Trev and Gary's "frugal" tablescape

Thought it would be fun to post a tablescape of our cousin's this time. Pat and I challenged Trev to design a table "on the cheap" without using any of his Waterford, Spode, Haviland, Epiag, Lenox, sterling silver, etc. So he took us up on it and came up with a pretty neat table. None of the dishes, glasses, or placemats were over a dollar. He borrowed some items and went to garden and the neighbor's for flowers.

Trev and Gary's dining room table holds six comfortably - they were having seven people over for dinner. They set up a small square table nearby and used the same theme. Both tables were beautiful. I only wished I had taken more pictures.


Over view of the Dining room table.



Just another view

Dollar store stemware worked well for the theme.

Trev made two gorgeous flower arrangements in soup bowls of the same dish pattern.

Simple and elegant salt and pepper shakers (not cheap but we let it slide......)

Gary turned the lights down just before serving the meal.

A quick look at the "extra" table. Naturally, it has a fresh flower arrangement, too.

One last look.

Dinner plates and placemats:  Rite Aid Drug Store on sale

Glassware:  Dollar Store

Flatware:  Borrowed

Charger:  Borrowed

Halloween 2 - Spiders

Spiders are a much maligned insect. They are definitely ugly. They do not make good pets. Their webs are never welcomed. But they make a great addition to a Halloween table (that is - if they are plastic.) Pat and I decided to use these hairy little guys are the starting point to our table this week. Admittedly, Pat wasn't as enthusiastic about them as I was, but like the "trooper" that she is, she gathered up dishware, flatware, glasses, and yes, spiders for the tablescape. Her daughter was over for a marathon run this weekend through the redwoods - naturally, we got her involved in helping us.

So - we began with the web. Spiderweb placemats from Target were an inexpensive beginning. Black Waechtersbach dinner plates, tangerine Fiestaware luncheon plates, then lemongrass Fiestaware salad plates followed by black Fiestaware bread and butter plates were stacked and held a napkin with a fantastic spider napkin ring (from Pier 1 this year.) By the time we were through, we had used several dozen spiders that helped make a fun and, we think, an attractive table.

Over view of the table.

Close up of the place setting.

This is the fabulous spider napkin ring that we took the table colors from.

Popular Treble clef flatware from Gourmet Settings were the perfect choice.

These Spider lanterns were found at Ross this year.

A lemongrass colored Fiestaware vegetable bowl holds one of the guests of honor.

Black Metlox candle holders holding orange tapers were added for color.

Pat chose black water and wine glasses by Riezart from Replacements.com

One last look.

Spiderweb placemats:  Target

Flatware:  Treble Clef by Gourmet Settings from Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Black Waechtersbach Dinner Plates:  From Tuesday Morning and Replacements

Fiestaware:  by Homer Laughlin from Kohl's, Macy's and Replacements

Napkins:  Handmade by Pat

Spider Napkin ring:  From Pier 1

Black Glassware: by Riezart from Replacements

Metlox Candle holders:  From eBay

Orange Tapers:  From Michael's

Black Spider Lanterns:  From Ross

Black gnarled tree:  From Robert's (a local gift store out of business)

Spiders:  From Michael's and Dollar Tree

Formal Halloween Tablescape

Most tablescape bloggers are showing very elaborate and highly decorated tables this week. Pat and I wanted to do "something different" - as usual - for our first Halloween table. Next week we'll bring on the black color, the spiders, the spooky. The table this week focuses on a more formal holiday. Pat did use a less formal Fiestaware (albeit plum colored and orange), but also added stemmed goblets, tapered candles and a simple, classic napkin fold.

The centerpiece features a very detailed Department 56 Raggedy Witch in matching plum and orange colors. Pat raised her up to show better and then placed orange netting on the table to create a "ghost-like, misty" feeling. This is definitely not your usual Halloween table.

Over view of the table

The place setting uses a miniature pumpkin grown in Pat's garden.

These goblets are from Pier 1 last year.

You can see the detail of the purple Noritake flatware.

Pat used black Depressionware candlesticks.

Betty, naturally, dressed for the occasion in stunning black gauze and spiders.

Betty's dog also dressed up.



Orange Placemats:  Tuesday Morning

Purple Placemats:  Pier 1

Purple Flatware:  by Noritake from eBay

Crystal Water and Wine Goblets:  from Pier 1

Purple Fiestaware:  by Homer Laughlin from Macy's

Orange Fiestaware:  by Homer Laughlin from Kohl's

Orange Napkins:  Handmade by Pat

Black Candlesticks:  Depression Glass

Black Tree:  Target several years ago

Raggedy Witch:  by Department 56 purchased years ago

Betty's Dachshund:  from Danbury Mint

French Chef Tablescape

Time to say "Goodbye" to Germany (and Oktoberfest) and move on to France. Pat was in Redding last weekend to run/walk a marathon with her daughter and granddaughter, and while she was there, she managed to check out a few thrift stores. She found some great plates that she purchased and brought back to my house. In less than an hour, she had a new tablescape on the table. (Fortunately, I have an unfinished room above my garage that we store Christmas decorations and other "supplies" for holidays. Pat was able to gather some items from one of her previous Christmas theme trees to use for the centerpiece.)

Over view of the table

Meet Pierre, the French chef.

Close up of the place setting.

No water glass.....Pat used three different kinds of wine glasses.

There are four different scenes - each one features Pierre.

Pat use a black Waechtersbach over-sized dinner plate as an additional charger.

A white coupe-shaped charger was the foundation.

You can barely see the beautiful black Depression glass candle holder.

The star of the show - Pierre. The checks of his apron match the rim of the dinner plates.

Pat designed the name card holders. She used wine corks and hot glued them together.

One last look.

Black placemats:  Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Stainless steel flatware:  Inexpensive set years old
White Charger:  By Bernardaud
Black dinner plate:  by Waechtersbach from Tuesday Morning
Chef plates:  Thrift store in Redding, CA
Glassware:  Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Black Napkin:  Handmade by Pat
Black candle holder:  Depression glass - gift from our dish crazy cousin Trev
Assorted grapes, vine and candles:  Michael's
Pierre the French Chef:  Ross
Wine corks:  Saved by family and friends