A Sweet Mother’s Day Table for Two: Brunch, Tea & Springtime Charm

 

This intimate table for two is dressed to perfection for Mother’s Day — whether you’re planning a leisurely brunch with Mom or a delightful afternoon tea. Soft peach tulips on long stems bring gentle spring color to the scene, while the lovely peachy-yellow tulip bowls add a cheerful pop.

  

At the heart of the table sits a charming centerpiece in the form of a floral pitcher vase from Fitz and Floyd’s “Meadow” pattern, surrounded by layers of thoughtful details.

Each place setting begins with a woven placemat base. Salmon-edged chargers from Fitz and Floyd are then topped with a Portmeirion plate from their iconic "Botanic Garden" series. The soft green vine motif around the edge perfectly echoes the greenery in the pitcher. Next come the delicate Amelie Versailles salad plates, crowned with those pretty “Meadow” tulip bowls.

 

Simple Fitz and Floyd everyday beaded white porcelain white appetizer/bread plates (just the right size for rolls and butter) complete the dinnerware. For glassware, the familiar salmon-toned pieces make a reappearance, beautifully contrasted by the soft sage ribbed glasses. Naturally a champagne toast to mom is in order in these Lenox coupe glasses. Sweet cups and saucers are ready for some tea.Every color on the table was inspired by that one beautiful pitcher — a lovely unifying touch.

The flatware is Wallace’s elegant “Napoleon Bee” pattern, with its charming bee detail adding a regal yet whimsical note. Soft sage napkins from Amazon tie everything together beautifully.

And those irresistible little bird’s nests tucked into the bowls? I couldn’t resist them when I spotted them at my local favorite, The White Hare — they’re the perfect spring accent. 

The result is a warm, inviting table that feels both special and personal — exactly the kind of setting that makes Mother’s Day memorable.

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday 

Santa All the Way Tablescape

 

This is a riff on last week’s Christmassy non-Christmas table. Many things remain in place, I just swapped out a few to get an entirely different look. If you are hosting a number of parties over the holiday season, there’s no need to go crazy digging out all of your dinnerware when a few changes can make such an impactful difference.

The hunter green tablecloth is the same, as is the yardage that I used as a runner. Similarly, the chargers and dinner plates are the same. I have come to learn that while placemats and chargers make up the overall look, people pay less attention to these background items than they do the specialty pieces. Because of this, it is so easy to change a table by only removing an item or two.

I kept the bold lime green napkins the same, as well as the Milano red flatware by Ginkgo International in the Le Pris pattern, but swapped out last week’s apple napkin rings for these Santa napkin rings that I inherited from my mother.

Instead of the apple items that made up the focal point of my last table, this one is Santas all the way. The same nubby-edged red plates from Pier One are in place, but I topped them with these darling Santa salad/dessert plates that I inherited from my mother as well. On top of those are these wonderful “Ho! Ho! Ho!” soup bowls that I also got at Pier One, and I love them! I was lucky enough to get these two, as these sold out almost immediately.

The Fiestaware pitcher from last week has been replaced with a Fitz and Floyd Santa pitcher that does double duty as the centerpiece. He sits on top of, and is surrounded by a variety of faux greenery (I used this and this) and berries.

 The coffee mugs match the pitcher and so are also by Fitz and Floyd. This set is very early Fitz and Floyd, and one of the first things of theirs that I collected. I still remember buying this at a gourmet shop (The Second Story at Plaza Frontenac for locals) in an upscale mall here in the area back in 1978. I guess that makes this vintage.

Finishing up the table I used simple black candlesticks filled with these wonderful battery operated pine tree candles.

This whimsical and colorful table is surely one that will delight young and old.

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Leprechaun Lunch Table for Two

 Hands up if you refuse to believe that it’s March. I am in absolute shock! I don’t know about you, but the older I get, the faster time seems to hurtle by me at such a breakneck pace that it’s more frightening than I care to admit. It seems as though I was just setting up a Valentine’s Day table when all of a sudden St. Patrick’s Day is on the horizon.

I enjoy St. Patrick’s Day. For me, it is always the harbinger of spring. I love the colors (green in any form is my favorite), and I am a big fan of the food. I don’t think St. Patrick’s Day would be St. Patrick’s Day without my leprechaun pitcher at center. I have had this for a lot of years, and never grow tired of it. The shamrocks that I bought to put in it last year as a part of my centerpiece have long since overgrown it, so this year I decided to go with faux tulips in white and pale green.

 The runner (don’t you love this fabric?!) I got years ago on Etsy. I would love to have this pattern as a tablecloth, so I’m always on the lookout for yardage. Let me know if you find any.

 The salt and pepper shakers, like the pitcher, are by Fitz and Floyd, and in the same pattern. One of these years I’ll get a hold of the matching candlestick  holders and I’ll be all set.

 The tall, ample wine glasses I got years ago at Pier One.

 

 The green water glasses are from Villeroy and Boch, the Irish coffee cups were a gift.

The plate stack is a Bordallo Pinheiro sandwich of geranium leaf plates surrounding a salad plate in the Blanc Amelie pattern from Maison Versailles.

 

  The gold flatware (because leprechauns are always looking for that pot of gold.) I inherited from my mother.

 The yellow soup bowl with the handle is always a favorite. I have these in green as well. They are by Tender Heart. The stonewashed cloth dinner napkins in a pale sage complement nicely.

I always feel that St. Patrick’s Day calls for a bit of whimsy, so included a pair of leprechaun glasses and badges on the table. Both of these are from this wonderful assortment.

Enjoy this promising month!

 

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

 

Planning for Spring Tablescape

 A candlelight breakfast? Why not? Gazing outside imagining what will soon be, on an overcast but warm day like today, when the temperatures tickle 60°, I am champing at the bit to garden. With all of the seed catalogs that arrived in January, I am plotting and planning. This table is a tribute to people like me who get deliriously excited at a time of the year when others are wondering what to do.

 

I started with a neutral tablecloth and runner. It seemed only fitting that this table be topped with green leaf placemats.

On top of them are green Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf chargers. They are topped with a neutral, black square plates, on which I have placed a square green leafy luncheon plate by Fitz and Floyd, in their “Manhattan Garden” pattern. Plaid napkins are from Pottery Barn.

A Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf dessert plate tops this; a Longchamps wine label appetizer plate rounds out this garden inspired plate stack.

Mixing old with new, toast is being served on a vintage toast rack.

Adding a bit of whimsy is the garden gecko salt cellar from Pottery Barn, years ago.

The choice of stemware is a bit serendipitous. Is it properly placed? No. Do I care? Not one bit. Having recently stumbled upon the cranberry liqueur glasses that I bought about 35 years ago, I decided to get them out, wash them up, and use them for whatever beverage I like. The green water glasses are Villeroy and Boch; the wine glass is by Mikasa in their “Parklane” pattern.

What garden doesn’t have a butterfly or two? I had to add my white butterfly dishes that worked perfectly for serving butter pats and jelly.

The greenhouse at center gives an overall gardening feel. The sleeping Buddha, will awaken come spring.

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Serene Winter Tablescape

After all of the fairy lights, and bold colors of Christmas, I am more than ready for serene. I want soft tones, muted colors, peace, and quiet.

The first thing I thought of when I unwrapped this beautifully packaged black stoneware dinnerware set was that it reminded me of something that the Flintstones may have used at a fancy dinner party. That, or something excavated from an archaeological dig; I mean both of these statements in the nicest way. This stuff is gorgeous! In my opinion, it is a work of art. The free-form style of the plates and bowls is pure poetry. The cups that work for a hot beverage or cold without the handle are inspired. This unique pottery is certain to draw lots of comments.

It can be dressed up for something a bit fancier, or down for something delightfully bohemian. It will pair with absolutely any color that you happen to have on hand; ergo will work for any occasion, at any time of the year. It can be flashy or subtle based upon linens and accessories, like this darling cup from a set of Polka Dot dinnerware.

I was going for subtle, so that the food could sing. A wonderful way to highlight what you’re serving is to do so on a dark, subtle background.

 I used a chocolate brown tablecloth, topped with some of my favorite chargers of tin, and used beige linen napkins.

The polished black flatware gives it a bit of an elegant feel as does the crystal in the Mikasa “Parklane” pattern. A bit of added sparkle comes from the saltcellar set a table center.

The centerpiece consists of the candle holder (once my mother's) and one of my new favorite things, a Table Top Fire Pit; it runs on rubbing alcohol, can you believe it?! I tend to like a busy centerpiece even at the simplest of tables, so I added a trio of black vases. Come spring those vases will be used to force branches (hopefully forsythia) and that will make a nice contrast.

I wanted to do this understated tablescape to start off the New Year to show you how beautiful quiet can be. May the peace of the New Year be with you…and your table settings.

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Day of the Dead Table for Two

If you remember my Festive Fall Table from a couple of weeks back, then you also remember how beautiful the flowers were in the skull vase. They lasted so long that I had to use them again in this Day of the Dead tablescape. It is a simple tablescape, really, but it’s that simplicity that allows the individual elements to come through.

This Calavera fabric from Alexander Henry is quite eye-catching. Because it’s so busy, I tried to keep the table as clutter free as possible, while still driving the point home.

The skeleton candlesticks are new this year and from Michael’s. Aren’t they wonderful? I can see myself using these throughout the year in various mystery tablescapes.

For years I have been stalking the skeleton barware from Pottery Barn, this year I had enough rewards points to finally get a pair of wine glasses. They exceeded my expectations. They are good sized; the skeletons are detailed, and great fun!

The rhinestone studded ruby chargers are usually reserved for Christmas, but I thought they worked well here. They are topped with bright yellow Waechtersbach dinner plates on which I have placed a smaller skull plate that I got a couple of years ago from Pier One.

Gold flatware adds a bit of sparkle to the table.

When coffee or tea is offered up with dessert, I will do so with the addition of skull spoons as well as skull shaped sugar cubes that I found on Etsy.

Framed photos of those past would make a nice addition to this or any other commemorative table. Think of those you’ve lost and celebrate their memories.

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 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday