Halloween Tablescape

It's time again for Tablescape Thursday. Join Susan at Between Naps on the Porch to see other great tables.

Many of you have these same plates from Walmart. They were a great deal and so cute.
I love the way they look on my newly painted table. Place mats and napkins from Target.









Have a Happy Holiday!

Ta Da!! Table Repainted

I'm posting this to Met Monday over on Between Naps on the Porch. I love to check out Susan's blog and to see what others are up to.

Last spring I decided that I wanted to replace my old round, glass topped table from Walmart with a wooden round table. And I wanted it black! So the garage sale hunting started. We found several tables that were way too country for my taste. And we found a few that were way too expensive.

I mentioned to a friend that I was looking for a table and chairs. She happened to have an oak table with two leaves and six chairs! And she gave it to me. It was given to her and she was more than happy to give it away as she hadn't had it in the house in three years and was never going to use it. Perfect price!




I love the way it came out. I used Behr Paint in "Beluga". It was NOT fun painting the rungs on the chairs, and I still have two left to paint. I finished them with a beeswax/carnuba wax rub.






Thanks for looking. I hope you like them as much as I do.

Chintz Tea Table

Hello again! It's time again for Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. I have loved checking out as many tables as possible each week. Such lovely ideas. I've also had fun putting together my own tables. Enjoy!



You won't believe it, but I found this Johnson Bros. Rose Chintz china at a garage sale. A Garage Sale!! Can you believe it? Just sitting there on the table with all the cheap looking table decorations and what-nots. Three teacups, two saucers, two dessert plates, four square salad plates and three dinner plates.

Wait for it....$15!



Sure there are a few chips on the backs. And a little fading of the blue. But I love them and they had to come home with me.



Again, tablecloth from Damascus, Syria.



Votive holders are Partylite.






I hope you've enjoyed seeing my new find in action. Never thought I'd find real Chintz here in the Big Valley. Check out the rest of the tablescapes.

Tassel Love

I have loved the Tassels people have been sharing. They class up a lovely armoire or door handle.

This first curtain tieback is not a tassel of course, but I had run out of tiebacks for my curtains so I used a pair of carved camel bone necklaces from Egypt.



When I first saw tassels in the market or "suq" in Damascus, I thought they were very gaudy. I chose six matching ones that were the least froofy.



The curtains are also from Damascus, part silk. They were custom made for some gigantic, massive windows we had in our flat in Beirut. I reworked them for our tiny windows in Northern California. They are right up to the ceiling in most places and puddle nicely on the floor.



Enjoy.

Table for Two

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for this weeks Tablescape Thursday. I hope you'll check it out and visit everyone else's tablescapes.

I wanted to share some dishes we brought back with us from Jordan. These too were hand carried on the plane. Many didn't make it. There was a collection of graduated square plates but only one survived and it's chipped so it can't be used for any thing but decoration.



Even Spartacus, our cat, wanted to join in today.



The pillow is hand appliqued from Egypt. They cozy up the chairs.



The flatware is from my Mother in law. She passed it along for one of her grandkids to "inherit".



Everyday Plate.









Thanks for looking. I hope you enjoyed the handwork of painted ceramic plates from Jordan.

Formal Dinner Party

First, indulge me a moment.

I have been teaching Life Management at my local high school (across the street). It is a Home Economics class that exposes the students to various subjects, including Childcare, Cooking, Sewing, Event Planning, and Consumer Issues, among other things. Currently we are doing the cooking unit. Today was serving meals, setting the table and table manners.

I cringe to think that these 9th and 10th graders are our future. Not one of them could understand the need to set the table properly or use the appropriate flatware piece for the appropriate dish. They did not understand the need to slow down and enjoy a meal and the conversation of family or friends. I have 102 students who have been taught from an early age to inhale their food, or to take it to their rooms and text, or talk on the phone, or play video games while inhaling the food. It's a sad state of affairs.

Enough on that subject.

I decided to set my table for a dinner party for six using one of my sets of china for Tablescape Thursday with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.







The tablecloth is again from Damascus, Syria. The matching napkins are in the water goblets. You can't tell from my photos but the tablecloth and napkins are embroidered all over in white.



The flatware was my mother's "best" set. She didn't want them any longer so I inherited early. They are about 35 years old.



The china was a gift from my mother in law. She bought them at a second hand store. I did not receive any china for our wedding, so she boght me two different used sets about 15 years ago.







Thank you for peaking at my table and for putting up with my ranting.

Everyday Tablescape

Welcome to another go at Tablescape Thursday. I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch. I've been so inspired by all the other tablescapes. You must check them out.

Today I decided to set the table with my everyday dishes. The plates, etc. are from Target (5 years ago). The stainless is Oneida "Community". They were gifts for our wedding 25 years ago.



We just purchased the napkins, placemats, chair pads and tablecloths (not used today)from Target. This lovely little table was given to us. It has 6 chairs and two huge leaves!



As you can see from the table, it needs a refinishing. And that is exactly why I was looking for a used table. I will be hauling it out to the garage for sanding and painting right after dinner! It will be a lovely shade of black when I'm done.



The waterglasses were a Christams gift from my mother a few years ago. I think she was wandering through TJ Maxx and thought of me.



The roses wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take their picture. That's why a little blurry. LOL The roses are from my frontyard where they seem to bloom from March 'til November.



The window valances are made from a tablecloth cut in half, sewn and tied with black satin ribbon.



The little hearts are from The Pampered Chef. They all received new black ribbons as well.



Thanks for joining me in an everyday dinner.