Spode India Tree and Copper Tablescape

While it is not Autumn yet, the gloomy dark red sun and smokey gray skies from all the fires burning in and around the county makes it feel very "un-Summer."  Pat set this week's table using one of my very favorite Fall dish patterns - Spode's "India Tree"  (1879-1994.) She wanted a more casual looking table so she took quarry-like tiles (from the building center) to use as the place mat to give the place setting a slightly rustic natural look. And then, Pat chose copper as the coordinating accent color to the entire tablescape.

Flatware is hammered copper "Paris" by Hampton Forge

Sadly, the simple copper napkin ring was one of our very last purchases from Pier 1

Each tile has small felt tabs on the bottom to protect the table

I can't help but think how difficult it would have been to produce this cup - applying the decal inside a scalloped edge must have taken great skill - let alone adding the handle.....yeah, I know, sounds like I am a very nerdy dish geek which I confess readily....... 

The "vase" is antiqued hammered copper

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Red Quarry Tiles - from our local building center

Dinnerware - "India Tree" by Spode from Pat's collection, eBay and Replacements.com

Clopper Flatware - "Paris Hammered" by Hampton Forge Essenstahl from Horchow several years ago

Copper Glassware - from Pier 1 three or four years ago

Off-white Napkins - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond last year

Copper Napkin Rings - from Pier 1 early this year

Copper Candle Holders - from Pat's collection

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Vintage Noritake Nanette Tablescape

 Recently, Pat found a beautiful set of vintage Noritake "Nanette" dinnerware at a yard sale (I am so dismayed that people would sell such a stunning set of dishes at a yard sale....) and quickly bought it. It had eight complete place settings with the exception of one salad plate - it included rimmed soup bowls, cream soup bowls, small fruit/vegetable bowls, and some serving pieces - all for $30. 

Here's what Pat did with the dishes:

Pat started with a soft, mint green tablecloth and matching napkins

Flatware is "Kyoto Frost" by Holister

Once again, Pat decided to use Princess House "Esprit" because it is smaller and more delicate

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Mint Green Tablecloth and matching Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com

Dinnerware - "Nanette" by Noritake from a yard sale this summer

Flatware - "Kyoto Frost" by Holister from Wayfair four years ago

Glassware - "Esprit" by Princess House many many ;years ago

Napkin Rings - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond several years ago

Antique Glass Vases - from Art and Old Things (a local antique store) two years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

Another "Lemon" Tablescape

The title of last week's table inspired Pat to come up with this week's theme. Sunny lemon yellow is the perfect choice to help us through this rather dismal, depressing time - pandemic, fires, bad air, really weird dark red sky, heat waves, road closures, etc. It has been a truly unique week.....

So - Pat came up with a bright yellow and white table that makes me happy every time I look at it.

You can't be depressed when you look at this table.......

Pat and I found the individual covered soup bowls/tureens on a discount shelf for 98 cents each at Pier 1 five years ago

Flatware is "Primary" by Noritake

The accent/salad plate is from Pier 1 several years ago

"Daffodil" Fiesta(ware) Dinner Plate (active pattern from 2017)

Once again, Pat used a Fiesta(ware) Chop plate as the charger

Pat used simple tumblers ("Samba" by Libby) for glassware

One last look

Where it came from:

Lemon Place Mats - from TJMaxx four years ago

White Charger - "White" Fiesta(ware) Chop Plate by Homer Laughlin from Replacements.com

Dinner Plate - "Daffodil" Fiesta(ware) by Homer Laughlin from Macy's

Accent Plate - from Pier 1 five years ago

Bread and Butter Plate - "Daffodil" Appetizer plate by Homer Laughlin from Replacements.com

Individual Soup Tureen - from Pier 1 several years ago

Flatware - "Primary" by Noritake from eBay

Glassware - "Samba" by Libby from Ross years ago

Yellow Hemstitch Napkin - from Pier 1 years ago

Napkin Ring - Handmade from PVC pipe cut into rounds and spray painted to match 

Yellow Candles - from Michael's several years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/ 

"Lemony Snickett" Tablescape

Just like Lemony Snickett's books on A Series of Unfortunate Events where the children in the books suffer lots of bad luck, misery and "unfortunate events," I looked at today's newspaper and just a few of the stories include: "Dangerous New Wild Fire Prompts Mass Evacuations, Shuts down Highway 101" [the only way to leave or enter our County to the South,] "Public Safety Power Shutoff Expected to Hit County Tonight" [sitting in the dark with no electricity expected to last for 36-48 hours,] "Red Salmon Fire Hits 40,000 Acres" [this one is located on the east side of the county and separate from the other fire - and now up to 48.000 acres,] "Air Quality to Hit "Unhealthy Level" Today - Beware" [caused by all the fires burning in and around the County,] not to mention an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases, new closed businesses, unemployment up again, wacky school openings/closings, the record breaking heat wave hitting the entire state and a number of other local stuff......all on Page one.

Well, Pat came up with the perfect table for this week - something calming, cooling, and serene. She chose soft blue and white with a cool coastal feel (even though we are located right on the Pacific coast and it is in the 80's today - of course, you can't see the sun with the smokey haze from the fires but that is another story. Inland just a few miles, it is over 100 degrees, smelly and dangerous, so I am not complaining.)

Flatware is "Vintage Countryside" by Ricci

Always a favorite, the versatile driftwood-like charger is from World Market

Pat used two napkins to add some flare and additional color

Pat created a centerpiece using grasses, twigs, and imitation berries

From the other end of the table

I am off to charge up my phone, the lantern, the portable radio and a flashlight and to check my supply of water, matches, batteries and canned food. Hope your week is safe and slightly less eventful than mine and Pat's.

Where it came from:
Place Mats - from Tuesday Morning a few years ago (we no longer have a Tuesday Morning in our area as of this Summer)
Chargers - Made from Mango wood from World Market several years ago
Dinnerware - "Aqua" by Thomsen Potteries from Ross seven or eight years ago
Flatware - "Vintage Countryside" by Ricci from Tuesday Morning three years ago
Beer Pilsner - from the Dollar Tree years ago (but still available)
Shells and Glass Balls - from Pier 1 over the years
Candle Holders - from a local thrift store many years ago
Gasses and Sea Glass - from Michael's three or four years ago

This week, we will be joining "Tablescape Thursday" at Between Naps on the Porch:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/