Adding new colors to the house . . .

When I set the table for a dinner party last week, I thought aqua was a new color for me, but looking around the house, I noticed that aqua has always been in the house.

Shopping this week I looked beyond my primary color palette to add some new colors to the house.

A new chair,  some new pieces for table settings and a red sphere ( not a new color, but I love the shape) ended up in the house this week.

The metal chair from Tuesday Morning found its home in the entry.

The look is still my primary color palette of red and yellow, but a softer blue than my usual dark blue.

Daisies from the garden, a blue Ball jar and a few favorite linen pieces fill the red basket.

The red sphere, a TJ Maxx find that I passed on buying once before, ended up in the living room on a side table.

I wear a lot of black, but I don't use it much in decorating so buying black flatware was a first for me.

Black flatware led to finding black and white dish towels to use as place mats, new white plates and yellow fabric for napkins.

 Black stitching along the edges gives some interest to simple square napkins.

 I only had one black candle ( from Halloween ) so I created a center piece in an old platter using various sized candles and greenery from the garden.

Yellow isn't new for me, but yellow paired with black and white is a first.

I thought I had created a nice table setting , but sunlight on the centerpiece was the perfect addition.

I love my new chair and the black flatware.

I love the red basket against the aqua chair.

And then this afternoon I spotted the sweet little orange Iceland poppy in the garden - another new color?

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I am partying at

From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Rooted in Thyme - Simple & Sweet Fridays

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

At the table . . .

 In addition to decorating the house for Christmas, my December goal is to set a "Christmas" table each night.

I need to keep a table cloth on the table because since Thanksgiving we have had our homemade extension piece on top of the table and it is just plain, unstained birch.

The dining room table is a continuous argument/discussion because Steve has always hated the small size of the table and I have always maintained that the small room needs a small table.

It is nice to have a larger surface and I like that we can leave the centerpiece on the table while we eat.

Last night I used a twin quilt I found cheap at TJ Maxx for a table cloth.

Rarely used green plates were paired with checkered napkins and polka dot flatware for a fun Christmas table setting.

I found little poinsettia plants at the 99 Cent Store and repotted them in mini red and white pails.

I am enjoying being able to mix and match various sets of dishes for a different look each night.

Yesterday I ordered this tablecloth from H & M Home and can't wait for it to arrive.

I have fun red and black square plates and bowls that will look great, but I think I need to buy the off-white flatware I saw at Cost Plus World Market - Steve would disagree about the need for more flatware!

Who knows what dishes or flatware or tablecloth I will use tonight, but no matter what, we will

 EAT, DRINK  and BE MERRY.

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I am joining these fun parties

Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday

Rose Chintz Cottage - Home for the Holidays

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

Savvy Southern Style - Wow Us Wednesdays

Fluster Buster - Creative Muster

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesday

Fishtail Cottage - Cottage Christmas House Party

Always An Oddball

 I am so happy that KC is living near us and we can see each other frequently.

We shop nearly every weekend, but, shopping with KC is not conducive to keeping to a budget.

Last Saturday when we drove to Huntington Beach to make beer, we stopped at The Grove in Los Angeles on our way home.

We went into Crate and Barrel just to "look around", but I found this colorful flatware.

The flatware is designed by Paola Navone for Crate and Barrel and I love her fun shapes and colors.

Crate and Barrel

I do not need any flatware.

I already have a variety of colorful pieces to use in table settings.

But, KC convinced me that I should buy them if I like them.

So, these fun forks, knives and spoons are now 

in my cupboard surrounded by polka dots and solids.

I am a total oddball because I must be the only American in blogland not featuring Thanksgiving or Christmas decor.

For tonight's dinner, I went with red, white and blue.

I love to mix and match my table setting and my new flatware is perfect for mixing it up.

 My favorite part is that Paola Navone threw in a single setting of solid red with all the blue and white patterns.

My centerpiece is quite small - very few flowers blooming in the garden right now.

And for those of you who read about my great fortune in receiving the beautiful Pfaltzgraff Pistoulet dishes from Kris at Junk Chic Cottage, here is where the tureen ended up.

There isn't much holiday decor here yet - I am still trying to decide which dishes and flatware to use for Thanksgiving.

But, by next week, I won't be such an oddball.

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The Dedicated House - Anything Blue Friday

No Minimalist Here - Open House Blog Party

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

Rose Chintz Cottage - Home

A Delightsome Life - Home and Garden Thursday

Ivy and Elephants - What's It Wednesdays

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

From My Front Porch to Yours - Treasure Hunt Thursday

Work . . . Work . . . Work

After the first 30 days of retirement spent being creative, I spent the last several days cleaning and organizing.

It all needs to be done, but creating is much more fun.

This morning I opted for a little creativity before I got to work.

Yesterday I found this white fabric with red stripes when I was at Jo Ann's looking for white eyelet - didn't find the eyelet fabric.

And, on Monday the red and white polka dot flatware arrived.

One of the things I love most about blogging is the wonderful people you meet.

Manuela of A Cultivated Nest and Vicky of Life on Willie Mae Lane both sent me links to flatware when I mentioned I was looking for something with a fun pattern.

It literally took about 5 minutes to hem the ends of the table runner (the edges were already finished) and put it on the table.

I didn't want too much red so I chose blue and white dishes.

I added white napkins with ruffles that I made last summer and daisies from the garden.

The table is all ready for whatever beautiful and tasty concoction Steve serves up tonight.

I love the polka dots and want to see them out so I put all of my colorful flatware into pitchers.

They are in the entryway cabinet- which I still have not decided what color to paint - and make me smile.

Now, I have to get to work.

Steve is hanging an art show tomorrow morning and I need to make labels for 15 paintings.

I can't really complain because the main space I have been cleaning and organizing is my creative space and it is almost ready for the Where Bloggers Create party tomorrow at My Desert Cottage.

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I should be working, but you can find me at these fun parties

Lavender Garden Cottage - Cottage Style Party

The Charm of Home - Home Sweet Home

Green Willow Pond - What We Accomplished Wednesday

Made in a Day - Made U Look Linky

Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson - Share Your Cup Thursday

30 Days of Pinterest

Usually, the day after school is out, I begin working on my summer project list.

This year is different because I am not on summer vacation.

I am on vacation for life, so to speak.

So, now is the time to do all those things I said I would do when I had the time.

After reading the post A Simple Pinterest Project by Judy at 20 North Ora.

I went to my Pinterest boards and chose 30 projects.

There are things to make, things to buy, bits and pieces to gather and vignettes to mimic.

The goal - complete the 30 projects in 30 days -

June 8 to July 8.

Embroidered pennants 

Alphabet table cloth 

Bicycle rim

Crocheted bags

 Alphabet sign 

Polka dot container

Film reels
    
Eyelet napkins

  Colorful quilt

 Green Bench

  Metal chair

  Stenciled bucket

 Old door

 Fun Scrabble tiles

Felt Letters

Metal labels

Heart Tags

Crate 

Wash tub

Linen napkins

Numbered containers

Sweet yellow vignette

Galvanized tins

Floral plates

Windowseat cushion

Sweet heart

Colorful utensils

Steps to the Beach sign

altered globe

garden dresser

The shop teacher cut out the wooden sign for me to paint and the linen table cloth to stencil arrived yesterday.

The countdown begins.

Wish me luck!

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Between projects, I'll be partying at

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday