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

Even More Placemat Fun

Welcome back to the next installment of Placemat Fun.  Remember my bold flowered runner from a few weeks back.  As you recall, I made this runner out of three reversible placemats.  This week, the placemats will shine on their own...as placamats!  I began layering away.

This tablescape begins with a Chilwich "salt and pepper" runner...such a versatile pieces that is easy to dress UP or dress down.

I opted for white plates, just to let the vibrant flowered mats be the star of the show, but I switched things up and chose square plates this time.

These vivid tomato red napkins from Sur La Table certainly stand out against the white background.

I've dressed them up further with some bold black and silver square napkin rings.

Once again, I've broken the rules and lined up my Aero flatware just a bit differently.

There is nothing timid about this table, including these hefty bowl shaped wine goblets.  Remember those orange napkin rings from the first table table setting?

Today, they have a new job as votive holders!  I was lucky to find these chartreuse green Fuji mums.

They are just the ideal color!  Three Placemat Fun tablescapes down...one to go.

Do you have a favorite?  I'd love to know.  Next week, I wrap this project up.  Crossing my fingers for some cooler weather...dying to set a few more outdoor tables before the summer is over.  This week I will be participating in:

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)

Hope to see you there.

The Big Comfy Quilt

Count me amongst the vast number of table setters who sing the praises of quilts as tablecloths.  Anders' worn, faded and incredibly soft quilt is the inspiration for today's table.

I've been wanting to set an outdoor table for some time and this quilt felt just right.  My patio table is round, and I find setting a round table a nice change of pace.  Since this quilt is so faded,

I tried hard to select all of my accessories to carry out this theme.  For placemats, I chose these very natural...

...crocheted grass mats (Home Goods, a recent purchase).  I added a charger (The Blues by Arabia of Finland) and these cute plates with blue dotted rims.

I have always loved these floral print napkins which I found at Pottery Barn many, many years ago.

I even chose "faded" flowers, paired with this old vase, painted in muted colors.

Don't these tiny canning jars make perfect votive holders?

A nice crisp white wine will be so tasty sipped from these lovely cobalt wine glasses.  I've paired them with a cobalt water goblet Thank you, Sharon!

My sweet little dragonfly garland from Ten Thousand Villages looks so summery!

I really like the way the quilt drapes on the table...just makes the whole table feel comfortable.  I won't worry about spills...this quilt has already been washed a hundred times.

This patio table was so much fun to set, I think it's time to pull out Sofie's old quilt...stay tuned.  Next week, a tablescape that "sparkles"...hope to see you then. 

Purple and Green

If I had to answer the question, "What is your favorite color?", I think I would say purple...and green.  Oh wait, that's two!  How can I pick just one, when there are so many great colors out there.  And when you begin to combine shades, magic happens.

So here is a tablescape featuring one of my favorite color combos...purple and green.  Several seasons ago, I picked up these...

....pretty purple woven mats from Target.  Then I layered...and I layered, starting with a simple plain white plate.  I have had these octagon-shaped French purple plates and olive bowls for years.

With their charming beaded borders, they are my "go to" bowls for many a pasta dinner.  Being the fabric lover that I am, I could not resist these two companion fabrics from Hobby Lobby.

The flipside has these same colors, this time as big zig-zaggy stripes.  The double sided napkins have a very nice "heavy" feel to them, AND. more importantly, are so fun to mix and match.

This time, I decided to make my napkins double sided.  The first side is covered in concentric circles of gorgeous lavender, fuscia, pea green and sea foam dots, all on a rich deep purple background.

I think the dark handles of my Aero flatware look perfect sitting atop these linens.  For glassware, I pulled from my stash these sweet little purple etched water (or wine) glasses...

...that I found at Pottery Barn many, many years ago.  And not to forgett green, I also added these beautiful optic mint green flutes (Horchow, years ago)...

...which add height and sparkle to the table.  My centerpiece is oh-so simple...just some fresh purple Fuji mums lined up in my new...

...recycled green glass vase made in Mexico from Pottery Barn.  I'm envisioning many ways to use this versatile piece.  So there you have it...

...a simple happy tablescape celebrating two of my favorite colors, purple and green!  Coming next...  my first patio tablesetting.  Please drop in, you're all invited!