Anchors Aweigh!

I've been wanting to do a nautical tablescape for a while now.  So, I decided today was the day. My family room has always been decorated with a nautical theme. I guess because I have always loved the "call of the sea". It could be because I've always lived near an ocean (born on the east coast and now living on the west coast.) Or, maybe it's because I had a grandfather who who sailed on the Charles W. Morgan (a well-known whaling ship from New Bedford, MA). Whatever the reason, I wanted to share some of my nautical treasures with you, so I went around the house gathering my lighthouse collection, my collection of "salties" (these are caricatures of old sailors in their seagoing clothes), rusty blocks and tackles, and my ship's wheel and clock.   It was a fun table to do.

Here's how the table turned out:

Here's how it was created:

I started with my navy blue tablecloth that I bought at our county fair. It was an obvious choice for depicting the sea!  I love this cloth: it is essentially wrinkle-proof and spills actually bead on the material!

My woven seagrass placemats reminded me of the coiled ropes you might see along the dockside; perfect for a nautical theme.

I then added my square ceramic dinner plate purchased at a design center (there is no identifying marks on them).

I know it may look odd, but I chose to place my glass cobalt blue charger on top of the dinner plate.  Why? When I stacked the dishes this way, the triangles that are formed by the dinner plate peeking out reminded me of the signal flags that are found on boats; thus enhancing my nautical theme!

To top the stack, I placed my salad plates found at Tuesday Morning.  These were an obvious choice for this setting because of the anchor design and red, white and blue color scheme. These plates are labeled CMG, Handpainted in Portugal.

I completed the place setting with my red and white napkins from HomeGoods, (wanted a print for accent against the solid tablecloth) some new napkin rings from HomeGoods' clearance section (I thought the leather look and studs somehow looked like they'd be a part of a ship's galley!); my blue Mexican glass glasses and my Treble Clef flatware from World Market because I felt it looked like the rope on an anchor.

I placed my "centerpiece" at the end of the table instead of in the center, because I wanted everyone to be able to see its components while they were seated.  I started with the box my Hubby and neighbor made for me, and filled it with lots of goodies. I laid out a faux fishing net first. Then,  my ship's wheel came off the wall, along with my ship's clock (my Hubby kept asking me what time it was while I was creating my table because the spot on the wall where the clock normally resides was empty!)  Then I added other objects: a pelican (my absolutely favorite member of the bird family: I LOVE watching their travels as the flock soars in a solid line over the ocean!); my wooden "salties" (love the detail and expressions on these sailors' faces!) and a lobster dish towel. The photograph is a picture of a ship model my late brother created. He was a master model maker who would never use a kit to produce his ships. He would research the ship, find the plans and build them to scale. Using magnifying goggles, tweezers and phenomenal patience, he would create astounding works of art. I actually watched him remove pin heads to use as the nails on the planking of the "ship's" deck; or wind up thread to look like the pile of rope neatly wound into a stack on the deck. I always marveled at his incredible talent and commitment to his hobby.

My accent pieces on the table include a white plate with shell design found at Tuesday Morning. It is labeled Mudpie and is a favorite for my summer tables. I've also included a red and white Mikasa stoneware plate labeled Gourmet Basics, Hunter and added some cheese spreaders from Tuesday Morning which reflect a nautical theme as well: aren't they cute? And, of course, I've scattered my lighthouse collection throughout the table.

I'm so happy to be sharing my nautical decor with you.  Now I can hang the clock back up so we know what time it is!!

I'll be joining Christine at her Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com,
                       Susan for her Tablescape Thursday at  www.betweennapsontheporch.net.
                       Kathy for her Home and Garden Thursday at  www.adelightsomelife.com
                       and Chloe for her Celebrate It Sunday! at http://celebrateanddecorate.com
Thank you, Ladies, for hosting these parties.  Be sure to stop by these wonderful blogs and see what other tablescapers are up to!

I thank you in advance for your comments. They really do put a smile on my face.

Happy Belated July Fourth!

I just attended a reunion of a choir I used to sing with because the director is retiring.  It was a wonderful night.   The evening was one of sharing memories, catching up on present accomplishments, re-connecting with old friends, but mostly enjoying the choral sound of 175 singers brought together for one main reason: singing the songs that filled our rehearsal and performance hours under the tutelage of our extraordinary director. He and his wife will now be "on the road" with their motorhome!  However, because my attention got diverted,  it became very clear that I could not make the deadline for posting a Fourth of July tablescape.  So, I now I share with you a belated July Fourth table!

Here's How It Was Created:

I started with an unusual set of table runners. Actually, these are not table runners at all: they are Waverly window valances that I just got back from the dry cleaners.  They were hanging in my den since I hadn't put them up yet, and they called to me as I went into the room looking for a table covering.  My red, white and blue table was about to be created!

I then added my red ruffled straw placemat. I just like to use these placemats on different holidays: they add a sense of "celebration".

I chose my Block Zen Chop Plates from Mikasa to use as a charger. I thought the white stripe that would be showing under the other dishes in the stack would mimic the white stripe of the American flag.

Next on the stack I used my blue Churchill dishes in its Willow pattern.  I bought these plates two years ago and had yet to use them. I'm glad I got to use them for this tablescape; they really are so very pretty.

To complete my red, white and blue color theme, I went back to the watermelon plates I used in my Father's Day tablescape.  There are no markings on them, but I found them at Michael's.  They are perfect for a BBQ or any summer table!

I completed my place setting with plastic glasses from the Dollar Tree store, my red flatware from the grocery store, and kitchen hand towels from HomeGoods that I will be using as napkins.  I loved their watermelon embellishment. I found the watermelon "mini-clothespins" at Michael's and thought I could use them for adding placecards to each place setting. I also included individual appetizer plates marked as Room Creative, Susani Red from HomeGoods.   I found the cheese spreaders at Tuesday Morning. There are four different patterns.

My centerpiece started with a basket tray I found at Michael's.  I "lined" the basket with a casserole dish from my Polish Pottery set.  I filled it with a patriotic pitcher I got from Tuesday Morning. I added faux flowers and American flags to the pitcher.  I have had this lighted wreath since last year.  I was going to use it for the holidays, and never did. I've been itching to see if the tiny lights would show up in a daytime tablescape, so I decided the look could replicate "fireworks" and used it for the Fourth of July! I also added a red berry garland for contrast. Unfortunately, the tiny lights don't show up as well in the photos as they do in "real life", but you hopefully get the idea! The basket is flanked by candleholders I just got while antiquing.

For accent pieces, I added a glass star I bought at a church yard sale (MANY good bargains there!) and a Villeroy and Boch bowl I found on our Maine trip last month.  I'm trying to add more red transferware to my tablescaping stash, and I couldn't resist this darling bowl.

I had to share the "artwork" from some of my grandchildren from Father's Day.  They wanted to color July Fourth pictures, so these are just a few, for fun.

I hope your Fourth of July was full of fun and celebration for the wonderful country in which we live.

I'll be joining Christine for her Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com,  Susan for Tablescape Thursday at  www.betweennapsontheporch.net. and Kathy for her Home and Garden Thursday at www.delightsomelife.com
A continued sincere "Thank You" to these ladies for hosting these parties!

Your comments really do make my day. Thank you in advance for taking the time to leave a few words.

Paper or Cloth on Father's Day

Sunday's Father's Day turned out to be a wonderful day of family and good eats!  My husband and I had gotten home from a conference late on Saturday night, so I wasn't sure we could carry the holiday off successfully, but with some pre-planning and early morning grocery shopping on Sunday,  we actually were ready when everyone arrived at 1 P.M.

Before we left, I had set the table, so at least that was done:

I started the table with my red tablecloth.

I wanted to keep my dish stack simple and "non-fussy" since the day was celebrating the Dads in the family. I didn't want to use paper plates ( I know today's paper products are nothing like they used to be, but I'm still a stickler on special days-----except for dessert!) so, out came my "workhorse" white Portuguese Metaceramica dinner plates from HomeGoods.

I then added my watermelon salad plates from Michael's. I love the bright finish on these plates.  They say "summer" to me.

I finished my place setting with my Mikasa Regent Bead flatware and my Mikasa glassware: just to make the table a bit celebratory.  Notice there are no napkins in this place setting.  I'll explain THAT when I share my centerpiece.

My centerpiece started with the wooden shoeshine box I purchased this past year while antiquing with my cousin.  I love the finish on it with its dings and marks, showing lots of use. I was getting ready to fill it with assorted "manly-related" items when my Hubby first saw my original place setting with its linen napkins and he laughingly noted, "You can't do linen napkins with barbeque!" Since he was the chef and the DAD of the Day, I deferred to him and took up the linen napkins and added a stack of paper ones!  Just for fun, as I was picking up the linen napkins, I thought: I know what I'll do to spruce things up a bit (once a tablescaper; always a tablescaper!).  So, I gathered up the napkins into a "linen bouquet" and filled my wooden shoeshine box with them. I added a burlap bow to coordinate with the burlap runner, my wooden thread spools as candle holders and my centerpiece was completed. I told everyone they could chose what they wanted to use, "Paper or cloth"!

We had a wonderful barbeque of tri-tip roast, hamburger sliders for the grandkids and lots of sidedishes.
Apple pie and brownie bites with ice cream was our dessert. There were gifts and even a raffle for a bottle of Sriracha Sauce after  the dads had taken all the kids to the park.  All in all, a wonderful day of laughter, good conversation and lots of yummy food.  Since we had been away, I relied heavily on Costco for the dinner components!  Next year, I'll cook!!!!   I hope everyone's celebrations were filled with fun and family.

I'll be joining Susan for Tablescape Thursday at  www.betweennapsontheporch.net  and
Christine for her Table It! link party at www.rustic-refined.com. Thank you, ladies, for your continued efforts to give us a place to share and enjoy our tables!

Celebrating Quebec and Quimper

This past May was unrelentless: commitments galore, medical issues, numerous stresses: just many miles to cover before I could rest.  Things have finally settled down, but I feel like it's been a L-O-N-G time since I've been able to compose a post.  I wanted to set a table that reflects one of the happy moments of the past month. My hubby and I went back to Maine for a niece's wedding (a wonderful affair on the shores of Lake Sebago).  Since we had our passports and were so close to the Canadian border, we went up to Quebec to explore a new area, and had a wonderful time, staying at the exquisite Hotel Frontenac along the shores of the St. Lawrence Seaway and exploring the new and old Quebec City.


Here's the table I created:

Here's How It All Came Together:

I started with a Cynthia Rowley tablecloth I purchased at HomeGoods recently.  I wanted to reflect the many flower fields that welcomed us as we traveled to Quebec City, as well as the flower pots and flower boxes that lined the homefronts and windows of this picturesque area.

I then added a woven grass placemat to give the table a rustic, country feel.  As we traveled towards Quebec City we were impressed with the many farms that lined the route. These farms were pristine and looked like components of a patchwork quilt. I said to my hubby along the way that Walt Disney must have come here and said to the farm animals,  "You, cow, stand there and don't move; and you sheep, look content!" The pastoral scenes along the way looked so perfect! So, I wanted to bring some country to this table.

I used my porcelain scrollwork chargers from the Maryland Company to reflect the porcelain that is so prevalent in the shops and hotels in Quebec City.

I continued my dish stack with my yellow Portuguese Metaceramica dinner plates.

I then added these cobalt blue glass salad plates I found while antiquing in Ventura, CA.  a few months ago.

I topped my dish stack with yellow linen napkins that were purchased with some matching placemats from HomeGoods. I felt the embroidery looked like the scrollwork on my chargers, and also added to the floral theme I was going for.  The napkin rings were found in a kitchen shop on our trip. They called to me from a bin in the store as we were walking through. I do believe you will see these rings in many future tablescapes!

The place setting was completed with blue goblets given to me by a dear friend who was downsizing; and, my Treble Clef flatware from World Market.  I felt both these elements continue the country table feel I was looking for.

I'm very happy with my centerpiece because it showcases the treasures I found while antiquing on our recent trip.  I started my centerpiece with a new addition to my tablescaping stash: my hubby and neighbor created three stacking boxes for me to use. I gave them the sizes that I wanted and they created them in my neighbor's garage! They then stained them to match my dining room set. Many thanks to you, sweetie,  and Gary! I love my new additions.  For this table, I turned the small box upside down and used it as a platform.

The component I am really thrilled with is a Quimper piece found in an antique store in Quebec City.  I will probably use it as a vase, but if anyone can explain the "two spouted" design, I'd really appreciate what the use for this piece actually might be. I love the "Lady" pattern and the delicate handpainting.  I have long admired Quimper pieces and was thrilled when I saw this hidden away in a cabinet. I thought it would be a perfect souvenir for my trip and it now holds a special place in my china hutch!!

The silver teapot was another find at the same antique store. Apparently, when the Hotel Frontenac changed their silverplate, they auctioned off their teapots and other items. The store we were in scored big time at this auction and claimed numerous teapots.  Since I've had to give up caffeine and now rely on herbal tea as my warm drink of choice, my hubby surprised me by buying one of the Frontenac's former teapots! What a wonderful surprise, and another souvenir of our trip!

While looking through this same antique store I found this Delft accent plate also hidden away on a shelf. I can rarely resist a blue and white anything! And it was small enough to fit in my suitcase!

After our trip to Quebec City, we headed towards Portland, Maine and the airport to head home.  We stopped at Biddeford, Maine and found another interesting-looking antique mall. Years ago, I collected salt and pepper shakers, and my eyes still can't resist looking through collections of them.  I saw this salt cellar and it was so unique I had to have it! I have salt dips, but have never seen one with a lid. Isn't it interesting?

My centerpiece is completed with a Quebec refrigerator magnet, a fleur-de-lis dish towel and two blue glass vases and faux carnations .

I'm happy with this table because it brings back memories from a very special trip. The people of Quebec City couldn't have been nicer; the city is a place of cobblestone streets; rows of bright, multi-colored houses;  stunning stone churches; the expansive St. Lawrence Seaway; and, a region full of history. All in all, a recommended spot for a vacation.

I'll be linking up to Susan's Tablescape Thursday at www.betweennapsontheporch.net
                              and Christine's Table It! Link Party at www.rustic-refined.com.

Please visit these parties and see what others have to share. Thank you, ladies for hosting!!