"Wood" You Like To Come To Dinner?

This is a table I've been wanting to do for a long time, so I set the table today, since tomorrow, we're having another couple over for an early dinner before a meeting.  I wish the light were better when I photographed this, but you'll get the idea.  I wanted to use these white faux bois plates, and I paired them with lots of other faux bois items.

I limited the colors to taupe, white and dark brown and I used woods and wood grains whenever I could.

I starrted with this two-tone linen tablecloth that I brought back from France.  I love the embroidery and the faggoting.

This is a better photograph of the corner.  It shows the colors better.  Do you see the cicada?  That's a traditional image in all of Provence and you see it often in their pottery and linens.

I first saw these place mats at the Merchandise Mart at the fall show in the Caspari showroom.  I wanted the entire line, but that wasn't enough to put together a minimum order.  When I saw them at Boxwoods, I bought them immediately.

  I got the matching cocktail napkins and fingertip towels, too.

These bleached wooden chargers came from World Market.

I don't remember where I got these plates, but they carry them at Boxwoods.  I can't tell you how much I love them, even though the raised wood grain detail makes it a bit hard to eat off of them!

I decided to use the dark brown napkins between plates to make them show up a bit more.  

This flatware worked well.

These tortoiseshell water glasses are some of my hardest working glasses.  I've had them so long that I can't remember where they came from, but the little raffia covered glasses are from Tennille and Company.  I like to use them for wine.

I debated and debated about flowers.  I knew I wanted to use these birch bark covered pots.  Originally, I planned on white roses, or hydrangeas.  Then I contemplated white hyacinths, but I realized that I had white daffodils and Lenten roses already growing right in the garden.  I ran out in the rain in my pajamas and grabbed some.  Then I found some river birch twigs and added them.  Sheet moss covered the oasis and I added a few pieces of lichen for a little contrast.

Here's the way the three pots looked marching down the table, interspersed with birch bark covered votives.

I'm going use these little taupe dishes as bread plates.

I've had these tiny bark baskets for a long time.  I love to line them with parsley and then place a couple of butter balls in each one.  They look like little eggs.  I've sometimes rolled the balls in herbs or spices, but tomorrow, they'll be plain.

I had to use these faux bois salt and pepper shakers.

This good old wicker wine coaster looks good on this table.

This is another piece I brought back from France.  I bought it at a market in Aix.  I don't know what it was originally used for, but I like to use it for water.

Sometimes four is the perfect number of guests.  I love the conversation that flows.

I loved the way the flowers came out.  They were interesting, but very understated.

Here are the little dishes I used for the Pot de Creme.  They look just like tree stumps!

 

If anyone has the matching cream pitcher and would like to sell it, please contact me.  I've been looking and looking for it.  This is just too cute to use with a plain Jane white pitcher. Anyone???  Anyone???

And the place settings were casual, but creative.  I like the way the table gave a nod to Spring, but didn't go toward pastels.  But wouldn't this have looked wonderful in the garden?  Give me another fifteen degrees and we'll be dining out there regularly.  Can't wait!

MENU:

Avocado and Grapefruit Salad

Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed

Chicken Breast

Spring Vegetable Medley

Oven Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Chocolate Pot de Creme

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I'll be posting at the following blog parties:

Tabletop Thursday

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

Wow Us Wednesday

http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Feathered Nest Friday

http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.com

Inspiration Friday

www.atthepicketfence.com

Fridays Unfold

www.stuff-and-nonsense.net