Seafood Supper and a New Feature

It's been a very frustrating winter in New England. Either weather or illness has prevented us from taking a lot of the weekend road trips we usually enjoy, including our February trip to Maine for shrimp season. The little Maine shrimp are so sweet and tasty. We enjoy them fresh and stock up on frozen ones to bring home.

Thank goodness a little Tabletop Time diversion while we wait for the right time to make our shrimp run! I'm ready for that seafood supper whenever we get to make the trip.

























This little copper lobster mold was a gift from a Dishfairy. Thank you! I feel so much better after a little creative time with such a warm tabletop, and the copper is the perfect touch in all of the scarlet and ivory.

The goods on this table~

HLCCA Retro Red Stripe Fiesta dinner plates, tumblers and pitcher
Hall lobster plates and salt & pepper shakers
Fiesta candleholders, ramekins, berry bowls and divided vegetable bowl in scarlet
Vintage Riviera salad plates
Gibson flatware
Vintage tablecloth and napkins

I've also used the downtime this season to add a tablecloth database to Tabletop Time. Just click on the photo on the upper right hand side of this post to visit my compilation of table linens.



I'm sharing this tablescape for~

Seasonal Sunday at The Tablescaper

Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Tabletop Maintenance Part 5: Vera Harvest

The next tablescape memory features a vintage Vera from the 1960's or 70's in bold colors that was most difficult to tame until chocolate Fiesta was introduced. I presented a placesetting from this table in my Tabletop Time exhibit at the 2009 HLCCA conference.







The chocolate Fiesta square plates are joined by chocolate pyramid candle holders, a persimmon presentation bowl, tangerine lunch plates, sunflower and persimmon after dinner cups and saucers, the same amber glasses, vintage Bakelite flatware and chocolate napkins in Pottery Barn leaf napkin rings. The napkin rings were a gift from a good friend who CANNOT understand my tabletop obsession, but feeds it none the less...a true friend indeed.

You can read the original post for this tablescape in Tabletop Memories.

Meet the Tabletop!

My vintage enamel top table doesn't always need a tablecloth!

Tabletop Mainenance Part 4: Chartreuse and Cinnabar Plaid

Encore une fois~

And some plaid and toile~






You can read the original post about this tablescape at Poinsettias Past and Present Part One.

It really makes you wonder what I'm up to, doesn't it? Guesses are allowed!

Tabletop Maintenance Part 3: Poinsettia Toile

And some plaid and toile~






You can read the full post about this tablescape at Poinsettias Past and Present Part One.

Tabletop Maintenance Part 2: Crate & Barrel Poinsettia Placemats

Crate & Barrel placemats~






You can read the original post about this tablescape at Poinsettias Past and Present Part One.

Tabletop Maintenance Part One: Poinsettia Pine Cone Scatter

My tabletop project requires a few more maintenance posts. Gotta take care of these poinsettias so they can bloom another day!

An all-over print~









You can read the original post about this tablescape at Poinsettias Past and Present Part One.

Under the Sea in Marigold

I'm working on a little Tabletop side project, and I need to give these marigold fish their very own post! I hope you enjoy revisiting this table from September~

I've been waiting to make this marigold/turquoise/pink tabletop for a very long time. The individual fish-shaped casseroles are vintage Chicken of the Sea premiums. It's challening to find a set in four colors with the metal holders...hence the wait! I was thrilled to add this set to my pottery collection earlier this summer.











This tabletop is less elaborate than the others, but I wanted to keep the emphasis on the individual casseroles. The Harlequin relish tray and candleholders make a strong centerpiece. The relish tray rests on a Crate & Barrel ruffled cake server. This piece has chipped over the years, but I still enjoy it.







Other items on this table include Libbey striped glasses, Oneida Deauville flatware, Harlequin plates, Chicken of the Sea salt & pepper shakers and Ikea napkins.

This tablecloth also comes in a lilac/chartreuse and pink/gray versions. Please do post a comment if you have seen this cloth in another colorway or have any information about the manufacturer.

You can read the original post for this tablescape in Fish Three Ways.

Toastmaster Tabletop

I enjoy collecting the advertising for the vintage dishes that decorate my tabletop. Here's a look at a magazine ad for Stangl marmalade or jam jars that were produced as an accessory for the Toastmaster toaster company.





This ad uses the pottery in a traditional breakfast setting. Other marketing programs promote the toaster, tray and pottery accessories as perfect for party foods. Simply put your hors d'oeuvres in the dishes and let your guests toast their own bread for munching. Here's my 2011 interpretation of this festive concept~







See the logo on the toaster?





It also appears on the snack trays.







The little feet on the marmalades fit so perfectly in the trays.







I received this lovely Mexican-themed tablecloth from a friend. It's very similiar to a Wilendur pattern called Mexican 2. Textile firms often copied each other, so it's not uncommon to find similiar designs by different makers. This cloth has no tag.

I hope you enjoyed your Toastmaster toast! I'm sharing this tabletop for Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life and for Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

You can also see this tablecloth in use for a tribute to the 75th Anniversary of Fiesta dinnerware.