The Welcomed Guest: February 2022

Tuesday, February 22, 2022

Family Designed Tablescape

Had a great day with my Sister on Saturday when she came over to set the table for the blog - along with her daughter and son-in-law who were in town visiting and our Brother's granddaughter. All of us (including her very sweet son-in-law - what a trouper!) played with dishes all day. In the end, they decided on this table for the blog.

Since Eureka sits on the northern coast of California (where fishing is a major industry of our economy), sea-themed tables are a natural any time of the year

Believe it or not - the hardest part of this place setting was the choice of napkins. We tried dozens and dozens of different colors. Finally, Alan found the right color. The pastel coral color matches many of the shells on the table.

Flatware is "Addison" by Mikasa

My Mother and I found these shell dishes at a local antique store many years ago

The glass charger is reminiscent of flowing water

Glassware is from Pier 1 years ago

The centerpiece consists of an assortment of shells and glass balls

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

White Place Mats - by Calvin Klein from Tuesday Morning several years ago

Pale Blue Glass Charger - from Pier 1 four or five years ago

Dinnerware - "Shell" by Otagiri from a local antique store many years ago

Flatware - "Addison" by Mikasa from Costco two or three years ago

Glassware - from Pier 1 several years ago

Shells and Netting - from Michael's (still available)

Glass Balls and Candle Holders - from Pier 1 over the years

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

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Home-Style Diner Tablescape

What is more "fifties" that a meal at the local diner? Serve a bottle of coke with your hamburger and fries (or maybe chicken fried steak?) and you are all set. Add a little music (via a "45" or two on the tabletop jukebox) and you are experiencing some real 50's nostalgia.....

The table this week is an updated version of a classic:

Pat turned the place mats on the "diamond" to match the pattern on the dinnerware.

Flatware is "Vault" matte-finish stainless steel by Gourmet Settings

We found the dinnerware at a local antique store years ago

The first charger is a "Scarlet" Fiesta(ware) chop plate by Homer Laughlin

The second charger is black "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa

Pat picked up these inexpensive tumblers at the Dollar Tree

Who has old 45's laying around anymore? Of course, Pat (the tablescaper extraordinaire) does....

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Black and White Square Place Mats - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond years ago

Black Charger - "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa from Replacements.com

Red Charger and Bread and Butter Plates - "Scarlet" Fiesta(ware) Chop Plate by Homer Laughlin from Replacements.com

Dinnerware - by Gibson from a local antique store

Flatware - "Vault" by Gourmet Settings from Costco years ago

Glassware - from the Dollar Tree (still available)

Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com (an online site for inexpensive Wedding and table setting supplies)

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

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Franciscan Mariposa and Purple Tablescape

Truly one of the most beautiful and pleasing mid-century fine china patterns, "Mariposa" by Franciscan [1949-1955] is a favorite of mine. It took a while to accumulate a complete set of eight place settings. I searched online and in charity/thrift shops and in antique stores wherever I went. I could easily find the more popular Franciscan patterns ("Desert Rose," "Ivy," "Madeira," and "Apple") but I wanted the fine porcelain of this pattern. As luck would have it, thanks to eBay and Replacements.ltd to complete the set, I did it and have enjoyed my dishes ever since.

Pat took the fine china and mixed it with some of her favorites to come up with this week's table.

Flatware is "Byzantine" by Yamazaki

The purple crackle goblets are from Pier 1 several years ago

One of Pat's complaints is that it is so hard to find narrow gold napkin rings. That is why this one from Bed, Bath, and Beyond is a favorite.

Simple greenery and candles are the only centerpiece

From the other end of the table

Where it came from:

Ecru colored Lace Place Mats - from Lentz Department store in Ferndale (a local store now out of business)

Gold Leaf Charger - from Costco years ago

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

Dinnerware - "Mariposa" by Franciscan from any place I could find it

Flatware - "Byzantine" by Yamazaki from Horchow six years ago

Glassware - from Pier 1 many years ago

Purple and Pink Napkins - from Linentablecloth.com (always available)

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

Purple Candles - from the Ferndale Emporium (another local store)

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

Tuesday, February 1, 2022

February Formal Pink Tablescape

With an extreme surge in the number of COVID cases in our community the last few weeks, any thought of a Valentine's Day family get-together has been put on hold for a while. But Pat decided to set a table that would be perfect to celebrate a day honoring the patron saint of love and marriage (along with a host of other things including plague, beekeeping, epilepsy, and mental illness to name a few....apparently St. Valentine was a pretty busy guy.)