Showing posts with label linens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label linens. Show all posts

Monday, August 24, 2015

Playing House


Last week I had lunch with a long time friend who reads my blog.


Liz asked me if I actually set a pretty table each night


and surprisingly, the answer is yes.


The other night I set a colorful table because I received a fabulous surprise package from Rita of Panoply.


The vintage table cloth is absolutely gorgeous


as are the dish towels Rita included in the package - I used them as napkins in this table setting.


As I set the table last night for a dinner with a wonderful family, Steve teased me saying, " you do love to play house!"


He is absolutely right, I do love to play house, especially when we have guests.


There is always a lot of mixing and matching of dishes and flatware when we have a crowd, but I brought the table setting together with linen napkins stenciled with A B C D & 1 2 3 4.


With the numbers and letters on the napkins, I decided to use alphabet quote cards I made a few years ago in the centerpiece.


I purposely used the A quote because it reminded me of our guest Manny and I loved that his daughter, Haley, said she thought immediately of her father when she read it. - Manny asked if he could take the card home to hang in his office.


Today's table setting was inspired by the basket of rudbekia which made me think of the book, The Secrets of Pistoulet.


The dishes were a gift from Kris of Junk Chic Cottage who won them on a Pfaltzgraff giveaway - the bright colors of the dishes don't quite go with Kris's white decor.


A quote on the back of the book explains one of the reasons that I like to set a nice table each night.


Steve prepares our meals with love so it is only fitting that I set a table worthy of his efforts.


My mother had beautiful linens that she passed down to me, some in absolutely perfect condition, because she kept them in the cupboard and did not enjoy them.


I have cupboards full of objects perfect for table settings


some are even on display, but everything gets used.


Playing house is easy with all my colorful flatware


and pretty dishes.


So, even if I am eating in the garden,


I take the time to set a pretty table.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

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.






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!

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Between projects, I'll be partying at

My Romantic Home - Show and Tell Friday

Friday, April 5, 2013

Another Change?


One area of my house that needs work is my entry.

It has gone through many changes over the last 15 years.


The biggest change was moving the washer/dryer and water heater to the garage.

The white cabinet was a good choice, but I like it now on the porch.


I love to sit in the wicker chair and talk to Steve while he cooks, but the area is really inefficient.

When you live in a small house, every piece of furniture has to serve a purpose and sometimes more than one purpose.

The shell display is fitting for our beach house, but not functional.

I need a place to store napkins, placemats, tablecloths, etc.

On Tuesday I decided to tackle the spot.

I swapped a tall cabinet from a closet with the red bookcase.


Without the red cabinet on the wall, it looked really bare.

 "Flowers and Rust" came out of the bedroom to grace the entryway.


Linens and pitchers are on display.


And the drawers keep napery handy for setting the table.


Wire baskets and an Anthropologie shelf hold keys, books, mementos, etc.


The cabinet needs a paint job.

I am favoring using Annie Sloan Chalk Paint -Old White.

I wouldn't mind using a color on the cabinet, but I need something that won't detract from the painting.

At first Steve's comment was, "another change?"

But, he loves that Flowers and Rust is in a prominent position instead of relegated to the bedroom.

And yes, there will be more changes.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . .

You can find me partying at

The Charm of Home


Redoux


Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson


My Romantic Home


The Shabby Nest


A Delightsome Life


Shabby Creek Cottage


Jennifer Rizzo

Fabulous Friday Linky Party

Holly's Stamping Addiction


French Country Cottage


Rooted in Thyme



Shabby Art Boutique



Classy Clutter


Friday, February 15, 2013

Fluffin', Fixin' and Finding Space


When you live in little cottage, space is limited and must be carved out wherever possible.

In between playing nursemaid and doing chores, I found the time to change the mantel from a Valentine theme.

The problem was - where to put things?

I use this cupboard on the porch for outdoor tablecloths and napkins, garden tools and supplies .


What if I use it to store my everyday linens and out of circulations vases, pitchers, etc.?


I moved some pitchers around and edited the contents of the cupboard.


Rarely used items were moved outside to the cupboard and 


things are much more organized - I can actually find what I need.


It is beautiful and HOT today and if it wasn't so windy, we would have eaten lunch outside.


The windows are open and the sun is shining down on Steve as he rests on the sofa.

I cannot clean inside for fear of disturbing him - darn!

I am forced to work in the garden.


I have fluffed and fixed and found space for all my linens.


And now, it is time to find a home for these lovelies.

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I am linked up at