Celebrating Favorite Tablescapes

Susan, from the blog Between Naps on the Porch, is celebrating her 500th TABLESCAPE THURSDAY this week and she has asked everyone to share their favorite tablescapes from past years.  It seems like forever since I wrote a post, much less put together a tablescape.  This has given me an excuse to revisit some of my old posts and I hope you enjoy these memories as much as I did!  

As I neared retirement five years ago, I happened upon some blogs that dabbled in a new-to-me hobby, tablescaping.  I was so intrigued by this that I wanted to join in.  Both my mother and mother-in-law loved dishes so I had some to start with.  My first table was this one in July of 2013 - "Dining on the Porch."

I used what I had on hand from family members and antique auctions.  What fun to put together 'pretend table settings!'

 Our old house had lovely hydrangea bushes that helped me create these beautiful arrangements.  I've planted new ones at this home.

One of the most popular posts was this one from January 2014 entitled 'Rustic and Refined.'  The bowls, mugs and place mats were from William Sonoma.  The woodland friends were collected from here and there.  This has always been one of my favorites.  The setting was created in front of the fireplace in our former home.

 These are my favorite mugs!  One has a cardinal and the other one a deer.

The next setting showcased an unusual (to me) tea set. I found it at a local resale shop then added the teapot from another shop.  

One of the most fun tables was this one from June, 2014.  I had wanted to do a purple table but the week turned out cloudy with rain off and on.  Lucky, there was a break one day and I hurriedly put this table together - just before another downpour.  Oh, the lengths we Tablescapers go to 

to get those posts in!

This simple setting used woodland bird plates I love.  Husband, J, is an outdoorsman and I bought these at a resale shop for him but I have them on my hutch right now. 

We've all done those over-the-top holiday tables.  Here are a few of mine.

Even a glitzy Halloween table!

 I've always loved silver and white together!

One of my favorite sets of dishes in my Moderntone, gifted to me by my mother-in-law.  As a child, my own mother used pink Moderntone as our everyday dishes.  She had traded the rest of the colors in the set to her sisters so she only had the pink plates left.  She had no other pieces in the set except the pink salt and pepper shakers.  When I first started dating J, I went in their basement one day and saw the COMPLETE set of these dishes from my childhood!  I was totally amazed there were other colors and lots of other pieces!  My mother-in-law also collected depression glass and gifted those to her daughter.  But she let ME have her Moderntone collection!!  Oh, my, how I love them!!!  I have some of them on display in the cabinets in our new kitchen.

My book club read the Orphan Train in May of 2015 so I used these dishes (ALL OF THEM!) with a vintage tablecloth (another love of mine!) and served Dorothy's Current Cake and popcorn!

 

And, as it is our 30th wedding anniversary this year, I'll share our wedding dishes.  Kathleen, of Cuisine Kathleen, encouraged everyone to share their wedding china in May of 2014.

 We live in the country so my "wedding china" was Pfaltzgraff dishes...much more practical...but we chose this set together and we both still love it after all of these years!

What fun it's been to look over these tables. I think it's inspired me to begin again. Thank you, Susan for this great suggestion and Happy 500th Tablescape Thursday!  Here's to many more!!

Join in the fun and see other's posts for the party here:  10 Years and 500 Tablescape Thursdays

As always, I love reading your comments.  Wishing you a happy day!

                                         Zenda

Blue and White

Have you been listening to the decor podcast, Decorating Tips and Tricks? Three well-known decorating bloggers started this interesting and entertaining podcast last year.  Kelly (My Soulful Home), Anita (Cedar Hill Farmhouse) and Yvonne (Stonegable) share lots of decorating advice and suggestions three times a week.  One of the topics last week was decorating with blue and white and I was so happy to hear it as I had just redecorating our great room with these two colors!!

I've kept things pretty simple but I like the end result.

We used family pieces along side newer acquisitions.  The ginger jars are from Marshall's but these pieces are family heirlooms -

an old pitcher from my husband's grandmother,

Wedgwood Countryside plate from my mother's dinnerware, and

a honey dish my husband found broken when he was a child.  His mother glued it back together and has used it to store various 'trinkets' and coins for years.

My new Kirkland's bowl holds blue and white ceramic balls.

Although these aren't in the great room, I thought I'd share some of J's Grandmother Lockie's dishes.  They, too, are white and blue. (The tea set I shared last week is above.)

My grandmother, Maggie, also had white dishes with small blue flowers.

The story goes she had her wedding china choice marked in a catalog but her brothers misread her notes and ordered a set with blue flowers.  She really wanted a set with pink flowers.  Returns weren't so easy in those days (she was married in 1905) and she ended up keeping and using those dishes.  I guess she was right on trend, even thought she may not have really appreciated it!  LOL!


Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful week!

                                                         Zenda

Antiquing For My Birthday

I recently celebrated my birthday and my wonderful husband took me to Hannibal, Missouri to eat and do a little antique shopping.  I really didn't have anything in mind.  It was just nice to spend a relaxing afternoon together looking through old shops and reminiscing.

We did find two little treasures we brought home.  The first I found at our first stop.  Five little cups and saucers in a bright blue and orange luster ware pattern were sitting right at the front of the shop.  These little gems caught my eye the moment I walked in the door!

It just so happens that many years ago, my mother was gifted a tea set very similar to these by two older friends of an aunt.  Mother never used them but they held a special place in her heart.  I've seen a few variations of this pattern over the years and when I came across these little cups and saucers, I couldn't resist.  (Plus they were half price!)

When I got home and compared them to the original set, I noticed there is a difference but think they go well together.  I also noticed I'm missing the sugar bowl and another cup.  Well, the search will continue!!

Here are some photos of the set in the kitchen and in their new home, Granny Clark's pie safe.  We've set it up in our bedroom and I enjoy seeing my family treasures there.

Mother's set has a teapot, creamer, six small plates, six saucers and five cups.  Each have blue exteriors and orange insides.  They are labeled "Made in Japan."

My new pieces have the same blue and orange colors but the exterior shows both colors while the interior is an iridescent white.

The second treasure we found was one we both loved the moment we saw it.  The proprietor said it was Phoenix Glass and probably made sometime in the 1980's.

It has a lovely iridescent sheen and I knew exactly where I'd like to display it.  We didn't buy it right then but came back later in the afternoon.  Nothing came close to it in our hearts.  It's so nice to choose something special together.  Not only do we have a beautiful piece of art glass for our home but we also have a special memory of our day together!

It sit on one of our shelves in the great room near my grandmother's molasses jar.  Two Peter's Pottery pitchers are displayed on the shelf below.  They were gifts last year from our two kids.  These pitchers are wonderful for keeping beverages cool!

We had a fun time antiquing together but an ice storm cut our celebrating a bit short.  After spending the day, we headed back home with our treasures and happy memories.

Thanks for stopping by!

                                       Zenda


Linking to: 
   Make It Pretty Monday
   Amaze Me Monday
  Tuesdays At Our Home
  Share Your Style
  Share Your Cup
  Dishing It and Digging It
  Sweet Inspirations Party