Happy Birthday America!

In my last post, I explained all the elements and components I generally incorporate when creating my tablescapes.  In this post, I’m sharing my philosophy and my approach to creating a tablescape. 

That said, my philosophy is a work in progress.  There are multiple reasons for that with the primary reason being I just didn’t know where to begin.  I was a newlywed at the time Martha Stewart was becoming a household name as a creator of beautiful food and tables for entertaining.  As much as I wanted to emulate Martha,  I felt I didn’t possess the creativity needed to pull together such beautiful tables, much less the bank account!  Plus, I was busy raising two very active boys so I always seemed to be short on time.  When our sons went off to school, I found I had the time to create them and so I began experimenting with it.  What developed surprised me.  I began to love the process!  My biggest revelation was I couldn’t get it wrong and this realization propelled me to challenge myself; think outside the box.  I wanted my tablescapes to tell a story that would prompt conversations.  I began cultivating my approach which in turn was modified and molded by the budget I set for myself.  So what’s my philosophy on creating pleasing tablescapes?  I’ve dubbed it the “high / low” approach.  What do I mean by that?  I want my tablescapes to have a very high end look, without spending a small fortune on them.  

 Years ago there was a show on HGTV (whose name escapes me now) but it featured two decorated rooms.  One was done with top of the line luxury products by a designer.  The other was a re-creation of the expensive designer room done with similar items but with budget friendly pieces.  My approach to creating a tablescape is a blend of the two.  Some might call it:  Lady Caroline Astor meets Sandra Lee of Semi-Homemade.  I’ve curated a collection of “investment” pieces that I’ve purchased over the years, as well as pieces I’ve received from my mother, grandmother and mother-in-law.  The balance of the items I use are from budget friendly stores like Home Goods and Hobby Lobby.

I’ll be honest, explaining (read justifying) my investment pieces to the CFO of the family hasn’t always been easy!  So for me, creating beautiful tablescapes became a blend of using some higher end pieces paired with budget friendly items.  And in the process of blending the two, I have found so much enjoyment!

 My 4th of July tablescape illustrates my approach.  The white table runner is from Hobby Lobby.  I used some blue gauze to top the runner to create texture and the illusion of movement.

Next I topped the blue gauze with patriotic glasses I found at Home Goods.  My placemats also came from Home Goods.  I ordered red, white and blue bees wax candles from Amazon and placed them in little glass candle holders; purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I clipped some purplish hydrangea from my garden and made two small arrangements in two of the patriotic glasses from Home Goods.  I placed real cherries and two miniature American flags in the other three.  

Now it was time to actually set the table.  I have owned my red chargers for years.  My everyday plates are white.  My splurge for this tablescape are the hand painted custom salad plates from Pete’s Sake Pottery.  The owner, Susan Brown is happy to customize any of the pottery she hand paints.  

And now for the crafted pieces.  Naturally if you’re short one time, making these two items may not be possible, but I thought I’d include them for those of you who do have the time and enjoy a little DIY.  For the napkin ring holders I ordered two inch diameter wooden rings from Amazon and I painted them red.  I found little wooden stars at Michael’s and I painted them white and used a glue gun to adhere them to the wooden rings, creating a patriotic napkin ring.

 While I was at Staples Office Supply picking up ink for our printer, I came across these miniature easels and thought they’d make great little place card holders.  I painted them red and made mini blue envelopes to use as place cards.  I tucked a strip of paper with some American history trivia inside each one.  The purpose was to ask each guest to read the trivia aloud, thus kicking off our dinner conversation.  My sister Julie had a very clever idea to actually get slightly larger easels and display some history about our founding fathers on them.  They could be incorporated into the tablescape or placed on the buffet.  I think it’s a very clever way to brush up on our history!

 HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!

Here is a link for American history trivia:

https://www.craftingablissfulbungalow.com/blissful-resources