July 4th, 2014

"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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Things have been hit and miss around here this summer.  I'm glad to have a spot of time to share our 4th of July celebration, which was hosted by our friends in their home.  Most of the tabletop items are mine.  Kathy is one of the members of my "co-op"....a group of friends who share with each other, and who are welcome to choose things from my china room for their entertaining needs at any time.  Weather our here on the prairie can be fire breathing dragon hot in July, so Kathy wasn't sure whether we would be dining outside by the pool or in the dining room.  Answer?  She set tables for both locations.

First....the dining room...


My pair of porcelain head Uncle Sam Santas made the trip to welcome the guests as they entered the home.  They stood guard over the Wedgwood Countryware dessert plates to be used later in the evening.

 The Williams Sonoma linen hemstitched tablecloth and napkins added the perfect punch of American blue to the table.  The Wedgwood Countryware dinner and salad plates sat on Kathy's red charger plates.


A pair of simple glass containers held a mixture of flowers in red and white....

 The Buleigh Blue Calico tureen amply anchored the centerpiece.  I found it at an estate sale some years ago for $30.00.

 Kathy's lace runner pulled all the elements together.  Centerpiece done.

Finishing touches...

The goblet is Lenox Holiday Gem.  They used to be mine, but I sold them to Kathy when I decided to go with a different red goblet.

Kathy placed the cranberry bell that I gave her for Christmas at her place setting.  I think that she anticipated that we might be a rowdy group that she might need to "ring in" for dinner.  :-)

 We ultimately ended up dining al fresco by the pool.  Kathy sat two tables for their 10 guests.  I made the blue and white striped tablecloth a few years ago.  A ceramic lantern did centerpiece duty.

 A second table for four was set with Kathy's blue and white checked cloth and a smaller red lantern...

Both tables were set using my Williams Sonoma Outdoor Collection enamelware red charger plate and white enamelware dinner plate.

It was a wonderful evening.  We dined on chicken, pork, and beef shish kabobs, a green salad, and wild rice.  Dessert was Brandy Ice and an assortment of dessert bars.  I hope that your celebration of our beloved country's birthday was fun-packed and delightful.  Let freedom ring!

This week I'll be joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps of the Porch

French Enamelware, May, 2014

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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Our hostess for this year's Garden Friends Bible Study was out of town this week and next week. I was blessed to welcome my precious friends into our house for our Bible study yesterday, and I look forward to their presence next week, too.  I couldn't resist the opportunity to ask those who had time to remain for lunch.  There were five of us, and I set a small table in the living room.  Won't you join us?

 Do you feel like you're in the midst of a deja vue moment?

 After choosing my dinnerware, I started the process of selecting a tablecloth.  No matter how many cloths I pulled for consideration,  I kept going back to the striped cloth that I used last week.  It just provided the right balance with all the other elements in my design.  So stripes it is...again.  Good enough!

 Time has been sparse since I was sick with that icky respiratory infection week before last.  Shopping for and arranging floral centerpieces just wasn't going to be a part of the program, so this was another "centerpiece in moments" opportunity...


The funky pair of Italian reticulated urns were an eBay purchase a number of years ago.  A young woman in Australia was selling some items that she had inherited from her great-aunt.  I think that at some point her little old aunt decided that she wanted the embossed roses to be pink because I'm virtually certain that she painted them herself, after the fact.  They make me giggle, and I always enjoy using them.

 A selection of  Hartley-Leeds creamware plates has long been on my "someday" list.  To date I don't have the plates, but I was thrilled to find the large "Chestnut Bowl" tureen and a pair of the "Strawberry Bowls and under plates.  I started to fill them with fresh strawberries for our luncheon, but I ended up placing a Hydrangea topiary ball in each one. 

 Now...on to the meat of the design...

 Such a versatile color of green...the MacKenzie-Childs enamelware charger plate brought a nice touch of Spring to the table.

 For a spot of texture, I chose to use the Wedgwood Countryware dinner plate.

 ...and the marquis topper for the show....this enchanting enamelware dinner plate was manufactured in France.  There is an inscription on the back of the plate that indicates that it was a Christmas gift from the owner of the company that made the plates to his employees.  I found a set of 12 on eBay.

 Completing the place setting, I used pink flatware and a soft green hemstitched napkin held by the Coalport Countryware napkin ring.  The crystal salt cellar was a gift from my friend Debbi....

 ....the finishing touch was found in the Tiffin Optic Green wine and the Waterford Simply Lilac goblet.  Both were acquired through eBay.

 I always like to preview my tables from the "guest's eye view."

 Yep, it works for me.

A simple lunch included Strawberry Chicken salad, hot garlic bread, and a triple-berry pie for dessert. I'm so blessed to gather my Garden Friends around my table as we draw to the end of another year of wonderful Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.  Next week is our last lesson before a summer break, and I'm thrilled to be able to prepare another table for them.  Passing our way?  You're more than welcome to join us!

This week I'll be joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop @ Katherine's Corner

Arita Imari Fan, 3.19.14

"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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I'm pretty sure that my admiration for Asian design is in my blood.  My daddy, an architect, and my Aunt Ida, who lived in Tokyo for some years after World War II, both collected some lovely Japanese things. I've continued the love affair with many things oriental...especially dishes!  Tonight, I wanted to share Arita, Imari Fan with you.

 Spring is beginning to shine, just outside the back door.

 Come on in...I've set a casual table for four today...

 No tablecloth this time...I decided that the Persian carpet provided just the right "undercloth".

 Imari Fan is quite an exuberant pattern.  I don't think that it would take much effort to go straight over the "design cliff" with it.  I chose to emphasize the green in this delightful plate.

 A simple centerpiece....I elevated the Imari Fan bowl and chop plate on one of my antique oriental stands.  I pick up assorted sizes of these stands at estate sales.

A really important element in today's design, the MacKenzie-Childs soft green enamelware charger plate was a fortunate and reasonable eBay find.  I chose it to calm down the Imari Fan.

 The Arita Imari Fan is quite the attention getter...no shrinking violet here.

 Fire King Jadeite was originally restaurant ware.  You wouldn't know that today.  It's quite pricey on eBay and other on-line sites, but I've been able to score some great deals at several estate sales.  This is called the Lotus plate...

...and this is the Lotus bowl.  I thought that they were the perfect partners for the Imari Fan.  The scalloped edges pick up the scallop motif in several of the panels on the plate.

 Lately I've been interested in introducing some orange into my tablescapes.  I've started acquiring an assortment of orange wine goblets on eBay.  They don't show up often or in quantities, so I've decided to mix and match orange goblets by assorted makers.  Most of todays group are made by AJKA.  I've paired it with the Vietri Amber goblet.  The Vietri is still in production and comes in some great colors.  Reasonably priced, you'll probably find it in a nice shop near you.

 Finishing the place setting, the "antique" hemstitch napkin is caught by the Waverly beaded napkin ring, my often used gift from Cuisine Kathleen.  The dark bamboo flatware was found at Big Lots, and the D&Co. Limoges salt cellars belonged to Nana.

 Sunshine bright...this design looks like the Spring days that all of us are eagerly awaiting...

 I think that we'll leave the patio door wide open as we dine and visit long into the afternoon.  Have a seat; I'm so happy that you're here!

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper

  

Summertime, and the Living is Easy

"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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Several weeks ago, I was delighted to host a small group of women who met to initiate plans for our 50th high school reunion...there...I said it.  It truly doesn't seem possible that we'll celebrate that milestone in just another year.  We'd had a spat of rainy/cloudy days, so I wanted to bring a touch of summer color to my table for five.  You already know that we gathered in the living room at the games table.

Today's design all started...

 ... with the tablecloth...

 ...a charming ...chinoiserie style...

 ...incredibly inexpensive...

...eBay find!  My mind started spinning with ideas the moment that I unwrapped it!  I immediately knew that the Sophia L'Argent, found through Horchow and Tuesday Morning, would make the playbill  for my table design.

I found myself intrigued by lots of colored glass and crystal...

 The Vietri Amber Optic goblet...the pink pearlized Pier I goblet...

and the aqua green recycled glass decanters from Tuesday Morning played well with all the assorted colors in the tablecloth.

 The amber capiz charger plate provided a lovely golden glow...

 ...beneath the MacKenzie-Childs spring green enamelware charger plate.

 The Spode Blue Room Collection Byron Groups Floral plate...  eBay Tip:  Often I'll collect plates one at a time.  Many times I'll be the only bidder.  I picked these lovelies up for a low of $3.00 and a high of $9.00 each.  You can collect some really nice patterns for $10.00 per purchase if you're patient and willing to wait and watch for the good deals.  Just be cautious if you decide to buy a hand painted pattern.  If some little lady painted it for her daughter or granddaughter, you probably aren't going to find any more to match it.  Do your homework!

 ... the perfect, fluffy blue to bring out the colors...

...in the tail feathers of the various birds on the cloth.  The cornflower blue hemstitched napkin with the Pier I multi-colored beaded napkin ring added another pop of blue.

This is a pretty busy design, but I'm happy with the balance...yep...happy.

My centerpiece was the Jadeite pedestal bowl filled with my old friends, grocery store hydrangeas.  The bowl was flanked by a pair of jadeite footed tumblers hosting green hydrangeas and apricot alstroemeria.

 Ready to roll...

 Everyone is bringing a salad or dessert...

Looks like a great recipe for a productive planning session...and so it begins!

I'll be joining the following parties:

Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen

Tutorials, Tips, & Tidbits with Yvonne @ Stone Gable

Between Naps on the Porch with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Seasonal Sundays @ The Tablescaper
Show & Tell Friday

Come join the fun!