Colors of Spring Tablescape

 

I have a difficult time resisting linens, so when I spotted this Mystic Lotus Tablecloth, I couldn’t resist its bold colors and captivating pattern. The fabric is very chameleon-like in that it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of hues.

 

I wanted the tablecloth to shine, so I skipped placemats and reached for my trusty Bordallo Pinheiro geranium leaf chargers. These have been with me for ages and always bring that earthy, natural vibe I love. On top of them, I layered deep purple dinner plates from the Table Tops Unlimited “Primary Colors” line—vibrant and fun.

 

Then came the second layer: a set of plates I picked up years ago from World Market. They’re marked only “Made exclusively for World Market,” but they’re such hidden gems. The sea-life and text motif and purple-blue tones echo the tablecloth beautifully. These never fail to draw comment.

  

At the center of the table is one of my favorite pieces—a tulipierre. I usually fill it with spring tulips (true to its name), but I use it all year long, moving it from room to room depending on my mood. It’s elegant without trying too hard. 

Glassware is where I had a little fun. The blue-stemmed Fitz & Floyd wine glasses in their “Jardin” pattern provide a nice backdrop for the bold Moroccan tea glasses—with their deep blue color and gold detailing—as well as with Everest Global’s striking purple goblets for a touch of sophistication. Between the colors and textures, it all just clicks.For napkins, I pulled out some teal ones I’ve had from World Market. They tied everything together nicely without stealing the spotlight. My Mikasa “Opulent” hammered flatware made another appearance—it’s classic, weighty, and always feels special. 

On either side of each setting are vintage pressed glass crescent salad dishes. I’ve had them forever, and I love how unique and practical they are. They fit just right and add a subtle vintage touch. 

And finally—candlelight. Always. The set of green candleholders are a new find this year, and I couldn’t be happier with them. They bring a soft, warm glow that finishes the whole look. For me, candles are what make a table feel truly inviting.

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This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

Mardi Gras Tablescape

 

I've never attempted a Mardi Gras tablescape before, so this was a delightful new challenge. When Mardi Gras rolls around, my mind immediately conjures images of New Orleans, Basin Street, and the soulful notes of jazz music. Honoring my father, who was a trumpet player, I adorned the table with his vintage sheet music from the 1940s, laying it over a luxurious black velvet tablecloth edged in gold.

  

Centering the table is my late parents’ trumpet player figure, a symbol of my dad's legacy. 

 I complemented this with sheet music candles, a charming find from Pottery Barn years ago. Puce colored votive holders are scattered around to give little hints of light.

 In keeping with the color theme, I chose deep green water glasses inherited from my mother, pairing them with purple Everest Goblet Glasses.

 

A vibrant Mardi Gras mask adds a playful touch. Scattered around are coins in the traditional Mardi Gras colors of gold, green, and purple.

  

For the tableware, I chose gold chargers and flatware to echo the festivity. The plate stack features purple dinner plates from Tabletops Unlimited, followed by Bordallo Pinheiro Majolica Green Geranium Leaf salad plates, and topped with sleek black appetizer plates for contrast.Each guest will find a floral headband at their setting, inviting them to embrace the spirit of the celebration. The bright green napkins, found here, add a rich pop of color, while a whimsical chameleon saltcellar from Pottery Barn years ago brings a touch of fun to the table.

The table gains a sparkling charm with vintage glass tea cups, filled with multicolored beads that are also strewn across the table for an extra festive look.

 

Now, with the table set, it's time to cook up a big pot of New Orleans-style gumbo and savor the meal amidst this vibrant Mardi Gras tableau.

 This post is linked to: Tablescape Thursday

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Top 10 Posts of 2024

 

 I always find it interesting, at year’s end, to see which blog posts were the most popular during the year. Generally speaking, tablescapes are the most popular followed by recipes. This year I was quite startled to see that the top most viewed post was about my refrigerator salad bar; two other posts about organization also made the top 10. I found that interesting. Maybe you all are looking for ways to do things differently. Noted.

Surprising yet again was that only one tablescape made it into the top 10. I believe I shared more tablescapes this past year than any year before, so that only one made it to the top 10 gave me pause.

The recipes that turned out to be the most popular surprised me as well. In the number two spot was the green beans salad, not a recipe I expected to zoom to the top.

The slate is now wiped clean, and tomorrow we begin a new year. I’ll be interested in seeing what you all find most interesting.

 

The top 10 posts for 2024, in declining order of popularity, are shown below. Click on the name beneath each picture to take you directly to the blog post.

 Refrigerator Drawer Salad Bar

 

Green Bean Salad with Red Peppers and Blue Cheese

 

 Why you need a Mason Jar Vacuum Sealer

 

 

Slow Cooker Chicken Divan

 

 

Copy Me That, a Life-Changing Recipe App

 

Boursin Pork Chops

 

Lemon Baked Ziti

 

 German Green Beans

 

Year of the Dragon Tablescape

 

 Murphy’s in a Clogher Valley Mist

To view previous Top Ten Lists click one or more of the follow links:

Top Posts of 2023

Top Posts of 2022

Top Posts of 2021

Top Posts of 2020

Top Posts of 2019

Top Posts of 2018

Top Posts of 2017

Top Posts of 2016

Top Posts of 2015

Top Posts of 2014

 Top Posts of 2013 

 Top Posts of 2012 

Santa in the Snow Tablescape

 

This will be my last tablescape for 2024. It will not be the last table that I set, but with the holidays coming up, and all of the activity that surrounds them, I won’t be able to share any more. 

This one is a lot of fun. It started with the fabric that I absolutely fell in love with. I bought 2 yards of it, put it over the table, and went from there.

The “placemats,” for lack of a better word, I found a number of years ago at Pier One. I’m sorry that I only bought four of them because I love them so much. The nubby-edged red plates are also from Pier One.

The holly leaf salad plates I got from Pottery Barn last year. I really like these because, with such a simple design, they can be paired with almost anything, and yet they have a big impact.

On top of them is a Fitz and Floyd Santa mug (that you last saw here), doing double duty as a candle holder. It was a snap to put this together. I used a bit of floral foam in the bottom to hold the candle in place, then it was just a question of adding some dried Spanish moss, some greenery, a few berries, and I was done. I think it makes a nice impact considering the minutes it took to put together.

 The script greeting at each place setting I found here. The clear snowflake Irish coffee-style mugs that I fell in love with are new this year. I found them here. They will get a lot of use this year holding hot drinks and boozy coffees.

 

The wooden snowflakes are favorites, and are used all over the house during the holidays, including on the tree.

 

The deep green stemware makes a nice impact here. When you have a table covering as bold as this one, you have to have equally bold dinnerware.

I found the red napkins here, and struggled to decide which type of flatware to use. I tried, McKenzie-Child’s “Courtly Check,” gold, and ultimately ended up with this very versatile black flatware that makes a statement while being understated.

The Santa in the center riding the bicycle I inherited from my mother. She used to collect Santas of all kinds and had them running down the center of her dining table. I have all of them, of course, but tend to use just one at a time. The tree I’ve had forever, it is illuminated with tiny string lights.

 

I hope this finds you all thoroughly enjoying your holiday prep. Don’t wear yourselves out!

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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