Summer is in swing - and I mean FULL swing - around here, so I've had very little time to blog lately. That doesn't mean we're not entertaining though! I hope to catch up on several things in the next couple of weeks. Today I'm sharing my tablescape for Mother's Day 2018. I had some "new" china to use - well, I'd had it a while, just hadn't had an opportunity to use it yet. The result was a bright and cheerful table!
I began by layering this yellow chevron-striped piece of cloth. I had this piece in my stash for a while, intending to use it for accent pillows in Brack's room. However, it stayed tucked away until this past February when I pulled it out for my father's Mardi Gras-themed birthday dinner. You can check that out here.
Next I laid out my navy blue placemats. I used these most recently for the dinner I hosted for my Mixing Bowls Cookbook Club. Here's a peek at that tablescape. (One of my brothers and his family was unable to make it for mother's day, so I just set the ladies in the dining room - therefore, only five place settings.)
Next I layered silver chargers. I thought about gold to go with the yellow, but decided I wanted to break it up a little.
These plates were a little paler yellow than the tablecloth and the new plates, but I thought they worked. Eclectic tablescapes don't have to be perfect. Have fun! Mix things up a little! (I could have played it safe and just used white.) This dinner plate is part of a set by Gibson that I had before we married. I don't even know the pattern name, but they have a classic feel to them. I used them a couple of years ago for Gerald's birthday and a "blue plate special" tablescape that was lots of fun for the meat-and-three dinner I made that night.
Now on to the "new" stuff! This fun bulls-eye pattern is new to me, but it was made in the 1970's in Germany. I found the salad plates and the cups and saucers at a thrift store for next to nothing. They are not china - I would call them a clay earthenware material - but they are light as air, and oh, so delicate! I don't even know the name of the pattern. The dishes are just marked '76 and "Germany". They would look great with white or with a navy plate underneath!
Even though they were made in the 1970's, the shape of the cup reflects a mid-century vibe. I like how different they are!
Since I used the silver chargers, I pulled out these mirrored silver votive candle holders from Dollar Tree. I love the way the reflect the yellow pattern of the tablecloth. I almost always add candles to my table settings. I love to watch the candles flicker while we dine.
Another view as I pull everything together.
These tea goblets are "Gibraltar" by Libbey. Another thrift store find. If you haven't figured it out, I love stemware as much as I love dishes! I also have matching tumblers. I used them for Brack's 50's Diner tablescape last month for his 13th birthday.
It's hard to pick up, but these white napkins have a subtle stripe to them. I got them years ago at Walmart. The flatware was my first pattern when I got my first apartment over 25 years ago! They are "Margate" by Pfaltzgraff, and they still look great.
Overhead view of a tablesetting.
I recently took a class by my friend Haley Scott (her mama, Nancy, is my Miss Manners partner) on how to arrange "grocery store bouquets" and make them look like a million bucks by adding things from your yard. Haley's mom is crazy talented, but so is her daddy, Dennis. He has been arranging flowers for years. In fact, he and Nancy were my wedding co-ordinators! Haley learned from the best.
Anyway - the day before Mother's Day was Jewell's end of the year dance recital. I had to take her early, so I had Gerald and Brack stop by Walmart to pick up flowers to give her. I told Gerald to pick up something white so I could use them for my tablescape the next day. I mean, why not? He picked a simple $5 bouquet with the yellow, white, and purple daisies.
I added Nandina to make it fuller. I like the speckled red leaves. It just makes it more interesting. I also tucked in some tea olive leaves which smell amazing.
Variegated pittisporum, camellia shoots, and fern round it all out. I love the organic shape of the fern.
Isn't that pretty? And so much more interesting than just the cut flowers that came from the store. We had a lovely lunch. I'm so blessed to have my mother living next door! I love having her over and try to make her feel super special. I hope you had a chance to spend the day with your mother, as well!
I'm so glad you stopped by my neck of the woods!
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I wouldn't want you to miss one crazy thing!
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