Tablescapes, Home Decor, Thrifting, Cooking

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Mixing up the Dishes ~ In a Hurry!

 

 

Hello again!  Let me start by saying I LOVE my dishes and I love my napkins.  It’s fun mixing and matching and playing around with things  ~~~~~

BUT

   If I don’t have guests coming over for dinner it seems unreal to put a lot of time into a tablescape.  Today I’ll be showing you how to create a finished table with color and interest FAST!

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Don’t get me wrong, for those of you who pour lots and lots of time into it, I am the first to say I appreciate your efforts.  My spring show is just around the corner and I feel guilty not being downstairs working instead of playing!  LOL!  When I am really entertaining I spend lots of time on my tables, tweaking and playing and redoing til the guests arrive!

Since it’s time for Susan’s Tablescape Thursday over at Between Naps on the Porch I hurriedly started looking through dishes seeing what would be pretty together.  I happened to have four of these precious little salad plates out on display

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so that was my starting point.  Oh yes, they did come from the Thrift Store and have a couple of little chips, but you won’t see those. They are underneath. There are no markings so don’t know anything about them other than I had to have them, chips and all.

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Knowing you can’t go wrong with solid white that was next in line. Johnson Brothers Ironstone, England.

 

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Okay, we are all itching for spring, so let’s pull out these Robin’s Egg Blue chargers.  These I found last year and I LOVE THEM! Remember, stack stuff up.  It always looks more impressive that way.

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Next we need napkins.  First I thought I would use the white ones with black I found awhile back, clearanced at Pottery Barn.  Hummm, they are okay, but a little formal.  Plus we are all eager for color and who doesn’t love this bright green?  I promise I would have ironed them if you had been actually coming for a meal!  These came from World Market.

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My running bunnies were just pulled out last weekend and Yes, they will work fine for the centerpiece.  Notice the antique tray.  It’s one of my favorite Goodwill finds.  I did have a new mirror made to fit and it looks wonderful in so many ways.

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A splash of a soft flower and some gorgeous deep blackberries and we have plenty of color and variety to make this table work in a matter of minutes.  The little silver pedestal dish was an estate sale find.

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Some glasses, silverware and tiny little individual bunnies and birds finish this table off nicely.  See?  You too can put together a table anyone would enjoy sitting down to in nothing flat!

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Oh, I almost forgot to show you this SWEET little platter that I added to the table.  It will certainly hold something I am serving.  It is made in France and I found it in an antique store in North Carolina.  It’s one of my favorites.

 

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Okay, before I go over to see everyone’s tables this week I will first “unset” my table.  Are we craZy or what??

 

 

 

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As always, I thoroughly enjoy your comments and visits.  Thanks for stopping by!

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I am also pleased to be joining Linda at A la Carte for Junkin’ Finds Friday

Debra at Common Grounds for Vintage Inspiration Finds and

Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday.

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47 comments:

Cathy said...

Your dishes remind me of a pattern my dmil has and I love the platter.

Beautiful as always!

April said...

I love your tablescape...you made it look, oh, so easy! Mine would never look that good! So...what time is dinner? ;)

Sarah said...

Pretty table with the mix of patterns in the salads and the napkins. Love the different shades of green in the napkins. ~ sarah

Pam - @diy Design Fanatic said...

Gorgeous! I love the white and black napkins!

Marlis said...

Love those napkins you chose. So perfect with your other selections. The table is great. So how long did it take?

lvroftiques said...

Beautiful tablescape Donna! I love the way you draped the napkins across the plate. And bunnies and silver get me every time!! And I really love the french art deco plate! Vanna

Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...

Donna, you are so funny! I loved reading your commentary through this post. :) Beautiful tablescape! Love the chargers and those adorable running bunnies!

Farah said...

Hi Donna...
its so nice to get you, its my first visit to your blog and really happy... and I am going to follow you after writing here...
Love your napkins very much... they look very graceful ...
Being a wife of an Army officer I know the thrill in life of an army officer, who posted on different place on and off and new homes, new, decor new people and all is so lovely...I too lived in almost thirteen houses in different cities and I love it very much
Hope you will enjoy your visit if you can spare a little bit to see some napkin folds
http://craftaworld.blogspot.com/
Love
Farah

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

You had me at 'quick and easy'! :) Pretty table on the fly, great job!

Mary Ann Pickett said...

Truly lovely.
Mary Ann

Savannah Granny said...

Your quickie table is fantastic. I love the napkin and how it picks up the color of the charger. That platter is a favorite, It coordinates so beautifully with the salad plates. That is what makes you such a good designer, you can quickly do what I have second guess for hours. Great job! Ginger

Kelly J/Hunters Hill said...

Donna, I just love it so simple but very classy !!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Love the combination you put together. I have one salad plate like yours and I love it! Someone told me the name, I will try to find it and let you know. Its amazing how you can pull a table together so quickly. I have become a follower of your wonderful blog! hugs, Linda

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I found the pattern for the brown transferware plates. Royal China by Jeannette Corp the pattern is Sussex!

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Very pretty! I love your splash of color too! I especially love your transferware and the gorgeous bunny centerpiece. You really did quite a nice setting even if you think you didn't put alot into it. I think it's great! Thanks for stopping by today too!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful tablescape. I love those running bunnies!

www.thewhitefarmhouse2.blogspot.com said...

Beautiful talbescape. I have a hard time with the centerpieces. Either I forget them or I just don't put one out. Love the bunnies. How sweet!

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I love your dishes...but the stars of your table are the bunnies! Such fun for Spring! ♥

Lynn said...

Cute table, lovin' the little bunnies sitting on the napkins:@)

Pam Kessler said...

Very nice tablescape. Love all the thrifted silver. And the running bunnies remind me that I should drag out my Easter stuff.

Susan said...

Your tablescape is so beautiful!! Its just me an hubby and I usally don't make a big ta doo about the table. Mostly because I work full time. But when I have guest I pull out my Old Country Roses!

Unknown said...

WOW! What a great looking tablescape, very calming, loving how all the white and color just flow so beautifully.

Melissa

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

That is one elegant quickie, lol!

Sue @ Beach Bungalow
xo

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Thanks for your visit! You have some lovely and unique things for your table! Love that French plate too!

Vintagesouthernlife said...

Cute table! I love the bunnies and the antique platter is beautiful.

Diane said...

Looks wonderful! It all came together beautifully. Looking forward to more.

Anita Diaz said...

Beautiful table!! REgardless of how much time it took, you obviously know how to put it together!! Love the centerpiece and the tray is just gorgeous!! My mom is on the mend, but starting to overdo a bit!

Miss Char said...

Donna, if you did that on the quick I can't imagine what we'll see when you spend time making a tablescape. This is beautiful, I love all the elements especially your running bunnies. You know I'm a sucker for bunnies. I've never seen blue chargers but I'll keep my eye out for some now. Thanks pal for sharing.

Decor To Adore said...

Oh I am all for fast! What a gorgeous vignette! Juxtapostion at its very best.

I am having an antique auction on my blog. All sorts of lovely and romantic finds looking for a new home. I hope you'll stop by.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Lou Cinda @ Tattered Hydrangeas said...

Donna, I love this! It it so gorgeous it looks like you spent hours on it! LOVE the robin's egg blue chargers and of course the bunnies!!

Are those flowers white camelias? Whatever they are, they are beautiful!!

Have a great weekend!

Lou Cinda

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Thanks for linking to JFF this week!! hugs, Linda

Unknown said...

Oh Lord, how embarrassed I'd be if you could see how the table looks when we sit down to eat. I'm lucky if I find time to actually cook and plop food down on the plate, let alone making it look beautiful. Hanging my head in shame.....

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Such a pretty tablescape, Donna! And yes, we must be crazy to set our tables and then just put it all right back! lol I love your frenchy platter...so pretty! I don't recognize it, though. Did it have any markings on the back? Have a wonderful weekend!....hugs...Debbie

Ms. Bake-it said...

Your table looks great! I love the running bunnies! Seeing them reminded me that I can now get mine out.

~ Tracy

My Dream Canvas said...

These are lovely. Really like your blog. I am following you. Hope to see you at My Dream Canvas.

Marigene said...

Beautiful table...your final choice of napkins looks great with the setting.
Linda is right, Sussex by Royal China Jeannette Corporation circa 1980. I have one of the dinner plates in my entryway. I think it is a fabulous pattern.

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

i love the little bunny you have sitting by the plate!


http://inthehammockvintage.blogspot.com

Debra@CommonGround said...

Really pretty, I'm lovin' your running bunnies centerpiece! Thanks so much for linking up with VIF!
hugs,
Debra

Melissa Miller said...

It all looks beautiful Donna. Love the precious bunnies!

Entertaining Women said...

Wonderful 10 minute tablescape...the bunnies as the centerpiece are darling. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

Babs said...

That is a gorgeous "fast" tablescape. Love both of your napkins and the ironstone and the robin's egg blue charger. Actually, I love it all. I'm crazy in that I play with a tablescape and then, I'm ashamed to admit, we eat on the coffee table in front of the tv. Hope y'all won't ban me from tablescaping. :)
Have a nice Sunday.

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Oh thank you so much for your visit sweet friend and for your lovely comments. Your tablescape is gorgeous! The center piece is unique with those beautiful running rabbits, so ready for spring. I love your Johnson Bro. plates,and all the others...love the napkins too.
XOXO
FABBY

Country Wings in Phoenix said...

Hi Donna Sweetie...
Oh my gosh, is this ever breathtakingly beautiful. I love, love this table setting. It is fit for a Queen. I love the Robin Egg blue chargers. What a way to start. A beautiful Spring color. And the napkins are so pretty turned longways to hang over the table. I love that. Your Johnson Brothers Ironstone, is so pretty. It is the perfect touch.

Those running bunnies are absolutely precious. I love rabbits. Isn't it funny how they seem to multiply once we start buying them? I just can't get enough of my rabbits. Yours look so elegant on the tray. How lovely it is.

I love the mixture of color with the blackberries. What an element of surprise to this table setting. Love it.

Oh and before I forget, the little bunny at each place setting, perfect. I love it.

I hope you are well sweet friend. I have been having fits with blogger. They took away my dashboard over a month plus ago, and I can't see when anyone posts, or my blog links anymore. The only way I can respond is when someone leaves me a message. I am so thrilled that you popped by.

Many thanks sweetie. Have a glorious Sunday. Many hugs and much love, Sherry

Tablescapes By Diane said...

Hi lovely lady. I love your mixing of place setting Beautiful !! I do this all the time on my Tablescapes~~~ I hope you have a nice weekend sweet lady... I hope you can come see my mix plates for my St.Patrick's Day dinner ~~

Jane said...

Such a beautiful table!! You make it look so easy. I love the addition of the bunnies, such a great spring touch!!
Have a wonderful Sunday.
Jane

riz said...

having the hardest time which stuff to pick, they're all pretty elegant!
happy to be your follower here:)

grammy and papi said...

Enjoyed your "quick" tablescape, lovely and simple.

Have a God Filled Day
Shirley