Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Tablescape Thursday ~ Almost Vintage

It has been a pleasure these past few weeks to participate in Tablescape Thursday hosted by Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch. If you love dishes and beautiful table settings visit Susan, you will not be disappointed, she always sets a lovely table and welcomes you onto her wonderful porch. After visiting Susan you can click on the names of other participants to view even more tablescapes.

Most people who know me well, know that I love anything vintage, and I also love what I call 'almost vintage', it can be brand new reproductions, I do not discriminate, I still love the vintage look of these things and I will welcome them into my home.
Today it is my turn to have the girls for lunch again, there will only be four of us, and I have set my dining table for us with some of my vintage and 'almost vintage' finds.






I started with vintage linens that I had picked up at an estate sale on Long Island, NY.
I usually 'roll' my placemats and napkins around empty paper towel holders to keep them from wrinkling, but my husband's grandmother had taught me that linen tablecloths, placemats, and napkins should be ironed with perfect creases in them. She said that sharply creased linens were acceptable and easier to store (she was right about that!), but she said that soft or unsharp creases had to be ironed out.
I didn't do very well, the more I tried to get out the soft folds, the more wrinkled they became! My apologies.





Okay, let's focus on the positive now.


I love the detail work on the placemats and napkins ~





The luncheon plates belonged to my husband's grandmother.


The salad plates I bought myself at TJ Maxx a few years ago.




And the little dessert plates belonged to a friend's grandmother, she very kindly gifted them to me.

I love the design around the rim of these plates.






Both the platter and the serving dish at one time graced the table of my grandparents.





I took an old floral tin that was my Mom's and filled it with some silk flowers to create a very simple centerpiece.




The vintage looking glasses are actually reproductions that I had purchased at Anthropologie (on sale last year).






I have an extra place setting. Won't you please join us?



Please visit Susan to view the tablescapes of her many followers.



Also, Doodles By Lauren is having a GIVEAWAY today! Go leave a comment and maybe you will be the lucky winner of a beautiful one-of-a-kind original artwork by Lauren! The drawing is today so hurry!

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Fall Finds

While helping a friend search for something online I came across a website called Joyful Bride that sells favors for weddings and bridal showers, and they also sell favors for baby showers and other type parties. I clicked on their 'Seasonal' merchandise and was happily surprised to see many unique Fall decorations at very reasonable prices.



Lots of Fall candles!


Pretty tea light holders.



I wouldn't need a Fall wedding as an excuse to use these pretty little wedding cake candles in my Fall decorating.




This is such a pretty way to display place cards.




These are a little more rustic looking and I think they're adorable!



I also like the natural look of these candles.



I loved the idea of these soap leaves!


I think any of these would be a beautiful addition to a Thanksgiving tablescape.

Also you might want to visit Doodles By Lauren as she's having a GIVEAWAY to celebrate her 100th post! Lauren is a very talented artist, she creates wonderful children's art and I have been lucky enough to acquire a piece of custom art work by Lauren for my granddaughter Mia:

Monday, September 21, 2009

Change Of Season ~ Change Of Wardrobe


Summer garments...


...of pale pink and cream floral patterns, and the many shades of cool blue...


...give way to...




Fall attire!






It's fun to dress the house in plaids, (and pumpkins, and scarecrows, and squirrels, and leaves) and all the Autumn spice colors!

Please join Rhondi @ Rose Colored Glasses at her Welcome To Fall Party!

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Tablescape Thursday ~ Just A Little Brunch

Please join our hostess Susan @ Between Naps On The Porch for Tablescape Thursday, she always sets such a beautifully creative table out on her beautifully decorated porch. After viewing Susan's fine design you can then click on the names of the other participants.

My tablescape today is for brunch at the kitchen counter. I'll just be making scrambled eggs with garden vegetables added to them, buttered toast, and a tomato & cucumber salad.

Today I'll be using paper napkins and one of my everyday flatware sets. The placemats were purchased last year at Bestmor's (a Swedish shop) in Olde Mystik Village, Connecticut.


The green floral tray was also purchased at Bestmor's.


I'm using the dishes that belonged to my grandmother.



I am being joined for brunch by my four-year-old grandson, and his plastic cup is part of a child's dish set purchased from Ikea.




The butter dish was purchased at an outlet mall in a store called Kitchen Gadgets.





The coffee mug was from an Irish shop, it's part of a set that I've had for years.


The pink depression glass serving bowl belonged to my grandmother.




Okay, everything's just about ready.




It looks like my little man here is hungry!


I have plenty! Would you like to join us?

Then you can view all the other tablescapes at Between Naps On The Porch!

Sunday, September 6, 2009

I Could Live With This!

I obviously have very eclectic taste.
I could easily live with any of the following:

























I think my home must be a decorators nightmare for my home is just a hodgpodge mess of decorating styles. I wish I could just find one style I love and stick to it, but I haven't been able to do it thus far. Does anyone else have this problem or am I unique in this?