Reluctant Transition

When Kathleen from  www.cuisinekathleen.com issued an August challenge for an end-of-the-year summer table, I was excited to hear about a new challenge, but I still reacted to this particular one like a truculent child: I just hate to accept the fact that summer is nearly over and we soon will be thrown into the frenzy of fall!  Because fall means that Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas are RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!!!! I just can't wrap my head around how fast the year has gone.  I know I'm getting older, but I really do long for the days when summer just ambled along with long sunlit hours, no schedules, nighttime ice cream runs, unencumbered by worries of daily commitments.  I dread that soon every day will need to be accounted for, and long "to do" lists will cover my refrigerator door. Even in retirement, these are true statements.  So, I decided to respond to the challenge, but be somewhat rebellious in its application. Hence, the post title of, "Reluctant Transition".   My table reflects more "what tables I could have produced if summer were only longer".  My theme for the table reflects the "fruit of summer".  One of the best things about this season is that fruit is plentiful and oh, so sweet.

Here's the Final Table:

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with bamboo placemats I found at HomeGoods.  I liked the summery green color and the informality of the bamboo for a summer table.

My first element of the dish stack was my scrollwork chargers from Maryland China Co.  I just used these in my last post!  But, I wanted something with an airy feel.

The next addition to this dish stack is part of my mix-n'-match table.  I've used four different dinner plates to show the four tables I would have done with my salad plates if summer had gone on longer, and I could have had more summer tables!  First, I would have had a table with my purple dinner plates from Anna's Linens.  They are marked Monterey and they are from their Gallery Tabletops.

My green table would have started with a Fiesta plate, lemongrass from Pier One.

My yellow table would have started with my yellow Metaceramica plate from Portugal found at HomeGoods.

My white table would have started with a white Metaceramica from Portugal plate  found at HomeGoods.

Next, I added my napkins in the Ambrosia pattern found at Anna's Linens.  I bought the matching tablecloth, too, but decided I liked the wood of my table showing for a summer table. Note the brightly-colored fruit on these napkins. I LOVE their watercolor-like pattern.

I have two salad plates on the table.  They are both from Mikasa, labeled Antique Countryside; one is Pear, with a gently scalloped edge:

The other is Fig, with more of a pointed scalloped edge.   I love the patterns and textures of these plates.  I found them both on the clearance table at Macy's.

The place setting is completed with a bread and butter plate from Mikasa in the Pear pattern; Treble Clef- patterned flatware from Old World Market (I felt this flatware looks like stems on fruit); and, two different types of glassware.  One is a purple wine glass or small goblet from Hobby Lobby:

And the other is a green goblet from Pier One:

My centerpiece is sitting on a mini burlap runner and is highlighted with a wooden toolbox I found while antiquing. I lined it with a green napkin, and then filled it with faux fruit from Michael's.  On either side of the toolbox are two ceramic bowls (found at a swapmeet and just marked Italy), and two pillar candles I borrowed from my living room mantle.  I felt the bamboo-like pattern on the sides of the candles coordinated well with the placemats.

I completed the table with a favorite accent piece of mine.  It is a watering can that was made in Portugal, and a gift from a very dear friend.  I love its brightly-colored handpainting. Thank you, Judy.

I also added some small green bird figurines I found at Michael's.  I've used my white bird figurines so much in summer tablescapes, that I felt the new green ones would be appropriate for an end-of-summer table.

So, I present my end-of-summer table with the thought that if the season had been longer, I would have had at least four summer tables, using the dishes you see in this post.  Oh, I sigh when I think of starting with the fall colors that I'll begin to take out of my dish closet. Here in Southern CA. we're sure to have extremely warm temperatures throughout September and October (along with the searing Santa Ana winds: hot and furious!)  But, I'll still get out my golds, browns and yellows and start the reluctant transition, as I do every year.  It just kind of leapt out at me quicker this year!

I'll be joining Christine at  www.rustic-refined.com for her Monday Link It! Party, 
Kathleen at www.cuisinekathleen.com for her Wednesday end-of-summer challenge. and
Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.net for her Tablescape Thursday.

Many thanks to these hardworking ladies for hosting their parties and giving us a chance to share our tablescapes. Please visit their blogs and enjoy all the creativity there.

I love to read your comments, and appreciate everything that you say.

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Mellow Yellow

Yesterday, my dear friend and I went out for lunch and shopping*. (*code word for buying tablescaping supplies! My generous family had given me gift cards as birthday gifts! They know me sooo well!!).  It was a wonderful day and I felt I would keep the good energy going by creating a table with a few of my new purchases.  When I looked out the doors to the backyard this morning, I saw that my yellow dahlias were in full bloom and ready for clipping. Since I had just bought new yellow placemats and napkins, the decision was really finalized that I was about to create a tablescape, and its title would be "Mellow Yellow"!

HERE'S HOW IT TURNED OUT:

HERE'S HOW IT WAS CREATED:

I started with my new yellow placemat that I got at HomeGoods.  I loved the delicate pattern of the flowers. (I'm just about positive I had a sheath-style dress made from material in this pattern back in the 60's!)

I then added my open-scrollwork charger from the Maryland China Co.  I debated about using the charger because it covered so much of the lovely pattern on the placemat, but I couldn't resist, because the scrollwork resembled the embroidered effect on the mat and I felt they went well with each other.

Then I added my HomeGoods' Metaceramica dinner plate from Portugal.  This plate has become a reliable workhorse for my tablescaping hobby!

Next, I added my Madaleine salad plate from Pier One.  I love it for its softly scalloped edge and small swirled design.

I ended the dish stack with a matching napkin (note the sweet embroidery), and a porcelain napkin ring found while antiquing.

My place setting was completed with small white tidbit plates I found while antiquing; my Mikasa wine glasses (I don't remember the pattern name, but I think the swirl engraving on the glass is reminiscent of the embroidery on the napkin and placemat); and, my Cambridge flatware from Tuesday Morning.

My centerpiece is a simple one because, like I always believe when I use fresh flowers, I want the flowers to be highlighted.  My Farval pitcher from TJ Maxx holds my dahlias, surrounded by my small birds I purchased at Michael's (I've used them many times before on my tables!)  I added crystal candlesticks that were a wedding gift.  I also added two Candlewick bowls.  I've had them for many years.  I love the glass beading along the edge, and feel that the delicate nature of the bowls complements the placemats.

I wanted to keep the table uncluttered so that the yellow and white colors would be accentuated and it would reflect a "summer feel".  It surely was a fun shopping trip!  I've got more tables planned with things that I purchased from this trip.  Stay tuned!

I'll be joining Christine at www.rustic-refined.com for her Monday Table It! Link Party  and
Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.net for Tablescape Thursday. 
Be sure to visit these wonderful blogs to see what other tablescapers have created!                                     Thanks, Christine and Susan, for hosting these parties.

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