Late Summer Flowers

I started a table a couple of weeks ago, but it just refused to come together.  Has that ever happened to you?  No matter how much I stared at it, I couldn't figure out how to fix it.  Finally I just packed it all up and went shopping.  Shopping always makes me feel better.  I had my eye on a set of dishes at Home Goods for several weeks and now they were GONE!  The shelf was empty.  Disappointed, I made my usual run around the store, arriving at the clearance aisle last and there on the end cap, on the very bottom; eight salad plates in the pattern that I had been watching for weeks!  On CLEARANCE.  Into to my cart they went and I couldn't get home fast enough as inspiration for a new table quickly formed in my head.  

The floral dishes are 222 Fifth-Alicia (probably named after my tablescape hero, Alycia Nichols!, even though the spelling is a little off). I love the floral and thought they would go well with my quilted floral placemats.  

My hydrangeas were all transplanted this spring so they are smaller than usual, but I am not complaining.  I am so grateful that we have an irrigation system and I have any flowers at all with the temps this summer. 

The wavy mirror was picked up on a recent trip to Ikea in Atlanta.  They came in a package of two and I walked right by them, but my enabling, sweet husband spotted them and said, "wouldn't this look good on the table?".  He has great instincts.  

 I added a few white accents with the glass balls, the painted candelabras and the while ceramic napkin rings.  

The white ceramic chargers are also from Ikea.  

After struggling with an unfinished design for weeks, I was surprised that this came together in just an hour or so.  A shout out to my husband for making at least three trips out back to brave the chiggers and mosquitos for more hydrangeas.  I put them in water and will let the water evaporate and the flowers will hold their green for months.  

The Players:

White chargers - Ikea

Green plates - Home Essentials - Home Goods

Foral Plates -222 Fifth, Alicia - Home Goods

Red flatware - Cambridge - Ross

Placemats - Home Goods

Flower embossed napkin rings - Bed Bath and Beyond

Vintage crystal coasters - Ebay

I will be joining the following cool parties:

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

Seasonal Sunday

Thanks for visiting and for your comments.  I read every single one! 

I Love Vegetables!

I have this thing for vegetables.  I love to eat them, yes, but I also love to look at them.  I know part of my vegetable affection is because I'm a dietitian, but I just look at vegetables and see color, shape, and low-calorie, vitamin packed goodnes!  I have collected vegetable items for years.  I have dishes, art, posters, jewelry, napking rings, linens, etc all adorned with vegetables.  When I find myself in a new city, I always love to visit the local Farmer's Market and the grocery store and take pictures.  I have more pictures of vegetables than family!

I decided to create a veggie table to celebrate my favorite of all the food groups. 

The featured plates are Lenox Contential Dining, which is very elegant, but very simple white with a platinum edge.  The vegetable accent plates bring the party to the table.  Our local Lenox outlet closed several years ago and I was fortunate enough to purchase 16 vegetables plates for less than $3.00/plate.  I was also able to completely finish 19 place settings of my formal Lenox Maywood china for next to nothing.  Gotta love a sale like that!

There are four different vegetable patterns for the accent plates.  I paired them with plain white plates, rattan chargers, woven placemats, a simple gingham napkin, woven napkin rings, and Cambridge Flateware.

My sweet friend Suzanne gave me the vegetable cannisters for Christmas several year ago. 

The Fitz and Floyd candlesticks were found at TJ Maxx.

The carrot/parsnip candlesticks are from a local antique store. 

The runner is another Round Top, Tx find from Anna's shop.  You can read about her HERE. 

I have several sets of novelty vegetable salt and pepper shakers collected over the years.

Fitz and Floyd salt and pepper. 

I will be linking to the following parties:

Let's Dish!

Tablescape Thursday

Seasonal Sunday

Condo by the Sea...... Ahhhhhhh

A sweet, unbelievably creative friend  CeCe graciously shared her darling beach condo with us over the week of July 4.  The condo is in an older development and they completely remodeled it.  I can't believe she hasn't shared photo of it yet.  CeCe has posted the after pictures on her blog so you can jump back and forth and see the transformation HERE.  Everything in this condo was repurposed, re-painted, recovered, reclaimed and is ridiculously perfect!   I won't comment much and just let you enjoy the photos  

Entry hallway with board and batton which is throughout the living space.

Soaring ceilings with antique crystal chandeliers in every room!

Beautiful vintage embroidery work on every window.

Guest room.

Antique door knobs and plates on every door.

Tin ceilings.  

An romantic dinner for my sweetie and me on the deck overlooking the golf course, before the rest of the gang arrived. 

Dinner was so good we decided to repeat it later in the week.

Thanks to CeCe for a most relaxing week.  I am hoping she will post before pictures on her blog.  Be sure to visit her HERE to check out some of her other amazing creations!
I will be linking to:
Let's Dish
Tablescape Thursday
Seasonal Sunday