Summertime, and the Living is Easy

"First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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Several weeks ago, I was delighted to host a small group of women who met to initiate plans for our 50th high school reunion...there...I said it. It truly doesn't seem possible that we'll celebrate that milestone in just another year. We'd had a spat of rainy/cloudy days, so I wanted to bring a touch of summer color to my table for five. You already know that we gathered in the living room at the games table.

Today's design all started...

... with the tablecloth...

...a charming ...chinoiserie style...

...incredibly inexpensive...

...eBay find! My mind started spinning with ideas the moment that I unwrapped it! I immediately knew that the Sophia L'Argent, found through Horchow and Tuesday Morning, would make the playbill for my table design.

I found myself intrigued by lots of colored glass and crystal...

The Vietri Amber Optic goblet...the pink pearlized Pier I goblet...

and the aqua green recycled glass decanters from Tuesday Morning played well with all the assorted colors in the tablecloth.

The amber capiz charger plate provided a lovely golden glow...

...beneath the MacKenzie-Childs spring green enamelware charger plate.

The Spode Blue Room Collection Byron Groups Floral plate... eBay Tip: Often I'll collect plates one at a time. Many times I'll be the only bidder. I picked these lovelies up for a low of $3.00 and a high of $9.00 each. You can collect some really nice patterns for $10.00 per purchase if you're patient and willing to wait and watch for the good deals. Just be cautious if you decide to buy a hand painted pattern. If some little lady painted it for her daughter or granddaughter, you probably aren't going to find any more to match it. Do your homework!

... the perfect, fluffy blue to bring out the colors...

...in the tail feathers of the various birds on the cloth. The cornflower blue hemstitched napkin with the Pier I multi-colored beaded napkin ring added another pop of blue.

This is a pretty busy design, but I'm happy with the balance...yep...happy.

My centerpiece was the Jadeite pedestal bowl filled with my old friends, grocery store hydrangeas. The bowl was flanked by a pair of jadeite footed tumblers hosting green hydrangeas and apricot alstroemeria.