Prelude to Spring

I am so  happy Springtime is just around the corner.  February was unusually warm here in South Florida so it feels like we jumped right to Summer.  My late Grandmother Dorothy Smith would have turned 99 this coming Saturday so this table is styled in memory of her special day.  She used the Franciscan Desert Rose dishes as her everyday dishes.   I believe she had every piece they made in the collection along with eight or more full place settings.   When it was time for her to move to assisted living she gave personal belongs to her children and grandchildren.  One of my cousins received the Desert Rose collection.  I received her beautiful fine china.    I have picked up a few pieces of the Desert Rose collection over the past few years to enjoy.  It brings back happy memories of great dinners and time spent with my Grandparents over the years.   

I found this pretty rosebud napkin fold on Pinterest.  Once it was complete I added the pink and green beaded berry napkin rings by Valerie Parr Hall to hold it in place. 

All of the pieces used in the centerpiece are part of the Valerie Parr Hill Collection.  The pink illuminated faceted glass hurricane is nestled inside her candle ring on top of a scroll mirror pedestal. I placed the pedestal on top of her round mirror with faceted glass accent piece.

Overhead view of the table. 

The plate stack starts with a pink woven straw placemat.  The next layer is the Desert Rose dinner and salad plate. 

I used a Desert Rose platter in the center of the server.  The seasons of magnolia garland is part of the Valerie Parr Hill collection.   The two lit candle holder pedestals by Valerie are currently in stock at QVC.   These are champagne, but they are available in other colors too.  I placed her opalescent illuminated iridescent crackle spheres on top of the pedestals.  The pink and green beaded berry candle rings match the napkin rings.  The gold illuminated finials are also part of the VPH collection.  They are also available in other colors and are currently in stock. 

Up close view of the pretty garland.  I made the stained glass tulip piece for my Grandmother in the 80's.   

Low light view of the table. 

Low light view of the server. 

I absolutely love the spheres at night. 

This is my beautiful Grandmother Dorothy. We were so fortunate to have her with us for 93 years.  I miss her every day, but I know I will see her again one day.

Happy 99th Grandma!  

Catherine 

This post is linked to the following parties: 

Home & Garden Thursday #314 - A Delightsome Life
493rd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
Vintage Charm #123 - Our Hopeful Home
Home Matters Linky Party #174 - Life with Lorelai
Share Your Style Link Party #160 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Pretty Pintastic Party #199 - Coffee With Us 3
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound
Dishing It & Digging It #191 - Life and Linda
Inspire Me Monday – Week 323 - Create with Joy
Creative Mondays Link Up - Claire Justine
Make it Pretty Monday – Week 246 - The Dedicated House
Amaze Me Monday #256 - Dwellings - The Heart of Your Home
Saturday Sparks Link Party 262 - Pieced Pastimes
The Scoop #117 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
Celebrate Your Story! #119 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree

Live from the Red Carpet

The 90th Academy Awards ceremony will be held this coming weekend.    I normally watch the show, but will most likely watch something else this year.   Sports events and award shows have become too political and not enjoyable these days.    I do have plans to watch the red carpet arrivals on the E Channel and enjoy dinner at my Oscar themed table.   It's always fun to see the beautiful couture gowns, shoes, hair styles and the fabulous jewels.   

I used  Valerie Parr Hill pieces to hold the award statue.  The preserved boxwood wreath is from the Lisa Robertson Collection. 

The black crystal flutes are from HomeGoods. 

I normally make a tuxedo napkin fold, but decided to go with something more simple this year.  I did use the black bow ties that I made a few years ago as napkin rings. 

Overhead view. 

The plate stack starts with  faceted mirror chargers.  The white and red stripe dinner plates are from HomeGoods.  I've had the white and gold star salad plates for a few years. 

The chargers are from Tuesday Morning. 

Server decor. 

This post was featured on 

Vintage Charm Party #123

Pretty Pintastic Party #199

Catherine 

This post is linked to the following parties:

Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #189 - Life and Linda

Celebrate Your Story! #117 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree

492nd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch

Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner

Home & Garden Thursday #313 - A Delightsome Life

Vintage Charm #122 - Our Hopeful Home

The Scoop #315 - Confessions of a Plate Addict

Make It Pretty Monday #244 - The Dedicated House

Home Sweet Home #360 - The Charm of Home

Share Your Style Link Party #159 - 21 Rosemary Lane

Amaze Me Monday #255 - Dwellings -The Heart of Your Home

414th Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life

Pretty Pintastic Party #198 - Coffee with Us 3

Winter Olympics 2018

I am a huge fan of the Olympic Games and have really enjoyed the Winter games from Pyeong Chang.  I enjoy all the sports,  but my favorites are snowboarding, halfpipe snowboarding, downhill skiing,  bobsledding, luge and of course figure skating.  I'm still trying to figure out curling.  It reminds me too much of my least favorite chore.. mopping.  

I enjoy styling a table for the Olympics.  My first blog post was the Rio Summer Olympic Games tablescape in 2016. This was be my fourth Olympic table.  I started with the 2012 Summer Games in London followed by the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.    I enjoy collecting Olympic and sports themed items to use on the table.  You will see a few of the Olympic themed items I have made over the years.     This year I crocheted mittens and a cap for the table.  You will see the mittens below holding the flatware.   Children mittens were the perfect size.    While shopping this past weekend I found two sets of Team USA mittens at Old Navy for $2.00.   That was a deal so I had to have them for the table.  

Olympic place setting. 

I used a pair of skates, gloves and hats on the table. 

I found these 1994 Los Angeles Olympic fine bone china pieces on Shop Goodwill.   They are marked as official pieces of the 1980 L.A. Olympic committee and Queen's by Papel  made in England.    It's amazing what you can find on the Goodwill online site and eBay.   

The Team USA mittens were found at Old Navy this past week.  I've had the Olympic pins for several years.  The Albertville, France 1992 games pin is on the left and Torino 2006 games pin is on the right. 

I made the Olympic rings wine charms and napkin rings in 2016. 

I crocheted the childrens mittens and cap.  

I used sleigh ornaments as place card holders.  I purchased these at Walmart and removed the Christmas greenery.   I also invited two of my favorite Olympians for dinner.  Shaun White and Kelly Clark are amazing halfpipe snowboarders.   I've followed both for years.  Kelly's cousin is a Facebook friend of mine so I'm able to keep up with her snowboarding accomplishments.   

I tucked the gold flatware inside the mitten. 

I use the flag and faux torch display on all of my Olympic tablescapes.   I used foam core  and ribbon to make the Olympic rings.    

The server with a couple skiers and wax illuminated trees. 

I created a little vignette of trees and a Lemax skier with his dog inside the cake dome.    

The Valerie Parr Hill beaded candle rings really add sparkle to the Winterscape. 

The blue plate is from the 1972 Munich games.  I found this while shopping for plates at my local Goodwill a few years ago. 

I love these little skiers.  They are made by Lemax. 

Over head view of the table.  It's hard to detect, but I added in a white pom pom garland I made.  

The stack starts with a white faux fur Christmas tree skirt as the table cloth.   The fabric chargers and the same ones I used on my 2016 Summer Olympic table. The print reminded me of the Olympic rings.  The red dinner plates is from Pier One.  The Hallmark Parade of Nations top plate is part of the Olympic Spirit Collection.  These were made for the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996 that were held in Atlanta, GA.  

The 2018 Winter Olympic medals. 

Catherine

This post is linked to the following parties:
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #188 - Life and Linda
Celebrate Your Story! #116 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
Creative Mondays Blog Hop - Claire Justine
Make it Pretty Monday #243 - The Dedicated House
The Scoop #314 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
Inspire Me Monday – Week 320 - Create with Joy
Wow Us Wednesdays #376 - Savvy Southern Style
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
491st Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
312th Home & Garden Thursday - A Delightsome Life
The Pretty Pintastic Party #197 - Coffee with the 3 of Us
VINTAGE CHARM PARTY #121 - Our Hopeful Home
Home Sweet Home #359 - The Charm of Home
Feathered Nest Friday - French Country Cottage 
Home Matters Linky Party #172 - Life with Lorelai
Grace at Home No. 287 - Imparting Grace
Share Your Style Link Party #158 - 21 Rosemary Lane
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound