Repurposed and Reused

I really admire people who have the patience to make an entire quilt.  I suppose I'm more of an instant gratification crafter...but I wanted to give quilting another try.  The instructions for the "log cabin"  pattern seemed clear enough...I had oodles of scrap fabric...I was ready.  I came up with a color scheme that I liked and then decided to pair these fabrics with denim.  Oh how I love denim.  Just ask my daughter...she rolls her eyes at me when I suggest that every outfit is cuter topped with a denim jacket!  One week later (and a sewing machine accident to disturbing to recollect) this runner was born,

and became the inspiration for this tables cape.  With my newly repurposed blue jeans, I felt the rest of the table should feature items that I already had around the house. Of course the first things that came to mind were my favorite  navy blue plates (The Blues by Arabia of Finland).

They are quite large, so I chose to use them as chargers.  Time to pile on more blue.

Next came these blue dotted dinner plates for West Elm.  Oh, how I wished I had some shabby chic salad plates to go with my scrappy runner, but nothing I had seemed quite right.  I could make one exception...certainly the many vintage shops or antique stores around town would have the perfect plates. No luck again.  Every so often, I like to make a quick loop around Home Goods...and look what I stumbled upon!  OK, so they're reproductions....but exactly the look I was going for, and only $3.99.

I had hoped to finish my table setting with items I already had...but I really do love how these little toile plates contrast with my modern dotted plates.  To keep my table from becoming too blue, I selected these tropical print napkins that I had sewn for another occasion.  It just so happens that the same fabric appears here and there in my runner.  I chose to use, and reuse, my mom's wedding silver...

...and I thing it looks just charming.  Of course, blue glassware would be a perfect choice.  I paired these gorgeous goblets,

with their gold stems and cobalt accents with my green footed, cobalt water glasses.  Time to reuse my favorite centerpiece.

This time I filled the center with shiny blue glass pebbles and nestled tea light into them.  For a bit of height, I also pulled out these chunky square glass candle holders...

...with navy blue tapers.  Would I be able to find blue flowers?  Must have been my lucky day.  Whole Foods had these beautiful and huge hydrangeas.

I think of hydrangeas as an old-fashioned flower...which seemed to fit with my slightly mismatched theme...but I chose to show them off in this very modern ceramic vase (an art show find from many years ago).  I couldn't be happier with this table.

Creating that runner was really a lot of fun.  I'm already thinking about starting another one...pink and purple and linen perhaps.  You'll just have to stay tuned!  My mind is now focused on that big meal coming up soon.  Of course, my mind is spinning...deciding how to set the table.  Need some inspiration? I am sure the following parties are full of fabulous ideas, so please join me at...

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Loving all the blue?  Want some more?  Please take another look: Singing the Blues

Chameleons - Part 1

Some time ago, my dear friend Beth gave me a gift certificate to Crate & Barrel for my birthday.  For months I pondered over what to buy...can I just have one of everything?  Finally I decided...I wanted these placemats.  Placemats, you say!  Don't you have enough?  Well, perhaps I do...but just look at these!  Can you blame me?  At that, I couldn't make up my mind...so bought both kinds!  For this tablescape, I have chosen to use these Casitas placemats as a table runner.

They are adorable...  covered in colorful embroidered spirals on a light brown linen background.  These Stria round mats really caught my eye.  So many colors...I think these mats can take on a whole new life depending on the accessories you place with them.

They are chameleons!  Today, I'm pairing them with autumn colors.  But in my mind, I'm conjuring up a whimsical holiday table.  I think they'll work great in the summer also.  So stayed tuned...you will be seeing these again!  One of the reasons I love Fall is having another chance to use my Constellation dinnerware by Joseph Abboud.

They haven't been out of the cabinet in quite some time.  Instead of the solid colored napkins featured with these placemats at the Crate, I opted to sew some of my own, and chose this very autumnal striped fabric.

I think they are rather charming scrunched into these shiny golden napkin rings.   How I love these...

... South Beach water and wine glasses, also by Joseph Abboud.  If you ever need some new votives, head on over to West Elm...their selection is quite vast.

This season I added another pattern to my collection.  At first I thought about just plopping a chunky candle into this gold tiled vase,

but in the end could not resist these orangey mums.  Trader Joe's does it again. For a final golden touch, I wove this cute gold and orange garland into my tablescape.

If you're like me, you probably have lots of ideas about the upcoming holidays.  I feel Chameleons - Part 2 coming on.  Or if you just need a little inspiration, please join me at the following blog parties.  I guarantee you will find ideas galore.

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

Please feel free to take another look...

One year ago:  Indian Summer

Everyday Dishes

I really find this rather hard to believe...but after all of the tables I have set, I have never shown you my everyday dishes!  Well I would say that it is about time!

I purchased a complete set around 15 years ago, and sad to say, the manufacturer, Lindt-Stymeist is no longer in operation.  The pattern is called Craft Works (Green Tea)...

...just really pretty, rich shiny green stoneware with tiny brown freckles all over.  Apparently I'm not the only one fond of these dishes, since every time one gets broken (sigh) my kids act as if they have lost a family member.

Here I have layered the plates with my dark brown woven chargers which sit atop deep wine colored grass mats.

I've tucked my flatware into eggplant napkins, all held together with bamboo napkin rings.  Today I have chosen a tablecloth that I distinctly remember from my childhood.

It has a name Luther Travis printed on one of the corners, and when I did a Google search, I gathered that  Luther Travis was a common linen producer from the 1950's, and it is quite easy to find this exact cloth, and other similar to it, for sale on many websites.

So...lots of you probably remember this cloth from your early days!  The grapes on the cloth inspired me to continue with a "wine and dine" theme.

This larger-than-life wine glass is a special treasure that I found at my dear Aunt Tess' house.  Perhaps too big for drinking, put perfect as a centerpiece filled with grapes.

I'm allowed to have two centerpieces, aren't I?  These old wine corks make a great filler for my vase of...

...psychedelic pink roses.   While I love to drink wine from these cute little etched purple tumblers (vintage Pottery Barn),

I find they also make ideal holders for some tea lights.  Besides, I'll be enjoying my wine tonight from these...

...oversized globe goblets (Crate & Barrel, at least 2o years old).  Now, I bet you are saying to yourself..."I don't think she really sets the table like this on an everyday basis."  Sadly, that is true.  With the hectic schedules of two teenagers, dinner more often than not is a feeding frenzy rather than a relaxing gourmet meal.  Sorry to say that the typical placesetting on any given day resembles not this...

but rather this...

Yup, and no wine in those plastic tumblers either.  I think I would prefer to leave you with something just a little nicer to look at...

...like this everyday dinner table of my dreams!  I am quite sure that the following blog parties will be full of fabulous autumn entertaining ideas, so please join me.

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

A Holiday Sneak Peek - the Fair Trade Way

I hope you enjoyed last week's Fall tablescape featuring many of the lovely items sold at Ten Thousand Villages.  Well, after unpacking and displaying the newest merchandise, which includes quite a few things for the holidays, I just could not wait to set another table and show off the new collection.

As you can see, even though the collection is a little glitzy, with red and green predominating, it certainly does not scream Christmas.  I think it's the perfect collection to ease into the holiday season.  I began with this...

...Flowering Vines tablecloth, hand block-printed by artisans in India.

The border is the prettiest part.   As with most of the cloth available at the store, matching napkins are available.   Set on a cream background, the intricate pattern is printed with rich deep red, green and gold dyes... and to my delight, just a little bit of grey.  You know how I love grey!

Yet another chance to use my glossy grey plates that I am so very fond of.  Set atop these shimmery beaded red placemats,  the setting is so festive.

I almost chose some green wine glasses and red water goblets, but opted for these gold goblets instead. Again, by using the non-predominate colors in the cloth as inspiration, the tablescape does not feel too Christmasy.  Now for the details.  I like to send my guests home with a little something to remember the evening.

I think these hand woven red and natural palm leaf stars (actually an ornament), made in India, are the perfect touch.  I do love to weave a garland around my tabletop, especially when it is as cute as this...

... Star Splash red and gold silk garland, also handmade in India.  And now for my favorite feature of this table...these oh-so-fabulous Sunburst  candle holders.

Whether you use a chunky candle, like these glittery red ones, or just a simple little tea light, I can see using these brassy dramatic candleholders all year long.  When I found this vintage yellow fan shaped vase at the Bountiful Barn in Glen Ellyn, I just had to bring it home.

I knew that flowers were going to sit just perfectly in this vase.  See what I created with just a dozen red roses (thanks again Trader Joe's) and one minute of my time!!  So, have I gotten you just a little bit excited for the holidays?  Please, please visit Ten Thousand Villages' website to read the artisans stories in greater detail and to shop for gifts with a purpose.  I invite you to join me at the following parties this week:

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)

P.S.  Great photos, Laura!

Fall in Love with Fair Trade

I had so much fun with Tabletop Stories first anniversary, but now it's time for some fresh new tablescapes. It has been quite a while since I featured merchandise from Ten Thousand Villages...and the store is just packed with wonderful items right now in preparation for the busy holiday season.  So let's begin with this lovely Paisley Botanical block-printed tablecloth from India.

Rusts and deep tans and shades of grey, all on a cream background, give me so many colors to work with.

Of course, there are napkins to match.  I love to use my glossy grey dinner plates whenever I get a chance.

I've layered them with my own dark brown chargers sitting atop natural jute placemats....

...neutral but very warm.  I have added these cute little black patterned salad/appetizer plates.

My rustic Southbeach glassware gives the table a nice casual feel.

There are hundreds of decorative accessories at Ten Thousand Villages, including these Pillar onyx votive holders from Pakistan.

Available in several heights, each candle holder is unique...with colors ranging from beige to rust to deep brown.  I chose to use this Guapinal wooden bowl as a vase by simply inserting a small drinking glass inside.

Made in Nicaragua from Brazilian Cherry, each bowl has its own unique natural border.  When not being used as a vase, this little bowl could hold your keys, or nuts, or M&Ms...yes I think it would make a perfect M&M dish!  And what's a party without party favors.

My guests will be going home with these darling river stones, carved and polished by artisans in Haiti into smooth hearts.  If you are ever in my neck of the woods, I encourage you to visit the Ten Thousand Villages store in Glen Ellyn.  Of course, all of the merchandise that I featured, along with so much more, is always available at tenthousandvillages.com.  I have lots of parties to visit this week.  I hope you'll join me!

Centerpiece Wednesday (The Style Sisters)

Tabletop Thursday (Between Naps on the Porch)

Feathered Nest Friday (French Country Cottage)

Home Sweet Home Friday  (The Charm of Home)

Potpourri Friday (2805)

Seasonal Sundays (The Tablescaper)

Let's Dish (Cuisine Kathleen)

Open House Party (No Minimalist Here)