Thrifty Tablescape/100th POST

100th POST!!

I never thought I would make it!

It really slipped up on me.

I will celebrate in a special way with you soon.

Today's tablescape is created from things thrifted or things I have had for a long time. So it is Vintage/Thrift.

 The flowers were thrifted from my dwindling garden of blooms. I went out this morning trying to find a stray blossom here or there. I came up with a few dried hydrangea, a little ivy, lavender foliage, white angelina and a few sprigs of Russian sage. The container, a Waterford presentation piece was purchased in Dublin, Ireland in the early 80's. Not thrifty!

I very seldom put anything in this piece and only for a very short time.

 The etched stemware was purchased on eBay recently at $5.00 per stem for the water goblets and white wines.
The cordials were 7 for $5.99. I would say that was thrifty. It is "Orlean"by Arcadia of Hungary or Romania according to what site you are reading. 

I really love the delicate look of these stems. There is even etching on the bulbous part of the stem. I am not a good photographer and couldn't capture that.

My oldest daughter bought these pretty dishes for me from a thrift shop in Illinois. It was originally a service for twelve (a few pieces are missing) that she purchased for about $30.00. Thrifty! They are Celeste by Taylor Smith Taylor. Some sources indicate they were distributed as premiums. Not sure, this person had collected a service for twelve.

A plain silver charger with simple dinner plate, paired with four blue and white salad plates purchased at a church bazaar and two milk glass salad plates.

The salad plates are marked in Chinese and then English.... made in China.

The knife is haunted. I straighten it, lift the camera and the knife has moved. Do you have haunted flatware?

A fruit/sorbet dish and bread plate complete the china setting. The silver threaded napkin and metal woven napkin rings were sale items from Dillard's.

The flatware is Stratford sterling by International. It was introduced in 1902 and is now discontinued. The pieces are ornately decorated with carnations. I have collected it over a number of years. Some of it has engravings "1905". Vintage/thrifted.

Isn't that salad fork awesome. I just love it! Every piece in this collection is beyond beautiful.

You can see many more examples of this beautiful pattern HERE.

Each of my sterling salt spoons are purposely different.

In my collection of open salts there are few duplications.

I was unable to successfully photograph each one on the table.

 Vintage American Brilliance

The candlesticks have been around here for some time.

Pair of doves purchased at a Home Decor Party in the 60's. I think everyone has these.

Boehm porcelain cherubs. Part of my nativity.

I wanted to include a shot of the milk glass salad plate and our dining chairs. Bob and I reupholstered the chair seat several years ago when I made the drapes.

I am most proud of this project, my silk drapes. Boy, was I afraid to cut that fabric. Just playing around with a different holdback. Very inexpensive reproduction holdback.

A view to the foyer. I find it interesting that a fat lady loves mirrors so. But.... I do!

Interesting reflections are one reason to love mirrors.

My vintage "French Lace" tablecloth. HERE

A picture to show how the oversized cloth worked out.

Ahhh! Candlelight!

You can tell I faked it! It was late afternoon. If I had waited until darkness I would never have gotten this posted. 

Thank you to all the fabulous new friends I have made through this medium called "Blogland".

Each of you have been so kind, caring and helpful to a "Senior Citizen" trying to keep up with you young'uns.

You are a wondrous virtual family and some of you have or are becoming reality. 

I would have never thought I could come up with 100 posts. 

Somehow you have embraced my attempts at being noteworthy. For that a huge.

"THANK YOU!" 

I am partying with these fabulous hostesses:

French Inspiration

Open House Party

Tablescape Thursday

Thrifty Thursday

Thursday Favorite Things-Blog Hop

Time Travel Thursday

Vintage Thingie Thursday

Fabulous Friday

Feathered Nest Friday

Flaunt It Friday

Feature Yourself Friday

It's A Hodgepodge Friday

Inspiration Friday

Show and Tell Friday

Friday's Unfolded

Vintage Inspiration Friday

Home Sweet Home

Thrifty Things Friday

Potpourri Friday

Please leave a comment, they are like gifts.

Thrifty Vintage Finds

New Tablescaping Finds!

I am so excited about this pretty set of dishes!

You are very likely to see these turn up in a Tablescape in the near future.

My Daughter who lives in Illinois is always on the lookout for dishes, for her addicted mother. You might say she feeds my addiction. She recently found this delicately beautiful set at one of her favorite haunts.
The dishes are Taylor Smith Taylor and the pattern is "Celeste".

The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Pottery was founded in 1899 by C. A. Smith and Col. John N. Taylor, using the facilities of the Taylor, Smith & Lee Pottery.   TS&T began operations as a nine-kiln pottery employing approximately 50 people.  In the early days of production only local clays were used.  Later, TS&T bought clay from Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Florida.  TST´s plant was the largest and most automated in the United States.  More than 50,000 dozen pieces were produced per week by the firm´s 500 employees.
In 1903 the Taylor interests were purchased by W. L. Smith and his son.  The firm remained under the Smith ownership and management until early 1973 when the plant was purchased by Anchor Hocking Corporation to become the foundation of its Pottery Division.
For many years both earthenware and fine china bodies were used.  The Lu Ray Pastels was one of TS&T most popular lines.  The china body was discontinued in the early 1970´s.  TS&T closed in 1981.
Source: Robbins Nest Replacement Service

This china is whiter than in this pic.
It is a clean white with little grey/silver swirls and blue dots as stylized flowers and platinum trim.

Isn't this the sweetest little cup and saucer. Kinda of prissy, I think!
The six piece place settings will be very versatile.

This is the basic place setting.

 It appears this was originally a service for twelve. Some of the cups are missing and one has a small chip. I will use that one if necessary.  Do you ever do that? Discretely use the chipped or imperfect dish?
There are twelve dinner plates and fifty-five pieces in all.
The price was $28.00 total. Thrifty deal, don't you think? Kim is a great little shopper. Her mama taught her well.

If you are not already doing this, use cheapo paper plates for dish protectors. Works great, costs less and if you break the dishes you can eat out of the paper plates. No Waste!
Recently I purchased this beautiful stemware through Ebay.

I was looking for something delicate and etched. I took a chance on these because the pictures on Ebay showed up as being very cloudy. After some messaging with the seller I decided to take a chance. I think they are awesome!

Because I was still antsy, I purchased the water goblets, white wines and cordials. I passed on the tall sherbet/champagnes. My mistake. 

The water goblets and the wines have a flower, wispy leaf stem and little round dots/berries. I think they match the china beautifully. The cordials are a little different pattern.

The seller didn't know the pattern nor did I. I sent a photo to Replacements Ltd. and they sent me the name of the maker, pattern and price list. I did GOOD! I bought eight each of the water goblets and wines for $5.00 each and the cordials were seven for $5.99. This seller's shipping was nominal. Less than gas for a day of thrifting.
The manufacturer is Arcadia Export-Import and the pattern is "Orlean". This pattern was discontinued in 1951. Some information says it is German and some sources listed Hungary.
Replacements lists the water goblet at more than three times what I paid.

I have some other vintage goodies around the house, including me. I will use those to create a "Thrifty Vintage Tablescape" coming soon. 
I hope you enjoyed your visit. Please leave a comment.


I am joining the following parties, please link back to them for inspiration.
Saturday Nite Special
Show and Tell Saturday
Sunday Favorites
Seasonal Sundays
Blue Monday