Calander inspiration tablescape - October

October is almost done and it was time to  bring out the Lang calander for tablescape inspiration.

So here we are with the October picture of a basket, a crow, and figs.

 You can see the basket here a little closer and I think the figs look really pretty.

 And here's my tabletop version -- now while I think the figs in the picture are really pretty and I was surprised to find some fresh figs in the grocery store (of course no leaves though)......

we don't really like figs so much, so I substituted plums instead.  You'll have to pretend they're figs!

And for a bit of green, I added some gourds.

Added a bit of color to the black and white table linens.

 Sorry that the day is so dreary, but we're being visited by "Sandy".  These goblets are amethyst in color.

 A view from the crows nest.

My stack of dishes starts with green....

 over black and white checked.....over plain white.

 Two smaller crows are standing guard on the backside of the basket.

.....this little guy seems to have had an unfortunate accident...only one leg.

across the tabletop....

 ....a neat effect that I didn't even know I could do --- black and white and only the greens showing their colors.

Back to all color and I've added some more gourds to the plates.

Since I will actually eat the plums....I've replaced them with all mini pumpkins and gourds.

Don't you love them this time of year?

 Some years I have really enjoyed setting a fun Halloween table especially when the grands are coming for a seasonal supper, but this year the girls got strep throat and with the hurricane bearing down, I decided to just keep it a little more simple.....maybe next year will find my table filled with witches and goblins.

 Yesterday before the rain started, I ducked into Marshall's to look for a new pair of "puddle jumpers".

Now I've just got to hope that the puddles don't get any higher than my ankles!  So far, it looks like we're not going to have it so bad....we've been lucky so far.  I hope my friends that are a little more north and those closer to the coast will soon be dry and have minimal damage.  And those to the west of us are supposed to get quite a bit of snow.....looks like we're in the right spot this time around. Good luck everyone!

See ya!


This week I'm joining the fun at "Let's Dish!" -- be sure to visit lots of fun (and spooky) tables!http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/2012/10/sandy-wasn-dandy-let-dish-33.html

Summer Swan Tablescape

It's time to join all the other tablescapers across blogland and set the table. Until I met Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch", I never knew how many of us loved playing with our dishes!



This week I've set a table that I've been building in my mind ever since I found my centerpiece swan a few weeks ago. I couple of years ago I set a romantic swan table for two...but this is more casual....sort of "tavern" style.



Won't you join me?




Is there anything more elegant than swans drifting along on a pond? Perhaps that's why you find them depicted in ballet. Grace....elegance....beauty. (Of course you may not feel that way if you've seen "Black Swan").



I found this table topper on ebay a couple of years ago. I fell in love the pairs of swans. They mate for life and are often considered a symbol of eternal love.



I found both my set of etched wine glasses and etched water/iced tea glasses at our local Goodwill. In fact, I've found quite a few sets of nice crystal glasses there.



A closer view of the wine stems etched with grapes. About a month after I found these I saw the same exact glasses pictured in Victoria Magazine.



When I found this at the antique shop the tag said it was a duck. When I went to the counter to pay for this, we had quite a discussion about whether it was a duck or a swan. All the women said swan. The only guy there said he thought it was a duck. What do you see?



Let's break down the layers. I have a white battenburg napkin layered over black and white checked ones. The bow napkin rings were found at a local antique store several years ago. I use them often.



My ruffled salad plates were from Tuesday Morning about 5 years ago.



I found my black pleated dinner plates at Kmart a couple of years back ....I've mostly used them at Halloween.



I was finally able to find these chargers in stock at Pier One last week. I think these are some of the prettiest ones I've seen and I knew that if they ever had some....they would come home with me. I'm sure I'll be using these a lot! I've been drooling over these ever since the first time I saw them on a Tablescape Thursday posting. Over the past few months I've seen them on more and more tables. Isn't it funny how so many of us are attracted to the same things....remember the "Gollum" dishes and the Target birdies?



Overview of the table. I found the checked tablecloth on ebay....another tablecloth I believe you'll be seeing a lot.




Simple swan centerpiece.



The way the two layers of napkins fluffed up sort of reminded me of birds wings.




I enjoyed setting this table, it sort of reminded me of.....





....watching swans glide ever so beautifully across the water.

I hope you'll visit the tables prepared for you at "Between Naps on the Porch" this week. There's always something to inspire us to set a beautiful table.

See ya!