Mid-Century tablescape

Welcome to my Mid-Atlantic Mid-Century tablescape. 

Because my table was heavy laden with lots of dishes, I kept my centerpiece simple.  This cute Indian corn candle came from Cracker Barrel.  I've set it on a saucer and surrounded it with fall leaves and acorns.

As you can see, there are quite a few dishes on my table this week.

This Mid-Century tablescape all started with this set of teak  flatware a friend of mine brought me when her family was clearing out her father's estate.  She knew that I loved tablescaping so she very sweetly brought me this set of flatware.  I've been holding on to them for quite awhile, because I knew I didn't have quite the right dishes to do them justice........

....until I found these at my local Goodwill a couple of weeks ago.

And I knew right away that these were the perfect Mid-Century dishes to go with the flatware because.....

My mother had this very same pattern when I was a child! 

As soon as I saw them I had a flood of nostalgia.  I don't remember having a particular fondness for this pattern, but they did bring me such a warm feeling of happiness from my childhood.

As I gathered them up to take to the register a woman of about my age said, "I was just looking at those, my mother had those dishes when I was growing up."  We struck up a conversation of remembering them coming from a grocery store promotion back in our childhoods.

So how about you.....did you also remember these from someone in your family?

As you can see, this was a rather large collection.  I have no idea where ours went.  I suspect that they didn't make the cut for one of our family moves in my childhood.

And overview of the table.  I really thought they were such a great find for the autumn harvest season.

Since there were several more saucers than cups, I enjoy using them for holding candles to "match" the dishes.

I figured this style of salt and pepper shakers are pretty classic.  It seems to me they could certainly be something set on a Mid-Century table.

...and to think, it all started with a box of flatware from a friend.

The pattern is "Golden Wheat" and as you can see was made in the USA (something we just don't see very often these days.)

How about you?  Are you someone who loves the Mid-Century revival?  I know that my sister is really a big fan of everything Mid-Century.....who knows, maybe someday she'll get a surprise package in the mail one day.  While I doubt I will ever add to this collection, it was quite a bargain to find 34 pieces for $8.25 at Goodwill.  I will say, the dinner plates were smaller then (along with our waistlines) and I was able to put quite a bit of this collection on the table.  This set included dinner plates, soup/cereal bowls, salad plates, small dessert bowls, bread and butter plates and two cups and saucers. 

So until next time....See ya!

I'm joining Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.net/a-christmas-table-setting-inspired-by-nature-themed-dishware/" this week.

November Calendar Inspiration Tablescape

 I'm almost at the end of my Lang Calendar that I've been using for tablescape inspiration this year.  Here's the inspiration picture for November.

 Welcome to my November table full of pumpkins and corn.....now some things are a little different from the picture....but that's the beauty of "inspiration".....it doesn't have to be an exact duplicate.....just going for the same "feel".

I don't have a pretty little low sided metal bucket like the picture.....but I do have a hammered aluminum tray.......

 ....so I went about gathering pumpkins for my tray.....and pumpkin plates for the table.

Sorry for the glare.....the day I set this table was rainy so I had to turn on the light.  These pumpkin plates came from Walmart last year.  The plaid napkins came from the Yankee Candle store a couple of years ago.

I pulled out my vintage green goblets......one of these days I may find some pretty amber stems....but I don't know where on earth I would store them!  I'm all out of storage and cubby spots!

 An overview of the centerpiece....pumpkins.....leaves....corn....gourds....acorns.

A look from the "other" side.

I found these acorns that look real in Michaels a few weeks ago.

I decided that the bamboo flatware was the choice for this casual table.

                                           Tabletop overview.

                                        I do love the colors.....

                               .........and the scents of autumn......

                                       .....how about you? 

                                  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

                                 See ya!


I'm joining Cuisine Kathleen at "Let's Dish!:http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/2012/11/november-brownslet-dish-35challenge.html

I'm joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch"http://betweennapsontheporch.net/thanksgiving-tablescape-with-rustic-turkey-centerpiece-and-turkey-tureens/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

October gifts

You know how sometimes you just need a little something to take to the office...or a hostess gift?  We've had a few occasions in our office the past few weeks that merited a small gift.  The first was a collegue who was moving to another town while her husband goes back to law school.  With autumn upon us...I thought a cheery farewell basket would be fun....

....especially with such a cute scarecrow....I love scarecrows!

This little garden in a basket was very economical ...two mums, panseys, a couple of gourds and a tiny pumpkin with a bit of "moss".  The fall ribbon I already had and the basket was on sale. 

 Then came boss's day ....so when I found this Virginia Tech pan at Cracker Barrel... perfect!  It was easy to whip up a batch of symphony brownies and wrap it all up and tie it together with the school colors and a few autumn leaves. 

 Then the very next day another one of our collegues was leaving for a promotion....so once again, I "planted" a going away garden in this cute pumpkin basket.

And another cute scarecrow woman stands guard over the flowers and pumpkins.  I think she's too sweet to really scare anything though.  What do you think?

  I guess I'll need to restock my fall ribbon.....this was the last of that batch. 


Hope you're enjoying October in your corner of the pumpkin patch!

See ya!

Presto Chango Tablescape

 Some of you may remember my table of last week with the bicycles and the blues.....

So this this week, I decided to "build" a new table and show how easy it is to change the look, with minimal change.  This time I changed the centerpiece of a basket of flowers to a happy jack-o-lantern nested on fall leaves on a wooden stand.  I've had this pumpkin for years...but you could carve your own too.

I kept the same tablecloth, plates, napkins and flatware.  I removed the bicycle stickers and added fall leaves under the clear glass.

 This takes us from end of summer to autumn very easily.  I love the combinaton of blues and oranges.

....then to add a bit more orange to the table I added these pretty orange fall towelettes/napkins that my friend Jane just sent me. (we both have paper product obsessions and she always finds the prettiest ones).

 A pretty look with minimal cost.  If you have white and clear glass plates (my white ones came from Big Lots several years ago and the clear ones can be purchased at Walmart very inexpensively).....you can "make" any pattern of china you want....millions of possibilities.

 Now lets make another subtle change and switch to a black and white checked tablecloth and orange and black plaid cloth napkins.  I changed my navy blue goblets for clear ones.

....add a few mini pumpkins .....these make cute place cards if you write the names on the pumpkins....or you can add sticker letters instead.

Ponytail bands from the dollar spot at Target make cute napkin rings.

 .....different flatware can add a different twist to the place setting.....

.....and before you know it....."Presto Chango".....you have a fun and friendly Halloween table....with very little effort and expense.

See ya!

This week I'm joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Poarch" for fall tablescaping fun!
http://betweennapsontheporch.net/elegant-eerie-halloween-tablescape-the-215th-tablescape-thursday/