A Ruby Blue Luncheon (T)

Starting with this ruby glass painted rose bowl I stuffed it full with a floral bouquet I purchased from Costco.  I was inspired to do something with fresh flowers after seeing a few recent blog posts showing beautiful arrangements. 

 I always admired this rose bowl and after Dan's mother passed it was returned to us.

My parents had gifted his parents with this for their 40th Wedding Anniversary so it represents a lot of sentiment.

 While visiting Pam at Everyday Living I was admiring her pretty blue dining room walls and was inspired to use something blue for my tablescape.

 I rummaged through and found these china dishes in my dish closet and they had just the right colors.  The blue dinner plate is a melamine pattern from Lenox and the white chargers are from Pier 1.  The charges are such a versatile piece to have. I found a deep red napkin and used some silver napkin rings from Pottery Barn.  The silverware is called Baroque but right after I got them they were no longer availabe.  I never had a manufacturers name.

 I used my favorite etched glass stemware from Williams Sonoma

 The bouquet included three soft pink roses that I adored, dark pink carnations, white chrysanthemums, miniature white roses and a dark pink gerber daisy.

 I didn't want this to look spring-like so I used the deep red accents.

 These little sweet blue birds were gifted to me from Michele from The Nest At Finch Rest

a few years ago.

I was pleased with how well the blue tablecloth and blue dishes coordinated. The white chargers help create a visual break between the them.

 

I ordered this from Williams Sonoma last year on a sale and this was my first time to use it.  I adore their linens (not their prices)!  I feel like they are heirloom quality.

 A perfect table for a luncheon with friends on a cold winter's day!

As you can see outside is very white.  We have been getting snow just about every day lately and those deep frigid temps so I decided a rich and colorful tablescape was in order!

Thank you for visiting and I hope you'll leave a comment!

I will be joining:

Tablescape Thursday
Dishing It & Digging It
Celebrate Your Story

For Mom With Love (T)

Mother's Day Brunch

 I'll start with these beautiful roses- love the two tone coloring.  I selected them because they have the same vibrant red color that is found in the floral part of the placemats used with today's tablescape.

 Next I am showing the two sides of the butterfly placemats that I decided to use.

 I wanted this to be cheerful and Mom loves blue so I made sure there was plenty of blue on the table! 

 I used a semi-transparent white glass dish to elevate the dinner and salad plates.

 Mom has always liked a casual country look in the kitchen so that was what I wanted to create.  I'll start with some cut up pieces of strawberries and melons chunks.  Then we can have the Creme' Brulee French Toast (recipe below) that I've made a few times.  I'll add some bacon (mom loves) and sausages.  Orange juice and coffee (we love coffee).

 I like the look of both sides of the placemats and part way through creating this tablescape I decided to switch to two of each showing.

A pair of birds dropped in to see if there are any leftover crumbs!

This vase is hand blown and I love the ruffled edge.

The narrow neck of the vase helps keep flowers standing tall.  I used the baby's breath that came with the roses as a filler along the ruffled edge.

I like to put the napkins in the drinking glass because of how it adds some drama and draws your eyes up. 

Can you see how the tealights are glowing through the glass at the bottom of the vase!  I didn't really need tealights for this table but I like the special affects they add!

  

Well- that's a wrap!

 For Mom With Love

 Thank you for joining me and I am

Wishing You All a Happy Mother's Day

I'll be joining:
Tablescape Thursday 

Today's players:

Blue dishes- Devon Cottage by Johnson Brothers

White salad plate-  no brand label- only says Made in Portugal- from One King's Lane

White semi-opaque glass dishes found at T.J. Maxx 2 years ago

Flatware called Baroque found at Neiman Marcus several years ago- discontinued

Placemats from Kohl's

Stemware-  Napoleonic Bee Wine Glass by LaRochere

Glass Vase from One King's Lane several years ago

Tablecloth- Tommy Hillfiger found at Home Goods a while back

 Printable version from my Google recipe page: Creme Brulee French Toast

Note:This is a rich sweet recipe- you don't need additional syrup since it forms a sugary layer at the bottom when it bakes.  Don't underbake otherwise it can be mushy.  Use a bakery style loaf of bread not a standard bread loaf.

Crème Brûlée French Toast

Ingredients

• 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons corn syrup
• an 8- to 9-inch round loaf country-style bread
• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 teaspoon Grand Marnier
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish. Cut six 1-inch thick slices from center portion of bread, reserving ends for another use, and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit.

In a bowl whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Preheat oven to 350° F. and bring bread to room temperature.

Bake bread mixture, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

Serve hot French toast immediately.

Originally found here and can be printed from this link: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Creme-Brulee-French-Toast-15213#ixzz17gKmZrGS

Purple Profusion

More spring dreams and
the color purple comes to my mind. 

What a majestic scene the sun helped create!

I've got lilacs on my mind!
It will be a while before we see them blooming
so my faux lilacs will have to do!

The dishes were from T.J. Maxx 2 or 3 years ago. 
 Royal Stafford Clematis by Andrew Tanner

The sun was a welcome sight- notice the time in the next picture- I was taking pictures real early!

The faux lilacs were grabbed up on mark down at a gift shop late last summer.  Can't wait for the real thing!  

Crystal by Mikasa called Windlass we purchased for our 20th Wedding Anniversary.  Placemats from Pier 1 a few years ago, flatware called Baroque from Neiman Marcus

My tallest vase I picked up a long time ago at our outlet center by Gorham called Lady Anne

Dreaming of Spring 
even though we still have snow!
It's melted a bunch since I took these pictures. 

                

I even lit my little lilac scented candle I found at a local store.
You can find them on the internet easily.

I'm joining
Between Naps on the Porch for
Tablescape Thursday

Garden Inspired

I wanted to create a tablescape with a garden influence.  

If you know me, you know I love my backyard garden 

and at this time of the year you find me either working out there or dreaming about ideas I have for this years

flowers for my garden.

I have Endless Summer and 

Limelight Hydrangeas that I cut and dried

stems from last fall.  I wanted to use these

candelabras but I also wanted to embrace 

my love for flowers so i decided to snip 

some tops off and use them instead of candles!

To add to my garden inspired theme I used

some white geese, a watering can

and a faux green leaf lettuce or cabbage

piece (I can't decide what it is) I just liked 

it!  I sprinkled pieces of the hydrangeas on 

the tray. I took the lead from the panicles 

as they kept drifting down on the table 

while I was fussing with them on 

the candelabras!

 The vintage geese are holding fish in their

 mouths and the watering can is my first 

ever antique purchase (Circa 1930's) I 

found while on a road trip.  My goose 

napkin rings came in handy for this 

one too!

The dishes attracted me with their

 scroll design which makes me think of

 an iron gate, and their coloring

was perfect. 

It's a rainy gloomy day, but for 5 minutes 

the sun tried to get through and I captured 

a picture that shows the colors a bit better.

This tablecloth lends a casual feeling and 

with it's artichokes and overall color 

palette it was the perfect backdrop for my 

theme.  The flatware also has the 

fleur-de-lis design on it.

I pulled the pink in the tablecloth by using 

my fleur-de-lis glassware! 

 I hope you enjoyed my Garden Inspired

tablescape!

As always, thank-you for coming by!

I love to hear your comments!

I will be joining 
Cuisine Kathleen for
Let's Dish 
Between Naps On The Porch

for Tablescape Thursdays

Head on over and check out all the lovely

tablescapes that are submitted each week!

Dishes: Sugar Plum by Noble Excellence (Dillards)

Mikasa, Italian Countryside

Flatware, Baroque (Neiman Marcus)

Fleur-De-Lis Glassware (Horchow) 

Tablecloth-  Artichoke (One Kings Lane)

Candelabras- Casa Cristina Collection (furniture store)

White Charges- Pier 1 Imports

Woven Placemats from T.J. Maxx

Goose napkin rings (set of 4) from E-bay 

Whimsical Valentine Birthday!

Happy Valentines Day! 

Welcome to my  

Whimsical Valentine Birthday table!

I've got two birthdays and Valentines

Day all within 7 days of each other!

Today is hubby's birthday so I made

his favorite German Chocolate Cake

I used a 6" cake pan and made 

3 layers

Cupid has landed and is taking

a brief rest...All of his romantic

hearts and jewels are scattered

about

and he's content to rest 

among them.

 This red ankle boot is

decked out with shiny baubles

I used tissue paper to fill in the

boot and help highlight it's shape

and to hide a small vase for

the flowers

Baby's Breath, White Tulips

and Red Roses

 

A mercury glass stemmed candle holder

adds a little romance and glitz

I used my ruby red water

goblets with my crystal wine

glasses from Mikasa

 Some whimsically printed napkins

folded under a clear salad plate that is

surrounded with fanciful glass marbles

This Baroque flatware from

Neiman Marcus adds to the romantic

ambiance...I love the delicate edge

on these Ralph Lauren Sophia

dishes (found them at T.J.Maxx)

I wanted to keep this a bit delicate and to keep the softness of the whites 

going, so I chose not to use a charger 

or a placemat.

The table runner was from Home Goods

I folded it in the center to shorten it and used the square mirror to hide the fold.

The tablecloth was from T.J.'s last year.

It's simple, a little whimsical 

and a touch romantic!

 Hmm...I forgot to put out

the wine!

 Daylight has slipped away and

it's time for dinner... can't wait

to try the cake!

Thanks for visiting!

Liz

I'm joining

Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday