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.

Mimosa Morning

The following is a true story.  Sometimes, tablescapes..well..sort of...just happen!  As you probably already have heard, the Chicago area had a ridiculous number of 80 plus degree sunny days.  For those of you unfamiliar with March in Chicagoland...TOTALLY unheard of.  And reason to celebrate!  So I went shopping.  Found this scarf at Coldwater Creek (that I liked when it was full priced).  But today it was marked down... TWICE!  I got to thinking.  Before I actually wear this scarf, I'm seeing it on a tabletop.  I already have almost everything a need to set a sweet little table.  I couldn't wait to get home.  Now all I need is my photographer.  Well, lucky me.  Laura just happens to stop by after school, needing my daughter's help with photo project.  So, see.  This tablescape really and truly just happened.

I originally planned to use the scarf simply as a runner.  However, it was really quite long...so...I decided to tie the scarf around the table and was quite happy with the result.

Now I had an attractive soft knot and the fringe on the scarf was now able to be seen.  Honestly, the beautiful color combination of the scarf led the way for the rest of the tablescape.

I began my layering with a soft grey grass mat from Crate & Barrel.

Next I added a smaller, coral placemat they recently found at World Market on top of the grey.  All this simple table needed were my favorite plain white plates, but this time, since this table is for breakfast...

I brought out my seldom used, albeit very pretty, coffee cups and saucers.  The smoky handles of my Aero flatware...

(a current item at Crate & Barrel) were a good compliment to the grey.  A simple pale yellow linen napkin fancied up with these...

cute beaded napkin rings from Sur La Table completed my layers.  I have had these fabulous bright canary yellow champagne flutes for years,

and until today, never had quite the right spot for them.  I think they are perfect.  As is this chartreuse art glass vase from Sweden...

filled with carnations that are the ideal shade of salmon.  Excuse me while I grab a bottle of Proseco and settle in for a very special brunch.

Marigolds and Lemons

Before winter descends upon us, and our blogs are filled with festive holiday tabletops, I thought I would set one last bright and sunny table.

This tablescape was put together with a little bit of this...and a dash of that.  My Hamptons green rimmed dinner plates are from Crate and Barrel as well as the cheery orange and yellow marigold napkins.

These bright yellow mats, I picked up at Kohls.

Perched on top of my favorite white plates is a stunning little Herend lemon, part of my Aunt Tess' collection.  On the other, a pretty yellow art glass piece.

Years ago I found these fun orange goblets at Home Goods.  They come in so handy, time and time again. The marigolds...snatched before the frost ...from my garden!

I can't wait to set my Thanksgiving tables next week.  I'm thinking a little silver, a little gold...and the debut of some awesome new flatware!  Make sure to check back and see what all of us have been up to each and every Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Good Morning Sunshine !

In a perfect world, I would like enough place settings in a pattern to set a table for 12, or maybe 8...and at least 6.  But that just does not always happen.

Such is the case with these gorgeous canary dishes...something that my Aunt Tess just had to have!  Can you blame her?

So what do I do with just 2 place settings?  Set a table for two, of course.

vintage canary yellow stoneware: pattern and source unknown

tablerunner: a scarf from Ten Thousand Villages

napkins: made by me (fabric is Paperweight Algae by Kaffe Fassett)