My Fruit table Redo

 Hi All!  I have owned this narrow side table for several years now.  It is just an inexpensive little table that I picked up for a deal from Ross one year.  I love that is narrow in depth which allows me to have it placed on walls where I do not want a deeper piece of furniture to get in the way. This is why it is placed here in my den near our everyday dining table. Having a table here allows us to have an extra light because there is no hanging light here in our den only pot lots.  Anyway, back to my table, it's very shabbily painted with a fruit motif on the top that I have had a bit of a love/hate relationship with for some time.  It's always had a blah look to it to me, yet every time I have considered repainting the table to something else, like a solid color, I have wavered to be rid of the fruit. 

 

The two pictures above show that the table was originally painted with a an olive type green trim and very muted olive/golden colored leaves as well as very muted plum and blue grapes.  The basket painted in the middle was a brownish gold color.   Nothing was painted with super fine detail which is what I liked yet it just seemed to lack something.   I have toyed multiple times with the idea of painting this table all black, gold, turquoise or green.  But as I've said previously everytime I think I'm going to do it I waver.  This weekend it finally came to me why not just brighten up the fruit on the table and bring in colors that will pop a little more.  I decided the worst thing that could happen was I wouldn't like it and it would then be time to paint the whole table a solid color.  So I got out my acrylics and went to work. 

I couldn't be more pleased with how my table has turned out so far!  The only thing I may eventually do is change the gold trim around the top to black to match the black trim I added to the legs and the bottom edge of the table.  That I am still deciding on but feel happy enough to wait on that decision.  I would love your opinion on that if you have one.  

The first thing I did was change out the colors of the blue and plum grapes to a more vivid blue and purple. I started with the edge on the front of the table and then moved to the top.  I also decided rather then having green vines and stems to go with a dark greenish grey.  I literally mixed up some colors to get that combination.  Next I decided I wanted all the leaves to have a more Kelly green color as opposed to the muted olive greens.  I left all the fruit in the basket and in front of the basket alone and kept their original colors.  I did however change out the color of the basket to black so it would coordinate more with the trim on the legs and and the front of the table. 

So much brighter and adorable now, don't you think?  I have a lot of black in my den and now this table works well with the rest of the furniture in the room.  Just a few weeks ago, I found the tall black lamp  at an antique store for a great price.  I knew I wanted it to go here in my den on this table but it just wasn't working with the colors the table was originally painted. Now with the legs, trim and black basket it works so much better.  The next change was on the wall.  I love my lighthouse print but it seemed a bit off with the newly vibrant fruit table underneath so I knew I was going to change that.  After sharing my project with a group of FB blogger friends the comment was made to maybe add a fruit still life above.  I was thrilled with that comment because I actually had a picture I had painted many years ago for the kitchen in my old home.  I've had it above the stove in this house many years ago but eventually moved it to the hall upstairs. So I went upstairs, grabbed it and hung it up.

This is my original painting and I was quite pleased how well it worked.  I had been worried it might be too much fruit to add above the table.  Turns out I liked it more then I thought I would, but it seemed just a bit to dark to me.  That darker brown just had to go!

Good thing I hadn't put up all my paints yet.  So I pulled out a little linen color and went to town on the brown table. After I finished with that, I stood back and decided the wine decanter was quite dark as well and could use a pop of purple to lighten it up as well.   Lastly I stood back and looked at it one more time and then added a little coastal blue to the top half of the backdrop. Subtle bits of light totally gave it the lighter look I was wanting.  Now it's got a much fresher look to me!

I certainly wasn't expecting to do this much touch up painting this weekend but I am so glad I did.  I especially love that I already had everything I needed to make these changes.  The wrought iron scroll was upstairs just sitting there waiting for a new home and coordinates very well with some sconces I recently added above my fireplace.  

My basket under the table is temporary to hold the surround sound speakers until I find a better solution.  There's always something more to be done isn't it?  Like decorating for the holidays!  Should I focus on Easter now or just spring.  Oh, and of course there's St.Patricks day too! 

Regardless, I'm so glad to have tackled and finished this little project this weekend.  It makes this little corner of the den so inviting now.  No more drabby little fruit table.  And the big bonus is I get to enjoy and old painting of mine once again.

I am so grateful for all those ladies who offered their advice in the FB group to help me wrap this up.  It is so true how sharing ideas can spark new ideas as well.   That's what friends are for, even online friends too!

Thank you so much for visiting!  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!

Take care,

Mary

Our Valentines Table 2021

 Hello All! It's been a rainy wet weekend this year for Valentines.  We spent the weekend being snuggly and cozy at home working on an indoor project we have put off for three years now.  Well to be honest it was an indoor project but for one of our favorite outdoor activities. We made a custom cover for our sailboat hatch, to help keep rain from dripping in.  We already had all the supplies on hand, but just have been batting around the design,  dimensions and well the sewing.  Since we were stuck inside WE decided to tackle the project. I say we because hubby wanted to be involved in the sewing this time.  So fun watching my husband learn to use my sewing machine.  Needless to say, yesterday was a long afternoon, but fun and we finally accomplished a long put of project. So today we ran a few errands in the rain and are planning a nice dinner at home.  

Of course, I couldn't let this day pass without creating a special tablescape to celebrate the holiday. So, without further delay, here it is! I love how the overcast weather makes the perfect setting for the little lit candles.  

This years tablescape is more feminine then masculine, using more pink, gold and rose.  I really do try to rotate that from time to time.

My centerpiece was kept at a minimum since our setting is at the table in the den facing the TV.  I  used a pottery pitcher that I had already added some simple red and white heart picks from Hobby Lobby.  It was displayed in my kitchen and was just the right size to move to the table.  Well, almost the right size, just needed a little more height so I set it on one of my Tyler candle holders.   The candle holder and the X and O added a little more gold to match the plates. My small votive candles are red candles inside of pink mercury glass holders with white pearls attached to the outside.  So sweet!

I decided last week to embroider new dinner napkins for my husband and myself for the occassion.  The white napkins were just an inexpensive set of two that I picked up at Walmart and added both the gold border and the monogram in the heart frame.  I had already picked out the plates I was going to use so I made sure to match the colorings in my dinnerware.

My plate selections this year include some new dinner plates purchased last year at an Estate Sale, My grandmothers china, and a Pampered Chef heart ramkin.

The dinner plate is actually a Christmas pattern I believe. I found 8 of them at the sale and knew at the time I would be using them for Valentines but thought they would be great backup plates if I needed them for Christmas as well.  I love how they are more of a rose color then red.  The pattern is Old Country Roses from Royal Albert.

The salad plate is from my inherited Grandmothers collection.  It is from Meito China, made in Japan.  I believe the pattern is called Chace. I thought the roses and the greens complemented the dinner plate well and both had a beautiful gold trim.

Topping off the stack I decided to place my pink heart shaped ramekins from Pampered Chef.  They will make a great dessert dish. 

I brought out my pink wine glasses and my gold trimmed glassware inherited from my other grandmother. 

I also used some beautiful sterling silverware from Grandmothers collection as well.  The knife blade is showing stainless but this set is sterling and marked as so on the handles.   This makes me wonder if just the blades were made as stainless and the handle is sterling or if the whole knives were stainless.  Also makes me wonder if that is always the way sterling is made or was this just done during this time period these were made.  Interesting isn't it?  

Well, it's time to get busy helping my husband cook tonight so I've got to cut this short.  I hope you too have had a wonderful day enjoying all that you love and those you hold near and dear.  

Thank you so much for stopping buy and I hope you enjoyed your visit.  

Happy Valentines Day Y'all!

Take care,

Mary

 

Seven Embroidered Dishtowels full of Love

 Good Morning! This Monday has me feeling well rested after the weekend and thinking ahead to the coming weekend.  It's almost here y'all!  Valentines is Sunday!  Are you ready?  Do you have all your treats for your sweets in order?  Are you even celebrating? 

Today I am thinking of all I need to get in order to make the day special. Admittedly I'm not quite ready.  I am inspired but not quite sure how I'm going to pull it all together yet make it special.  I was thinking about the years past and all the different ways I've decorated to make it special.  It occurred to me it might be kinda fun to showcase some of the beautiful and fun dishtowels I've embroidered for my home over the last few years.  Please keep in mind I do not pull every towel out each year and most likely would not use these in every setting shown.  One things for sure though, no matter how many I have I will likely embroider more.

My first picture is proof, that I love creating beautiful embroidery.  I made this towel just this year after digitizing the design myself.  I'm trying very hard to get my weight back under control so having lots of real cookies around just isn't a great idea.  There was a time when I enjoyed baking and decorating beautiful sugar cookies.  This year I decided I wanted to decorate some again, only these are so much more Keto friendly, don't you think?

Even though this is an older towel, it is one of my favorites.  I made this one by painstakingly moving each letter around to create the heart.  This was on a sign I saw in a store one day and just knew I had to duplicate it on a towel.  I just love the sentiment of this towel!

This is another favorite.  I don't use the Roosters for decorating in my kitchen as often as I used to but I do still pull them out from time to time.  I made this towel to complement my roosters that year.  I came up with the idea for the wording on this one.  I have a few items in my kitchen that also have the diamond pattern shown on the rooster.  I think the diamond pattern especially in black and white is so classic.  When I saw this design I knew it was going to show up in my kitchen eventually, and it did!

Is there anything more Valentines-ish then this little cutie?  There is just something so enjoyable about nostalgic decor for Valentines.  I loved everything about this design when I saw it and knew she had to find a way into my home even it was seasonally.   

I confess the year I made this towel and a for a few after, I have taken lots of beautiful pictures with it. I just love every single detail on this one from the beautiful flowers in the wine glass to the border fabrics I used to line the towel.  This is definitely a towel worthy of decorating with.  Just look how easily it pulled together this little wine vinette?  So inviting!

Along those same lines, this is yet another beautiful towel worthy of decorating.  Makes you just want to slow down and serve up a nice cup of joe with a friend, doesn't it?   I created this one as a hanging flour sack towel because I absolutely cannot get enough of those.  I'm a bit obsessed with flour sack towels y'all!  Anyway, looking at it here it really should be on a tea towel too.  It's way past time to bring back tea towels and teal time with friends!

Last but certainly not least is this dish towel I made a few years ago.  I created the design layout of this towel all on my own using purchased fonts I own as well as design elements I own from other designers.  One morning I had vision of what I wanted this verse to look like so that's when I opened up my software and began to pull it all together moving everything around until I found the look I wanted.  I love, love, love this towel!  I think this will be the years that I stitch this out to go in a frame.  After last year, this is just the encouragement I think I would like to see on my wall year round.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you enjoyed your visit.  I'd love to hear which one is your favorite, because I certainly cannot just pick one.  LOL!  I hope to share a little more LOVE again if I can pull it all together by next weekend.  It's always fun to share my work and maybe some of my ideas too.   I hope you'll come again soon, have a great week! 

Mary

 

Tea Anyone???

 Happy Monday!  Today is the first day of February and even though its still technically winter I'm so ready to freshen up the décor from Winter to something more Springy.  What about you? It's too soon I know!  Luckily. we have Valentines just around the corner so we can get away with bringing in a few flowers, right?

I hadn't intended to post again today, but I just couldn't help myself after getting a little inspiration from some recent home décor books I purchased.  I was going through them this morning oouing and ahhing, and wishing once again that I had a small table for my kitchen sitting area.  I love having my black cabinet in the kitchen and really want to keep it there.  However, I feel like even with the two chairs it needs just a bit more something. I do have a smaller round dining table but it is 40 inches and just too large to have in here along with the cabinet.  I have been dreaming about getting a smaller 30 inch round tall bar table so I can pull out my beautiful French barstools that are in the attic.  I wanted to use those instead of the chairs I have.  I almost purchased a bar table online this Christmas.  Well anyway, as I was thinking about all this again I remembered I had this little round table in the attic.  This was an inherited table that I have had a love, hate relationship with from day one.  I am not a fan of the laminate top but love the bottom with the wicker.  The size works sometimes and sometimes not.  I had it on the screen porch but finally moved it to the attic after worrying it was getting to weather worn outside.   

I brought it out thinking it's probably not going to work, but WOW! What a surprise it actually fits the space very well.  

It is 27 inches around, which makes me wonder if a 30" tall table will work.  Maybe, maybe not.  Anyway, I am really loving this so much right now.  I need to give it a little touch up paint on the legs and I am thinking if I can find a glass round to sit over the laminate it might look a whole lot better.  We will see.  I was standing there looking at trying to decide what to put on it when I looked over at the cabinet and saw the Pioneer Woman cream and sugar bowls I already had out.  So, I moved them over and started playing.

I first added several other knick knacks, trays and faux plants.  I was almost settled on one arrangement when I remembered I already had this sweet little rose tea pot that I've used for Valentines décor for many, many years.  I always forget about it because I don't keep it with all the other Valentines décor I keep it with my floral arrangements in the attic.  Soooo, glad I remembered it!  

I finally settled for now on this little melamine tray that I had after playing with multiple other platters, plates and baskets.   I like the size of this tray the best for this table.  I have to confess I am now dreaming of finding the perfect sized wooden tray for this table.  I'm thinking it's going to be so fun rotating my other cream and sugar bowls here with the seasons.  

I still see more tweaking I can do in here, but for now I'm lovin it!  

I especially love when you already have what you been looking for right under your own roof, don't you?  How awesome is that?  

Well, thanks for popping by y'all.  Hope you have a wonderful Monday too!

Take care!

Mary