Easter Tablescape

Good morning. Easter is almost upon us, along with spring, both bringing good tidings of renewal of life and spirit. This Easter tablescape is set for a luncheon, as Mom always celebrated Easter with a luncheon right after church on Easter Sunday. Tuna salad sandwiches anyone? (Made with hard boiled eggs, of course.)

In this setting, antique ironstone luncheon plates from Johnson Brothers. They are gorgeous and in great condition.

This small oval antique ironstone platter, though not in mint condition, is a terrific serving plate.

And, of course, in my house there are always stuffed bunnies and bright colored baskets at Easter time.

I love the new momma and baby bunnies I got this year.

Did you decorate for Easter this year? Did you use any of your antique or vintage collectibles? Please share what you did.

Sincerely, Lynn

St. Patrick's Day Tablescape

Hi.

It has been said that everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. I really am part Irish on my father's side of the family. As a child, I had red hair, now turned brown. I have the fair skin that freckles and burns easily in the sun.

One of my favorite memories of St. Patrick's Days past is of my Dad wearing his button that says "Kiss Me, I'm Irish". I still have that button in my jewelry collection.

Today I want to share what I have learned is called a tablescape, the table set for St. Patrick's Day. Shades of green and white are really pretty, don't you think?

This closeup shows a green wire basket holding pears. It was a Goodwill thrift store find for 99 cents. Also, the white dish holding the candle was just 39 cents at the Goodwill store. It is just wonderful to be able to be thrifty and at the same time to reuse something that could have ended up in a dump. Both pieces are in great condition, but someone no longer wanted them.

I love the place setting I came up with, though these are new pieces, not antiques.

This photo shows the use of a vintage ironstone plate to hold the St. Patricks's Day green and white sugar cookies I found at the supermarket.

Did you decorate for St. Patrick's Day this year? Please comment to share what you did.

May the luck of the Irish be with you this St. Patrick's Day.

Sincerely,

Lynn

Fall Colors Shining Through

Hi everyone.

Fall is my favorite season of the year.  I love the gorgeous colors of the tree leaves, the cooler temperatures, wearing sweaters, and the chance to be outdoors before winter is upon us.

I also love the fall pansies.

Fall is also a fun time to decorate the house for a festive fall and Thanksgiving!

Today I want to share a few ideas for fall decorating with your blend of antiques and more modern household furnishings.

A wreath on your front door is a classic decorating idea, not just to be used during the Christmas holidays.  Here is a grapevine wreath I made with artificial leaves, berries and flowers I bought at Michaels and A.C. Moore.

Small touches of fall add interest anywhere in the home, such as the ruby glass vase of flowers on this antique oak desk and the cinnamon colored throw over the back of the caned seat chair.

Remember to add fall touches to the bathroom for guests visiting your home too.  A simple vase of flowers or small candle and wreath look great on the counter.  This antique ironstone cream pitcher makes a beautiful small flower vase.

This red votive candle looks terrific displayed on an antique ironstone butter pat dish with a wreath made of glass beads in coordinating red and gold colors.

The table centerpiece for the dining room is a traditional fall decorating theme.  Use your imagination for the container for the centerpiece!  Do you have an antique wooden bowl?  An antique yellowware bowl?  An antique ironstone platter or bowl?  What about a large antique wooden carpenter's box?  Depending on the size of your table, there are many options to blend an antique vessel with a more modern table setting.  I saw a photo on another blog where the author had used an old oil can as a flower vase and it looked wonderful.

There are also so many variations on potential contents of your centerpiece.  You might use traditional flowers or a pillar candle, but why not try something different either instead of or in addition to the flowers or candle.  Do you have any of these in your neighborhood: pine cones, large walnuts in the beautiful green shells or acorns?  You could cut sprigs from a fiery burning bush and they will keep in water for a couple of days.

Vines are also a great way to showcase your antiques or your modern decor.  Check out the floral sections at A.C. Moore, Michael's or your local craft store and see what they have.

Please comment on this post to share your ideas for using fall colors with me and other readers.  Tell your friends to check out this blog too at http://www.antiquesfortodayslifestyle.blogspot.com/ .

Sincerely,
Lynn

Have a festive fall!

Sincerely, Lynn

Accessorize with Vintage Blue and White

Hi.

I have always loved the color combination of blue and white.  It reminds me of the sky, the ocean and sand, and beautiful flowers.  There are many vintage accessories and household items that were made in cobalt blue, white, or a combination of both, as well as more modern items in this popular color combination.  Bringing these cool colors into your home can be relaxing and invoke memories of the cool days spent outdoors.

Yesterday I went to Michaels and AC Moore to get some floral accents and ribbons to use with my vintage blue accessories.  It is fun to find different ways to arrange accessories to keep the look in your home fresh and interesting.

These photographs show a number of examples.

Mom always had a row of vintage white pitchers in graduated sizes on the top of her dry sink.  I love that look, but this shows my update of her traditional white pitcher display.

I have been collecting cobalt blue vases, in addition to my collection of cobalt blue bottles, and  there are many potential ways to display these items.

A grouping of candlesticks is also fun.  Just because manufacturers make candlesticks in pairs, does not mean you have to always use them in pairs!

How about filling a Ball style jar with blue and clear pebbles or marbles instead of the ever popular button-filled jar?

There are many antique china pieces in blue and white available at flea markets and antique centers.  Why not mix some of these with basic white tableware?  I also love the vintage white ironstone dishes and blue depression glass.

While I am not a collector of Fiesta Ware, these bright colored dishes also come in a beautiful shade of blue that can be used in blue and white decor.

Do you love blue and white too?  Please comment on this post and share your ideas with me and other readers.

Sincerely,
Lynn