Tropicana Canna Table!

When it’s time to set tables for Tablescape Thursdays with Susan of Between Naps on the Porch, I tend to go with something safe and familiar. Most of the china, crystal, silver, and table linens I’ve shown you so far fall into the elegant category. Pieces I’ve used are almost invariably vintage, purchased at thrift stores and estate sales. Some are eBay finds (usually to complete/supplement estate/thrift purchases).

Today’s table represents a more casual approach to entertaining. It’s definitely colorful, festive, and fun (at least I hope it’s fun – you decide!). It’s a little bit tropical, and there are nautical touches. Pink flamingos, standing guard at opposite ends of the table, observe the proceedings. Do you think these birds mind that I used vintage Fostoria Colony (1940-73) stemware and candleholders? Is it too fancy for today’s table? Colony’s swirl pattern reminds me of the twisted fibers and strands of a rope.

There’s rope edging on the American Atelier salad plates. The blue plates were new-in-the-box at Goodwill – on sale for half off. Bits of Christmas wrapping paper were still taped to the boxes. I hope the person who gave them as holiday gifts won’t see today’s post!

The dinner plates are Pfaltzgraff Carrara (1992-95). The color reminds me of sand, and the price was right -- only $3 for all 8 at a local thrift shop. The stainless flatware is Oneida’s American Harmony (introduced in 1986).

The milk glass bud vases hold Tropicana canna lily leaves and red-violet crepe myrtle blooms. The vases are thrifted as well – 4 for $1. The fifth was free at a different local thrift. The shop owner forgot to include it when she totaled my other purchases and said I could just have it. The burgundy candles, recycled from a previous table post, were after-Christmas bargains at Walgreen’s. For extra color, I put bright orange canna blooms and yellow roses (held by a vintage glass flower frog) in a Colony bowl. I also added a lime resting in a Colony “salt dip” and a lemon (in a yellow plastic lemon keeper – very practical for refrigerator storage!).

That’s about it for the “talking” portion of the post. Time for the photographs – lots of them from different angles and in different lighting conditions:

Just for fun, I "tweaked" the image below to make it seem that the flamingo decided to have a sip of the wine. He'd been looking at it for hours, and I thought he might be getting thirsty!

What do you think? Does it look like a table where lively, interesting conversations might take place? I hope so! Please join Susan of Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday. You’ll be glad you did!

I'm also linking to Centerpiece Wednesday at Style Sisters. Check it out HERE.

If you haven't seen my "I Want Magic" video yet, I hope you'll take a look HERE. It's courtesy of the talented Julio of Beaux Mondes Designs. If you haven't visited Julio lately, I hope you'll stop by. Thank you, Julio!