Our family Valentine's Day dinner actually happened on the 13th this year. The kids and their youth group were waiting tables at the Senior Servants Valentine's Day dinner at church on Friday, and Jewell and I were hosting a Galantine's party on Saturday, so I planned our annual family dinner for Thursday. Got all that? I know. Confusing! Such is our busy life. I don't want to let these traditions fall by the wayside as our kids get older, so I just adjust. You've got to roll with the punches, right?!
So - without further ado, here's my tablescape! It all started with a dish. I knew I was going to play off the red in the plate, but I had planned nothing else until that very morning. And guess what? It continued to be a work in progress. I'm going to show you today how I thought I was done, at least twice, but then went back to add and tweak! Here we go!
I found four of these beauties (in pristine condition, I might add!) at my favorite thrift store back in January. They're called "Global Medallion" by Pier 1 Imports, and they were a whopping $1 each. As I have said before, all I usually need is four of something, and people often donate when their collection runs low due to cracks or breakage. This pattern looked Italian to me. Not sure why, but that's what I went with. I had a Paris-themed tablescape a couple of years ago, so I thought I'd try my hand at an Italian theme. I knew I could also come up with a great Italian menu, too.
You have to have red on Valentine's Day, right?! I have a couple of red tablecloths, but they both had snowflakes or another "Christmasy" pattern to them. I borrowed this simple red tablecloth from my mother. Then I added my woven table runner for some texture.
I found these distressed white chargers at Hobby Lobby back during the fall. I already had white ones that are almost iridescent which I found at Dollar Tree. These are much more laid back, and I know I'll use them a lot.
However, I didn't want the white border of my plates to sit directly on the white charger, so I added my woven ones. (Gerald calls these my collection plates!) They play well with the table runner. You can still see the edge of the chargers when looking down from above, and you could also see them across the table. I like the extra layer. It just makes it "more". You know?
I stumbled upon the napkins and napkin rings literally the day before, when I stopped by to pick up some lampshades I had bought online from a friend who was having a fundraiser yard sale. They worked well with the plates and tablecloth, as well as the theme! The color in the napkins is a little more burgundy, but they work. The idea is to have a collected look, not a perfectly coordinated one.
You see my stems a lot, especially during the fall. They are "Jamestown" in amber by Fostoria.
I've been looking for the perfect time to use this new-to-me flatware! It was probably made in the early 1960's (due to the style), and has teak wood handles. Again, I only have enough for four, but they only cost me $5 for the 20 piece set. Someone took good care of these, and I will, too. Handwashing only for these guys!
So here's my initial centerpiece. I had picked up the hydrangea stems at Publix the day before figuring white would go with whatever I decided to do. I added a couple of artificial topiaries and some candles and little LED lanterns, and my Italian Countryside garden theme had come together. Or so I thought...
I had forgotten about these cute little individual red casserole dishes, until I was digging around trying to decide how to serve our pasta. I got four of them for $5 at another of my favorite thrift stores. So - addition #1. The casserole dishes. OK - done!
Here's what I had. But I wasn't happy. I had lots of layers, but the centerpiece was not doing it for me. I called Jewell in, and she suggested that it was too centered. And boring. Humm...good point.
I added another layer by putting the placemats under each tablesetting. I also added the metal cone. I just thought it bulked the centerpiece up a little, and the color complimented the little lanterns. Those were changes #2.
When I photographed it from above, there was too much empty space, so I added more lanterns (I had bought 16 of them at Dollar Tree to use for an event in April), and I also pulled out my twig balls. I have six large ones that I got at Hobby Lobby with a coupon years ago. Then I had found the smaller ones at Dollar Tree (also years ago, but they still have them). They added to the organic texture of the tablescape and also filled in the holes. Change #3!
Here's a closer look. I like that I have different colored spheres.
The pretty tall topiary was a splurge item from "Bless Your Heart" in Eclectic. It was maybe $25. Not bad, but a lot more than I usually spend, but it's so pretty! I got it last Spring.
The little tray holding the gold votive candles belonged to a precious lady at church. When she and her husband passed away, her daughter called me over and gave me so many gorgeous pieces. She knew her mother would love that I used them. I'm so grateful!
So there's my final tablescape! It turned out beautiful (eventually)! Just goes to show that you can play around with what you have on hand to set a gorgeous table. It also reminds you to stand back and look critically at your decorations. Think about what you can add to make them even better!
I'm so glad you stopped by my neck of the woods!
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