May blues

Who could believe that May is already here?  My gardens are a week or two behind last year's, so since no roses are blooming outdoors, I picked up a few pretty ones on my way home the other day, and am enjoying them inside.

Today's table has a mix of vintage Fiesta, Harlequin, and vintage Vistosa, along with a single piece of contemporary Fiesta, the sapphire carafe, added in.   Just as I was finishing taking photos, my little yellow pixies wandered by and made their first visit on the tabletop. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please stop by and visit with Candy at The Little Round Table and Daphne at Tabletop Time to see what's blooming on their tables!  ...and many thanks to them both for inspiring me to set my own table today.  It's so much fun being able to share tablescape fun with these lovely ladies.  

 

Surf and Turf... Turf, Tammis Keefe style!

It's exciting to be able to join with my tablescape friends for a new joint venture: Surf and Turf! I owe them all an apology for delaying the fun due to some technical issues, but I'm ready, the table is set, so let's go and see what's happening on my not so little table.  Because my dining room is small, it's rare for me to open up both of the drop leaves, but for a cloth this spectacular, I just couldn't resist!

My table is part of the "TURF" side of the equation...  This tablecloth is vintage Tammis Keefe, one of my most favourite textile artists,  and is named "Cattle Futures".  She was the first textile artist of the day to "sign" her works.   Each of these whimsical cows is decked out according to "where" he's from, and I smile every time I look at them.

 On the table, we have  mostly vintage Fiesta dinnerware in vintage red, antique gold, yellow, and ivory. The "candleholder" is a vintage Homer Laughlin Harlequin 22 ounce jug in yellow. I'll admit that the shakers and ramekins are contemporary Fiesta in marigold and black, and the flatware, smoked glassware, and chargers are contemporary, too!  

I'd love to invite you to visit the rest of the Surf-n-Turf gang via The Little Round Table. 

 

 

 

testing...new computer...testing

Testing testing... testing blah blah. annoying new Win8.

Welcome home, D!

This is an exciting week! Fellow tablescaper and dear friend  Daphne's schedule has changed to allow her to spend more time at home and  Candy, Rebecca, and I wanted to offer a very warm, "Welcome Home" to her.  What could be warmer than setting a table to celebrate?

I chose a handmade runner as the foundation for my table.  It's made with reproduction 30's fabrics in a rainbow of colors.   Now... what shall we put on it?  You know I tend to choose an explosion of colors, but somehow it seemed appropriate to use a simpler palette.  I pulled vintage Fiesta in cobalt and ivory from the china cabinet, because I'm sure her coworkers are BLUE to be seeing her less, and IVORY for fresh new start.   The striped salad plates were part of a special cake set for Montgomery Ward in the 1930's. (I know, I really MEANT to just use plain plates, but the stripe matched the flatware so nicely, what could I do??)

The flatware was a special surprise from the Flatware Fairy just a couple of weeks ago, so this is its first appearance on my table.  Glassware is a mix: the dots are vintage finds, and the stems are contemporary from Pier1.  The  Blue Willow teapot is vintage Homer Laughlin  in the Wells shape.

Welcome Home, D!  We love you!   

 

 

Happy Sunday

This little Madonna and child was made for me by my godmother, Marjorie Word, back in the early 1970's.   It's always a pleasure to decide where she'll reside during the holiday season each year.  This year she's in a place of honor,  up on top of my china cabinet with my vintage Fiesta vases, overseeing all the other decorating.

April showers

Blue Clematis

Coral Charm

Red Charm peony

Lupine

Fringe Tree

Solomon's Seal

Yellow Columbine

Stripes 'n' Apples

Yesterday was an exciting day for mail....  I got something I've been really excited about...

 

These are a vintage nest of Homer Laughlin mixing bowls.  Usually you see them in turquoise, but occasionally they're found in yellow, orange, or ivory.  They sometimes have a stripe as decoration, but this particular set has a triple red stripe, just like the stripe found on some vintage Fiesta pieces.  I found them on Etsy, and have been on pins and needles awaiting their arrival.  The seller was wonderful:  Thank you, Eileen for your wonderful packing and for the delightful conversations.  I promise the bowls have a good home here in Virginia.  I am excited to start finding ways to use and display them!

Happy Birthday, Dear Rebecca

Today is very special...it's  Rebecca's birthday...   and she loves...

Bold tropical flowers..... CHECK.

Fuschia.....CHECK

BRIGHT lime green... yep... got that too.

She really loves things that SPARKLE!  mmhm... I spy something.

so...when you put all these things together on the tabletop....

you get my way of sending Very Happy Birthday wishes to Rebecca, with love!!!

Rebecca's birthday tablescape features a vintage Vera cloth, contemporary Cambridge Fiesta flatware, and a mix of vintage and Post 86 Fiesta.  Colors used were Turf, Rose, Lemongrass, Chartreuse, and Shell pink. 

Please do stop in at Rebecca's other birthday celebrations:
Daphne at Tabletoptime 
Candy at The Little Round Table

Green, Green Green

I was in the mood for something springy indoors, to go along with all the lovely springiness outside.  I chose an (unmarked) Fallani and Cohn Lily of the Valley tablecloth with matching napkins, and a selection of HLC pottery for the table in a whole array of greens.  The centerpiece is from Pier1 and I repurposed votive holders into napkin rings.

Once I was finished, I hosted a game on Facebook, guessing the number of different HLC greens featured on this table.

What do you think?

The question posed in my contest was:  How many HLC colors do you see represented in the pottery on the table?  The answer is:  Twelve.   Here's a rundown of the colors you see and on which pieces of dinnerware they appear.  Harlequin nut dish: Spruce
vintage Fiesta dinner plate: Turf
P86 Buffet plate:  Shamrock
P86 square salad:  Lemongrass
P86 bread plate:  P86 Chartreuse
P86 tripod bowl:  Juniper
P86 bread plate:  Evergreen
vintage 5 1/2 fruit bowl: Medium Green
Vintage bulb candle holders: original green
P86 hostess bowl:  Sea Mist
Vintage coffee pot base:  Forest
Vintage coffee lid:  Vintage Chartreuse


The winner of the contest, by the way, is Kathy H., and she can expect a special springy surprise to arrive in the mail  next week!   Congratulations, Kathy!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

Early spring in the Blue Ridge

 Usually, there's still snow on the ground here on the first day of Spring.  This year, it looks more like late April than mid March.  I had to run a few errands today, and enjoyed seeing so many signs of spring...

There were a few signs of spring at the house, too.  The bridal veil spirea is blooming enthusiastically, and I've already used potting soil AND weed killer this year.

These  little sprouts caused BIG excitement here in my yard today... because it means that the pink gas plant survived the winter!!    I've had a really hard time getting those established again, so it's exciting to see new growth.