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.

And The Winner Is...

Using the Random Number Generator, a winner was chosen for Nancy's Daily Dish $50 gift card.

And the winner is...

Wendy from Ravenwood Whimzies.

Congratulations Wendy!

Thank you to Nancy Roberts for this generous gift card!

Don't forget that she is also offering a 15% discount to vignette design readers so be sure to visit her website and use the code "vignettedesign" at checkout.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

My Personal Favorites

 Last night I got lost for hours on Nancy's Daily Dish website.

I was like a kid in a candy store, overwhelmed by all the beauty.

I did however manage to pick a few favorites like this plate with the grapevine border and horse scene.

Another scene from this pattern.

I love the ladies chatting at the garden gate.

So adorable!

The more I see of this pattern, the more I love it!

It's Spode Copeland and this platter depicts a cow and the vet.

I'm tempted to start collecting solid brown transferware.

This is the same pattern as my purple and multi-color called Rural Scenes by A.J. Wilkinson.

A brown transferware pitcher and bowl set caught my eye.

It would be lovely in a bathroom or guest bedroom.

Who can resist a brown transferware platter?

You can never have too many platters, right?

This platter goes with my Mason's Fruit Basket pattern.

This is the Friendly Village pattern by Johnson Brothers.

Exquisite!

 Then I saw this pattern!

Oh my, I love it!

 The colors are so vivid and I can just imagine a tablescape with this pattern.

 The border.

It's by W.R. Midwinter

I'm in love!

If you're in love with transferware like I am, be sure to visit Nancy's Daily Dish.

I promise you will love seeing all the different patterns.

Nancy is offering a 15% discount--just use the code "vignettedesign" when checking out.

Be sure to enter the giveaway too for a $50 gift certificate.

Just leave a comment.

The winner will be announced Friday, January 31st.

For The Love Of Transferware And A Giveaway!

 I love transferware!

It speaks to me with its wonderful, elaborate borders and endearing scenes, making transferware truly a work of art!

Above is one of my favorite plates from A. J. Wilkinson called Rural Scenes.

I use the purple for Easter, but this pattern comes in many different colors also.

 Rural Scenes was also produced in multi-color.

When I first laid eyes on this pattern, it made my heart skip a beat.

I have been collecting English Transferware for years.

My favorite pattern is this Johnson Brothers "Windsorware" plate.

I love the vibrant fruit center and brown rim.

I was lucky enough to find eight plates in an antique store years ago in Portland, Oregon and then ten more plates at an estate sale some years later.  

To replace a plate at today's price would cost $75.00!

Another estate sale find is this pattern called "Pomeroy" by Royal Doulton

It is so lovely with its multi-colored bouquet and red fruit rim.

I realize that I am drawn to multi-colored transferware even more than the single color.

Johnson Brothers "Friendly Village" is still being produced today.

I have many pieces of this pattern, some old and some new.  I love how the dinner plates all have a different scene from the village...

 ...which are all again repeated on the soup tureen.

Just lovely!

Masons "Fruit Basket" is a fun pattern to mix with red transferware and tartan at Christmas.

Masons "Vista" was one of my first collections.  It was when I was head over heals in love with red toile, so it made sense to have the dishes too!

 Transferware also pairs well with earthy majolica, which works for me since I love combining the two.

In fact, I find transferware not only compliments majolica well, it goes well with textural wicker and Provencal prints.

Really?  Is there anything transferware does not go with?

Over the years I've added to my collection from estate sales, eBay and for that hard to find piece that no one else has, I go to Nancy Roberts, The Transferware Queen!

I discovered her years ago on eBay and follow her blog, Nancy's Daily Dish.

You can find lovely and unique transferware for sale through her online store here.

Wait for it:

Nancy has generously offered a $50 gift card as a giveaway on my blog!

To enter, just leave a comment with contact information should you win.

Or better yet, visit Nancy's Daily Dish and come back to tell me what your favorite dish is.

A winner will be chosen at random on Friday, January 31st.

In addition, Nancy is offering a 15% discount to vignette design readers towards any merchandise in her online store.  Just use the code "vignettedesign" when checking out.

For more information about Nancy, watch this video where she explains her passion for transferware, its history and shows a glimpse into her home and "transferware-ville" garage!