Oktoberfest 2014 Tablescape

2.59!!!! That's how many inches of rain we had Wednesday! What a glorious (and wet) day! It was fantastic. We are so grateful.  Sorry, but I am delirious with excitement. I never thought rain would mean so much to me - especially since I was raised in this area where 40-50 inches of rain a season was the norm.  Sadly, not now, not any more........

Now on to tablescapes....this week, the table is set for Oktoberfest. As you can tell, we'll celebrate any holiday for a different tablescape.

Over view of the table - yes, I did iron the tablecloth (Pat made me). Sorry, it doesn't look like it.

The place setting - something different for us - we always place the flatware along side the plate, but I guess the rain made us go wild and crazy.....

The lighter Vintage Cobalt Fiesta was used instead of the darker Post 86 Cobalt. The table was already dark, and a dark plate would not have really worked.

I've said it before - this series of plates ("Spice Route") are becoming our new "work horses" in table design. We have them in four colors thanks to Rayleen - who I really, really, really miss since she moved to Oregon - at Pier 1.

Flatware is European style "Pendulum Platinum" by Cambridge Silversmiths from Bed, Bath, and Beyond

Pat bought these tiny Beer Stein-like shot glasses at Tuesday Morning. She uses them for napkin rings, also.

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - from the back of the Tablecloth closet (yes, I have a closet dedicated to tablescloths. It was a storage trick I picked up from Alma at "The Tablescaper"  [http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/] when I first started blogging)
Placemats - Bed, Bath, and Beyond (still available)
Blue Dishware - Vintage (pre 1986) "Cobalt" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin
Brown Bread/Butter Plate - "Chocolate" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Beige Salad Plate - "Sesame" Spice Route from Pier 1
Flatware - "Pendulum Platinum" by Cambridge Silversmiths from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Red and Beige Napkins - from Pier 1
Large Beer Stein - Dollar Store
Small Beer Stein Shot Glass - Tuesday Morning
Beer Steins and Centerpiece - from our collection
Candles - Michael's

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

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

Monkeying Around Tablescape

Time for a tablescape that is less serious. Pat designed this week's table for fun. Every time I look at it, I chuckle. There is nothing glamorous or breath-taking about it. Hopefully, it's a table to make you smile. (Besides, I bought the dishes as a gift for Pat because she said they were so ugly that she wouldn't have them in her house - never, ever tell your baby sister something like that. It's just inviting trouble and revenge for years of being "picked on" by an older sibling.....So what if it took 50-60 years)

Over view of the table

The place setting

Naturally, the flatware had to be the very popular "Bamboo"

One of four different poses, this is the set that Pat said she wouldn't have in her house........Wrong

To give the "Monkey theme" a break, Pat layered a Shamrock green Fiesta luncheon plate between the dinner plate and accent/salad plate

Although we do not generally use plastic on a table, these glasses seemed perfect for the theme

Love these candle holders - Pat lined the table with "palm fronds"

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth, Beige Napkins, and Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Placemats - Tuesday Morning
Flatware - "Bamboo" by Cambridge from Ross and World Market
Dinner Plate - "Monkey" by American Atelier from Replacements
Accent Plates - "Monkey" by American Atelier from TailWaggers (a local thrift store that supports Sequoia Rescue - a local no-kill animal shelter)
Shamrock Green Luncheon and Bread/Butter Plates - Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Macy's and Replacements
Glassware - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond last year
Palm tree Candle Holders - from eBay

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

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

First Tablescape of Fall

Pat has been busy - or should I say, Pat's husband has been busy - converting plain vases, curtain rings, and inexpensive lacquer chargers into brightly colored tablescape items. A few weeks ago, armed with a sale brochure, Pat and I walked into our local Hardware store and bought out the plastic adhesive spray paint can section. We got lots of different colors (Chinese Red, Teal, Paprika, Cinnamon - you name it, we bought it.) Then we hit every thrift store in the county looking for items to paint. What fun!

So, for this week, Pat took out the "Paprika" stuff and set the first Fall table of the year.

Over view of the table - to lighten the table, Pat had to use a white cloth (it is very overcast today, but no rain in site). She then used a burlap runner down the center to give the table a little texture.

You can see the "Paint Cane Wizard" at work here.....the vases were purchased for 25 cents each and then turned into unique, Paprika colored accents. Pat's husband also sprayed inexpensive curtain rings and chargers to match.

The place setting

Flatware is "Montana" by Gourmet Settings

First layer of the place setting is a sunflower accent plate from Pier 1 - this is an older style and is much lighter in color than the ones that they have carried the last two years or so.

Next, Pat used a Chocolate Fiesta Luncheon plate to carry the color through

I love all of the "Spice Route" colors from Pier 1 - they are fairly inexpensive and very versatile

Sorry, the picture is a little off...the color is actually more red than orange.

Pat pulled these glasses from the archives.....I bought them in the 70's to go with my everyday dishes (when I only had three or four sets of dishes.......)

Pat discovered tabletop gold when she found these curtain rings - her husband turned them into matching napkin rings with his spray can....

Glass vases can be sprayed with plastic adhesive spray paint quite easily.

Also the work of the spray paint guru....unfinished candle holders from Michael's sprayed brown

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - Linentablecloth.com
Burlap Table Runner - from Michael's
Flatware - "Montana" by Gourmet Settings from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Chargers - various thrift shops and after season at Michael's on sale
Dinner Plate - "Sesame" Spice Route from Pier 1
Luncheon Plate and Bread/Butter Plate - Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements and the online Homer Laughlin factory
Sunflower Accent Plates - from Pier 1 several years ago
Napkins - Also Pier 1
Glassware - Brown "Clarion" by Lenox (bought in the late 70's - I have had them a very long time.....)
Vases - from several thrift stores
Oatmeal colored Tapers - from Tuesday Morning
Candle Holders - unfinished from Michael's

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

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