Another Mid-Century Modern Tablescape

A while back, Pat and I were out "bargain hunting" (as we do frequently) and found some really great stuff. Today's table is set using a set of mid-century Franciscan fine china that we couldn't pass up. Not to everyone's liking, the pattern called "Carmel" was introduced in 1952 and was produced until 1981. It featured a simple flower in the center of a platinum trimmed plate. Pat decided to dress it up a bit by adding some  color to give it a more modern look.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Discontinued in 1937, the silverplate flatware is not quite mid-century but the sleek style seemed to go with the dishware pattern. It is called "Reverie" by Oneida.

Glassware is "Fedora" by Spegielau

The maroon charger is "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa

I love all the pieces available in the flatware pattern

The candle holder holds 14" tapers. It was part of a gift from Pat to me for driving an hour a day for a week to feed her hummingbirds while she was gone. I told you before that Pat has dozens of those rascally, pesty hummingbirds in her yard and they know a soft touch - she fills up three bird feeders at least once a day so they can "dine in style." 

From my garden, the statice last a very long time when dried

These crystal candle holders are from Tuesday Morning and hold 12" tapers

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - LinenTablecloth.com
Silver Placemat - Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Dinnerware - "Carmel" by Franciscan from Cuddly Bear Boutique (a local antique and second hand store)
Maroon Charger - "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa from eBay and Replacements
Glassware - "Fedora" by Spegielelau from Replacements
Maroon Napkins - by Food Network from Kohl's
Flatware - "Reverie" by Oneida Silver discontinued in 1937 from family and eBay
Silver Napkin Rings - from Antiques & Old Things (our favorite local antique store)
Crystal 3-Candle Holder - a gift from Pat also from Antiques & Old Things
Small Crystal Candle Holders - by Oleg Cassini from Tuesday Morning
Maroon Vases - from The Tailwaggers (a second hand store that supports our local Humane Society and various other local animal organizations)
Silk Flowers and Crystal Tea Light Holders - Michael's
14" White Tapers - from the Ferndale Emporium (another great local store)
Other Candles and Tea Lights - Bed, Bath, and Beyond

We will be joining Christine for "Table It" at Rustic & Refined this Monday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/

We will also be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Gnome Tablescape

My sister cannot deny that she is a fanatical tablescaper - she travelled half way up and down the state of California checking out every WalMart from the Oregon border to South San Francisco looking for some garden stake gnomes to go on our table this week. (Oregon is over two hours north from here and San Francisco is more than six hours south - more if you hit traffic.) Only WalMart carried the variety she wanted, and Pat was determined to get them. We've renamed her BMW the "Gnomemobile."

And if that wasn't enough.....Then she wanted denim placemats - she set about looking for them all over the place but to no avail. So - she decided to make her own and the denim napkins to match. She grew the plants specifically for the table. And to make matters worse - Pat does not like gnomes. Can't stand them. (I'm really sure she likes them even less after this table......)

Well, anyway, many miles later, lots of burned tire tread and yards of material cut and sewn, Pat set the table for this week: invasion of the garden gnomes.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Flatware is the ever popular "Treble Clef" by Gourmet Settings

One of the infamous WalMart Garden Gnomes - every glass had a different gnome. Pat calls it "attention to detail." I call it straight jacket time.....

The place setting starts with this very cute Garden Gnome hard at work

Pat used one of her favorite plates - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach

The charger is "Lemon Leaf" by Bordallo Pinheiro

To continue the garden theme, Pat used tea light candles in tiny terracotta trays as votive holders

Pat grew the impatiens in her greenhouse for this table.....she wanted this specific color. Does the word "crazy" come to mind yet???

I could write a book about the hunt for the centerpiece gnomes - just suffice it to say it was a very long, hard search.........and then we found them at the Supermarket. Go figure....

Tiny terracotta pots are used to hold salt and pepper

For the centerpiece, Pat used different sized terracotta pots turned over to raise the gnomes 

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Denim Placemats and Denim Napkins - Handmade by Pat for this table
Flatware - "Treble Clef" by Gourmet Settings from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Glassware - "Sphere" from Pier 1
Charger - "Lemon Leaf" by Bordallo Pinheiro from eBay
Red Dinner Plate - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach from Replacements
Gnome Plates - "Kiss That Frog" Gnome from eBay
Red Bread/Butter Plate - "Scarlett" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Red Napkins - from Pier 1
Centerpiece Gnomes - from our local Grocery Store after searching every garden center within 200 miles, every flea market, every rummage sale, every boutique, every antique store, every and any place we could think of.....
Garden Stake Gnomes (in each glass) - from any and every WalMart in Northern California
Terracotta Pots and Moss - from Michael's
Tiny Spoons for the Salt/Pepper Holders - Maryland China Company
Plants - Impatiens grown by Pat for this table

First - our thanks to Kathleen at "Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish" for last week's challenge. What fun! It gave us a chance to share memories and old times.

We also want to thank Christine at "Rustic & Refined" for the opportunity to join her new "Table It" Link Party this Monday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/

And we will be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday: http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Wedding China Challenge

Cuisine Kathleen at Let's Dish (http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/) has invited tablescapers to another unique challenge this week: design a table using either your wedding china or perhaps something that was passed on to you. Pat thought it would be great fun to use my wedding china for "The Welcomed Guest" and her wedding china for our other blog (Table for One.)

My china, "Wild Rose," was produced by the Carl Schumann Porcelain Factory of Bavaria, Germany. Some of the earliest documented pieces date back to the 1920's, but the pattern produced by Schumann was discontinued in the 1970's. (Other porcelain companies bought the pattern/molds and continued to produce it but the quality was not as good.)

FYI:  Schumann porcelain is known for its colorful and highly decorative and bold patterns and "Wild Rose" is no exception. It is definitely not for everyone......but I loved it then (over 45 years ago) and I still love it now. (My entire "Schumann story" is told in last year's Springtime challenge post including my 40 year search for a soup tureen [http://thewelcomedguest.blogspot.com/2013/04/schumann-spring-time-challenge.html] - you can tell that anyone who took 40 years to find a piece of china really wanted that piece or is just crazy....you decide.

Over view of the table

The place setting - Pat wanted to add some interest and tone down the color a bit so she put a pink Depressionware sherbet and liner on top and added a dark sage green baroque charger.

Flatware is "Grand Colonial"

Simple but elegant glassware works best with such a busy china pattern

The sherbet and liner are "American Sweetheart" Depressionware by MacBeth-Evans

Flowers are decals but the gold is all hand painted

This tray is one of my favorite pieces - over 17" long

Another interesting piece - about 6" high - it may be a candy dish

Pat wanted to use the cigarette holder and ashtray (designed especially for after dinner use) - but since she doesn't know anyone who smokes (and she was not about to support the tobacco industry by buying a pack of cigarettes), you have to use your imagination

The antique candle holders hold mauve tapers

The square butter dish is thought to be produced in the 1930's - I have it in a round version also

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - LinenTablecloth.com
Mauve Rose Napkins - from a local department store long out of business
Chargers - inexpensive lacquer chargers from Michael's
Flatware - "Grand Colonial" Sterling Silver by Wallace
"Wild Rose" China - from various places but originally purchased at Walsh's (a fabulous local store that featured Wedding china and glassware for brides - sadly out of business for many, many years)
Sherbet and Liner - "American Sweetheart" Depressionware by MacBeth Evans Glass Company
Water and Wine Goblets - from Pier 1
Candle Holders - from Art & Old Things (our favorite antique store)
Mauve Rose candles - from the Ferndale Emporium (another neat local boutique)

We will be joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" this Wednesday:  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

We will also be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/