Valentine's Day Tablescape

Time to say "Good-bye" to cute (and Ralph, the frog)......Pat set the table this week with Valentine's Day in mind. The goal was to use items that we have had for a long time - nothing new. Since both of us are dish collectors, it was hard to do.

Pat chose the time honored Valentine color theme of red and white. She pulled out the work horse -  red Waechtersbach Fun Factory dinner plate instead of the Scarlett Fiestaware plate that she had planned to use and went from there. In less than an hour, the table was set. Sweet, simple, yet elegant.....

Over view of the table

The place setting

First layer of the place setting is a double napkin held by a faux diamond napkin ring

Next layer is a heart shaped salad plate

White Fiestaware Luncheon plate is the perfect size for the next layer

The "work horse" red dinner plate is Fun Factory by Waechtersbach

These fantastic chargers are from the Maryland China Company

Flatware is from Pier 1

The five piece place setting

You can see the detail in these vintage napkins

These glasses were also from Pier 1

Pat used this cute heart shaped plate as the bread and butter plate to carry out the theme

Pat used a "diamond ring" ornament to signify love for this special day 

The "stack"

Clear heart shaped votive holders sit on small heart shaped liners

Pat used Christmas ornaments from Betty Boop's Christmas tree - true red and glittery

Assorted sizes of crystal candle holders

One last look from the other end of the table

Have a very Happy Valentine's Day.

Tablecloth:  Pat's gift to me
White Chargers:  from the Maryland China Company
Red Dinner Plate:  Red Fun Factory by Waechtersbach from Replacements
White Luncheon Plate:  White Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Red Heart Salad, Bread and Butter, Votive Liners:  Mail order years ago
Red Flatware:  from Pier 1
Glassware:  Pier 1
White Napkin:  vintage napkins from Art and Old Things antique store in Fortuna, CA
Red Napkin:  Handmade by Pat
Napkin Rings:  Christmas ornaments from Pier 1
Candle Holders:  Pat's personal collection
White Milk Glass Centerpiece:  from Art and Old Things in Fortuna, CA
Candles and Votives:  Michael's
Heart Shaped Clear Votive Holders:  Dollar Store
Red Ornaments:  from Betty Boop's Christmas Tree every year

We are joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" this week: http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/



Winter in Humboldt County, CA Tablescape

Pat and I jumped at the chance to decorate the table with a Winter theme in mind (we are linking our blog to Cuisine Kathleen's blog  for Wednesday night's "Let's Dish" this week who issued that challenge to all tablescapers), but suddenly, we realized that Humboldt County weather is not really "Winter" weather. Eureka (our home town) sits on the Pacific Ocean (we are about 5 1/2 hours north of San Francisco - we are really Northern California - not San Francisco and even then, there is another nearly two hour drive north of us to Oregon.) Coastal daytime temperatures in the Winter hover around the 50's and rarely get below 40 degrees. Summer temperature is normally in the 60's (and rarely exceed 70 degrees.) We get about 33 inches of rain a year around the bay - most all of it in December through March. Parts of the county inland can exceed 40-50 inches of rain.

The trade off for little or no seasonal weather is we have "green" all year long. Gorgeous Redwoods fill the landscape. Everything is always lush - that is, if you can see it through the fog........ I forgot to mention that. We have lots and lots of fog all year long. Lots and lots and lots.........

Anyway, Pat chose green (for the landscape) and blue (blue for the ocean) for the tablescape. And since it rains most of the winter, she added flashlights and candles. Yes, Humboldt County is forever losing power in the Winter. Most people have a "kit" for just that emergency (and did I mention one for earthquakes? And one for windstorms? And one for Mud slides that close all the highways in and out of the county?)

Overview of the table

Close up of the place setting

Hammered style flatware adds texture

Simple, sleek glassware from the Dollar Store

The casual napkin fold consists of blue and lemongrass green napkins placed in the soup bowl

Pat used a Scarlett Fiestaware Salad plate to hold the Dollar Store soup bowl

The next layer is a Lemongrass green Fiestaware luncheon plate

The dinner plate is Fun Factory by Waechtersbach

The huge charger is a 13" Cobalt Blue Espana charger from Tabletops Unlimited

Pat made sure each guest has a candle "nearby"

Pat chose Rainy Day Betty for the centerpiece

Each guest got a favor - naturally a flashlight

The five piece place setting - the hammered handles reminded Pat of rain drops

These beautiful votives are from Tuesday Morning

Ralph watching over the table....

I told you my sister had a wicked sense of humor - poor Ralph..........

One last look

 

 

We are linking to Cuisine Kathleen's Let Dish  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/ this Wednesday evening.

Blue Chargers:  Cobalt Espana byTabletops Unlimited from eBay and Replacements
Red Dinner Plates:  Red Fun Factory by Waechtersbach from Replacements
Lemongrass Luncheon Plates, Sauce Bowls, and Bread and Butter Plates:  Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Macy's and Kohl's
Scarlett Salad Plates: Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Grass green Bowls:  Dollar Store last year
Hammered-look Flatware:  from Costco
Glassware:  Dollar Store
Napkins:  Handmade by Pat
Betty Boop Centerpiece:  from Heuer's Florist (locally owned store)
Cobalt blue Votive Holders:  Tuesday Morning
Votives, candles and Mirror: Michael's
Flashlights:  Hardware store

Painter's Tablescape

My sister Pat has a wicked sense of humor. OK - so it has taken me thirteen years to pick the "right" color to paint my house, and yes, I did choose beige........I know - not the most exciting color in the world. But, at least, it is over. Beige it is. The painters are here and the color is going on as I write. My sister decided to throw a "celebration" luncheon to commemorate the "event." And, of course, the table reflects her choice of themes.

Color is the key word to describe the tablescape. Pat used every color of Fiestaware that we own. She borrowed the painter's overalls to use as the basis for the placemats. She took eight different colored napkins and napkin rings to add to the settings. The centerpiece is a mass of colored silk flowers arranged in a paint can. All in all, it made a very colorful impact. And best of all, the Luncheon ladies loved it.


Over view of the table

Scarlett, Tangerine, Rose, and Cinnabar Fiestaware with a Peacock colored napkin

Cobalt, Peacock, White, and Marigold Fiestaware with an Orange napkin and Lemongrass ring

Periwinkle, Paprika, Plum, and Lemongrass Fiestaware with a soft Yellow napkin and green ring

Chocolate, Scarlett, Sunshine Yellow, and Juniper Fiestaware with a Lavender napkin and Orange ring

Sea Mist, Flamingo, Cobalt, and Tangerine Fiestaware with Lemongrass Green napkin and Purple ring

Sunshine Yellow, White, Evergreen, and Plum Fiestaware with a Purple napkin and Red napkin ring

Shamrock, Apricot, Persimmon, and Evergreen Fiestaware with a Hot Pink napkin and Blue napkin ring

Turquoise, Rose, Heather, and Black Fiestaware with a Green napkin and Yellow napkin ring

The Vase???? A lovely Sherwin Williams paint can courtesy of the painters......

Just one of the Periwinkle Blue Fiestaware candle holders that Pat used

Juniper colored Fiestaware candle holder

Pat used simple but elegant Spode "Image" flatware since the place setting was so "busy"

Close up of the five piece place setting

Pat also used simple and unadorned stemmed drinkware

One of eight "individually designed" placemats

Rose colored Fiestaware salt and pepper shakers

Turquoise salt and pepper shakers add another color to the table

One last view from the other end of the table

Where it all came from:
Tablecloth Drop Cloth - Ace Hardware
Assorted Dishware - Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Macy's and Replacements.com
Flatware - Image by Spode from Tuesday Morning
Water and Wine Glassware:  Dollar Store
Champagne Glass - "Bubbles Galore" by Maxwell Williams from Tuesday Morning
Yellow Candles - Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Paint Chips, Paint Stirrers, Paint Can - Gregg Allen Painting
Flowers - Michael's