Seaside Dining

Okay, so the way I saw it, I could set a table with paper plates and a peanut butter sandwich and this would be the most beautiful table I’ve ever set!

We were visiting our dear friends, Ruta and George, as their gorgeous home in Ft. Walton Beach, FL. It was our last day . . .Ruta and I were enjoying yet another beautiful sunrise when I had this thought!

I explained to Ruta about Tablescape Thursdays—how she had missed it, I don’t know—and asked if I could set her table and take pics for this Thursday’s offering. She was game and we immediately started digging through her beautiful dishes, linens, crystal and silverware.

Here’s what we decided on:

This was one centerpiece that didn’t make the cut.

Another attempt at a center serving piece, but we didn’t like the three inverted hi-ball glasses.

Then we tried the shell plate, but it was too predictable and not stable enough to actually serve food. (I try to be practical with my table settings—even if they’re just for show!)

Then it came to me—invert the casserole dish from pic one, set the Deruta Pottery platter on top of IT! Viola!

We filled the platter with cheeses, sausages and fruit; added a couple bottles of wine and lamented that is was only 9 A.M. ( I doubt even Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett could justify that one! Okay, maybe Jimmy Buffett . . .)

Being a beach house, there was plenty of palm tree plates and dishes made of shells (which Ruta has purchased at Hodgepodge—should have thought of the self-promoting opportunity), but I wanted the set a fall table.

Ruta had those great leaf-shaped sandwich plates, the maize yellow quilted placemats and the gorgeous amber stemware—so it was easy to pull together.

But really, how wrong could I go with this view?!?

I’ll give the details of the setting below. One last beautiful shot . . .

Woven Placemats (the very first layer on the table) are from Pottery Barn.

The quilted placemats were purchased at Williams-Sonoma.

The napkins were purchased at the big box store which shall remain nameless. (Don’t worry, Ruta and I can work through this breach of friendship.)

The beautiful silverplate flatware once belonged to George’s mother.

The white dinner plates are from a discount store—she couldn’t remember which one.

The leaf plates were also found at the big box store which shall remain nameless.

The platter is from Deruta Pottery—a gift from our mutual friend, Trish.

The casserole is from Skyros Designs—Pure Imagination.

The tumblers (which I loved) were ALSO found at the big box store which shall remain nameless.

And finally—my favorite things on the table (aside from the bleu cheese brie) were the wine glasses which Ruta was fortunate to claim from George’s Mom.

There you have it—the “can’t fail” table setting.

Be sure to visit Between Naps on the Porch for all of this week’s offerings--

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for your indulgence,

She (unintentionally) Cried “Wolf!”

Feeling the love!

I’m fine.  Thanks so much for all of your concern.

That last post was not a suicide note.

Nor was it an announcement of my intention to close my shop.

 

Nor was it an announcement that I’m leaving my husband.

It was an announcement that I’ve finally realized that there someone greater than you and I with a plan for me.  I’ve been trying too hard to wish and hope for MY plans to work-out, when MY plans may not be His plans.

I’ve always believed in God, but I’ve also always thought that He’s too busy to worry about me—after all, He has so much to do.  I thought if I made my own plans, He would appreciate the help.

So, here I am, finally catching on!

He has the time.  He has the plan.  I need to trust.

That’s it.  I guess I just wasn’t clear enough in my declaration, but you’ll have to forgive me . . . I’m Episcopalian and this sounds somewhat akin to a testimony.

(We’re not very comfortable in this arena!)

Who knows, perhaps this public declaration is part of the plan.

YIKES!

Thanks again for your concern.  I love you for it!

Thanks for your indulgence!

wish, hope . . . pray

As much as you wish and hope—sometimes things don’t work-out.

Darren and I wished and hoped that we could convert our 130 year old building into a mixed-use property, which would help bring the more residents to our downtown area.  We soon found out we could even begin to afford the cost of the renovations.

Wish and hope.

Kendall and I wished and hoped we could bring fabulous events to inspire the creative potential of this community to Clarksville.  We built it—they didn’t come.

Wish and hope.

We wished and hoped we could continue to support Darren is his military career, but we can’t.  It’s just too hard on the family.

Wish and hope.

They go on and on—the wishes and hopes.

I guess what you do is live, learn and move on.  Find a different way, make a new plan, adjust.  Listen closer. 

Change wishes and hopes to prayers.

Thanks for your indulgence!

Autumn at Hodgepodge

The colors, the textures, the temperature (well, soon . . .) I’m loving this change!  It’s my forever favorite season.  We’ve transformed the shop and I wanted to share our new look with you.

You can’t beat these stylized-floral plates from the Mary Carol Collection for a great impact! 

Brown transferware pitchers and a fabulous new bird vase.

   

A leaf shaped appetizer plate layered on your favorite dinnerware is all you need to set the scene.   (Be sure to pick-up some of our mixed pattern, silverplate flatware to complete your setting.)

Some festively fall buffet napkins with dried hops.

Couldn’t agree more!

 

 

 

Find a basic pattern you can mix-and-match with seasonal favorites.  I love this brasserie collection from Comptoir de Famille.

One of my favorite cabinets in the shop—a blend of an old paneled door, barnwood and a screen door—serves as a display for items to coordinate with the dinnerware.

The full scene.

An outdoor urn with and oversized pumpkin make a dramatic impact here—imagine it in your home!

 

 

This beautiful santos-style fairie stands watch over our new collection of write-on, wipe-off placecards, bottle corks and cheese markers.  The blues of this billow teapot and matching tea cups and saucers set a stunning table for tea and scones—paired with the season’s browns—it’s a can’t miss combination.

A new bookcase from our custom furniture line is the perfect display for our favorite bubble glass, handcrafted barware.

Been looking for this for years—a quality lavender at a reasonable price! 

Another favorite scent, our “fall gatherings” potpourri—instant fall!

A buffet table updated from summer to fall with a few simple changes.  Let us help you do this for your home.

Our favorite sideboard—which I understand serves as a great plasma screen tv “under cabinet,” too.

A vintage metal bed (with a great floral accent) is outfitted in this brick red matelasse, mixed with some linen blend porch pillows and striped euro shams.

A bucolic scene of these figures bringing in the harvest transitions our mantel for fall.  LOVE this burlap-backed clock!

  

We’ve pulled all of our fragrances and ambient lighting together along this wall.  Great scents for fall have arrived—to include our best selling Archipelago Botanicals Bergamot Tobacco, Burl Wood and Pomegranate Citrus.

A screen door backdrop displays this incredible feather wreath—another sure fire bet for your fall decor.

Our Caldrea stocks are full, as are our mini journals.

More candles in an array of colors ad scents

Another display of the quintessential autumn colors, mixed with a variety of gift items.

I hope this photo montage inspires you to make some changes to your home; I hope you start at Hodgepodge!

And for those of you who live at a distance—we ship! 

Thanks for your indulgence!

Paige

A Great Little Shop . . .

September 02

. . . owned by a wonderful lady with a big heart!  This is Tawnya Norton talking with Kendall in her shop

C'est Moi.

Those of you who know me will be surprised to read the following words:  I want you to go to Nashville and shop here! 

Typically, Nashville is akin to a four letter word for me.  Being a shop owner in nearby Clarksville, I get so frustrated by a population who continues to support the Nashville economy more than their own, but that is a story for another blog!  (Note the 3/50 Project button to the left.)

Tawnya recently opened her own place.  She's been working with a number of retailers for several years--arranging displays and filling-in with product she has purchased.  When one of her biggest retailers decided to close shop, Tawnya made the decision to open C'est Moi--and what a great decision that was!

Tawnya has a refreshingly open demeanor and was an absolute delight!  She explained that she got started making her own jewelry--which I LOVED and have ordered for Hodgepodge! 

She was happy to talk openly about her business--her successful lines and her bombs; her helpful vendors and sales rep; her promotion ideas and more!  While we were there, a neighbor business owner came in to make a purchase for his wife and they collaborated regarding a potential joint promotional activity--sounded very familiar.

Her shop is in a small shopping center along with a few other businesses.  There's not a lot of square footage, but she makes the most of every inch.  I love how authentic it feels.

So, if you're in the Nashville (Brentwood) area.

I encourage you to stop by and see Tawnya at her shop.  You can find her location and contact info here . . . (sure I could post it right here, but then you'd miss one of the cutest photo I've seen!)

You'll be so glad you did.

Thanks for your indulgence,

Paige