Asiatic Pheasant

Mom is visiting and she is very much a blue and white girl.  We had a lazy morning planned together, so I set the breakfast table with a tablescape I thought she would love.  I used a common, but beautiful china pattern called Asiatic Pheasant.

I've had these old blue and white linens for a long time.  I wish they could tell me about some of the dinners that they have "seen".  Someone loved them very much, as they are in beautiful shape.

Here's the design on the table square before I set it with dishes.  The embroidery is simply breathtaking.

Just two for a lovely morning!

Here are the details on the pattern name and stamp.

I set the Asiatic Pheasant on a white scalloped plate from Z Gallerie, and used some of my mis-matched silver plate flatware.

I used this pearl handled knife.  I never use it if the food is not very easy to cut, as I'm fearful that the handle will come off.  That has happened to some similar serving pieces that I own.

These individual salt and pepper shakers seemed to be perfect for the morning.

Whole Foods had these very soft blue hydrangeas that were perfect to go with the linen cloth.

This held lingonberry jam for Mom and lemon curd for me.  I used cream soup spoons for the jam.

I love a French butter keeper and this bright white one is very adaptable to many tablescapes.

Someone gave me this blue and white wine coaster.

I use it here to hold a porcelain topped water bottle.

The cobalt blue juice glass was the only strong shot of strong color. 

I love spoiling my mom a bit!

I'll be posting at the following blog parties:

                                                          Tablescape Thursday
                                               http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com

                                                                 Seasonal Sunday
                                                  http://thetablescaper.blogspot.com

                                                                Tabletop Tuesday
                                                    http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com

                                                             Wow Us Wednesday
                                                http://savvysouthernstyle.blogspot.com

Orang Tulip Table

I have discovered that when you are asking someone to serve on a committee, that the best thing to do is to ask over a meal.  Today, I am not just asking to fill a committee position, but to fill a board position.  In my book that means not a restaurant meal, but a meal in our home.  Wouldn't you feel you had to say yes?

So today's inspiration was these square floral plates.  I found them at Homegoods and I thought that they just said "spring".  I think I am going to wish I had bought more than four.  I tried several different tablecloths, but this crisp white hotel linen looked so fresh that I went with it.  Then I narrowed the entire palate to orange and apple green. 

What flowers could I use but orange tulips with this plate?

Then I put them in this little square pot from the floral wholesaler.  The birds seemed perfect for a spring table, too.

As you can see by these photos, the vibrant colors went well with our area striped area rug and apple green checked draperies.

I have about a dozen of these square bread and butter plates.  I think they were from Homegoods, too, last summer.  I sometimes use round and square plates together, but I think I really prefer to keep similar shapes together.

Bright green napkins are held with a simple white wicker napkin ring.  I chose my mismatched silverplate......

and mother of pearl handled knives.

These green water glasses are from Swoosie's and the wine glasses are from Tiffany's.  (I thought wine might make her more likely to agree to the position.)

I served individual quiches from this serving dish since it had the same colors and echoed the butterflies on the plates.

Orange/pineapple sorbet was perfect in this flower dish from Michael's on these orange square plates.

And she said yes!!!!!!!

I'm linking with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Tablescape Thursday blog party.  Be sure to check it out each week for great inspiration.

http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

Also find me linked to three more fun blog parties:

Sunday Favorites at Happy to Design

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Favorite Things Saturday at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie 

Cheerful Birdies on a Gloomy Day

Be sure to visit Cuisine Kathleen's linky party featuring birds, nests, and eggs.  It's sure to be filled with inspiration galore!

Listening to the birds chirp the other day, I decided that I needed to do a bird themed table.  This periwinkle blue and white palette came together so easily.  When I started poking around, I couldn't believe how much bird stuff I had.

This Robert Allen fabric was the inspiration.  It seemed to blend traditional and contemporary in its simplicity.  I just hemmed a length for a tablecloth.

I chose the drop-leaf table in the bar for this lunch.  I like to leave it pushed up against the wall and set the ends when we only have four.

Then I replaced the fish plates in the antique French shelves with some old bird plates.  There are no markings on these at all, so I can't share any information other than to say I bought them at an antique show years ago.

 

I love this wicker plant holder for small spring pots.  Today I added a small glass filled with water to each terra cotta pot and then placed a blue hydrangea moppead in each one.  I love the way this watercolor of Cape Cod shares the colors of the flowers.

The double-faced satin ribbon comes from The Paperie at Sam Flax, one of my favorite sources for beautiful papers and ribbons.

Here it is used again as a napkin "ring" on a crisp white napkin from The Palm line of linens at Homegoods.  The little vine nest that I used as a placecard holder is from Michaels and was very inexpensive.  These white bistro plates are some I've had for a very long time.  I think everyone needs to have a simple white set of dishes to play with, and they are available many places at very affordable prices.

I am so fond of the look that a mixture of silverplate flatware gives to a table.  Here I've used it with these mother-of-pearl handled knives that pull the white into the design in another interesting way.

Waterford's Lismore pattern of water and wine stems keeps the look crisp and simple. I think it is the most popular pattern that they make.  I have so many friends that have this pattern.  Great for borrowing!  My mom has gifted me with these pieces for many years.  Thanks, mom!  I love them.

This white faux bois cup held the cream of asparagus soup on a similar faux bois plate.  

 

A larger faux bois plate held a simple salad of arugula, avocado, and fresh apricots dressed with a lemon cream dressing.

My white bread and butter plates were a little large for this table, so I used these little fluted dishes for the rolls with a twig butter spreader.

I almost forgot I had this little French white porcelain butter dish with the bird on top.

This casserole dish has been a favorite of mine for many years.  I am always careful not to bang the bird on the top.  It held a delicious orzo primevera.

This might be one of my very favorite tables I have ever set.

I found this roll basket at the Flower Factory in Chagrin Falls, Ohio last week.  They are closing and everything is drastically reduced.  I think I paid about $3.50 for it.  Great bargain, don't you think?

I used this sweet little dish to serve lemons and dill for garnishing the salmon.

Coffee in these cups with the faux bois design were served at the end of the meal with dessert.  The dessert was a meringue shell (made extra rough to look like a nest) filled with lemon curd and garnished with a whipped cream "egg".  I wish I had taken a picture of it, but I never remember to photograph anything once I start serving. 

One more birdie item held sweetener.

It was a gloomy day, but the friendship was warm and the conversation was light and fun.  We have lots of spring flowers blooming, but the rain has kept me out of the garden.  I did a little clipping a few days ago, but things will have to wait for a sunny day for any more gathering.  I didn't even stick my head out to get a picture of the bird welcome sign on the front door.

The guest bathroom vanity even got a nod to spring and birds.

A metal nest.......

and a cute hand towel round out the theme.

Menu:

Asparagus Soup

with Radish Micro-green Garnish

French Rolls

Arugula, Avocado and Apricot Salad

with Lemon Cream Dressing

Soy-glazed Salmon

Orzo Primavera

Meringue Nests filled with

Lemon Curd and a Whipped Cream Egg

Coffee

Don't forget to visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly blog party featuring lots and lots of fun tablescapes.  Thank you, Susan for this forum.



Valentine's Day Dinner

I'm sending this old post (complete with bad photography) to a fun linky party.  You can find it here:

Here's the way my post read almost two years ago:

We celebrated Valentine's Day a few days early with some special friends.  The table was a high/low mixture, which I love to do.  The only thing on the table that is strictly Valentine's Day is the salad plate, the rest is just a mix of red and white.

We're still in shock that we had Valentine's Day snow here in Georgia, but it did make for a pretty picture of the pond in the front driveway circle.

Of course, the swan  (egret? stork?) got a pretty ribbon and faux flower.  Isn't the snow pretty on that peony?  The bird always gets the decoration instead of the little guy, because I can reach it standing on the side of the pond surround. 

Next to greet our guests was this wooden plaque from Michael's that I just added pretty ribbons to and hung it from the "speakeasy door".  I forgot to take a picture of the gates which are the first thing guests see.  I hung heart shaped wreaths with faux peonies and lots of ribbons. 

Here's the inspiration for the table and one of my most cherished possessions.  It's a square linen cloth with heart trim that my sweet mom crocheted for me years ago.  It really pops on this red linen tablecloth.

I use it for Valentine's Day and often find a way to work it into the decor of a wedding shower.  I also used it in some way for both of my daughters' bridesmaids luncheons.

The centerpiece was a wicker and wood stand with holes just right for 3 common sized terracotta pots.  I fill them with oasis and then put as many red carnations into them as they will hold.  Then just a few galax leaves make a slight frill around the bottom.  This centerpiece will last for two weeks or more.

Here's a better look at it.  It's chippy and cheerful!

I'm sorry for the quality of this photo.  I forgot to get a close-up so this is over-cropped.  Do you see who came to dinner?  Look closely.  George Clooney!

I put some dream dates on the cardstock flag and asked everyone to pick a seat with the name they most resemble.  It was pretty fun.  Mr. Pressed Pants elected to sit here.  Good choice.  I also put a little glitter embossed and stamped heart on the flag and tucked it into these striped napkins folded in the shape of a heart.  If you Google "heart shaped napkin fold" you'll find several sites with instructions on how to do this fold.  BTW, I took the last seat and it was for Jennifer Aniston.  I hear you laughing!!!!

I chose my mismatched silverplate and the pearl handled knives. 

Glassware was these etched pinky-red stems for water (I'd still like to know more about these.  Anyone?), and Waterford Lismore wine glasses.

These sweet cherub candlesticks held simple white candles. 

The key to my heart, anyone?  I scattered several keys adorned with simple bows around the table.  These keys were actually handed to us when we closed on our first house, believe it or not!  That makes them a very nostalgic addition.

These red chargers are available anywhere and the dinner plates were just some I found at a yard sale.  They are more like pottery.  The red and white plate came from Target last year.  It is plastic.  I never hesitate to use plastic mixed with "good stuff".  Unless you are celebrating a very solemn occasion, go for the mix!  I use these simple red glass bread and butter plates lots of different ways.  Can you see the heart shaped butter pats?

Waterford wine coasters, a French butter container and red s/p shakers finished off the table.

The back of each chair had lots of tulle, ribbons, and a sparkley red heart.  Who doesn't love a sparkley red heart?

As usual, I carried the theme over to the guest powder room.  That small heart shaped box held Altoids.  I got this idea from my best friend.  She always has them in her powder room.  It is so nice to pop one in after garlic bread, ya know?  I just leave the lid slightly ajar and welcome anyone to freshen up!

These frilly flowers and this cherub embossed salt glazed pitcher are made for each other.

And.....as the other powder room says on a vintage postcard......."Valentine greetings" to all of my blogging friends.

You'll find me posted at Between Naps on the Porch for Susan's Tabletop Thursday party.  Be sure to visit for lots of inspiration.

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com