Transferware set to a Beach table and Longfellow poetry

The Secret of The Sea ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Ah!  what pleasant visions haunt me
As I gaze upon the sea!

All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me.

Sails of silk and ropes of sandal,
Such as gleam in ancient lore;

And the singing of the sailors,
And the answer from the shore!

Most of all, the Spanish ballad
Haunts me oft, and tarries long,

Of the noble Count Arnaldos
And the sailor's mystic song.

Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand as silver shines,

With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines;-

Telling how the Count Arnaldos,
With his hawk upon his hand,

Saw a fair and stately galley,
Steering onward to the land;-

How he heard the ancient helmsman
Chant a song so wild and clear,

That the sailing sea-bird slowly
Poised upon the mast to hear,

Till his sould was full of longing,
And he cried, with impulse strong,-

"Helmsman! for the love of heaven,
Teach me, too, that wondrous song!"

"Wouldst thou,"- so the helmsman answered,
"Learn the secret of the sea?

Only those who brave its dangers
Comprehend its mystery!"

In each sail that skims the horizon,
In each landward-blowing breeze,

I behold that stately galley,
Hear those mournful melodies;

Till my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,

And the heart of the great ocean
Sends a thrilling pulse through me.

My table is an old spool for cable wire.  I just flipped it on its side and now we've got an outdoor table! ;-)  It's got a hole in the center so I can add an umbrella! 

Brown transferware ship plates available HERE
Almost everything else in the tablescape is available at Simply Abundant.

This Ebay store offers a truly 'abundant' selection of home goods, table linens and more.  They carry over 4000 beautiful items!!!  I've provided links for the items I got from this shop and used in this post.  The selection is wonderful and the owner is a joy to work with.

Heritage Lace crab damask placemats in linen
Heritage Lace crab damask runner draped over stool in blue.
Heritage Lace Shell Runner draped over stool
Heritage Lace Beach Sandscape Runner across table and hanging over the side


Napkin rings:  are shower curtain hooks.  I tied a knot around each of the hooks.
Wine bucket:  is a waste bucket
Side plates:  are soap dishes
(these are from Simply Abundants BLUE WATERS collection)

Shell Candle holders:  I fashioned these from  wine bottle stoppers adorned with sea shell napkin rings and small votives.

Centerpiece:  Shell Pillar Holder lined with a Blue Mercury glass votive holder.  I placed this in a vintage glass compote and around the shell base scattered tonal blue, aqua and clear glass beads.

Aqua goblets:  Park Design from Simply Abundant, available in three colors.  These are beautiful, large and have a nice weight to them.  Rocks and Tea Glasses also available.

Pineapple Cake...yummy and came from a local bakery! 



Linking to

Miss Mustard Seed

Centerpiece Wednesdays

Tablescape Thursdays

Tabletop Tuesdays

Strut your stuff Thursday

Inspiration Tuesday

Feature Yourself Friday
Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thursday
Marty at A Stroll Through Life
Hodge Podge Friday @ It's a Hodgepodge Life

Fingerprints on the Fridge
Housewife Bliss
Frugal Fabulous Design
Show and Tell Friday 
Friday, Finding Beauty 
Show and Tell Friday