Hooray, hooray, it’s March today! Time to celebrate our survival of four dismal weather months of frigid temperatures, capped by two tantalizing days of warm temperatures. In an unprecedented burst of enthusiasm, we hauled out the swing and chair cushions and enjoyed a glass of wine on the porch at the end of the day yesterday. Granted, we were bundled up in coats and blankets, but it was worth it! Things are supposed to change drastically today; by the sound of it, March will be coming in like a lion in the Great Frozen Tundra of Canada, so let’s enjoy some spring green in anticipation of St. Paddy’s Day.
Pier 1 branched out into some cheeky appetizer plates this spring, including these Greenhouse Plaids offering. How cute are these?
The pattern features four different checks, plaids and stripes. One of them matches the Bold Green Gingham napkins they brought out last year, which are once again available.
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- Plaid
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- Gingham
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- Plaid
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- Stripe
Pier 1’s new Natural Greens Plaid napkin coordinates with another plate.
Both of the napkins are terrific; the fabrics wash very well and have a lovely soft hand. You can’t really go wrong with green plaid napkins – they go with so many table settings.
For the centre of the table, I used cheerful yellow primroses in a footed wooden bowl, white lanterns and chicken-wire covered smaller lanterns surrounded by green wreaths (items mostly from Pier 1, all discontinued, unfortunately).
Mikasa’s Broadway yellow plates with their bold stripe formed the base of the plate stack. I picked these up from Replacements a few years ago, prompted by one of their emails featuring “seasonal suggestions”. While we are on that topic, Replacements has undergone a very interesting transformation, with a much more user-friendly website, and an active digital presence including design suggestions on how to combine vintage and modern patterns. They recently promoted this article by the Washington Post on their Facebook page.
Queen Anne Pillivuyt salad plates came next; they’re still available from Williams Sonoma. The flatware is rose gold Twig from World Market.
Having embarked on the bronze metal tones with the flatware and chicken wire lanterns, I gave these little bird napkin rings an airing. They were an Amazon find, and fit right in with the spring theme…
…as did the bird and birdhouse salt & pepper from eBay.
The glasses are vintage Buttercup by Fostoria.
They’re available from Replacements and on eBay if you keep your eyes peeled. I particularly love the shape of these, and the feel of the stem. These are my “go to” glasses for an end-of-day glass of wine when we are in the Cape.
Not long now until we start seeing primroses in the garden, not just in the shops.
Woot!
Daylight savings time starts next weekend. These time changes are a mixed blessing. While I love the additional light at the end of the day, “Spring Forward” results in a bit of backslide in terms of light in the morning. Ah well, can’t have everything 🙂
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Very cute. I love gingham check and those appetizer plates in the four patterns with the matching napkins are great. Fun salt and pepper. I see that Minnesota is predicted to get a storm so our bit of mild weather isn’t likely to last for long either. .
Thanks, Lorri. There is something so fresh and crisp about gingham, isn’t there?
I hope you weathered the storm well, Lorri. It’s really pretty here today, but definitely snow covered! Ugh.
Greetings from warm(ish) and sunny coastal Florida. I am awaiting arrival of those napkins as we speak. I have a pot of white orchids (cyms and phals) as centerpiece, and Pier 1 has just released a phal napkin ring I snagged before they are all gone. I notice Replacements has still not lowered its shipping costs, and some of their offerings are a ridiculously high price. I offered to sell them some of my excess Imperatrice Eugenie, and they offered $2 for dinner plates, while they were selling the plates for $100…I wish someone would engineer a virtual swap-meet for us tablescapers who only need 2 of everything. I have scads of thing I could offer.
Hi Beatrice,
Thanks so much for the information on the orchids – I know absolutely nothing about them and it was fascinating to learn the different types. I use the “click and point” method for selecting them; grab a picture of the ones I like and then show it to the florist/grocery store attendant, who then points them out 🙂
I find some of the prices on Replacements to be quite high, as well. In all fairness to them, however, they were in the business long before the internet made it easy to track down pieces and get competitive prices. I sometimes wonder if the prices we see reflect what they paid for them years ago? And they are stellar at tracking stuff down and letting you know right away if they find it, with no obligation.
That’s an interesting idea for a virtual swap. Perhaps one of the bloggers might organize it? Could be a hoot!
Thanks for stopping by. And enjoy the napkins when you get them in sunny Florida!
I have 4 Fondeville NY Duff Christmas plates that need a home. If there were a swap-meet, I could trade them for 2 of something, rather than selling them to the local antiques trade…I think it’s a great idea, and could be lots of fun!
I do love the freshness of the green and white plates, and the different patterns give the table a touch of whimsey. And those white lanterns – oh, goodness, those are fabulous. The little bird touches are perfect for a springtime table. I hope spring weather will soon be coming our way.
The lanterns were from Pier 1 a couple of years ago. I get a ton of use out of them, and they weren’t particularly expensive. They’re a nice size, too.
Spring will soon be here. Daylight savings time this weekend. Woot!
Very cute table!!! I have these green appetizer plates, they are a favorite of mine – so I was drawn to your table immediately!
Aren’t they great, Ann? I do like appetizer plates. Perfect for a couple of biscuits with a cup of tea. 🙂
Fun to see your appetizer plates in greens! Pier 1 had oranges, 4 each coordinating, a long while ago in stores. I use mine daily. Just right as a saucer under a saucer-less mug or for a little bite to eat/ coffee or tea time toast, under farm animal small tureens etc. Green is my favorite color.