Pottery Barn Clock Plates, Make Your Own

Welcome to the 189th Metamorphosis Monday!   Back around New Years I posted a wonderful tablescape my friend, Bonnie put together for a New Year's Eve dinner party with friends.  I love vintage/antique clocks and this table was so perfect for a New Year's Eve gathering with its clock theme.   Bonnie used her Pottery Barn clock plates for this tablescape.   These plates were … [Read more...]




Deer Head with Rosemary Wreath

Welcome to the 188th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Monday to you!   For this Metamorphosis Monday I'm sharing a couple of fun updates here in the office.  Okay,  here's the "before" picture for this little office tweak.   Do you see the changes?  Something has been added and something has been taken away.   The clock is gone for now.  I loved it but the shape felt wrong for … [Read more...]




How to Make Rose-Scented Sugar

Welcome to the 187th Metamorphosis Monday! One of my favorite books is Roses for the Scented Room by Barbara Milo Ohrbach.  In fact, I love all her books including Antiques at Home, The Scented Room and Tabletops.  I just ordered A Passion for Antiques this evening.   All her books are very affordable at Amazon, especially if you buy them used in "Good" or "Like New" condition, which is what I almost … [Read more...]




How to Age, Antique or Distress Furniture, Signs or a Wood Flag

Welcome to the 186th Metamorphosis Monday! Recently, I was chatting via e-mail with Nancy,  a talented DIY reader of BNOTP.  Nancy was inspired by a tutorial I posted a while back detailing how I made a wooden flag for Independence Day. I had been inspired by this one in the Pottery Barn catalog.   Since I had a big cookout planned for the 4th, the flag was the finishing touch for my patriotic … [Read more...]




A Secret Message

Welcome to the 185th Metamorphosis Monday! I don't have a "home" related Before and After to share this week.   Well, actually I did but I couldn't wait and shared my mirror update a few days ago.  So for this Met Monday, I thought I'd share a very different kind of "Before and After."  It's a romantic "Before and After." Once upon a time there was a Bride and a Groom.    The morning of … [Read more...]




Make Your Own Beverage Tags: A Ballard Designs Knock-Off

Recently, I received an "End of Season" Ballard Designs catalog in the mail.  Excuse me, but would someone please tell Ballard Designs to not rush my summer.  It's just mid July and here in the south summer lasts at least until the end of September, sometimes well into October. Max and I curled up in the green and white chair here in the office and had fun oohing and ahhing from one page to the next.  So … [Read more...]




A Magical 4th of July with Good Friends

Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments yesterday.  I'm so looking forward to another 200 Tablescape Thursdays! Lately I've been sticking near home a lot.  I'm determined to get all the posts at BNOTP categorized, tagged and labeled so I can make the switch to the new system to alleviate the issue some readers are having accessing posts via the category links.   So every free second when I'm not … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Deck for Summer Parties and Cookouts

Happy 4th of July! Do you have any big plans for today? I'll be celebrating this evening with friends atop the Sundial in Atlanta.  Whooo, Hooo!  Really looking forward to seeing the fireworks from there!  Have you ever spent the 4th dining inside the Sundial?  Where's the highest spot from which you've ever viewed fireworks?  Any recommendations for a great fireworks show or is the best show going to … [Read more...]




4th of July Table Setting

Welcome to the 199th Tablescape Thursday! Greetings! Hope your week is going great.   Look what I found on my front porch today.  A package!  I wonder what could be inside? Oh, there's a little note.  Let's take a closer look and see what it says.  The note says, "Enjoy!" and it's signed, Mary.   Any guesses what might be inside?   I'll give you a big hint.  Tucked inside this … [Read more...]




A Patriotic Celebration

Welcome to the 198th Tablescape Thursday!  Hope your week is going great!  It's 12:25 AM Thursday morn as I write this.  I am a bit late finishing up my tablescape post for this week because I've been hanging with my blog friends at Haven.  We all went out to dinner this evening after the kick off of the Haven Conference and I just got home around 11:30. So, that means the pictures I'm sharing this week … [Read more...]




Easy 4th of July Centerpiece Table Decoration

Yesterday was flag day and that started me thinking about another patriotic holiday just a couple weeks away.  Last year I created this table setting for the 4th of July.     The centerpiece was so much fun to make.  I never got around to sharing just how I made it last year.   If you're looking for a festive, easy-to-make centerpiece or table decoration for an upcoming … [Read more...]




Easter Table Setting with Floral Centerpiece

Welcome to the 191st Tablescape Thursday! Thanks so  much for all the wonderful comments left on yesterday's post.   I so appreciate each and every one.  Your encouragement is giving me the perseverance I need to finish the project. I know Easter has long since past but I'm still not quite done with bunnies. This time the bunnies are in a springtime breakfast table setting. Lately, I've been … [Read more...]




Table Setting with Spode, Chinese Rose

Welcome to the 190th Tablescape Thursday! Greetings!  For this week's Tablescape Thursday, we're stopping by Cornelia's beautiful home in Switzerland.  Recently, Cornelia prepared a wonderful table setting to share with friends and family for Good Friday. Cornelia said, "I set the table with Spode’s Chinese Rose.  Chinese Rose is the most popular and long-lived of all Spode patterns, and is derived … [Read more...]




Make Marshmallow Flowers for Cupcakes: A Tutorial

Last week's Tablescape Thursday included yummy cupcakes. Here's a wider view of the tablescape...   The cupcakes were decorated with little flowers in celebration of spring.   Today, I though I'd share how I made the little flowers.  It's soooo easy, you're gonna love this! To begin, take a hand full of miniature marshmallows and cut them in half on the diagonal.  It's … [Read more...]




Easter Spring Table Setting with Tulip Centerpiece

Welcome to the 188th Tablescape Thursday! Happy Spring and welcome to Tablescape Thursday, a party where we celebrate our love for entertaining and creating pretty table settings for our friends and loved ones.  A beautiful table setting is really just an expression of caring and love for those who'll gather there. Tulips make such a wonderful centerpiece for a spring or Easter table … [Read more...]




Double Bowl Hurricane Floral Centerpiece: Pottery Barn Knock-Off

I've been using a lot of fresh flowers in table settings lately.  Once those cold winter months are behind us, it's such a joy to bring fresh flowers into our homes.  One of my favorite flowers is the tulip.  It's almost impossible to think of spring and not think of beautiful tulips. Tulips are a wonderful flower to give or receive for a birthday or for Mother's Day.  I've been the happy recipient of … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Door for Easter

Welcome to the 167 Metamorphosis Monday! I have a fun, crafty metamorphosis to share for this Met Monday.   I don't have "before" pics but they would simply be the supplies you would buy to create this adorable bunny for your spring door.   I know that looks like a Christmas tree out on the porch.  It was a tree in an urn with dragonfly lights.   I had it out there for a while but eventually removed it … [Read more...]




Spring Easter Table Setting with Daffodil and Moss Centerpiece

Welcome to the 187th Tablescape Thursday! Greetings!  Hope it's as beautiful where you are as it is here in Georgia.  This has been such a wonderful spring!  As I looked through the photos for this post, I noticed the background is changing with each week's table setting here on the porch.  It's getting green and woolly out there...love this time of year!   For this Tablescape Thursday, … [Read more...]




Make Heart-Shaped Sugar Cubes for Parties: A Tutorial

Recently while reading a Country Living magazine, I came across the cutest heart-shaped sugar cubes.  The magazine shared where they could be ordered but I decided to try making my own.  I thought they would be fun for parties, especially tea parties or to offer guests with coffee after dinner. Instead of white cubes as shown in the article, I decided to color mine.  Since it's so close to Easter, I … [Read more...]




Spring Easter Table Setting with Wisteria Centepiece

Welcome to the 186th Tablescape Thursday! Greetings!  Hope your week is going great.  Spring is in full swing here; everything is blooming up a storm!  For this week's Tablescape Thursday, I did something I've always wanted to do in a table setting.   I've always wanted to use Wisteria in a centerpiece.  It's just so beautiful and fragrant and it grows wild here in the south.   Each spring … [Read more...]




A St. Patrick’s Day Table Setting on the Porch

Welcome to the 185th Tablescape Thursday! Spring officially arrives on March 20th, but it's already here in Georgia.  The temps have been in the upper 70's; they even went above 80° today. It was so beautiful out the day I captured these pics.  I'm looking forward to seeing green leaves filling out the trees real soon.  I don't think it will be long now.   The sheers were dancing in the … [Read more...]




Valentine’s Day Table Setting: Candlelit and Romantic

Welcome to the 181st Tablescape Thursday! It was another gorgeous day here...is this really February?  Since the temps reached 67 degrees today, I headed for the porch for this Tablescape Thursday. I know Valentine's Day is behind us now, but I had to squeeze in one more Valentine's Day table setting before we say good-bye to that holiday for another year.  I had envisioned this tablescape with red … [Read more...]




Eye Candy for Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine's Day!  Did you get a chance to visit the wonderful Before and Afters posted for yesterday's Met Monday?  I was once again blown away by all the wonderful talent and creativity in Blogland! I started to name today's post, "Hijacked" because this post started out with one topic and it kind of morphed into something else.  You'll see what I mean in a sec. If you've been reading BNOTP for … [Read more...]




Decorating for Valentine’s Day

Welcome to the 160th Metamorphosis Monday! Valentine's Day is tomorrow.  I love that holiday.  How can you not love a day that's all about chocolate, romance and ♥ LOVE! ♥ It makes me smile when I remember bringing Valentine's Day cards to school.   If I close my eyes, I can still see all the colorful construction-paper folders we made and decorated.  They were strung along the wall where they … [Read more...]




Make Music-Covered Hearts for Valentine’s Day: A Tutorial

Yesterday for our Tablescape Thursday, I shared a Valentine's Day table setting with a sweet, romantic easy-to-make centerpiece.  I had been plotting thinking for some time about creating a willowy little "tree" with the River Birch branches I'm always picking up from my front yard. I decided to decorate my little birch tree with hearts so I checked several places online.  During my search I came … [Read more...]




Table Setting with Music & Mercury-Glass Heart Tree

Welcome to the 180th Tablescape Thursday! Valentine's Day is just a few days away.   Did you forward your Valentine's Day cards to the Valentine, Texas Post Master to have them postmarked with their famous stamp?  Such a cute idea!   We've been having spring-like weather for weeks here in Georgia.  Even the daffodils are in full bloom.  The porch was calling, begging me to come out and play.   … [Read more...]




Elegant New Year’s Eve Table Setting

Welcome to the 175th Tablescape Thursday!  Can you believe this is our 175th Tablescape Thursday?  Wow!  That's a lot of fabulous tablescapes when you consider how many are linked here each week.  Thank you, thank you, thank you to all you talented ladies and gents who share your amazing eye for detail and beauty.  It's so wonderful to visit your blogs.  The world just melts away for a while as I lose … [Read more...]




Christmas Tree Lit with Real Candles

I know Christmas is behind us, but I just had to share these wonderful photographs of Cornelia's, gorgeous tree.  Cornelia lives in Switzerland and each year she decorates her tree in a traditional way, using real candles.  Wait until you see the photos of it all aglow in candlelight!  It truly is breathtaking!The decorating process takes Cornelia many hours, usually 15-16.  The … [Read more...]




Brumby Hall: Tour the Upstairs of This Historic Home

In early December I had the opportunity to tour Brumby Hall while on a Christmas Historic Home Tour in Marietta, Georgia. One of the homes open during the tour was Brumby Hall. I previously shared a tour of the downstairs of this beautiful home HERE and a tour of the two dining rooms HERE. In case you missed those previous tours, here's a brief history of this historic home. In the previous posts, we … [Read more...]




Easy Key Lime Pie Recipe

Welcome to the 154th Metamorphosis Monday! I'm sharing an edible "Before and After" for this Metamorphosis Monday. This past Christmas I decided to shake things up a bit.  I made the traditional Coconut Cake and Ambrosia (recipe for Coconut Cake HERE) but I decided to make a pie, too. Years ago, I used to make a Lemon Meringue pie using a recipe from an old Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk recipe … [Read more...]




Elegant Dining in Brumby Hall

Welcome to the 175th Tablescape Thursday! Early this morning I posted a tour of the downstairs of beautiful Brumby Hall.  If you missed that tour, you'll find it here: Brumby Hall.  For Tablescape Thursday, I'm taking you into the dining rooms.  Yep, Brumby Hall has two dining rooms, probably due to its function as a special events facility now. This dining area was at the very back of the home. … [Read more...]




Beautiful, Historic Brumby Hall: Take the Tour

This week between Christmas and New Years is such a special time.  In a way, it feels like time is standing still.  For some, life may have returned to normal with normal working hours and schedules.  But if your household is anything like mine, you're still reveling in all things Christmas with New Year's Eve/Day waiting in the wings.  My family is still here visiting and the memories we're making are … [Read more...]




The Upstairs Family Room Decorated for Christmas

Welcome to the 153rd Metamorphosis Monday! Merry Christmas!   I have just a quick "Before and After" to share for this Met Monday.   I added a few holiday touches to the upstairs family room this year and never got around to sharing those.  As always, I hung a little wreath on the grandfather clock.   This year the armoire got a bit of lit greenery and I moved the feather tree from its … [Read more...]




Ice Chiller for Wine or Champagne: A Tutorial

I shared how to make this wine chiller last year, but I thought it would be fun to share that post again in case you're looking for something fun for your Christmas table or for your New Year's eve celebration.  It's easy to make...you'll just need a couple of containers, water and cranberries.  Sliced lemons and limes would work, too. Tutorial:  Make a wine chiller: Last year I received a catalog in … [Read more...]




Christmas Tablescape with a Lemon & Lime Centerpiece

Welcome to the 174th Tablescape Thursday! Greetings!  Hope you’ve been having a wonderful day!  My day has been a little wacky.  I had an eye exam this morning and I forgot when you go for an eye exam, they dilate your eyes.   So, if these pics look a little blurry, you’ll know why.  lol  It was definitely a challenge taking photos and sorting them with partially dilated eyes. I love the “Colonial … [Read more...]




Christmas Mice Ornaments or Present Toppers: A Tutorial

Looking for an ornament or present topper? Christmas mice with candy cane tails make cute ornaments for the tree.   They are also great little present toppers.  This is a great craft for all ages.  I have a faux candy cane tucked inside my little mouse below, but you'll probably want to use a real candy cane if you attach these to a Christmas present.  The faux candy canes work great when making these to … [Read more...]




Christmas Vacation

Christmas Vacation: A Movie House Tour When Christmastime comes around each year, do you and your family have a favorite movie that you just have to watch?   Mine without a doubt is the classic, Home Alone.  Love the house, love the humor and I can't help but feel a little sentimental when I see it since my son was about Kevin's age when the movie first came out. Another movie that's become a favorite … [Read more...]




Tour the Historic Whitlock Inn

Recently, a friend and I went on a Christmas historic home tour in Marietta, Georgia.  Included in the tour was the beautiful Whitlock Inn.  This Victorian home was built in 1900.  A brief history found online states, "One hundred and ten years ago, the M.G. Whitlock House, the famous 150 room Marietta resort, burned to the ground. Before the Civil War, it was a popular showplace for tourists taking the … [Read more...]




A Mercury-Glass Christmas Tree Table Setting

Welcome to the 173rd Tablescape Thursday! Several months ago I was shopping in Marshall's and I came across a mercury-glass Christmas tree. It was very early in the season and the stores were just starting to get Christmas stuff in. The tree was only $12.99 so I purchased it with the idea of buying a few more for my Christmas table setting this year. I was envisioning a centerpiece filled with pretty, … [Read more...]




Colonial Williamsburg at Christmas

Recently, my friend, Mary, visited Colonial Williamsburg.  While there she took photos of some of the wonderful outdoor Christmas decorations she saw on Duke of Gloucester Street, which is the main road through Colonial Williamsburg.  I have never been there during the Christmas season, but I do so want to go.  Have you ever been at Christmastime? Mary said, "The arrangements go up right after … [Read more...]




Christmas Porch with Triple Wreaths

Welcome to the 151st Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Holidays!  Hope your weekend has been grand!  I've been busy finishing the last bit of Christmas decorating for the front porch.  Come a bit closer and check it out.   I usually use pine garland around the door for Christmas, but last year I had to buy enough to go around the door twice because it was sort of skimpy looking.  So this year I … [Read more...]




Christmas Historic Home Tour in Marietta, Georgia

Last Saturday I went on a Christmas (historic) home tour in Marietta, Georgia with a friend.  We had so much fun! The weather was great...not too cold, just cloudy.  I took a lot of exterior pics and was able to capture bunches of pics inside two beautiful homes included in the tour. I'll share the interior shots soon, but for now, here are the sights we saw along the way.   The … [Read more...]




Santa Claus is Coming to Town

Welcome to The 172nd Tablescape Thursday! Greetings and Happy Holidays! I've been working on a tablescape in the dining room this week, but I'm short one thing I need to complete it. So, last night I put together a totally different table setting in the breakfast room.  While taking pics today, I played around a little with a setting on my camera called "effects."  I've included a few pics taken in the … [Read more...]




Beautiful Christmas Banister

Recently, my friend Joy sent me a few pics of  her banister decorated for Christmas. When I saw the photos, I gasped!  It's covered in hundreds of ornaments and took several hours to create...worth every moment! I asked Joy how she created this stunning look and she said, "It's two strands of garland wrapped in three strands of 100 lights. I work each strand individually and wrap it with the garland … [Read more...]




Pottery Barn Christmas Garland Tutorial

Welcome to the 150th Metamorphosis Monday! Hope you've had a wonderful weekend.  I've been busy with more holiday decorating and today a friend and I took a local Christmas home tour.   I took some pics on the tour and I'll be sharing those sometime soon. In the meantime, I'm sharing the start of my Christmas porch metamorphosis with a link to a tutorial in case it's one you would like to copy for your … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving Table Setting with Nature Themed Centepiece

Welcome to the 171th Tablescape Thursday! I'm a week late but for this Tablescape Thursday I'm sharing the Thanksgiving table setting I had been working on when my camera cat-astrophe occurred. All the pics in this post were taken with the new camera, a Nikon D5100. This camera is super, duper light sensitive, which is why it works so well in low lighting situations. It will take me a little while to get … [Read more...]




How To Hang Wreaths on Exterior Windows for Christmas

Greetings! Hope your week is going great!   The porch isn't decorated, yet.  This is an old pic from a past Christmas showing the wreaths across the front of the house.   Wreaths hung on windows across the front of a home has to be my most favorite Christmas decoration of all.  I've been hanging them on my home now for around 28 years, first at our old house and for the last 21 … [Read more...]




A Few Seasonal Updates Around the House

Welcome to the 149th Metamorphosis Monday! Greetings!  How was your Thanksgiving?  I hope it was wonderful and you got to spend lots of time with family.  I drove 8 hours to Ohio to visit with my son and daughter-in-love-to-be.  I miss them and cherish the time we get to spend together.  I snapped this pic of a house near by.  I loved this particular photo because you can clearly see the American flag … [Read more...]




Sometimes the Grass Really Is Greener on the Other Side

A while back I set up a little cozy, fall  'scape out on the porch.   A few weeks before creating that little tablescape, I had purchased some real acorns on Amazon.  They were reasonably priced  and perfect for  fall.  (You'll find more pics of this fall tablescape, HERE.)   The funny thing is, I have a HUGE oak tree in my front yard.   But for some crazy reason, 99.9% of … [Read more...]




Ummph! Martha Stewart Canceled, Again!

As you're running around today preparing for the big day tomorrow, here's a little silliness to give you a giggle.  Unfortunately, the source for this piece is unknown. Stop, take a few deep breaths today and know this:  It doesn't have to be perfect.  It doesn't even have to be edible.  It just has to be about gathering together with the ones we care about and love. Dear Family & Friends, I … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving Turkey Napkin Fold Tutorial

Recently, for Tablescape Thursday, I posted a Thanksgiving tablescape with the little ones in mind.     (Tablescape below can be viewed here:  A Thanksgiving Tablescape for the Kids) It included a fun turkey napkin fold.   Today I'm sharing a tutorial showing how it's made, in case you would like to incorporate it into your Thanksgiving table this year.     To create your turkey … [Read more...]




Thanksgiving Tablescape for the Kids

Welcome to the 169th Tablescape Thursday! Thanksgiving is only one week away!  Wow, this month has flown by.  For this Tablescape Thursday I put together a tablescape with the little ones in mind.  Do you set up a "kids" table each year for Thanksgiving?  Sometimes I think sitting at the kids table would be more fun than the grown-ups table.   Though this table was created with little ones in … [Read more...]




Decorate with Wreaths Inside

Although Thanksgiving is still two weeks away, I'm already thinking about Christmas.  I have even started decorating a little inside.  I want to start early this year so I can really enjoy the holiday season in full.  There have just been too many years in the past where I felt I had just put the decorations up when it was time to take them back down. One  of my favorite things to decorate inside with at … [Read more...]




Front Porch Decorated for Halloween

Wow, what a fun night! I love, love, love Halloween. I have so many wonderful memories from my childhood of trick-or-treating with friends, so Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I decorated the porch pretty simply for Halloween this year. I covered the front door with the "creepy cloth" used as a tablecloth in THIS previous Halloween tablescape.  (You can see the door minus the … [Read more...]




Halloween Table and Mantel…Spooky!

Happy Weekend! Are you making final preparations for all the goblins and ghouls who will soon be knocking on your door? I'll be heading out today to buy candy.  Then I'll be trying hard to not eat it all by Monday!    What's your tactic for not digging into the candy and eating it before Halloween arrives? Some folks purposely buy stuff they don't like, but where's the fun in that? lol My friend, Bonnie, … [Read more...]




Decoupage a Blue and White Pumpkin

  A couple of weeks ago I posted about these wonderful découpaged pumpkins I found in the October issue of Country Living.   That previous post contained a detailed tutorial I created showing how you could découpage a "craft" pumpkin.  You find the full tutorial in this post: Country Living Inspired: Découpage a Pumpkin   You may remember the pattern I chose for my pumpkin … [Read more...]




Linzer Cookies for Halloween

Beautiful and Halloween-festive tablescapes were linked for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday. Be sure to scroll on down and check them all out. How about a little something to put on top of those table settings? A couple of months ago I stopped by a local craft store to check out the Halloween stuff and I came across cookie cutters with a Halloween theme.  They were especially made for making Linzer … [Read more...]




Halloween Tablescape with Mercury Glass Centerpiece

Welcome to the 165th Tablescape Thursday! With only two Thursdays left between now and Halloween, I was itching to create a fun Halloween table setting.   Since this table setting is all about candlelight, I didn't wait for nightfall to light the candles. I came across the large mercury-glass pumpkin candle holders recently in Marshall's and they inspired this table setting.  They were only … [Read more...]




Autumn Comes to the Porch

I've been playing outside today, bringing a little fall to the porch.  During the summer it looks something like this Because the porch is all white (for the most part) it's a blank slate for anything you can dream up.  For the 4th of July, it looked like this. (4th of July porch can be viewed here: Porch Decorated For the 4th of July)   It was time to add a little fall  to the … [Read more...]




Practical Magic

Last October, I posted a movie house tour featuring one of my favorite comedy movies, The Burbs, starring Tom Hanks and Carrie Fischer. The Burbs is a fun movie to watch around Halloween time.  It's not scary or gory, just mysterious and funny. (Tour that movie house here: The Burbs.) When I posted about The Burbs, several folks suggested I post a tour of the Victorian house in the movie, Practical … [Read more...]




Découpage a Pumpkin

There is sooo much inspiration to be found in Blogland these days, the cover of a magazine has to REALLY grab me to convince me to buy the magazine.   The October issue of Country Living did just that. I loved the toile covered pumpkin on the cover. I glanced inside and saw there were directions with the "how to."  I couldn't wait to give it a try.   Another pumpkin inside was decorated using … [Read more...]




Decorate Your Pumpkin with Ribbon for Halloween

Welcome to the  142nd Metamorphosis Monday! How was your weekend? I've had a busy one. Saturday, I drove down to Macon, Georgia and attended a class for "extreme couponing" with my sister and niece. I watch so little TV, I didn't even know what extreme couponing was. It was really interesting. If you have a good size family, I can see how the savings could really add up. I'll share some of what I learned … [Read more...]




Halloween Decorating & Party Ideas

I haven't decorated my front porch for Halloween, yet, so I decided to go through some of the pics I have stored on my computer for a little inspiration.  These are definitely some of my faves! We decorate our front doors with garland for Christmas...why not do the same for fall?  I absolutely love this leafy garland!  I so want to make this!  Notice the scary "curtains" on the door.  Those would be easy … [Read more...]




Warming Up on the Porch

Welcome the the 163rd Tablescape Thursday! Cool fall nights are perfect for hot chocolate out on the porch. Where would you like to sit?   How about on the swing?  There's a soft, warm blanket to keep you warm and a great book awaits.   The late afternoon sun is so wonderful streaming in across the porch.     The evening breeze carries the … [Read more...]




A Fall Mantel for the Family Room

While we're enjoying all the wonderful "before and afters" from yesterday's Met Monday, I thought I'd share another little metamorphosis I've been working on this week in my family room.  (Update: This living room looks very different now. See the changes in these two posts: Reforming My Faux Ways and Velvet Drapes for an English Country Living Room)   BEFORE: The coffee table looks so bare … [Read more...]




Carved Watermelon Whale Centerpiece

Carved Watermelon Party Centerpiece This past Tablescape Thursday, I shared a table setting with a carved watermelon centerpiece.   (View that tablescape here: Summer Tablescape with Carved Watermelon Centerpiece)   For a party many years ago, I cut the top off a watermelon and hollowed it out to hold fruit.   That was cute, but I've always wanted to try my hand at carving one … [Read more...]




A Good Year

Welcome to the 159th Tablescape Thursday! A Good Year, Starring Russell Crowe and Marion Cotillard Tablescape Thursday: A few months ago I had the opportunity to see the movie A Good Year starring Russell Crowe as Max Skinner and Marion Cotillard, as Fanny Chenal.  A Good Year is a British romantic comedy based on a book by Peter Mayle.  He also wrote, A Year in Provence .   A Good Year has been … [Read more...]




Green Card

Take a Tour of the Beautiful, Historic Apartment in the movie, Green Card While putting together a recent post listing a whole bunch of my fave decorating and design books, I came across my copy of The Conservatory Book by Peter Marston.  This book is filled with pictures of beautiful greenhouses. The book reminded me of another beautiful greenhouse, the one in one of my favorite movies, Green … [Read more...]




Napkin Fold Tutorial: The Butterfly

  Recently, I created a table setting with a butterfly napkin fold. (You can view this tablescape in detail here: Romantic Table Setting for Two.)   I used this same napkin fold again for this table setting which can be viewed in full here: Romantic Candlelight Table Setting.   This fold is super easy to create.  I think it looks especially nice when created with a napkin that … [Read more...]




Romantic Candlelight Table Setting

Welcome to the 157th Tablescape Thursday! You may feel like Bill Murray in the movie, Groundhog Day as you view the following tablescape.  In last week's Tablescape Thursday post, I mentioned I had created a tablescape on the porch and it somehow mysteriously moved itself right out on to the deck, turning into this romantic table setting. Since the original table on the porch was still set, I … [Read more...]




How to Sew a Pillow with Piping: Easy Tutorial

There are so many ways to make a pillow...just about as many ways as you can possibly dream up.  You can make them from napkins, decorate them with cute buttons, applique them...the possibilities are endless. When I decided to make two pillows for the swing, as part of my 4th of July makeover of the porch, I wanted to use the same pillow inserts that were already in the existing pillows.  That way, I … [Read more...]




Romantic Table Setting for Two

Welcome to the 156th Tablescape Thursday! Tomorrow, August 18th, Between Naps on the Porch turns 3 years old.  The last three years have flown by so very quickly.  Thank you for visiting and being here every day.  I appreciate so much that you share your time with me! Let's have dinner on the deck tonight.  It feels so nice out. I'll pour the wine...you just sit and enjoy. So romantic, dining … [Read more...]




Displaying and Decorating with China for the Seasons and Holidays

Welcome to the 154th Tablescape Thursday! Jeanne  blogs at  Selep Imaging.  Jeanne has a wonderful hutch she changes out with each holiday or season.   I was so impressed with her lovely china collection and the creative way she displays it, I couldn't resist sharing it for Tablescape Thursday. As you scroll down, notice how Jeanne mixes so many different patterns beautifully.  There's a wonderful … [Read more...]




Easter Breakfast Table Setting with Royal Copenhagen, Musselmalet

Welcome to the 152nd Tablescape Thursday! Earlier in the spring, Cornelia had a ladies breakfast in her beautiful home in Switzerland.   It was near Easter and she created a gorgeous table setting for the event. Cornelia said, "I had an Invitation this morning.   I invited 5 ladies for breakfast and had a Royal Copenhagen, Musselmalet tablescape. " "The Musselmalet is also known as Blue … [Read more...]




Summertime Salad: Arugula with a Fresh Berry Dressing

Happens every time. Yep, I'm a rule breaker...a real rebel. ;) (hee, hee)  Okay, technically when you have friends over for dinner or a party, you are NOT supposed to try out a new dish/recipe you've never made before. I guess that's in case it doesn't turn out right or you just don't like it. But, wouldn't ya know, that's when I always get in the mood to experiment and try something different...not … [Read more...]




Make a Pottery Barn Inspired Flag

Welcome to the 129th Metamorphosis Monday!   Whenever the Pottery Barn catalog shows up in my mailbox, I know I'm going to be inspired. There's almost always something in there that grabs my attention and gets those creaky wheels in the brain turning. The challenge is always how to get "the look" without the cost. Recently, I decided to do a complete makeover of my screened-in porch for the 4 … [Read more...]




Father of the Bride

Tour the Home in the Movie, Father of the Bride Recently, we took a tour of some beautiful neighborhoods and homes in the south. This house, located not far from my home, was included in that tour. Each time I drive by it, I'm always reminded of a famous movie home we all know and love. Do you know the one I'm thinking about? Yep, it's this one! Recognize it? It's the house from the movie, Father of … [Read more...]




Patriotic Porch for the 4th of July

Welcome to the 128th Metamorphosis Monday! Happy Independence Day weekend! Hope your weekend has been going great! I'm having a little cookout tomorrow so I've been busy with preparations. Did you already have your 4th of July celebration or will you be celebrating tomorrow? I'm excited to share big changes I've made out on the porch over the last week. I've been busting to decorate the porch in a … [Read more...]




You’re a Grand Old Flag: Touring Main Street America

In celebration of Independence Day, I thought we would take little tour of "Main Street America." These beautiful, historic homes all have one thing in common...they are all flying the colors! I love seeing an American flag blowing in the breeze from a wonderful old porch. These homes are from various places in the southeast. Some are in Greenwood and Columbia, South Carolina and Asheville, NC but … [Read more...]




4th of July Napkin Ring Tutorial

  While we continue enjoying all the wonderful tablescapes linked yesterday for Tablescape Thursday, here's a little tutorial for the napkin ring I used in the 4th of July tablescape I shared.   This is a super easy napkin ring to make. It reminds me of beautiful patriotic bunting.   I found this napkin ring craft design online HERE, but I changed it up a bit using a … [Read more...]




4th of July Table Setting

Welcome to the 149th Tablescape Thursday! It won't be long now, Independence Day is just four days away.  Do you have any big plans for your 4th of July celebration?   It was so nice out, I decided to put this tablescape out on the porch.   I used my fave patriotic dishware by Warren Kimble.  The pattern is called, "Colonial."   A red lantern decorated with a … [Read more...]




Something’s Gotta Give

Recently, I took a little vacation to Savannah, Georgia. It was a wonderful trip and when I returned home that weekend, I couldn't wait to pull out one of my favorite "beach house" movies, Something's Gotta Give.  Do you remember this amazing living room from that movie house?   Come along and let's take a tour of the whole house...it's an amazing movie house! Somethings Gotta Give is … [Read more...]




4th of July Tablescape

While we continue viewing the beautiful tablescapes linked for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday, here's some additional inspiration for your Independence Day dinner. Tina, a dear reader of BNOTP, sent along these wonderful photos of a festive table she created for this great holiday! Tina told me, "I really love designing tablescapes. I may have 14 sets of dishes, but I mix them all up for holidays and … [Read more...]




A Patriotic Celebration Table Setting

Welcome to the 147th Tablescape Thursday! A Table Setting for the 4th of July-Independence Day Happy Tablescape Thursday! I've been working on a couple of 4th of July table settings and having the best time! A table setting for Independence Day is so much fun to put together since it's all about celebration and love for our country.   Time to break out the Red, White and Blue! This table … [Read more...]




4th of July Craft or Party Favor

A Flag Day and 4th of July Inspired Craft: Today is Flag Day! With today being Flag Day and the 4th of July just a few weeks away, I thought I'd share a fun little craft/party favor you could create to use as a centerpiece for your 4th of July table or as a gift for your friends. If you are a regular reader of BNOTP, you may remember when I created this milkshake/sundae centerpiece for … [Read more...]




Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil: Touring Mercer House I've just recently returned from a few days in the port city, Savannah and my trip had me thinking about the movie, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The movie was based on the book of the same title written by author, John Berendt. I've visited this beautiful Georgia city several times over the years, including back in June 1995, the … [Read more...]




A Lovely Easter Tablescape

Marilyn recently shared pictures of a wonderful Easter tablescape and they were just too lovely to keep to myself another whole year before sharing them with you. Marilyn created this a beautiful table setting for her family and it is completely delightful! Love this view of the table! China is Old Country Roses by Royal Albert...so elegant! Marilyn even created a bunny rabbit … [Read more...]




Bunny Rabbit Napkin Fold: Great for Easter or a Springtime Tablescape

While we continue enjoying all the beautiful tablescapes posted for yesterday's Tablescape Thursday, here's a tutorial for the bunny napkin fold I used in this tablescape:  Easter Tablescape with Daisy Centerpiece and Bunny Napkin Fold.   All you need is a little ribbon and some small pom poms from the craft store and you'll be all set for Easter dinner.     This fold … [Read more...]




The Easter Bunny’s Magic Compass

Welcome to the 139th Tablescape Thursday! With Easter only a few days away, I couldn't resist bringing out all the bunnies for a little Easter table setting. It was a beautiful day here and I almost put this table out on the porch but it ended up here in the breakfast room, instead.     Chrysanthemums make for a great springtime centerpiece.   I tucked a sweet … [Read more...]




Spring and Easter Inspiration for Your Decor

While we continue enjoying all the wonderful tablescapes linked for yesterdays Tablescape Thursday, I wanted to share a little spring and Easter decorating my friend, Cornelia has been doing. Cornelia lives in Switzerland and loves to collect exquisite pieces to decorate with for the seasons and holidays. I love how she used branches to display her collection of beautiful ornaments and Easter decor. … [Read more...]