Tablescapes

How blessed I am to have inherited 3 dining tables from my husband's family. We have used them all at one time or another. Currently this pretty mama resides in our dining room. She hails from Arkansas and was purchased by my husband's folks {from a thrift store} in 1933.

Check out her legs!

I would guess that our table was built during the Arts and Crafts era, circa 1920. The top is quarter sawn oak. 

Larry and I are not so fussy; that is to say our style is somewhat streamlined and straightforward.

I like to define our cottage style as English Farmhouse.

Therefore, you can imagine my delight when I happened upon a set of Spode stoneware at my favorite philanthropic thrift store!

Modestly dressy without a whole lot of fanfare.

The set came with 4 dinner plates, 4 soup bowls and 4 mugs. I adore brown and white!

I also love to layer textures. So I used a rather heavily woven coir-like charger atop a lighter raffia style place mat.

I always search for quirky napkins that are soft and launder well. So I have an assortment of very soft wash cloths in a variety of shades that I bought from TJ Maxx several years ago. I use them only as napkins. You can see that I rolled them and tied them with a narrow strip of burlap.

Then I added a rosette~

I like the shabby elegance {a ravel here a string there}.

The mugs are a diminutive size. We rarely use them for beverages but I think they are splendid filled with fresh flowers from the garden.

One for each guest. The flowers are so quaint.

If you really want to add a special and personal touch to your tablescape,
try this~

Or this~

Place cards~
What an easy way to tell your guests you're glad they came!

My centerpiece rarely changes. I love this footed bowl (from Target) filled with sea shells~

We live near the shore and years ago we named our home, Shell Cottage.

And I love leaving my table set. Its simple loveliness makes me happy. And it makes me think about the blessing of family.  If only our family lived close by. Our sturdy old table has two leaves and we've a collection of chairs from the Bishop family farm.  There's always room for one more. Our door is always open and the coffee's always fresh.  What's the saying? "Come as a stranger leave as a friend".

Amen to that!

Thanks for reading along. I value every visitor.

Enjoy your week!

     Dana

Linkin' up with Marty for Table Top Tuesday. Take the time to check out all the gorgeous table top vignettes!