Turquoise Table in January?

This post did not come easily. I stood at my dish closet and just could not muster any table ideas. I really wanted to do one last winter tablescape, but in Southern CA, it's just difficult to imagine ice crystals and wintry scenes. I felt like a fraud after watching news all weekend about the 26-30" of snow that fell in my old hometown on Long Island, NY!  I also had a gift card from Christmas from my all-knowing cousin (who consistently spurs on my tablescaping hobby!) that was burning a hole in my pocket---BIG TIME.  So, my good friend, MaryBeth, and I hit the road, and after hours of roaming around HomeGoods and Marshalls, I found some unexpected treasures. The ironic part was that although I went in with no preconceived notions and really just chose things that caught my eye, when I got home I realized the components all went together remarkably well. It's just that the turquoise and white palette really didn't conjure up visions of winter.  However, I've noticed other favorite bloggers of mine have indeed done turquoise or aqua tables in recent days, so I feel like I'm in very good company!

Here's the table I created:

Here's how it was created:

I started with my white linen-like placemats I found on clearance at Macy's:

Next came the new dishes I found on my spree at Marshall's.  I absolutely love the turquoise color of these plates! They are Metaceramica from Portugal . I have the white plates from this company that have graced my blog on many occasions and get used when the ENTIRE family comes for dinner (I gathered 20 of these plates from different HomeGoods stores when I first saw them!)

Next on the stack are my Madeline salad plates from Pier One. I never tire of the simple design and scalloped edge of these precious dishes.

To complete the stack I'd like to introduce you to my favorite find of my shopping day at HomeGoods: these colorful peacock plates are labeled 222 Fifth, Lakshmi.  They are rimmed in gold to match the gold accent found on the peacock's tail.  I love the delicate yet striking nature of the design on these plates. I would have loved to have found them in dinner plate size, but these appetizer plates are perfect for the top of a plate stack.

To complete the place setting I used the gold-tone flatware set on loan from my cousin (I told you she spurs on my hobby!); then I added some turrquoise blown- glass goblets given to me by a good friend who was moving; turquoise napkins I found at Macy's on clearance; then, another happy find from my gift card shopping spree: these napkin rings were on a table at Marshall's under some other objects. They were marked $4.50 for all four rings. I had not idea how I'd use then, but I liked their unique look. Who knew I'd go to another store and find peacock plates that went perfectly with these napkin rings?! Don't they look like the head crest on a peacock? This table was just meant to be!

 I wanted to keep my centerpiece simple. I found a scarf from one of my daughters that worked well for a base. The colors and gold threading accented the table's theme.  I just filled my white vase from Marshall's with some faux flowers and added two turquoise votives I had from my daughter's bridal shower. Then I added my Michael's clearance birds for fun,  and just for some whimsy and a nod to Valentine's Day approaching, I wrapped a white heart vine around everything for accent.

So, my winter table turned into something very different than I originally planned. But that is the joy of this hobby. Inspiration comes from many different places and half the fun is letting yourself just "go with the flow"! Something I RARELY do! That's probably why I embraced this hobby in the first place. At times, I'm totally out of my structured comfort zone and yet so HAPPY creating new tables.

I'll be joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net.  and  Christine for her Table It! Link Party on Monday at www.rustic-refined.com. Please stop by and enjoy these wonderful blogs. Thank you, Ladies, for hosting these fun parties.

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