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An Apple Unpicked - Fall Tablescape & Giveaway




  

 I think that many people favor the time of year they were born and if that's the case, then it makes perfect sense that Fall should be my favorite season.  It is.


I have posted this table in the past but it remains one of my favorites and hints at my favorite season to come, which is Fall.  I can't wait for cooler weather and to listen to the wind rustling in the trees!  Wouldn't this be a great table set inside a big red barn with hay scattered all over the floor or hay bales as seats with the doors opened on either end, or even out in an apple orchard?  Speaking of apple orchards, you can read my depressing apple poem at the end of this post.  I wrote it in my mind while on a tractor ride through an apple orchard with, I think, Kalyn's kindergarten class many years ago.  




A big strip of burlap fabric makes a super simple and rustic long runner for the table.  It sets the whole mood of 'casual'.  I have set many tables with cloths that don't fully cover the table and leave some of the wood exposed.  I love this look. My table is worn and rugged but it did not start out that way.  I still run across this very table in magazines but it still looks brand new there.  I like that we've worn this baby in.  It looks like an antique now because it's been weathered naturally ( if you call a family of eight natural). 

Inexpensive dish towels were used in place of chargers or placemats.  They are tri-folded lengthwise and allowed to hang over the edge of the table. They help define each space.  I bought these at Tuesday Morning for only a few dollars per pack of six.  I now wish I'd purchased some of the other colors they had at the time; blue, green, and black.



I crumbled up a little Raffia at each place setting as I think it conjures up the image of hay, and I love the added texture.  This is easily removed before dinner as it may prove to be a little cumbersome to eat around (that's what Ashton thinks).

I began setting the table with these Royal Doulton plates...
 ...such a pretty pattern...
...with the sweetest little butterfly trying to hide amongst the fruits and flowers...
...and then I got to the last place setting only to realize I had seven plates, not eight.
Improv time.
Take away three of the Royal Doulton plates and bring in four of these Ridgway plates for a mixed table setting.  I like mixing it up anyway.
 Aren't these pretty?  I have one of each of the plates in my every day set of mix-n-match red transferware plates.  The rest of them are for sale in my online shop, Nancy's Daily Dish.


This one has a pretty border as well.

I chose to use my faux bamboo flatware (Horchow)

 and old fashioned, mock bubble glasses (Walmart).






Believe it or not I couldn't find one of my napkins either.  I mixed them up and then wound up finding the missing one...so you might notice this in some of the photos.  What's uniform is that I tied a few strands of hemp around each napkin instead of using napkin rings.  I love this stuff.  I've found so many uses for this as of late, including my demijohn project.


I've wanted to use these grapevine spheres as a centerpiece for a while now and this seemed a perfect match.  I scrunched up a gingham tablecloth, laid a leafy, fruity garland on top and then wedged the forms into the greenery so they would be stable and not roll around.  To further evoke the feeling of Fall, I placed a few apples here and there.  Simple centerpiece!  The grapevine balls  are from Hobby Lobby, and if I remember correctly, they are only $2-3 (when you buy them half off).  



Shawn remarked a couple of times about how much he liked this tablesetting.  I hope you all like it too!


An Apple Unpicked

I took ride upon the tractor,
Bushel at my breast
Through fields of amber,
Past the birds empty nest.

On through leaves of crimson,
I arrived to look down the lane
Where apples should be upon the trees-
But already had been slain

I could see no fruit was there,
Not one apple in the trees
I just stood...still, and quiet,
And listened to the buzzing bees

Never did I pluck from the tree
A singe fruit, round and red-
Only off the ground I lifted
An apple bruised and fallen dead.

Never I got what I thought,
To pick my apple from the tree-
To taste a bite, deliciously ripe-
The experience was not meant for me.

Nancy M Roberts ©2002



Also a little reminder that my jewelry giveaway ends tomorrow.  See my last post linked above and simply leave a comment on it to enter!  Lots of cute choices!

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Joining some of these parties:
Pink Saturday
Susan at Between Naps on The Porch
Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage
Cozy Little House
Cindy at My Romantic Home
French Inspiration Thursday
Share the Love Wednesday
Funky Junk Interiors
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
Share It Sunday
Strut Your Stuff Saturday at Six Sisters Stuff 
Homemaking Linkup at Hope In Every Season 
Anything Goes Party at Bacon Time with the Hungry Hypo
Fridays Unfolded at Nancherrow






Comments

  1. Love your tablescape! Beautiful dishes and such a fun way to add in texture using raffia as a charger!
    Karin
    Www.thestylesisters.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have pined on Pinterest this gorgeous tablescape Nancy...as all your tables are!
    I love those dish cloths as napkins, the table topper and the raffia as chargers. Amazing.
    FABBY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Fabby! I just visited your blog earlier this evening and loved your touches of Fall and that marble topped piece!

      Delete
  3. Love this pretty table! Unique and gracious!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful Fall tablescape, Nancy! Love the bunched fabric under the grapevine spheres. Pulls everything together. Great job! Catherine

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  5. Pretty tablescape, Nancy! Love the red and white; and all of your accents are wonderful! The raffia adds such great texture and the dishcloths are perfect!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Just now following you on Pinterest too. :-) Love your table settings!

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  7. Nancy, fall is my favorite season too, though not my birth season. I love the earthy colors and the crisp snap in the air. Sweater time…….my favorite time! I'm going to add this table to my Pinterest Board. Great idea to add the raffia nest.

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  8. Your tablescape is really beautiful :) I love this dishes... All together is fantastic !!!
    Greetings from Poland :-)
    Marille from http://marilles-crochet.blogspot.com/

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  9. Nancy, I have seen this table many times over the years and I think it would have to be my all time favourite from all the gorgeous tables I've seen. Each season and each year bring with it so many lovely tablescapes but this is by far THE most beautiful.
    Suzyq

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you so much Suzyq! I'm so flattered be your comments!

      Delete
  10. I love a table with personality, and this one just rocks with personality! Red and white with all of the natural accents are perfect for an early fall table. I pinned several of your pictures to my fall tablescape board. Just Lovely!

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  11. Wonderful table and I love your idea about the raffia underneath the plates with the dish towels! Very creatively done!

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  12. Your tablescape is absolutely beautiful! I love the red transferware mixed with burlap and the rustic elements. So pretty!

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  13. I absolutely love this table. Your attention to detail is extraordinary and truly captures the meaning of what it is to be a tablescaper. All of your design choices work so well together and your explanations of how you created your table are very interesting. I've become a follower and look forward to seeing your other posts and visiting your online shop! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch

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  14. I love this tablescape too. I love the flatware. Perfect for a fall theme. I love the last photo! thanks for joining the linky. The Fall theme runs all throught September! Hope to see you again! Have a great week.

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  15. The tablescape is simply beautiful! Thank you for sharing all the lovely details with us! I am visiting you from Amaze Me Monday! Have a beautiful day :)

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  16. I love the trifolded napkins! That's a great idea. I have been fretting over placemats—because the ones I like are too expensive and I never seem to find enough of the cheap ones that I tolerate. But the napkins are an affordable and unique touch I hadn't even considered. I love it!

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  17. Beautiful tablescape Nancy! Love the dishes!

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  18. Your tablescape Nancy is absolutely stunning - love the combination of elegant and rustic! I do appreciate you sharing with Home and Garden Thursday,
    Kathy

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