Chinoiserie Between the Raindrops

We've had an entire week of rain, so I was doubtful that we'd be able to have our lunch outside today, but a break in the weather allowed a quick lunch with some old friends.  I have been dying to use these Caspari placemats and so, since the day was still grey, I brought out the bright with this table.

I initially wanted to use these with pale colors but here's an example where circumstances changed my mind.  

I used the table out by the pool, because it was the closest to the door and the easiest to bring stuff inside if the rain returned. Fortunately, the weather held and we even had a nano-second of sunshine.

These chargers/placemats are a heavy cardboard with a water resistant coating, and they are made by Caspari.  I found them at the local Ace Hardware store!!!  Can you see that I have used an octagonal clear glass plate so that the placemat shows through?  Then I chose bamboo flatware.

These bright green stems picked up the green in the design.  Here's where I was going to go with pale turquoise, but thought better of it.

These napkins are from the Palm line of linens and the Chinese knot napkin rings are from Boxwoods.  The tablecloth is a simple white caterer's linen.

I stuck these hydrangeas and some begonias into this little metal building.  I know it's an English conservatory, not a Chinese pagoda, but I felt it had a similar feeling and it worked pretty well.

How about these salt and pepper foo dogs?????  

They gave a wonderful pop of red. 

I almost spray painted the metal conservatory red to echo this pagoda, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. 

These turquoise tumblers were plain, but I added a pagoda.  I cut them out of adhesive vellum on my Silhouette Cameo.  I can remove the pagodas in a heartbeat, but I could also keep them on, even through the dishwasher.  I also used these Caspari paper napkins for drinks.  Also from Ace Hardware!  You never know where you'll find something that will inspire you. 

Joining:

Tablescape Thursday

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Chinese Lunar New Year

I want to start this post with a wish of Happy New Year to my special little Chinese girls (Anna, Mackenzie, and Grace Ingram), and a disclaimer: I don't know how to set a table for a Chinese dinner.  Where do these things all go?  I sort of went with the Western way of doing things here, but I'd love a critique!

This was so much fun.  All that I knew I wanted to do was use gold and black and red.  I had a consultant tell me that much.  Thank you Caroline!  And I had lots of these colors.

A simple white orchid moved to the center of the table.  Easy so far!

World Market's white paper lanterns are battery operated. The arms of the chandalier are perfect for them.  I'll switch them on for you later. 

Then I sprinkled these river rocks and coins on the black tablecloth.  At first, I thought the coins were all alike, but looking closer, I think they were from different dynasties. 

A simple gold charger was topped by this black and white dinner plate from Target.  It is from their basic Home line and is the Black Band pattern.

My trusty red salad plate from Ballard's was next.

These cute rice bowls from World Market have this pagoda design on the outside......

with the tip of the pagoda on the inside.

These tiny little sauce bowls are from World Market, too.  They are only about 2" across.

Porclein spoons can be found everywhere.  I like to use them for single tastes of appetizers and even desserts.

Simple white Palm Restaurant napkins wrapped with corsage bracelets from the floral wholesaler hold red chopsticks.  They show up well on the black tablecloth.

World Market again!  They come ten to a tube.

These old red glass stems are workhorses!  I'll probably be using them again this week for Valentine's Day.

Tradition has it that a red envelope.....

filled with coins bring you good luck.  Well, when isn't money in envelope good luck????

My favorite plates were these dessert plates that tied the whole color scheme together.  (If only I had remembered dessert!)

 We started with steamed pork dumplings and a tangy soy dipping sauce.

Next up was Mr. Pressed Pant's favorite, egg drop soup.

The main course was a double helping of chicken: mandarin orange chicken and ginger chicken in egg noodle nests.  Recipes for the meal will follow. 

How about this photo of the orchid at night?

It was fun and festive and Mr. Pressed Pants proclaimed it a "home run" meal.  Oh, yeah, I promised you the recipes.  Well........just go to Trader Joe's and you'll find everything but the egg nests.  That recipe came from "Tea Time" magazine in their January/February 2011 issue.  They give you a whole menu of tea food for this occassion. In very little time, I was serving!!!!!

This was stepping out of the box for me.  Not the food, (who doesn't order Chinese), but the table.  How'd I do?  

I'm linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her Thursday Tablescape party.  Be sure to visit this for great inspiration!

betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com