I love blue and white china. Funny, I never did get into it much until I started tablescaping. I have since learned that there are times that blue and white dishes are just perfect for different occasions. They also go with any season of the year.
This week I got out my Salem plates that I love. I had not used them lately, plus I had the idea of replicating a version of two of my favorite tables. Snowy Day and Snowy Table uses these same plates and some “snow” to evoke a wintry feel. Old Tablescape and New Addiction uses Blue Willow plus some milk glass for a great wintertime table. I love to use the cool colors of blue, white, and silver for winter. I think that these tables are among my favorite, so here is yet another variation of a blue and white winter tablescape for your viewing pleasure.
When I was removing my white tablecloth, I had the idea that I might could fold it in a certain way to make it into a runner. Although doing so meant that the lace was only on one of the long sides, I still like it and decided that I would go with it.
I used my silver chargers. I love my blue and white placemats and matching napkins, but I wanted to do something a little different with this table.
I had a hard time deciding whether to put the berry bowl on the top of the dinner plate or on the side. It really looks good either way.
I finally settled on the side and used both sizes of my Dollar Tree blue glasses. Aren’t they great! What would we tablescapers do without the Dollar Tree!
I used simple white napkins and sparkly silver napkin rings. Of course, I had to use my Grosvenor silver.
I used my grandmother’s Criss Cross pattern Depression glass refrigerator dish in cobalt blue for the centerpiece. This dish is truly one of my very favorite dishes!
I used one of my chunky silvertone candlesticks with a variegated blue pillar candle.
I also chose a silver compote, a wedding gift, for the other side of the centerpiece. Sorry, looks like my photo picked up a little reflection from some other colors in the room.
I think that I was successful once agin with using blue, silver, and white to evoke a cool winter feeling.
If you are a regular reader, you know that I often set a smaller tablescape at my kitchen table for just the 2 of us. We actually use these tablescapes and enjoy them very much.
Today, however, I received something in the mail that will be my tablescape for the next few months. Yes, I will change it some, but not too much. OK, are you ready???? Here it is!
Yep, I have started an antiques appraisal course through the Asheford Institute of Antique Appraisal. I have been wanting to do this for 10 years or more, and I finally looked into it seriously after I retired. It all looked great, but I just can’t help be a little wary of a correspondence course. So I sort of forgot about it.
Then, we went to the Antiques Roadshow. One of the many things that I noticed was that several of those appraisers had gotten their certifications through Asheford. I started rethinking my decision to forget about it.
I looked into it a little more, then decided to go for it. My first course came today. What does this have to do with my kitchen table?
My kitchen table will now be my study spot. It has the best surface and best light in the house for any studying that will be done somewhere other than at the computer. So these books are my new tablescape!
I am a little nervous. I’ve only glanced through this first course, but it doesn’t look easy. Apparently, I will have to learn everything in these 3 books.
Then I will take a test and mail it in. After that, I receive the next course, and so on, and so on. I’m a little bit anxious about getting in study mode again. I haven’t done that in a long time!
But I am excited about learning a lot of information which I hope will enhance my business. I am realistic and know that correspondence will not be as good as hands-on experience with real antiques. But the places that offer those courses are few and a long way from this central MS redneck girl.
So I’m diving in! I covet your prayers and best wishes as begin yet another retirement endeavor destined to keep me busier than ever…