Autumn Spode Reynolds Tablescape

Our great-niece is attending the local University (Humboldt State University is the northern-most California campus and is located just north of where I live. It sits among the Redwoods right near the Pacific coast - both Pat and I attended the school, albeit more than fifty years ago....) Anyway, Maya dropped by to visit this week and instantly "fell" into tablescaping. She was here for hours playing with dishes and having a great time with "the old aunts." Here's a table she helped design:

Flatware is "Sofia" by Hampton Forge

Once again, Pat turned to one of her very favorites for glassware - from the Dollar Tree

The charger is Spode "Vermicelli"

The centerpiece is a used olive jar filled with curly stems from Pat's yard and silk greenery surrounded by a grapevine garland, grapes and wine corks

Pat used small glass jars filled with wine corks to raise the candles

One last look

Where it came from:

Sage Green Place Mats and Napkins - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond several years ago

Charger - "Vermicelli Yellow" [1999-2004] by Spode from Replacements.com and eBay

Dinnerware - "Reynolds" by Spode [1954-1988] from eBay and Replacements.com

Flatware - Sage "Sofia" by Hampton Forge from Tuesday Morning nine or ten years ago

Glassware - from the Dollar Tree (always available)

Grapes, Corks, and Greenery - from Michael's

Glass Jar Vase - from Costco (filled with olives) last Winter

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Autumn Lenox Softwind Tablescape

It has been a while since Pat last used Lenox "Softwind" [1979-1983] for a weekly tablescape. As some of you know, this delightful, sweet pattern was my everyday dinnerware during the early years of my marriage. The stuff must have been made of iron - it went through years of wear and hundreds of meals - and only two coffee mugs broke in all that time. I stopped using it because I was so tired of it. Now, as the years go by, it is fun to bring it out once in a while to set a table....

Pat started with Pier 1's reversible faux leather place mats in beige to coordinate with the dinnerware

Flatware is "Rustic Twig" - really neat to look at but impossible to use. Needless to say, the handles are extremely uncomfortable and hard to hold. 

The brown charger is a simple, inexpensive plastic charger that you can buy anywhere and spray painted with plastic adhesive spray paint [Pat's husband used Fusion] to match the brown on the plate.

Glassware is "Espresso Brown" by Lenox - not practical for everyday. I always used Lenox brown "Clarion" tumblers - and surprisingly enough, none of them broke through the years of use.

The cup and saucer are cute but totally useless because they hold very little coffee. We always used the mugs.

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Reversible Faux Leather Place Mats - from Pier 1 several years ago

Brown Chargers - Inexpensive lacquer chargers spray painted brown with plastic adhesive spray paint

Dinnerware - "Softwind" Temperware by Lenox from Walsh's (a local wedding and gift store that sadly went out of business years ago)

Flatware - "Rustic Twig" from Black Forest Decor (a mail order site)

Glassware - "Espresso Brown" by Lenox - a gift from my niece

Brown Napkins - Handmade by Pat to match the charger

Beige Napkin - from Pier 1 two or three years ago

Napkin Rings - PVC pipe cut into 1" rounds and spray painted to match the blue from the dinnerware

Wooden Candle Holders - from Pat's collection

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/