Brunch on the Lawn for Tablescape Thursday

Please come in and make yourself at home ~ I've been expecting you!

It's a milestone for Susan at ~ Between Naps on the Porch !

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Thank you for coming as we celebrate Susan's (at Between Naps on the Porch) 50th Tablescape Thursday with Brunch on the lawn.

This afternoon and evening we have thunderstorms and rain, but recently it has been VERY warm here in the Pacific Northwest. But in spite of the midday heat mornings are usually very comfortable and refreshing so I decided to set a table on the lawn in the main back garden. I hope you're comfortable. :)

To help us believe it's cooler than it is I chose a blue and white theme (it's my favorite color combination for the table.)

I hope you'll excuse the uneven exposure on some of the photos ~ the lawn area is open but is flanked by enormous Douglas Fir trees; it keeps the area very cool and verdant, but the sunlight constantly shifts the shade and shadows.

When I was a newlywed (in the 70's) I chose plain white dishes for everyday, it was a choice I've never regretted.

The original white dishes are long gone, and I've had several patterned everyday dishes since then but I've never been without plain white dishes in the cupboard, alternating between the others throughout the week.

White dishes are so versatile, they mix with so many other things & the added plus is that food always looks good on them.

We're going with a bit of a bird theme this time ~ Birds under a cloche, as you can see they are dining, too. :) The little "bird dish" is actually an antique crystal salt cellar from a set, and I just "borrowed" some of my canary's seed for the bird's food.

I got the little white birds at a gift shop a few years ago, I love the shabby finish.

To add a little color I just snipped a length of Hedera Helix "Needlepoint" ivy from one of my houseplants and turned it into a simple garland ~ and that's a Double Delight rosebud from the older rose garden.

I layered a vintage hand crocheted and embroidered German table topper over a April Cornell "Jacquard Peony" tablecloth in Periwinkle. Beneath the cloche is a round vintage hand-crocheted doily.

The porcelain bird napkin holders are from P.O.S.H. Chicago

The dark blue napkins are made by XOCHI , I'm very fond of their linens, they are well made, the patterns and colors are so appealing, and they have such a nice 'hand'. I feel fortunate that a local kitchen store carries an fair array of their table linens. If you have a chance to see them in person, give them a close look (and touch), I think you'll be very pleased with the fine quality.

The jam/preserve container is part of a set of three, a gift ~ I believe it was from Stonewall Kitchen.

I have a small collection of vintage cut crystal salt and pepper shakers of different patterns and sizes. They remind me of my grandmother very much. My only requisite is that they have glass or crystal screw tops (not plastic), I just like the look and feel of the glass tops, as they don't yellow with age as plastic sometimes does.

I've set the table with our everyday silverplate flatware. I'm a big fan of Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa ~ and when I first saw it in her kitchen a few years ago I fell in love with the simple, straightforward and classic design. It's by Chambly, the pattern is "Baguette", made in France. I found it a few years ago at Dean & DeLuca, New York. (It may be available elsewhere in the states as well.) Incidentally, if you are interested and cannot locate the Chambly brand it pairs seamlessly with Christofle's "Fidelio" silver pattern, I mix them both all the time and have to look carefully at the silvermakers mark to differentiate the two.

My regular everyday white dishes is a set I bought about 10 years ago from Williams-Sonoma ~ very sturdy and plain. Recently (thanks to the suggestion from Michael @ Designs by Gollum, and also Susan, our hostess) I picked up this pattern; a service for 6 by Gibson, from Big Lots.

Usually available for the unbelievable price of $35. for the entire set--- the set was actually on sale for $19.99 recently!! Well, I certainly couldn't pass up a bargain like that ~ so they hopped into my cart and came home with me. I love playing with dishes!

I just love the scroll detail on the bowls and cups.

I layered the new Gibson dishes with my vintage everyday dishes. This blue and white pattern are the dishes we really DO use everyday along with the Williams-Sonoma whites.

I love vintage pressed glass; especially for water goblets.

These are imposters, not old at all, yet sturdy and clear ~ I got them for only $1. each at the Dollar Store. :) I love searching for these little inexpensive treasures.

And these are actually made in the USA!

The teapot by Churchill goes with another set of dishes, but the beauty of blue & white is that it all can work together.

Here's a better shot of the Gibson pattern so you can see the relief detail.

(I still cannot believe the entire set for a mere $20.!!!)

Next I layered my everyday dinner plates on top. I've received several emails asking about the pattern. It's "Liberty Blue" Staffordshire Ironstone.

The dishes were designed by Enoch Wedgwood in the Staffordshire District of
England in the tradition of the 19th century Staffordshire historical blue china.
First made to commemorate America's 1976 Bicentennial (200th anniversary) celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the dishes were promotional incentives for Portland, Oregon's Ben Franklin Savings and Loan customers.

More information from the UK "Lovers of Blue and White" website:

"The Benjamin Franklin Federal Savings and Loan, Portland, Oregon, commissioned Liberty Blue in 1975 to mark its 50th Anniversary.

It was an exclusive series of ironstone tableware made by Enoch Wedgwood & Co. Franklin used it as a promotional line to encourage deposits, offering a free basic place setting if you deposited $50 and subsequent place settings were available at low prices for depositors.

The promotion continued until the end of 1976, although in 1977 they offered additionally a special 20” turkey platter free to those, who deposited $5,000.

In October of 1976, Ben Franklin announced that the china would no longer be available. For the following five years, it was sold as a grocery store promotion. The china was very affordable with individual serving pieces selling for $.58 each."

The set features different historical events. Some of the historic scenes depicted on the china are: Washington crossing the Delaware, Lafayette landing at West Point, the Boston Tea Party, Paul Revere on horseback, Old North Church, Ben Franklin, Mt. Vernon - George Washington's Home, Monticello - Thomas Jefferson's Home, Independence Hall, Washington leaving Christ Church, and Betsy Ross, the nation's first flag.

Unfortunately I didn't get in on the bargain prices when it was initially introduced; I bought mine a few years ago on the secondary market after falling in love with it at an Oregon Bed & Breakfast Inn.


Thank you so much for stopping by today ~ I hope you enjoyed our little brunch tablescape.

Please leave me a comment so I can visit your blog to get to know you a little better!

Congratulations Susan! Thank you for hosting us each week.
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