Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Dressed for the Beach Party


Don't you just love going to the beach! This party is to show off your best beach attire. So grab your hat and sunglasses for some bright sunny colors. The place setting is dressed for the beach party. The bright pink straw charger has been turned upside down replicating a straw hat with a pink gingham bow. The plate is created in the shape of a T-Shirt.

This picture has one of the T-Shirt plates with a bright pink background with cute prints of colorful flip-flops. Will the place setting match your outfit?

Would you rather have an bright green T-Shirt plate to match your
green bag and flip-flops?

I can always seat you at the bright orange T-Shirt plate. You are probably enjoying the flickering candle in the red votive. I hope you noticed each plate has a different color votive holder. You may be surprised that these are flame less votives which I picked up at Marshall's.

I will be serving you salad on the flip-flop side plate. Each one of the side plates is different and coordinates with the colorful print on the T-Shirt plate. Are you having trouble deciding whether to coordinate your outfit or go to a different color for your place to sit?

This place setting has a striped place mat showing the colors in the plates. The tablecloth is a shade of sand for the beach. The orange flatware has a casual shape but a hot color. The napkin and straw charger are such a bright shade of pink you may have to wear your sun glasses. I pulled the napkin through the woven napkin ring to fan into a flower.

Here's a beach bag full of pink potted roses. Does the print on the bag look like what your wearing and you brought to the beach? It is being held by a pastel colored beach chair on a white leafy cake stand.

If your feet need a pick-me-up, these bright pink striped flip-flops are just the thing. Hopefully, they will look great will the beach bag.


I will write your name on your place card when you pick where you want to sit. The striped place mat and place card are there to pick-up the beach party colors. Go ahead and sit down, I am stirring up a cool pitcher of pink lemonade. We will raise our flip-flop glasses to a swinging beach bash.

Another guest is sitting the green beach chair. Beau is dressed for a swim in his striped beach trunks and yellow visor. He has brought the red crab for us to eat or pet.


He is showing you a pink and white striped shirt. He thinks you would look great in it.

Our dashing guest in the pink beach chair is Bing.
He has worn a charming one piece striped swimsuit.


Bing is hoping to get in a game of beach ball with you before or after we eat. I hope you are ready for a vigorous game for he thinks of himself as a great athlete.


He really is a show off in those orange flip-flops. He disagrees with Beau and thinks you should try the green striped shirt. What ever you wear, hope you have a beach party blast.


T-Shirt plates and flip-flop side plates: Home Goods
Tablecloth, Place mat and Place Card: TJ Maxx
Straw chargers and Beach chairs: Home Goods
Pink roses in pots: Michael's (had awhile)
Orange Flatware: Target (had awhile)
Clothing: My Own

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Last look at July 4th

4th of July photos......
I was wanting to take a few more photos of my tablescape for the 4th. These were taken with a different camera. I moved the elf to pose on the teapot.

This is a close-up of the America sign, I wanted a good view of the flag and stars.




Here's a photo of the large elf's face with the patriot ribbon in the background.




Another is of the trio of elves, which really shows off their expressions





The girl elf below has even the sequins on her skirt showing their sparkle.








I love proud look and stance of this girl elf. She to show how glad she is to hold the flag.






A photo of the flag china, flatware and napkin givens a shot of all the designs together.








I feel I could reach in a pick up the cup to give a toast to our country!









This is just a touch of our country!









Tuesday, June 23, 2009

A Texas 4th of July

Happy 4th of July, my table is set for a wonderful celebration of our country's freedom. It makes me so happy to see the decorations, for I love this holiday. I couldn't wait to pull out my American flag china and start decorating. I was in Marshall's the other day and saw a display of tablecloths and my eye went to this blue and white stripe. My thoughts were maybe this is what I need to anchor the flag theme. This therefore gave a base of stripes on a flag.

This is really comical, the manufacture of my bone china is Mayfair. Where is Mayfair located, but in ye ole England. We were trying to free ourselves from this very country in the Revolutionary War. The flatware is by Cambridge Silversmiths, but I have had both the dinnerware and flatware for awhile. Each place setting begins with a red place mat and each napkins is made of different American flags. I found the brass napkin rings at my favorite antique mall for 6 for $6. The flag pinwheel at the top of each place setting is from Hobby Lobby, of course 50% off.

I have been looking for the Analee figures for several months, I have gathered them from Home Goods and Marshalls. The elves are hanging on to the candles and waving to everyone. I was excited to find the AMERICA sign and the star salt and pepper shakers at Hobby Lobby, again 50% off. The three white cake stands,used for elevating, are a trio of graduated sizes from Mikasa.

On the left side of the table, you can see a close-up of the cute girl mouse carrying her flag and in a flag dress by Analee. I also bought the 2 darling patriotic metal buckets and flowers at Michaels.

On the right side of the table are the three mice holding the banner flag by Analee. The middle mouse is dressed as Uncle Sam. Their sister mouse is carrying patriot streamers.



My centerpiece is of red, white and blue carnations, again from Dollar Tree. The colorful flags and stars are via the Hobby Lobby sale. The dome shape of the flowers is to symbolize the dome of our Capital in Washington. LOL.


The chandler is decorated with flag ribbons, which are holding the patriotic color sequin stars. Dangling from the center ring is the large elf with an out stretched hand waving his red star looking like a circus act. I think he is trying to ring the bells hanging from the star.


This is a close-up of the wrought iron plant holder in the dining room. The other Analee twin elf is holding a red star and waving it for attention. He is surrounded by red, white, and blue carnations; a wooden flag star garland, and flag pinwheels in the greenery planters.


My teapot of the American flags is special to me, but sadly the designer, Paul Cardew, is out of business. I do like many of his teapot designs and he has been successful for many years. My family is looking forward to a Texas size celebration and hope your family has a safe and Happy 4th of July, too.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

Delightful Day Lilies

Hurrah the Day Lilies are in bloom. These wonderful flowers come back every year and always seem more abundant and beautiful each year. Our bunny is wanting you to throw a treat in his basket.

It truly is hard to tell which of the blooms is more dramatic. These brilliant orange with the yellow centers are very striking. The young girl is pushing her cart through the pretty flowers.


These three lovelies were bobbing in the wind when I photographed them. They almost seem in motion in the picture.


The pictures show a close up of the above and below photographs.

The flower beckons you to feel the velvety center.




The closeup really shows the vibrancy of the colors



Oh! They are so lovely!


Here the lilies seem to try to reach out to you.

The yellow day lilies in this photo are more calm and almost hidden.


This photo shows the yellow blooms a little brighter.

The blossoms and green leaves are very graceful.

The closeup shows the different shades of color from very pastel to brighter hue.

The center of the flower really catches your eye as the blossoms turn in opposing directions.


The little angel is comforting the birds and bunnies in our garden.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Texas Bluebonnets and Shelby

The bluebonnets seemed to be more lush this year, maybe it was how the rains came. The park where we photographed the bluebonnets had sweeping masses of the state's official wild flower. Many people do not know it is against the law to pick these beauties.
We had so much fun the day we photographed Shelby in the bluebonnets. She was just so well behaved and all the photos were exceptional. It was hard to pick the few I chose to place on the site. She is definitely a very photogenic pup.


This picture captures her in that happiness she share with us. I have seen this face a million times and her expression always mkes me smile.

Texas Butterflies Arrive for Dinner

Lovely, colorful buterflies adorn my dinning table.
They are fluttering on every possible surface.
Flowered Lenox vases contain an assortment of brillantly
bright butterflies.

Paul Cardew's butterfly teapot is the center
of the butterfly themed table.

Lenox "Butterfly Meadow" chinaware creates a lovely
design with six different salads and dinner plate motifs.
Each place setting has a vibrant green placemat and a
complimentary napkin. Each napkin ring has an attached
butterfly.

The above setting is another example of the the
Lenox tableware. The green glassware
was a "99 Cent Store" purchase, what a bargain!
The flatware has a soft green palette.


Here is a closer look at the Lenox vase and the flurry of butterflies.


My favorite butterflies are from the porcelain company
Villeroy and Boch.


These two closeups are examples of the detail of the hand painting.