A Christmas Vacation Table Setting with Dept. 56 Lit Houses

Welcome to the 533rd Tablescape Thursday! This has been such an interesting, busy week. Yesterday I was awakened at 4:15 in the morning by a trembling bed. Having experienced two earthquakes during the last 10 or so years, I was pretty sure we were having another one. A quick check of Twitter confirmed it. I rarely visit Twitter but it's a great place to go if you're wondering if an earthquake has just … [Read more...]




12 Days of Christmas Table Setting with a Guest Appearance by One of the 6 Geese

Welcome to the 532nd Tablescape Thursday! Today I'm wishing I had a table that seated 12. I'd love to share all 12 place settings of this pattern with you for this week's Tablescape Thursday.   I had planned to place this table in the breakfast room, but at the last minute I decided to set it here in the dining room.   I took these photos late, late last night. Picture … [Read more...]




Plaid Everything! Yes, Please!

Welcome to the 531st Tablescape Thursday! Just before I left to fly north for Thanksgiving, I stopped into Pottery Barn to scope out all their Christmas dinnerware. They always have such fun holiday dinnerware. I love seeing it all and it really gets me excited for the holidays. Since Thanksgiving was just a few days away, they no longer had Thanksgiving dinnerware on display. I just noticed today, … [Read more...]




Dining in a Country Lodge, An Autumn Inspired Table Setting

Welcome to the 529th Tablescape Thursday! It's very cold here in Georgia right now, so I'm dreaming I'm in a beautiful lodge. There's a roaring, crackling fire blazing away in the massive stone fireplace. I'm curled up under a cozy, warm throw, reading The Secret Garden for the thousandth time while sipping the yummiest hot chocolate. What's that? It's time for dinner?   A dark … [Read more...]




Beauty & the Beast Birthday Table Featuring Beauty & the Beast Collectibles

Welcome to the 528th Tablescape Thursday! Happy to say I have turned the corner with this yucky cold/virus I caught my last couple of days in Egypt. The fever is gone and I'm finally starting to get my energy back now, which is good since the holidays are upon us! Thanks so much for all your comments on yesterday's post. I'm so glad you enjoyed our crazy adventure at the Sofitel Legend Old Cataract … [Read more...]




A Spooky but Elegant Halloween Table Setting with a Count Dracula Vampire Theme

Welcome to the 527th Tablescape Thursday! Well, I did it again...got sick on a trip overseas. The last couple of days in Egypt, I felt like I was coming down with a bad cold. I spiked a high fever during the flight home and that has continued. It's been 102 all night. I'm going to try and see a doctor today. I sure hope I don't have a massive fall-out of hair like happened last time I ran a high … [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...]




Humorous Halloween Centerpiece for a Festive Birthday Celebration

Welcome to the 525th Tablescape Thursday! Sandra recently hosted a little luncheon in celebration of a friend's birthday. She set the most fun table with a delightful centerpiece featuring whimsical Halloween witches she found in Tuesday Morning many years back.   Sandra said, "We lived in Adams, Tennesse for about 9 years, which is the home of the Bell Witch. Great … [Read more...]




A Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration with Harvest Pumpkin China

Welcome to the 524th Tablescape Thursday! Brenda and Tom are newlyweds, they were just married in August. Together they live at Peaceful Valley Farm in Canada. What a beautiful place! It certainly lives up to its name! Brenda said, "We are retired but we have a hobby farm with two horses, Lady and Foxy. We also have 6 black Angus cows, (Tour of Duty, Rosebud, Daisey, Feiria, Roscoe, and Arlene) over … [Read more...]




5 Creative Tablescapes for Halloween and Fall

Welcome to the 523rd Tablescape Thursday! This week I'm taking you back to a few of my favorite Halloween and Autumn table settings.  If you're new to reading here at BNOTP, you'll find all the Halloween tables linked under the category "Tablescapes" at the top of the blog. To access those, click on: Tablescapes/Holiday/Halloween. Or, you'll find them all here: Halloween Tablescapes. Fall Tablescapes … [Read more...]




Tablescape Thursday: A Halloween Setting by Candlelight

Welcome to the 522nd Tablescape Thursday! We had storms this afternoon and it got quite dark as I finished setting this table to share for today's Tablescape Thursday. I decided to go with it--embrace the cloudy, moody afternoon and photograph this Halloween only table by candlelight. As it got even darker out, I turned on a few lamps.   Love dining by candlelight!   It may … [Read more...]




Welcoming Autumn with a Colorful Table Setting in Shades of Red, Gold and Brown

Welcome to the 521st Tablescape Thursday! With the official first day of autumn just a couple of days away, I'm  sharing a fall-ish table setting for this week's Tablescape Thursday. Still very warm here--reaching the 90's each day (which I love) but I know the cooler temps will be headed this way before too long.   I kept the centerpiece simple, using a red lantern I've had for several … [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...]




A Shark-Themed Table Setting for a Special Boy’s Birthday Party!

Welcome to the 519th Tablescape Thursday! These embossed chargers I recently shared in a post just arrived a couple of days ago. They are still in their packing boxes in my entry, been so busy I haven't had a chance to unpack them, yet. I was impressed with the shipping/packaging, each charger is individually boxed and well padded. I couldn't resist opening up one to see how they looked. Love them and … [Read more...]




Fall Dinnerware Shopping & Beautiful Embossed White Chargers On Sale

Welcome to the 518th Tablescape Thursday! I always have to be dragged kicking and screaming into fall. I know it's not that way for a lot of folks who can't wait for a bit of relief from the heat. When it comes to checking out the new dishware offerings for autumn, no dragging is needed. Ha! Yesterday I stopped into the Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma near my home to see if they had their fall/autumn … [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 Living Room Table: Great for Reading, Working or a Casual Dinner

Welcome to the 511th Tablescape Thursday! Marie always sets several tables when entertaining for the holidays. One of my favorite tables in her home is the one she usually sets in her living area in case additional seats are needed. This room is nice and large, so it easily accommodates a large table for reading, working or dining.   Since this table is also used for other activities … [Read more...]




Festive Table Setting for a 4th of July Patriotic Celebration

Welcome to the 510th Tablescape Thursday! It's always a big celebration at Marie's for the 4th of July! She had several tables set and ready for friends and family when we met up last week.   I love these Uncle Sam hats! They make such a fun statement on any table or in any centerpiece or decor. Marie found those in Pier 1 a few years back.   A mix of tall, glass candle … [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...]




A Red, White & Blue Patriotic Table Setting in Honor of Memorial Day

Welcome to the 504th Tablescape Thursday! We've been getting some really heavy storms here each day, so I decided to place my table inside this week. I've put together a patriotic setting in honor of Memorial Day, but this setting would also work great for the 4th of July or any other patriotic occasion or holiday.   This setting is all about the Red, White and Blue as we celebrate our … [Read more...]




The Great Dish Storage Experiment, Plus Some New Chargers & Napkin Rings

Welcome to the 503rd Tablescape Thursday! I've just returned from spending three weeks with my son, daughter-in-law, and grandsons. I had never planned to stay quite that long but due to various reasons involving a delayed refrigerator delivery, my return date kept getting pushed out. When the day came that I had planned to leave, my son and dil pointed out Mother's Day was only 3 days away. I hadn't … [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...]




3 Fabulous Themed Table Settings & A Brilliant Napkin Ring Storage Idea

Welcome to the 501st Tablescape Thursday! Between Naps On The Porch readers have some of the best ideas! Two lovely BNOTP readers came up with a clever idea for storing napkin rings: they both use pants hangers! Cynthia shared two photos showing how she stores her napkin rings. She uses pants hangers, the type that open out on one end.   You can store a lot of napkin rings this way and … [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...]




Tablescape Thursday News, Recent Purchases, & Email Addresses to Avoid

Hotmail Blocking Emails Occasionally I hear from someone who has subscribed to receive email updates so they'll know when a new post is up here at Between Naps On The Porch, but unfortunately, the updates are never arriving. Today I learned something very surprising. Apparently, there's a big problem with Hotmail. Often, emails that are sent to Hotmail email addresses end up being rejected and never get … [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...]




An Enchanting Spring Table Setting

Welcome to the 496th Tablescape Thursday! So excited this morning to share a beautiful spring table setting with you! Gina has her table all ready for a special dinner she's hosting this weekend. This table would be lovely for any spring or Easter table setting. Gina shared all the sources for the treasures she used when putting this table together. I've tried to link out to those that are still … [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 Settings, Through the Years

Welcome to the 494th Tablescape Thursday! St. Patrick's Day is this Saturday, just two days away! For this week's St. Patrick's Day, I thought it would be fun to look back at the tables I've created over the past 10 years. Hard to believe Between Naps On The Porch turns 10 years old this August! How has it been 10 years?!   ☘ Click any link to view tablescape in detail. Happy St. … [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...]




Going to Miss the Cozy Tartan Plaids of Winter

Welcome to the 492nd Tablescape Thursday! A few week's back I posted a winter woodland table for Tablescape Thursday.   Shortly after posting that table, Elinda shared photos of a recent woodland table she had put together. Though spring has arrived early here in Georgia (everything is blooming up a storm now!) I had to share this delightful cozy woodland table. Recognize the deer in … [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...]




A Cozy, Woodland, Candlelight Dinner for Cold, Winter Nights

Welcome to the 487th Tablescape Thursday! During the winter months, I love surrounding myself with plaid as much as possible, be it a plaid throw at night when I'm reading, a plaid scarf to keep me warm when I run errands or colorful, plaid plates for cozy dining.   This winter table has a woodland-deer theme. I kept the centerpiece simple, using two cute deer I've had for several years … [Read more...]




A Peppermint-Candy Fantasy Table & Kitchen

Welcome to the 485th Tablescape Thursday! Before I left for Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and took photos of the beautiful tables she had created for family and friends. Marie had all her tables set for an upcoming Christmas dinner party. Marie hosts a lot of events in her home throughout the year, so it's always so much fun to see her decorations. I was afraid I wouldn't get the chance to … [Read more...]




Green, White, Silver and Crystal for an Elegant Table Setting

Welcome to the 484th Tablescape Thursday! Just before I left for the Christmas Markets trip to Germany, I visited with my friend Marie and snapped some photos of her beautiful Christmas tables. The dining room has the perfect spot for a Christmas tree.   For her main dining table, Marie created a stunningly elegant table setting. Notice the greenery around the very top of the chandelier. I … [Read more...]




Mixing Plaids and Tartans for a Festive Holiday Table

Welcome to the 483rd Tablescape Thursday! Recently Martha had friends over for "Dinner and Dominos." Doesn't that sound like fun! I haven't played Dominos in so long, I'm not sure I remember how.   Like so many of us, Martha loves tartans and plaids. I think they are so festive and not just for Christmas. They add so much color and happiness to any room, creating a perfect winter … [Read more...]




Christmas in Heaven

Welcome to the 482nd Tablescape Thursday! Elena always creates the most magical table settings. Earlier this year she experienced a tremendous loss when her sister, Anna, passed away at the age of 62. This Christmas will be the first Christmas since Anna's passing. Elena shared some photos with me of the beautiful table she created for Christmas this year. Elena said, "My idea of a different kind of … [Read more...]




Woodland Christmas Table Setting with Magnolia Centerpiece

Welcome to the 481st Tablescape Thursday! Remember that crazy snow storm we had recently...   ...the one that left an epic 8 inches of snow in my yard?   The magnolia tree in my front yard lost more branches than I've ever seen it lose during a snow or ice storm. Once the storm was over, I found branches laying on the ground all the way around the tree. There were so many in … [Read more...]




A Christmas Table Setting for Cat Lovers

Welcome to the 480th Tablescape Thursday! We're back in the breakfast room for this week's Tablescape Thursday, only there's no sunshine today. It was a rainy, dreary day out, so I decided to make my own sunshine inside. My centerpiece is a bit tall for this spot, so had to slide the table over slightly due to the chandelier.   If you are a cat lover, you're going to love the dishware … [Read more...]




12 Days of Christmas Holiday Table Setting

Welcome to the 479th Tablescape Thursday! I was out of town until late Tuesday night, so didn't get to put a table together until last night. Unfortunately, I was too sick to stay up last night to take photos and create a post. This cold I have is absolutely evil! I'm supposed to go on a Christmas home tour on Saturday, but I'm not sure that will happen. Christmas sure is an inconvenient time to get … [Read more...]




One Dish, Many Celebrations

Welcome to the 478th Tablescape Thursday! Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends this week. I'm away enjoying visiting with family, so don't have a table to share, but I have something table related that I hope you'll enjoy. Recently I purchased something as a Christmas gift for a family member and loved it so much, I purchased one for myself, as well. You may remember … [Read more...]




They’re Back, and They’ve Brought 12 New Friends!

Welcome to the  477th Tablescape Thursday! This past week has been a super busy one, and a tad stressful. It was filled with major updates being made to the blog/site, which thankfully went well, Christmas tree shopping and dentist/doctors appointments. Remind me to never schedule both of those in the same week! Too crazy! Life definitely got in the way of me putting together a new tablescape for this … [Read more...]




Clark Griswold Is At It Again! Get Your Back-up Power Source Ready!

Welcome to the 476th Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions yesterday regarding where to shop for a Christmas tree. I am going to check them all out over the next few days. I'll be sure to let you know what tree I end up buying. All this talk of Christmas trees has me dreaming of Christmas. Years ago, we used to collect Department 56 houses. I still have them all, though … [Read more...]




3 Wonderful Halloween Tables & Tips for Creating a Spooky Mist with Dry Ice

Welcome to the 475th Tablescape Thursday! Over the last few days I've received some wonderful photos from BNOTP readers, sharing the amazing tables they put together for Halloween this year. Norma's Spooky but Elegant Halloween Table Norma created an elegant black and white table with beautiful silver accents.   Notice how she used simple, white dinnerware. If you've got a basic set … [Read more...]




Noritake Xavier Gold: Perfect for an Autumn or Holiday Table

Welcome to the 474th Tablescape Thursday! Too cold to create a table setting on the porch this week...   ...or, on the new seating area on the deck.   Since we're inside in the dining room for this week's Tablescape Thursday, it's the perfect time to share a candlelit table with a cozy, autumn feel.   This table wanted to become everything. It wanted to be a … [Read more...]




Blue Willow & Floral Pumpkin Centerpiece for an Autumn Table

Welcome to the 472nd Tablescape Thursday! We've decided to skip fall and winter here in Georgia this year. As you can see, the trees are still green and leafy in my back yard, and yesterday was in the 80's. Today we'll reach 85! I'm really not complaining, though. I love summer and love the heat. I wonder when fall arrives, if it will just hit all at once and all the leaves will change and fall off the … [Read more...]




3 Whimsical Halloween Table Settings

Welcome to the 471st Tablescape Thursday! I attended a fun Low-Country Boil at Marie's earlier in the week. Marie often hosts gatherings for civic organizations in the community. This event was being held for the YMCA. The weather was perfect for the evening, I never even needed a sweater. We had the usual you would expect for a low-country boil: shrimp, corn on the cob, potatoes and sausage. Dessert … [Read more...]




Dinner in a Country Lodge

Welcome to the 469th Tablescape Thursday! It's still warm here in Georgia, but some David Carter Brown plates I purchased recently have put me in the mood for a bit of fall fun.   I almost placed this table setting in the dining room since it has more of an autumn feel with its red walls.   But in the end I decided to stay on the porch since it was so nice out with temps in … [Read more...]




A Shopping Trip Inside the Belleek Pottery Factory Store

Welcome to the 468th Tablescape Thursday! I didn't get a chance to put a table together this week, in fact my porch is still not put back together since I took it apart in anticipation of Irma's arrival. I want to mop the floor and give it a good end-of-summer cleaning before I put everything back in place. But I do have a treat for you! I took quite a few photos when I was shopping inside the Belleek … [Read more...]




Inspired By Our Cooler Weather, But Not Quite Ready to Say Goodbye to Summer

Welcome to the 467th Tablescape Thursday! Yesterday: Awoke at 5:00 am--body still on Ireland time. Decided to make the most of it and headed down to the garage to start replacing the bowed shelves.   Took a while to unload and reload all the shelves since several had to be removed at once to get them out. Afterwards: much better---no more bowed shelves!   Ditto for all the … [Read more...]




Tour the Belleek Pottery Factory, Beautiful Pottery Still Hand-Crafted in Ireland

Welcome to the 466th Tablescape Thursday! While away in Ireland, I created a post sharing a few pics inside the Belleek Pottery Gift Shoppe located inside the Belleek Pottery Factory in County Fermanagh. If you missed that post, you'll find it here: Shopping in Belleek Pottery.   Today, I thought we would go back inside to tour the "factory." I put factory in quotes because it's not very … [Read more...]




Shopping in Belleek Pottery in Northern Ireland, A Dish-Lover’s Heaven!

Welcome to the 466th Tablescape Thursday! It's after midnight as I write this, so it's already Thursday here in Ireland. The days are wonderfully busy and full as we tour this beautiful country. It's everything that you said it would be in your comments on my previous posts about this scheduled trip. It's lush and green, and the people who live here are just as friendly as you described. I'm sure this … [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...]




Tablescaping Storage for Dishware, Flatware, Napkin Rings, Napkins and Glassware

Welcome to the 464th Tablescape Thursday! Update: Since I had some issues with the shelves that came with these cabinets not holding the weight they are "supposed' to hold without bowing, I had melamine shelves cut to the size needed at Home Depot. I replaced every single shelf that wasn't a "fixed" shelf with the Home Depot melamine shelves at the cost of $7 a shelf. The HD shelves are thicker and much … [Read more...]




A Birthday Dinner Celebration with a Vintage Vogue Fashion Theme

Welcome to the 463rd Tablescape Thursday! Recently Elena and her beautiful family gathered together to celebrate the birthday of four family members. Elena lost her dear sister, Anna earlier this year so for Elena this party was more a celebration for Anna who would have turned 63 last month.   Elena wrote, "As I’m sure you know, a new tablescape can come to life based on one pretty thing … [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...]




Completed for Now: Storage for Charger Plates, Flatware, Napkins and Napkin Rings

Welcome to the 461st Tablescape Thursday! If you've been reading BNOTP the last few weeks, you know I had some big plans for one wall in my garage. I purchased four of the cabinet below on the left and two of the cabinet on the right in hopes of creating some awesome storage for organizing a lot of  my entertaining/tablescaping wares. I thought it would be great to have everything together in one place … [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...]




A Breakfast Brunch with Good Friends

Welcome to the 459th Tablescape Thursday! In 2000, Martha tore down an old rotting screened porch and replaced it with a 4-season sunroom. Martha said, "It is my refuge! I like to set tables out there when I can and eat where we can hear the fountain and look at the flowers." Martha's sunroom is the perfect spot for entertaining. Martha said, "Recently, I had my supper club over for a brunch. My … [Read more...]




Sunflower Centerpiece for a 4th of July Table Setting

Welcome to the 458th Tablescape Thursday! We've been having the most beautiful weather lately, perfect for setting a table out on the porch.   Today's table is all about sunflowers, well--the 4th of July AND sunflowers! :)   I always love using Sakura Warren Kimble flag dinnerware for 4th of July tablescapes. Really it's good for any time of the year but it's especially fun … [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...]




A Fabulous “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” Brunch Event

Welcome to the 455th Tablescape Thursday! Recently in a post I mentioned loving the color, "Tiffany Blue." Debbie, a reader of BNOTP, e-mailed to say that she also loves that color and would soon be hosting her 3rd Annual "My Favorite Things" party brunch at her home. Debbie wrote, "My friends and family call me the "Queen of Theme" and got a huge kick out of my French Queen Bee (with honey and lemon … [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...]




Celebrating the Red, White & Blue for This Tablescape Thursday!

Welcome to the 453rd Tablescape Thursday! The month of May has flown by and June will soon be here. How did that happen! With Memorial Day coming up, I thought it would be fun to look back at some previous patriotic tables for a bit of inspiration in case you'll be having family or friends over during the long weekend. I've also included a couple of crafts/decor ideas in today's post. Do you have any … [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...]




Whimsical Ideas for Spring Tablescapes

Welcome to the 448th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Spring! My friend, Marie, had a big family gathering this year for Easter. She decorated and set her tables well in advance, but with my trip to Morocco, we could never find a good date to get together for photos. Just before I left to travel out of state to see family for Easter, I was able to stop by Marie's home to take photos, but unfortunately she … [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...]




Dining in Fez & Cooking in a Tagine

Welcome to the 445th Tablescape Thursday! I'm back home! Enjoyed my time in Morocco but there's definitely no place like home. When traveling, it seems like every time you turn around it's time to eat again, not that I'm complaining! Trying new foods is definitely one of the best parts of travel. On Saturday, March 18th, we explored Fez, a place our guide-book states is often considered "the world's … [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...]




A Festive St. Patrick’s Day Table Setting

Welcome to the 443rd Tablescape Thursday! Gina put together the most wonderful tablescape for friends and family for St. Patrick's Day! Oh, how I would love to be dining here!   Gina found the cute shamrock plates at Lillian Vernon several years ago. I've seen similar plates in HomeGoods and Marshalls around this time of year, so that's another good place to look for … [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...]




A Beautiful Table Setting to Honor a Special Life

Welcome to the 441st Tablescape Thursday! Elena  planned a special Valentine's Day table this year. She wanted it to be extra special for her family, especially since her sister Anna would be attending. Anna had a heart transplant in January 2000 and during the past year she had been very sick.   Unfortunately, Anna didn't have the opportunity to attend this special dinner in person, … [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...]




Beautiful Valentine’s Day Table Settings & A Clever Idea for Candle Storage

Welcome to the 439th Tablescape Thursday! Last week I used the very latest version of InLinkz for Metamorphosis Monday and Tablescape Thursday. For most folks, it worked fine, but I've heard from 4-5 readers who were unable to see the party links. Until we can figure out what's causing that issue, I've gone back to using the old version of InLinkz for today. If you were having an issue seeing the … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day Table with Vintage Copeland Spode, Tower

Welcome to the 438th Tablescape Thursday! Please Note: I'm using the latest version of InLinkz for today's Tablescape Thursday party. If you have trouble seeing the links (or the button to link up to the party) please check to make sure you are using the latest version of your browser. You may have trouble seeing the links or linking up if your browser is an older version. Thanks so much for all your … [Read more...]