Mount Vernon China

My husband and I had the privilege of attending a lovely wedding in Annapolis this weekend.  It was the marriage of a handsome Marine who is a graduate of the Naval Academy and his bride, who grew up in Annapolis.  Because we had never seen Mount Vernon, we spent an extra day in the D.C. area so that we could spend a day there.  Here is the entrance gate with a beautiful representation of the mansion.

 

My plan was to photograph the tables in the dining rooms and kitchens and do a post featuring them.  My plans had to change when the guides announced that there was to be NO photography inside of the home.

However, I was sure you'd like a peek at the china selections of the gift shop.  I promise that I did no rearranging of dishes, but just clicked away getting photos with whatever lighting I could get.  Take a look!

Here is an awesome display of the most well known pattern of the era, blue and white Canton Ware by Mottahedeh. This was used by George Washington and his family as their everyday china.  He placed several orders with his agents to purchase hundreds of pieces of this richly decorated porcelain, known for its traditional hand-painted river scenes and other views of domestic life in China.   

This was Washington's favorite porcelain service, and mine, too.  This features the symbol of the Society of Cincinnati.  Washington was the first president-general of the society, which was comprised of veteran officers of the Revolutionary War. 

I have coveted this for ages.

This is Lady Martha Washington pattern.  She was responsible for transforming Mount Vernon into a gracious and accommodating home.  As First Lady, she was hostess to the new nation and set the standard for official entertaining. 

This pattern is an exclusive to Mount Vernon and I have never seen it before.  Isn't it sweet?

Here's another pattern I was not familiar with.  It's The President's Table.  Each of the links in the chain encircles the name of the first states.  The white, black, and gold is very sophisticated and simple.  Washington's successors have followed his lead in identifying porcelains that represent America and the presidency.

This ribbons and cornflower French porcelain pattern was inspired by a mug used by George and Martha.  The original resides at Mount Vernon and was made in Paris by Christopher Potter, circa 1790-1795.  There are many different pieces offered today.

 

This is a darling little tiny tea set in that pattern.

Here are some other patterns that they carry.  The sales of all of them help protect and preserve the Mount Vernon estate and gardens.

All of the above dishes are made by Mottahedeh and they also offer this beautiful book about all of their wares.  I just couldn't carry this home on the plane due to the darn luggage weight restrictions, but I'm going to Amazon so that I can own this.

These transferware plates are by Staffordshire.  They come in red or blue.

These are antique reproductions and they are so wonderful.

This is a hallway display of silver souvenir spoons. They were so darn beautiful. I couldn't get a photo without the reflection from the lights.

Thank you, George Washington.  You're the Father of Our Country, and the arbiter of such good taste.

Orange Coral Tablescape

                       I'm joining "Happy to Design" for Sunday Favorites with this post from last summer.  It's so nice to have the chance to re-post some old stuff.  Thanks for the opportunity!  Enjoy this from Summer '10.

These photos were taken by my old camera and they are not nearly as good as I would like.  I am especially disappointed in the fact that the white tablecloth photographed as blue, but enjoy them just the same and I promise you can expect better in the future!

 There is something about coral that is timeless and iconic.  It is often used in decor and accessories.  I love it used tabletop.  I actually use it often, especially if serving seafood for dinner.  For warm weather, which we are still having plenty of in Georgia, I use this crisp orange and white combination, and most often outside.  I've set a table for two outside on our white deck.  We have waited all summer for "dining weather", so we will probably be eating outside quite often for a while.

 

I started with a white square tablecloth that I bought at a restaurant supply outlet.  I got four of them and I wish I had more.  I could never guess how often I use them myself or loan them out.  The centerpiece was inspired by a piece of white coral I have.  I just sat it on top of a piece of oasis and then stuck flowers around it.

The gerbera and white daisies keep it very simple and fresh.  Can you see the coral?

I started the placesetting with an orange woven placemat from Homegoods.  These will be given a work-out between now and Christmas, I'm sure.  The dinner plates are by Murval and I bought them at The Plantation Shop last summer. The flatware is some I've had for a long time, and I can't remember who makes it, but I use it often.

The salad plate is from Homegoods and it is by Mix and Max. 

I bought the bowl when I got the plates. I love the

little coral design inside as well as the outside pattern.

These stems are actually acrylic and came from Homegoods, and the water glasses, also acrylic, are from Walmart.  I laid them on their side so you could see them better. I don't mind mixing china with plastic, especially outside.  I even do it inside from time to time.  Some plastic has such style, that there is no reason not to.

 I bought these cotton napkins with the embroidered coral design at The Plantation Shop at the same time I found the coral plates.  They offered them in turquoise, too, so what do you think I did?  I bought them in both colors, of course!  I'll use the turquoise napkins in another post. The napking rings are from Pottery Barn, last summer.

 This little glass fish plate makes a cute bread and butter plate, don't you think?  I was hoping I could get a photo where it would show up. Who knows where or when I bought them.  The tea lights came from Pottery Barn.

 I think I got the porclein starfish at Boxwoods, but I'm not sure. I store them very carefully, as they are quite thin and fragile. I just love the way they are painted and the texture they give the table.

Next week I'll finally break out the fall dishes, I promise!

Linda

Frenchie the Cow

You know that feeling when you fall in love?  Does it often happen to you in a store?  Well, yesterday I was in Tenille and Company in Atlanta and I locked eyes with Frenchie the Cow and I was a goner.

Look!  She's a trick cow.  She holds a salt and pepper shaker set that is just the right color to go with many of my cream/taupe/linen colored dishes. 

She looks just like a piece of French carved folk art.

Look at the rivets on her canvas.

T

The detail is just amazing. 

 

I think Frenchie and I will have a long, happy relationship.  Am I gushing?

I'm linking up with Barnyard Bash blog party at Happier Than a Pig in Mud.

Labor Day Tablescape

I'm reprising this post for the Picnic Party at:

We were so happy to spend Labor Day at our home with our favorite young newlyweds. One is in grad school and one is in dental school and their lives are very busy. We just love to spend some special time with them and  spoil them just a bit. They are the most wonderful houseguests, and I'm sure it's because they have been brought up by such great parents.  (You know who you are!) They even brought us wine from their wedding.  And boy, did we enjoy it!

I used an old two-piece cachepot for the centerpiece.  I put oasis in it and stuck red carnations in until it looked rounded and full.  Then a couple of small flags were tucked in to finish it off. I have to give credit to Carolyne Roehm for making carnations a chic choice.

Parties at our house usually start at the gates. 

We ate dinner on the upper terrace beside the pool.  The sound of the waterfall just seemed to add to the laughter and good conversation.  This is a tabletop I have done for several years, and I often use it for Memorial Day and Fourth of July, too. 

Most of the items are acrylic and nothing is precious or particularly unique, but I love the way it all comes together.  The tablecloth is from Tuesday Morning many years ago.  I've used it so many times.  The dinner plates and salad plates are from Target a couple of years ago. I don't remember where I got the flatware, but I'm sure you could find it many places.

The star bread and butter plates are from Walgreens and they are pottery.

These glasses are acrylic and came from Target. 

Of course! 

Don't you love these individual reproduction Blue Willow salt and pepper shakers? I bought eight pairs of them at Tenille and Company in Atlanta. I really like what Blue Willow does for this tablescape, and I used it for several serving pieces, too.

These napkins have been with my Christmas linens for a long time.  Who knows where I got them?  The napkin rings are embellishments from the Martha Stewart line of crafts at Michael's. I just applied them to some double-faced satin ribbons. 

MENU

Multi-grain Bread Stars with

Ranch-flavored Cream Cheese,

Fresh Basil and Tomato Slice

Grilled Figs Filled with Saga Blue Cheese

Arugula Salad with Sweet Onion Dressing

served with

Tomato and Carmelized Onion Tart

Grilled Cajun Shrimp Skewers

served over

Orzo and Vegetable Salad

Vanilla Ice Cream and Blueberry Torte

with Red Raspberry Coulis

Here are a few images:

Mr. Pressed Pants did a great job on the grilling!

Here's the dessert plate.....empty.....how did that happen?

Location

I guess this means it's time to put away our white shoes and send our white pants to the cleaner one last time. Labor Day has come and gone again!

Seaglass Inspired Tablescape

It seems that our Georgia heatwave is over for a while and everyone is outside again enjoying the mild weather. We were able to have the nicest evening outside tonight.  Since we will soon be celebrating fall, I decided to squeeze in a few really summery tablescapes.  This one is a tribute to the ocean front beaches that I love.  They truely feed my soul.  A morning walk there is even more enjoyable when you find those precious pieces of seaglass.  They have inspired an entire genre of decorating, especially in the costal areas.

I've arranged dinner for two outside on what we call the white deck.  It is semi-circular and has the best view. All of the colors on this table are of the sea and sand.  No patterns, just greens, blues, and creams.

I used a light cream colored burlap tableskirt from Ballard's  that goes to the ground, and covered it with a woven runner in a light straw color.

The centerpiece is a glass bottle that has a faint turquoise tint.  I got it at Star Provisions in Atlanta.  Ferns, ornamental grasses, and hosta leaves fill it for a natural, non-floral look.

I started with a dinner plate that is an opalescent green and is irregular in shape.  It came from Homegoods last year and I only found two of them.  I would love to have more. I love how the shadow from the greenery shows up on the tabletop in this picture.

Then I topped it with my trusty cream salad plates from Target.

Next  is a shell shaped plastic bowl, which I think was from Target, too, last year.  I served a white gazpacho in it topped with sliced green grapes and almonds.  So pretty!

I photographed the glasses on the railing so you could see the colors. The frosted stem is aqua and the base is blue.  I don't remember where they came from, but I've had them a long time.

The cream hemstitched napkins are from Macy's and the green napkin rings (which don't show very well in this photo) are irregular shaped and made out of a resin material.  I got them from Boxwoods Gifts.  There is a natural scallop shell for a bread and butter plate, and the flatware is from  B. D. Jefferies.

On the straw runner, I set frosted tea lights with shells and seaglass scattered about.

I chose some old jadite salt and pepper shakers.  They were the perfect color for this table even though they are a little large for a dinner for two.

For desert, I used a glass plate that has a very faint aqua tint to it.  I got it this summer at Homegoods.

And the best part of the evening......

is this view over the deck.  We feel so fortunate to have this peaceful place.

I hope you have a joyful and safe last weekend of summer!

I am linking up to Susan's Thursday Tablescape at Between Naps on the Porch.  Please go take a look at all the creative entries.