Labor Day Tribute Tablescape

Labor Day always means "Good-bye to Summer" to me - with back to school for the kids, changes in the weather, and warmer clothes. So, for this week's table, Pat designed a tribute to laborers everywhere. She started with napkins that she made and pulled out her husband's very old work boots (Jim was a Captain for the California Division of Forestry and has been retired for years and even then, the last two or three decades was at a desk at the Command Center - so the boots haven't seen "action" in many, many years.....) and cleaned and polished them. Then she set the table.....

By the way, yes, it does seem that Pat has been on a "yellow streak" lately, but the napkins screamed "yellow" this week. So, apologies to those folks who do not like yellow.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Pat chose one of her favorite "work horse" flatware patterns - "Hammered" stainless by Godinger

I didn't have to twist Pat's arm to use my favorite yellow goblet......"Rio" by Dansk

The stack

The yellow bowl and orange dinner plate are both "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach

Yeah, once again, Pat pulled out the yellow charger. Since yellow is my favorite color, I am OK with it, but it's a little "jarring" to others.....

The inspiration napkin (Pat layered a black napkin inside the patterned one to give it more "bulk")

The centerpiece consists of orange work cones and yellow hard hats in addition to the "work boots" flower arrangement flanked with candles in assorted colors

Thanks, Jim, for your boots. (Anything for a tablescape, right? He even lets us borrow his clothes for Ralph.)

Ralph's safety vest

Close up of the napkin

Pat got Ralph dressed for the occasion - hard hat, tool belt, Levis......



One last look at the table from the other end

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - Linentablecloth.com (Alicia Nichols from Tablescapes at Table Twenty-One [ http://tabletwentyone.wordpress.com/ ] told us about that fabulous site. It has all kinds and styles of tablecloths and napkins at very reasonable prices.....)
Flatware - "Hammered" Shannon by Godinger from Costco
Charger - Inexpensive lacquered chargers from Michael's spray painted with plastic adhesive spray paint
Orange Plate and Yellow Bowl - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach from Tuesday Morning and Replacements
Yellow Coup Plate - Another use for our "Gnome" plates
Black Bread/Butter Plate - Fiestaware (sorry, I know it's doesn't have "ware" on the end of it, but I can't help it) by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Yellow Goblets - "Rio" by Dansk from Replacements
Wine Glass - from the Dollar Store
Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Napkin Rings - PVC pipe cut into 1" rounds and spray painted with plastic adhesive spray paint
Candles - Michael's
Glass Candle Holders - TJMaxx
Orange Plastic Cones - KMart
Yellow Work Hats - Dollar Store (spray painted to coordinate with the table)

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

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

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



Gladys' Birthday Bash Tablescape

OK - so by now, everyone knows that Pat and I set a table and usually hold a birthday bash for my dachshunds' birthdays inviting human and canine family. (I never claimed to be "normal.") Anyway, it's time for the party, and this year Pat set another table to honor her "nieces and nephews." She kept it simple but elegantly doggy.

Over view of the table - humans only

The place setting - each salad plate details a different "style" of dachshund. This one is a short haired black one just like Gladys and her Mother

Flatware is "Image" by Spode

When I bought these plates at Pier 1 a while ago, Pat didn't think we would use them much....Wrong. They have become a staple in our "dish repertoire"

The charger is "Colonial Blue" Color Spectrum by Mikasa

I love these whimsical glasses - "Sphere" from Pier 1

Pat took two napkins in coordinating colors and laid them under the plate

Naturally, the flower arrangement features Dachshunds

Pat put a pair of Salt and Pepper shakers at each end of the table

Once again, Pat didn't use the cup and saucer that comes with the dishes - she took the saucer and used it as the bread and butter plate

This is what the dinner plate to the set looks like

One last look from the other end of the table

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - from LinenTablecloth.com
Placemats - from Costco years ago
Blue Chargers - "Colonial Blue" Color Spectrum by Mikasa from eBay and Replacements
Flatware - "Image" by Spode from Tuesday Morning
Dachshund Dinnerware - by Danbury Mint gifted to my by a dear friend (who also loves dogs)
Rust Dinner Plate - "Spice Route Paprika" from Pier 1
Glassware - "Sphere" from Pier 1
Rust Napkin - Handmade by Pat
Blue Napkin - from Tuesday Morning
Dachshund Vases - from eBay
Dachshund Salt/Pepper Shakers - from our collection
Tapers - from Tuesday Morning
Crystal Candle Holders - from Pat

We will be joining Christine's "Table It!" this Monday at Rustic & Refined:  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/

RIP Jane, Mr. Folgers, Aunt Mocha, and Barney. We miss you and will always love you.