Birds, Bee's, Flowers and there's a Tree Outside

Let me tell you bout the birds and the bees and the pollen in the trees...wait, you mean that's not the way it's supposed to go!  Well, that's certainly the way it is around here!  LOL!

Please don't look too closely because the floor of my screen porch is covered in pollen again.  I have already thoroughly cleaned this porch once but it's back again.  Atleast this time is just a dusting and will clean up easily.  Just another beautiful reminder that spring is here, right?

I hope you won't mind, but I just couldn't pass up a chance to get back in the game with this tablescape challenge of Birds, Bees, Flowers or Trees from Cuisine Kathleen's.

It's been quite awhile since I've been able to play with you ladies but I hope this setting won't disappoint.  Also, please excuse the overcast look of my photos as the sun keeps going in and out trying to decide what it's going to do today.  

The best thing about this setting was I had everything right here at home at my fingertips.  All I had to do was pull it all together.

I had no problems finding flowers.

And certainly no problem finding any birds around here too.

I was especially excited to bring out my newest acrylic glasses that I bought from work several months ago.

They are acrylic hobnail glasses.  I saw these just last week at Hobby Lobby as well.  They also have them in different colors at HL if your interested.

I thought this flatware since it is so outdoorsy went pretty well with this setting too.

More birds... see I told you had lot's of birds!

Finally, because you have been sooo patiently waiting, let me show you my most favorite part of this setting.

This is it!  I actually had one thing with bee's on it!

One small little honeycomb candle holder that I picked up at a garage sale somewhere.  

Since it was so small and I didn't want it to get lost on the table I decided to make it a centerpiece by creating a whole cloche around it.  I love, love, a challenge!

Then to finish it all off I decided place markers were in order here.

Yep, those are actually old rusty metal markers I've used in my real herb plants.

Just print out a piece of paper with some names, a piece of tape and you are good to go.  Care to to be my guest and join me today?

Your always welcome!

And we can certainly talk about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees!

Please be sure and visit the following parties for more beautiful tablescape settings at;

 Let's Dish Cuisine Kathleens

and

Tablescape Thursday at BNOTP

Have a great day and great weekend everyone!

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Southern Mediterranean Dining

Hey Bloggers!  I am taking a break from my break!  :)  LOL!

You see, I have to because I've got something to show you and I need a little help with a decorating decision as well.  Things have been quite hectic around here lately in more ways then you can imagine.  So... I will do my best to keep this post from being "all over the Map" but it's going to be hard.

First off, if you have children you know it's back to school time and that always means scrambling around to get things done in short order.  This year was no different, except that we sent our youngest son off to college.  He is going to be local at USC, that's the University of South Carolina, not California yall!  Woohoo!  Go Cocks!!!  Anywho, he moved into the dorms last weekend and starts his first day today. I am so proud and happy for him that I just had to include this update in here too.

Here's my precious college boy the night before he moved out.  Looking pretty happy huh?   I will update you with dorm pics another time.

With such a quite house around here in the evenings I am already finding myself dreaming of beautiful dinners for two in romantic and exotic places.  Oouu La La!  Except, with a schedule and budget that doesn't allow for much travel right now I've decided to try and create one of my own.

Welcome to the Mediterranean South Yall!

This setting may not be anywhere near the beautiful shores of Greece, my ultimate getaway island, but it's a great way to spend an evening at home don't you think?

I first fell in love with these dishes a few weeks ago at a resale/antique store.   I really wanted them, but they were selling them only as a huge set for $125.00.  Seriously?  I only wanted a few and something told me I could find them for much less.  Imagine my shock when the just a few days later I did find them for much less and sold individually at TJMaxx.  I was only going to buy four of one size but decided to go for it and get four plates and four salads.  You will see more on that and why in just a bit.

These beautiful iridescent oyster plates are clear and made of glass.  I found them early this summer at Marshall's.  They were sold as a set of four.  Instant love!  I have been wanting to use them all summer and have even purchased other dishes to use with but haven't gotten to creating that setting yet.  

My newest flatware is from Gibson purchased at work, Stein Mart.  The hammered look reminds me so much of bubbles and the water.

Speaking of bubbles, I thought my beautiful handblown purple goblets from Mexico that I got from Novica were the perfect touch for this setting.  So sorry for the crooked picture here, my photo skills seem to be lacking tremendously lately.

And to top it all off, I brought out the blue bubble glass napkin rings again.  They look really cute paired with some of my newest summer napkins also purchased from Stein Mart.

I threw in a few shells to capture that island feel I am craving!

And you should know I had to have my sailboats in here too!  Can you imagine going on one of those Mediterranean charter sails?  OMG! One day I pray!

My poor little crepe myrtle blooms are so beaten down by all the rains we've had lately.  The good news is I am off today and it looks like the sun is coming back out!

So what do you think?  Does it look vacationey enough for ya?  Hehee!

I think it will work just fine!  Now I have a secret to tell ya about these plates though.  They are going to be very short lived as far as dining with them goes.

Why? 

 Because I have other plans for them that's why!  

You see my bloggy friends, I did not just buy these dishes to eat off of....oh no!  I bought them specifically to use as wall decor.  And that my dear friends, is where I need your help.

I want to add them on the wall here on each side of my picture in the den.

Since I cannot figure out exactly which way I like them best.  I decided to make a few imitation plates to see how they look on the wall before putting in the nails.

Option no.1 has one of the larger plates in the middle with two smaller plates above and below.

Here's a few more further off glances to help you decide.

And this is option no.2.  I would only use the smaller salad plates and place two on each side.

So which layout do you like best or do you have another suggestion.  One set up seems very bold to me and would make quite a large statement.  The other seems more subtle.  I am just not sure how much I want of a statement I want because I certainly do not want to detract from the picture.  What would you do?  I would love to know!

Here's a final look at the two options.  Pretty cool! 

I love Picasa!

I am joining the following parties today.  

Let's Dish

Tablescape Thursday

I hope I hear from you soon.  Have a great day everyone!

Revisting My Favorite Tablescape

Hey Ladies!  I'm not usually one for looking back because life is all about moving forward for me.  However, just because you believe in moving forward doesn't mean the beautiful memories of the past should go away.  I personally think they should be cherished all the more as the steps you took to get where you are today.


This morning I have spent some time updating a new page on my blog with my 2012 tablescapes.  I can't believe I didn't start that one sooner.  It's very time consuming to go back and do this several months later.  Having a year's worth of tablescapes on one page is very enjoyable to me and judging from my stats to a few of you as well.  I think it's one of those times well spent looking back.  Do you have one of these too?


Because I've run out of time again this morning I've decided to take a look waaayyy back to when I first started tablescaping.  It was under my old blog, Sailing Simply.  This is one of my most favorite tablescapes I have ever done.  I may have to even create a newer version of this one this year if the weather would ever cooperate again.  Meanwhile, I hope you enjoy looking back with me today.


Good Morning!  Today the sun is shining brightly and the temps are still fairly low yet!  I am feeling happy to still have an extra table to do outdoor settings after loosing my umbrella table, so I have decided to do a green and white table scape.  I have been very inspired by so many of you that I can't help but join in on all the fun.

 I know there is much to be proud about when being original and unique.  However, I hope most of you do not mind when someone borrows your ideas and uses them in their own way.  I am all about giving credit where it is due, but I am not sure I remember who had the first green and white setting that I saw, but I loved it!  I loved it so much it stuck with me!  I know this is probably not a new concept to most of you who regularly table scape, but it is to me.  I would have never thought of pulling a setting together in this way, using certain colors only.

 That concept has added a whole new dimension of table setting for me!  Really!  I have always thought of decorating a table with what you have but not so much in terms of themes and colors.  I mean I have always tried to purchase things for my table that coordinate but have not done alot of mixing and matching.  Now that I'm blogging and joining in on all the fun it's added so much more to my creative side and I just love it!  So thank you to whomever did the first green and white table setting and to all of you who have followed suit and posted your beautiful settings!  I hope you will enjoy mine as well.

I started with this older green and white tablecloth.  My sister in law gave me this years ago during one of her garage sales.  I loved the way this looked like lattice to me.  It is one of my favorites even though it is well into fading now.  Let's move in a little closer!

 Then I added my centerpiece items.

English Ivy and a small cloche on silver

In a beautiful lime green pot.

Yes, this needs polishing big time, but I liked the varnish look for this casual setting

A green candle sits in a crystal votive sitting in milk glass.

I  am loving this place setting, so pretty!

It began with my white everyday plates with embossed fruit from Gibson. 

Then added my white monogrammed linen napkins.

 I topped it off with my green and white plastic salad plates from the Better Homes and Gardens collection at Walmart and clear footed fruit bowls.

I added crystal goblets and my silver plated stainless flatware, Louisiana by Oneida.

 

For serving fruit for two I added this sweet crystal bowl given to me by my best friend.  It has florals and sweet little butterflies etched in the side.  I also used our monogrammed tea towel and the matching flatware serving pieces.

I hope you also noticed I chose the greenest location I could find to set up this table!

I hope you enjoyed my green and white table scape today, set amongst my beautiful green plants.

This was so much fun setting up! 

I am joining

 Tablescape Thursday

and 

Let's Dish

Be sure and check out more beautiful settings from the links above!

Additonally...I have an idea for a linky party I posted about yesterday that I would be willing to host if someone else is not already doing this one.  I must be crazy because I really don't have the time but love the idea so much and think it would be a huge asset to our blogging world.  I would make it work somehow.  Please leave me your feedback!

Have a great day!