Pheasant Fest!

After an unplanned blogging break, I am ready to show you my newest Fall tablescape, that I am calling Pheasant Fest!

I started with off white table cloth which I layered with my paper runner. I got this years ago at Civil-La-Tea in Gettysburg and I still love it. It has Chinese lantern plants all over it.

At each place, I started with a wooden charger which I topped with Spode Woodland with the Pheasant. I used green and pewter goblets and a bronze colored napkin with a coppery leaf napkin ring. And I added a little gourd-covered goodie bag and each place also.

For my centerpiece, I used a mini cake plate to elevate my Fitz and Floyd Pheasant teapot and surrounded it with a silk leaf garland and scattered some glass pine cone ornaments around.

I added Fitz and Floyd Pheasant candleholders with Indian Corn candles to light the table and some Bobwhite salt and pepper shakers, also from Fitz and Floyd.

Over at the tea cart, I have a cornucopia tea set and pumpkin tea towel to add to the Fall mood.

And on the mantle, Turkey sit among Chinese Lantern Plants and bittersweet branches.

On the Hanging Shelf, more turkey have gathered to celebrate the autumnal season.

I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Fabulous Giveaway!

My wonderfully talented friend Karen is having a fabulous giveaway on her blog, Lavender and Lovage! Please visit her - you will be charmed by her wonderful recipes and dazzling photography! I TRIED to make the logo and picture below link to her blog, but no success! Here is her link: Lavender and Lovage Giveaway!

Outdoor Tables - Camping Style

This week carolinajewel's table goes outdoors! Over Labor Day, my husband & I camped at Deep Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. We had most of our meals outdoors whether picnicking or cooking at our campsite. This was the view from Newfound Gap Overlook. Here is a shot through the hemlock trees of our picnic site at Chimney Picnic Area. In such a setting any food tastes good! We always use my red and white tablecloth that I ordered from The Vermont Country Store in the early 1980's. It has really held up well! And we got this picnic basket in the early 80's also. At night we had several candlelit dinners- A meal of bratwurst and German Potato Salad prepared over an open fire! As you can see, Randy helped! We visited Cades Cove in the Park and saw a wild turkey and toured the preserved and operational grist mill. We had a great trip to officially end our summer! Now I am looking forward to gearing up for Fall Decorating! Two "plugs" before I go - Audrey Eclectic is having a wonderful give-away off her beautiful folk art at her blog! Please visit her here :AudreyEclectic. Also - my daughter Emily and I have started a hat making business and Etsy Shop called The Chapeau Chateau. Emily started a blog about it here - TheChapeauChateau and you can visit our shop here The Chapeau Chateau. Lastly, I am linking to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday!

Summers of my childhood - Watermelons and Crepe Myrtles

Before saying good-bye to summer, I had to do a table based on Watermelons and Crepe Myrtles. (I had to look up how to spell crepe myrtle and either crape or crepe is acceptable!)



I always associate the two, because I remember one summer my grandmother planting watermelon pink crepe myrtles at her homeplace. So even though the lavender and white crepe myrtles are nice, it is the "watermelon" pink crepe myrtle that reminds me of my childhood!

I will be linking to Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

I started with a white tablecloth and added a large tea towel from Crate & Barrel as a runner of sorts.



As a centerpiece I filled a green glass vase with 2 shades of pink crepe myrtles and a few magnolia leaves.

For each place setting, I used my green ruffled chargers from Crate & Barrel with Gibson white china plates, topped with glass watermelon salad plates from Pier 1.



I used green bubbled glass goblets and clear flatware both from Target along with Vera Bradley "Botanical" print napkins and Target watermelon napkin rings.



On the mantle I draped pink chiffon and filled a green pottery vase with more magnolia and crepe myrtle and flanked the vase with two extra watermelon plates.



Here is my table tribute to my childhood summer memories - Watermelon and Crepe Myrtle!

Parasols and Elephants

My latest tablescape stars Parasols and Elephants. I was trying to set the tone for an Indian table which I will share with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.



I got the idea from my daughter who hosted a baby shower for a friend recently. She found some cute blue parasols at World Market with elephants on them. I made some blue elephant origami toppers for her cupcakes. Her theme of blue elephants was really cute.

SO, when I went to World Market and all the parasols and paper lanterns were on half price AND I had a 15% coupon of my whole purchase, I bought a green parasol and the yellow lanterns, both with elephants.

I put lots of stones and "jewels" in a vase to steady the parasol (again copying my daughter) and added a string of elephants (also from World Market) and the two paper lanterns.



Here are some shots with the lanterns lit.





Around the base of the vase, I put some more calico World Market elephants.



On top of a white tablecloth, I added different colored napkings, beaded placements and paper chargers with white plates.



I then took colorful place cards and put a drink parasol on each one which I then topped with a little origami elephant, again in all different colors.





I put all the elephants I had on the table: teapots, salt & peppers and figurines.





On the mantle, I draped pink chiffon and added one of the paper lanterns.



With the lantern lit



Here is the table with all the elephants and parasols!







Now if I only had some Indian food!

By the Sea, By the Sea, By the Beautiful Sea!

It's been so hot lately, I need a cool tablescape. And what is more refreshing and cooling than the sea?



I used a white tablecloth and my trusty tiffany blue tulle and added some goodies purchased from 2 recent trips to watery destinations and came up with this table.



I used my silver beaded placemats with blue ruffled placemats from TJ Maxx. Then I added a white Gibson Claremont dinner plate topped with a blue and white seersucker napkin (Target), a blue capiz shell salad plate (Target) and shell butter knife (Big Lots). I added clear plastic flatware and Fostoria Heritage glassware and put a shell place card holder at each place.



With Flash



Without Flash



My place



Around the table I added an oyster plate





And some fish salt and peppers frolicking among the tulle waves



A silver shell dish with spreaders



And a shell pitcher



To make the whole table an under the sea sensation!



And for the centerpiece I used a large clam shell from Target years ago, filled with blue and clear glass vase filler beads, like sea glass with various shells and sea creatures scattered throughout. Two turquoise mercury glass candle holders and light blue candles round out the centerpiece.







And on the mantle, I draped more tulle and a turquoise vase with bubbly, pearl and silver stems, flanked by silver mercury glass candle holders.







And even the wicker tea cart got a sea side tea towel!



Stay cool and have a wonderful Tea Time Tuesday and Tablescape Thursday!