Father's Day Tablescape

I enjoyed creating a tablescape for Father's Day that was simple, masculine (well, at least not flowery and pink), and beautiful.  
I began thinking of what I'd use and wished I had purchased a new cloth and a centerpiece, but quickly realized I had enough and could put something together using only things that I already had.  
So I set out to complete that task.

I pulled out a piece of fabric I have previously used for a table cloth and then chose some linen napkins I had purchased several months ago but never used.  I began placing my most masculine looking plates on the table and then added goblets to match, trying to stay away from the pinks and purples.

My plate did have a pink flower on it, but the edge was a grey/blue color. (Men do need a touch of feminine at their side, and I love being at my husband's side ... insert smile here!)

The colors were earth tones - browns, gold/yellow/amber, greens, blues/greys/silver. 

For the centerpieces I pulled out some colored bottles and set them on vintage silver trays.  

I thought it was complete until I remembered that I had some Chick-O-Sticks and that they have been among my husbands favorite candy ..., so I placed one above each plate. 

Now it was complete ..., or so I thought.  
I realized as we all sat down at the table that it had not been complete until that moment.
  
Family is what made the difference, and having the father of my children, my husband, beside me on Father's Day was what made this day so special.

An End Note - many times we see a family at the table with the father at one end and the mother at the opposite end and all the others in between.  That has never appealed to us, so in our family it has been the father at the head of the table (and our table only has one head) and the mother beside him (see the flowered plate and the empty spot - I'm up taking a photo at this time, but promptly took my place beside him when that photo was complete). 

That is the way it has always been for us - at church or on the sofa or anywhere usually - my husband and I next to each other and the kids sit beside us or around us ..., not between us!  

I love it that way!

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A Graduation Party

A graduation party for our daughter ...


If you have been watching this blog for a while, you've seen parts of the look here, here, and here, but there were a few other things I want to share now to help complete the look. 


The food/buffet tables.


















I purchased some black 10x14 inch plastic trays from Amazon to help guests carry their food - we did not use plates.  They were the perfect size for what I was looking for.  They have larger trays like we see used at schools and other buffet lines, but they were too big for what I was hoping for.

               
We added a paper doily to each tray.  Here is a close up so you can see the sample tray we put together at the beginning of the line.

FYI - here is what we served:
wraps (Turkey BLT and Roast Beef Coleslaw),

pasta salad or lettuce/pear salad in berry boxes lined with waxed paper,

individual bags of assorted Sun Chips,

Banana Slush, and ice water. 

For dessert we had Cheese Cake (one of our daughters favorites), candy (including some of those fun rock candy on a stick) and an assortment of Ice Cream Bars and Fruit Bars (from Costco).


FYI - Those cute Rock Candy on a Stick came from Amazon, of course!

Between the two buffet tables we had this pedestal with flowers and B for BrittanyJo - our guest of honor.

The tablecloths (vintage sheets cut up into squares, laid over white cloths) needed some coordinating solid color napkins. 

I have purchased from Table Linens for Less before and liked one set I got (but they don't carry them anymore) but most of theirs are fabrics I don't care for.  My desire was to find 100% cotton.  I found some in perfect colors on Etsy but they were expensive - 2 for $18.00.  I could make them much cheaper but just didn't have the time.  I found a few on Amazon, though the colors were just a little different than I really was looking for, but they worked fine anyway.  I chose from two different kinds so that I could get the correct colors (or closest to the correct colors) -

Cotton Craft Napkins - 100% Cotton - 20" x 20"
(I purchased Lavender at $16.99)

DII  100% Cotton, Oversized Basic Everyday  20" x 20"  Napkin
Prices change by color and count - some come in sets 4, others in sets of 6, and white in 8
(I purchased the black 6ct for $18.00, 6 ct Guava for $24.00.)

FYI:
The napkins by Cotton Craft are lighter weight than those by DII and I liked the softness of them, though both are quite nice.  I washed all the napkins before we used them and there were slight wrinkles in all of them.  After washing them the second time (after use) I noticed that the Cotton Craft (lighter weight brand) were a bit more wrinkled than the DII - mostly around the hem areas.  It will be interesting to see what a third washing will do to them but I don't have time to wash them to find out.  If you don't like the wrinkled look both would have to be ironed, but the DII are a bit less wrinkled coming out of my washer and dryer.  I would buy either brand again and be happy.



At the entrance was this cute little bicycle we painted and adorned with a great inspirational quote -    "Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving."

A few of the gifts were placed on the shelf under the bike.

We have used this tent twice now (the first event will be posted here) and forgotten to take pictures of the tent itself when it was up and complete.  The closest we can come to a full view from the outside is this photo with my brother and his grandchild.  We have enjoyed the tent and are planning on having it up at least one more time this year.  Maybe we can get a full view then ..., maybe! 

We purchased the tent from Amazon too.  We have been pleased with it, though the plastic (rope cinch) pieces have broken - my boys have just tied the ropes instead of using those pieces.  Here is what we purchased, but I noticed before I posted this that it is no longer available.  That makes me sad because it has been a great item for what we have been using it for. There are other sizes and options still available, but this is what we purchased.

40'x20' PVC Pole Tent - Party Wedding Canopy Shelter by Delta
($919.98 = cheaper than a rental + mileage; but I only checked out two places to rent from - and we live many miles from the city that offers them.)

It looks grey or taupe in their photo, but it is white.

We had a wonderful event, thanks to the family and friends that showed up, and to those who helped with all the preps.

Old Books RePurposed

I found this look on Etsy a while ago and loved the look. 

So when I was thinking about graduation decorations this came to the front of my mind and I wanted to create this look.

A good friend helped me shop for the books from thrift stores (because I have been somewhat homebound the last few weeks due to my husbands poor health), purchasing old hard bound books with ruffle-y edged papers.

I ripped off the covers and wrapped them with twine similar to what we see in the Etsy picture, but with my own touch of creativity, using what I had in my craft supplies.  I didn't worry about the bottom side of the books because they wouldn't be seen, but tried to make the sides and tops look the best.

You can see that a few of the books had some colored inside pages and we left those if they matched the colors we were using, but we only have a few because I really like the natural colors. 

I wrapped single books and stacks of two or three books together. 

I piled them as I thought looked best, sat a tea cup and saucer on the top of the stack and they became centerpieces for our tables.

We added some flowers and colored vases, bottles, and little heart ring dishes to complete the look on each table.

These items set atop a table cover made from vintage sheets (HERE).  I was really pleased with the look we created.

We used some on our food/buffet table too.

Now the books are boxed away in storage, but if I want I can pull them out and use them in my home décor somewhere.

The outside covers are stored away as well ..., just in case I need them for something later.   Oh Bother!  I have a hard time getting rid of things. 

Easter Sunday

We had a beautiful day!  Hope yours was lovely too!  Here is the only photo of our tablescape, taken just before I headed to bed Saturday evening.  Maybe you can tell that I'm still lovin' the vintage plates and stemware. 

This was another time when I just used what I had and made it work.  Why spend more money on things and then try to find a place to store them?  I keep trying to ask myself that question so I don't go out and purchase what I might think I want and then be frustrated as I try to make room somewhere to store it, wondering if I'll ever really use it again.  What I have is enough!  for now anyway :) 

 

I moved the flowers a bit and removed the black serving mat from the table Sunday and it looked even better.  The flowers were a gift and fit nicely on our Easter table. 

Happy Easter!  let us always remember the wonderful gift of immortality and eternal life that the Savior, Jesus Christ has given us.

 

 

 

A Lovely Wedding Look

I think this Romantic Moscow Wedding from Ruffled is lovely!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pink, Gold, soft colors, beautiful flowers, lovely backdrop, pretty buffet display, ...

 

Sigh!!!!

 

 

 

 

Lovely Wedding Looks

Here is a great wedding look at Green Wedding Shoes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out their complete photo collection for this Romantic California Barn Wedding.

 

 

Yellow and Natual Place Setting

Love this place setting from Centsational Girl

LOVE the NAPKIN

It would be lovely for Thanksgiving, Easter...,  anytime!

Sliced Wood Chargers

 

Would anyone like a slice of wood?

I would!

This woodsy look from Wedding Chicks - would make a wonderful fall / Thanksgiving setting.

The clear plates over the wood slice is a great look.

I love the squash too.

 

 

An Autumn Tablescape

 

 enjoy an autumn dinner in the great outdoors
 

like this table set up from a past Home Companion magazine

 

 

 or bring this look indoors if you wish - it would be lovely indoors too.

 

 

Tablescapes

Table settings are a favorite thing of mine.  I don't set a pretty table for every meal, but I do love to set a pretty table for special meals like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.   Of course weddings and parties of any sort are a delightful reason to decorate a table to create a beautiful tablescape.

 

Look at this lovely table for two from Stone Gable

 

 

Throughout my blog one can find many beautiful tablescapes that others have created, and that have inspired me in some way.  There are many different looks, and each has something special to offer.

Many times it's what's on the table that makes the look, so check into post labels like these: 

 

Centerpieces

Dining

Glasses

Place Cards

Plates

Table Cloths

Table Stuff

Tiers

Trays

Vases

 

There are other great elements that can help make a beautiful and appealing tablescape. 

Those things might include

 

Chairs

Lighting

 

 

A different sort of tablescape would be

 

Serving Displays

 

and don't forget the tablescape looks that can be found in

 

Party Occasion-ally

Weddings Galore-y

and even Picnics

 

 

I have collected a few other tablescapes in my Pinterest Board -

Most of the things you see in my Pinterest boards are not included here in My Stuff Room blog.

Feel free to take a look -
Tablescapes, Centerpieces, Other Misc. Table Components
 

That board includes things new

and things used

Individual items

 

 

 

 

and a collection of items that help create the overall look

They can be indoor or outdoor.

 

 

 

I love a beautiful tablescape indoors or outdoors. 

For more outdoor tablescapes check out my

Picnics & Outdoor Dining Board

 

There are a few more ideas for buffets on my
Buffet and Dessert Displays Board
 

There is beauty all around!  It's out there waiting to be found!

or maybe it's inside waiting to escape ...