Believe it or not, I usually “entertain” in a very casual way. I normally set out the food buffet style along with a stack of plastic cups and a Sharpie, so guests can find their drink through the evening. For photo shoots, however, I love pulling out my fine china, chargers, antique crystal, silver and freshly pressed linens to set a fancy table…
I’m getting ready to shoot some table setting ideas for the book, so I went out yesterday to find some colorful linens, accent plates, cute bowls and fun napkin rings to mix with what I aready have.
I’m sticking with my usual “cool” color scheme of blues, greens and white, with a little yellow and brown thrown in. I’m excited to see how it all comes together.
In other news, the wall paper is hung (and it looks awesome) and both of my boys seem to be on the mend. Here’s to a good night sleep…
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Setting tables is one of my favorite things to do as well. I love getting creative with things I have around the house and using fresh accents. Your settings are beautiful!!
I really don’t know how you do it. Just reading about your life makes Me tired. I love those turquoise dishes in the first photo. I have never collected turquoise even though it is now my favorite color. I have four or five sets of dishes and my daughter has several that were passed down from people who are no longer with us, but no turquoise. I have lots of tablecloths and napkins and silver, etc, but don’t like to cook muchanymore. With taking care of the old folks we haven’t had much chance to entertain lately, but I still want to collect more. A disease. Impatiently waiting for your Nate appearance. Ann
Girl, you make everything look good! Beautiful settings,… i love the pears, there’s just something good about pears….
I can’t wait to see the wallpaper, and thank goodness the kids are getting better!
Cindy
The settings are beautiful, and I’m drooling over the turquoise china setting. I’d love to know the pattern.
Love the looks,interested in where we will able to buy your book once published…I fell into this world of antiques,vintage and crafting by a really long story.,But I have come to a contentment of the fun world I now participate in….selling antiques(inherentance of parents who collected and collected)looking for fun vintage I can transform.Learning how to use ASCP and become a person who tells others how to.Using Tutorials and going for it. Vintage paper crafts loving it…Music sheets hunting O MY,do I have to find a ton.Upcoming event with Marta and Friends,Look at Marta’s For the love of junk . We are puttting together a fun event in Central Texas with at this time 28 Vendors.Marta and Friends.Now here is a idea for a table scape,I make Paper garlands and sell them all the time.Some time I wlll send Pic,or have Marta Put on her Blog. But what is fun for a table is take a Piece of foam board cut into a long narrow section say 2-3 ft long and about 6 inches wide. Then take your vintage music paper and make a sharp fold so it open similar to a fan,attach to the foam board with hot glue,them alternate back and forth so you have a full garland look down the Table with a flat bottom that sit ‘s well as a center piece. I have used a coffee,tea and cinnamon to age the paper,I tear all the edges.For special events I have sprayed lightly with antique gold glitter,or a light silver glitter spray. They using a cone shape to tuck a sprig of seasonal,tied with a twine attatched to a place card. I think you can imagine the look and it is fun to play with this,. idea. Take care and enthusiam is truly contagious…now if I mispelled OOPS
Beautiful tables. I never set teh table like that though. Everything is busy, busy…no time for all that, but you ideas and decor is just like I would want mine if I had you to come do it!
The first picture is divine!!!! OMG
Love seeing the set table. But I would also love to see an artsy shot of the red plastic party cup and sharpies buffet.
MMS, One of the best things about decorating is playing with your stuff, right? I know you’re actually working but your pictures sure make me want to play with my stuff. Speaking of fun, blogs have inspired me to do practice table settings and that is a lot of fun. The shopping for stuff is pretty fun too! Anne
Your table settings are beautiful! I especially love the aqua teacup…so pretty.
Lisa
I always glean some helpful, creative tip from your photographs! Thank you for sharing your lovely ideas…
Pretty settings.I spy my same vintage napkins
.Glad your boys are feeling better.The stomach bug is going around here.I am ready for spring.
Beautiful table settings! I love to see how things come together for a meal like this. Can’t wait to see your book!
So excited for the book! Can you tell us what your silverware pattern is? Thanks for sharing all your ideas with us!!
Lovely!! Those place settings are so fresh and beautiful! Can’t WAIT to see the wallpaper – it was scrumptious even on the roll!
I always loved to do table settings in flower shows. What can I say…I’m a chinaholic. (dishaholic?
silveraholic? table linenaholic?) Have fun with your photo shoot!
What is the design name of the flatware in the first picture? I love that!!
Great tablescapes! I know what you mean about casual entertaining. That’s my style, too. I do love your idea of a Sharpie to write on the cups..LOL Great idea for a casual party. Looking forward to your new greens and browns tablescape.
Babs
Everything is so beautiful. Just sitting down to a setting like that makes you feel so special! I really wish more people treated themselves to this, even tho times are hectic. It takes the edge off of the everyday rush just to take the time. Thank you for sharing this…so beautiful!
Love the tables!
I’m curious (because I can’t tell for sure) in your photo with the plate that says “give thanks” do you have the straight edge of the knife on the left by the plate? Or on the right by the spoons?
The straight edge of the knife is facing left towards the plate. Oh no…will I be turned out from all good society?
Beautiful table settings I love the aqua dishes. Very pretty color and the flowered small bowl. I love setting a pretty table!
Please tell me who made the floral teacup in the first pictures, LOVE THEM!! Thank you for a sharing all your hard work. YOu inspire so many of us. Can’t wait to get the book.
Beautiful settings. I especially love those cream soups….gorgeous.
We’re mostly casual here, too. But, if I had tons of money, and tons of storage, I would have tons more dishes to play with.
Glad the boys are better.
Beautiful table settings!! My husband’s grandmother had the same silver. None of the 4 kids liked it and when she passed, we sold it at auction, with each of us keeping one spoon. It still makes me sad.Can you tell me the name of it please?
It’s by Kirk Steiff and it’s called Steiff Rose. It’s gorgeous!
Marion,
Your table settings are gorgeous! You are an inspiration to us all!
♥charlotte
Charning mosaic of inspiring tablescapes. I move more and more toward turquoise/aqua, too. Serene, soothing, beautiful color. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay
Should have read ‘charming’. I despise typos. Cherry Kay
I love seeing these. You set a beautiful table. This is my silver pattern too. I bought half of it new, and collected the other half. I love seeing it. I spent weeks in November looking for a few china plates with a teal rim for a baby shower buffet table. I love love love how those look here. You have beautiful beautiful taste. Thanks for the inspiration!
love your tables setting No matter a persons style a warm, inviting table makes it fun to entertain
I have not set a table in my life, it is always a buffet style as well. And all my China is packed in boxes since I got married 7 years ago. Hoping one day when I have room for everything!
I love the cheerful Christmas table. More my style.
Tablescapes are a regular feature at My Place to Yours! I never tire of finding new inspiration for playing in the dishes. Can’t wait to see what you do with your new pretties!
Love the sterling–my pattern is “Repousse” too! I have my grandmother’s sterling service and we added what few pieces she didn’t have when we got married. It’s always nice to see the old patterns used.
The silverware is GORGEOUS!!!! What is the brand/name??? I just set and photographed ONE of the St. Paddy’s tables I will do this year. I LOVE setting tables and getting my creative juices flowing. Loved all these. XO, Pinky
Lovely. As always!
Beautiful!!! Love your blog and all the great treats you always have for us!
Gorgeous place settings…I’m especially smitten with the turquois.
Yeah the wall paper is up & the boys are feeling better…!
Our walk in pantry was featured in a magazine in Canadian House & Home…we have it full of dishes!
We LOVE dishes!..But in all my life of collecting those turquoise ones are A M A Z I N G!
I would enjoy going to a party with plastic anything too!
Thanks for always inspiring!
I LOVE the Christmas tablescape! Can you please share the name of the pattern?
Thanks!!
So lovely! Each and every photo, just full of inspiration!
XOXO,
Anne
When I was much younger, with no kids and much more time than I have now, I used to have place settings on my dining room table. My table is lucky to get plastic placemats these days, and all we have for napkins are the ones that we have extras of from the fast food restaurants we’ve been to. LOL!
We don’t entertain much anymore either, but it was always buffet style too. I keep thinking I’m going to go back & refer to some of yours for Thanksgiving or Christmas, since they’re always so pretty and my style. maybe this year.
Love your tablescapes! I have 5 kids in various ages (kiddies to teens to young adults) along with their friends coming and going and it seems for a lot of years it’s all I’ve been able to do to put together a meal everyone would like and eat at the same time with the basic of place settings. Your tablescapes are inspiring ~ I’m thinking I need to do this for me as much as the family ~ I have many pretty dish sets that aren’t getting any love or appreciation.
Adore your silverware ~ thanks for sharing the pattern ~ so gorgeous!