Supper on the Bungalow Porch + A Winner!

"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.

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It's been wonderful reading all of your ideas about how you would use the set of 12 Theodore Haviland floral pink luncheon plates.  I used the True Random Number Generator to select a winner.  I'll be excited to see how they are used by the winner:


Susan (My Place to Yours)


Susan, send me an email with your mailing information, please, and I'll send them on their merry way.

My sweet KC recently invited a group of her girl friends to join her for "Supper on the Porch". I stopped by shortly before everyone arrived to assist with a few last minute details and to snap some photos to share with you.  KC and David live in a Craftsman bungalow in an historic preservation neighborhood in our city.  She has completed so many wonderful projects in their home.  Check my archives HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE to take a more extensive tour of the bungalow and see the results of her labor.

KC loves to build furniture...blows me away!  She built her outdoor dining table all by herself.  Can you believe it?!  It is beautiful, and it provided the perfect setting for her supper with friends.

KC recently decided that she wanted to learn to sew.  The morning of her party, she whipped up the runner on her sewing machine.

The Vietri creamware pitcher became her centerpiece filled with grocery store roses.  She used a variety of elements down the center of the table to provide further visual interest.

The antique oriental green covered ramekins belonged to our precious Nana.  KC is such a good steward of family treasures.  It pleases me that she regularly uses her great-grandmother's and grandmothers' things.  

Green glass decanters, found at Tuesday Morning, were filled with iced water and placed at the four corners.

I made a swing through Tuesday Morning just this week.  They are still currently available for only $4.99!  Hurry!  The hot pink napkin is one of our gifts to KC while we were all in Sorrento, Italy earlier this summer.  I think that I'll need to pilfer them at some point for one of my own tablescapes.  They are so pretty!

The assortment of pastel tumblers are by Waterford Marquis.  They effectively provide a jewel-like touch for the tablescape.  I love the way the crystal dances in the light.

Because she used her antique French Haviland, "Ranson" for the dinner plate...

...she was able to employ her Copeland Spode, "Tower Pink" dinner plate as a charger.  Tip:  While building your collection, think about selecting patterns from an assortment of countries.  French china manufacturers, especially in vintage patterns, typically designed a 9 5/8" dinner plate.  Compare that to English companies who produced larger plates, some up to 11" in diameter.  Additionally, think about patterns produced during the Victorian era. Because it was common to serve many courses throughout the meal, the plates were often much smaller than those produced today.  This amazing variety opens a plethora of design options for us!

After dinner, KC served dessert...

...to her guests while they were seated on her custom made sectional bench...  

Custom made...because she made this, too!  She built the benches from scratch...She bought the foam and pillow forms...and... She made the pillow covers and upholstered the cushions.  Yep, that's my girl!  When I was a child, families regularly whiled away a summer evening on the front porch...such a great way to get to know the neighbors and build community.  I love that she has embraced this marvelous style of living. 

I'm certain that a wonderful time was had by all.  KC also thoroughly enjoyed herself.  She said that she looks forward to entertaining her friends frequently.  Can you tell that I'm a proud mama?

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."   Hop on over HERE 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.


When I think of summer, I think of blissful time spent whiling away the day on the front porch.  How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her meme Seasonal Sundays HERE.  Don't miss out on this marvelous blog party.  See you there!  

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!