Tablescape Details

When it comes to designing a tablescape, it's the details that matter.

I like to think it's like designing a room.  

Just like starting with a rug for a room, the tablecloth or placemat is my foundation and starting point for a table, like the burlap placemat above.  

Texture is the key here--the burlap is rough and textural, as is the wicker placemat and majolica plate.

More majolica for the knife rest and the silver flatware is mix-match.

The inspiration for this tablesetting came from a room in an English country cottage that featured a riot of different patterns and floral chintzes that all lived cohesively together.

This placesetting features the same wicker charger, but mixing colorful patterns is the key here.

Green and yellow pottery, layered with brown transferware, followed by a vintage leaf majolica salad plate.

French mini-print Provençal tablecloth and napkin adds even more pattern.

If this placesetting was inspired by a room, it would be a Swedish country room with lace curtains at the window, pine furniture and white linen slipcovers.

The key element here is the lighter, cream color featured in the placemat, charger and light floral plate.  Of course, the mini white pumpkin adds the final touch.

This setting was not inspired by a room, but rather mother nature.

I love brown and green together, and this placesetting picks up on those colors with the brown floral napkins, echoed by the oak leaves and acorn edged plate.  A green majolica plate brings in the green and bamboo flatware complete the natural, woodsy setting.

Layering is the key here.  I love seeing how many plates I can layer on a placesetting.

This one starts with a brown leather charger, followed by an amethyst colored majolica charger and finally two layers of purple transferware--a dinner plate and soup bowl.

I love how there is a purple stripe on the burlap placemat!

Out of site is a brown and purple floral napkin.

All of these dishes would be wonderful choices for Thanksgiving or a harvest dinner for fall.

I am gearing up for my Thanksgiving table, so revisiting these tablesettings from the past gets me so excited to play with my dishes once again!

Linking to Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life.
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style.

Turkey Plates To Whet Your Thanksgiving Whistle

Five years ago today, I posted about Thanksgiving plates, featuring turkeys on the front.
I thought it would be good to revisit...
So, here are a few classics to whet your Thanksgiving whistle!

Beginning with this wonderful, brown transferware plate by Wedgewood called "His Majesty."

Johnson Brothers has many turkey plate patterns to choose from.  This one is called "Woodland Wild Turkey."

Notice the detail around the rim.

Another version of the Johnson Brothers plate, called "Woodland Turkey."

I actually found these several years ago at Tuesday Morning for $5.99 each!

And my all time favorite is this plate, also by Johnson Brothers, named "Wild Turkeys."

The rim is the same as my Windsorware Harvest plates and would mix nicely.  

They are highly collectible and currently priced at $89.95 at Replacements.  

"Barnyard King," by Johnson Brothers is a really fun plate.  I'm a squirrel nut (no pun intended), so if I ever came across this in an antique store, I would definitely buy it!

Another Johnson Brothers plate, "Autumn Monarch" is splendid with the pumpkin and fall leaf border.

"Queen's Myott," by Churchill is still around.  I've seen them in the past at Marshall's

and TJ Maxx!

Spode also has quite a few patterns to choose from, both vintage and new, like this one.

Spode's "Wild Turkey" plate has a lovely dark brown, almost black rim.

The brown transferware Spode, "Celebration Turkey" plate.

When it comes to Thanksgiving, I'm very traditional and love the Thanksgiving cliche elements.  The formula that works for me is paisley or plaid, turkey plates, fall flowers, leaves and gourds, stag horn flatware and jewel tone crystal. Hey, why re-invent the wheel?
Actually, I am forced to reinvent the Thanksgiving table this year in our new dining room.
New room, new beginnings.
Hmmm, wondering how I'll set the table for Thanksgiving, 2016?

I'm sharing with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.
Also, French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday.

I Can't Decide!

I can't decide which plate to use for the Thanksgiving table. I know, such a dilemma!

Having 30 years behind me of hunting and gathering from estate sales and antique or thrift stores for treasures, I have a few patterns to choose from.

This plate is one of my favorites. The brown border depicts garden implements, while the face of the plate is a colorful woodsman scene. It's made by Royal Staffordshire, and called "Rural Scenes." You can see them in a tablescape I did back in January here.

My old standby is this Johnson Brothers plate of harvest fruits. I have collected 19 of these "Windsor Ware" plates over the years. Depending on how many we end up having at our table, these plates will be perfect. You can see these plates in a tablescape I did for a wine dinner here.

Then there are these Johnson Brothers plates. Called "Woodland Turkey," they are the quintessential Thanksgiving plate! I unfortunately only have 8 of these. Believe it or not, they were quite a find at Tuesday Morning, for only $5.99!

Tomorrow, I will begin to set our Thanksgiving table. Luckily, I now have this wonderful caramel stripe runner as my inspiration. After passing it up at the antique show, I couldn't get it out of my head. I was able locate the dealer to purchase three yards for a runner. It was delivered today, just in time!

So, which plates would you choose?

Tablescape Thursday

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday for the first time!

The plate is Johnson Brothers Windsorware in the Harvest pattern. I love this plate! It goes with everything: from velvet to burlap placemats, plaid to toile napkins, formal and rustic. I love putting purple wine hocks with it to bring out the grapes--a favorite theme of mine. I have used this plate three times for staging a table setting in various kitchen tours and it looks different each time. Hope you like it as much as I do. Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm fortunate to have the huge platter!