Roaring Good Halloween Tablescape

Pat went to our Mother's Richard Simmons doll collection again to find another inspiration for this week's table. The one she chose reminded her of our Dad - Halloween in our house growing up was filled with fun and whimsy - not frightening ghouls and goblins.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Flatware is "Leopard" by Cambridge

The inspiration piece: an Annie Wahl doll from Richard Simmons - I think his name is "Elmer" - and he is all set to go trick-or-treating.

First layer of the place setting is a black Waechtersbach bowl

The Fiesta Tangerine colored salad plate matches Elmer's pumpkin

Next layer is an Ivory Fiesta Luncheon Plate

The black dinner plate is "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach - once again, no matter how hard I try, black plates always photograph looking like lint or fingerprints are on them. I promise it was spotless!

Pat found the placemat (and leopard coasters) at the Dollar Store - they're perfect!

The five piece flatware place setting. I just had to have this set - what fun!

Amber goblets sit on leopard-style coasters

An ivory napkin surrounds a dark brown one held by a simple wooden napkin ring

One last look

Where it came from:
Leopard Placemat and Coaster Tiles - Dollar Store
Flatware - "Leopard" by Cambridge Silversmiths from Ross
Black Dinner Plate and Bowl - by Waechtersbach from Tuesday Morning
Luncheon Plate - "Ivory" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Macy's
Salad Plate - "Tangerine" Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Black Bread/Butter Plate - Fiesta by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Amber Glassware - from Pier 1
Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Napkin Ring - vintage
Amber Tea/Votive Holders - Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Amber Candle Holders - Depression Glass from our collection
Brown Taper Candles and White Tea Lights - Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Centerpiece Doll - by Annie Wahl from the Richard Simmons collection

We will be joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" this Wednesday night:  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Halloween with Fiestaware

Pat's daughter was here this weekend and shared her copy of the Fall, 2013 "The Dish," the newsletter/magazine of the Homer Laughlin China Collectors Association that she belongs to. We got inspired by some of the place settings shown and decided to set this week's Halloween table with Fiestaware (I know, it should be called Fiesta - not Fiestaware - but it's hard to break old habits.)

By the way, if you can get your hands on a copy of the Fall, 2013 issue, there is a neat article by fellow tablescaper, One Dish Dude [http://onedishdude.blogspot.com/]. He's definitely a Fiestaware lover and enthusiast. But what I thought was interesting was his top five tablescaping rules. Check it out if you can.

The table represents one thing that each of us love - Jennifer (Pat's daughter) loves Fiestaware, Pat loves candles of all kinds, and of course, I love Dachshunds

Close up of the place setting

Matte flatware is "Vault" by Gourmet Settings

What a combination! First layer of the place setting is a Lemongrass Salad Plate

This layer is a Tangerine Luncheon Plate

Last, but not least, is a Plum Dinner Plate

Holding it all is an Apple Green Color Moods Charger by Cris D'Arques

Remember these spider napkin rings from Pier 1 last year? They are the perfect color for this place setting.

What could be more appropriate than orange and black tumblers?

Black Depressionware salt and pepper shaker

One last look

Where it came from:
Black Faux Leather Placemat - Pier 1
Satin Finish Flatware - "Vault" by Gourmet Settings from Costco
Apple Green Charger - Color Moods by Cris d'Arques from Replacements
Dinnerware - Fiesta by Homer Laughlin
Purple and Lime Green Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Napkin Ring - Pier 1 last year
Orange Glass - "Sargente" by Bormioli from Amazon
Black Tumbler - from Pier 1 years ago
Halloween Dachshund - from Danbury Mint
Black Candle Holder - from Pat's collection
Orange Candles - Michael's
Black Salt/Pepper Shakers - Depression Glass from Art & Old Things, a local antique store

We will be joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let Dish" this Wednesday:  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Fall White Plate Challenge

We are participating in Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" (http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/)  Fall Challenge this week - design a Fall table using white plates only and one other color. Pat did not want to use the typical Autumn colors - golds, reds, yellows, browns. So, here is what she came up with after visiting Michael's silk flower section a few weeks ago:

Over view of the table

The place setting

This unusual flatware is called "Pure" by Gourmet Settings - not everyone's choice.

The modern style of the glassware goes perfectly with the flatware

Pat balanced the smooth look of the flatware and glasses with this textured dinnerware

The charger is Royal Blue "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa - it is actually more of a steel blue color.

Although it looks awkward, this flatware is really comfortable to hold and use

Pat also used this napkin fold to balance the left and the right side of the table

Of course, matching blue tea candles 

The blue hydrangea was the inspiration color for the table

One last look at the table

Where it came from:
Charger - Royal Blue "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa from Replacements
Flatware - "Pure" by Gourmet Settings from Replacements and eBay
White Dinnerware - "Wicker" by Oneida from a local antique boutique
Glassware - "Reflections" by Imperial Glass from Replacements
Square Vase - from Michael's
Blue Flowers - Michael's
Blue Tea Candles - from Ross
White Tapers - Michael's

We will be joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" this Wednesday:  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/

Betty Boop Halloween Tablescape

If you haven't figured it out my now, I collect Betty Boop figurines. Pat took one of my favorites and designed another table around it. Porcelain "Halloween Betty" sits on her broom stick awaiting another holiday.

Over view of the table

The place setting

This unique, modern style flatware is called "Fluence" by Oneida

Pat used a clear acrylic ring to hold an orange napkin wrapped in a black napkin

The accent/salad plate is from Tuesday Morning

Tangerine is one of my favorite Fiestaware colors - this is the Luncheon plate

The picture is bad but the Waeschtersbach "Fun Factory" dinner plate is really a brilliant black color

The charger is a bright orange now but started out as an inexpensive ($.37 each) sand color and then spray painted with plastic adhesive Fusion paint

Pat used a spider style placemat to let some of the white tablecloth show through

Matching orange water and wine glasses are by Circleware

Betty, you are lovely....

One last look at the table

Where it came from:
Spider Placemat - Target last year
Flatware - "Fluence" by Oneida from Replacements
Orange Charger - Michael's
Black Dinner Plate - "Fun Factory" by Waechtersbach from Replacements
Orange Luncheon Plate - "Tangerine" Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Macy's
Black Bread/Butter Plate - Fiestaware by Homer Laughlin from Replacements
Orange/White Accent Plate - "Basics" by Konitz from Tuesday Morning
Clear Napkin Ring - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Orange Water Glass - "Moonlight" by Circleware from Marshall's
Orange Wine Glass - "Moonlight" by Circleware from TJ Maxx
Black Candle Holders - Depression glass from our collection
Black Tree - year old......
Orange Candles - Michael's
Betty Boop - from Danbury Mint

We will be joining Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" this Wednesday:  http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/ . Don't forget that next week is Kathleen's Fall Challenge - design a Fall tablescape using only white dishes and one other color. I can't wait to see what other tablescapers come up with.....