Tag Archives: Ivory

Love Letter Themed Tablescape (Perfect for Valentine’s Day, Romantic Date Night, or Anniversary Dinner)

This love letter themed tablescape make’s the perfect setting for Valentine’s Day, a romantic date night, or even an anniversary dinner. I find that in the modern era of effortless texting, emails, and social networking, that it can be a lovely quixotic gesture to turn back to the sentimentality of a handwritten letter on actual paper. Then to go further back to capture the romanticism of script, drafted with pen and ink well on paper that’s been sealed with wax… so that none other than the intended may lay eyes on the heartfelt content. Call me old fashioned if you will… I’ll just take it as a compliment.

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“Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate:”

Verse spells its way across a love letter inspired cloth is laid upon a greater midnight black tablecloth.

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“Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date:”

Six ravishing red roses rise from a vase overflowing with soft petals. A boundless array of them blankets the table.

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“Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimmed;”

Luminous brass sextuplet candlesticks cast a romantic golden glow over the tablescape. Beneath them lies a once live rose plated in brilliant 14 karat gold. Gilded studs enhance burgundy pillar candles set upon stacked vintage candlesticks that playfully generate light and shadow in the background.

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“And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance, or nature’s changing course, untrimmed;”

Encircling tuxedo black napkins are love letter symbolizing napkin rings trimmed with faux wax seals. Golden utensils bearing wooden handles represent the pens of yesteryear. Waiting to be filled are vintage ruby glasses trimmed with rings of gold that are flanked by golden flecked midcentury champagne vessels.

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“But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st, Nor shall death brag thou wand’rest in his shade,”

Beneath a resplendent tree sit black ladder-backed chairs cushioned with sumptuous garnet pillows.

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“When in eternal lines to Time thou grow’st. So long as men can breathe, or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.”

Italian countryside plates from Mikasa are topped by red dishes resembling wax seals. They obscure all but rings of gold from the gleaming mat chargers below them.

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh & William Shakespeare’s 18th Sonnet

P.S. Click here for my Easy DIY Valentine’s Day Countdown Calendar / Treat Bag Banner & Love Letter Napkin Rings Craft Tutorials.

A Thanksgiving for True Blue Loved Ones with “Turkey Day” Dinner Party Décor Ideas

Offer Thanksgiving for those loved ones who have remained true blue through the past year with a dinner party featuring a fresh blue color scheme, ubiquitous holiday turkeys, and modern china that complements family heirloom dishes and crystal. This is the perfect way to symbolically honor ancestral tradition while celebrating present day family as well… because family is made from so much more than DNA.

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The beautiful 10 inch antique turkey plates are used as salad plates in this modern setting, though they functioned as dinner plates during the era in which they were made. They are placed upon ivory patterned dinner plates, by Mikasa Italian Countryside, which are technically vintage even though the pattern is modern as they remain open-stock.

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The wild tom turkey patterned platter and dishes featuring scalloped edges, by Flow Blue by Ridgeways England, are family antiques made in the late 1800s. They were originally purchased by my Great-Great-Grandmother.

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The delicate crystal stemware displays a subtle floral motif that echoes the bouquet border of the dishes. They were inherited from another line of the family.

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Stretched across a blue patterned tablecloth is a joyfully patterned runner sporting bluebirds of happiness. This was kindly crafted by my mother who hand-stitched the navy trim border just for this occasion.

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Guarding the antique crystal salt and pepper shakers, of yet another pattern, are a blue owl and blue bird handcrafted by an artisan in Chile.

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My antique appearing napkin rings are actually modern crafts that were quick and easy to make. They coordinate well with my printed blue turkey dish place-cards hand-scrolled in gold with guest’s names. (Click here to see my article on the napkin ring tutorial and to get the free printable!)

“O Lord that lends me life, Lend me a heart replete with thankfulness.” — William Shakespeare

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh

P.S. If you have any trouble identifying your own pattern of crystal or china, there is a reputable company who will identify it by picture for free! Just upload images to http://patternid.replacements.com/ They are researching the stemware seen above for me. I’ll add a comment with the information when I find out!

P.P.S. Also, if any of you out there are interested in purchasing anything you see in my articles, from party supply sets to dishware, just send me a reasonable offer via the contact page!

 

Easy DIY Antique Looking Napkin Rings with Crochet Trim Craft Tutorial + Free Turkey & China Thanksgiving Printables (for Place-cards, Hostess Gift Tags, Thank You Notes, Doggie Bag Tags, Food Tent Cards, etc.)

Easily DIY your own antique looking napkin rings crafted with crochet trim to coordinate beautifully with any china pattern for your Thanksgiving. Then make place-cards using my free turkey and china printables that will double a doggie bag tags when the evening closes. Also, print some to use as food tents cards to identify pies or even as thank you notes or tags for hostess gifts.

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To make each napkin ring, you will need to cut 6 inch sections of wide ribbon in a solid color that coordinates with your dishware or linens. (For a 6 place setting that equates to 36 inches, or 3 feet, which is the size of many standard ribbon rolls.) You will need to cut the same size lengths of crochet trim, which may be found in the sewing section of craft stores. (Ivory matches beautifully with most china patterns.)

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Next, lay a line of hot glue (or liquid fabric glue) onto all edges of the base ribbon. Lay the crochet trim over it in a way that showcases the pretty edges. (If using liquid glue, let this dry completely before forming the ring.) Then just form a ring and connect the edges with a single line of glue on one side. (Clothes pins will need to be used as clamps when using liquid glue.)

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These really look like they could have been inherited, but took mere minutes to make.

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The napkin rings serve as a beautiful bridge coordinating my antique china with my modern linens, and they can do the same for you too!

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My Thanksgiving printables (free for personal use only) feature vintage dishware and a wild tom turkey in a fresh hued theme that honors the true blue loved ones we’re thankful for this holiday. (See more of my true blue thanksgiving dinner party by clicking here!)

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To make your own, right click on the image above and select print. Choose color and photo settings, and print them on sturdy cardstock paper. Cut along the image edges and dotted lines (or coax a relative into helping) then fold in half. Voila!

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Use these as place-cards during the meal (to strategically place guests for mealtime peace), and then attach them as labels for individual pie boxes or doggie bags (to ensure the holiday pounds are well distributed).

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These also make great hostess gift tags, thank you notes, or even food tent cards (to properly identify the mysterious pie everyone keeps asking about… in my family that would be Chess Pie).

Happy Turkey Day Y’all!

Faithfully Yours,

Leigh