Lobster Linens...now what?

I will not be serving lobster for Father's Day.  This scenario is the creation of the clever decorating staff at Pottery Barn, but you know you want to dine here.

I fall in love very easily...with linens, tableware, decorative accessories, books, food...and men, but for today I need help with my new purchase of the wonderfully fun lobster linens at Pottery Barn to which I recently treated myself.

June is a month I refer to as "The Trifecta of Horror" because every Sunday involves a gift-giving holiday and people who have absolutely everything.  The 12th is my parents' anniversary (seriously after 63 years what more does a couple need?), the 19th is Father's Day (again, if he doesn't buy it, he makes it, has it, or doesn't need it), and the 26th is dad's birthday (see above comments).

So, every year I try to make the meal and table very special (even if the gifts are practical and routine).  This year, because I am absolutely aching to go to the shore, when I spotted these linens in the Pottery Barn catalog, I pounced.  So clever, fun, and unique, I just had to have them.  Then, as luck would have it, I found a set of napkin rings that work perfectly with this set.  The only problem I now have is what on earth to do with the center of the table.  So consider this blog post as a plea for advice.  Here are the pictures of what I have (photos from the Pottery Barn and Pine Hill websites), now give me your wildest ideas.

Here is a closer view.  I did not opt for the monogramming.

These napkin rings (and this photo) are from Pine Hill.  The rings should go perfectly with the linens from PB.

This is a view of the runner (that I did not get).  I include it as it offers yet another view of this fabulous fabric.

Okay, Tablescapers, start your engines!  What would you use as a centerpiece?  I'm looking for clever, fabulous, crazy, unique, and, oh, budget-minded (as I sort of blew my budget on this set and, of course, I will have to actually buy and serve some food!  When you invite people for dinner, they expect it.)

This is linked to

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life 
Open House at No Minimalist Here
French Country Cottage
My Romantic Home
At the Picket Fence
Funky  Junk Interiors
Under the Table and Dreaming
Between Naps on the Porch

Cinco de Mayo Tablescape

When I first decided to collect Fiestaware, the hardest decision I had was in trying to decide what color to collect.  So, to make it easy on myself I decided to collect one place setting of each color.  As you can imagine this started to get a little out of hand, so I focussed on the bold colors because they look so great with all of the wonderful fabric that I tend to collect as well. The fabric I used here in making both the tablecloth and napkins is by Alexander Henry and called "Viva Frida."  How perfect is this for Cinco de Mayo?

Have I mentioned that one of my goals this year is to learn to make tamales?

Aren't these glasses fun?  They work equally well for Day of the Dead as they do Cinco de Mayo.

I make a set of napkins to go with every tablecloth that I make.  I actually find hemming to be therapeutic and love having such a wide variety of napkins.  These work very well on many different solids as well.

Here's another view of the glass.

  Dishes - Fiestaware

Flatware - Fiestaware

Tablecloth & Napkins - Made by me

Fabric - Alexander Henry

Glassware - Kelly's Color Studio

This post is linked to:

and Seasonal Sundays