Race Car Santa Table

I've always said that inspiration for tablescaping comes from the oddest places and this week is no exception. Several years ago, we were out "thrifting" at various second hand stores in our area, and Pat spotted eight square dinner plates with an unusual pattern. Since they were really cheap, naturally, she bought them "to use sometime." Well, lots of time passed and we were out Christmas shopping two years ago, and I found a Santa for my collection that I just had to have. Pat immediately saw "whimsical  tablescape heaven"......

Here's Race Car Santa.....(just one of dozens from our collection)

Pat mixed racing flags and a Christmas tree

Pat said the "stripe" down the side of the plate reminds her of tire tracks....

Flatware is "Hammered" stainless steel by Godinger Silversmiths

Naturally, napkins had to be "checkered flags...."

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Faux Leather Placemats - from Pier 1 years ago
Flatware - "Hammered" stainless steel by Godinger Silversmiths from Costco
Dinner Plate - "Contempo Collection" by Baum Brothers from Cuddly Bear Boutique (a local thrift store)
Glassware - from Pier 1 last year but still available
Napkins (and racing "flags") - from Linentablecloth.com (a mail order company that features lots of tablecloths, etc.)
Small tree and ornaments - from Michael's
Race Car Santa - from Pierson's Building Supply (a local building center that goes "way over the top" for Christmas every year) two years ago

We will be joining the following Blog parties this week:
"Dishing It! & Digging It!" at Rustic & Refined this Sunday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
"Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Poinsettia Tablescape

Pat wanted to share (more like "show off") her fabulous $2.00 centerpiece that she found at Michael's last year - so she created this week's table using the pre-made arrangement as the inspiration. It was originally priced at a whopping $129.99.

In all honesty, we walked into the store after Christmas, and all of the left-over Christmas stuff was really, really on sale. Pat and I grabbed a cart and loaded it up. What fun!!!! By the time we finished, we managed to take home three carts full of "Christmas treasures".....

The inspiration - the arrangement covered most of the table.....and for only $2.00

I love this china - it's "Racine" (1900-1986) by Hutschenreuther.

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Red Christmas Tablecloth - from Gottschalk's (a local Department store now out of business) years ago
Vintage Placemats - from Tailwaggers (a local thrift store run by the Sequoia Humane Society to fund animal rescues)
Dinnerware - "Racine" by Hutschenreuther from eBay and Replacements
Flatware - by Cambridge from Bed, Bath and Beyond years ago
Poinsettia Plate - from Michael's and Pier 1 over the years
Water Glass - from Pier 1 years ago
Butter Knives - by Cambridge from TJMaxx two years ago
Wine Glass - "Bubbles Galore" by Maxwell & Williams from Tuesday Morning
Centerpiece - from Michael's last year

We will be joining the following Blog parties this week:
"Dishing It! & Digging It!" at Rustic & Refined this Sunday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
"Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Noritake and Santa Christmas Table

OK, it may be a "little" early for a Christmas table, we know, but Pat and I love this time of year. It's my favorite Holiday. So - with no apologies - we start our season of Christmas tables this week featuring a set of Noritake dinnerware that Pat found at the Discovery Shop (the Cancer Society's Thrift Store) for a steal.....

Mint green and gold - Pat kept the color simple. She started with a piece of gold satin for the centerpiece.

Very simple flatware - frosted "Kyoto Gold"

Pat didn't use the cup and saucer but I love the shape....

Pat is weaker than me when it comes to glassware. She spotted these at Pier 1 this year and they came home with her.

These brushed gold shell trees were perfect for this table. Pat found them at Tuesday Morning.

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Gold Leaf Chargers - from Costco years ago
Frosted Gold Flatware - "Kyoto Gold" by Holister from Wayfair (Mail order)
Dinnerware - "5248" by Noritake from the Eureka, CA Discovery Shop
Napkins - from Gottschalk's (a local Department store now out of business) years ago
Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond last year
Glassware - "Gilded Royale" from Pier 1 this season
Mint Green Santa and Shell Trees - from Tuesday Morning

We will be joining the following Blog parties this week:
"Dishing It! & Digging It!" at Rustic & Refined this Sunday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
"Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Dog Days of Autumn Table

Our family loves dogs.....we always have. When we were growing up, we always had dogs. Our Dad always said that a dog trains and teaches us - not the other way around. A dog teaches loyalty, friendship, trust, responsibility, and so much more. So, those four (sometimes less) legged furry creatures were always welcomed at our house. Only one rule: they all had to be spayed or neutered (which as kids, we all worked to get the money to pay for it by babysetting, weeding yards, collecting pop bottles [anyone remember when you returned those to the grocery store for money??? I am aging myself, again], etc.

It seemed natural when Pat spotted these "doggy" plates at Pier 1 this season and scooped them up immediately.

Flatware is "Antique Copper Twig" - Pat chose it to match the bare leaves showing on the plate

Pier 1 has this plate in a "Winter" setting, also.....bet we wind up with them, too......

The dinner plate is "The Burbs - Slate" by Dansk

We can never resist a sale - although we already had this charger in the original wood color, they were really, really on sale at Pier 1. Pat's dear husband spray painted them "cinnamon" to go with another table we did a few years ago.

What is more "dog" than a bone? Our faux leather placemats fit the bill.

Pat pulled out the "dog collar" napkin rings

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Doggy Bone Placemats - Handmade years ago for all our doggy tables
Cinnamon Colored Chargers - found on a back shelf at Pier 1 years ago for less than two dollars and spray painted
Gray Dinner Plate - "The Burbs - Slate" by Dansk from Tuesday Morning
Doggy Accent Plate - from Pier 1 this season
Flatware - "Antique Copper Twig" from Black Forest Décor (mail order)
Glassware - "Picardy" from Pier 1 last year
Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Napkin Ring "Doggy Collars" - from eBay several years ago
Candle Holders - from Kohl's three years ago
Candles, Pumpkins, Etc. - from Michael's

We will be joining the following Blog parties this week:
"Dishing It! & Digging It!" at Rustic & Refined this Sunday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/
"Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

And a kind thought to all of our beloved canine family members over the years: Peanuts (BoBo), Cindy, Boots, Wolf, Fat Boy, Piddos, Nicka, Nanook, Charlie, Toni, Lady, Lassie, Mitzie, Jane, Pepper (Duke), Cassie, Barney, Gladys, Miss Kelly, Mr. Folgers, Mocha, Rosie, and Monroe.


"Until one has loved an animal. a part of one's soul remains unawakened."
                                                                                                         Anatole France