Tablescape Times Three: French

Showing posts with label French. Show all posts

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Mardi Gras Masquerade (Recipe to follow!)

Bonjour et bienvenue!

Mardi Gras is an exciting time of year because I don't usually use purple! The paint job of the former owners of this house doesn't really "go" with purple, but I just went with it this year. I have to say, it was a hit! Even with my son's Cub Scout buddies. Or maybe they just liked the masks! :)

Because I was short on sparkly, purply, glittery, things, I was on a quest. As always, eBay saved the day with some stunning finds: all of the goblets and the wine glass charms.

I found the purple glass centerpiece, potpourri, the glass votives, and the green vases/hurricanes at TJ Maxx. The ribbon was in a bargain bin at Michael's.

The masks and beads were Dollar Tree finds. And the mirror place mats were purchased at Michael's. The china is my Lenox Tuxedo, the silver is Sir Christopher by Wallace, and the chargers and napkins are on loan from my mom. The flowers are from my Camellia bushes which have bloomed in the last few weeks.

A word on the mirror placemats.

Do you see what I have used as a tablecloth?

I purchased this AMAZING little find at TJ Maxx for $29.99, and it's actually an incredibly soft faux fur throw/blanket! It is masquerading as a tablecloth! (I recently saw an embroidered purple velvet tablecloth on eBay for $2,800.00!) I HAD to use this blanket when I found it, but I was worried that plates and goblets would not really work on the uneven surface in real life. I don't want to make tablescapes that only look good in pictures. I want settings that actually make sense and that I can use once the food is on the table. I remembered seeing mirror table decorations in someone's house when I was growing up, so I was on a mission to find some. I was shocked at the online prices. Up to $120 per placemat! I found one site that sold the larger size mirror placemats for $7.99 each, but then there was the shipping. And what about breakage? Luckily, a local Michael's keeps the 12" x 18" inch size in stock for the same price and a ton of other shapes and sizes. Also, in brainstorming what I would do if I couldn't find any mirrors, I had made up my mind to go to Wal-mart and buy some 11" x 17" picture frames and use the glass!

Having found the magical mirrors, I was afraid that they might be over the top. But, I think it works! I am very happy with the look - especially at Mardi Gras!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Bisous!
Andrea

My Fast Gumbo Recipe:

Instant Rice

Gulf shrimp

Kielbasa sausage

Celery

Onions

Tomato sauce

Garlic Salt and any appropriate spices

If I have green peppers or okra, I throw it in, too.

I am sorry about the lack of quantities, but this is one recipe for which I have no measurements! In any random pan or pot, I sauté the celery with whatever I have on hand - butter, olive oil, bacon fat.

I add onions, spices, and sausage, then the the rice and water. Tomato sauce can go in here as well. Doesn't really matter the order. I cover it for five minutes or so until the rice is done.

I add the shrimp last until it is pink. I taste and add spices as necessary - salt, pepper, filé, cayenne...whatever I have on hand.

Quick and easy! Especially if you buy the shrimp prepared.

Bon appétit!

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Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Motif Monday Linky Party - 1 - Fleur-de-Lis Times Three

Welcome to our very first Motif Monday Linky Party!

I am posting a bit early so that you will have time to decide on your table!

(Click on the pictures throughout the blog for better resolution and zoom.)

My motif of the day (really 2/21) is the Fleur-de-Lis. I happen to be a French teacher (among other things) when not tablescaping. The typical Fleur-de-Lis motif is explained here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fleur-de-lis. I have numerous souvenirs from trips abroad and gifts from friends and students that reflect my love of French culture.

(I should point out that I teach Spanish, too, and my background is really political science and statistics along with language studies and linguistics. And I paint. And do web development. These are my paid jobs, not even my hobbies! So, if you're one of those people who think French teachers only have eyes for France, that's not me! I love it all!)

The bookend below and the hatbox are two examples of Fleur-de-lis motifs. The hatbox is interesting because each Fleur-de-lis is formed by wheat bundles. I know the Limoges box doesn't have the motif of the day, but it is my favorite! It reads, "Paris - Atlanta," on the front and back. On the sides it reads, "4386 miles." I love that it has a car on it...never mind the Atlantic Ocean!

The tatted doily was made by my great-grandmother. She passed away when I was seven years old, and I love having some of her treasures.

These are some of my lovely French books I have purchased at various antique shops here and abroad.

The coaster on display is of the gardens at Versailles. The design seems to echo a Fleur-de-lis.

The sugar and creamer are Lismore.

The silver is Sir Christopher by Wallace. Love the sugar tongs! I bought these when I was expecting Emma, my oldest daughter, who is now in middle school. She is a co-author on this site - the one obsessed with Audrey Hepburn. See her last post here: http://tablescapex3.blogspot.com/2011/02/all-audrey-all-time.html

I have to say I started out with more fresh fruit and cheese. I nibbled a little while taking pictures.

Mmmmmmmm.

The embossed faux leather tray was purchased at The Pottery in Commerce, Georgia many years ago. It was $1.00, I think. Too bad The Pottery closed. Wall-to-wall bargains. I wish I had bought more.

The chocolate pot is an antique Lenox pattern, P72. Most of P72 was made for Tiffany & Co., Ovington Bros., etc. This piece and the 12 snack plate and cup sets I have in this pattern were an UNBELIEVABLE deal I found on eBay. These pieces date from 1917. The cobalt is stunning.

The detail on the early Lenox is fabulous!

The antique cotton napkins were passed down in the family, are hand-embroidered, and are at least 70 years old.

This table would make for a nice afternoon coffee, tea, or chocolat chaud (hot chocolate) gathering for three.

The weather is actually perfect in Georgia this time of year for an afternoon on the porch. Looking and nibbling at this table, I realized that I need to head to Panera for some croissants. Of course if we added croissants, we would not leave out Nutella! My children adore it! I keep a stock of it in the pantry. Even though Nutella is Italian, it is a very popular item for breakfast or snack time in France. The history of Nutella can be found here: http://www.nutellausa.com/history.htm

A beautiful February day - 67 degrees at 5:00pm!

Caught my younger two children playing outside while working on the table.

And they caught me!

Speaking of being caught, Ava (conveniently wearing a Paris shirt) caught a lizard. Older brother Carson smiles proudly at her success.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Please let your readers know you are sharing here, too.

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Blessings,

Andrea

What motifs do you like? We look forward to your sharing!

If you want to host a party on your blog, InLinkz is fantastic! You can read about them at their link above. Click on the links below to visit our online friends!

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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.