A Candle Cup of Flowers

Many of you have asked about the flower arrangement I did on one of my Thanksgiving tables in a candle cup.  It's a way to use a candle stick to add flowers, or replace the candle totally with flowers.  It holds oasis, so the flowers will last and last.  This is a great way to add some elevation to your table.  Here are the simple tools I needed to create an arrangement using only grocery store flowers.

                                                                               

If you can't find the plastic candle cup, ask your florist if you can buy one.  They are very inexpensive.  I think I pay $1.35 at wholesale.  They are reusable if you replace the oasis each time.  Take the candle cup and, using the top, press lightly into the oasis to make a slight indentation.  Here you can see the nub that goes into the candle stick hole.

This is the shape of the insert you need.

Using a knife, cut away the oasis until you have a small block that easily fits into the cup.  I cut it in half depthwise.  You can use a deeper piece if you want a really deep arrangement.  Thoroughly soak the oasis in water.

Stick the candle shaped bottom into your candlestick.

When entirely soaked, put the oasis in the cup.  Do you see that there is a reservoir for water?

If you are using a candle, put it in now.  You can simply add flowers at this point, too.

Using short sturdy stems, begin filling in the spaces until you have it filled and nicely shaped.  As I looked at this, I decided I wanted it to be a bit softer on the bottom with something hanging down.

I looked outside and brought in some reddish berries and very small leaves.  Can you see the slight difference?

Remember that you'll be seeing it elevated at about eye level, so you'll want to be sure you can't see the plastic.  This is an especially nice alternative to one floral arrangement and two flanking candles.  I use it often if I have fruit or something else interesting in the center of the table. 



Red Rooster and Eggs For Breakfast

Easy, non-fussy tablescapes are a must for breakfast.  This one doesn't even have flowers.

I put this one together on the drop-leaf table in the bar of our house.  It has a French feeling with the heavy linen and roosters. 

This combination of red and camel is simple and easy to use.

This set of linens is one of my very favorite.  It is a heavy linen fabric that really feels like French ticking.  The napkins are so luxurious and hug.  I used a simple woven napkin ring from World Market with them. 

This flatware is a twisted resin.  I can't remember where they came from, but the color is perfect here.

The bottom plate is from Sear's Country Living Collection.  I was walking through there to get a gift certificate, and I just "happened" to stroll into the homegoods department.  This is the Belgian Rose pattern.

Here's a close-up of the rim.  This photo makes it look a bit grey, but it really was a great match.

The smaller plate, cereal bowl, and coffee mug are from Ballard's.  All the edges are scalloped.  Again, the color in this photo is a bit orange, but they are a deep, tomatoey (is that a word?) red.

The coq plate is also from Sear's Belgian Rose collection.  You can't tell in this picture, but those polka dots you see are camel, which also match the linens.

Here's how the plates stack up.  You can also check out the wonderful texture of the tablecloth.

I love, love, love these Juliska juice glasses.  They are a gift from a dear friend who has exquisite taste.  She is, from time to time, a very welcome guest here.  You'd welcome her, too, with gifts like this, wouldn't you?

Take a good look at these babies!!! 

Pottery Barn had these placecard holders on sale a few weeks ago.  Perfect for this table.

Mr. Red Rooster jumped into my cart at Old Time Pottery.  Or is it Olde Tyme Pottery?  Whatever.  He sure holds court on this table.

I added two dishes of brown and white eggs in place of flowers.  They are in a nest of raffia.  Good colors again!  These dishes are from the floral warehouse, but you could find something similar almost anywhere.  I think you can figure out where to get the eggs!

I also love these small pewter pieces from Pierre Deux.  This sweet cow cream pitcher catches any drips in his own bowl.

And these chickens (or maybe geese) hold salt and pepper so sweetly.  I keep this by my stove top and use it every time I cook.

This is a great room for breakfast.  The sun pours in through the windows and doors, as long as breakfast isn't too early!

A toile chicken.  Love it!

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday blogparty.  Please go over there and see some dazzling tables.

Trash to Treasures Turkeys

I really wanted some gold turkeys for our Thanksgiving table this year.  I looked several places and when I didn't find them, I bought two multi-colored ones at Michael's.  Then I also bought some gold metallic paint and some copper metallic paint.

Here's the beginning of the transformation from cheap to chic!

A look at the gold paint as it dries.

A bit later, I added copper paint with an almost dry brush.  It settled into the cracks and crevices and made the details stand out.

Isn't he much more handsome?

And here's his debut on the Thanksgiving table.  Don't you agree that they just HAD to be gold?

I'm posting at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.  Take a minute to visit for great inspiration.

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Bold Colored Thanksgiving

I'm posting two different Thanksgiving tables.  The first post was all white and gold and very restrained.  This one is anything but.  It uses fall colors to the max.  I'm torn between the two.

Just six of us for dinner.  It gives more room to "fluff with stuff"! 

This has some formal aspects, and some things are more casual.

I started with this cotton damask tablecloth that I've had for years. 

Then I used a fall wreath in place of a charger.  This photo makes this one look a bit warped, but it was just the angle I used.

Next, I used Lenox cream plates with a fine gold border, and some vintage Bavarian salad plates.  Each plate features a different fruit.

These napkins are also vintage, and the napkin ring is antique carved bone.

The flatware is my mis-matched collection of silverplate.  I look for the basic shape of the pattern, but nothing really matches.  I have a cream soup spoon here for the pumpkin soup.

I found these antique antler handled knives several years ago.  I think they are really fruit knives, but I am using them for butter knives here.

These large stems are etched with grapes.  I use them for water glasses since they are so large.  The white wine glasses are Waterford's Lismore pattern.

Here's the dessert fork and the placecard.  I wish I had saved the wrappings from them.  I don't see any print about who makes them.  I usually like to have handmade placecards, but I thought these had the perfect colors for this table.

I serve the soup course in these fun little pumpkin bowls.  They don't have any markings on them.  I got them at an estate sale many years ago.

This brown paper doily is made by Wilton and I probably got it at Michael's, or maybe the grocery store.

This centerpiece was fun to pull together.  It uses no fresh flowers.  The set of three glittered pumpkins and all of the rest of the items are from a floral wholesaler.

Look who is hiding in the flowers.  I love his brown velvet britches. 

And, of course, I made room for acorns!!! 

There sure is a lot of color on this table.  Sort of fall on steroids, maybe.  What do you think?  Too much?

The sideboard has the turkeys that I painted gold and copper.  They were really ugly, harsh colors when I bought them.  Look for them to show up on Metamorphosis Monday.

Between Naps on the Porch has a wonderful blog party that I'm participating in this week.  Thank you to Susan for this weekly treat of Tablescape Thursday!