Al Fresco Blue

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

I know that we are all so glad that it is officially Spring!  I, for one, can hardly wait to entertain on the back porch.  Although the shade grass still sports its perennial green, the Bermuda grass still looks like straw, and it will be another month or so until the rose bushes are in bloom.  Nonetheless, sunny and in the 70's means it's time to go outside for lunch!  On this day, I invited a small group of friends for a simple meal of soup and salad.

The blue and white stripe tablecloth was the result of a 'going out of business' sale at one of our local Hancock's.  The fabric is a Sunbrella type material that I picked up for less than $5.00 per yard.  I've always wished that I had bought enough to make multiples of this cloth.  Stripes always provide such an effective design punch.

My guests were offered iced tea or water, served in the Godinger, "Sutton Place" goblets.  Godinger, also marketed as Cash Crystal of Ireland, is a heavy weight crystal at an extremely reasonable price.  I found mine via eBay. The flatware is our everyday stainless steel, Towle, "Antique Bead."  I tied simple cotton Pier One napkins with a variety of narrow blue ribbons to add an additional graphic element to striped tablecloth. Tip:  I occasionally stroll through Michael's and search through their sale bins of ribbon on the bolt.  It's pretty amazing what you can pick up for $1.00.  I keep my ribbon stash in pretty fabric covered hat boxes, and I enjoy using it often for my tablescapes.  When I cut lengths of ribbons to use as napkin rings, I later store them in small ziplock bags in my napkin drawers.  That way, they are easily accessible when I want to use them again.

Simple yellow Daisy Mums from Sam's, my personal florist, are cut short and plopped into beakers that match my dinnerware.  The beakers are an eBay find.  I kept the flowers low because...

...I wanted to highlight the blue and white eggs that I painted.  You've previously seen the eggs in use HERE.  I've packed them into a trio of cloches that fit on white iron pedestals of different heights. I had seen some of the beautiful Hungarian painted eggs.  I researched them with the idea of buying some, but when I saw the prices, I said to myself, "I can do that!" My precious daughter claims that I say that all the time.  Do you find yourself often making the same statement?     Tip:  The eggs are faux.  I found them at Michael's.  If you want to look for some, they come in a mesh bag, and they look like brown eggs.  They actually have a foam stuff on the inside.  I bought my eggs last year, but I've also seen them at Michaels and Hobby Lobby this year.  I painted each egg with a layer of Gesso to give them a smooth finish.  I used a Navy Blue acrylic as my base coat, and the designs are all created with white paint.  After the eggs were completed, I used a high gloss varnish to finish them off with a nice shine.  With Easter just around the corner, they are perfect for this season.  That said, I use them throughout the year.

For a charger, I used Pottery Barn's "Outdoor Collection," enamelware.  I picked them up on clearance two years ago.  Topping the charger is our Furnival, "Blue Quail" dinnerplate and cream soup.  I've had this charming English transferware for many years, and I still adore it.  We use it as one of our everyday patterns.  The Quail pattern also comes in a wonderful brown.  Furnival is no longer in business, but Mason's Ironstone, Ltd. bought the molds and continues to produce the pattern.  The Furnival's pieces can still be found on eBay and through Replacements.

Okay, everybody sing along..."It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood; a beautiful day for a neighbor...won't you be mine, won't you be mine, won't you be my neighbor?"  Give me a minute...I'm going to put on my cardigan sweater and change my shoes.  Then we'll sit down and get to know each other better!

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, "Tablescape Thursday.  I'll be linking my post to "Tablescape Thursday."  Click HERE to hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."  It is available on iTunes or through her website.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!