Tablescape Times Three: Spode

Saturday, April 16, 2011

To my Trudie: the best grandmother in the world

I love my Trudie! She is my dad's mom, and I have her to thank for her top-secret chicken and dumpling recipe, my green eyes, and the beautiful things she has made me through the years. She made the place mats on my table for me when I got married, and I still treasure them.

The fruit motif is really nice because they match so many of my patterns. I think hand-made gifts are the best. I have large cross-stitched wall hangings that she made each of my children when they were born. I have numerous other knitted blankets that are put to frequent use. This year when Emma was so often in the hospital, I was so grateful to have them to bring a little something from home to keep family close when they were not allowed to visit.

Today, I have used these lovingly cross-stitched place mats with some of my other favorite things. The vintage red Morgantown golf ball iced-teas and the Spode Cranberry Traditions plates are so pretty on a spring table. (These were from eBay, as always, though the Spode Traditions were actually from the Replacements eBay site. These were sold as an auction and were actually cheaper through eBay than on the Replacements site. They have more!)

There are six different patterns in this particular set.

The majolica fruit sculpture matches the place mats and is also a special item. It was a gift from "Mrs. Margie," whom Emma mentioned in her last blog. I grew up across the street from Mrs. Margie, and we still visit even now.

I added my favorite red salad plates from Dillard's, my Dollar Tree soup bowls, and my Target ramekins with bright green apples. My family enjoyed this table for an early spring supper, complete with chicken and dumplings! The only thing missing was my Trudie!

-Andrea

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Monday, February 7, 2011

Blue Monday Times Three

This is our first contribution to Sally's Blue Monday over at Smiling Sally (http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/), to Susan's Metamorphosis Monday at Between the Naps on the Porch (http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/), to Seasonal Sundays with the the Tablescaper (http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com/), and Chic on a Shoestring (http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/). Please read about our three generations and leave a comment!

My favorite everyday china is my very versatile Blue Willow by Churchill. I started collecting it in college. You could buy a 3-piece place setting from Kroger (cup, saucer, and dinner plate) for $3.99! It's still pretty inexpensive to find today. It's made in England; Churchill is now owned by Wedgwood. The only reason I can use it everyday is that it is microwave and dishwasher safe.

Because the title of this blog is Tablescape Times Three, I will give you three looks with my Blue Willow and tell you how my mom and daughter influenced these choices.

Casual Family Dinner

(Influenced by Diane)

The topiaries, napkins, and place mats were gifts from my mother sometime in the last ten years or so. I am a little embarrassed to say that I made a play for the topiaries. My mother used to have them on her kitchen cupboard. When she remodeled her kitchen recently, adding a huge built-in cabinet, I simply pointed out she had no use for them. (She really didn't; it has a lot of doors.) And now they sit on my cupboard, (once hers). The linens are part of two separate sets. The red plates are a new acquisition. They are majolica. I love their color, texture, and shape. I have recently been searching online for red salad plates to accompany my Blue Willow by Churchill. A few weeks ago, my mother told me she had seen these at an after Christmas sale for $2.49 at a local department store. They had 15 left, 14 of which were damage-free. They were mine within a few hours. I especially like how the shape of the red plates is echoed in the bases of the stemware. Another special thing about this tablescape is that the bowl in the center of the table belonged to my mother's mother. I only have a few of her things. Oh, and the table and chairs were my mother's as well. So all I can claim here is the Blue Willow, the Mikasa crystal (pattern: Richelieu), the Reed and Barton flatware (pattern: Beacon Hill), the candle, and the apples!

Search Amazon.com for Blue Willow Churchill

Search Amazon.com for soup bowls

Search Amazon.com for red salad plates

Search Amazon.com for placemats

Search Amazon.com for topiary

Search Amazon.com for Mikasa stemware

Search Amazon.com for glass ramekins

Search Amazon.com for cocktail forks

Search Amazon.com for salt and pepper shakers

Search Amazon.com for groceries

Informal Brunch for Friends

(Influenced by Emma)

I used to have a pink-and-white checked tablecloth that I LOVED to use with my Blue Willow. On a recent outing with my daughter, I was looking for some plain white dinnerware. Amazingly, I found some that would work for a Valentine's table at Dollar Tree. While sorting through the dust to find a set of eight damage-free plates and bowls, my sweet Emma pointed out some lovely pink place mats that will serve as wonderful substitutes for my AWOL tablecloth. The tray in this tablescape came from the much-missed Bamboo Company in a set of three sizes; Emma loves the whole set. The napkins are a TJ Maxx find from years ago and are by Laura Ashley. The rose pattern has a dozen shades of blue and mixes well with the Blue Willow.

THE thing I really love about this arrangement is that the Dollar Tree pink place mats and white bowls (which are microwave and dishwasher safe) are mixed with fine crystal and sterling, (Lismore water goblets by Waterford; Sir Christopher sterling by Wallace).

Search Amazon.com for pink placemats

Search Amazon.com for tea set

Search Amazon.com for coffee set

Search Amazon.com for doilies

Search Amazon.com for wooden trays

Search Amazon.com for Lismore by Waterford

Search Amazon.com for Sir Christopher by Wallace

Search Amazon.com for rose napkins

A gift from a former student - I'm a foreign language teacher. :)

Formal Couples' Dinner

(My personal favorite)

My favorite thing about my Blue Willow is that it looks great dressed down and dressed up! When I got married, I registered for these salad plates, (Shima Border by Spode). Sadly, they are no longer made, but pieces in this pattern and in a companion pattern, (Shima), can be purchased through replacement services. I hope to collect more pieces one of these days. I love this pattern. I am using Lismore water goblets and the footed salt and pepper. I found the salt and pepper on eBay (new!) for $69 for the set! The saucer champagnes/sherberts are vintage. The are by Moser and were purchased at antique fair in Savannah more than 15 years ago. They are one my guilty pleasures, though they are one of the few things I have that are truly irreplaceable. I have never been able to find a match. The crystal candlesticks are, (again), an old TJ Maxx find. The golden apples were from Pier 1. I use them all over the house from throughout the year. The sateen rust-colored napkins and place mats are very pretty with the Spode.