Have you had a walk along the beach this Summer? If not, maybe this tablescape will calm your spirit a little. Let's walk... A vintage open-weave tablecloth reminiscent of a fish net ... seagrass placemats ... and (again this week) my "every day" flatware -- because the design has the feel of waves. Vibrantly-colored, handpainted "Delray" dinner plates with seashells by Bella Cermica. (Notice the waves again.) And tall clear glass shrimp compotes ... Vintage turquoise linen napkins with beaded seashell napkin rings ... And vintage Jeannette Glass "Thumbprint" glasses that made me think of fish blowing bubbles. (Is that going a little too far? I don't know -- but I think they work!) A Capidomonte-style ... Keep Reading...
My Place: Front View – What a metamorphosis!
This is what My Place looked like shortly after we purchased it in September 2005. Surely it was asking, "Where's the love?" Shrubs and trees were overgrown, steps were unlevel, and (though it's hard to see in this picture) the roof over the front porch was sagging terribly ... The knee walls flanking the steps were crumbling ... The front porch ceiling was water damaged with large sections that needed to be replaced ... The entire house needed a new paint job and a face lift. And that downspout REALLY needed to be moved to another location! Such an eyesore ... But the old lady was built in 1907 with great bones and some really nice things in her favor. This poured concrete detailing is one of them. ... Keep Reading...
Tablescaping on a Budget
More than once I have been saddened to hear someone say something like, "I'd love to entertain, but I can't afford the _________." (Go ahead and fill in the blank with "dishes," "pretty things," "table linens" etc.) Have YOU ever said anything like that? If so, (or if you just need a reminder that beautiful doesn't necessarily mean expensive), read on! Today I've decided to show you a budget-minded breakfast table -- and give you some tips on how to put together your own eye-catching tablescapes without breaking the bank. Are you ready? For starters, I'll just go ahead and confess that when it comes to my tablescaping "habit," I'm a BIG fan of auctions, thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.), Dollar Tree, Dollar ... Keep Reading...
