger is from Pottery Barn's Great White line.

 

I am using antique mother of pearl handled forks and knifes that I found at the Round Top, Texas Marburger Farm antique show in April.  The spoon is Tiffany Saratoga.

 

Glass etched tumbler is from Zodax and the blue stemware was a gift and is unmarked.

 

I had planned to do this table outside on the porch, but in the 94 degree heat decided not to.

 

As mentioned above, I will do a random number generator drawing to select the winner of the Carolyne Roehm book A Passion for Blue & White for all comments and announce the winner on Thursday, July 13.  For those of you who follow me from foreign countries, you will be included in the drawing.

 

A year goes by fast.  Seems like I just started blogging, although I did sign up for TypePad a year before I actually did my first post.  I still try to hold to being an original content blogger using my own photos and do my own content.  I see very few bloggers actually doing their own work these days and are really editors of other people's product.  I guess I'm still remembering what my high school journalism teacher taught me.  Thanks, Mrs. Gwartney.  Of course, when I was editor of the high school newspaper, none of us in our wildest imaginations would have thought there would be an Internet or that we could write our own blog. Many of us did dream of writing for House Beautiful when we grew up, but now women have taken that idea to the moon and write their own virtual magazines.  A great day for journalists! Congratulations to all who have accomplished that. In our high school yearbook, along side our photo, we had to put what we wanted to be when we grew up. Mine said an Editor of a decor magazine. Well, that was a million years ago and the dream of a 17 year old.  It won't happen in this lifetime, but I do enjoy writing posts. Thanks to all of you I have found via blogging for your very kind words each week in your comments and emails.  It is a beautiful world out there and I try to capture a fraction of it.  The coming year will be a very exciting one for me as I accomplish another lifelong dream - stay tuned.

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 Day for Swede

Photo Credits: Swede

 

Tablescape: Crowns

 

I put together this little tablescape for my husband and I using one of my favorite objects, a crown.  I remember liking that shape since I was in first grade. I like collecting old ones especially if they are from an European church.

 

 

 

I just purchased this old one which I believe was used in a processional. Inside it has where the pole would be attached.  I liked the aqua stones in it so am pairing it with my aqua bubble goblets called Summer Oasis. They are from Dillard's.

 

I am also using this gold metal crown together with other old world looking objects for the centerpiece.

 

The French dinner plate is from Niderviller and the pattern is called Grande Siecle Henri IV.  It has an irregular shape and I loved the crown motif on the top center with the insignia and the little detail at the plate bottom. The brass chargers my husband inherited from his Mother. In this photo, it is easy to see that the plate is not round.  Sort of a funny shape.

 

The sterling flatware is from one of my favorite companies, Durgin, in the Empire pattern from 1895.  I love the little crown on the top.

 

The Niderviller bread plates are cute too.

 

A close up look at the top.

 

Here are a few items I gathered up from around the house for the centerpiece.

 

I am using napkins from Daniel Cremieux from Dillard's because I liked the gold pattern on the neutral linen. I also like that they are 22" square.

 

I am using my canvas tablecloth again that I have shown many times. I like the rough texture of it.

 

Fun for a dinner for two.

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

 

Tablescape: Godetia and Gold

 

For this week's tablescape, I am using the colors of gold and magenta. Instead of using objects in the center of the table this week, I decided to do a fresh floral arrangement.  Godetia flowers are nearly a perfect match to my antique china.

 

I purchased five packages of Godetia from my local grocery store to make the centerpiece.  The tag says they were grown in Colombia. 

 

I am cutting greenery and pink Fairy roses from shrubs in my yard. I need two bricks of wet oasis. So for a total of $34, this is what I made.

 

I will show you how I put the centerpiece together further in this post.

I also made the gold shimmery tablecloth with nine yards of Monace satin from Hancock's Fabrics. Since it is metallic, there is a reflection in the photos. It is washable and just happened to be on sale for 30% off the day I was there, so I made it for about $61.  It will fit the table with two of the 22" leaves in it so I can seat 10 people.

 

Below is the china I will be using today.

 

Napkins are 100% hemp from Williams-Sonoma in a magenta colorway. I know you are not supposed to place the flatware on the dinner napkin, but sometimes I break the rules when I don't have much space to work with.

 

Charger is JL Coquet's Hemisphere Matte Gold. It is heavy and very wide.

 

Dinner plate is German Royal York. Magenta with lots of gold.

 

The salad plate is probably English.  It is only marked on the reverse with the retailer's store name with the words B. Nathan, San Francisco.  I purchased these plates with the lidded tureen used for the floral arrangement at an estate sale in the Gold Coast of Alameda, CA around 1995. Those estate sales in the old Victorian homes were always amazing and I miss going to them. All the pieces are hand painted with different flowers on each plate.  This one looks like a Rhododendron or Camellia.

 

Here is the Iris.  There are also Roses, Pansies, etc.  I got them all for $8.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I would have gladly paid $80 or more. They just wanted to clear everything out.  I got to the sale late and found these in a cardboard box underneath a table so most people missed them. One good find keeps me going to more estate sales.

 

Dessert plates are antique Spode Copeland hand painted and signed by R. Wood.  

 

I'm using two pieces of stemware. On the left is Varga's Imperial in raspberry and on the right is a ruby flash stem from Pottery Barn in bubble glass. I guess you would call this hi-low decorating at $325/$11.  I don't care much about the cost of the item but care more about quality, how it looks and the colors. The same for the plates. They can come from Tiffany's or Goodwill as nobody will know but you.  

 

For flatware, I am using William Durgin's Chrysanthemum pattern from 1893. It is as detailed on the reverse side as it is on the front and maybe more. 

 

This is the overall table with the salad plates.

 

A wide view of the dinner plates.

 

And the dessert plates.

 

Dessert is a vanilla cheesecake with strawberries.

 

The cake plate is a Spode/Copeland service plate from a larger set that, unfortunately, has only a few pieces remaining.

 

Lastly, I said I would talk about putting the centerpiece together.

Starting with the five packages of Godetia, I cut greens from the yard.

 

After soaking the oasis, I cut it with a butcher knife to fit the container.

 

I just walk around the yard and find different kinds of greenery that please me. 

 

I have seven of these Fairy rose bushes in the yard, so I clipped some stems that are close to the pink on the inside of the Godetia blooms.

 

This is the container I am going to use. It is the bottom of the lidded tureen that matches the salad plates.  The metal frame I purchased this spring at Texas Marburger Farm antique show. The brass, crystal and marble candlesticks were inherited by my husband from his mother.

 

Notice I placed the oasis so it sticks up above the rim of the dish. That way I can grip the oasis on an angle and have my stems drape over the container sides.  

 

On my kitchen counter, I put the greens in first. Then place the flowers in with numerous triangles until I am satisfied with the spacing.

 

As the Godetia ages, it will unfurl so the blooms will be closer together in the arrangement.

 

I hope you are having an enjoyable week.

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

 

Tablescape: Ocean Blues

 

I know, I know.  Don't chide me.  I told you that I was getting blue out of my house and that I was not going to buy anything new that was blue [except I still like aqua].  But then I came across these turquoise French buffet plates by J. Seignolles that were on sale.  As a tablescaper and dishaholic I couldn't pass them up.  The price was too good.  You know I get weak in the knees over French porcelain.  They are a gorgeous shade of turquoise. That was last year's Pantone color of the year. 

 

Here is the culprit that made me go astray.  This is Jammett Seignolles's pattern Madison with the wider gold edge.  I have shown you in the past the Seignolles Diplomate pattern I have in orchid and peach that have a thinner gold edge and a water color design on the rims.

So then I had to root around in the closets to find something for a centerpiece and decided to use these glass fishing floats. I collected these over a period of years.

 

I used a wide diameter white French Pillivuyt pedestal cake stand from Williams-Sonoma for the floats so they would not roll around on the table.  Then I stopped by Hancock's Fabrics and got eight yards of this 56" wide cotton washable twill, cut it in half [two four-yard pieces] and sewed it back together with a center seam down the middle lengthwise on the table.  It looks like an Icat but is really a tiled pattern. That allowed me to get a width of 110" so it touches the floor on all sides. Because it is washable, I think this tablecloth would work well outdoors.  When I am tired of it, it could be made into little girls' cotton summer dresses.

 

Then I borrowed these two fiberglass pots holding sea coral from the entry foyer console table.  That kept me from needing to buy anything new for the centerpiece or make a floral arrangement of all white flowers. I got the light-weight pots from Home Depot a year or so ago. They are just perfect as cachepots to hide typical florist potted plants that are easy to pick up in the grocery store.

 

I am starting off with these 10" service plates for appetizers since I am going to use the Seignolles plates as dinner plates instead of chargers.  I haven't shown these fish plates before.  They are Rosenthal from Germany and have the names of the fish on the reverse and are signed by the painter.  There are several different species of fish represented in the set.   I believe they are hand painted.  These fish seem longer and thinner than fish painted on my other sets of china.

 

This one is a Blaufelchen.

 

This is called Aesche.

I won't show you all of them, but the one below is a Lachs.

 

And here's an overall view.

 

Damask napkins are a set of 12 that I found at an antique shop. They do not have monograms.  I am using mini seashell clustered napkin rings found at an estate sale that I paid wayyyyy too much for and I am reminded of that everytime I see them in the drawer. I'm sure you have those things too.

 

Blue acrylic flatware is from Pier 1.

 

I am using two tumblers instead of stemware. The one on the right has a handmade glass seahorse embedded into the side.  I found two on the sale shelf at Pier 1 and they called a store in Texas who shipped me enough for a set of 12.  I thought they were very interesting and only $3 each [originally $8]. 

 

Monogrammed bread and butter plates are vintage Limoges. Butter spreaders are from Williams-Sonoma and have various sea life on the handle.

 

For salad, I'm using Richard Ginori's Fiesole rim soup bowl.  I've always wanted some kind of charger to bring out those little turquoise dots on the edge of Fiesole.  Madison is a great match.  

 

There was a time I didn't think much of this pattern because of the browns and blacks in the little rectangle.  But, I have grown to love these little landscapes.

 

Table end view.

 

For dessert, I am using Royal Crown Derby's Lombardy pattern because it, too, has little turquoise enamel dots that need to be brought out.

 

I'm serving a white cake on these plates. With a ruffled edge, they are a bit off-style for an ocean theme, but I like using them because of the color.

 

And, one last view.

 

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

 

Tablescape: Just Peach-y Keen

 

Today's tablescape is all about peach.  I went around the house gathering up everything I could find that was peach colored hoping I would find enough to do a tablescape.  I found the inside of some of my seashells was peach toned, I found peach buffet plates and two vases that had a peach color in the design.  I do not have peach placemats nor peach tablecloth, so I used chocolate platemats and Salmon colored napkins by Martha Stewart of handkerchief linen.

 

I placed the shells in the center of the table back to back so people sitting on both sides of the table could look at them equally.  My husband also loves shells and coral and has gifted some of these to me over the years when he has found them.

 

The 14" Chinese vases I purchased last fall at a charity consignment shop. The painted design has several colors that can be pulled out with various accessories. I got the Curly Willow bunches at the Spring Garden Show in Nashville, TN and dried them.  I wished later that I had purchased three bunches instead of two to make the vases fuller.  I also use the vases for long-stemmed flowers from time to time.

 

I have an ongoing love/hate relationship with my dining room table. We have been together since 1983.  I have joyfully sold the 10 chairs that originally went with it.  They weren't what I wanted in the beginning but I couldn't find different ones so after all these years of disliking them, I was so happy to see them go.  In trying to determine whether I should paint the table creme with gold accents, I made a list of pros and cons.  The things I liked about it included the fact that it does not have an apron to get in the way of people's legs and chairs with arms can be pushed under the table. I do like the size which is wide and has three 22" leaves to make it 132" long when I want to seat 12 people.  I like the Henredon quality of how it is made but I think it is out of style even tho it is traditional.  I also like that it is supported with pedestals that don't get in the way and that it is on casters so I can roll it around.  Now the "hates".  The color!  I just don't like brown wood.  Back in 1983 the selection of what was available in a painted table was very limited.  Everytime I get the paint out I have second thoughts that I will definitely "ruin" it by painting it.  But on the otherhand, I worked and paid for it and should  have my way with it if it pleases me, right?  I couldn't sell it for what I have into it. Such a delimna.  One of these days, my paint brush will accidently touch it and then I will have to finish the job.  Such a tough decision to make.  And, yes, I've looked at a million tables to replace it but just can't find one I am in love with.  If I find one I like, I will probably just store this one in case I need to seat 12 or more people again. I also battle with myself that I should be grateful for the table I have.

 

When I want to do a peach theme, I bring in from the living room these Henredon chairs covered in melon plaid moire Schumacher fabric.  I love these chairs and wish I had bought more of them as they have now been discontinued.  I think they are the nicest chairs Henredon ever made.  The size is just fabulous, they have great curves and I Iove the gold leaf crackle finish.  I also bring from the upstairs hallway two Henredon petite wing chairs in plaid silk that matches the drapes for the ends of the table. Last fall I painted the only wall in the dining room Nasturtium by Martha Stewart.  I like having chairs that I can switch around the house.  When I need to go back to neutral white chairs, I love having that option so the fabric doesn't clash with various colors of china that I use.  Sadly, the flat weave Aubusson rug is out of style now too even though I still like it. 

I should also mention that I have a hate/hate relationship with my dining room.  It got "fired" after we moved into the house and switched with the living room.  After many years of that, I got tired of it and decided to switch the rooms back again.  What I don't like about the dining room is that it only has one real wall.  Another wall is windows with plantation shutters and the other two walls are not walls at all but arches that are open to the foyer on one side and open to the hall on the other.  So basically, the dining room is so open that you can't put any furniture in it, not even a hutch or sideboard to store any china.  What is a china addict to do with all that china and no storage????

For today's peach table, I am starting with these peach buffet plates from French maker J. Seignolles.  They are actually called buffet plates not chargers.  I am going to use them today as dinner plates.

 

The placemats are Noble Excellence from Dillard's and are embroidered chocolate on chocolate.  Sterling is Tiffany's 1898 St. James which I dearly love. It was only produced for 14 years and to me it is probably the prettiest pattern they ever made.  Balanced - neither masculine nor feminine and goes with just about every china pattern.  If I had to narrow down my silver collection, I could easily live with just this one pattern.  I started by finding just a sherbert spoon at an antique show in St. Charles, Missouri 25 years ago and then both my husband and I have added to the set over many years.

 

For appetizers or service plates, I always like to start with something unusual.  I love these peach Limoges fish plates sold in a shop in Paris at the turn of the century.

 

I just love the delicious color of the borders.  This fish looks like he is giving us the evil eye.  In the set of 12 there are different species of fish swimming in different directions.  Below are a few more.

 

The one above is swimming to the right.

 

Some are flipping their tails. This one is swimming to the left.

 

Here's how they look on a table set for a small group of six.

 

For this meal, I am using a crystal stem and a tumbler.

 

William Yeoward's Flavia pattern and Slant's leopard.

To serve dessert, I am using French Limoges bird plates from Elite and sold at Higgins & Seiter of New York in the 1890's.

 

Each of the male/female pairs is named on the reverse, such as Ruffled Grouse, etc.  It is interesting that all three plates I am using today were made in France in different decades but all the peach glazes and paints work so well together.

 

These all have a peach sky or background which works for this peach setting.

 

 

 

 

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

Tablescape: Retirement to the Beach

 

This tablescape is a lunch to honor someone who retired with a subsequent move to the beach on the Gulf Coast of Florida. I did a similar tablescape in 2007 and will show photos of that lunch at the end of this post.

 

This beach theme is carried out with seashore elements: natural white coral, shell encrusted chargers, fish net, sea glass napkin rings, water-y blues and more.

 

The service plates were hand painted at the Royal Worcester factory in England in 1936 by Harry [Tim] Ayrton, a factory painter. They are date coded on the reverse. Ayrton spent his adult life painting porcelain at the factory. He is best known for his fruit still life paintings on plates, cups and vases.  I am fortunate to own 16 of these fish plates in mint condition. Each one is signed and marked on the back with the species of fish he has painted on the front. Below are a few of the different fish.

 

 

 Angel fish.

 

 Hind.

 

A shark.

 

 Spanish Hog fish.

 

 

 

Squirrel fish.

I had the napkins custom embroidered onto white Hotel napkins by Williams-Sonoma with shells and seaweed wreaths. The Pier 1 flatware has turquoise acrylic handles.

 

 

I started this tablescape with a tablecloth made of 8 ounce beige canvas that comes nine feet wide. The rough texture represents beach sand.  The round shell-encrusted chargers I am using as placemats. I love the pale color of all the shells. They were purchased at Pottery Barn in 2007 and no longer available. I have seen other companies make these but with colored shells.  To further the beach theme, I am using fish net as a runner. The beach glass and wire napkin rings are also from Pottery Barn.

 

This blue charger is by Anna Weatherley produced in Hungary.

 

For the appetizer course, I am using my Hammersley English fish plates with the wide gold rims.

 

These also have different species on each plate.

 

Blue ones.

 

Vibrant coral colored fins on this one.

 

 And a wider angle view of the end of the table.

 

Novelty items are usually not my thing, but when I saw these plates with a beach chair designed by Lin Sislar at Bed, Bath & Beyond, they were so on target that I had to get them. I am using these as the lunch plate for the meal. Life couldn't be much better than sitting in that beach chair in the sand listening to the Seagulls, watching the Sandpipers flit around and hearing the waves splash.  I love spending as much time on the beach as I possibly can.

 

 

Two tumblers are used instead of stemware. 

 

Guests can choose if they want ice tea, water or another beverage.  The shorter tumbler on the right is hand-made mouth-blown glass made by Saul Alcaraz at Santa Barbara Art Glassblowing Studio in California.  These are iridescent with art glass inserts. Saul also makes them in other colors. Just love these. Much more attractive in person as you can see the art of each one. Here is the link.  Saul Alcaraz

 

The underplates for the dessert stems are these shell plates from Williams-Sonoma designed by Marc Lacaze.  There are several different shell styles in the set.

 

 

 

These clear turquoise stems will hold the dessert which is a light pound cake with fresh berries and whipped cream.

 

This is the table-end view showing the dessert set up.

 

This tablescape is a scaled-down version of one I did for the retirement of my Vice President in May of 2007 for 18 guests in our office conference room. The table is 25 feet long, so it required much more decor in the center of the table.  I have used two painted iron birds from my porch at home as well as large glass iced wine bottle buckets made into mini aquariums containing real fish.  I used all the large coral pieces I own as well as my entire shell collection to fill the table.

 

The 25 foot table.  You will recognize many of the same elements used in my current tablescape.  Below is a close up of the fish in the wine coolers.

 

And a close up of the place setting.

 

 

 

I also brought in some art work for the conference room wall that was done by a Canadian artist of a beach chair and boat.

 

Personally, I would love to retire to a residence on the beach. I love walking up and down the sand at the water's edge.

  

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

 

Tablescape: An Ocean Theme In The Simple Elegance of White

 

There is something eloquent in the simplicity of an all white table. If I was advising a new bride about selecting china, I would tell her to start with white. It seems like a non-choice but doing so has many advantages.

 

I remember when I was younger looking at all white rooms in design magazines, I thought the reason the homeowners chose white was because they were incapable of choosing a color they liked from too many colors available.  Now, in my old age, I know different.  To me, there is something relaxing about an all white room, especially if the fabrics are washable and there is a lot of textural detail in various shades of white. I find an all white room is so much easier to decorate when you layer all shades of creme and white. Then when you add just one color, the room becomes that color, and more importantly, you can then change that one color to a million different colors instantly. As I change out furnishings, I am moving toward an all white interior.  And, I love Swedish furnishings with their whites, pale grays and pale aqua blue/greens. I keep saying, "in my next house I will accomplish that".  But I do like a lot of colored china, so the room may be neutral, but the table will often show colors.

 

The white coral that I have collected for several years is the centerpiece. No candlesticks, tealights, or other elements. Just very simple.

 

I could have used a vase of white flowers instead - maybe for another table later.  The coral is short enough for guests to see over for conversation.  Have you ever had a guest reach over and take the centerpiece off the table and put it on the buffet because it interferred with their chatting across the table? Well, I have and it is maddening. So I look at that aspect each time I build a tablescape.

 

I am using this French boutis tablecloth from Williams-Sonoma. It is not as wide or long as my other white quilted cloth, so it doesn't touch the floor. I like the fact that it is washable and will fit in my washer.

 

I am using three crystal stems as they are colorless. I could also have used white custard glass or white opaline goblets to keep with the all white theme. Left to right: Tall Colleen by Waterford white wine, Flavia by William Yeoward water goblet, and the shorter first version of Colleen by Waterford red wine.

 

The 12" charger is from Pottery Barn's Great White series. It has depth to it so it doesn't lie flat thus a lot of dinner plates do not fit with it. Next for the dinner plate, I am using a 10" Grande bowl from Williams-Sonoma's Apilco line of French porcelain.  The lion-head soup bowl is also Apilco and has a thin gold edge around the top. Williams-Sonoma came out with the gold edge on Apilco one year for Christmas/New Years holidays. The 27" square lapkin with my maiden name initial is probably from 1915-1930.  For flatware, I am using mother of pearl-handled knives with Tiffany's 1870 pattern Saratoga. I only have mother of pearl knives. I am looking for forks and spoons as well. I am using the Saratoga pattern as a salute to my husband who did 4 [total of 9 cruises on various aircraft carriers] six-month deployments on the Navy's aircraft carrier Saratoga during his career as a Navy pilot in the Mediterranean Ocean, Atlantic Ocean and Red Sea.

 

Below are shots of the table on an angle.

 

 

 

For dessert, to stay with the ocean theme, I am keeping all white and using Apilco's shell-shaped plate from their Ocean line.

 

I'm serving this white cake on an antique pedestal glass cake plate that I purchased in an antique mall probably 20 years ago.

 

 

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 Wednesday evening, go here:

 http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

All the best to you,

Summer

Photos: Swede

  

Tablescape: Easter Table in Orchid and White

 

 

Here is the front and back of my centerpiece. For my Easter tablescape, I chose orchid and white for the colors. You may have seen the orchid linen tablecloth I made and posted about earlier this year. I wanted to use it again for this tablescape as it is so spring looking especially with white flowers. When you put the color orchid and white Lilies together, they automatically spell Easter.

I decided to make a fresh floral centerpiece for this table.

 

At Marburger Farm Antique Show the first of April, I purchased a gold metal frame stand and an English Meakin ironstone bowl from an antique booth called Rubbish. I have been using it to hold shells on my foyer table.

 

Here is a closer look at the frame but with another tureen that I was testing to see how it would look.

 

I like being able to get the floral arrangement up off the table surface with some sort of pedestal. I decided on the ironstone tureen as it was deeper and would hold more water and Oasis.   I purchased Lilies and Mums from our local Fresh Market grocery store and cut greenery out of my yard.

 

There were only three stems in each package so I needed two packages of white Lilies, two packages of large Fuji Mums and three packages of small Mums. I also had six lilac Roses left from another bouquet that I used.

 

These Nandina shrubs are in my front yard. I cut a few stems from them to use as I wanted the greenery to be light and feathery.

 

Above is the Nandina in the ironstone tureen.  I only needed one brick of Oasis which I soaked in water for about an hour.  I wanted the greenery to hang out in a lace-y fashion from the tureen.

 

The white Lilies are added first because they are the primary flower and give it the structure and shape I want. Be sure to pinch off the pollen stamens or you will have orange die all over your tablecloth.

 

Next, I add the lilic and white Fuji Mums.

 

And last, I fill in with the mini lime green Mums and the lilic ones with the yellow centers.

 

For chargers, I am using lilac buffet plates that match the tablecloth pretty well. They are from Jammett Seignolles, another French porcelain maker that I like.  On top of the chargers, for the service plates, I am using German plates with a magenta border.  I really love these plates.  Easter and Thanksgiving are the two times that I use novelty items on my table.  I've had these glass bunnies for many years. I believe they were made by Smith Glass. I got them at Williams-Sonoma.  This year W-S had glass lidded bunnies but they were very miniature and would not hold very much.  I place gifts inside each bunny for the guests and try to find things each person would like. I don't like filling them all with just candy.  For women, I might use nail polish, lipstick, sewing items, cooking spices, or costume jewelry.  Children's bunnies are pretty easy to do but for men, it is harder to find items that they might like.  Golf balls will fit inside, store gift cards for a particular hobby or interest work. One of these days, I will be so organized I will make a list of items that have worked in the past!!

 

Since I could not find orchid colored napkins, I went with my French monogrammed white ones.  The placecard holders are green glass rabbits from Williams-Sonoma.

 

Above, you can also see the embroidered paisley motifs that embellish the linen.

 

At Marburger Farm I found a set of mother of pearl knives and forks. I like the light white color for this table.

 

There were no spoons in the set, so I am using Tiffany's Japanese pattern sterling from 1871. Birds are always good for a spring table.

 

Below is an angle view of the table set for the first course. I enjoy watching everyone open their rabbits.  My husband always finds a surprise for mine.

 

I am using three pieces of glassware. On the right is an etched tumbler by Zodax, in the center is William Yeoward's Flavia pattern, and on the far left is a crystal stem that I purchased on eBay whose seller didn't know the pattern.

 

Here is another view.

 

The dinner plates I have shown before. They were hand painted in Germany from Fraureuth. Some of the flowers in the pattern blend well with this tablescape.

 

Below is a wider view of the table with the dinner plates.

 

The dessert plate is an antique Cauldon one that actually has a pale blue border that looks in the light, however, like it is a pale gray.  I wanted to use these even if they didn't coordinate perfectly with the orchid. I love the design and have never seen anything like it.

 

Below is an overall view of the table with the dessert plates.

 

The candlesticks are from Pottery Barn purchased several years ago. Our PB has since closed.  The mercury glass lilac candlepots hold battery operated flameless candles and are from Target.  

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

 

Today's Pretty Photo: Barnacles & Beauties

 

 

German plates and figurines with sea barnacles and Roses from Ecuador. Figurines belonged to my MIL.

Roses are Mysteri [lilac] and Double Party [two-toned deep pink].

Hope you are having a fun weekend.

Summer

Photos: Swede

Tablescape: Lunch Under the Weeping Peach

 

I've always thought dining under flowering trees in the spring would be a lovely experience. I've seen Australian Coty Farquhar's tables under trees on her blog HERE and they looked so romantic and lovely. She really is the world's best at styling. This year I was finally able to accomplish that, having failed in years where I planned it and then it rained or all the petals fell off the tree before I was able to capture it.  This year the wind was blowing but I went for it anyway hoping the wind would stop long enough to enjoy the beauty of the setting.

  

The flowering trees don't last more than a week to 10 days, so I wanted to capture their beauty quickly. The photo below, taken from my upstairs window, shows how big this Weeping Peach tree really is. Our grass is starting to get green.

 

I wanted to use this hand-stitched quilt in the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern which I purchased at an estate sale for about $140, if I remember correctly. I thought that was an excellent price since it was in mint condition. I don't decorate in the Country cottage style, but I do purchase wonderful linens to preserve them even though I don't display them. It is too hard for me to pass up such beautifully made linens.

The colors in the quilt are purples, pinks and blues with the center of each square having a goldenrod colored piece.  I used amber goblets and goldenrod colored monogrammed napkins to bring out that golden tone. Then I used violet chargers by Anna Weatherley and purple stemware to bring out the quilt's lilac and purple colors.

 

The aqua blue/green fabric used surrounding the blocks was an unusual shade so I didn't try to bring it out with any tableware, but I do love that color. Below are the goblets. I like the chunky knobs called buttons on the amber stem.

 

This lunch is for salad and a sandwich with dessert.  For the salad bowls, I am using Anna Weatherley's Morning Glory pattern rim soups that have a large hand painted lily in the goldenrod color.

 

Below is a wider photo of the salad plates. The shadows on the table are from the tree branches above.

 

 

 

For the lunch plates, I am using vintage floral hand painted plates made by Fraureuth. I do not know the pattern name.

 

Here is the tabletop view of all four plates.

 

Since there is so much color going on, I decided to place two faux English Primroses in an old tureen for the centerpiece and not use fresh flowers out of the garden. I wanted to keep it pretty simple.

 

I am using Durgin's Iris pattern for silver. I was surprised to find this morning a clump of purple Iris blooming early in the flowerbed directly behind this table, so thought that pattern was fitting.

 

Since there is so much pink in the quilt, I decided to use pink Cauldon salad plates to serve the dessert.

 

The quilt is placed over a glass-topped iron table from our porch with wicker chairs that I've had for 20 years.

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

 

 

Tablescape: Ladies' Lunch in Aqua

 

 

Today's tablescape starts with the centerpiece of my garden statue, Lucy, named after my great-grandmother. She also resides in the upper right hand side of my blog banner.

 

She is made of cement but I've never put her outside in the garden. She has lived in several different rooms of the house.

 

Below is a wider view of today's table.

 

The chargers are in Spectrum Sage by Mikasa.  I've had them probably 20 years.  The service plates used for an appetizer are Limoges shell-shaped plates I purchased in San Francisco at an antique show about 15 years ago. This is the aqua colorway.  The set also came with other colors -- pink, yellow and blue.  I have removed the dining chairs. Please ignore that one of my white sofas still resides on the back wall.  It will probably be there for awhile as decorating progress in my house goes slowly.

 

I love this shade of aqua and this shell dish is a favorite.  Also in the table's center, I am using clear glass candlesticks from Pottery Barn with prism rings. 

 

This pedestal cake stand is one of a pair I purchased in Atlanta at Scott's Antique Market two years ago.  It is French. On the bottom it says that this company won the Medal of Or or gold at the Paris Exposition of 1893.  I don't know if the medal was for this dessert service or some other entry the company did that year. The workmanship is exquisite and the price was very reasonable for the quality. 

 

This one is holding a raspberry layer cake.

 

This one of the pair is holding white cake squares.

 

This low cake plate is Derby before the company became Royal Crown Derby. It was one of their first dessert services. I purchased this set in Canada.  It has five cake plates of different heights.

 

Today it is holding a White Sin cake.

Looking at the plate layers, following the charger with service shell plates, I am using the dessert plates from the Derby set for salad.

 

Each plate has a different grouping of flowers in the middle.  The color is a bit stronger blue in the photo, but in person it is aqua. I am using it to blend.

 

 

 

 

 

Next, I am using a dinner plate in the Admiral pattern by Coalport. I love the gold waves around the outside edge. Even though it is discontinued it is so versatile it can work into many themes and doesn't really need updating.

 

 

 

 

 

Dessert will be served on these Darley Abbey plates by Royal Crown Derby. This is one of their newer patterns having been introduced in 2004.  They don't come out with new patterns very often.

 

 

 

 

I'm using two stems today. The clear one is from Williams-Sonoma in the Edward pattern and is glass not crystal.  Edward was my grandfather's name and it just so happened that I liked the stem pattern as well.

 

This is Durgin's sterling pattern Iris patented in 1900.  I think it is fitting for a ladies' lunch being a floral design.

 

For the tablecloth, I'm using a pale aqua quilt from the Martha Stewart Collection that has floral embroidery. The runner is a metallic aqua which photographs as green because of my camera lens, but it is really not green.

 

My oval-back chairs by Amy Howard blend in with all the aqua tones.

 

 

 

The pale aqua napkins are also from the Martha Stewart Collection in 100% handkerchief linen.

The napkin rings I found at Target two years ago as a Christmas item. The rectangles encircled with rhinestones have a central area where you can put a placecard so they have dual function.

 

Also, I want to share with you a photo from a lunch I did for a friend celebrating her 30 years of employment about five years ago. It was in an office conference room where the table was 20 feet long. I can't remember exactly now, but there would have been 14-16 guests. The aqua theme I used then is very similar to this one, only I had placemats on the wood conference room table and a few other changes. You will recognize the plates and the candlesticks. The runner also photos here its more true shade of aqua.

 

On the wall in the background is an acrylic gallary wrap canvas I did in the color theme of this lunch. I often coordinate the artwork with the tablescape. This is a 48"x60" canvas.  Sometimes I paint over them for the next party, but I still have this one in my office shown below.

 

The addition of art gives another dimension to a party and works well if the walls are neutral or at least not competing.

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