Something Old and Something New

I love plants. A few weeks ago I got two little Angel Vine plants and I decided last week to repot one of them with a topiary form.  I love topiaries.  Here's how my new plant is looking this week. 

We haven't had many sunny days in January or February, so I've been frustrated when trying to take better pictures.  But, since it's been so rainy and overcast, I've used my inside time to clean and tidy areas that are often over-looked on sunny days.  One area that has received a lot of attention is linen.  I have a lot of napkins that needed to be soaked, washed and sprinkled and ironed.  I did this for three days straight and was quite content with the job.  My mom was inspired by my accomplishments and she began to do some extra cleaning herself. 

Now on the day that I bought my little Angel Vine plants, I was in a store that always has the neatest and most current home decor.  I love all the new ideas I see there, but I have a very traditionally decorated home and many of the current trends wouldn't look right in my home.  I try to slip in new ideas in some of the details....like napkins, glassware, and small accessories.  The store had some lovely table runners.  I'd seen them there before and then I began to see them everywhere in blog land so I thought I would try that look at home.  I looked at several and I realized that I didn't know how long my table was, so I hesitated to make a purchase (I was shopping in another town), but I kept the table runner idea close by in my head.  

A few days later,  my mom called to tell me she was inspired and cleaning out a linen closet.  I decided to go over and see what she'd found.  It was worth the five-minute trip, as there were a number of items she was willing to let me have.  There were several treasures that needed attention, so it was back to soaking, washing and ironing again. 

Here is my new favorite (bad lighting and all). 

It is a table runner that I'm so proud to have on my kitchen table. 

 It is linen and the perfect color for my home.

There are five hand-tatted lace medallions on each end.  They are in perfect shape.

You can see the lovely details in this picture. 

 Each circle of lace is the exact same size as the next. 

My paternal grandmother made the lace and the table runner. 

Can you imagine making all that lace by hand? 

I had a friend show me how to tat one time and it isn't a very easy skill to acquire!

Can you imagine that I almost purchased a plain

 table runner just a week before I got this lovely piece?

What do you think of this new beauty?

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Mardi Gras Table

It's Mardi Gras time!  Over the last dozen years, Mardi Gras has made its way up to central Alabama.  We love Mardi Gras and have had a party or two every year for the past eleven years.

I've decorated my table and it's ready for our party tomorrow night.

I made these napkin rings with the fleur de lis shape that I got at Michael's. 

 I hot glued them to some napkin rings I already had. 

  

I like to add a LOT of trinkets and treasures to my table.  I use a lot of beads, of course.  I also add Christmas decorations in purple, green and gold.  You can find these items after Christmas at great discounts.  I use candles and doubloons, too.  I didn't have many doubloons, so several years ago, I bought some on ebay.  I got a buy it now deal on a flat rate shipping box of doubloons.  They ranged from the 1970's to the 2000's.  The designs and themes for the doubloons  were all so fun--
I looked at every coin as I washed it.

I use a few extra decorations on my server and
also this wreath that I made several years ago.

Here are the other decorations I use in our dining room. 

 It's just some garland with another wreath that I made.

I like to fill a big glass container with beads, balls and coins.

I usually put it on the center of the table with all the other

goodies that I have spread out the length of the table.

Here's a picture of the table with the lights on and

 here's one made on a day that we had a little bit of sunshine.

Tomorrow night we will have red beans and rice,

crawfish etoufee', muffalettas, salad, bread and king cake.

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

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Happy Valentine's Day

I have not created a Valentine's Day tablescape before, but this year, I decided to give it a try.

I have these dishes that I got from

 Williams-Sonoma several years ago. 

Since they are red, I thought they would be

perfect for my Valentine table. 

They are Fulham by Spode.

I already had these red napkins and these red place mats. 

 I thought they looked nice together with the plates.

  

I also already had these little fabric and beaded

 hearts that I had bought several years ago. 

 I think they are actually small cocktail napkins,

but I decided to use them as coasters.

I got out my little faux boxwood topiary that

 I've had for several years but had not been using. 

 I was glad to have it out and on my table again.  

I really enjoyed taking these pictures because we actually had a sunny day. 

We've had a lot of cloudy days these last two months.

 I think my first Valentine's Day tablescape turned out great!

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In Honor of the Groundhog

February 2 is Groundhog Day.  Over the years, I've enjoyed this special day set aside to predict the end of winter.  I don't know what to think about the weather this year, but here is a post to honor the fellow.

We had a rainy June two summers ago and one morning while my dog was outside, I heard him as he began to bark and yip. When I went out to see what was going on, I saw this little groundhog on the other side of the fence.  He was little but feisty!  He had some sharp teeth that he showed us as he made clicking and squeaking sounds. We snapped a couple of pictures and took the pets inside so the little guy could make his get away. 

Happy Groundhog Day!

Winter Green

Green is my favorite color.  The other day I found these green glasses and I decided to get them.  I 've put together a winter table using my new green glasses and I want to share it with you today.  Do you ever have a day that you need your hands to be busy and your mind free?  Well, that's what I needed yesterday when I started working on my new ideas for our table. 

I had my table decorated with the little snowmen that I've made. 

I thought that each place looked sweet with its own little frosty creations.

I wasn't ready to get rid of my winter thoughts,

so I decided to keep a few things that would remind me of winter days.

So, here is what I have designed....

I started with some pine greenery with little pine cones.  I added a couple of

different-looking larger pine cones that I found earlier this fall.

I decided to use these snowflake napkin rings.

I thought they would look nice with the green napkins.

I added one of my silver-colored mercury glass

 trees from my dining room table.

I think you can see the arrangement better from this angle. 

I got the container for Christmas and I was excited to use it on my table.

Now you can see the green glasses.

I made the place mats using some burlap I had left over from another project.

I used another place mat for my pattern.

I cut the burlap and then pulled a few threads to make the fringe.

If there were any edges that didn't look even, I trimmed them with my pinking shears.

I did this outside so I wouldn't make a mess in the house.

I ironed the place mats and that really made them look great!

Since I already had the burlap, is was very inexpensive to make the place mats. 

I have enough to make a small runner, too!

I love using these colors for a winter table. 

 I haven't used these colors before in January and I really like the change. 

 I can't wait for a warm and cozy meal at this table.

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