A Perfect Setting's Wearing of the Green

Did you notice my new blog header?  I'd like to give a big shout of thanks to The Tablescaper and Vicki at Curly Willow for making it happen!  Vicki designed this lovely header and I won it through The Tablescaper.  Please visit their beautiful blogs and let them know what you think!!

With St. Patrick's Day fast approaching, I have been thinking of tablesettings.  To be perfectly honest, I am not the least bit Irish, but I am all about a great celebration, for whatever reason I can come up with.  That being said, I do not have anything at all relating to St. Patrick's Day.  When I was a child, I did not even have any green clothing, and I would have great anxieties of being pinched for not wearing green.  So my mother would dig through her costume jewelry, and come up with something green that I could wear so I wouldn't be pinched. 

We do have a huge celebration in our neighborhood, as one of my neighbors is Irish.  He will rent a huge tent, hire a band, and the street will be partitioned off.  Hopefully I can dig through my jewelry box and find something that will show my support!

So today, my table is green, sort of, so I won't be "pinched". 

Come on in, and we'll take a closer look.

I found this great ivory lace drapery panel at an outlet store, greatly reduced, and layered it over a white tablecloth.

I tried several different chargers, and decided on these mirrored ones recently purchased at Tuesday Morning.

China is Greenwich by Minton.

Napkins are ivory and are held with a crystal ring.  The design reminded me a little of a clover? maybe? The little butter patty dishes were my Mom's.

I wish I knew the pattern for these wine stems.  I inherited these as well from my Mom's collection. I love the etched design.  The iced beverages were acquired recently from Craigslist!

I remember these candelabras were always on my Mother's sideboard when I was growing up.  They were my maternal grandmother's.

After reading Bill's last post at Affordable Accoutrements on silver overlay, I looked through my china cabinet and found this sugar and creamer.  It looks similar to what he was referring to, but there were no markings, so I'm not sure it's actually silver or an imitation.  I think they are pretty cool regardless...

I added this little vintage clover dish just for fun!

Originally I had planned to use just yellow, white, and green in my centerpiece.  But I saw this bouquet in the store for $9.99, added greenery from my yard and assembled this with a hurricane globe and candle in a silver tray.  The claret-colored alstroemeria blended in with the colors in my dining room.

I recently found this great Maitland-Smith metal urn at an antique mall and just couldn't pass it up!

Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me today!  Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

A Perfect Setting for 2 Dishes 4 Ways!

Recently I was reading an article in a fashion magazine which explained how to take 4 key pieces of your wardrobe and turn them into a number of outfits--just with a change of accessories.  So, wouldn't it be fun to do that with dishes?  Now, everyone knows that white dishes are so beautiful as well as functional, they can be dressed up or down, and food looks great in them.  So, I took two white plates--a salad plate and a dinner plate--and came up with four different looks.  The idea was that anyone who has two white plates can come up with great tables at a low cost!  So let's get to it!!

To start the party rolling, let's begin with an Easter setting!

Since the weather was mild, I brought my little white bistro table and chairs to the deck to set my tables.  This Easter setting is just an Easter tree, with Easter basket filler, an Easter placemat and matching napkin, and a bunny napkin ring!

I added a tiny bunny statue that, I believe, came from the Dollar store.

A turquoise colored stem was added, and the Easter setting is complete!

Close up of napkin ring...

On to the next setting, a beach scene!

Using the same white plates and flatware, I started with a white shell placemat.  I added a hurricane globe complete with sand and shells, a sea gull statue, and a lantern.  I used a blue and white striped napkin and placed shells here and there.  Voila, beachy table.

The iced beverage glass is very plain.

On to the next table, that I'm calling the sunshine table.

Same white dishes again, and a yellow flower-shaped placemat.  I added a hurricane filled with oranges and sunflowers, a sunflower pillar candle on a small brass holder, and a small vase of white flowers.  The yellow napkin is being held with a sun napkin ring.  The iced tea glass has "sun" faces!

On to the next and last table, I'm calling it the "dressy" table.  Unfortunately, my pictures didn't turn out so great.  But here goes!!

Again, white plates with a white battenburg runner.  I also used a crystal sherbet, a crystal iced beverage with a silver rim, and a cut crystal wine glass.

I used a three-prong silver candlelabra, an ice bucket with silver tongs, and a milk glass vase with the same flowers.  The napkin ring is crystal and holds a white damask napkin.  I used placemats on the chair bottoms.

Two dishes, four ways!  White plates are Marquis by Gibson.  Thanks for stopping by, please ignore the mess in the yard.  The weather isn't quite ready for a spring cleanup, but hopefully it won't be long!

A Perfect Time to be Well

Today was the first day I've been out in over a week.  Ok, I'll fess up--I did not have a flu shot.  There, I've said it.  It's sorta like cleaning out a closet, you have every intention of getting to it, but it's not high on the priority list.  When I started to feel bad, I thought I probably was just getting a cold.  I had a tightness in my chest, and just felt lousy.  Then came the fever.  I was up all night popping this pain reliever or that, doing whatever I could to just make it through.  The next day I called the doctor.  He did not scold me for not getting the flu shot, he even said that it might not have made any difference.  He did prescribe the flu medication, but I think I might have waited too long, because it was several days before I felt the least bit better.  My chest ached from coughing, and the cough is still with me.  Fortunately, it isn't as bad as it was, and I think I might live. 

Funny thing, though.  I go a week with absolutely NO appetite, some days only drinking liquids, and having a bit of soup.  Did I lose one single lousy pound????  Of course not.  Just my luck.  You'd think SOMETHING good might come of being sick, but NOOOO!!  Ok, I take that back.  The good that comes from being sick is being thankful for health.  I know I take my health for granted, and when I don't have it, I realize that without it, there's not much left.  There was no blogging or tablesetting last week, so if I didn't get to visit with you, I apologize.  So here's to good health!!

Simple and casual tonight!!  I'm using an April Cornell brown floral runner with shades of greens and blues. 

 Chargers and green dinner plates were purchased at Marshalls.

Blue salad plates were purchased at Dillard's last summer.

Silverware is the Mikasa that I won from Anita's Far Above Rubies a few months back.

The goblets look more turquoise blue in person, they are looking a bit too green in these pictures!  Anyway, they were a great thrift find.  The wines were my Mom's.

Napkins are vintage, and are edged with a very light blue.  They were also my Mom's.

 

Acuba made a great filler for an arrangement.  It's the only thing in the yard that's still green that doesn't remind me of Christmas. 

Candleholders are from Southern Living at Home.

Well, there you have it.  Not real fancy this week, but I am happy to be back. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Spring is less than a month away!  Woohoo!!!!!!