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)

Smokin'

To my friends and followers...for those of you who thought I was perhaps in some way "unwell", I am very happy to report that I am just fine.  My absence can best be described as a holiday overdose...a few too many dishes to wash, an overwhelming pile of napkins to iron, and all those holiday plates to safely pack away.  I just wasn't feeling creative or inspired and needed a little break.  And after weeks of looking at my bare dining room table, I knew it was time to return.  With no imminent holidays, I opted to simply set a table with things on hand.

As you know, there is always some element of my table that is the inspiration for the entire setting.  This time it was some beautiful floral fabric, a warm smoky grey background covered with coral and plum and gold mums.  So I...

...whipped up a set of napkins.  Then magically, the rest of the tablescape fell into place, one piece at a time.  I remembered these peachy-coral salad plates from West Elm.  Haven't used those in awhile.

I think they'd look perfect atop my shiny grey Hayes dinner plates from Crate & Barrel, which I layer with my gold leaf(ish) ruffly chargers, all sitting on these lacy paper placemats.

Who can't use a little more gold, so I added these chunky metallic napkin rings (Ten Thousand Villages), turning my napkin into a handsome bow tie.

Never, ever walk through a store without checking out the scarf department...because the scarf department should really be renamed the table runner department!  See what I found at Target...

...grey and gold and pink and cream and fringy and perfect!  Speaking of grey...look what I got for Christmas from my husband.  He found this fabulous smoky vintage barware at a shop in the city.  You should see the martini pitcher that came along with it!

Today I am using them as candle holders, because I have other plans for my beverages.  I found these amazing tumblers at a darling little vintage shop.  How I wished I had paid better attention when the shop owner told me the maker.  If anyone knows the answer, please share it with me.  I'd love to find out more about them.

Mid-century, I'm quite sure, they are so much fun with pink and gold fruits and leaves, all on a smoky grey background.  Quite a find.  My table still needed a centerpiece, so I took a peek at my stash.  This Rosenthal vase will be perfect...

 

...a tablesetters dream come true, with flowers of just the right colors.  It might be frigid outside, but tonight I'll be dining here...

...at my smokin' hot table.  Well, that was fun...and it's good to be back.  Please join me this week 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)

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)

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!