Silver in the Sunroom!

Hi Everyone,

It's almost time for another Tablescape Thursday with Susan of Between Naps on the Porch! We're back in the sunroom this week, but the table's rather more formal than last time -- no pink flamingos today, no Tropicana canna leaves, no thrifted milk glass bud vases, no bright blue salad plates. If you missed that colorful table, it's HERE.

Even though I'm using vintage Limoges china, I've kept it relatively relaxed overall (taking into consideration that it's an informal room). There's no tablecloth, and the centerpiece is casually arranged.

Once again, I had to set the table quickly. It was 4 o'clock, and I knew the afternoon light wouldn't last much longer. I could have had all afternoon to work on it, if not for the fact that a local estate sale was calling to me (naturally I responded to the call!). The only decisions I'd made in advance were that I wanted to use the pretty Limoges bread plates I'd received as a gift from Valorie, the Visual Vamp, and I'd planned to do a tiered centerpiece with garden flowers arranged on silver serving pieces.

Here's the centerpiece: crepe myrtle, knockout roses, garden greenery, butterfly bush blooms, and zebra grass plumes.

To add softness, I used fabric under the arrangement. It's actually a cover for a folding chair (you can see the bow in a couple of the photographs).

The hemstitched linen napkins are from an estate sale.

The Haviland Limoges dinner, salad, and bread plates were an antiques mall find last year. They were on sale for a great price, probably because they were sans cups & saucers -- not a problem for me, since I like serving dessert and after-dinner coffee in a different room (perfect time to change to a different china pattern). I placed Valorie's pretty plates on top of the stack. I'll be adding something else -- stay tuned!

If you're interested in learning more about Limoges porcelain, click HERE for a link to a brief article on Wikipedia and HERE and HERE to read more about Haviland.

The wine glasses are Marquis by Towle (circa 1982). They're lead crystal glasses with a dot and fan cutting on the bowl. These were actually intended to be water glasses, but they also work well for wine. The silverplated goblets were estate sale finds. The flatware is Gorham La Scala.

Small arrangements flank the larger one. I've shared this disclaimer before, but ... this is fantasy -- if it were an actual dinner party, I'd have made the centerpiece lower and much smaller to facilitate conversation.

A set of sterling salt and pepper shakers on both ends of the table ...

Tarnished candleholders (I was in a hurry!), but I did manage to polish the items I used in the centerpiece.

I started with an aspic tray (large and saucer-shaped), added a footed vegetable bowl, then a smaller round tray, a dessert pedestal, and a simple vase on top. I sliced a block of floral foam and, while I was out cutting flowers, soaked the pieces in a pan filled with water. I placed the pieces of oasis on the trays and in the vase, and quickly inserted flowers, greenery, and plumes.

It won't be a long-lasting arrangement, but it should be fine for a day or two.

Recipe for Tablescape Thursday wine: Pitcher of water, two drops of red food coloring, one drop of blue. Voila!

Time to light the candles. I've added crystal tealight holders.

It's still light outside, but I was anxious to see the candles work their magic!

I also added vintage Libbey/Rock Sharpe champagne/tall sherbet glasses -- perfect for serving an appetizer (hence the cocktail forks at each place setting).

More photographs as evening approaches ...

A view of the zebra glass that shared its plumes for today's table ...

I was thinking of a fountain as I arranged the centerpiece. Perhaps it's more akin to an organic fireworks display ...

Nature inspires me, whether it results in a painting, a photograph, or a table setting ...

Almost time to say good night ...

Thank you for stopping by.

I hope you enjoyed your visit. Please stop by and see Susan of Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and check out as many of her talented participants as you can.

See you soon ....

Oh, and if you missed my video collaboration with the talented Julio of Beaux Mondes Designs, here's your chance to see it now!