A Valentine's Week-end Setting

I just couldn't let Valentine's Day go by without setting up a romantic table.  I've had these Royal Jackson dinner plates for quite some time, but I haven't used them in a tablescape.

 

I set this table, for the most part, at the beginning of the week, with a pink tablecloth and these mirrored chargers that I purchased at Tuesday Morning.  I also used a battenburg table runner.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for a centerpiece, so I left the table this way for several days.  When Valentine's Day came, my table was still not finished.  Hubby saved the day with these gorgeous tulips.  I wasn't sure that the reddish pink tulips would work, but after adding the red and pink hearts, I liked the combination of colors.  

I found a small crystal cake plate, added the hearts, which also gave the vase of flowers elevation.

A close-up of the Royal Jackson china--

To change this table for any occasion, red marbles or red rose petals could be used in the bottom of the cake plate instead of sparkly hearts.

These gorgeous linen napkins were purchased at an estate sale.  I found 12 that match, and they are all monogrammed, which I love!

I also love bread and butter plates.  When I don't have the matching bread and butter plate, I use these little glass plates, which I also found at an estate sale.  They are the perfect size!

The crystal napkin rings were my mother's.

The iced beverage stems are Cristal D'arques Longchamp and the wines are Fostoria Corsage.

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you all had a romantic and loving Valentine's Day!  I sure did!  Come back soon!!

A Garden Setting

Child number 2 is now home from his freshman year at college.  The year seems to have flown by!  We spent the day yesterday in the car, packing him up, and bringing him back home.  He will transfer next year to Virginia Tech, so off we went to Blacksburg to look for apartments.  Unfortunately, they had closed for the day, so we had a quick dinner, and started on our journey home.  My dilemma is always what to do with all the "stuff" they accumulate in a year.  Right now, it is still in the SUV, and will stay there until I can get everything into the laundry room and cleaned up. Next week Child number 1 will be back in town, for a while, anyway.  She has been on tour with a Children's Theatre group as an actress in their productions.  They have been to many states and I believe it has been a great experience for her.  She will also be in a play in Williamsburg in June called "Curtains", so if you are coming to Williamsburg, check out the production by the Williamsburg Players.  She will play Bambi.
Now, on to tablescapes.  I had planned to do this tablescape earlier, but I never got around to it.  So here it is, a garden tablescape.

My husband asked me why I wanted to use this old table, but I believe it still has charm, with it's uneven boards, and rustic feel.  I used three short runners and added cute little garden-themed pots.

I just bought some herbs to plant, so I popped them into these containers and used them as centerpieces.  The actual plants don't match the words, but we can always pretend... 

My herbs of choice are cilantro, basil, and parsley.

Salad plates were made in Italy and I purchased them a while back at Home Goods.  The dinner plates are Fitz and Floyd.  Each place had a bulb placecard holder with a tiny bouquet, which added a bit of color.  I decided not to use chargers because the table is narrow, and there wasn't much room.

Since rain threatened, we did not eat at the table, so I didn't write on the placecards.

Each plate has a different design.

I used a simple silverplate pattern along with a plain stemmed iced beverage glass.

I found these napkin rings at an estate sale.  I had every intention of spray painting them with oil rubbed bronze spray paint, but never got around to it.

Water glasses or as I like to use them, red wine stems, are Fostoria Pagoda.

I hadn't planned to use candles, but I remembered these little garden chair votive holders, so I used them on the table.

A few more pictures . . .

Thanks for stopping by!!  Drop in anytime, you are always welcome at my table!!  As always, I appreciate your kind comments,

--Betsy

Snappin' and Draggin'

It feels as if I've been away for quite a while, but actually it's only been two weeks.  So much has been going on!  I will summarize by saying that I've been asked to help a designer with a room in the 2012 Richmond Symphony House, and I opened up a booth at our local antique mall.  I have been having a lot of fun with this booth.  It all started when I read about all the fantastic things bloggers were purchasing at estate sales, so I started going with the sole intent of looking for tablescaping items.  Pretty soon I discovered that if I brought anything else home, I was going to have to take something out.  I started talking with some friends who have booths, and the idea was born.  I kicked it around for a while, but I was feeling a bit scared.  So I asked a friend to go in halves with me, and she agreed to three months, so after that I'm on my own.  I have found some great little pieces of furniture and I've been painting and restoring some pieces, and they have actually turned out pretty well.  My sales were slow the first month, but I have been doing much better this month.  Now granted, I am by no means an expert at this, but I am learning and having fun in the process.

As far as the designer house goes, I will be helping out the designer if she is chosen to do a room.  More on this later.  We will present her plans for the rooms (dining room and study) to the committee in mid-April, and I guess we will find out shortly after that if she's chosen.  If so, I will document the process from beginning to end, but I can't post until the actual showing is over.  I'm hoping she gets the dining room...

In between painting and designing, I set a simple table, but with some of my favorite colors.  I had to include green for St. Patrick's Day, so pink and green it is!

Sometimes I'm snappin' and other times I'm draggin'...

I chose a pretty pink and green Ralph Lauren tablecloth and napkins.

Napkin rings were purchased at an estate sale.

Stems are Navarre by Fostoria.  I found four more of the waters at an antique show recently!! 

The green and pink Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage plates, salads, and bowls were purchased at Tuesday Morning.  I'm thinking I got the chargers there as well.

 Silverplate is Repousse.

Thanks for visiting with me today!  If you're in the Richmond area, come by and visit my booth at the Midlothian Antique Center!!  Happy St. Patrick's Day to all!!

A New Year's Eve Setting

Another Christmas has come and gone, and a brand new year on the way!  I am so grateful for the many acts of kindness that were showered on me during this time.  I received many thoughtful and beautiful gifts, and I so appreciate the many cards and emails I received.  Most importantly, I appreciate my friends and family who show me kindness just by the way they treat me.  I don't care what bag they carry, how attractive they are, or what their husband does for a living.  What matters to me is if I am treated with sincerity and kindness.  But I also know that it starts with me.  In order to have a friend, you must be a friend.  This year I will try to show my gratitude for all the kindnesses I receive by being prompt with thank-yous--even if it's just a telephone call or a quick email.  I will try to be personal, and I will try to do it all with sincerity and honesty.

Today's table is for New Year's Eve (even though I still haven't posted my Christmas table), and I "shopped the house" for all the tabletop items.

This table starts with a white cloth with a silver design and a silver runner.

I normally don't do napkin folds, but I found this one on the internet, and thought it was cute.  Of course, my patience is limited, and mine doesn't look exactly like the one demonstrated on line, but it will do!

Mirrored chargers are a Tuesday morning purchase, and the china is Opal Innocence by Lenox.  I received two placesettings of this for Christmas, adding to the five I already had purchased from Craigslist.

For the centerpiece, I used a beautiful crystal bowl and a silver gazing ball, which reminded me of the ball that drops in Times Square.  The white stuff (I have no idea what it's called) reminds me a bit of fireworks and that silly string.  I found it at a local interior design store.

I used silver "disco" balls, mercury glass and silver votives, and silver beads. 

One white lily in a mercury glass vase worked for each end of the table.

This was the first tablescape I've done that I've broken something in the process.  The water goblets are Crown Point by Gorham.  The champagne flutes are Raffaello by RCR--now I have only 5 of them.

Candleholders are Navarre by Fostoria. 

Goodnight!  Thanks for stopping by!  I am so thankful for all the great friends I have met through my blog and I am really grateful for your kind comments! 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!