Wine-inspired Italian Dinner - Jan. 2019
Christmas 2018
Easter 2017
Halloween 2016
Mother's Day Table with glass dishes, a Flower Box centerpiece and favors for the women.
Mother's 89th Birthday Dinner Tablescape features photos of her and her mother's china.
"Goulish" Halloween Tablescape (click here for menu)
Bringing Taos to the table . . . including a handmade ceramic abode-style casa (home) that Barry made following one of our trips to Taos, a Mexican nutcracker, handmade ceramic dinner plates + our latest acquitions: Mexican bar glasses + a colorful Talavea pottery platter.
Ready for brunch . . .
The table is set for MOTHER'S DAY . . . complete with the hand crocheted placemats that my mom made, our wedding china, silver and crystal + my Aunt Olive's (Mom's sister) beautiful blue centerpiece set.
Dr. Suess themed table & MENU with poetic captions . . .
MARDI GRAS is Feb. 12th this year and we have the table set. Beads, jester-type nutcrackers doubloons and masks make up the decor . . .
FALL LEAVES -- Here's what I did with the $1.00 felt leaves from Dollar Tree . . .
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| The paper leaf dollies are also from Dollar Tree. |
September means APPLES -- With an apple imprinted tablecloth "thrown" across the table, apple candles displayed on a cupcake stand and on top of upside down wine glasses, we are celebrating apple season at our house.
"Sunflowers and Wheat" seems like a fitting theme for a Kansas summer. Our table combines handmade pottery (made by Barry, Richard Ernst and a couple of other potters, one from Eastern Europe), a collectible jam jar and wheat plates. The wheat is actually from the Newell farm and fresh flowers come from the roadside; the sunflower painting was done by Faye Potter.
Ready for the 4th !
Remembering Russia! Picked up a few typical souvenirs when in Russia and, for awhile, they will grace our table and remind us of the fantastic sights we saw on our trip.
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| Matrioshkas (nesting dolls), painted wooden music box and spoon + lacquer box - souvenirs from the trip. Our Russian nutcracker joins the new treasures. |
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| Roses for Mom! A length of rose fabric becomes a tablecloth. Silk rose pedals are strewn on the table and pressed between the glass plate and gold charger. The favor is simply a hand towel folded into a rosebud shape – here's how to do it: |
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| Fold towel into thirds; cut a length of green ribbon. |
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| Roll up towel. |
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| Use ribbon to tie bottom; place in a juice glass & flair out the top to create a "rosebud" -- see finished photo above. |
Life’s Little
Pleasures – “Pinwheels”
I needed a festive table setting to correspond with several
presentations we are doing this spring. One cute idea I saw on Pinterest
involved handmade pinwheels so I started searching the internet and found loads
of sites and posts filled with all sorts of inspirations. Check out Kaboose's step-by-step instructions for making a
typical pinwheel; they even provide a printable pattern.
Find other cute pinwheel ideas @ Life’s Little Celebrations or at Pinwheel Party Inspiration Board
"Glitz & Glamour" is this month’s theme in honor of April birthdays, including my Mom’s 87th. Of course we needed candles! In the past I’ve noticed upside wineglasses used as candle holders in books and magazines but, just recently was reminded of the idea when I ran across a photo on Pinterest. Here’s my rendition . . .
To add to the birthday festivities, I used a glittery package that I picked up for just a few dollars at an outlet store and silver bead garlands.
Dinner & a Movie — Evening in Paris! We reminisced about our trip to France as we enjoyed a French menu and this bistro-inspired table setting.
EASTER 2012 - Marbleized Eggs in one of Barry's woven ceramic dishes + bunny nutcrackers. See other table decorating ideas at Easter Decorations From the Kitchen.
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| Goldfish Carrots make nice Easter favors. |
PINEAPPLE HOSPITALITY – 2012 Historically the pineapple symbolized hospitality; Colonial families would set a fresh pineapple in the center of the table as a colorful centerpiece. Although we don’t have a fresh one in the center of our table, we’re using pineapple cardholders, napkin rings and serving dishes to welcome in the New Year, along with Barry's handmade pottery plates and goblets made by Richard Ernst.
INVASION OF THE NUTCRACKERS -- Christmas 2011
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| Santa nutcrackers and candy theme this year. Click on Gumdrop Tree for how-to instructions. |
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| Poinsettia napkin rings are simple to make (just cutting, no sewing). For directions and a template, click on Poinsettia Christmas Napkin Rings. (As you can see, I omitted the sequins shown at that site.) |
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| Dining Room Table with leaf and sage centerpiece. |
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| Side Board with glass leaf encased platter (made by sandwiching silk leaves between two identical platters). |
A SPOOKTACULAR TABLE!
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| In the spirit of Halloween, I've decorated the dining room table with themed nutcrackers, a Candy Corn Tree, popcorn filled hands (for favors), and lots of spiders! |
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| On the menu -- Cobweb salad (center of table) and Finger Food (popcorn hand favors). |
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| The sideboard holds a black iron pot of stewing witches - YUM! |
Latest tablescape includes some of our chef's collection including our nutcracker waiters
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| In order to make room for 10 place settings at the table, the black bamboo placemat is running vertically rather than in the typical horizontal fashion. |
GARDEN HERBS & SPICES theme
This is the tablescape for our At-Home Herb & Spice cooking class on 8/20/2011
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| A row of garden herbs (in orange juice glasses) stretch across the center of the table. |
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| When in Germany we purchased these sectioned glass trays w/ covers. (I bought one for myself and one for a present. Guess who received the present?) I have added dried herbs and spices in the lower sections; glasses of herbs are set on top of the trays. In the past, I have filled the sections with candy, confetti, leaves, etc. -- they are a fun table addition. By the way, the top covers are heat proof so they can be used as hot dish trivets. |
