The Happy Girl

One of my favorite places to find treasures is a local vintage shop in Glen Ellyn, Illinois called the Bountiful Barn.  The barn is actually a repurposed garage, and therefore closes each Winter.  Well...opening day for the season was a few weekends ago, and I couldn't wait to see what goodies the ladies had collected.  I was immediately drawn to these collins glasses...

...their sides painted with charming pastel florals, four different designs in all. I do love love mid-century barware...SOLD!

I was a happy girl.  But how would I incorporate them into a tablescape?  I typically am drawn to bolder colors.  A challenge was in store.

First, I pulled out this vintage pale pink and white vintage gingham tablecloth.  That will work nicely.   What could be better than these darling pastel checked dinner and salad plates from Home Goods.

I love being to mix and match the colors.

I simply layered them on top of these lacy white paper Lula placemats from Crate & Barrel. 

A simple pale yellow linen napkin will do just fine.

I haven't used these chunky champagne flutes (Crate & Barrel, circa 1990) in awhile...

...and I do like how the shapes of the two glasses mirror each other.  Tiny daffodils are tucked into little white ceramic vases.

But what will I use for a centerpiece?  Certainly I must something pastel-y.  And then I remembered HER!!

She's been tucked away for years...maybe just waiting for this occasion.  Made by Bjorn Wiinblad for Rosenthal in the 1970's (I do believe), this little girl is sweet in every way...

...from her funny turned up nose to her silly smile.  My Aunt Tess must truly have loved this artist, because her collection contained quite a few of his pieces.

I tucked some cheery pink berries into her pointy hat.  What a happy girl she is.

My pastel tablescape is complete.   I think I'll invite some girlfriends over.  We'll have watercress salad...and finger sandwiches...and petit fours...and pink lemonade...and proseco and we will be happy girls!

Check it Out

Sometimes all that a tablescape needs is one fresh new item, a little imagination and a good memory.  Let me explain.  I recently spotted this colorful red, yellow and green plaid tablecloth at Home Goods.

It was very reasonably priced, under ten dollars, and really rather pretty.  Couldn't resist.  I immediately thought of these cute (funny shaped) polka dot napkins that I found at West Elm a few seasons ago.

Things were falling to place.  My plain white plates, with their subtle white-on-white checks would be lovely...

...especially perched atop these shiny red chargers.

I decided to add a runner...well actually a yellow polka dot scarf repurposed as a runner...just for fun.  Wait a minute!  I think I have THE perfect salad plates tucked way in the back of a kitchen cabinet.  These are vintage 70's or 80's...something my dear Aunt Tess discovered at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Like me, she really did love dishes, and all of the special things from her collection hold very fond memories for me.  This table was meant for these plates!  A tried green wine glasses and yellow champagne flutes but settled upon these deep ruby red goblets.

Silly me...I usually use these only at the holidays.   Years ago, I bought this pale green ceramic Arranage It vase from Southern Living at Home, and loved it so much, I bought four more to give as Christmas gifts.  It is fitted with a "frog" so all you have to do is pop in 19 flowers and you have a gorgeous arrangement every time.

Alstroemeria work particularly well, with the added bonus of looking great for at least a week!   The last detail was to light a few votives...

...and my table was complete.

Finding those old plates was such a treat, and it all started with a new tablecloth.