Star-Spangled Settings

This year’s Independence Day table setting centered around a new table runner with red and white stripes and blue stars outlined in gold.

Also on the table is a ceramic tray in a flag-inspired design



At the opposite corner is a flag design napkin holder containing extra paper napkins with flag motif.


The Napkin rings are Red Wood Stars holding “Porcelain Blue” cloth napkins.



The dinner plates are “Liberty Blue,” a Staffordshire transferware pattern made in England for the U.S. Bicentennial. Each item has a different historical illustration. (See the list of Illustrations at the end below.*)
The plates are set on white lacquer chargers. The goblets are Fostoria “Virginia” in dark blue:


As centerpiece I used two milk glass candlesticks with red taper candles on either side of a “Liberty Blue” covered bowl. Nearby are matching salt and pepper shakers.

The Sideboard or Buffet continues the star-spangled theme.
On a round woven placemat, a large hurricane globe holds a white pillar candle on ruby red pressed glass candleholder surrounded with wood flag motif stars. Sprinkled outside on the mat are larger wood stars. Behind it all is a large “Liberty Blue” oval platter in front of a much larger porcelain tray from Portugal. A spray of stars and flags is placed between the two platters.



The tea service includes the “Liberty Blue” teapot, sugar and creamer. On the teacup stand four “Liberty Blue” teacups feature Paul Revere’s Ride. Red ceramic strawberries add a touch of color to the saucers.




*FYI – The illustrations on the Liberty Blue dishware are as follows:
Dinner plates – Independence Hall
Oval Vegetable Dish - Minute Men
Round Vegetable Dish - Fraunces Tavern
Covered Vegetable Bowl – Boston Tea Party
Gravy Boat – Lafayette’s Landing at West Point
Gravy Stand – Governor’s House, Williamsburg

Teapot and Lid – Minute Men
Creamer – Paul Revere’s Ride
Covered Sugar – Betsy Ross
Cups – Paul Revere’s Ride
Saucers – Old North Church
Large Platter – George Washington Crossing the Delaware

I am joining the following blog events:

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch where we can enjoy more Tablescape Thursday posts.

Suzanne with Vintage Thingies Thursday at Coloradolady.
Cindy’s Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home

Black and White Setting

Although we’re into fall now I still have not taken out my fall things; so today’s table setting is in black and white with green highlights. I wanted something fairly cool and serene, yet with a bit of dramatic contrast.
The linens consist of one Waverly "Country Life" Toile in black on cream runner with black tassel at each end, and four Waverly "Country Life" Toile in black on cream oval placemats with striped fabric on reverse. The napkins are white with a black scroll design.

The black and white theme started with the Royal Stafford checked bowls. They are set on Bordallo Pinheiro "Cabbage"dessert plates, which in turn rest on vintage cream Wedgwood Etruria "Edme" dinner plates. The silverplated flatware is the 1941 vintage Holmes and Edwards "Youth."

To go along with the clean looks of black on white I decided on clear glass accessories. Three pairs of clear crystal candlesticks with green taper candles, and two tulip shaped votives with green votives form the centerpiece with green hydrangeas from a previous table setting.

Next are four Durand "Vendange" goblets and four vintage footed glasses in etched crystal w black/ amethyst base.

A set of four crystal salt cellars and tiny spoons add more sparkle:

A pressed glass butter dish and "Youth" butter knife rest on a doily on a shell-shaped black glass dinner plate.

Four fabric napkin rings in the Waverly "Country Life" toile are supplemented by rectangular silverplated napkin rings.

The full place setting

I am joining

Susan at Between Naps on the Porch ,where we can enjoy more Tablescape Thursday posts.

Suzanne with Vintage Thingies Thursday at Coloradolady.

Cindy’s Show and Tell Friday at My Romantic Home.

Shell Tablescape in Aqua and Cream

I have been wanting to do a table setting based on a shell motif for a long time. What finally go me to do this table was finding a pair of tall candlesticks with shell motif in Home Goods last month, July 2011. My youngest sister and I were doing a quick run-thru the store when she spotted them and pointed them out to me. I snapped them up right away!

Back at home the following week, I shopped around the house for shell items to use and started to place things on the dining room table. The color scheme of natural colors, white and aqua came into focus with Metlox "Lotus" dinner plates in a bright aqua hue. Metlox is a California pottery, and I have long enjoyed California ceramics. The "Lotus" pattern is a lovely evocation of the flower. The plates sent me after pale blu- green woven place mats. To separate the aqua plate from the pale blue-green placemat I added crisp white chargers.

The first shell items are shell-shaped bowls from the J.C. Penney "Water" dinnerware.

For bread and butter plates I used the "Water" canape plates. A large "Water" serving bowl took its place at the edge of the table.

Next came Fitz and Floyd "Oceanea" items as accent pieces -- salt and pepper sets, open serving dishes, canape server plate and sauce boat.

Towle stainless flatware in the "English Shell" pattern and silverplate shell-shaped place card holders also contributed to the shell theme. Vintage silverplated butter spreaders were addded on each b&b plate.

Bright aqua napkins display ceramic shell napkin rings.


Pale Spanish Green Libbey goblets complete the setting.

The centerpiece consists of a crystal vase with hydrangeas from my garden. On either side is the tall candlestick. Three balls encrusted with shells contribute to the vignette.

I should mention that in taking the photos this evening I had to deal with somewhat drooping blooms (and some dust), since this table was set several days ago -- and was used for two family meals on two different days, one on Saturday and one on Monday. So the tablesetting is a bit ragged. I just couldn't seem to get around to taking photos.

Here are a couple shots taken when the flowers were fresher. As soon as my brother, who was visiting from New Hampshire, came into the dining room, he took out his cell phone and took photos. I pointed out the place card with his name so he took a closeup of his place setting!

I am glad to be joining the fabulous weekly blog event, Tablescape Thursday, graciously hosted by Susan. I haven’t been able to participate for the past few months, but am glad to join in this week. Visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for more Tablescape Thursday posts.

Resources:
Placemats: Light aqua woven, TJ Maxx 2008
Chargers: white lacquer - online, 2 years ago
Dinner Plates: Metlox Poppytrail "Lotus" in aqua, June 2011
Salad Plates: J C Penney "Water" canape plates
Glassware: Libbey Gibraltar goblets in Spanish Green – thrift shop find 2008
Flatware: Towle Supreme Stainless "English shell; vintage silverplate Butter Spreaders
Napkins: Marshalls, about 19 years ago
Napkin Rings: off-white ceramic shell design – Ebay
Salt and Pepper Shakers: Fitz and Floyd "Oceanea"
Shell motif Tall Candlesticks – Home Goods, July 2011
Ecru Pillar Candles: Walmart, August 2011
3 Shell Balls – Walmart, summer 2009
Shells: various sources over the years
Silverplate shell Place Card Holders – have had for several years

Holiday Tablesetting

Well, this is nearly the last Thursday of 2010, and I am glad to participate in Tablescape Thursday, ably hosted by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. I have been so presed for time that I have not been able to post since before Thanksgiving.

As I do every year, I took out my Lenox “Holiday” china and the coordinating “Holiday” linens to set the dining room table for the Christmas holidays.

The place settings are framed by graceful chargers and gold flatware embossed with a floral motif. At the end place settings the napkin is placed across the bowl. The napkin ring is also Lenox “Holiday.”

I also used the clear stemmed green goblets to pick up the green in the holly trimmed plates.

The centerpiece is a crystal nativity set elevated slightly, and then surrounded with gold and silver beaded garlands and green ribbon and green glass ornaments.

On each side is a silver plated candlestick with gold candles and holly rings.

I usually use the Lenox "China Jewels" nativity set, but decided on the Gorham lead crystal set since it was easily retrieved from the curio cabinet. The China Jewels set is packed away in many boxes, and I did not have the energy for so much unwrapping. See the post in my nativity gallery blog for more about the Gorham nativity set.

The place settings at the side feature cream soup bowls and stands and napkins on the side, while the settings on the two ends have rimmed soup bowls, and napkins on top.

Dessert plates are at hand at the edge of the table:

Please visit Susan Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for links to many more festive holiday tablescapes, and to join in this beautiful weekly blog event.