A little bird tells me that spring is in the offing.
Time for us to refresh our nests and enjoy alfresco meals.
Why, hello there!
Where have you all flown in from?
The foundation for this nest is wooden Acacia chargers, followed by a gold-rimmed dinner plate from Pier 1, topped with a salad plate of Vintage Spode in Fitzhugh Green.
Then a gold-rimmed dessert plate from Pier 1 flew in. This nest is getting higher and higher in the world!
Finally, the main players arrived. Appetizer plates in Green Piper Bird by 222 Fifth perched on top.
It is too early in the season for fresh flowers; some chartreuse dried Annabelle Hydrangea gathered in the centre.
And some little chubby bird salt and pepper shakers took shelter underneath, flanked by some Amber Depression glasses by Tiffin Franciscan.
Twig napkin rings encircled green chambray napkins from Pier 1, with Sawyer flatware from World Market added more nature-inspired detail.
This will have to hold us until the real birds fly back. Can’t wait!
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Dear Helen, This is a lesson you so often teach us…ignore the red berries, and they almost go away. Emphasizing the pale greeny-yellowy tones makes a completely different and serene scene. (BTW, these are not even listed in Replacements’ 222 First patterns, and Amazon is out of them, not that I need any more patterns.)
I often wrestle with which colour to pull out when faced with a multi-colour plate–use the most prominent, or choose the most obscure, or two? I’ve seen you do all, to good effect. Even more confusing is mixing in patterned linens, e.g., the gorgeous Mirabello Tavola tablecloth I picked up in the early 80s in Portofino and have never used. It’s filled with luscious blues, greens, lemons, terra cottas. I spread it on the table and just look at it. lol. This summer I mean to finally take it out and try it with V&B Casa Azul (acquired when it first came out in 2000 for $8/plate–apparently it’s attained cult status, as prices have gone crazy) and maybe overcome my fears!
https://www.replacements.com/p/villeroy–boch-casa-azul-ornato-dinner-plate/vilcaao/22547541?rplSrc=GPLA&rplSubEvent=2679848&productTargetID=99584597214&dvc=c&rplsku=2254754&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIreqS4pvN4AIV2f_jBx1N0ApcEAQYASABEgKUZvD_BwE
Dried hydrangeas are so useful in the off-seasons if you want to reduce your carbon footprint by not buying those roses flown in from Columbia…can’t wait to see my first Vanille-Fraise blooms and to try drying them!
Beatrice, you are too kind. I don’t really think about how to style it, I just pull different things together and then see what works. Some are more successful than others!
Patterned tablecloths are some of the most challenging design elements, at least for me. Mary at Home Is Where the Boat Is does an amazing job on that front. She frequently uses very complex patterns and mixes several together. If you can snap a picture of the Mirabellotablecloth and email it to me (or just give me the pattern name), I’ll weigh in on some suggestions on how to style it. I love the V&B Casa Azul pattern – how luscious is that?
As you know, I’m a huge hydrangea fan – fresh and dried. We’re extremely lucky to have so many varieties on the Cape. The climate is made for them.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks so much, Helen, for your kind offer. It’ll be late April before I’m there to take a snap or two, along with the host of tulips, I hope. Sudden warming threatens an early spring, so I hope I don’t miss all the narcissus again this year!
Sweet dishes really do make me feel like spring is on the way. Don’t see these on the cape, but Can’t wait to get back and put my feeders out to welcome my chirping friends.
I love when a pattern is fun and extremely reasonable. Good old 222 Fifth! And of course, birds đŸ˜‰