Entertaining with fine linens, china, and silver is really a lost art.  I think that’s why it’s so easy to find this stuff at yard sales and thrift stores.  People don’t want to iron their napkins and polish their flatware.  They want things to be disposable, microwaveable, dishwasher safe and no fuss.  Entertaining this way doesn’t have to be fussy or high maintenance and it tells the people you’re serving that they’re worth the extra effort.  So, get out your dinnerware sets, place mats, and dust off that dining room table.  I’m going to share some of my tips for making a beautiful place setting.  I must admit, it’s nice if you have a lot of pretty things to work with.  I have a bit of an illness when it comes to buying hospitality related items.  It’s gotten much better and I’m in recovery, but a relapse can happen at

In previous giveaways, I’ve hand painted a custom piece for one winner.  I decided to go a different route for this one and put together a box of things that are commonly featured in my home and on my blog.  This is a 2000 follower giveaway, so it had to be a box packed full of awesome stuff.  So, let’s take a peek inside… The winner will receive – A large, antique Ironstone platter, six Bakelite knives, and a tea towel with a “B” monogram… …a pair of white birds… …four antique postcards… …a feed sack (white with blue writing)… …a silver creamer… …a vintage baby dress (hanger and drawer are not included)… …and an antique balance scale.  I get a lot of comments on my scales, so I thought it was only fitting to buy one for the box.  Here are the rules to enter: 1.) You have to love

Wow!  I know I just hit over 2000 followers and I was not expecting it!  I’m still tweaking my 2000 follower giveaway, “Miss Mustard Seed in a box”, but it will run in a few days.  Just to get your mouth watering, the box includes an antique feed sack, Bakelite flatware, ironstone, a monogrammed tea towel, an antique baby dress and more!  On to my treat for you today!  In addition to an awesome giveaway, I want to introduce you to one of my newest Etsy and blog buddies, Robin from Well of Creations.  She can make amazing things with a crochet needle and she is an all around artsy person.  Her blog is loaded with inspiration, great photos, and her unique creations. So, without further babbling from me, here’s a little bit about Robin, in her own words.  “My name is Robin Norgren. Before 2009, I would have never described myself as a creative type, let

Yes.  I just said doo-doo in my title of my post.  (You have to remember that I work with teenagers.) Anyway, the winner of your votes for my free design consultation was Elise from eliseiscontent and that means I am in deep doo-doo.  Ok, I’m just joking, but it is going to be a real challenge for me.  Not only is this my first online design consultation, but this is for a woman who sounds so sweet and I really want to do right by her (and her family.)  I wish I could go to her home with a huge budget and a team of volunteers to make this place the home of their dreams.  Unfortunately, it’s “just me” and my laptop and my ideas.  But that’s “just me” talking.  For this project, I need to ditch “just me” and be Miss Mustard Seed!  The woman who blogs!  The force to be reckoned with!  So, let’s

With everyone “going white” in home decor, do you feel a little like you’re getting lost in a sea of neutrals?  There is a fine line between the boring blahs and wowing with whites.  One of the keys is to add pops of color.  The color doesn’t disrupt the white, it sets it off and gives your eye a place to land. My bathroom was feeling a little one note with all of the neutrals.  Almond, white,ironstone, Irish Cream, olive shells, and linen towels.  It needed some pop to set it off and the hints of brown weren’t doing it.  In came eggs, an urn with bright green sprigs, fluffy towels, oval plates, and a painted tissue box – all in shades of aqua and blue.  If you’re moving towards the white look, don’t neglect color all together.  Use it in the right way and in the right places and your

First of all, I must give my apologies again for forgetting to post FFF again.  You know how you get thrown off when your week isn’t normal?  Well, this week was not normal for me and it really threw me off.  I have been especially stressed and forgetful and FFF is the latest victim.  Next week, I’m helping with VBS, so I’m not sure it’s going to get much better. One of my hydrangea bushes is starting to produce some beautiful flowers.  I bought it only two years ago when it was itty-bitty, so it’s not loaded with hundreds of blooms yet.  The other two bushes that I bought were the variety that only has blossoms on old wood.  Unfortunately, most of the old wood was killed by an especially harsh winter, so no blossoms this year.  I’m going to plant some more bushes next spring in the hopes of