Tablescape Times Three: Yellow

Showing posts with label Yellow. Show all posts

Sunday, April 24, 2011

I love my "Peeps!"

One of my favorite things is my mom's engraved William Arthur stationery. When I opened the Peeps this morning, the yellow reminded me of the pretty note cards, envelopes, and a china she has that she has not used for the blog yet. Even though today was a busy day, I asked her if I could set a quick table.

I had to hurry. I set this table between church and a trip to my grandmother's house. I love the black and yellow! Don't you think my mom's stationery reminds you of it?

My plan was to add more Peeps, and I wanted to put toothpicks in the Peeps and make paper flags as a place card. I ran out of time! When you're 12 and your parents tell you it's time to go - they mean it!

Happy Easter!
-Emma

Note from Andrea:

Place mats - Kmart
China - Ebay - Tabletops by Sheffield (I don't know the pattern name.)
Crystal - Ebay - Perspective by Noritake
Tea light candle holder - Marshall's, $3.99
Silver - Sir Christopher by Wallace
Pitcher with honeysuckle - Pier 1 and about 15 years old
Stationery - William Arthur - purchased from finestationery.com - I have no affiliation with them, but they were awesome. I had a new engraving plate made for this set of stationery when everything was on special. Super professional and very happy with the results. Will use them again and again... Also, I like Amy Adele on the internet, too. No affiliation there either, but I love their kids' notes.

Monday, April 4, 2011

Oh, to be in Augusta now that spring is here!

Living in Georgia certainly has its ups and downs. The summers are brutal with the heat and humidity. Oh, but the spring! It is too glorious in Georgia right now and the best place to be is in Augusta during Masters week.

Many of you may be golf widows, so I am sure that you have heard of the Augusta National golf course and the famous Masters golf tournament. Tickets to the tournament are the “Holy Grail” of golf and many Georgia residents never get to go. My family has been very fortunate to have been on many occasions, because my husband has a co-worker and friend who sometimes is able to get tickets for us to attend. Thanks, Keith!!

Did you know that the land where the golf course is now was once a plant nursery? That explains why the course is so beautiful and the holes are named for different plants and trees.

My husband is a golfer and, when we attend, we always bring home many souvenir items for us and our family.

Here are some of our caps and visors.

These are only a small number of my husband’s Masters’ golf shirts.

I have some, too.

I, also, have charms (one silver and one gold) for my charm bracelets…

And a wonderful Christmas tree ornament.

We have a collection of Masters plastic drinking cups. Some have “walked away” during the years!

The absolute highlight of my husband’s golfing life came, when he was able to play at Augusta National. A friend in Augusta arranged for my husband to play a round of golf there a few years ago and I think he is still on cloud “nine” (or, maybe, 18!).

For this year’s Masters tournament, I am thinking that I will prepare a light breakfast for my husband. He can fill up later on the famous pimento cheese sandwiches that are served during the tournament.

A Panera Bread bearclaw (a favorite of ours), scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee should be just enough, before the trip to Augusta.

For the setting, I used a Sunflower yellow Fiestaware tablecloth and a Masters golf towel for a placemat.

Then, I added a Mikasa “Yardley” plate and chunky flatware from Steinmart.

A Masters cup (please excuse the plastic!!) holds the juice and a coffee cup bought at the Augusta National gift shop keeps the coffee nice and hot.

For a napkin ring, I used a golf club bag tag.

The centerpiece is made from azalea and dogwood blooms from our yard. These are to remind my husband of the beautiful flowers on the course.

Hole number two is “ Pink Dogwood” and “Azalea” is hole number 13, which is part of the very famous “Amen Corner”.

Yes, spring has definitely “sprung” in Georgia. I cannot show you the August National course in full bloom, but I can leave you with a couple of pictures of spring in our back yard. I will, also, leave you with a wish that all of you will have the chance, just once, to witness the glory of a Georgia spring day on the most famous golf course in the world!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Travelscape! (with recipe)

Our family loves traveling almost as much as tablescaping. Summer will be here soon and it is time to plan vacations. I invited my daughter and two granddaughters to lunch for a surprise discussion of our next travel adventure.

The table was set. Then, I added some black and white photos to remind us of our past travels.

Paris

New York

Morocco

Berlin

I used some square “cities” plates that I had bought many years ago at TJ Maxx. I had always intended to put them on the wall of one of my bedrooms, but never got around to hanging them. Each one has scenes of a different world city – Paris, London, Rome and New York.

Paris

London

Rome

New York

I decided to use yellow with the black and white, so I added some lemons to a black wire basket from TJ Maxx. Maybe, I will use them later to make my mother's lemon cheese cake (recipe at the end).

The Sunflower Yellow Fiesta tablecloth was purchased on Amazon.com.

Fiesta Solid Color 60 Round Tablecloth, Sunflower

I ordered the black and white napkins from an online linen store.

The napkin rings were made from flowers that I bought at Michael’s. The yellow centers were the inspiration for the black, white and yellow color scheme.

Target was the source for the black flatware and placemats.

The glasses are from Mikasa.

The stemware charms that I have had for years almost matched the plates perfectly. They include the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Of course, the leaning tower is not in Rome, but it is in Italy, at least!

Our trip last summer was to London and Paris, so I guess those cities will be eliminated from the list of possibilities for this year. I do love to shop in England for china, though - the first time that I ever visited one of the China Reject shops, I was overwhelmed. Of course, shopping at Harrod's in the tabletop department is not bad either!

Time to decide on a destination. Collectively, we have been to most of the countries in Europe. However, none of us has been to South America. Maybe, it is time to learn to dance the Tango - Argentina, anyone????

Lemon Cheese Cake

Cake

8 egg whites
2 cups sugar
pinch of salt
1 cup butter
1 cup milk
2 teaspoons baking powder
3 1/4 cups plain flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Sift flour and baking powder together four times.
Cream butter and sugar together. Add flour and milk alternately, mixing after each addition.
Beat eggs whites until stiff peaks form. Fold into batter. Add vanilla.
Pour into three greased and floured cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees, until layers are done (the recipe reads 45 minutes, but my layers were done after 20-25 minutes).

Lemon Cheese Filling

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
6 egg yolks
juice of 3 lemons

Cook together in the top of a double boiler, until thick. Refrigerate, until cool.

Seven Minute Icing

2 egg whites
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine the first 5 ingredients in the top of a double boiler. With hand mixer, beat for one minute to combine. Then, over boiling water, beat on high for seven minutes. Beat in vanilla.

To assemble the cake:

After removing the warm cake layers from the pan, spread cooled filling over the bottom two layers. Place the three layers together and spread seven minute frosting on sides and top of cake. Enjoy!

Diane