Obsessed with Beach-Nautical Themed Tables & Flatware

Welcome to the 558th Tablescape Thursday! Last week when I was setting a table for our Tablescape Thursday party, I realized just how much I love creating beach/nautical themed table settings. They are definitely a favorite of mine for summer dining. I also realized that over the years I've collected a fair amount of beachy flatware, starting with this ocean blue flatware purchased back in 2008 just … [Read more...]




A Memorial Day Table Setting with a Beach-Nautical Theme

Welcome to the 557th Tablescape Thursday! With Memorial Day weekend almost here, it's time for a patriotic table to honor those who have so valiantly served in our armed forces. As I did last year with a 4th of July table, I decided to give this table a beach/nautical vibe.   Do you have any special plans for this holiday weekend? Are you heading to the beach, planning a Memorial Day … [Read more...]




Memorial Day Entertaining and Table Setting Ideas

Welcome to the 556th Tablescape Thursday! I'm getting so excited for summer! I stopped by Pottery Barn yesterday and there's nothing like seeing all the new summer dishware to get you fired up to create some fun, summertime tables! I haven't visited the big PB in Atlanta in ages, I think it's time for a road trip! This beautiful table dressed in blue caught my eye in the window. Gorgeous colors! I … [Read more...]




Syracuse Orchard & Magnolia Centerpiece for a Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 555th Tablescape Thursday! How is your week going so far? I hope you are seeing some glorious springtime weather. It has been beautiful here!   I took these photos late in the day. The trees have all leafed out completely now so the porch has become very shady throughout the day. Recently, I gave all the bottles on the bottle tree a good washing. Do they look clean and … [Read more...]




7 Easy Centerpiece Ideas for a Mother’s Day or Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 554th Tablescape Thursday! With Mother's Day just 10 days away, I was thinking today about centerpieces that would be affordable and easy to create for a pretty Mother's Day table. All of the tables I'm sharing, except for one which is more of a DIY project, would be easy to create with items you probably already have around your home. Click the title of any table below to view more of … [Read more...]




Porch Dining: A Springtime Celebration

Welcome to the 553rd Tablescape Thursday! The weather has been so warm and beautiful the last few days, I really, really wanted to set this week's table out on the porch. But just look at this! This was the state of the porch when I stepped outside today. Everything was covered in thick pollen and months and months of dirt and grime.   I was torn--should I just close my eyes to the … [Read more...]




Dining in Mr. McGregor’s Garden: A Spring Table Setting with Peter Rabbit

Welcome to 552nd Tablescape Thursday! I would love to have placed this table out on the screened porch, but that would have required wading through a few feet of Georgia pollen just to reach the table. It's that time of year when I normally break down and give the porch a thorough cleaning, but I'm trying hard to resist since I know it will be covered right back up with pollen again in just a few days. I … [Read more...]




Beautiful Table Setting with Vintage Hutschenreuther China & A Love Story

Welcome to the 550th Tablescape Thursday! Warren and Kathie love to entertain. Recently Warren shared photos of a beautiful spring table he put together for friends. Warren said, "I set the table for our friends who are sharing  75th birthdays. Most of the glassware and china are family heirlooms made by Hutschenreuther, Huntington Glass, Fostoria Glass and Heisey Glass."   "I found the … [Read more...]




Shopping the Big Tabletop Sales & the Cutest Peter Rabbit Plates for Spring and Easter!

I stopped into both Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma today and picked up some really cute things for spring. Both shops have some great sales going on right now. Pottery Barn has all of their tabletop items on sale, 25% off and their Easter goodies are on sale up to 40% off. I scored some adorable napkins for 40% off. You'll find the sale here: Tabletop Sale. I had to check out this pretty blue and white … [Read more...]




Welcoming Spring with a Floral Table Setting Perfect for Easter or a Garden Party

Welcome to 545th Tablescape Thursday! It was so beautiful out today with temps reaching into the high 60's, I was super tempted to set a table outside on the porch. In the end, I stayed here in the breakfast room for this week. But it won't be long before we're out on the porch for Tablecape Thursday.   I bought two Shamrock plants this week with full intentions to set a St. Patrick's Day … [Read more...]




A Springtime Haul & Everything Was On Sale!

It reached the 70's here yesterday and my daffodils have been in full bloom for the last two weeks. With all this beautiful springtime weather, I couldn't resist heading out for a little spring dish shopping. I stopped by one of my favorite places, Pier 1, and was so happy to see they are having a big spring sale. I found so many cute things I couldn't leave behind!   You may remember … [Read more...]




Flowers Upon Flowers Upon Flowers, Celebrating the Coming of Spring

Welcome to the 543rd Tablescape Thursday! A bit gloomy out today but I can't complain too much since we've had several days in a row of wonderful sunshine. Remember this photo I shared a while back of this Ralph Lauren plaid-on-plaid bedding ensemble? I had something like this in mind yesterday while setting a table for this week's Tablescape Thursday, only I was envisioning floral-on-floral and … [Read more...]




Bunny Cottontails and Beautiful Florals: A Little Springtime Dish Shopping

Welcome to the 542nd Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday I stopped by Pier 1 to see what new goodies they had in for spring. The first thing that caught my eye when I walked in the door was this fluffy pile of bunny ears and cottontails. lol   I had to see what they were so I looked a bit closer. Ohhh, they're little burlap wraps to go around the back of a chair. Sooo cute! Would love a set for … [Read more...]




Beautiful Springtime Dinnerware: Shopping For Valentine’s Day and Easter

Welcome to the 538th Tablescape Thursday! Recently I stopped by PotteryBarn and Williams-Sonoma to check out their spring collection of dishware. It's that time of year when they are starting to get in all the beautiful spring patterns.   I was thrilled to see they brought back this adorable bunny bowl. I have this one and use it all throughout spring and summer on my kitchen counter. It … [Read more...]




An Egypt River Cruise: Sailing & Dining on the Nile River

Welcome to the 526th Tablescape Thursday! We've had a lot of early mornings on this trip across Egypt and tomorrow will be another one as I'll be rising at 4:30 AM for a trip to Abu Simbel. The WiFi on our boat is the pitts. If you use more than a certain amount, it logs you out and you have to request a new password at the front desk to continue. I've lost count of how many new passwords I've had to … [Read more...]




French Cottage Becomes a Greek Taverna

Welcome to the 520th Tablescape Thursday! We're off to France for this week's Tablescape Thursday to visit my friend, Norma. Norma resides in an adorable cottage in the French countryside alongside the Argenton River. Recently, she had friends staying with her for a few days, and one evening she prepared a scrumptious Greek feast. Norma wrote: Hi Susan I thought that you might like to see these … [Read more...]




Aqua Blue Wine Glasses and Soft, Warm Sand…Ahhh, How I Do Love Summer!

Welcome to the 517th Tablescape Thursday! Recently Cyndi left this lovely comment on my 5 Creative Tables for Summer post: All of your summer tables are beautiful, but my favorite is the “Shades of blue” as it does put one in mind of water and beaches. I like your chargers, but LOVE your sea shell chargers the best! Please do a table with them and the large hurricane lanterns, love those! My shell … [Read more...]




5 Creative Tables for Summer

Welcome to the 516th Tablescape Thursday! I can't believe it's already August! Thankfully, it will still be warm here in the south for another month or two. My heart is still in summer, fall will get here soon enough! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing a few of the tables I've set this summer.   Click on any title below to view that table setting in more detail. Happy … [Read more...]




Limelight Hydrangeas, Butterflies and Birds: A Summer Table Setting On The Porch

Welcome to the 515th Tablescape Thursday! The Limelight hydrangeas in front of my home are still blooming, so I couldn't resist using them again in a summer table setting here on the screened porch.     See that big gap, one hydrangea fell over and I didn't notice it until I was done taking pictures.   While I was setting the table, little birds flew in and … [Read more...]




Making My Own Sunshine for This Week’s Tablescape Thursday

Welcome to the 514th Tablescape Thursday! I think I may be living in England these days...or maybe I'm in Ireland. I've never seen so much rain, and this has been going on for much of the summer. It has been nice not having to worry about watering the plants on the deck, but I've almost forgotten how sunshine looks!   So please excuse the moody skies in the background. Today is definitely … [Read more...]




Sea Life Table Setting in Beautiful Colors of Blue and Coral

Welcome to the 513th Tablescape Thursday! I'm super excited to share a wonderful summer table with a fun, beach-sea life theme for this week's Tablescape Thursday! Sandra recently emailed and shared photos of a table she set for a family dinner. I immediately fell in love with the blue and coral color scheme of this whimsical table setting.   Sandra said she found the blue and … [Read more...]




Summer Garden Party Table Setting with a Limelight Hydrangea Centerpiece

Welcome to the 512th Tablescape Thursday! Announcement: If you are currently subscribed to receive BNOTP blog post updates via a Hotmail e-mail address, but they are not getting through to your Inbox, check your Spam folder. If they aren't in the spam folder, try subscribing with a different e-mail. Hotmail is notorious for filtering out emails that contain photos. Just Google and you'll find a lot folks … [Read more...]




A Beach-Themed Table Setting for the 4th of July: Happy Independence Day!

Welcome to the 509th Tablescape Thursday! It's officially summer and the 4th of July celebrations are almost upon us!   We've been getting some heavy storms every afternoon so please excuse the "moody" background. It was only around 4:00 when I took these photos but it almost looks like it's getting dark out.   Whenever I use a tall centerpiece I always get questions, so … [Read more...]




Dining at Mama’s Fish House in Maui, Hawaii

Welcome to the 508th Tablescape Thursday! When I announced I was visiting Maui, one restaurant that was recommended to me over and over again was Mama's Fish House. Even after I got to Hawaii and started asking the locals for recommendations, Mama's Fish House was always one of the first places mentioned. During the helicopter tour I took over Maui last week, our pilot, Mike, was continually pointing … [Read more...]




Shades of Blue, Reminiscent of the Seas Surrounding Beautiful Procida, Italy

Welcome to the 506th Tablescape Thursday! I had thought about putting this week's table out on the newly cleaned deck, but it was a bit too hot outside for that. It went from a cool morning where I had all the doors to the porch thrown wide open, to a toasty 86 degrees out on the porch later in the day.   I love it though, will take this any day over cold weather!   Once it … [Read more...]




Festive Themed Table Settings for a Hospital Auxiliary Fashion Show

Welcome to the 505th Tablescape Thursday! Recently I received a lovely email from Ruth who said, "Our local Hospital Auxiliary had their annual tea, fashion show and raffle. Local businesses provide wonderful gift baskets, always a hit and good fundraiser. Each "hostess" is given a table for ten and then has to think of a theme and decorate. The country club where we have it supplies the plain white … [Read more...]




Dining Outdoors for Summer: A Mostly Child-Friendly Table Setting

Welcome to the 502nd Tablescape Thursday! I've been visiting with family the last couple of weeks and we've been having so much fun! We've been doing a lot of grilling, or I should say my son's been doing a lot of grilling. I'm obsessed with corn-on-the-cob cooked on the grill now, don't think I'll ever be able to eat it any other way. Yum!   With all this dining outdoors, I decided to … [Read more...]




Celebrating 10 Years & 500 Tablescape Thursdays!

Welcome to the 500th Tablescape Thursday! Wow! It blows me away to type that number: 500! How did that happen? :) Tablescape Thursday, initially called Tablescape Tuesday, got its start on August 24th, 2008. This was the first table setting I ever posted for our tablescape party. I had just added on the porch the previous fall/winter and was so excited to set a table with the beach-themed dinnerware I … [Read more...]




Beach Escape

Welcome to the 499th Tablescape Thursday! I almost pulled out bunny plates again today. lol I still had one more table setting in mind using bunny plates, but it was such a gorgeous day and so warm out, I ended up going a completely different direction.   We are headed to the beach for this week's Tablescape Thursday with  a fun beach-themed table setting.   Do you have a … [Read more...]




Bunnies in the Garden & The Scent of Sweet Dianthus

Welcome to the 498th Tablescape Thursday! The Bath's Pink Dianthus are blooming in my garden now and they smell so wonderful!   I thought about using them in today's table but wasn't sure how well they would work since they are more of a ground cover in the way they grow and sprawl. They ended up working great in the little bunny planters I wanted to use for today's table. As I … [Read more...]




Two Beautiful Spring Tables and One Sassy Bunny

Welcome to the 497th Tablescape Thursday! When was the last time you purchased a car? I keep my cars a really long time, the shortest being 11 years, and the longest, 18. The 18-year-old, a diesel, had 325,000 miles on the odometer when my son slid on an icy bridge, sending it into retirement. As the saying goes, I pretty much drive them until the wheels fall off. lol I've been car "shopping" the last … [Read more...]




Easter-Spring Table Setting with a Visit from the Easter Bunny

Welcome to the 495th Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for sharing all the wonderful dream-like places you've visited over the years. It makes me wish I could travel all the time just so I could see them all! If you're looking for ideas for your next travel adventure, be sure to read the comments left on yesterday's post. So many wonderful places to see in this big world! I was so hoping I could … [Read more...]




St. Patrick’s Day Table with Limelight Hydrangeas & Belleek Pottery Centerpiece

Welcome to the 493rd Tablescape Thursday! I just realized today, we get to set the clocks forward this weekend. That means another whole hour of daylight starting this Sunday! Yipee! That makes me so happy! Spring is really almost here! St. Patrick's Day is the following weekend on Saturday, the 17th, so it's time to start thinking about pretty St. Patrick's Day table … [Read more...]




A Sunny, Blue & Yellow Table Inspired By A Spring-like February Day

Welcome to the 491st Tablescape Thursday! Like many years in the past, we've been having early spring-like weather this month. The temps have been in the upper 60's and 70's here for much of February! Normally when this happens, it only lasts a week or so, but this year it seems to be sticking around, which is fine by me. I am not a fan of cold weather and am relishing every moment of these warmer temps … [Read more...]




Beautiful Inspiration for Your Spring and Easter Tables

Welcome to the 489th Tablescape Thursday! I always love to stop by Pottery Barn this time of year to see what they have available for Easter and spring table settings. It appears they have a Friends and Family 20% off sale going right now with the code FAMILY at checkout. I'm happy to see they brought back the bunny bowl I purchased last year. I love this bowl! I keep mine out all through spring and … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day Table Setting with a Guest Appearance by the Easter Bunny

Welcome to the 488th Tablescape Thursday! We are in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   It was quite late when I took these photos, so please excuse some of the darker pics.   Update: Adding a photo taken this morning with a bit of natural light coming in through the windows.   Have you ever wondered what the Easter Bunny does during the off … [Read more...]




Found: The Perfect Bark-Edged, Wood Chargers for Woodsy Holiday Tables

I love using chargers in a table setting. They add so much to a table, another lovely layer that beautifully highlights the other plates in the place setting.   Over the past 10 years I've gradually added to my charger collection whenever I've found them on sale or greatly discounted. I've also enjoyed making them when a design I wanted wasn't available anymore, or was more than I wanted to … [Read more...]




Forty Shades of Green

Welcome to the 465th Tablescape Thursday! I took the new tablescaping storage for a spin yesterday, and I have to say, it definitely made putting a table together for Tablescape Thursday a lot easier with everything so accessible. If you missed that previous storage post, you'll find it here: Tablescaping Storage.   With an upcoming trip to Ireland just a few days away, I couldn't resist … [Read more...]




Limelight Hydrangeas Lend Inspiration for a Romantic Summer Table

Welcome to the 462nd Tablescape Thursday! With all this organizing of my tablescaping goodies that I've been doing this past week, I couldn't resist taking all that organization for a  spin and putting a table together for today's Tablescape Thursday. Just the little bit of organizing that I've done makes me wish I had done this a long time ago. (Read more about how I'm getting organized here: Storage … [Read more...]




Supper in Sorrento

Welcome to the 460th Tablescape Thursday! Good Morning! Hope your day is going grand! Yesterday I put together the second dish cabinet with drawers, can't wait to share it with you! If you read yesterday's post, you know it may be a while before I'll be able to find the other cabinets I need since they seem to be sold out everywhere. I promise to share the storage I have so far, real soon. Thanks … [Read more...]




You’re Invited to a French “Queen Bee” Party!

Welcome to the 457th Tablescape Thursday! Recently, I shared Debbie's wonderful, 3rd Annual, My Favorite Things, party. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Breakfast at Tiffany's Brunch Event. I asked Debbie if she took photos of her first My Favorite Things party which she planned with a "French Queen Bee" theme, and she did! A couple of days ago I shared three adorable bee-themed wreaths … [Read more...]




Carnivale Blue & a $500 Shopping Spree Giveaway!

Welcome to the 456th Tablescape Thursday! We're out on the porch for this week's party! It's been pretty humid here lately, lots of afternoon rain storms, but I don't mind. I love the hot weather, even those really humid days. I'm super excited about this week's Tablescape Thursday because it includes a wonderful shopping spree, a chance for you to put some new dishes in your cupboard! As you know, I … [Read more...]




17 Charger Plate Ideas for Your Next Dinner Party

Welcome to the 454th Tablescape Thursday! Whenever I set a table for friends or family, I often use a charger plate underneath the dinner plate. I love the way they enhance a setting, adding another pretty layer and providing a base for each place setting. They are also practical as they help catch drips that would otherwise fall on the table or tablecloth. Back in early 2008, before I ever began … [Read more...]




Surf’s Up! Beach Vacation in a Volkswagen Bug!

Welcome to the 452nd Tablescape Thursday! A couple of weeks ago I made a trip into Atlanta to do a bit of shopping. While there I stopped into the Lenox Square Pottery Barn where I saw these cute, shell napkin rings. I didn't buy them that day, but the more I thought about them, the more I knew I wanted to add them to my collection of napkin rings since I love setting beachy-nautical style tables on the … [Read more...]




Dreams of Italy: A Lemon-Inspired Table Setting

Welcome to the 451st Tablescape Thursday! Jeri, a reader of BNOTP, loves creating beautiful table settings for friends and family. When she shared one of her tablescapes with me recently, it transported me back to Italy where lemons are an important part of every day life. They show up everywhere in Italy from the beverages Italians drink to their dishware and linens. This was one of my favorite shops … [Read more...]




A Garden Party with the Birds and the Bees

Welcome to the 450th Tablescape Thursday! I was in the mood for a springtime table this week. It all started when I shared this bee flatware that's currently on sale in my last post. I hadn't used it in a table setting in a while and I missed it!   We're off to a garden party for this week's Tablescape Thursday!   I kept the centerpiece simple--just a vase of beautiful … [Read more...]




Dancing Into Spring, Bunny Style!

Welcome to the 449th Tablescape Thursday! When I visited Marie's beautiful home recently, the table in her living/family room was set for spring. This table is occasionally used by the family, but it primarily serves as a another area for dining when additional seating is needed.   I oohed and aahed over these adorable plates. They are so pretty! I love the sweet bunnies face and the soft … [Read more...]




The Easter Bunny Spills His Egg-Hiding Secrets

Welcome to the 447th Tablescape Thursday! Happy springtime! I spent much of Tuesday and part of Wednesday cleaning the porch and readying it for spring-summer. The porch is officially open for business! :) Yeah, summer!   Everything needed a good washing including the swing-chain-covers. The covers are washed and sitting on the swing waiting to be re-hung. The swing looks so naked without … [Read more...]




Hopping Into Spring with a Beautiful Spring-Easter Table Setting

Welcome to the 446th Tablescape Thursday! I really wanted to set a table on the porch this week but unfortunately the weather didn't cooperate. We had severe thunderstorms and lightening the entire day. We've really had some horrendous weather over the last few weeks. So I'm putting off sharing my spring-Easter until next week, but I have a wonderful treat for you for this week's Tablescape … [Read more...]




A Visit to the Souks

Welcome to the 444th Tablescape Thursday! The place we are staying here in the Sahara before we head out to our tented camp in the desert, has the absolute worst internet I've encountered the entire trip. So instead of trying to create a large post sharing one of the many dinners we've had on our trip, I thought I'd take you on a brief trip through the Fez Market, also known as the "Soucks" for this … [Read more...]




Dining on the Porch with a Whimsical Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 442nd Tablescape Thursday! It was such a beautiful, warm day out on the porch, I couldn't resist putting this week's table there.   I haven't decorated the hutch for spring yet, but when I do I'll most likely use my Ma Maison dishware by Dario Farrucci. It's always my favorite for spring and summer.   I decided to use some of the larger pieces in my … [Read more...]




Bunny Hopping Into Spring

Welcome to 440th Tablescape Thursday! We've always had a soft spot in our hearts around here for cats and bunnies. When my son was very small, we had a sweet bunny named Phineas.   Phineas was a much-loved bunny and even enjoyed cuddling with our hamster, Ralph, nearby.   So when I stumble across a cute bunny bowl, I can rarely resist. A few weeks ago I shared this adorable … [Read more...]




Spring Table Setting Ideas…Hurry Up Spring!

Welcome to the 437th Tablescape Thursday! I'm so sorry Tablescape Thursday is late going up. I thought today was Wednesday, I kid you not! I think my mix up started with having a doctor's appointment yesterday (just a check up, nothing serious) and for some reason I had it in my head all last week that the appointment was on Tuesday of this week. So this morning when I awoke, I was thinking it was … [Read more...]




Dreaming of Spring on a Warm Winter’s Day

Welcome to the 436th Tablescape Thursday! The spring-like weather we've been having and the flowers I received for my birthday from my beautiful friend, Linda, have put me in the mood for a spring table.   Hard to believe just a few weeks ago my front garden looked like this!     Hope this table brings some sunshine into your life on this January day. Are you having … [Read more...]




Sailing With Mermaids

Welcome to the 414th Tablescape Thursday! Before we dive into Tablescape Thursday, I just wanted to say thank you so much for all the great information you shared in the comments on my last post. As I figure out more about what has been causing the reactions I've experienced when eating certain foods, I will do a follow-up post. The "latex" connection several folks mentioned really caught my … [Read more...]




A Summer Tablescape Transitions Beautifully Into Fall

Welcome to the 413th Tablescape Thursday! Pssst: From time to time I get questions about the items used in table settings here at BNOTP and if they are still available. If there's an item you've previously seen in a table setting, if I can find that item still available online, I will add it to the "SHOP-Favorites for the Table" category at the top of the blog. So if you're ever looking for an item you … [Read more...]




Taper Tipper: Easiest Way To Trim Down the Base of a Candle

Welcome to the 393rd Metamorphosis Monday! Recently I shared this summer table setting for Tablescape Thursday. Thanks so much for all the lovely comments you left on that post--appreciated those so much!   The centerpiece for that table was all about candles, lots and lots of candles. (Tablescape can be viewed here: Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch)   In that post I … [Read more...]




Birthday Celebration with Eden Dishware by Roberto Cavalli

Welcome to the 411th Tablescape Thursday! Before we get into this week's Tablescape Thursday, I have something exciting to share. Several folks have asked where they could find the silver twig flatware I so often use in table settings.   The store where I purchased it online has been out of it for a long time, but I noticed a couple of days ago that another store I shop in is now carrying … [Read more...]




Romantic Candlelight Dinner on the Porch

Welcome to the 410th Tablescape Thursday! I've been saving clear bottles for a couple of years in hopes of one day creating this table setting. I was surprised by how long it took to save the bottles, seems like every tall drink comes in a colored bottle. Recently when I was cleaning out the garage and came across the bottles, I decided it was finally time to put this little table together here on the … [Read more...]




Where Did You Get That Flatware?

Welcome to the 409th Tablescape Thursday! I've been out of town visiting with family for the last five days and just got back late yesterday evening. Since I wasn't home to create a tablescape, I thought it might be fun to put together a post all about flatware. Flatware is to a table setting what jewelry or shoes are to an outfit. The right flatware can be the perfect finishing touch to a beautiful … [Read more...]




Your Fruity Coconut Drink Awaits

Welcome to the 408th Tablescape Thursday! Last November I joined The Property Brothers and a couple thousand of my closest friends for Drew and Jonathan's first ever Sailing with the Scotts Cruise.   It was a blast meeting Drew and Scott and they are just as nice in person as they are on TV. Try to ignore my completely starstruck face! lol   It had been a very long time … [Read more...]




Nautical Decor & Tablescape for a 3-Season Porch

Welcome to the 406th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're off for a visit to Linda's beautiful 3-season porch. You may remember Linda's porch from this previous post where I shared all the details about how she and her hubby converted their outside patio area to a mosquito-free space they enjoy all year around: An Ordinary Patio Becomes a Beautiful Three-Season … [Read more...]




How To Make a Tiered Planter From Terra Cotta Saucers

Yesterday for Tablescape Thursday, I shared a table setting featuring a 3-tiered planter or plant stand as the centerpiece.   Today I'm sharing detailed instructions showing how I made the planter, in case you would like to make one, too. This is one of the easiest DIY projects I've ever made and it only took about 1-1/2 hours to make. Well, maybe a little longer for the jute part, more on … [Read more...]




Spring Table Setting with Ma Maison and a DIY Tiered Planter Centerpiece

Welcome to the 404th Tablescape Thursday. Happy springtime to you!   We're out on the porch for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   You've been seeing these butterfly napkin rings a lot lately. They seem to be my favorite choice for the tablescapes I've been creating this spring. I must be in a "green" mood right now. Maybe it's from all the gardening I've been doing. … [Read more...]




Here Comes the Sun!

Welcome to the 403rd Tablescape Thursday! Today I made a visit to Whole Foods and just outside their front door I saw these: pots of beautiful sunflowers. Each plant had 2-3 flowers already open and was covered in buds, so there should be plenty more flowers on the horizon. I couldn't resist creating this week's table around these happy flowers.   I haven't used my sunflower plates in a … [Read more...]




Celebrate a Special Birthday With a Beach-Themed Tablescape and Handmade Chocolates

Welcome to the 402nd Tablescape Thursday! Have you ever thrown a birthday gathering for a friend? Recently Toni put together a wonderful table to celebrate a friend's 70th milestone birthday. Toni's friend loves the beach and anything beach related so she kept that in mind as she decorated for the party. Toni said, "I decorated the dining room hutch and corner table with the remainder of my beach … [Read more...]




Nautical Dinnerware for Summer

Welcome to the 401st Tablescape Thursday! Since I knew I wouldn't be able to put together a table this week (the two tables I normally use are out of commission at the moment as seen HERE) I stopped into Pottery Barn to see what they had in for spring and summer.   They had their patriotic vibe in full swing! The cherry plates and the pretty blue and white swirl plates are available here: … [Read more...]




The Happiest Tablescape Ever: A Sunny Limoncello Celebration

Welcome to the 400th Tablescape Thursday! Wow, can you believe this is our 400th Tablescape Thursday! Tablescape Thursday has been going on now for almost 8 years and I love it today as much as I did that very first week back in August, 2008. Thanks so much to each and every talented dearheart who has participated over the past eight years by either linking their tablescape to the party or by sharing … [Read more...]




Shell & Sea Glass Chargers for Beach Inspired Dining

Welcome to the 381st Metamorphosis Monday! Wish I had a porch update to share with you, but unfortunately due to the off-and-on rainy forecast last week, the flooring company wasn't able to come out and re-varnish the porch floor. So frustrating when every day predicts rain (except on the weekends when they don't work) and half the time, it never materializes. Okay, on to something more productive. This … [Read more...]




Makeover a Hutch with a Nautical-Beach Theme

Welcome to the 395th Tablescape Thursday! Recently I de-pollened the porch and gave it a little spring makeover.   I dressed the porch hutch with my fave porch dishes: Tabletops Unlimited, Ma Maison.   For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I decided to give the hutch a little beach makeover using a dishware I purchased back in right after the porch was … [Read more...]




A Spring Table Setting for the Little Ones

Welcome to the 394th Tablescape Thursday! For Easter each year, my friend, Marie, always sets the cutest table for her six grandchildren. This year's table was especially adorable because there were already some very soft and colorful guests seated in each chair around the table. :)   You can find these online at the Peeps website. Just Google for Plush Peeps and it's the first thing that … [Read more...]




A Springtime Table with Cabbage Plates & Floral Egg Centerpiece

Welcome to the 393rd Tablescape Thursday! When I visited Marie a couple of weeks ago, she had set several tables in her home in anticipation of the large family gathering she would be having for Easter. This table was set in her dining room near a tree Marie decorates for all the holidays and seasons. (View the tree HERE.)   Marie used Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage plates and topped those off … [Read more...]




Marie’s Beautiful Spring Easter Table Setting

Welcome to the 392nd Tablescape Thursday! This past Monday I spent a fun day shopping and lunching with my friend, Marie. If you've been reading BNOTP for a while, you know Marie decorates her beautiful Victorian home for all the holidays and seasons. I couldn't wait to see what she had done this year for spring! Marie creates whimsical vignettes throughout her home for her six grandchildren to enjoy. … [Read more...]




Spring Easter Table Setting With Spode Emma’s Garland & Bunny Centerpiece

Welcome to the 391st Tablescape Thursday! We're out on the porch this week for Tablescape Thursday. The weather has been so nice, running in the mid 70's every day, so I couldn't resist putting a table outside. Has spring arrived early in your area, too?   I've put together a table that will work for an Easter or springtime gathering.   This is the first time I've used the … [Read more...]




10 Easy Centerpieces Anyone Can Make for a Spring or Summer Celebration

Welcome to the 390th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing 10 fun centerpieces anyone can make. These centerpieces use common things we already have or items that are usually pretty easy to find in dollar stores and discount shops. The only exception may be the 5th one down, the cookie tree centerpiece, which needs a little tree of some type for display. Hope this gets … [Read more...]




Spring Tablescape with Blue Willow

Welcome to the 387th Tablescape Thursday! It's that time of year when I feel I'm in season limbo. It's still very much winter outside but my heart and mind are already deep into spring. I can't change the weather outside, but we can go spring inside. :)   Can never remember the name of the plant I'm using in the center of the table, but it's a common plant that's great for offices and … [Read more...]




Spring and Easter Table Setting Ideas

Welcome to the 386th Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for all the lovely congrats and well-wishes you left on yesterday's post. These are the moments that really matter in life and I love being able to share them with you, dear Friends! ♥ Last Tablescape Thursday, I shared a Valentine's Day themed table. On Friday we went on a field trip to Pottery Barn to see all the wonderful tables they … [Read more...]




Huge Spring Shopping Trip to Pottery Barn…So Many Cute Things!

All this spring-like weather we've been having here put me in the mood to visit the Pottery Barn near my home to check out all their new spring goodies for the home and for the table. Spring has definitely hit there, too! When I walked in the door, this was the first thing I saw. I always love to see what they will have displayed just inside the front door. Sometimes it's a beautiful table setting or … [Read more...]




DIY Shell and Sea Glass Chargers

Welcome to the 345th Metamorphosis Monday! A few years back I made these shell chargers to use in beach-themed tablescapes.   I made them after coming across six Pottery Barn chargers on eBay and seeing them sell for over $200!   I've always wondered how they would look with pretty sea glass mixed in, so recently I primed and painted a bunch of old, plastic chargers I … [Read more...]




A Seafood Boil + 5 More Tablescapes

Welcome to the 362nd Tablescape Thursday! When I visited Cresswind on Lake Lanier with a friend recently, each home had a pretty table setting inside. Let's check them out! Now this is the way to start the day, with a breakfast of croissants, fruit, wine and chocolate! :)   Notice how they tucked the spoon under the napkin ring for the bowl of beans cereal. Interesting, … [Read more...]




Inspired By The Deep Blue Sea

Welcome to the 360th Tablescape Thursday! It was a gorgeous day out on the porch, we've been blessed with a lot of those lately!   Recently, Noritake sent six salad plates my way in a fun new pattern called Indigo Beach.   Before I even knew the name of the pattern, the design had me thinking of the deep blue sea.   The yellow-rimmed dinner plates are also by … [Read more...]




A Beach-Themed Sea Life Table Setting

Welcome to the 359th Tablescape Thursday! Summer has been flying by for me this year. Has it seemed that way for you, too? It's still plenty hot here in Georgia, perfect weather for a beach and sea life inspired table setting! Recently, Elena put this wonderful table setting together with adorable plates sporting some rather cute sea creatures.   Elena chose a rustic lantern with a rope … [Read more...]




An “Italy-Inspired” Table Setting & A Special Story

Welcome to the 358th Tablescape Thursday! Terri and Johnny just returned from Italy and that wonderful trip was the inspiration for today's tablescape. They had been planning this trip for a while but it had to be put on hold for a bit. As we enjoy Terri's beautiful table setting created for a dinner with family after their return, I'll let Terri tell you why she celebrates each and every day with … [Read more...]




A Nautical Table Setting by Candlelight

Welcome to the 357th Tablescape Thursday! Soooo, remember yesterday how I mentioned plans to create a table setting on the little bistro table that lives here on the deck. HA! Mother Nature had other plans.   A huge storm came and  raged on for quite a while. It ended about half an hour before it became totally dark out. When the storm finally ended, I  rushed downstairs and quickly put … [Read more...]




Serving Ideas For Summer Parties and Gatherings

Welcome to the 356th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I've pulled together in one post a few of the ideas I've shared in the past for serving beverages for summer gatherings with family and friends. Summer is still in full swing here in the south and will be for another 2-3 months, so let's have a party! Click on the titles below to access the post for the recipe. White … [Read more...]




4th of July Nautical Table Setting

Welcome to the 355th Tablescape Thursday! So, remember that table setting I didn't get to post last week because a big storm came along and put an end to any thoughts of taking pictures for the day?   It's a week late, but better late than never, right?   I ended up setting this table with two different centerpieces.   The first centerpiece was a flag and … [Read more...]




Sail Away With a Nautical Table Setting

Welcome to the 353rd Tablescape Thursday! I braved the heat this week to create a table out on the porch. Actually, a passing storm today cooled things down a good bit so it wasn't that terribly hot, after all.   I always feel a little sad when I see June 21st pass by on the calendar. That date is our summer solstice which means our longest day of sunshine has come and gone. The daylight … [Read more...]




A Secret Garden Party and You’re Invited

Welcome to the 333rd Metamorphosis Monday! When my son and daughter-in-law moved into their home a couple of years ago, they inherited a beautiful backyard. The older couple who previously lived there were avid gardeners and they had created a secluded paradise that was the talk of the neighborhood. The cares of the day vanished the moment you entered this lovely garden.   Nancy and Chip's … [Read more...]




Flameless Candles for Summer Table Settings

Welcome to the 350th Tablescape Thursday! Recently I stopped by Pottery Barn to check out their spring and summer dishware. They have a sale going on right now for some of their flatware, place card holders and dishware. They had a lot of tables set, more than I ever remember seeing before at one time. This one feels very festive with all the different plate colors. The dishware kind of reminds me of … [Read more...]




5 Spring & Summer Table Settings

Welcome to the 349th Tablescape Thursday! For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I'm sharing five tablescapes from summers past. These were all fun tables to create...hope you enjoy! Click on the title of each table setting (or the photo) to view that tabelscape in detail. Monkey Business   Whimsical Kitchen Bridal Shower Tablescape   A Romantic Dinner For … [Read more...]