English Oak Centerpiece Accessories for Lunch

Where do you find inspiration for your tablescapes?  Typically, my inspirations never come from the same place two times in a row. Today I happened across a selection of antique English Oak pieces that I hadn't thought about in quite a while, and I was off and running. 

 I found this silver rimmed oak pedestal bowl on eBay.  I had seen one in a Carolyne Rohm
book and had been searching for one of my own for a long time. The day that I found it, I was definitely doing a happy dance. Since I'm your buy everything possible in pairs girl, I'm still looking for a mate for my bowl.  Some day....


A pair of English Oak biscuit/cookie jars contributed handsomely to my wooden vignette.  One was an eBay find and one was discovered in a local antique store.  One of these would make a delightful centerpiece for a smaller round table.


A quartet of Barley Twist candlesticks provided the finishing touch for the centerpiece.   Plop, plop, plop, and I was done.  So easy...so lovely.


The Williams - Sonoma striped linen tablecloth  set a subtle tone for the luncheon.

From the bottom:  The Caspari rattan charger held  the Wedgwood Queens Plain dinner plate and the Copeland Spode Tower Pink luncheon plate.  The Tower Pink was the everyday pattern that Sweet Mister's family used every day.  We are blessed to shepherd these dear old dishes through this generation.  We also use them as one of our everyday patterns.  Their familiarity is heart warming; they bring a quiet smile each time that I pull them out of the cabinet.  A caramel colored hemstitched napkin held by my Cuisine Kathleen's beaded napkin rings balanced atop the stack of dishes.

Beverages were served in the Vieri amber and the AJKA Arabella red goblets.

 Completing the design, I used the L'Argent Sophia Gold flatware ( Horchow's online and Tuesday Morning).  I used old individual Tower Pink ashtrays as butter pats...thinking outside the box can yield fun results.

 Lunch will be ready shortly.  In the meantime, come on into the living room.  We can visit for a bit before we eat.  For me, it's just another delightful day doing what I love...Entertaining Women!  Won't you join us?

This week I'm joining:
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thoughts of Home with White Spray Paint

Dishing It and Digging It with Linda @ Life and Linda

Dinner with the Guys. 1.15

Having the Garden Friends for lunch on Wednesday must have given Sweet Mister an idea.  On Friday morning, he called from his office to say that he had a friend whom he wanted to invite for dinner...one of our "Friday means Outback Steak curbside take-out"!  Now that's a pretty easy request to fulfill...all I had to do was design a small table for three, suitable for the guys.  Come on in and see what I created for them.  This one is short and sweet.

 An easy-going melange of browns and whites set the tone for dinner with the guys.

 The elements...a Pimpernel place mat featuring sporting dogs...


...the Caspari rattan charger...think duck blind and hunting...


...add the Spode Delamere dinner plate and brown handled flatware...

 ...a pair of Gotham Octette goblets for water and wine, and the Williams-Sonoma hemstitched Flax napkin...

 ...one of Sweet Mister's duck decoys with a pair of antique English wood pieces for my centerpiece, and...

 Voila!  Sweet Mister pulled into the back drive, and Dickens just announced that his friend was at the front door.  It was time to eat.  They lingered long after dinner, laughing and sharing stories.  I mainly listened with a happy smile on my face.

This week I'm joining:


Inspire-Me-Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

Worthwhile Wednesdays with Crafty Allie

Winter Blues Wednesday @ DIY by Design

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch