Hey, friends! I’ve been thinking a lot about dining al fresco lately! As the weather warms up we spend more and more time outside and that means dining outside too! Today let’s talk about all the great plastic and non-breakable dinnerware options we can find and use for all our outdoor dining experiences! Yes, WE can use plastic! For years, I was firmly rooted in the only-use-REAL-dinnerware camp. But no more! Here’s what I’ll be using this summer……
Tablescapes
BRIDAL VEIL TABLESCAPE
Today, I have a fantasy tablescape for you! It’s a table about a special flower and a swath of pearl seeded bridal veil and a special dinner. I think this is the most ethereal tablescape I have ever created. And special to my heart. This tablescape has a story! The table covering is actually a portion of my very own cathedral bridal veil. Today I’m celebrating all the brides-to-be and sharing tips for setting the most exquisite table!…
EGGS AND BLOOMS EASTER TABLE
This Easter I’m using the bounty of early spring to set an easy, airy table. Easter will be here before we know it and it’s time to think about setting an Easter table. Don’t you love early spring? Nests and eggs and sleepy twigs waking up and bursting with delicate buds! Such a welcome sight after a long winter. This year’s Easter table reflects all that is beautiful about the season. …
BOXWOOD AND STARS CHRISTMAS TABLESCAPE
Christmas meals are for making memories and lingering conversation and laughter and love and thankfulness and scrumptious food and family and friends! Christmas dinners at StoneGable are easy and cozy and candle lit and a time to savor the blessedness of the day! Our Christmas starts early in the day and ends well into the night. Dinner is later in the evening and much more intimate and quiet than the hustle and bustle of the day. My table sets the tone for the rest of Christmas evening!…
SOFT AND NATURAL THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE
It’s time to be thinking about setting our Thanksgiving tables. Even if you are not hosting it’s fun to set a pretty table now and enjoy it until turkey day! This year I was inspired by natural elements like blue and white pumpkins, seeded eucalyptus, pinecones and acorns. These all work together to make a magical and soft table when mixed with white dishes! No fuss here, just beautiful organics and great and simple dinnerware!…
EASY PUMPKIN THANKSGIVING TABLESCAPE
It’s time to think THANKSGIVING TABLES! And an easy and beautiful Thanksgiving centerpiece. Even if you are not hosting Thanksgiving this year you can still create a centerpiece that is magazine worthy! And no fancy arranging techniques needed. This centerpiece is soft and informally formal. It’s organic elements play so nicely with the dressiness of mercury glass. It’s restful colors work together and are a nontraditional treat. Just perfect for the center of YOUR table!…
TIPS FOR EASY SUMMER TABLESCAPING
Summer is the best time of the year to entertain! Lighting up the barbecue, eating al fesco and enjoying a laid back evening with friends and family!!! Setting a fabulous summer tablescape goes a long way in creating a relaxed and special mood! Setting a great table does not mean a lot of work! It means being smart and playing up what summer is all about! Here are a few tips to help you set the perfect summer table for your next get-together!…
5 EASY TIPS FOR SETTING AN ORGANIC TABLE
Setting a table can be easy, simple and stunning for spring (or any season really) when organic elements are involved. Today’s post is all about bringing the beauty of the outdoors inside and using it on our tables. Organics mix so well with tableware. And the best part… these tablescapes tend to be less fussy and frilly… but oh, so fabulous! …
SPRING KITCHE TABLE VIGNETTE
I almost get a little giddy when I create a kitchen table vignette. It’s like setting the best table, but not as much of a commitment and certainly not nearly as hard to put together! I love love love creating seasonal vignettes on my kitchen table. This spring’s vignette is a combination of blues and whites mixed with soft celadon green! Much different than anything I’ve done before. I’ve take the “less is best” decorating approach to keep the styling fresh and clean… perfect for spring!…
CREATIVE IDEAS FOR SETTING THE BEST EASTER TABLE EVER!
Easter is just a few weeks away. And it’s not too early to to start planning the best Easter table you have ever set! Start now and plan and do a little every day. Get together all the things you need to set a fabulous table and keep the items in dishpans! That’s what I do. So when it’s time to set the table I have everything at hand! Easter comes at the perfect time for us to shake off the chill of winter and embrace the warmer days ahead and all the pretty seasonal decor that goes along with……
10 TIPS FOR EASY ENTERTAINING… YOU CAN DO THIS!
Some people love it, And most of us would love entertaining too if we didn’t have to put so much effort and time into it! There have been times (when I was not as smart and a whole lot younger) that I would work so hard preparing, cleaning, shopping, tablescaping, cooking and getting ready to impress my guests that by the time they came I wanted to say, “So nice you came. I am exhausted and going to bed. Have a nice time and lock up after yourself”! But I have learned how to entertain in a much easier, fun……
THE BEST OF THE BEST TABLESCAPING TIPS OF 2014
If you have been reading StoneGable for any time you will know that I love to set a table!!! And have a hard time passing up great looking dishes! As part of THE BEST OF THE BEST week here at StoneGable today we are talking dishes and tablescapes and and centerpieces. I hope you find lots and lots of inspiration and ideas!…
FALL KITCHEN TABLE CENTERPIECE
Creating vignettes, centerpieces and tablescapes is probably my favorite way to decorate! I love dishes!!!! I have lots, but probably not as many as you think! I just use them over and over in different ways. It is so much fun to put together a centerpiece for my kitchen table that overflows with seasonal elements! If you have dishes in your cupboards or on your shelves that you love, why not take them down and create a big centerpiece for your kitchen or dining room table? Add a few little pumpkins and some fall flowers and you will have……
TOP 10 FAVORITE TABLESCAPING ITEMS
This post was born out of a readers question. Tami asked, “Your tablescapes are SO BEAUTIFUL and INSPIRING! I have one question though, if you could only pick ten items, or even five, that you use over and over again, what would they be? I’m on a limited budget and need to choose carefully. Would love to hear your thoughts. Beautiful job! Thanks.” Thanks Tami… your answer is in this post! Here are ten items that I use over and over and over again to set a many of my tables… and I did not spend a lot of money……
5 TIPS FOR A FABULOUS EASY BRUNCH
I think I could be crowned QUEEN OF THE FABULOUS, EASY BRUNCH! We have lots of overnight guests here at StoneGable and that mean feeding them breakfast! After years of hosting I think I have refined the process for a fabulous brunch!!!I’ve put together 5 EASY, EASY tips for a no cook breakfast or brunch that will leave your guest full, impressed and happy … and you with lots of time and energy to enjoy the rest of the day!It’s all about making use of the best your grocery store has to offer… and a little bit of fun styling!We……
SHADES OF SPRING GREEN TABLESCAPE
When I think of Spring… I think of GREEN… in all of it’s glorious shades and tones! Today’s tablescape pays homage to the beautiful greens of Spring. Experts say that all greens work well together… and for the most part I find that to be true. So, I’m playing with Spring greens and setting a relaxed and breezy table with a big splash and pop another color that also loves to play with green… ORANGE! The tables in this showcase have been wonderfully full of Springtime inspiration! A list of……
EASTER BUNNY BRUNCH
Easter tables don’t have to be pastel or frilly… or cutsie! Even if a table does have Easter eggs and bunnies on it, it can take on a somewhat sophisticated yet relaxed look. This year’s Easter brunch table is all about keeping things informal, adding Easter elements and still looking grown up! I used a complimentary color mix of navy and burnt orange… very different for Easter! And of course, lots of white to keep the table looking crisp and fresh. Can an Easter table be achieved by using non-traditional colors… just wait and see… ……
THE ART OF FLOWERS
I recently attended a luncheon birthday party given by a dear friend of mine. To our great delight the table was sooooo beautiful and girly! We could all tell that Marilou, our host, put a whole lot of love into her vibrant and oh, so pretty tablescape! She placed a single rose at each place setting to greet us. It was such a happy surprise! There is something about getting flowers… and there is a real art to flowers when they are presented with such love and care… Here is the beautiful rose that greeted me………
SPRING FARMHOUSE KITCHEN VIGNETTE
Decorating my kitchen seems to always start with a vignette on my kitchen table. It sets the mood for the rest of the farmhouse kitchen. This spring I am so inspired by all shades of orange! From creamsicle to burnt orange, I am loving tangy pops of color in my white kitchen! I hope you get inspired too! As usual, I started with my very favorite hefty round basket. I’d love to find another one… so I can paint it white. I have so many ideas for a white basket!The inspiration for using orange are these adorable carrot plates that……
5 INTERESTING WAYS TO USE NAPKINS AND NAPKIN RINGS… A TABLESCAPE SERIES, PART III
Napkins are not only a useful but very important part of setting a table. They tidy us up as we eat but they can also bring interest and fun and beauty to any table we set! Why settle for paper napkins when there are so many gorgeous and inexpensive napkin alternatives! Today, as part of our HOW TO SET A BEAUTIFUL TABLE series, we will look at 5 interesting ways napkins can not only be useful but beautiful as well… CHERRY BLOSSOM TABLE 1. DOUBLE NAPKINS This is probably the way I use……
SPRING KITCHEN VIGNETTE
Creating a seasonal vignettes is my favorite way to decorate the kitchen table! It’s so much fun to play with my dishes and fun elements to make a vignette that brings the outdoor season inside! This spring vignette is all about tulips and stock and eggs and bunnies and that beautiful spring green that all of nature turns after a long winter’s nap… You can see all the talented bloggers who are participating at the end of this post. This vignette started with a big round basket that I use for most vignettes……
5 TIPS FOR A BEAUTIFUL CENTERPIECE.. Part II in a tablescaping series
Last week as part of a Tablescaping Series, we talked about adding POP, PRETTY AND PIZZAZZ to a tables by choosing and creatively using dishes.And this week it is all about centerpieces! Centerpieces are focal points of a table. Here are 5 tips to make your centerpieces a star…1. USE FRESH FLOWERS FROM THE GARDEN OR GROCERY STOREI think the most beautiful floral centerpieces come from right outside our back doors! But, if you don’t have a garden or blooms are not in season… just stop at your grocery store.I never order flowers or pay a lot for them!I am wild about……
THE ART OF STACKING DISHES
To say I have a little crush on dishes is quite an understatement! I love love love them! And one of my favorite ways to use them is to stack them! Using stacks of dishes in a tablescape gives them an alluring and dimensional quality and a steal-the-show way to be displayed! One of the biggest benefits of stacking dishes is that I can use the same dishes over and over again and get a new look every time! Here’s a few tips for creating beautiful stacks of dishes… A STACK IS 3 DISHES……
6 TIPS FOR CREATING A KITCHEN TABLE VIGNETTE
A Kitchen Table Vignette is one of my favorite things to create! I pull out my dishes and silverware and a few other kitchen items and seasonal things… and play until… VOILA… it all comes together to create a big punch of panache in your kitchen! Here’s 6 easy steps to create a kitchen table vignette yourself… Don’t hold back… pull those dishes and other pieces out of your cabinets and experiment. But most of all… Have Fun! 5 TIPS FOR CREATING A KITCHEN TABLE VIGNETTE 1. USE A RUNNER ON THE KITCHEN TABLE We are……
VALENTINE’S DAY HOT CHOCOLATE BAR
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and for me that means CHOCOLATE!Here is a well know, proven Valentine equation.. Valentines Day + Chocolate = LOVE! Why not celebrating Valentines Day by creating a Hot Chocolate Bar for the ones you love? I’m celebrating this Valentine’s Day with…. What a talented group of bloggers! Make sure you check out all the LOVE-ly posts… a list is at the end of my Valentine post! I’m celebrating……
WINTER SOUP BUFFET
Last Sunday I put together a quick Soup Buffet after Church. Right before our small group arrived, I snapped a few pictures.This table was not intended to be a blog post but I thought it would be fun to show you how I set up a easy to execute tablescape and luncheon… a real life… not edited for publication table…I’m getting better, but still am recovering from surgery… so lunch was very simple and easy!I used our round breakfast room table as the buffet table. I often set up a buffet on this table, especially when we are having an……
THANKSGIVING IN THE FIELD
The late fall day was absolutely magical! Blue skies, a slight breeze coaxing the last autumn stained leaves from the trees so they could dance across the cut fields of corn… What a beautiful day to celebrate Thanksgiving… al fresco! Our side yard spills into the adjoining field that was filled with tall rustling corn stalks all summer. But once cut, opened up to the bucolic vista that we hadn’t seen since late spring! Oh how I love this view! It was the perfect spot to set……
TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS #53
Welcome to TUTORIALS TIPS AND TIDBITS!In two week’s TTT will be trying something new… a guest host!And it could be YOUIt’s easy, fun, brings traffic to your blog and let’s you participate in a new way! Don’t worry if you have never done anything like this before… I’ll walk you through it!If you are interested in being a TTT guest host drop me an e-mail at stonegable333@gmail.comNow, here are some features from last week…GARDEN TABLESCAPE from COMMON GROUNDCHICKEN WIRE MESSAGE BOARD from OLD THINGS NEWBEST EVER BREAKFAST CAKE from VMG206GRAIN SACK DRESSER from SILVER PENNIESBEVERAGE STAND FROM CHANGING TABLE from TWELVEOEIGHTTOPIARY GARDEN ART ON RUSTIC BOARDS from……
LILY OF THE VALLEY TABLESCAPE
I don’t think there is a sweeter flower in all the world as a Lily Of The Valley! It’s perfumy aroma and scalloped white bell blooms are dainty and lady like! These shade loving flowers are in full bloom at StoneGable just waiting to grace a little chippy table on the front porch… Lilies Of The Valley call for a very simple, uncomplicated table. My grandmother’s table worn and slightly warped with years of wear works so well with these innocent blooms! ……
POCKET NAPKIN FOLD TUTORIAL
This is a fun easy way to fold a napkin and include the flatware too. Making a POCKET NAPKIN takes less than a minute and adds a lot of interest to a tablescape! Here’s how… Making A Pocket Napkin Fold: 1. Spread the napkin right side up on a flat surface. 2. Fold the napkin in half horizontally. 3. Take the top layer and fold it down to the fold line on the bottom layer. The top layer will now have a fold line in the middle of……
