TABLESCAPE THURSDAY: A SPRING EVENING DINNER

Today is Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan at Between Naps On The Porch. In fact, today is the 30th TT!! Visit Susan and see the list of all the gals participating and give them a visit. There is an awful lot of creativity and talent out there!

My tablescape theme was to be a Spring Luncheon. But as I fiddled around with everything, stopped to make dinner for my own family (which was feeling slightly rejected that I was pouring more attention in to a faux meal!!), and realized that it was getting dark outside! So I added some candles and we now have a Spring Dinner (pretend of course).

My dinner and salad plates are from both TJ Maxx and Marshalls. They seem to carry the same brands. I first bought the blue dinner plates awhile back to just add color to my table settings. I have white "everyday" dishes, which I love. Working as an assistant chef years ago I learned that chefs and restaurants prefer white dishes as it showcases the food best. Not to say that my family has ever stopped, fork in mid~air, to say, "Lovely presentation, Mom!". Well, I put the blue plates away somewhere and then last week came upon three of these white salad plates. I instantly fell in love with them for their detail, which you will see. I was at Marshalls and saw that they also had the blue plates so I was able to put them together and they go well, don't you think? I told The Husband that I was a little disappointed that they didn't have a fourth white plate, even better, five to make a set. And if you read my blog you have probably already guessed...he went out and found the rest! What a love! :-)

The blue/green/white napkins are also from Marshalls, as well as the wine glasses. I really love the wine glasses because they are short and somewhat heavy, yet have very elegant curves. I would absolutely love the day that I have a minimum of 16 matching wine glasses that don't chip or break or shatter...and I think these may fit the bill. $6.99 for a set of four. I think I may go back...

A closer view of the dinner plate. I love the scalloped edge and raised flowers. Those areas have received a light rubbing of a dark stain to bring out the texture. Brown and blue have been very popular color combo's of late (note my blog~hee hee) so I think I can also use some brown in a tablescape with these dishes, don't you agree?

The salad plate looks nothing like the dinner plate but I think they work nicely together and are perfectly fine for entertaining. I love the little bunch of flowers in the middle. They will make cute dessert plates too! :-)

A close-up of a place setting. My silverware is vintage, collected from estate sales and antique stores. None of it matches but I love it. Each piece is so individual and unique. I have over eighty pieces and at least service for 16, yet I don't know if I will stop collecting. Practicality flies out the window when you spot a bargain (or a piece that is just so intricate and detailed. I have a knife that has a monogram engraved on it. My mind just wanders thinking of a family way back when, that had monogrammed silver! Ooh la la!!).

These precious little salt and pepper shakers came from a little interior and gift shop near my home named Mona Lisa. In my tablescape I have the matching napkin rings and butter dish, as you will see.

Isn't the detail pretty?

And happily, it also plays up well with the plates!

Four orphaned pieces getting a second chance around!

Here is a different angle and color. My table is pine and we bought it from Pottery Barn about 15 years ago. It has no varnish or sealer on it, which I love. It does have a lot of nicks and scratches that tell many, many stories of times sharing meals with family & friends, playing games or cards, doing homework or having coffee with a friend. All it needs is an occasional rub down with some furniture oil and it sighs with contentment!

Thank you for visiting me on Tablescape Thursday. I hope you had a good time! Visit Susan to see her post today and then drop in on all the other ladies to see what is on their tables. And visit me again, I'd love to have you. We can have coffee at my old table and make a few new nicks in it together!

xoxo

Janie