Skip to main content

'Dressing' the Table

Welcome to another Tablescape! 

I chose to mix olive green and blue this week. I have been toying with the idea of using these colors together for a tablescape and when I saw Sherry's dining room at No Minimalist Here there was no question I would like this color combination.  After seeing Sherry's use of blue transferware on her green walls I was even more inspired to do this tablescape.  



I like layering things so I first used this light blue and olive heavy chenille throw I found at Goodwill for a couple of dollars. 


I don't know about you, but when I feel my table needs a little additional texture, dimension or color I turn to my closet!  That's right, my closet.  I didn't name this post "dressing the table" without a just cause.  I used two dresses in this tablescape!


I really do not like the blue one at all (at least not on me).  I bought it only after trying on a few hundred or so (it seemed) and I was running out of time to find something to wear to my Father-in-laws 70th birthday party.   Something that would hide my flab!  I was heavier then than I am now, and even though I'm not at all crazy about this dress it still hangs in my closet.  Now I know why!  I would need it for a future tablescape!  So, I wadded, I scrunched, I stretched...the dress that is.  I then added another dress with a gorgeous 6" lace in a pale olive.  I do like this one but I haven't worn it in a looong time...just can't let go of it with all that gorgeous lace!  It even has a purse that matches!  I sort of wadded the dress up onto the table and pulled the long lace out making a circular shape.
Atop the dresses I used a large, 1800's light blue transferware plate by T J & J Mayer in the Garden Scenery pattern to weigh down the the pouf-iness of the dresses and stabilize an arrangement for the top.  I love the soft blues in the transferware pieces I've used here.


Next I took the bottom half of a cookie jar and filled it with white roses (yes, silk...someday I'll try to have fresh flowers).

The lace romantically flows....


In keeping with a little bit of a Spring-ish theme I decided to put one of Mr. Hare's brothers amongst the white roses.
 His name is Poor and that's because Poor little rabbit lost his Mrs.  We're not sure if Mr. McGregor got her in his garden or she was lost in the journey from Colorado to Oklahoma but she's been missing for several years now.  Though I've spent many hours searching in earnest for her, Poor and I are still hopeful that she may find her way back home.  He always dresses in his best blue suit anxiously awaiting her return.

I've had these silver beaded chargers for a long time but rarely have used them.  I thought they'd bring a bit of light to the table.

I added an olive green transferware plate by J & G Meakin (BUY HERE).  I love the border on this pattern with tiny flowers and berries.

I added these Circa 1891 salad plates by Ridgway in the Oriental pattern.  This pattern was originally produced around 1830.  This plate has beautiful, varying cartouches of flowers and oriental scenery around the border. (BUY HERE)


I found these little green bowls/dessert cups also at a thrift store for a quarter a piece.  I put one on each of the blue Oriental plates.

Again wanting to add a little more 'light' to the table I added these vintage, lace trimmed white napkins.  These were my Mom's.  She was always hosting gorgeous dinners and parties and I remember her using these on several of those occasions.  My flatware is Towle...and...uh...hmmm....I can't remember the pattern name!  It may be Stockholm....yes, I think that's the name of it.

The blue stemmed glasses, I believe are Avon.

These salt and pepper shakers match the cookie jar (minus the lid).  These are Tar-zhay (Target) from way back when...well, along time ago.

Lastly, I added a touch of candle light with these vintage inspired Hobby Lobby glass candle holders.





I enjoyed putting this tablescape together and hope you do to.  I really like the colors combined.  Enjoy!



Ok, I'm not messing around when it comes to linking up this week!  I'm linking to the following so please check out these lovely blogs for tablescapes, thrifty treasures, multiples of three or more, lovely white things and vintage finds:

A Poem For Your Thoughts:

The Evidence

In every seed to breathe the flower,
In every drop of dew
To reverence a cloistered star
Within the distant blue;
To wait the promise of the bow
Despite the cloud between,
Is Faith-the fervid evidence
Of loveliness unseen.

~John B. Tabb

Comments

  1. Now I have to admit I never would have dreamed of using any clothes on my tablescapes. How clever are you!

    Hugs,
    Joanne

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love anything with blue in it. Suggestion for the green dress...cut it up & make runner out of it. The lace is beautiful.
    Beckie in Brentwood, TN

    ReplyDelete
  3. I loved, was it a cookie jar for your floral centerpiece and the lone, missing his mate, bunny. Your table was just beautiful and the colors do look so good together! Joni

    ReplyDelete
  4. Everything is absolutely divine. Love it all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love the bunny in the middle
    xoxo
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your table looks great! I am going to dig through my closet now to see what I can use on my table. I never thought of using my clothes but it is a great idea. Thanks for the mention and link to my blog.
    Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  7. I would never have thought to use dresses on the table, but they look great! Your table has so many interesting layers and textures!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I love that you showed how you put together the centerpiece...beautiful table!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is beautiful..A very grown up table with the whimsy of the rabbit in the cup! Just wonderful!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Well, this is a beauty of a table scape....I really love all your wonderful dishes, thanks for linking in today and sharing them with us! Have a great VTT!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gorgeous table! I love the centerpiece-the piece de resistance!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Everything is so pretty - the dishes, centerpiece - Love the glassware. Gorgeous!

    I hope you'll drop by AtticMag and see the designer tablescapes Jane saw in NYC.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, this tablescape is so lovely! I just love the layering. The chargers are really unusual - I've never seen any like them but they are really fab. I love the shape and colour of the blue glasses too. The dishes are stunners too.

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so pretty! Love those colors together and the way you used your dresses -- HOW CREATIVE is THAT? Poor Mr. Bunny -- standing in the roses waiting for Mrs. Bunny to return -- he's so sweet - hope she returns to him soon.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Nancy,
    I wouldn't have thought to combine those colors but it is absolutely GORGEOUS! Just shows that it pays to think outside of the box.... I'm learning that lesson after separating after 30 not so blissful years of marriage... Smile...

    ReplyDelete
  16. Man Lady, your creativity is in overdrive!!! I've used valances on my table, but never once even thought of using a dress! But maybe now I will (I think you should go out to dinner and wear the green one real soon.) And if that's not enough the vreativity continues with Poor jumbing out of a cookie jar without it's lid. I've often "shopped my house" to complete a tablescape, but you give that expression new meaning.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh, this table is absolutely gorgeous! I love all of it!

    ReplyDelete
  18. As always, this is gorgeous! I have to admit, I've used a lot of things in tablescapes but I've NEVER used a dress! What a great idea. It looks beautiful on your table and that little bunny is just the cutest! Finally, those blue goblets really top every thing off. Thanks for sharing and happy TT to you!

    ReplyDelete
  19. How creative of you to use a dress....thanks for the idea! I believe you have more transferware than anyone on the planet. You set the prettiest tablescapes. Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings!
    Tonya

    ReplyDelete
  20. Again, another lovely tablesetting that you have set for us all! I love everything about it. Thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. The table looks fit for royalty. Love the bunny too.
    Ann

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Nancy! What a lovely post....everything is stunning! I love all your layers... and your transferware is fabulous! Just gorgeous!

    So glad that you visited so I could find you! Love your beautiful blog! LaurieAnna

    ReplyDelete
  23. That's a gorgeous table, Nancy! I love how you mix so many mediums and the blue & green are wonderful for spring!

    ReplyDelete
  24. This is SO beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing it! The centerpiece is so creative! I just joined in Tablescape Thursday for the first time this week! I'm excited to see all of the inspiring tablescapes!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Hi Nancy,
    You are a true tablescaper....pulling from your closet like that. Your table is lovely with the greens and blues, that combo is a winner. I love you goblets, so so pretty and you are so creative.
    Hugs
    Maryrose

    ReplyDelete
  26. How beautiful! I love the plates and the blue glasses.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Oh! That last photo (the bird's eye view) is simply stunning! Thank you for giving us the idea to layer fabrics for texture -- SO clever! And what a gorgeous and unusual color combination!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Beautiful tablescape! You are very inventive! Congrats! :)

    ReplyDelete
  29. How creative you are! I do like the way you used the colors. I hope Mr. Poor finds his wife! Thank you so much for your kind comments and visiting my other blog (which is sorely in need of updating).

    ReplyDelete
  30. Great idea to dress your table with your dresses! Your tablescape looks fabulous! I love the rabbit. Do you actually eat at those gorgeous displays?

    ReplyDelete
  31. What creativity and talent you have for putting all these wonderful items together into a gorgeous tablescape. It is just so visually interesting and inviting!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Nancy! Greetings from Idaho! Your table is lovely and that centerpiece is a show stopper!!

    Love,
    Susan and Bentley
    xxoo

    ReplyDelete
  33. Hooray, I've found another Oklahoma blogger! I love your centerpiece and will look at my clothing with new eyes, especially before I donate it to the Salvation Army. I also have some "lost bunnies" and hope to find the poor things when I finally empty the last of the packing boxes from our move. I look forward to visting you again!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Nancy, your table is lovely. I truly admire your collection of transferware and every week I look forward to seeing how it is used in your tablescapes. The green glassware you used is very similar to a pattern I have a complete collection of "Clarion" green by Lenox. The difference is the base on yours curves in and on Clarion it curves out and Clarion has a slight curve at the lip. Hopefully someone can identify it better for you. Thanks for always sharing such lovely tablescapes and your vast collection of transferware with us, it's a treat.

    ReplyDelete
  35. I knew those blue stemware were from Avon. I was going to donate mine but I may have to hold on to them now.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Such wonderful photos. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. Really feels good.

    Mr. Goodwill Hunting
    http://g-w-hunting.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. You have an amazing collection, great blog and I love your etsy shop too! I'll definately be back. Thanks for stopping by my blog and to answer your question for my twelfth birthday my mom bought me a Royal Albert "memory lane" teapot and now I have an 8 place setting with many accessories.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Nancy, your table is stunning! I would never have thought of going to my closet!! Amazingly beautiful. I need to think outside the box more for sure!! Smiles, Marla

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a beautiful table! And your dining room appears beautiful too--the bits I can see!

    ReplyDelete
  40. This is my first time visiting your blog- You have a lovely site. I especially admire the piece featured on your banner. I've never seen hands with a transfer print on them - Really spectacular!

    ReplyDelete
  41. I love everything you did; fabulous! The bunny centerpiece is darn cute, too.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Just beautiful, I love the rabbit centerpiece and the blue glasses.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Very beautiful & very creative !
    Blessings,
    ~Myrna

    ReplyDelete
  44. Well now the secret is out! Next time I am at a beautifully decorated table I will be tempted to investigate! Your table setting is stunning.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I really like your white and blue dishes they are so pretty.

    ReplyDelete
  46. MY, THIS IS SUCH AN INNOVATIVE, BEAUTIFUL AND OH SO RICH WITH EXQUISITE DETAIL TABLESCAPE!~

    I LOVE ALL THE LAYERING, THE COLOURS AND THE CREATIVE USE OF YOUR DRESSES; OH MY AND THAT LACE!//.

    DO POP BY ONCE AGAIN, FOR A VISIT MY DEAR LADY!

    THIS MY THIRD WEEK PARTICPTING WITH SUSAN AT BNOTP, FOR HER FABULOUS, 'TABLESCAPE THURSDAY' BLOG PARTY MEME;I'M HAVING JUST SO MUCH HAVING FUN, EVEN SEVERAL DAYS LATER VISITNG MY DELIGHTFUL FELLOW POARTICIPANTS!..,(IT HAS TAKEN ME THAT LONG AS I DECIDED TO START AT THE OTHER END OF THE LIST, AND I SIMPLY MUST NOT RUSH THROUGH;ESPECIALLY WITH EXCEPTIONAL BLOGS AND TABLESCAPES LIKE YOURS)!

    ALSO, YOU ARE MOST WARMLY INVITED TO PARTAKE IN MY 24TH,'TUESDY TEA FOR TWO' WEEKLY BLOG TEA PARTY MEME, HELD EACH TURSDAY AT MY THEPLUEDM PEN BLOG!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Very springy, soft and beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  48. Nancy, It's a beautiful tablescape! I love your blog and I'm going to become your newest follower!
    Hugs, Beth

    ReplyDelete
  49. Fantastic! Thanks for the link!!! As to the German cocktail forks--I got them for maybe $20.00 for the set! What a deal!

    ReplyDelete
  50. Once again... a stunning tablescape. I'm a real fan of the Ridgways 'Oriental.' I enjoyed the 'anatomy' of the centerpiece. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

    ReplyDelete
  51. The dresses really brought out the colors. Very creative! I love the chargers! Beautiful table and very inviting. What time shoud I be over???

    ReplyDelete
  52. I've looked at your photos three times and see something different each time! This is my kind of table ... the combination of texture is dramatic and I love the clothing idea! Your guests probably won't want to leave this tablescape! It is great.

    ReplyDelete
  53. Every time I read your blog I learn something incredible! Your post is wonderful and as always your tablescapes is spectacular! Lori L

    ReplyDelete
  54. A lovely table, as always. It's so clever to repurpose clothing as cushy-mats. LOL. And Mr. Rabbit is so English in the center. Very inviting.

    Some news: We're staring a Giveaway Friday! link-up party tomorrow, 8/27 plus we are giving away a custom backsplash! Please join us to link your giveaway or browse. Jane F.

    ReplyDelete
  55. Being blue/green combination is my favorite, you know I love this table! The plates are just gorgeous. The rabbit is adorable, do hope the Mrs. can be found hiding in the dark corners of a box that is still packed...thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  56. Love the blue and olive together! Isn't it fun to get inspiration from other tablescapers? Now I'm off to see the one who inspired you -- thanks for adding the link!

    ReplyDelete
  57. What a beautiful tablescape! I love the colored glassware and also so creative to use your dresses!

    ReplyDelete
  58. I love the blue glass cups and the rabbit statue.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

I love hearing from my readers. I appreciate the time you take to post a comment and I read them all.

Popular posts from this blog

English Cottage Living Room - Before, Partly After & Still a Work in Progress

I am sorry for not posting more pictures of the progress we've made settling into this new (to us) home.   It seems life rushes by so fast and that at times, doing little things, even those that I love and enjoy, often get pushed aside and onto the back shelf of my mind where I tell myself, "I'll get to this later".  Well, it is later and though I don't have as much to share with you as I'd like, I'm going to at least share my favorite spot in our living room.  I promise to show the rest of the room soon but for now the opposite half of the living room has been occupied by my daughters boyfriend who has been staying with us for the past 7 or so weeks until his apartment is ready for him to move into, and so the couch is usually made up for him to sleep on!   Here is a photo of the current living room just as we found it, a small room just off the entry of the house with a nice marble and wood fireplace surround, hard wood floors, beautiful crown mouldi

The History of Johnson Brothers and The Friendly Village Tablescape

Last week, Shawn and I popped into a couple of estate sales and I picked up over 100 pieces of Johnson Brother's The Friendly Village .  I think I may have to hang on to 12 of the dinner plates and use them this year at Thanksgiving but the rest of them, including this 48 piece service for 8, will be you know where. I don't know about you all, but I have had enough of Summer and I am down right ready for the cooler temperatures of Autumn.  I've been doing a lot of rearranging around the house….I'm in one of those zones where I've got a zillion projects going on, even if half of them are just in my mind that I'm contemplating!   We've also been moving kids out and around.  Three of them are out and the three still at home are moving or rearranging their rooms around.    Since I am yearning for Fall, haven't posted any tablescapes in a while and just got these Friendly Village pieces I decided to set the table with them.      Oh great, I

More Traditional Red White & Blue Rooms with Transferware

A couple of weeks ago I shared some pictures of beautiful rooms in red and blue color schemes decorated with transferware .    Here is another roundup of rooms that I adore, all with red and blue color schemes and all with transferware!  Enjoy!  (via Traditional Home) (via enchanted home) (my old living room) Joining some of the following parties: Between Naps on The Porch Transformation Thursday at  The Shabby Chic Cottage Feathered Nest Friday at  French Country Cottage Friday Inspiration  At The Picket Fence Cindy at  My Romantic Home Funky Junk Interiors Charm of Home No Minimalist Here WOW  Amaze Me Mondays  Making Monday Link Party  Motivational Mondays  What'd You Do This Weekend?   Inspire Me Monday   Make It Pretty Monday   Monday Link Party  Inspire Me Monday 

My English Country Mom Cave

Susan, at Between Naps on the Porch is hosting a Home Goods Mom Cave contest with four lucky winners.  Come on in to my little niche I've carved out of my house.  This is where I work, create, relax, read and chat with friends and family. This is one of my favorite spots in the house to read about one of my favorite subjects...English transferware or poetry, and drink tea.  I often start and end my day right here. Next to the chair is an antique dumbwaiter which holds some decorative items as well as lots of poetry books.  This is the view of the room from the wing back chair.  This cozy room serves as a small living room, although it's not uncommon to have 8 or 9 of the girls in here during family gatherings.  It's usually where we all wind up to have coffee and visit. . On either side of the sofa I display some of my vintage Canine figurines on Spode meat drainers. Above the sofa are some of my favorite paintings.  The one directly over the sofa my Mom pain

Decorating with Brown Transferware & $100 GIVEAWAY

Brown was introduced as a transferware color around 1829-30 and is the least expensive of colors to make. Therefore it is fairly common, so far as transferware goes, to find.  It is also one of the most collected colors and it is probably the most versatile of colors in my opinion.  Brown is neutral and looks good with any color scheme from pastels to rich jewel tones, but it is with the ushering in of Autumn that I see it popping up in home decor and vignettes the most.  Though, most of these rooms and vignettes are decorated with brown pieces year round, it just seems the perfect time to share them.  I may have to do another post because there are so, so many more equally beautiful spaces that have incorporated the use of displaying brown transferware  and I can't fit them all here. So, check these lovelies out and then stick around for the giveaway at the bottom of the post. This vignette just stole my heart the first time I saw it.  So many of us have vintage luggage

The Aesthetic Movement and Transferware

What is the Aesthetic Movement? The Aesthetic Movement refers to a period of time in the late 19 th century (1870-1900) which was a backlash to the formal Victorian years.  Artists and writers of the Aesthetic movement period maintained the belief that art should provide refined sensuous pleasure, rather than convey moral or sentimental messages.  They believed that art did not have any didactic purpose; it need only be beautiful.  Japanese art had a great influence on Aestheticism. Aesthetic interiors were often decorated with Japanese prints, screens, fans and other objects. An appreciation of the art of Japan is seen in the work of many Aesthetic artists and designers such as James McNeill Whistler and E.W. Godwin. photo credit Country Living The Aesthetes developed the cult of beauty, which they considered the basic factor in art. They ascertained that life should copy art and considered nature as crude and lacking in design

Decorating with Blue Transferware and a GIVEAWAY!

   If you haven't already been over to Enchanted Home , you'll want to go over after you finish this post because the wonderful Tina, who authors the incredibly gorgeous blog,  has a great post up about decorating with dishes plus she's hosting a giveaway to my online shop, English Transferware !  Details at the end of the post! I know Tina loves blue and white (just look at her header and you'll know!) and has a collection of her own. In honor of Tina, I've decided to share some of my favorite images of rooms decorated with and often around blue transferware collections.  You can see more rooms decorated with blue transferware on my Pinterest board . To me, Charles Faudree is just about as synonymous with English transferware as he his with French Country Decorating...he seemed to always find a use for it in his incredibly detailed decorating schemes.  Isn't this bedroom charming? I love this next image from Decor Magazine.  Look how the blu