The Sizzling Colors of Summer

There is no doubt about it, it is HOT.  So, it’s time to turn up the heat with a festive Tablescape to get the party sizzling.  This table represents about five years of whimsical accumulating.  How fortunate that the colors match!

Sources:

Piggy Bowl – Napa Style

Plates, Cups, Glasses – Fiestaware

S & P – Fiestaware

Flatware - Fiestaware

Bowls – Dario Farrucci

Cream & Sugar Set – Dario Farrucci

Napkins – Crate & Barrel

Placemats – Pier 1

Napkin Rings – Pier 1

Small Talavera Bowls - eBay

This post is linked to:

Mosaic Monday

Tabletop Tuesday 

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday 

Seasonal Sunday

Cozy Home Scenes

TABLESCAPE THURSDAY - An "Ornamental" Holiday Table

The ornaments used to decorate this year's mantle got their start on last year's table. The tablecloth had been in place for Thanksgiving, and I found it looked wonderful doing double duty for Christmas.  My traditional centerpiece of greens provided the usual aromatic base and I went from there.

Guests always get a treat at our dinner parties.  Decorated Christmas tree cookies were the sweets given away.

Cranberry wine glasses were a lucky find at Crate and Barrel.

Tablecloth: Williams-Sonoma

Wine Glasses: Crate and Barrel

Gold Chargers: Target

Big Ornaments: Sam's

Live Greenery and Tree Cookies: Whole Foods

This is linked to Tablescape Thursday

Last Call Tablescape

I am really into lanterns these days for some reason, well, I know the reason, it's from paging endlessly through Pottery Barn catalogs and drooling over all they have to offer at prices I can't begin to afford, or more accurately, justify.  I wanted to have one more small dinner gathering -- something I refer to as "Last Call" -- before the onset of the holidays when chaos abounds, so when I found this lantern at Old Time Pottery I just knew I wanted it as my centerpiece.

 From there I went through my stash of fabric, pulling out this one to put on the top of my table as I wanted the meal to be more casual and relaxing.  I topped this with bamboo placemats, and sprinkled the remaining bits of candy corn and autumn mix around the center.  My favorite Fiestaware dinner plates in gold and cinnabar were alternated and topped with harvest salad plates.  Pressed into service again you'll see the yellow flatware and goblets (Versatile!).  As I'd packed the mugs that match the Fiestaware I decided to use the Shenango Incaware coffee cups and saucers, just a portion of the restaurantware that I collect.

The napkins were simple black (again, made by my mother), the gold tone leaf napkin rings I bought years ago in a cute shop called The Country Store in St. Charles, MO)

The yellowware bowls were placed on either side of the centerpiece for easy access as they were filled with the two difference sauces that I served with the salmon cakes that I'd made for dinner, one sauce horseradish based, and the other a pesto based.  The rust-colored, pumpkin-shaped spongeware plate with matching bowl is what I use to serve breads and flavored butters.

I hope you enjoyed looking at my tablesetting for my "Last Call' autumn dinner.  I wish you could have joined me.

Dinner plates: Fiestaware

Salad plates: Autumn Splendor

Napkins: My mom

Table Fabric: Hancock Fabrics, years ago

Yellowware bowls: Antique shop

Lantern: Old Time Pottery

A Harvest Dinner

Tablescape Thursday is hosted by Susan from Between Naps on the Porch.

I've long been a reader of the beautiful and informative blog, Between Naps on the Porch. Dish and dinnerware fanatic that I am, Tablescape Thursday was one of my favorite days.  It comforted me to know that I was not alone in my quiet accumulating of dishes and glassware, my flatware fanaticism, and linen lust!  Now that I have a blog of my own I've decided to take part, beginning with this harvest table set for a late October meal.

When I build a table, and in many cases, this is exactly what I do, I begin first with the tablecloth, and then the centerpiece.  This centerpiece was born of pure serendipity.  I was shopping at Michael's one day and saw cornucopias piled up like warped lumber outside in one of the sale bins.  In all my years of entertaining I'd never used a cornucopia, so grabbed one (At only $2.99 I figured if it didn't work I could just toss it without remorse.), and immediately my mind went to work deciding what I'd put in it and around it. 

I wanted the table to represent all of the beauty and glory fall has to offer, so this meant the harvest.  I wanted seasonal fruits and vegetables, nuts, sheaves of wheat, Indian corn, cranberries, and unassuming lighting that offered a glow without detracting from the main attraction.  I also wanted a hint toward what was yet to come so filled a small trifle bowl with cranberries and added an amber ceramic turkey.

I wanted the placemats rustic and the dinnerware simple.  The dinner plates were from my collection of Fiestaware, alternating yellow plates with crimson ones.  The bowls are from a set of dishes called "Autumn Splendor."  I can't tell you how much I love these.

The napkins were made by my dear mother who can turn any piece of fabric I give her into something lovely for the table.  This fabric she found on her own and I think it's just perfect.  I'd told her that I wanted something that smacked of fall and food.  Her choice of the Indian corn pattern did both perfectly.  The goblets are also a favorite.  My mother bought them on a whim back in the 70's along with the chunky yellow-handled flatware.  After 20 years of use she was ready to move on and passed them to my welcoming hands.  They are bold, and fun, and surprisingly versatile.

I hope you enjoyed my harvest table.

Plates: Fiestaware

Bowls: Autumn Splendor

Napkins: My mom

Table Covering: Bed, Bath & Beyond

Flatware & Goblets: Gift

Mini Trifle Bowl: Target

Ceramic Turkey: Crate & Barrel