Last Year's Prom

For Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/


Since I only started blogging this January, I haven't shared pictures of last prom. It was in May, my younger daughter was a Junior in High School and the theme was "Enchanted Garden." We had a post-prom breakfast for her friends. I had a them of my own to go with the garden theme - plaid. You'll see why below. Target had some plaid melamine plates, bowls and napkins on sale around prom time last year which fit in well with our plans.

Here is my table - the pastel plaid runners are made of paper called Transpatex and are reusable as long as no one spills on them. I've been lucky. I bought them at a teashop in Gettysburg, PA years ago. I used plastic plates. cutlery and goblets. I made the topiary arrangements with roses from the grocery store and boxwood from the yard. We had a French toast casserole, hashbrown casserole, fruit with yogurt dip, bacon, cupcakes, pretzels and cheese and crackers.









Mantle


Close up of a topiary on the mantle:


Fruit with yogurt dip


For our cupcakes, we candied johnny jump up flowers for garnish. We also sprinkled them with edible glitter.




OK, Here is the reason for the plaid on the table, my daughter's dress!


Prom this year is in May and we already have the dress. I will share it with you when the time comes! :D Jewel

Outdoor Wednesday - Summer Dreaming

For Outdoor Wednesday sponsored by Susan at A Southern Daydreamer
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com/



I am dreaming of summer flowers. For my next door neighbor's birthday, I made these pictures of her flowers and had notecards made for her.

















Soon we will see these beauties again! Thanks Susan for Outdoor Wednesdays! :D Jewel

Metamorphosis Monday- Foyer

I just found a wonderful new blog Hooked On Houses and they are having a block party this Friday! Be sure and visit to see all the great posts! :D Jewel

Happy Metamorphosis Monday sponsered by Susan at BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH.
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/





When we bought our house 8 years ago, this is what the foyer looked like. The wallpaper was from the 1930's and had ghostmarks of old pictures and was very soiled around the light switches. We wanted to take the house back to the 1880's, so we knew we wanted dark trim and Bradbury & Bradbury wallpapers.
Front view

Rear view

Notice the colonial light fixture - we knew that had to go.
The hall was also dark, so I wanted to add sconces. We were doing a tax credit renovation, so the NC Dept of Cultural Resources had to approve each change. They said they would allow the sconces, but didn't recommend it since we had no proof there had every been sconces in the first place.

Here are some more before photos. It looked a bit better when we took up the old carpet and added our rugs and furniture.



When ordered reproduction lighting fixtures from Victorian Lighting Works and were really pleased. We had to install the sconces after the wallpaper was stripped and before the new paper was hung. Imagine my vindication when we found patched plaster holes right where the sconces were going to be installed and the gas pipe behind the plaster! I knew there were supposed to be sconces in that dark hall!

The newel post we stripped to show the burled walnut panels, but the rest of the woodwork my husband faux grained. The wainscoting was evidently installed when they had everything painted white, because it is pine. The doors and door and window casing are oak. So even if we stripped all the wood and stained it, it wouldn't make. The faux graining gives us a uniform look throughout.


Here is the renovated foyer.Notice the new hall light and sconces. I think they make a huge difference! We painted the coffered ceiling a light green which went with the paper.


In the rear, under the stair well, we made a Turkish corner, which was popular in the 1880's.


Here is a close-up of the foyer wall paper which is a Dresser design from the 1880's.
I don't have a close-up of the border, but it was also designed by Dresser.


Hope you enjoyed this Metamorphosis! Be sure to visit Susan at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

for many more wonderful before and afters! :D Jewel

Easy Jambalaya

For Foodie Friday hosted by Designs by Gollum http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/


For an early Mardi Gras, I made Easy Jambalaya. The recipe is at Recipezaar at this link http://www.recipezaar.com/Easy-Jambalaya-91727

It was getting dark, so some of my pictures are a bit blurry. I know I still have some coins and beads from my last trip to New Orleans, but I couldn't find them anywhere! I could find green beads and green and gold coins in my St. Patrick's Day stuff, so don't look at the shamrocks on the coins! The "tablecloth" is an old evening gown with a satin skirt and sequined top. As you see, I did find some Mardi Gras masks!!! The recipe was good and easy!









Thanks Gollum! :D Jewel

Breakfast at Tiffany's Sweet 16

Tablescape Thursday is sponsored by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

For this Tablescape Thursday, I am sharing a table and party from almost 2 years ago. My younger daughter didn't know what she wanted to do for her 16th birthday. She wanted to have 10 or 12 friends over but couldn't think of a theme. When I received my Tea Time magazine and saw their idea for a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme, we were both excited. The magazine used Wedgewood china which is $ 700 or so a place setting!!!! Yikes! We decided to try and replicate the look for less.

We started out at Target, which happened to have some melamine plates on clearance in a shade close to Tiffany Blue. Then at TJ Maxx, we found large diamond paperweights like the ones featured in the magazine and at Michael's we found acrylic jewels to complete the look.

Here is the large table. I made slip covers for my chairs.

Here is the smaller table.

Here is a close up of the place setting. I borrowed gold-plated flatware from a friend.

Here is a close up of the centerpiece with a large "jewel."

Here is my mantle.

Close up of the arrangement on the mantle.

We served "breakfast" food from the large buffet: quiche, bacon, danish, fruit with yogurt dip and chocolate fondue. My daughter spray painted the metal holder for the fondue pot gold.


On the small buffet we had her cake and my next door neighbor's vintage album cover.
A local bakery made the Tiffany Box cake.


My daughter hand delivered the invitations which were wrapped to look like Tiffany Boxes.


Here is a group shot. Just to let you know - the cigarette and holder are theatrical fakes! Smoking is not allowed in my house at any age.


It was a birthday to remember! Next month another milestone 18 years old!!!! :D Jewel

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!
I have set my tea table with my rosebud chintz tea set. I got the set with 6 cups and saucers years ago from Ross Simon and later found the almost matching compote at a local Dollar Store!




Here is our antique pump organ in our parlor. It makes a nice place to display seasonal doo-dads.





This antique book was on display in the shop when we bought the organ, so we bought it also. The copyright date is in Roman numerals and my math is a little rusty!!!!


This heart was at Big Lots a few years ago and I thought it went well with my Victorian decor.


In my foyer, I have some conversation heart, but please don't try and eat them! They are glass ornaments.



Finally, for Debbie at "Confessions of a Plate Addict", here is my ironstone set which matches not only her mother's tureen, but her latest find!!!!


I hope everyone has a great Valentine's Day! :D Jewel