White Ironstone Finds For A Christmas Table

I pulled out my Quaker Lace table cloth to layer under this vintage 1950's Christmas table cloth.

 

I realized that they both needed pressing...DARN! So I put a large, folded several times, heavy  cloth down on the table and pressed each one on the table. My table is not the greatest so I didn't have a lot of worries I'd do it damage. I'm not saying this is how it should be done but, it worked really well.
 

The newest finds are the platter it's just a simple squarish-oval. A Mid Century coffee pot marked USA. Some references say that it's restaurant ware...it's home ware now!!! And those pretty doily's.

 Just realized you can't even see the top of the platter!!! But here's a shot of the back. Loved that it's named Snowhite~~~

A pretty ironstone bowl with pink roses and a blue ribbon. I just filled it with glittered pine cones and glass ornaments.

The Salvation Army had about eight of these  petite sauce boats. I limited myself to just one. At fifty cents each I probably should of got two!

I also just found the silver wire and capiz shell cross while out junking. Capiz shell is so hard to resist...it whispers to me..."take me home". The shell actually comes from the Windowpane Oyster, which is edible, but valued more for their pearls and translucence shells

Picked up several boxes of those glittery snowflakes last year, so they will be popping up here and there in my decorations. I'm liking them on the table with the aged music sheets.

This little Angel is from Germany and I found him several years ago.  I think it's the most sweetest of figurines. 

 Every time I look at him (he stays out all year in my bookcase) with his hand to his heart at the wonder of the child before him, I always have a rush of sweet emotion.

Got this huge candle several years ago while out junking. It had several layers of a cellophane type wrapping, so I didn't know that it was broken in half and it was literally hanging by a wick! So I had to get creative in order to salvage it. The vintage page was the folder for the music sheets and is of a heavy weight paper so I thought that it would work well. I aged it some more and just modge podged it on.

Added a couple of different widths of lace and tied on the big button with aged rayon seam binding. 

 

 Used two sizes of small dishes layered with a doily and set the candle on top and propped up a snowflake. And here's my Fitz and Floyd Christmas Geese shakers from my previous post.

These pears were such a great find. They're ceramic with metal stems and I believe they were rather high end. I found them while out junking...they were offered as a set, you got the six pears and a glass bowl for one price. Of course it took about a half bottle of Goo Gone to get all of the tape residue off of them. They had secured the "set" extremely well!

Just layered a doily under the pears to add pattern and interest. Two of the plates are French Haviland and two are White Mist, Staffordshire England

Since it's mostly just me, when I have a meal, I move things over and pop down a place mat . I can have my table and enjoy it too!

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A Tale of Ten Chairs

I find it extremely difficult to pass up a chair, which has led to so many chairs (11 at present) in my garage that I have no space for anything else....well, they are taking up valuable real estate in there!!!  With closing the shop I have an overload of "what the heck am I going to do with this stuff". Something's gotta give!!!

 

I have four of these chairs that I've been using for the past 10 years. I like the openness of the high back, the graceful legs, the ease of re-upholstering them, all are remarkable sturdy given their age, but they are severely lacking in comfort.  I paid less than $7.00 for ALL!

 

 

 Doesn't the back look like a birds eyes & beak?

I know, fantastic huh??? Such lovely good bones!

I found six of these chairs last summer while out junking plus a table whose legs had been chewed beyond repair, $60.00 for all. So that comes out to about $10.00 per chair...not bad, I've paid more! These guys are rock solid and so comfortable. But that 1970"s stain, which has turned a greenish hue in places, has got to go!

 

 All four legs are wonderfully ornate!

 

 The front skirt below the seat.

Love those carved flowers!

 

 Ornate top front and back!  I bet that padded back was originally a cane back.

Some of the chairs have had a harder life than others, nasty scrapes and a chunk of flower from the top of one is missing. Two were in the process of a makeover (I guess) because the front top upholstered piece on the back is missing and it was the stabilizer piece. Since I'm using as is for now I'll have to come up with a solution for that. Thinking maybe using drop cloth as upholstery material with a French themed stencil. 

As for the rest I can live with the traditional pattern of the upholstery, it is in good condition will work in my dining area.  I don't know if my skill level is good enough to do the back part, but I'll be giving it a go. I've only recently tried my hand at cording...I definitely need more practice. The frames will be getting painted...all that glorious detail will really show when painted, dark waxed and distressed. I even have the option of painting the fabric...not sure yet how it it's going to work out.

Here's a look at all the legs together. Even though I have six of the ornate chairs only four will sit comfortably around the table at one time. I think I'll paint the table base and legs also. I enjoyed working on projects for the shop, but somehow MY to-do list never really happened. Now I'm going to put all the time and effort into fluffing my own nest.!!!

 The cabinet at back holds my linens, serving pieces, odds & ends table stuff.

 So my solution for the two chairs that I'll need to re-upholster the back on is...they will sit on each side of this cabinet in the dining area and can easily be squeezed pulled in when more are needed. And hopefully showcase their stylish new look.

 So that is how I'm reducing the amount of chairs in my garage...by replacing six large with four smaller ones!!!  Makes perfect sense to me;~)

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My Country Christmas Table

My first ever tablescape! 

I like a simpler more country look to my table, that I can take into the New Year.

I'm sure you'll recognize the flower vase from this post.

 

My first layer is this white and blue striped runner that I made out of vintage 

roll toweling. I just cut a portion off and then cut that in half lengthwise, gathered,

then resewed a section to each end. Thank goodness my table is small and that

I had a piece long enough to give a nice drop of ruffle on each end.

I crossed the first layer with a red cross stitch runner done in roses and vines. I'm not even a fair embroiderer, but I know great needle work when I see it and this piece is lovely!

Next, my white and blue snowflake luncheon plates. This one with a blue and white buffalo plaid napkin wrapped in a gold holly leaf and jingle bell napkin holder.

And the other two plates get a red and white plaid napkin in a holly and jingle bell napkin ring.Not sure about these napkin rings, they way they are shaped makes them sit at an odd angle. Why the mix of napkins? Well, I had two of the blue and three of the red...so I had to mix it up a bit!

This blue and white serving piece (usually holds holiday treats) I'm using as a charger underneath the pitcher of flowers.  It has a beautiful gold flower in the middle and just look at those handles...so pretty! Don't know the maker as the pottery mark underneath is terribly blurred. Any ideas on maker?

 The transoms across the french doors are filled with wire bird cages, fluer de lis, faux citrus fruit vines and a sign declaring "Bon Appetit".

 I added the water pitcher with bunches of red and white poinsettias

 And tucked in a vintage postcard on a wire holder.

A little silver and light into the mix~~~

 A pair of Gorham Sterling candle holders given to me by a very dear friend (thanks Terrie). They're holding toile candles that I made by covering with tissue paper a few years ago.

And then I brought the heard of celluloid deer in. These were a find 

from last year.  They are a wonderful size and so very "dear!

My Merry Christmas Country Table

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