Eat Your Vegetables

How many of you have been wandering through the stores lately and find the Easter merchandise incredibly cute and irresistible?  Just as I thought...I'm not the only one.  Every once in awhile, I like to pop into World Market to see what's new, and when I stumbled upon these darling little veggies, I knew I could let them be the star of a Springtime table.

With cararots, radishes, peas and onions in hand, I thought of all sorts of things that I already had to incorporate into the tablescape...this is going to be a piece of cake!  I rushed home, pulled out a basic "earthy" brown linen tablecloth, some simple sisal placemats, and my good old plain white plates to get started.  

Of course I'll need some napkins. I remember these deep "carrot orange" linen napkins.  

A green napkin for a frilly carrot top, and a little twisting and rolling, and voile!  I think my napkins are even cuter sitting atop this paisley "salad" plate.  Since my last bouquet of tulips latest an entire week, I decided to stick with a good thing and chose white ones this time.

Absolutely NO flower arranging skills needed with tulips! 

I can't wait to see what comes up in my own garden this Spring.  I very, very briefly thought about creating a vase out of an actual vegetable...

...but fortunately remembered this quite theme-appropriate cabbage pitcher.  I have once again selected my Joseph Abboud South Beach glassware, mainly for its earthy look and brown accents.

 Sticking to my theme, I simply scattered some seed packets around the table.  Party favors, perhaps?

What do I see hiding behind the cabbage?

Hmmm....I guess if you plant carrots, you're bound to attract a few rabbits.

I suppose I would much rather have them feast at my...

...garden table, instead of my vegetable patch!   Make sure to drop by next week for my Easter / Birthday (x3) party table.  And don't forget about these fun-filled blog parties...

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)
Festive Friday Fiesta (The "Home Girl")

In Between Seasons

Oh...March, what is the saying...you come in like a lion but go out as a lamb?  Well, it sure still feels like Winter to me, but I'm so, so, so ready for Spring.  And so I jumped the gun and set a very Springy table this week.

I was doing a bit of cleaning up and stumbled upon a purchase I made, I do believe, last Fall.  Oops.  I do find the most wonderful treasures at West Elm...

...like these sweet little salad/dessert plates.  They are the inspiration for today's tablescape.  What I really love about them is that they are all slightly different, some being quite a bit more vibrant than others.

I simply layered these plates atop my plain white plates, simple silver chargers, and black woven placemats.

Of course, because I love lime green, I couldn't resist these cute striped napkins...

...secured with my stylish black wire napkins rings from Crate & Barrel.  They're a bit like jewelry for table linens, don't you think?  You know how much I love using scarves as table runners, and once again...

I have chosen this simple chartreuse scarf edged with the tiniest ball fringe.

My Lela handmade wine glasses have been hiding in the cabinet all Winter...

Welcome back to the table!  Nothing quite says Spring like a big bunch of tulips.  These purple beauties were calling my name.

I really do love this simple porcelain paper bag vase, another treasure from Aunt Tess's collection.  No flower arranging experience necessary with this vase.  All flowers look perfect, every time.

There's eight inches of snow on the ground, but in my dining room, Spring has arrived.  March is a busy month for me...the kids turn 17 (Yikes!) and my husband's birthday falls on Easter Sunday.  So many parties, so many tables to set.  I'm sure to get some great tabletop ideas at the following parties...

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)

Isn't It Romantic

While I was not exactly planning any special dinner for Valentine's Day this year, I could not resist setting a pretty table for the occasion.

Besides...I really just wanted to use my new tablecloth.  You see...I've been admiring this certain fabric at Hobby Lobby for some time now.  I'd go so far to say it is spectacular!  A natural linen-type background and covered with a large shiny silver metallic floral print, this is considered home dec fabric.

And while if would make an awesome chair, or over-the-top draperies, I simply bought a few yards to make a table covering.  For those of you who favor gold over silver, it also comes in metallic gold.  My next lucky find were these darling paper roses from West Elm.  I oooohed and aaaahed over their collection of faux snow drops, quince and roses...each one cuter than the next.  While they came in many colors, I chose these pale, pale pink ones.

Simply set into a chunky mercury glass vase (also from West Elm), they are as lovely as the real thing!  

(And long lasting to boot.)  I just might have to go back for some more.  Mercury glass tealights add a bit of romance.

The rest of my tablescape fell easily into place.  Naturally, I chose to use my silver chargers,

topped with my favorite plain white plates.  I think everyone should have a set of natural linen napkins. Wishing to do something a bit different with them, I found instructions to make these playful napkin roses.

They were really very easy, and just the touch I was looking for.  Because everything on the table is so neutral, I needed to add a splash of color...

...so I chose my Romantika (how appropriate) goblets and water glasses...vintage Crate & Barrel.  I dug out a few treasures to add some happy memories to my Valentine's table.

My dear Aunt Tess had several pieces of Dorothy Thorpe glassware, like this footed candy dish.  I also found this antique silver bottle holder,

because heaven forbid any wine drips on the tablecloth!  Such pretty details...

Now that my Valentine's Day tablescape is complete, I think I might just have to plan a special dinner after all...

...because I really want to sit at this table!  Hope you too have a happy day.  I'm sure the parties will be filled with fabulous ideas, so come along with me and visit...

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)

Swept Away, the Fair Trade Way

One of the many duties of a volunteer at Ten Thousand Villages is unpacking merchandise.  If you are particularly lucky, your volunteer day coincides with the shipment of that month's new merchandise.  For me, this event is analogous to opening birthday presents...lots and lots and lots of birthday presents. Each box, packed tightly with shredded paper, contains another surprise. One item is prettier than the next...and this event goes on for hours.  Well, the February New Items arrived recently, and I was immediately swept away to another place...

...a warm, tropical, dreamy place...colors of beach glass and the seaside.  I could not wait to give you a sneak peek at some of these gorgeous pieces.  Three new tablecloths are part of the new collection, and I chose to feature this beautiful Lake Dreams tablecloth.

Handmade in India, the cloth is printed overall in shades of pale lime green, blues and grey.  Also available are matching napkins.  

I've tucked them into these darling mother of pearl napkin rings, an item previously available at Ten Thousand Villages. 

To show these linens off...

...I paired them with some of my own dishes and placemats.  I was very excited to see these new Highlands goblets.

Made in Cochabamba Bolivia from recycled glass, they are the perfect size and shape for water, wine, iced tea or just about any beverage.  

The matching Highlands carafe is equally lovely and very versatile.  Crafting beauty from reused material is again demonstrated in these tiny bud vases.  

 

Cleverly named Blossom, Posy and Petal, these vases can be used time and time again as recycled glass looks fabulous in so many settings.

I think they would make the perfect party favor for your luncheon guests!  My favorite item in the new collection has to be this Evening Lights candleholder.  

Made in India from shesham wood, it has a charming whitewash finish and holds 5 tea lights...

...a perfect centerpiece that reminds me of driftwood and puts me in a beach mood.  Who wouldn't love these adorable little...

...blue, green and aqua ceramic songbirds, carefully made by artisans from Chulucanas, Peru.  I've perched them all around my tablescape.  For a final touch,

I wove this garland of jute dragonflies throughout my setting.  Made in Viet Nam,

I have used them as part of many tables and they are always a charming addition.  Please follow the links that I have provided to find much more information about the products I have featured today and the artisans whose work is supported by Ten Thousand Villages. 

With stores all over the country, you might have a store near you, but if not, every item is available on at the store's website, www.tenthousandvillages.com.

I hope this table gave you a chance to dig your toes in the sand and dream of a place far away from Winter's dreary days.  This week, I'll be visiting the following parties.  Why don't you 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)

Loving the dragonflies???  Take another look...

The Big Comfy Quilt
A Bad Case of Spring Fever