A Look At The Past

If you take a look back on this previous post , you'll note that my husband's cousins spent some time when we were visiting them sharing stories about their Grandmother's china.  They sent some of the pieces home with us so that I could have some "tablescaping" fun! Today, I want to share another special find from that visit.

As the family explained, this set was one of the gifts Grandma and Grandpa Mora received on their 50th Wedding Anniversary in June of 1957.  My hubby says he remembers it sitting on the stereo cabinet of their house when he was a young boy.

After some research, I discovered this set was known as a "Centerpiece Ceramic Fruit Bowl with Candle Holders". It has the number 20316 printed on the bottom of the bowl and the candle holders.  I assume this is the pattern or style number. Further investigation shows that the pattern is called "Golden Wheat"and it was manufactured in Japan in the 1940's.

This particular set has one of the most common identifying marks of the Lefton product:  a foil sticker on the bottom of the bowl.

I love the pretty pastel pink of these ceramics, and even after all these years the gold pattern of the "wheat" is bright and lovely.

Apparently, George Lefton turned his passion and hobby for porcelain into a business in 1941 while living in Chicago.  He was one of the first American businessmen to deal with the Japanese after World War II, and he imported goods from Japan under the label, "Made in Occupied Japan".  He was known for pricing his goods so that they were affordable to the general public.

The items in his collections consisted of items that could be used every day, as well as things that were made just for display.  When the Lefton Company was sold in 2001 after its founder had died in 1996,  a source of some of the most popular collectibles and kitchenware in America was ended. Today, the items from this company are available on websites and in antique malls and collectible shops, and are prized as vintage items.  I'm glad this particular set has remained in the Mora family and will continue to be a part of the family legacy.

I'll be joining Dawn at www.wecallitjunkin.com for her History and Home Link Party
and Christine at  www.rustic-refined.com for her Table It! Link Party.  Thank you, Ladies, for hosting these fun parties!

Your comments really do make my day! Please feel free to leave one, and I'll do my best to respond in a timely manner!

A Beachy Tablescape....Finally

Today's tablescape has been a long time coming, and I can't really say why.  I've had some of the components in my tablescaping stash for over a year; even before I ever started my blog.  I've wanted to do a beach-themed tablescape for so long. Even this one has been thought about and re-worked, started and stopped. Has this phenomenon ever happened to any other tablescapers? Finally, I got up this morning and decided, I would just put the table together and let it turn out as it would. No more debates on tablecloth or placemats, netting or no netting, yellow or white plates, shells or lighthouses for accents??? Etc., etc., etc...... So, this is the final result for my beach-themed table.


A Look at the Table:

How It Was Created:

I decided to forego table linens.  I felt the dark wood would better ground the elements of the table. I  added a straw placemat whose sand color seems appropriate for the beach, and because I like the rough texture of the mat.

My plate stack starts with my white Metaceramica plates from Portugal, purchased at HomeGoods.

The next plate is one I found at Tuesday Morning (on the clearance rack!).  I saw the texture of it and the shell design around the border and knew I wanted it for a beachy tablescape! It is labeled Mud pie, Shell Dessert Plate.

The next plate is from J. C. Penney's and I got it a while ago during a major sale event.  I LOVED the color of it, its unusual shape and the crackle-effect of the glaze. It is labeled ASA Selection, Germany, and is the salad plate of the collection.

I topped the stack with Ralph Lauren napkins I got from HomeGoods.  I had started with plain turquoise napkins, but changed my mind (one of the stumbling blocks along the way to this tablescape!).  I went to HomeGoods in the middle of setting up and found these. They are labeled Fenton Paisley/Aqua and I thought the tan and blue colors were perfect for the beach; and I loved the pattern and texture of the linen.  I created the starfish napkin rings with my straw napkins rings, faux starfish and a drop of glue! (easy, peasy, and seen on many a tablescaping blog!)

The table setting was completed with turquoise-colored goblets (generously given to me by dear friends who were moving and downsizing) which I decorated with shell napkin rings I had originally bought for my beach tablescape (another change of heart!).  The flatware came from one of my trips to Tuesday Morning.  It is labeled Cambridge Stainless Steel; pattern: Cameo Ivory.  I am extremely happy with it and you'll probably see it in many of my future tablescapes!!  I also added individual votive candles and candleholders that were used at my daughter's bridal shower.  I'm hoping they add a warm lighting effect to the table.

My centerpiece starts out on a fishnet accent I got at HomeGoods.  I purchased the white lantern at least two years ago at Sears. I was actually Christmas shopping and discovered it on a clearance rack!  I bought it long before I thought of blogging, and just felt I'd use it on a summer table sometime!  It's filled with shells from a gift shop located on a local pier, and a pillar candle.  The lantern is flanked by two glass domes I purchased at a thrift store in Ojai, CA and the faux sea urchin and starfish are from a shop in Ventura, CA where we recently vacationed.

For table accents, I added a white pitcher (Farval, from Portugal and purchased from Marshall's) for iced tea:

A serving dish which is part of a four-piece salad plate set given to me at Christmas by my stepdaughter:

And, a conch shell my hubby got me MANY years ago from Catalina Island when I was teaching Lord of the Flies to my freshman English class and needed a teaching prop to illustrate how the stranded boys from the story signaled each other to call their "meetings" together on the island.

So, I finally completed my Beach Tablescape!  I had thought of using multiple colors on the table to reflect the many colors of the beach and sky;  I just couldn't decide what sort of table covering I wanted to use, and I had even toyed with the idea of sand (somewhere on the table!)  But, in the end, I kept the color scheme simple aqua blue and white, so reminiscent of the blue of the ocean and the clouds in the sky on a beautiful beach day!  I'm officially "unstuck" once more!  Enjoy your summer months!

I'll be joining Christine at www.rustic-refined.com for her Link It! Table Party and
                Susan at www.betweennapsontheporch.net for Tablescape Thursday.                             Thank you, Ladies, for  hosting these parties!  Please join these parties and see what others have created!!

I love to hear from you and your comments are always appreciated!

The Annual Cousins' Birthday Party

As I have mentioned before, we now have eight grandchildren: two are 8, two are 6, one is 5, two are 4 and one is 7 weeks.  Every summer I hold a Cousins' Birthday Party.  We celebrate all the cousins' birthdays on this day.  That way throughout the year, families will not have to fret about driving any distances to a party or complicate already VERY busy schedules of soccer games, piano lessons, tutoring, dance  recitals, sleepovers or other child-oriented activities so that cousins can get to celebrate with each other! Generally, I serve lunch and have cupcakes with candles to insure everyone has a candle to make a wish on.  There are balloons and crepe paper streamers, noisemakers and birthday hats.  There is a craft table, and some kind of water-oriented activity: a large wading pool, a slip-n-slide, or sprinkler. And, of course, I rent a jumpy house.  Everyone gets a present from Gramma and Pops, and then each person gets a gift from one cousin (names are pulled randomly prior to the party).  In the past, it's been a chaotic day full of laughter and fun and hopefully, one that becomes part of their childhood memories of coming to Gramma and Pops' home.  I decided for Cuisine Kathleen's Whimsical Summer Tablescape challenge, I would plan out a tablescape for this summer's Cousins' Birthday Party.  It will probably be in July when schedules permit. But, I thought I would share with you what the table will look like.  Of course, at the actual party there will be 7 place settings and the baby will be in the high chair!  Here it is:

I started with a plastic tablecloth because our dining room table needs some protection with this little group of fingers!

Then I added woven straw placemats that I found at Pier One.  I was surprised at how well they mirror the colors of the dishes and flatware!  Just meant to be, I guess.

Next, I used "chargers" (actually dinner plates) of different colors that are reflected in the melamine plates I'll be using for serving lunch.  I used a yellow plate, an orange plate, a purple plate and a green plate.  The extra layer also serves to protect the table from spills!

I added a different colored napkin to each setting to keep the dishes separated. One is bright yellow; one is light yellow; one is bright orange and one is a red orange.

The main plates are melamine ones that I found at my grocery store.  I thought the whimsical prints of ice cream fit the bill perfectly for a summer children's party.

The table setting is completed with mix-n-match flatware to add to the color of the table, Sesame Street plastic cups and sunglasses that will serve as favors for each person at the party!

My centerpiece consists of a bucketful of Play Dough and Play Dough "cookie cutters".  It's colorful, and just a little tease of what activities are to follow after lunch!  Two bottles of bubbles and two sprays of stars complete the centerpiece vignette!

The menu will be hamburger sliders, chips, cut carrot and celery sticks and fresh fruit salad.  I placed bowls and platters on the table, but they're now empty since this tablescape is just a practice run.  I've also taken out my cupcake holder from Williams-Sonoma that will be filled with pudding-filled cupcakes (lemon and chocolate), covered in confectioner's sugar.  I love this party every year, even if it takes me a few days to get over it when it's done.  Nothing can ever replace the sights and sounds of this special day when all the kids are together and I am moving non-stop from the beginning until the end---with a huge smile and a heart full of love!!

My cupcake holder:

A yellow plate:

A purple plate:

An orange plate:

A green plate:

The table, once again:

I'll be linking up to Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish Challenge at  www.cuisinekathleen.com,
Christine's Table It! at www.rustic-refined.com and Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net.  Please be sure to visit these blogs and see all the wonderful posts!!
Thank you, ladies, for hosting and giving us a place to have so much fun with our plates and such.

I love to read your comments, and will do my best to reply to you.  Your kind encouragement and suggestions are always appreciated.    Rosie

Congrats to Dads and Flags

The other night my hubby and I were watching The Food Network when we saw Bobby Flay make "Croissant French Toast".  My hubby proclaimed, "I'd love to make that for the family!"  Well, Father's Day was coming up and we hadn't really made plans yet.  With the four sons-in-law relishing their time at home on a Sunday, we hadn't really asked to have them travel and come here for the holiday.  So, I started making calls to see the potential for a Father's Day Brunch so that Pops could make his newfound recipe for "Croissant French Toast"!  Three of the four families were able to come, and so tonight I readied the table for Sunday Brunch tomorrow.  I thought I would share the table with you tonight.

Today is Flag Day (did you remember that June 14th is traditionally the day we celebrate and honor our beautiful flag?)  So, I decided to go with a color scheme of red, white and blue.  My Polish Pottery plates and accessories (collected from HomeGoods and the Polish Pottery website over the years) fit the bill!

I started with my gingham red and white tablecloth I've had for many years.  I like to use it on Father's Day because it is a "signal" that summer has started and picnics are close at hand!

My dish stack began with my Polish Pottery dinner plate.

Then I added the watermelon plates I got at Michael's last year at the end-of-summer sale.  This will actually by the first time I am using them!  Since watermelon will be a part of the fruit salad for brunch, these plates seemed appropriate and festive as well.

I added four heart plates to identify where the dads will be sitting. (Just spreading a little love for the daddies in our lives who take such good care of our daughters and grandchildren we love so much!)

I completed the place setting with my Mikasa Regent Bead flatware, my blue Mexican glass tumblers from Pier One, red gingham napkins that match my tablecloth and woven straw napkin rings from Bed, Bath and Beyond.

I kept my centerpiece simple because I really think I'll have to remove it once we start putting food on the table.  It's going to be quite a menu, and the table will probably fill up quickly.  My vase is from the Murano Glass Factory in Venice, Italy.  We got it on our trip there almost nine years ago, and it is the focal point of my dining room table.  I LOVE the patterns and colors in it.  Seeing it every day brings back many special memories of our trip.  The faux flowers and birds are from Michael's. Our oak lazy susan came with our dining room set when we bought it.  It is especially useful during a family dinner when everyone starts grabbing things!

Here are some of the pictures of the serving pieces I'll be using for the menu of Croissant French Toast with Almond Maple Syrup, bacon, sausage, scrambled eggs with cheese, O'Brien potatoes, and fresh fruit salad (watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, and honeydew melon), coffee, tea and orange juice.

It will be wonderful to have the part of the family together who can join us: three daughters, three sons-in-law, five grandchildren (including the last little girl born 6 weeks ago; it will be that son-in-law's first Father's Day!)  I hope your Father's Day finds you surrounded by much love and happiness.  And please take a few minutes to remember the beauty of our country's flag and how much has been sacrificed so we can watch it wave in freedom.

I'll be linking up to Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com and Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net . Please take some time and see what everyone has shared! And, thank you, ladies, for hosting these parties.

I'd love to hear from you.  Comments are always appreciated.  If you'd like to become a follower, just go to the top of my blog, fill in your email address where it says, "Follow By Email" and hit "Submit"!