The (Ugly) Truth About Acorns

You've probably seen them...the packages of half-faux acorns from Pottery Barn...the perfect little autumn decoration.  Fill a jar, scatter across the table.  But at $14, I thought they were a bit pricey,

especially when the real thing is lying on the ground for the taking (as long as you beat the squirrels to them).  So on one of my walks, I filled my pockets with the nicest acorns I could find.  I was quite enamored with my collection...until several days later when (gasp!)...I discovered white worms crawling out of my pretty little acorns!!  Talk about unwanted house guests.  Thank goodness they were not on my dinner table!  So as you can imagine, I look at these pest-free acorns from Pottery Barn in a totally new light. They are worth every penny!  Nonetheless, the acorns are the inspiration for today's autumn tablescape.  If you need desire fresh, inexpensive and seasonal table linens, march right over the Home Goods.

That's where I found this lovely rust and floral Ralph Lauren tablecloth.  Instead of a runner, I dressed up the middle of this table with this charming burlap striped ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

They really had an interesting collection of natural fiber ribbons of various width.  All you need is a little imagination.  And while I normally don't feel the need to match my napkins, I couldn't pass these up.  So they would not get lost on the cloth,

I turned them into a pretty little raffia-wrapped bundle and set them atop my plain white plates.  These plain white plates were in turn set atop my favorite navy blue plates

(The Blues by Arabia of Finland).  And because I love to layer, I added simple jute mats...

...they really help the blue plates to stand out.  I know I've been using them a lot lately, but tis the season, so here are my gorgeous

brown Lenox wine and water goblets.  Oh...I just remembered these chunky acorn candle pots.

I've had them for years, Crate & Barrel, I believe.  A Fall tabletop is so easy to accessorize.  The more the merrier.  I'm so glad these cute corn husk flowers from...

...(Serenade in Wheaton) get to come to the party again.  Of course, a bit of candlelight is in order, especially since it's dark at 4:30!  I chose these shiny mercury glass tea lights and nestled them here and there, and also these antique Chinese brass candle sticks.

These were always on display in my parent's home for as long as I can remember!  What a nice memory to bring them out again.  And last, but not least (they are the star of the story today)

I've scattered handfuls of darling little Pottery Barn acorns all over my plates.  You have most likely started your holiday preparations, but please spend a few relaxing minutes checking out the fabulous 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)

Take another look, one year ago: Marigolds and Lemons

Dress Rehearsal

"Seriously...cooking that huge meal isn't enough?  Now you're telling me I have to practice setting my table!"  Now don't get me wrong.  I thoroughly enjoy preparing Thanksgiving dinner, but as you all know, my true passion is setting the table.  So I take my time, I play around with this and that, and most importantly, I have fun.  Oh, where will I begin?  On the actual day, I'll be setting one very long "Pilgrim-style" table for 22, but today I'm working out my plan on my dining room table.  Rather than renting linens for the big table,

I stumbled across these plaid tablecloths at Home Goods...reasonably priced, pretty, seasonal...they'll do just fine.  Last year I purchased these "Gobble, Wish, Give, Thanks" salad plates at West Elm.

Not your traditional turkey plates...I just love them and am happy to get to use them again.  The turkey plate season is unfortunately quite short!

It is really nice to have a large stack of plain white plates for an occasion such as this one.  While at Home Goods, I also pick up these golden napkins, and figured out a new way to display them...quite by accident.

I rather like how they look, simply gathered up on one side with these cute...

...Ravi pewter napkin rings from Crate & Barrel. I wanted my table to have a natural look, so I chose some jute placemats, but my white plates initially looked so dull on them.  Maybe this table needed a bit of glamour.  Yes...I like these shimmery red beaded mats (Pottery Barn, many years ago)...

...and I like them even better layered along with the jute mats! 

 We'll be sipping from my gorgeous brown Lennox water and wine goblets.

I still cannot believe these were a resale shop find.  I think creating a centerpiece for an autumn table is really rather simple.

I found this very interesting grape vine garland at Hobby Lobby and just kept building upon it...my favorite oh-so-versatile candle holder,

this time entwined with red berries, 

followed by mini pumpkins and gourds

and acorns and dried oranges and colorful leaves.  While I will most likely need to modify and simplify my "Pilgrim-style" table, I hope it still retains the look I have achieved here today.

So go ahead...play with your dishes...those turkey plates only come out once a year after all!  Need more ideas?  Check out the following parties for Thanksgiving 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)

Like my turkey plates?  Please take another look..."Gobble, Wish, Give, Thanks".

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

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!