My love for turquoise can be traced to a solitary inch-long stub of crayon in the four-quart basket of broken crayon pieces that constituted our kindergarten art supply. Chance favoured me that day when the crayon I had thought was dark green turned out to be the alluringly aquatic shade of a Colorado blue spruce tree.
The colour I remember is now called “Tropical Rain Forest”, according to jennyscrayoncollection.com and can be found in the 120 crayon box. Such a dizzying selection makes me want to order a box right now—I can always claim it’s for the grandkids. Hehe.
Perhaps that’s why there was only the solitary stub in the entire basket, though heaven knows how it got there; the nuns at St. Theresa’s hewed to the less-is-more philosophy and confined our choices to the standard eight-crayon selection.
So you will understand my delight in these dragonfly napkin rings, the inspiration for the table. (Pier 1…I know, I know…)
In styling the table, my first stop was antique Gien majolica salad plates, which have a blue undertone.
For a while, that was as far as I got. But as summer progressed, the hydrangeas began their transformation from clear, vibrant blue to softer, more faded shades.
I dug out my Jeanette turquoise blue swirled footed bowl and filled it with the now papery blooms. Antique twisted-stem Venetian candleholders bridged the shades of blue and green.
That led me to add the Venetian footed small compotes and turquoise needle-point goblets. The table was starting to look a bit bland, so I added the deeper green Bristol glasses. Ok – that works.
I hadn’t yet settled on a dinner plate to underpin the Gien majolica salad plate. The rim of the Aerin Green scalloped edge dinner plate is closer to an apple green colour, and I wasn’t sure it would work. But there is a bit of that shade in the dragonfly napkin rings, so in it went.
The decanter that accompanied the Bristol Green glasses joined in, too. The more, the merrier.
While I’m always sad to see the hydrangeas descend into “dried flower” territory, they have a spectacular denouement. How many flowers are as beautiful in their declining phase?
It’s August 1st tomorrow. Back in Canada, the fruit stands are starting to fill with Niagara peaches, fresh apricots and small yellow plums. Soon we will see the bushel baskets of Roma tomatoes and bell peppers, and our Italian friends will begin their annual bottling of delectable tomato sauce and roasted peppers. While I regret the passing of summer, I’m looking forward to sweater weather and the first crisp fall apples, Jona Golds and Ginger Golds.
Beautiful summery table setting. My favourite colour is Turquoise Blue. Living in Canada, and in the interior of BC, summer is brief. Between chilly Springs and heat domes in Summer, our time to enjoy being outside can be limited. Autumn, my favourite time of year, can be brief here as well. Turquoise Blue brings Summer and dreams of tropical beaches year round in our home. Much needed when you have six months of basically wintry type weather. From tableware and table decor to every room in our house, there are enough hits of Turquoise Blue to make me smile.
You certainly have had your share of WEATHER in BC interior over the last couple of years, Rachelle! But fall is lovely even if shorter than any of us would like.
Turquoise works well at all times of the year. It does look great, even in winters weather. Like you, it’s my daughter-in-law, Annie’s favourite colour. I remember doing a turquoise table for each season for my first book and she was the happy recipient of some Pioneer Woman and Pier 1 tableware I purchased for it.
Hi Helen, your table is lovely. My mom is a dragonfly person so they always catch my eye. I love the myriad of blues and greens. It seems both elegant and relaxed.
Thanks, Lorri! The late Dowager Duchess of Devonshire was a dragonfly person, too, and collected all manner of insect brooches, including dragonflies. What kind of dragonflies does your Mum favour? They are a very elegant creature with their double narrow wings a bit like an old fashioned biplane.
She likes any and all dragonflies, mostly decor and garden art. My brother died in 2011 at 48 and we began noticing dragonflies in greater number that next summer. When she heard that some cultures consider them to be a visitor from Heaven she was hooked.
I’m so sorry for your loss, Lorri. Your brother was so young; it must have been devastating for your Mum, and indeed, all the family. I understand from others who have had grievous losses that the worst fear is the loved one with be forgotten; the dragonfly connection must help keep your brother’s memory fresh and alive.
These greens and blues together are a great combo. So cool and so soothing. Yay my favorite color green!! Your decanter is fab!! Please pour and fill my wine glass
That decanted has a stopper in the shape of a head, meant to be King Charles I (who was beheaded by Cromwell). I left it off the table.
I love green, also. Particularly that deep green shade.
Please do pull up a chair! Red or white?
Dear Helen,
The green of the Aerin jumps out at me, for some reason. But I love the colour scheme and the delicacy of the glass. I don’t know how you manage to get all those shades to play nicely together. (Pier 1…*moan*.) Our hydrangeas were still going strong, but these unusually hot weeks in the Alps will have them all dried up by the time I get there, I fear.
It’s interesting what leaps out to each of us, isn’t it? You’ve got a very keen sense of colour, Beatrice.
What a beautiful table! I love the dragonfly napkin rings and that wonderful color of green that inspired you.
Thanks, Joy. The napkin rings are a bit gaudy, but I really like them.