Christmas Tablescape Challenge 2014

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I have been looking several days for a tablescape I could copy for a challenge over at Cuisine Kathleen.  My only criteria was that I had to do this without spending any additional $$~

The one I choose was from Andrea over at 
Opulent Cottage

I love the colors, plaid and that great sleigh...could I do this?  Well yes I can!

I recently found a sleigh at a thrift shop and knew this was the table I was going to 'copy'!

Of course I changed it up some...it's my interpretation 
but I am really happy with how it turned out!

I had some plaid place mats found at the thrift shop this year but no green chargers.  
I changed it up to use white chargers and red plates.

My sleigh is a little different but gives the feel of the original.  I did use a small burlap bag underneath because I didn't want the metal runners to scratch my table.

I used a green napkin instead of a green plate and added some greenery to give the feel of the birds nest she had on each plate

I had two different picks I used since I didn't have four of the same kind.  Making do and not feeling like I have to be perfect is what this challenge is all about to me.

I used some Winterberry patterned water glasses

and I like how it kept the table looking a little bit lighter.

Votives' with gold tea lights add some glow

My sleigh has a Cardinal on it so using more red appealed to me.  I filled it with greenery and a couple of bottle brush trees like the original

Andrea used a more casual flatware, but I loved the look of this old set of Reed & Barton sterling in the lovely Tara pattern

My table is in a dark part of the house, so I took a couple of flash photos

Instead of green tree bowls I used red and added a few tiny ornaments to pick up all the colors!

I'm pretty happy with my copy cat interpretation!

Andrea's original

My interpretation!

Join me and many other tablescapers at 
Cuisine Katheleen for our 
Christmas Tablescape Challenge

Wishing you JOY,

Linda

A Purple Challenge!

When Kathleen challenged us to use purple for a Fall Tablescape (no orange!!),  I knew I was in trouble.  Purple is not a color I use much at all.

I do have two lunch plates a friend gave me that I love so I went from there.

I used green as my other color and started searching for the items in my stash 

to pull together this table.

When I found these purple place mats I bought at the Dollar Tree last summer, I was so happy.  The green plates are some of my basics that I use all the time

Then I added these pretty purple lunch plates

I have matching soup bowls but went with green to add the last layer

The green glass adds another texture to the plate stack.

I added a vintage green stem and the purple glass (also from the Dollar Tree bought for this tablescape) to add both colors to the place setting

Green handled flatware from my closet but the napkins are 'new'.  I didn't have anything in my linens that worked so off to the thrift I went.  I found these purple napkins 4/.99 except they were 1/2 price...yes only .49!  The wire and green bead napkin rings are also from my tablescaping supplies.

I'm happy with how this turned out! 

Now for a centerpiece...not as easy!

I bought the purple vase for .10 and already had the purple votive holders.  A green plant for some color and texture.

The green glass owl is a new addition to my Fall decor.  

My goal in these tablescaping challenges is to spend as little as possible and use what I have.  So I spent less then $5 on new items just for this table.

In addition to 

Kathleen Cuisine's Let's Dish

I'm also joining

Share Your Cup Thursday

Wishing You Joy,

Linda

Sharing The Birds Of Sping

 I wanted to join Kathleen for her Let's Dish challenge this month.  Since I'm at my Mom's and away from all my dishes, I decided to share a post with you from last year!

This plate was my inspiration for the table

It just says 'Spring' to me!  

I layered a large white charger plate and a vintage green plate underneath the salad plate. 
*edited to add that I think the green vintage plate is Edwin Knowles Yorktown.  Thanks to Monicawho helped me research* 
The bright green place mat was perfect and added two other colors; yellow and blue

The plaid napkin brought out the yellow and blue in addition to the green.  
I went with the blue handled flatware

I love this blue and green goblet and while I found mine at Goodwill, I've seen them at Ross.

Adding a little bird napkin ring continues the theme of this table.  The napkin rings were found on deep clearance at Hobby Lobby.

Pier 1 bird salt and pepper shakers on a pale yellow plate

At each place setting is a little yellow bird salt shaker.  Vintage and in bad condition, I love them anyway and they are perfect to add that extra touch!

My newest thrifty find is this cute bird napkin holder.  I paid 95 cents for it and added some bird paper napkins to the holder.

For a centerpiece I added my potted peace plant and a soft yellow bird and a LOVE sign
*When fresh flowers aren't available a green houseplant still adds some life to a centerpiece*

I hope you enjoyed my birdie tablescape!

Please visit Kathleen and see all the other tablescapes for the April challenge of 'Birds~Eggs~Nests'

I'm also joining Tablescape Thur

Wishing You JOY,

Linda

Family Dinner

Please join Diann and I for
Thrifty Things Friday

I love family dinners!

A time to gather and talk and enjoy catching up on busy lives.  Since moving here I try to have dinner with Sara, Blake and Tiger at least once a week.  

Last weeks tablescape

I love the little tree, so kept it as a centerpiece and changed up the linens and dishes

The red and white place mats and matching napkin added a nice homey touch.  

I used a white ironstone dinner plate and added the Sakura plates for fun.  All found at the thrift shops these 4 designs are a fun addition to my Christmas dishes.

Of course Tiger had the Santa plate

I changed out the red candles for white and added a woodsy snowman to the centerpiece

Candle glow is so magical

My everyday flatware and a green glass completed this simple table setting

This wooden high chair belonged to my Mom

All her siblings sat in it, most of the grandkids (me for sure) and then both of my children used it.  Now Tiger uses it when he visit here.

Four generations and it's going strong! 

Christmas is all about the memories for me

Past, Present and Future!

Wishing you JOY!

Joining 

Let's Dish

Share Your Cup

Let's Dish Christmas Challenge 2013

I'm linking this up to Thrifty Things Friday
Here
I hope you will join Diann and I and share your thrifty posts!

It has been so long since I've joined in a Tablescape challenge and this morning found me deciding I would not miss this one at Cuisine Kathleen's Let's Dish!  We were to find a photo of a tablescape that inspired us. Here is mine!

Home Is Where The Boat Is

Mary posted this last December,

she called it, Trimming the Tree!

Well inspired I am so here is my version!

I did not try to copy her table, I mean she is the most amazing tablescaper, but I was inspired!

The Christmas tree plates are what caught my eye initially!  I have this set by Staffordshire Engravings called Yuletide.  I found them 5 years ago at a Goodwill.  Love them and they are my everyday dishes during December this year!

I used a Matelasse bedspread and my burlap runner to mimic her setting. 

I tied a white napkin with a red ornament and a pinecone and some berries

I bought this little tree for my kitchen at Michael's 1/2 price.  I didn't have a white urn but put the tree in a cut glass bowl lined with white. I hung little red cardinals and pinecones on the tree.  I used one of my aluminum trays and lots of ornaments!

 Mary used many of her vintage ornaments.  Mine are still in storage so I used some new ornaments instead. 

I really like the little red cardinals.

  I only have six that I bought a few years ago at Target on clearance.

Water goblets and some red tea lights in my new votives sent to me by my good friend Sue!

Mary did her table outside and had lovely light, mine was inside 

and I tried to add some beauty with some candles!

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Please visit Kathleen and see how everyone else did with the challenge this week.

Let's Dish

Wishing you JOY,

Linda