Dining Al Fresco

Hi Everyone!  I hope you all had a Happy Father's Day!

We had a wonderful weekend - celebrating our granddaughter Rhynn's third birthday with building a swing set and a pizza party and celebrating our dads in our typical fashion - grilling on the deck.

We love piling around this table that my husband made.

Because we eat our here so often in the summer, I've collected dishware that is outdoor safe.  Most everything on the table is either wooden or acrylic.  I love these glasses because no one can ever tell that they're acrylic until they touch them.

The dinner and dessert plates are all acrylic and the little bird napkin holders are metal.

You can see our new window in this picture.  We replaced an old patio door with a window last week and I am loving the change.  My husband and I painted the new trim, both inside and out, and it looks likes it's always been there.

I've moved my herb garden to the deck for the summer and this baker's rack is a perfect place for it.

A carafe is great for ice water  It has a plastic lid that keeps the critters out.

And for the first time this summer, the weather was perfect for an after dinner swim.  My husband, the best dad and "Captain" in the whole world, had a great time with our Levi and Rhynn.

I hope your weekend was as blessed as ours!  Happy Father's Day to my Heavenly Father.  His grace and love in my life is more than I can ever thank Him for.  It will take me all of eternity to express how grateful I am for His loving presence in my life.

love and blessings~

"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love."  John 15:9

All dishes and glasses - Meijer

Wooden salad bowl - HomeGoods

Napkin ring - Amazon

Linen napkins - HomeGoods

Wooden candle holders - garage sale

Glass carafe - Meijer

Recycled glass stemware - One King's Lane

Baker's rack - Joss&Main

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astrollthrulife
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savvysouthernstyle
diybydesign

White and Gold Table Setting

One of the many things I love about French Country is that it lends itself to bling as easily as it does to rustic.  Even though our table is chunky and more French Farmhouse, I love adding all the crystal and flowers that I love!

I started with a white table cloth and then added gold chargers and gold stemmed wine glasses.  I've read that white dishes always make food look more appetizing and that makes sense.  I layered my dishes and then added white flowers and linens.

I love crystal and add my water glasses to every table setting - no matter how casual.  My parents brought this crystal water pitcher back from Europe.

The little gold-edged butterfly dishes once belonged to my paternal grandmother.

And my mom-in-law gave me these beautiful antique gold rose candle holders at my bridal shower.

White is always so fresh and inviting - no matter what season.

Have a beautiful day!

Love and blessings~

 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows."  Psalms 23:5 

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Between Naps on the Porch

A Blue and White Tablescape

Happy Tuesday!  I hope you're all having a great day!

This was our Easter dinner tablescape.  I started collecting blue and white porcelain and dishes several years ago.  I have several different patterns of dishes and have never bought them in a set.  

I picked most of them up at HomeGoods.  I rarely found a large amount of anything at once and just bought whatever I loved.

I love the freshness of blue and white and have now convinced myself it goes with everything!  lol

None of the accessories on my table match the dishes and I think that's what makes it interesting.

The candles are flameless.  Have you tried them?  At first I thought they were weird but these are scented and I love that I don't need to be concerned for my grandchildren's safety when I want candlelight. 

I love adding the cut water glasses and wine glasses to give the table some sparkle and no one but you can figure out how I got my planter to match my napkins exactly!  :)

Love and blessings~

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,"  Ephesians 2:4-6

I'm joining these parties:

Savvy Southern Style wow us Wednesdays
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DIY by Design Swing Into Spring
Stone Gabe The Scoop
Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday
No Minimalist Here Share Your Style
From My Front Porch to Yours Treasure Hunt Thursday

Decoupaging a French Planter

I hope you all had a beautiful, blessed Easter!  

We woke up to 6" of snow here in Michigan. Snow boots and Easter dresses - lol

I've had this little 'treasure' for several years.  I've always loved the pattern on it and the little gold legs.  It was one of my favorite things when our house was done in reds and yellows but when I redecorated, it obviously didn't match any longer.

So it's been stored away for a while gathering dust. But the other day I pulled out these napkins and it dawned on me that I could use them to decoupage this container.

My daughter joked when I started blogging that I should call my blog, "There's a Spray Paint for That."  (She's a funny girl.)  We have several things in our house that have a few layers of paint. I just 'make it match' when I redecorate. lol  

I had decoupaged some Easter eggs last year after seeing Yvonne at Stone Gable use napkins to make hers beautiful and was thinking about doing it again but suddenly I realized that I could use this same technique on this planter.

I started by first priming the planter with Zinsser 1-2-3, giving it a white finish.  The napkins are thin and I didn't want the red showing through.  (My napkins had two layers; one plain white and one that had the pattern.  Be sure to pull them apart and use only the printed layer if yours are like this.)

After it dried, I cut a piece from the napkin big enough to cover the front of the planter, making sure the pattern was centered.

I pressed it on, applying Mod Podge, trimming along the curved edge.

I kept cutting pieces of napkins to fit the odd shape, cutting them so they would follow the curve.

It's better to use a busy pattern when doing something like this.  You really don't notice where the pattern is not consistent on this because it's so busy.

This planter has an old gold edge along the top that I didn't want to cover up so I trimmed carefully along the top and pressed the edge down well with the glue.

I also trimmed it along the bottom to let the feet show.

I let it dry well and then applied another coat of Mod Podge.  When that dried I sprayed it with a finishing spray.  My surface is not perfectly smooth but again, the pattern is so busy you really can't tell.  And it kind of makes it look old.

This planter is metal and finished well on the inside so it can be used for fresh flowers. The finishing spray makes it moisture proof on the outside although I wouldn't want to soak it.

I filled it with silk roses and used it as a centerpiece on our Easter table.

I'll show you the whole tablescape tomorrow.  

I had the whole family over for dinner several weeks ago. I set the table with flowers and lit candles. My sweet 4 year old grandson sat down and looked at everything. His little faced looked completely enchanted and he exclaimed, "This is PRETTY, Gigi!"  I was surprised that he even noticed.  So now I make the table beautiful for my Levi.

Have a wonderful day!  I am so thankful for the gift of Christ and His sacrifice of love for us.  As far as I'm concerned, it's Easter every day.

love and blessings~

" He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.  He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:15-17
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I'm joining these parties:Between Naps on the Porch Metamorphosis MondayStone Gable The ScoopThe Dedicated House

A Spring Table Scape

It's definitely still winter here in Big Rapids, Michigan.  We've matched the all time cold record here this morning. 7 degrees.  But I continue to try to convince Mother Nature that spring would be so nice.  With that in mind, I created a spring table scape that I can use for Easter or a Sunday brunch.

I bought these dishes, place mats and napkins at HomeGoods in Grand Rapids.  I fell in love with them because they coordinate so nicely with the paisley fabric I have in the family room.

I later saw the whole set on line - I only have four of the plates and bowls, but didn't buy them.  I think I'll wait and see if they show up at HomeGoods again. I kind of enjoy the 'hunt.'

The turquoise stemware is actually acrylic but I love the color and am looking forward to using them on the deck this summer or even in the hot tub.

I added several sweet little birds and nests to my table scape.

The flower container is metal and arrived at our house one day filled with pasta and other Italian delights.  It was a gift from my sister in law.  It was a rusty red color and I dry brushed it to match our decor.  I have it filled with blue and white hydrangeas.

As always, I love adding a mix of crystal and rustic.  A nest in an antique crystal dish and my antique salt dish complete the look.

It's been confusing for my 17 year old son since I've started blogging.  He comes downstairs, looks around and says, "Who's coming over?" when he sees the table set. When I've used all the silverware and he threatens to steal a spoon, his dad tells him, "Don't touch anything!  Mom is blogging."  My poor men.  ;)

Have a warm and wonderful Wednesday!

love and blessings~

 "But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You."  Psalms 5:7

I'm linking up with these wonderful blog parties:

A Stroll Thru Life

Savvy Southern Style
ivyandelephants
From My Front Porch to Yours
betweennapsontheporch
frenchcountrycottage
Common Ground
ImpartingGrace
www.thetablescaper.com

Burlap, White and Crystal

I love beautiful table scapes and so admire those that can put them together!  I don't seem to have a natural ability to do that and I'm trying to learn.

I've always read that you should 'shop your house' and you would certainly think I have enough 'stuff.'  But I'm going to start with something simple.

I LOVE the look of rustic and bling so with that in mind I mixed burlap place mats, purchased at HomeGoods, with French Country white dishes and crystal.

My husband made the barn wood 'trough' that sits in the center of our table and I filled it with white hydrangeas, gardenias and roses.  They are silk except for the burlap hydrangeas that I got at Hobby Lobby. White flowers are also another favorite of mine.

I've also added Mercury Glass candle holders that are from Ballard.

I bought the dishes through Joss and Main, another favorite of mine.

As an added bonus, my husband made this table!

Our whole family just loves it and loves him for making it!  It is now an official family heirloom.  Click here to see some other beautiful tables he has made.  Entry Table, Making the Entry Table, Making a Sofa Table.

I love the fresh simplicity of this table setting and will probably repeat it for several family dinners.  And I'll start shopping my house to add some variety and interest.

Have a wonderful day!

Love and blessings!

" Fire and hail, snow and clouds; Stormy wind, fulfilling His word."  Psalms 148:8

I am joining Between Naps on the Porch - Tablescape Thursday and Common Ground - Be Inspired