Thursday, September 12, 2013

My First Tablescape


HERE I GO.....

Today I start a new adventure.  I have entered the ranks of "the tablescaper"!  You see, I have discovered there are others, like myself, who can't go to a department store without making a detour through the china department to cruise the stash of new patterns; or lick my lips at the displays that sparkle only a few steps away from the main walkway leading to the rest of the store.  Visions of mixing and matching of Fiesta plates with colorful patterned salad dishes dance through my head.  This complusion follows me through antique malls, thrift stores, estate sales and even seasonal displays in our local grocery stores and pharmacies!  So, please join me as I share the bounty of my "finds", and enjoy the sense of creativity and happiness that fills me every time I explore my magic hutch and try to change an empty table into a work of art.

MY FIRST PUBLISHED TABLESCAPE (the ever popular Blue and White collection)

I start with a cobalt blue tablecloth I found at our County Fair (it resists spills and wrinkles---perfect for my household!)  Polish Pottery is a favorite of mine.  Don't you love the numerous patterns and how well they coordinate?


This salad plate is a different numbered pattern, but still works with the dinner plate!

I have blue glass items from various places, and thought they would work well with my Polish Pottery pieces.  This is a sherbet dish I found "antiquing" (unfortunately, there were only 5!  I'll use a clear glass dish for me, the hostess!)

The flatware is a Mikasa pattern.  I don't know the name, but I thought the beads outlining it would work well with the dots in the plate pattern.

I added red-checkered napkins to match the red accent dots on the pottery.  Napkin rings are an Old World Market purchase




The centerpiece consists of a Polish Pottery pitcher I found at Home Goods (one of my FAVORITE hangouts!)  The red flowers are from Michael's, and I chose the color to add some color and complement the napkins.  The one blue glass vase with the scalloped top came from a gift shop outside the historic village of Jamestown in Williamsburg, VA.  The other vase came from a glass-blowing exhibit outside the old Ponderosa Ranch (anyone remember "Bonanza"?!) in Lake Tahoe.  I used a blue and white placement to add some more texture to the table.

AND HERE IT IS!!





I'm always happy to have the chance to play with some of my favorite dishes!  Thank you for taking a peek at the first tablescape that somebody outside of the family has seen!!!



18 comments:

  1. This is so pretty!!! Isn't it fun to play with dishes! I'm a newbie tablescaper, too. Welcome to the club!!!

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    1. Thank you for your kind words. You're my very first person to comment, and I am grateful! I look so forward to this hobby: I get set search for and work with beautiful dishes and "meet" extra special people as well!

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  2. Fantastic! I love, love, love your polish pottery! Blue and white are one of my favorite color combinations for a tablescape. You must be so proud of this lovely table setting. Nice flatware too. I love flatware with beading around the edges. Very nice! I am new to the world of blogging also. I have exactly 1 post behind me. I hope to figure out how to link to a party for next week. I also have been like a woman possessed every time I see a pattern of plates that I want. I find that my home is becoming overwhelmed with dishes, wine glasses and flatware. They are in every nook and cranny of the whole house. I am in semi retirement and hope to post every week or two in the future. I just found out you can have multiple drafts lined up for future posts!! Yahoo!

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    1. Thank you for your comment. Isn't it amazing how much there is to learn when you start a blog?! I understand about your dish collection: storage is rapidly becoming a problem (I call it "my inventory"!). I, too, would like to post twice a month, and then add more as I get more comfortable with the process. It sure is nice to be creative and know that your efforts are appreciated by others who love this hobby. Happy Blogging!

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  3. I just love the colors and the setting. I know the people who sit around this wonderful table have nothing but conversation and great appreciation for each other. Keep up the good work. You go girl!
    Archie

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  4. Wonderful! I love the polish pottery a bit more cheery than transfer ware

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    1. Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment!

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  5. Hi Rosie,
    Your table is beautiful. I also am a collector of anything that interests me in thrift stores, today it was a fish statue that can holde a small fishbowl on top super cute.
    Last year I found a beautiful Bavarian china set, serving of about 20 that included cream, sugar, coffee pot, covered veg bowl, platters small and large all at a local thrift store for 250.00
    If you ever need a replacement for a place setting you can't find look up replacements.com
    It was there that I found that the coffee pot for this set is worth Half of what I paid for the whole set. Great find. Enjoy your hunting it's a great way to spend a day. If you ever need something you can't find let me know and I will keep a look out in NJ and FL lol.

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    1. Thank you for your support of my new blog and the info you shared. I agree. "Replacements.com" is a great resource. What a wonderful hobby we have!!

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  6. aunt rosie, this is wonderful! i'm so happy to see this! i know how much you love this type of stuff, and i think it's great that you are blogging about it now. i'll keep up!

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    1. Thanks, Nicole!! I'm just in the beginning phase, but it's a wonderful hobby. I think my love of set design is really where this all got started. I'm going to aim for 2 posts a month, and add more as I hopefully get more at ease with the whole process. Thanks for the support.

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  7. Rosie, Love your place setting and the warm and inviting atmosphere you created. Also, I am thrilled that you have found another creative outlet for expressing your appreciation of beautiful things and your desire to create an atmosphere where family and friends can come together for fun, conversation, sharing, and food. In addition, a place where you can share your common interest with like - minded people in you blog. Have fun with it all...JUNE

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  8. Rosie! Congratulations on starting your blog! It's wonderful, and your first ts is beautiful. My mother also has a Polish stoneware collection - I've been planning to do a ts at her house some time. You write very well, too. I can't wait to see more, my best to you, my friend! - Dawn @ We Call It Junkin

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  9. I love your Polish pottery! I don't have any -- yet! This table looks so friendly and inviting. I also have a weakness for ANY sherbets, especially those in pretty colors. So glad you've found your dish-loving sisters (and an occasional brother)!

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  10. Hi, Tricia,
    Thank you for taking the time to comment. It's interesting to find out you have a weakness for sherbets. Isn't it fun to find out through this hobby how everyone is "hooked" on finding and appreciating different things? Bottom line is that we all love the hunt for for those items that will make our hutch or table a special thing to behold! Rosie

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  11. So a pretty table with your Polish Pottery... Thank you for visiting my table and hope to see more of your tables.

    Cynthia
    An Accomplished Woman
    Accomplishedwoman.blogspot.com

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  12. It is a year later and I still think this is one of the prettiest tablescapes that I saw all year. You just can't go wrong with blue and white..... Candy

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  13. My goodness!!! Here I am once again nearly a year later and I am still in love with your blue and white Polish Pottery tablescape. Pretty soon I am going to create a blue and white tablescape too.... Candy

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