Pink and Black Table for One

This week's Table for One combines shades of pink with black depression glass. Pat used a dinner plate that we bought and didn't use for a Valentine's Day table and put black accents with it to give it a different look.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Dressy, pink flatware goes perfect with the pink plate and charger

First layer of the place setting is a black Depressionware sherbet and liner from LE Smith Glass Company

Next is a matching salad plate

There isn't a maker's name on the back of the plate but it does say "Made in Portugal"

The rose blush "Color Spectrum" charger from Mikasa

Glassware is "Jet Black" from Artland Glass. We found it at Target.com and bought replacements (after a few earthquakes) at Replacements.com

One last look

Where it came from:
Black Placemat - from Bed, Bath, and Beyond
Charger - Rose Blush "Color Spectrum" by Mikasa from eBay
Reticulated Dinner Plate - unknown maker from Portugal bought on eBay
Black Dishware - Depression glass by the LE Smith Glass Company
Glassware - "Jet Black" by Artland Glass from Target and Replacements
Flatware - Unknown maker from eBay
Vase and Candle Holders - gifts
Salt/Pepper Shakers and Holder - from eBay
Napkin - Handmade by Pat
Pink Candles - from Pier 1

We will be joining Christine's "Table It" at Rustic & Refined this Monday:  http://www.rustic-refined.com/

We will also be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Franciscan Picnic Breakfast Table for One

A very big "Thank You" to Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish" for hosting a wonderful challenge last week featuring our wedding china used in a tablescape. We had lots of fun going over very special moments, reliving memories and laughing plenty (and yes, there were a few tears along the way....especially the fact that I realized that I couldn't get my arm - let alone my body anymore - in my Bridesmaids dress for Pat's wedding....) It was a great time.

To change things a bit, with a healthy (and hearty) breakfast in mind, Pat designed today's tablescape using Franciscan "Picnic" - some would say a rather unattractive [dare I say "ugly"?] dish pattern from the 1970's. We have used it before but it is perfect for any casual meal. She toned it down a bit with a solid colored dinner plate acting as a charger plate and "hid" some of the very bold 1970's design on the other plates.

Over view of the table

The place setting

Flatware is gold ceramic handled "Radiant" by Noritake



Pat hid some of the pattern on the plate with a simple napkin fold. The huge individual sauce bowl is the right size for cereal.

The pieces are really over sized - this is actually a bread and butter plate that Pat is using as a salad plate

Here the actual salad plate does double duty as the dinner plate

Pat used a Lemongrass Fiesta Dinner plate as a charger

The water goblet is my favorite piece

Pat made an arrangement of real and silk flowers in the over-sized creamer

I am always amazed at the size of the "Picnic" coffee cup and saucer - much smaller than a normal cup and saucer. It is totally out of scale to the other pieces in the pattern.

One last look

Where it came from:
Rattan Placemat - Pier 1
Charger and Bread/ Butter Plate - Fiesta "Lemongrass" Dinner plate by Homer Laughlin from Macy's
Dinnerware - "Picnic" by Franciscan China Company gifted to me
Flatware - "Radiant" Ceramic Flatware by Noritake from eBay and Replacements

We will be joining Christine's Table It Link Party at "Rustic & Refined" Monday:
http://www.rustic-refined.com/ We would like to thank Christine for hosting the party and giving us an opportunity to "show off" some of table.

We will also be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Table for One Wedding China Challenge

Pat and I are joining Cuisine Kathleen's (Let's Dish - http://www.cuisinekathleen.com/)  May Challenge this week: design a table using your wedding china or china that was passed on to you (or even special china bought by yourself.)

Pat designed the table using her "good china" - Centura by Corning. Her everyday dishware was "Desert Flowers" by Noritake. (Don't confuse Centura with the inexpensive and rather thin "Corelle" that is made by Corning. Centura china is thicker, stronger and longer lasting.)  Pat also wanted to use her wedding colors - burgundy and pink - for table accents.

Ever practical and very sensible, Pat's choice in wedding china caused quite a stir by the local ladies at the time - plain white? Coupe plate? How could she? Well, many, many years later, and still 16 complete unbroken, unchipped place settings later, with hundreds of dinner parties out of the way, Pat can tell you why she chose Centura - it is sturdy, versatile, and very easy to design and decorate any table with. I am the first to say she was very smart. Start out with a simple dish pattern - you can dress it up for a formal dinner or use it for everyday. And you can always buy a busier pattern later.

Over view of the table

Close up of the place setting

Pat received sixteen 5-piece place settings of flatware as wedding gifts - she can't remember the pattern name

Glassware is "Marquis" by Waterford

To add a bit more color and texture, Pat added a Depressionware "Newport" sherbet and liner (made by the Hazel Atlas Glass Company)

Burgundy charger is Mikasa "Color Spectrum" (Our bridesmaids' dresses were gorgeous burgundy colored velvet - I was a lot thinner then.......oh dear, it's just a memory now....where's Richard Simmonds when you need him????)

To carry through the color theme, Pat added pink and burgundy napkins

The absolutely fabulous sterling silver compote/pot is a family heirloom from Pat's Mother-in-Law gifted to Pat along with a matching Coffee and Tea Service

Where it came from:
Tablecloth - LinenTablecloth.com
Napkins - Handmade by Pat
Flatware - Wedding gifts
Charger - "Color Spectrum" Burgundy by Mikasa
Dinnerware - "Centura" by Corning (wedding gifts)
Glassware - "Marquis" by Waterford
Salt and Pepper Shaker on Tray - Depressionware from our collection
Silver Napkin Ring - from Art & Old Things Antiques (our favorite local antique store)
Sterling Silver Flower Compote/Pot - a family heirloom handed down to Pat by her Mother-in-law for a wedding gift

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

We will also be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

A Very Orange Tablescape

With record high temperatures and no rain, things have "heated up" a bit locally. The almost unbearable weather inspired Pat's choice for the tablescape this week:

Over view of the table

The place setting

Flatware is the very unusual "Pure" by Gourmet Settings

Pat chose the perfect napkin - orange and pink

The dishware is "Fiesta" - the salad plate and dinner plate are "Tangerine"

Pat chose a "Flamingo" colored Luncheon plate

The charger is a Depressionware "Oxford" Torte plate by MacBeth-Evans Glass Company

Glasses are orange "Moonlight" by Circleware

Only thing growing in my yard - Straw flowers (very hardy even without water)

What could be classier than an orange under glass?

The orange candle holders are inexpensive unfinished wood ones from Michael's



One last look

Where it came from:
Orange and Persimmon Colored Placemats - Tuesday Morning
Flatware - "Pure" by Gourmet Settings from eBay
White Charger - "Oxford" Torte plate by MacBeth-Evans from eBay
Dinnerware - "Fiesta" by Homer Laughlin from Macy's, Kohl's, and Replacements
Glassware - "Moonlight" by Circleware from Marshall's
Napkin - from Target
Napkin Ring - PVC pipe cut into a 1" round and spray painted orange
Orange Vase - "Sorgente" water glass by Bormioli from TJMaxx

We will be joining Susan at "Between Naps on the Porch" this Thursday:  http://betweennapsontheporch.net/