you never know what you will find

when you’re out surfing . . . the internet, of course!

something compelled me to check-in with my neglected list of favorite blogs tonight (probably the fact that I don’t have the stomach for anything on tv, nor do I want to do laundry). 

first one I checked was a blog about a lovely tablesetting—probably prepping for tablescape thursday and, while I marvel at her advanced planning and preparations, I can’t help but be a little jealous that people can get stuff done so far in advance!

the next one is a blog written by a young lady who has gone through some changes—in her life, but also in blog name!  each time I check-in with her she has changed the name of her blog.  of course, it remains the same as it ever was on my blog list, but the link now take me to a blog-with-a-new-name. 

then, third time is a charm—I came across kimberly jones’ blog called serendipity vintage studio.  she immediately captured my attention with her blog title:

{Inspiration Board} Aquamarine + Kraft + Red

of course I’d want to read more about that!  and I did, and as I’m looking at the pics, I’m thinking, hey, that looks like kimberly santiago’s stuff!  reading a little further, I came to find out that indeed the photos were of the creative corner at hodgepodge!

(the photos, by the way are excellent!)

I hope her inspiration board helps move her to another one of her beautiful projects, but I think the inspiration board is a work of art itself!

thanks for your indulgence,

A Summer Mantel and Table

At Hodgepodge, we pride ourselves on frequently changing our displays and vignettes.  The other day, I decided it was time to change the middle room.  My inspiration—a cool Mediterranean tablecloth and some new cobalt blue hurricanes.

So let’s get started with the mantel.

Phase 1:

Somewhere to start . . .

Phase 2:

The addition of a garden element and the cobalt hurricanes

Phase 3:

More garden elements (the urn, Spanish moss and a bird’s nest).  I moved the large hurricane onto the single book to raise the height compared to the smaller hurricane.

Phase 4:

Addition of the bolster—moved the nest.  Added candles to the hurricanes.

Phase 5:

Final touches—the doily under the short hurricane.  Then a few more items in the statue urn—saracina lilies and some raffia for a casual addition to the nest.

The rest of the vignette was updated with the new tablecloth and setting.

I think this turned-out beautifully!  It is a table I’d be proud to present to my guests.  I’d love to hear your thoughts . . .

but wait, that’s not all!

My favorite addition to this vignette:

 

Check back for more on this lovely moss covered light fixture!

Thanks for your indulgence!

a valentine bistro

tablescape thursday.

it’s a little early, but not for retail. i’ve already set the valentine table for the shop. it’s subtly suggestive of valentine’s day—not overtly.

a table for two.

set with the plates from comptoir de famille—a charger from the mary carol collection.

a petite fondue set in the center for dessert.

plates at the ready for the fondue and coffee.

another angle on the table . . .

the tablecloth is actually a throw.

the linen blend napkins are a generous 20x20 in size.

note the cute tomato salt and pepper.

love this la brasserie flatware.

so there you have my bistro table set for two.

i've set-up a new site where you can buy many of the items I feature on my blog. if you're interested click here.

thanks for your indulgence.

some last minute table ideas

If you haven’t figured out what to you’ll use to set your holiday table, please allow me to offer the following suggestions:

These are great appetizer plates or they work well to set the table as a salad plate layer.

You can mix them with your everyday dishes—like these green dishes, made in Portugal (don’t you love the simple detail on the rim?) and/or the gold tone dishes.  The placemats and napkins are a great –Christmas-y in color, but they also have that bird theme we love so much.

The bundle of vintage flatware helps to capture the glimmer of the gold-toned plate.

Here I show my personal favorite black and cream winter theme plate on a square embossed dish—also trimmed in black.  A nice simple look which could carry you from Thanksgiving through Valentine’s Day.  The dinner plate has an embossed bird pattern—very subtle.

There are three others in this collection—I couldn’t possibly limit myself to just one!  You’ll also find an elk, wild hares and a squirrel.  The flatware offers enough elegance for your finest china, but can be used for casual settings as well.

Here I’ve started with a basic brown and cream transferware pattern from Mary Carol Garrity.  The dinner plate has a farm scene, while the salad plate has a gardeners scene—again, there are four different patterns.  The flatware has brown handles.   These are perfect for everyday, but I wanted to show how I would dress them up for the holidays.

I thought I’d go with a red charger, to really make things pop.  Don’t you love red with chocolate brown?

Then I added another layer using the gold toned plate I used in the earlier settings.  Notice how it really brings out the browns, though.  Instant elegance with your everyday dishes!

Then I took it one step further with this simple pine and berry wreath.  We’ve used these things everywhere in the the store—on the back of dining chairs and looped three together in a vertical row.  The ideas for this basic accessory are limitless!

Well, the ideas could go on and on, but I’ve got to get this posted and get on with my own preparations for Christmas.  I’m going to post this on Tablescape Thursday, so be sure to peruse the other posts there for more inspiration.

I wish you the Merriest Christmas and hope you spend it with those you love!

Thanks for your indulgence!

Thanksgiving Tablescape

Our Thanksgiving table . . . .

Set in advance of our guests arriving, just so I could have my daughter, Hunter, take these pictures for my blog.

My other daughter, Hannah, went into a very sullen mood when she found out she’d be sitting at “the kids’ table.” Her time will come.

I used my green chargers purchased at Eddie Bauer Home about 13 years ago. Then added my Johnson Brother’s Friendly Village dinner plates, cereal bowls and bread plates.

The amber cube patterned ice tea glasses from Whitehall have been collected here and there. The same is true of the amber wine glass from Colony in the Park Lane Pattern.

I purchased the three tier display at a local antique shop and use it for many different occasions. It’s almost too big for a centerpiece, but I figured my brother-in-law and son could look at each other later. I filled it with bittersweet, pine cones, miniature indian corn and a ceramic pumpkin trio.

The silver plate flatware is from my collection of mismatched patterns. (Took a quick inventory and there are a few pieces I “need.”) I try to find my dinner knives with a monogrammed “k” already on them—brings a little more of a challenge!

I used a large painter’s canvas for our tablecloth and topped it with a runner of burlap. The napkins are from Hodgepodge—a linen blend—which I recently had monogrammed.

It didn’t take long to reduce the beautiful setting to the familiar site of carnage once we descended on those favorite dishes of smoked turkey (new and improved with “brining"), wild mushroom & sausage dressing, mashed potato casserole and sweet potatoes a la Glenn! It was wonderful, the company was great and great goodness, the DESSERTS!

Thanks for taking a look. Now I’ve got to get over to Between Naps on the Porch to look at all of the other Thanksgiving tables! I hope you visit, too, but be warned—it’s addictive!

Thanks for your indulgence!