Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Tablescape Thursday - My Big Fat Greek Tablescape

This is the first tablescape that I've put together since we returned from our trip to Greece. Of course, you know that I made a purchase in the market of something for Tablescape Thursday....let's see what it is!



Take a good look at the table and see if you can guess what it is. Welcome to my big fat Greek tablescape!



While you're pondering let's have a look at the centerpiece.


Yes we did see some sunflowers in Greece - so I guess you could say that these were Greek inspired. Let's see if you guessed correctly.



It wasn't these gold rimmed champagne glasses -- these were antiques when they were given to us as a wedding gift almost 35 years ago. I kept saving them for some special celebration -- but my husband doesn't like champagne. Now I've decided that they're perfect for shrimp cocktails, or perhaps a fruit salad, or even dessert. And not the cream damask napkins or napkin rings either.



Not the green water goblets I was so thrilled to find at Goodwill before Christmas last year.



Here's a place set just for you. What's you favorite Greek food?



Do you think you know?



I told you how much I loved the olives we ate....and these green dishes are embossed with branches of olives....but they came from Cracker Barrel last Summer.




My gold rimmed glass chargers were one of my lucky finds on eBay a few years ago. The mis-matched silverware has been a recent eBay collection.



Did you guess these olive embroidered tablerunners? If you did...you're right! Now I looked at lots of runners at different shops and I really tried to fall in love with the ones with the Greek Key design, or the ones with the ribbon flowers, or the pretty Greek lace --- but over and over my eye would fall on the olive runners. I kept talking myself out of them because they looked so....well....Italian to me (not that I have anything against Italy)....but I wanted something that said "Greece" in the design. I was very perplexed until I found the perfect runners......



....olive branches AND Greek columns! I snapped these right up after passing up runner after runner in shop after shop. Perfect!



A look at the layers on our Greek table.



Now if you noticed this water pitcher, it would have been a very good guess.



Because it has a Greek Key border. This was a pitcher that my mother and father received as a wedding gift and one that set on many a holiday table in our home growing up. So this is certainly Greek inspired as well.



Do you remember my telling you about how the Greek waiters would bring small pitchers of wine to our table when we ordered wine (about 4 glasses or so)?



So I've set this small (but very heavy!) glass pitcher that I found at an antique store this weekend on my table today as well. I think from now on I'll use this instead of bringing the bottle to the table - another Greek inspiration. It's a little more squatty, but I think it will hold about the same.



Don't you love glass pitchers and glasses with a design on the bottom? I do!



Another shot of our Greek table.



Once I found the pitcher and added it to the table, I added these wine glasses too (no they weren't in the first pictures). I found two of these at Goodwill last winter. I'll be looking for more along this line on eBay and thrifting around.




A couple of overviews.




And the sun slowly sets on my tablescape of fond memories of a wonderful birthday trip to Greece. Certainly my Birthday wish came true and I hope that someday each of you will get the trip of your dreams as well.

Be sure to visit Susan at "Between Naps on the porch" this week to find lots of wonderful and inspiring tables set. It's always filled with lots of tabletop inspirations.

See ya!

46 comments:

  1. Be still my heart!
    Loved seeing the Greek inspired setting.
    And, I love.love.love. sunflowers!!
    Beautiful!

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  2. Welcome home, I Loved seeing your pictures of your trip, and "LOVED" that food! wow those grape leaves were SO big and delicious looking. Your table is gorgeous with the green&white and the centerpiece sunflower just POPs! LOVE those table runners, it was a perfect choice.
    Donna

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  3. Beautiful table setting! Your trip sounds like it was fantastic. Have enjoyed all your pictures.

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  4. Great luck, finding the exact runners that suited you! The table setting is lovely...and..well, Greek-ish! I can't imagine how much fun your trip must have been!

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  5. What a great tablescape to celebrate your wonderful trip. I had to go back and see your last post showing Athens and the Acropolis. Wasn't it just wonderful? I think you chose very well. I was sure it was the green plates. The table runners are just beautiful and I love the columns and the olives.

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  6. Oh I LOVE this! Such a wonderful table and such wonderful memories it will evoke for you. I love everything about it
    xoxo Pattie

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  7. Just beautiful! I didn't guess the tablerunner until you started eliminating things, then I did! It is perfect, with the column! Great tablescape! I scrolled down to see your pictures, enjoyed seeing everything!

    Katherine

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  8. Just lovely! You're runners are FAB, great find! I'm finding that I like green more and more, it's just a calming beautiful color-enjoy!

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  9. What a fun way to present your tablescape. I love table linens so I would have bought the same thing had I been there!

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  10. I love your table runners. they are the "key" to all things Greek. Beautiful composition.

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  11. I love your runners, what a perfect choice! Green is my favorite color. You did a great job complimenting everything on the table; it's very inviting!

    Sheila

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  12. The runners are gorgeous and they depict Greece very well. I love the green plates and glasses. The sun flowers are just so perfect, beautiful!

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  13. Martha, I love green, and this table is wonderful with its green plates and pretty linens along with its green goblets and those pretty heirloom ones. Love the sunflower centerpiece, too!

    My favorite Greek food? I love Greek Yogurt.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  14. The Greek table runner is so pretty, Martha. I almost guessed it right cause I was thinking it has to be a table linen cause when we were at Rhodes in Greece, I could not leave the linen shop. They had so many pretty things. I like Greek salad with potato salad in it, stuffed grape leaves and lemon chicken soup. Mmmm, now you are making me hungry thinking about them....Christine

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  15. Oh wow...that table is wonderful. I love green glass and loved the greek key piece. How awesome. I am posting pictures from my trip to Mackinac Island et al. You will have to stop by and see my picto blog. I know you had a great time on your trip...mine pales in comparison...but hey...a trip is a trip.

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  16. It is even more fun to do a tablescape that has special meaning to you and it looks like you've re-lived some marvelous memories creating this one. It was fun to try and guess which accessory/dish you bought in Greece. I think you got a terrific souvenier with the olive table runners - lovely!

    DD

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  17. Of course it had to be the olive embellished tablerunner...great find! I really like the idea of the small pitcher for the wine...I'll be stealing that one. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

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  18. Such a clever post; you kept me guessing! That runner is a beautiful memento of your trip. I love the greens in your setting, too; I have my eye on a set of those green iced tea glasses on ebay!

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  19. What a beautiful table! I love the olive design - classic. And your green GW goblets are just perfect. Love the wine pitcher idea - even good with water! Linda

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  20. Love your olive & column runners~ what a great souvenir from your birthday trip to Greece...Happy Belated Birthday :-)

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  21. Lucky you having a trip to Greece!! I loved your table runner -what a lovely reminder of your hoiday. Lovely table,
    Suzyq

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  22. Wonderful! The placemats and table runner are beautiful. The goblets are special.Fatima-Scrapart

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  23. What a beautiful tablescape! LOVE all the green..it's so cozy and comfortable. Great job pulling all of the pieces together for a Greek setting. Just beautiful!!
    Debbie@houseatthelake

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  24. Martha, just beautiful! love the Greek inspiration behind it. The table linens are gorgeous! We live in a big Greek population. so, Greek food is a staple here.

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  25. I guessed the green plates, which I love by the way. That table runner is gorgeous. I can see why you waited for just the right one. Each Greek inspired detail makes this a lovely table.

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  26. ....and look how cute they are peeking through the clear plates!!!!!!
    How fun....Greece!
    Lucky Duck!
    Love the cracker b. plates too...
    xoxo~Kathy @
    Sweet Up-North Mornings...

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  27. Martha,
    That table is gorgeous! The tablerunner is perfect. You surprised me when you lifted that green plate and I saw that Greek column. I wasn't expecting it. That is just so pretty. I am looking for some fabric with olive branches on it, your linens are so wonderful. What a great thing to snag up on your trip! Thanks for stopping by.
    Sherry

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  28. What a pretty table..loved your sunflowers and tablerunner! Thank you for sharing.....

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  29. So pretty! I really like the olive table runner!
    Donna

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  30. Martha, the linens are perfect! I'm so glad you found them. Memories sometimes fade without special keepsakes to keep them fresh... You'll have some wonderful memories for a long time! Thanks for sharing.

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  31. This is a beautiful summer table setting. And, I love hearing about your trip to Greece.

    Best,
    Bonnie

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  32. So cute runners! Love your setting!

    Hugs
    Charo

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  33. Very Pretty! Those are amazing....but so are all your lovley "finds" and treasures you already had.

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  34. Glad you had a good trip and love the inspirational runner. You are indeed not only a good shoppa but very persistent. I love your table and your commentary. Very fun.
    Maryrose

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  35. Martha, your table looks beautiful. The runners are spectacular, and those green salad plates - wonderful! This tablescape is filled with such wonderful treasures, and I love the way you've put them together. How great to have the pitcher your parents received as a wedding gift - especially when it's as pretty as that one. laurie

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  36. Well, I did guess the pitcher because of the Greek Key! but your runner is beautiful! i went to Greece when I was a kid with my parents, and I would love to go back. Your table is perfect for a memory! Linda

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  37. What a gorgeous table! I love all the Greek items and your narration. It sounds like you had a wonderful trip. The olive runner is the perfect addition for this table. The dishes, glassware, flatware, and pitcher are lovely. You are so lucky to have such great pieces! Thanks for sharing and stopping by to visit!
    Sharlotte

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  38. Hello! Thank you for your comment on my blog, and I rushed right over here because I know it has been awhile since I visited! Well, this was a lovely tablescape and my favorite Greek food? Well, I DO like the lamb skewers that I used to get from the lunchtime NYC pushcart guys when I used to work in Manhattan! People used to think it was 'dangerous' to get them, but boy were they delicious! Who knows if it WAS lamb though?????!!!!! Anyway, your table looks great and you brought back a fond memory for me! Take care.
    Best regards,
    Gloria

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  39. Hi Martha! What a pretty tablescape! Love the runner and the Greek key design on the pitcher! Hmmm.... now I'll have some moussaka! Opa! I'll refrain from throwing the plates! lol Hope you are having a great weekend!...hugs...Debbie

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  40. How did you get every detail so perfect??!! Beautiful! I love the sunflowers, and I am crazy about the green glass plates. Would love something like that myself! Love the tablecloth, ok, I just love it all! I have not been to Greece, but my mom went and brought a doll for me that I just love. Hoping to go there!

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  41. Beautiful details! Clever to use the pitcher with the Greek key design. Love that the glass plates show the design of the textile. Great job. ~ Sarah

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  42. Such a beautiful tablescape commemorating a memorable trip. Greens are my favorite colors to scape with and yours makes me want to come in and have a seat. Beautiful runner, glass plates - Greek Key elements, very nice!! Thanks for visiting More Entertaining Women, Martha. Hope you come back sometime. Cindy

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  43. I love the greens and yellow flowers together. Very pretty!

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  44. Lovely setting. Love the green and your glass pitcher.
    Thank you for stopping by. I will stop by you soon again.
    Blessings
    Shel

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  45. LOVE the green plate and sunflowers are FAB!!!

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