A Valentine's Day Tablescape

I absolutely adore these Miss Blackbirdy plates and I decided to use them again on a Valentine’s Day tablescape even though I used them three years ago for Valentine’s Day. That tablescape was different, I will add a photo of it at the end of this post. I bought this red polyester tablecloth on Amazon a few years ago. It is a true primary red color and they can be difficult to find.

Miss Blackbirdy Plate Set

This plate design is called Miss Blackbirdy and the creator was a Dutch fashion designer and artist, Merel Boars. I don’t think that they are still being produced but you can find them online from time to time. The first time I saw them years ago I thought they were amazing and I bought a few pieces at a time over the years until I had a set. The design also comes in white on black but I am using the black on white color combination for this Valentine’s Day tablescape. The top plate on the plate stack is a smaller size, an appetizer or snack plate.

Miss Blackbirdy Salad Plate

The salad plate has the same design as the smaller plate. I just love the small blackbirds and the hearts. The black on white design is so eye-catching.

Miss Blackbirdy Dinner Plate

The design on the dinner plate is wonderful. The large vase in the center is such fun. If you look closely there are so many whimsical details, hearts and flowers, a singing blackbird, and bows and what looks like a small purse.

If you look closely at the edge of the dinner plate you can see a design that crosses over to the back of the plate in one area.

The back of each plate has the same design, a phrase, and a continuation of the design from the front. It is such a whimsical design element. (The smaller plates don’t have the corresponding continuing design on the front of the plate.)

Charge it by Jay Black Glass Starburst Charger

This black glass Starburst charger is called Charge It and was made by Jay. I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and work well with many different color schemes. If you read my blog you have seen them on my last two tablescapes before this one. A black charger with a simple design is a good starter charger plate if you are thinking about starting a tablescaping hobby. To read about what you should be considering when you are buying chargers please click here.

Lenox Portola Black Flatware

If you read my blog you saw this black flatware set on my Valentine’s Day tablescape last week and my Cats tablescape the week before that. I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix set to use on my Halloween tablescapes last year and I found this set on sale at Macy’s online. It was made by Lenox and the pattern is called Portola. I love the simple design and the shiny black color. I suspect this set will get a lot of use. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I wanted to use simple white napkins on this tablescape and I looked through my white napkins and I realized that I didn’t have a plain white polyester napkin set. I found this set online at tableclothsfactory.com. They are a bit heavier than other polyester napkins that I have and I love them. I have bought from this site before and I have always been pleased with their products. I can’t remember where I found these vintage metal heart napkin rings but they were not new. They were blue when I bought them but Hubby painted them black for me. I suspect that they will be red at some point too!

I was thinking about what place card holdersi that I could use on this tablescape and I remembered that I had bought Miss Blackbirdy egg cups too so I am using them with a faux red rose.

Miss Blackbirdy Egg Cup

I love using this goblet combination together because they complement each other. The goblet on the left with the black bowl and clear stem was made by Classic Touch and it is called V-Shaped Water Glass, Black With Clear Stem. I bought them at Houzz online a couple years ago. The clear fluted goblet with the black stem on the right is called Octime and the manufacturer was Luminarc Arcoroc. They were made in the 1980’s. I bought them on Ebay. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection including the goblet colors that I have used the most often over the past 15 years here.

I wanted a simple centerpiece for this tablescape so I decided to use red roses in a black vase. I collected pottery for several years and I have a small collection of vintage black vases of different sizes and designs. I really like the size and the matte finish on this black vase. The faux red roses came from Hobby Lobby last year.

Mosser Red Glass Panel Salt and Pepper Set

Those of you who read my blog and know my tablescaping style know that I often add salt and pepper sets to my table settings to add more interest and this tablescape was no exception. I decided to add a Mosser Glass red salt and pepper set to this tablescape. I bought this set online at The Vermont Country Store last year. The Mosser Glass Company was established in 1971 and it is located in Cambridge, Ohio. They sell high quality American made glassware and I love their products. I have a few sets of their goblets and a few cake stands too. If you read my blog you have seen their goblets on some of my tablescapes.

Mosser White Milk Glass Panel Salt and Pepper Set

This is the tablescape that I did three years ago using my Miss Blackbirdy plates. You can read more about that tablescape here. These two different Valentine’s Day tablescapes demonstrate how you can mix and match some of the same design elements to create different tablescapes.

I used the white on black Miss Blackbirdy plates on a Halloween tablescape that I did a couple years ago. The dinner plates are large enough that they can be used as chargers as well. You can find more information about this Halloween tablescape here.

The color combination of black and white and red creates such a strong design. I love these Miss Blackbirdy plates!

To see 190+ other tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!

This blog post was featured at Life as a Leo Wife, https://lifeasaleowife.com/ Please visit this blog, you will enjoy it!

A Valentine's Day Tablescape

When I saw this buffalo plaid and red heart tablecloth on Amazon last week I decided to create a Valentine’s Day tablescape using it. I love using solid bold colors on table settings sometimes. The combination creates a strikingly strong image.

This red melamine heart came from Crate and Barrel last year or the year before. I love the true red color.

Ralph Lauren White Porcelain Dinner Plate

These simple white porcelain dinner plates were made by Ralph Lauren and I found them at HomeGoods several years ago when I first started tablescaping. You definitely need a simple white dinner plate in your tablescaping collection. You can read about what you need to think about when you are buying dinner plates here.

Charge it by Jay Black Glass Starburst Charger

This black glass Starburst charger is called Charge It and was made by Jay. I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and work well with many different color schemes. A black charger with a simple design is a good starter charger plate if you are thinking about starting a tablescaping hobby. To read about what you should be considering when you are buying chargers please click here.

Lenox Portola Black Flatware

If you read my blog you saw this black flatware set on my Cats tablescape last week. I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix set to use on my Halloween tablescapes this past year and I found this set on sale at Macy’s online. It was made by Lenox and the pattern is called Portola. I love the simple design and the shiny black color. I suspect this set will get a lot of use. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I am not sure where I found these red metal heart napkin rings but I love the bold red color. These black cotton napkins came from Crate and Barrel a few years ago. The pattern was called Fete. They are a really nice cotton fabric and I love the dark black color. So often black is really a darker washed out gray color. To read about the What, Where and How of napkin rings please click here.

When these place card holders came, they were a dark bronze color but Hubby painted them black for me. He thinks they will end up red eventually and he may be right! They aren’t labeled. I like the different shape of the heart. I found them on Poshmark for a really good price last year. To read about the What, Where and When of place card holders, please click here.

I think these red glass goblets came from Crate and Barrel a couple years ago. I had been looking for some simple red goblets and grabbed these when I saw them online. Now I wish I had ordered more of them. The goblet on the right with the black bowl and clear stem was made by Classic Touch and it is called V-Shaped Water Glass, Black With Clear Stem. I bought them at Houzz online a couple years ago. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection including the goblet colors that I use the most often here.

I found this red hearts sculpture at HomeGoods a few weeks ago. It was natural wood but Hubby painted it red for me. It is sitting on a wood stand that I bought at Pier 1 a few years ago. The stand was a natural wood color but Hubby painted it white for me to use on one tablescape and then black for a few other tablescapes.

Mosser Glass Red Salt and Pepper Set

I decided to add a Mosser Glass red salt and pepper set to this Valentine’s Day tablescape. I bought this set online at The Vermont Country Store last year. The Mosser Glass Company was established in 1971 and it is located in Cambridge, Ohio. They sell high quality American made glassware and I love their products. I have a few sets of their goblets and a few cake stands too. If you read my blog you have seen their goblets on some of my tablescapes.

Mosser Glass White Salt and Pepper Set

I wanted another simple white salt and pepper set so I bought this Mosser white salt and pepper set at Everything Kitchens online a few months ago.

Ready for Valentine’s Day!

To see 190+ tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Tablescape Ideas group! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape Ideas. Don’t miss my Tablescaping How-To section at the top of this blog post for more tablescaping tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week so please check back!

This blog post was featured at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, https://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.com/ .Please visit this blog for lots of great recipes!

Cats on the Tablescape

I have had these cat salad plates for many years waiting to create a tablescape around them. It took this long to gather what I wanted for the tablescape together. I saw this tablecloth online at Spoonflower and I knew this tablescape creation was on its way. The tablecloth is called Catstooth-Houndstooth with Cats, Jumbo Black and White Geometric Cats. It is their usual heavy broadcloth type fabric and well made.

Spoonflower Catstooth-Houndstooth with Cats, Jumbo Black and White Geometric Cats Tablecloth

Fina Lieve Black and White Cats Salad Plate

I have had these black and white cat salad plates for so long that I can’t remember where they came from. They are unmarked and I suspect I found them at HomeGoods. (A Google search just brought up the brand, Fina Lieve.) The cats design is reminiscent of the Yin and Yang symbol that dates from ancient times in Chinese culture.

Fiesta White Dinner Plate

Photographing this tablescape has been a bit of a struggle with the contrasting colors and the dark rain outside. When I try to reduce the glare, the photos get darker. This is one of my newer Fiesta white dinner plates that I bought in Salt Lake City a few years ago on sale. It was the perfect size for this plate stack.

Charge It by Jay Starburst Black Glass Charger

It is always a struggle to photograph this black glass charger, there is always a reflection on it. It is called Charge It Sunburst and it was made by Jay. I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and work well with many different tablescape color schemes. A black charger with a simple design is a good starter charger plate if you are thinking about starting a tablescaping hobby. To read about what you should be considering when you are buying chargers please click here.

Lenox Portola Black Flatware

I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix set to use on my Halloween tablescapes and I found this set on sale at Macy’s online. It was made by Lenox and the pattern is called Portola. I love the simple design and the shiny black color. I suspect this set will get a lot of use. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

These black cotton napkins came from Crate and Barrel a few years ago. The pattern was called Fete. They are a really nice cotton fabric and I love the dark black color. So often black is really a darker washed out gray color. I think I found the white metal cat napkin rings on Ebay. To read about the What, Where and How of napkin rings please click here.

When I look at this small black cat place card holder it always makes me smile. It is such a perfect match for this tablecloth. I found them online at FeelGift. (This site has some unique gift items but they are not inexpensive!) These place card holders were made by Decole Concombre. To read about the What, Where and When of place card holders, please click here.

I have black goblets that are shorter than this black goblet and black goblets that are much taller than this goblet but I wanted goblets this height. I was delighted to find these black plastic ones on Amazon last year. The advertisement said that they are disposable but I plan to keep them for a while until I can find some black glass ones that are the same height. I have very very tall white goblets but I had been looking for shorter ones for a long time. I finally found these white goblets at Walmart a couple of years ago. They were made by Artland and the pattern was called Veranda. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection including the goblet colors that I use most often here.

Stretching Cat Figurine by Red Barrel Studio

I knew I wanted a simple cat design for the centerpiece and I was looking for a black and white combination when I found these cats online at Wayfair. They were more than I wanted to spend but I like them so much that they will be added to some room decor in the house. They are called Stretching Cat Figurine and they are made by Red Barrel Studio. Hubby built a black wood stand for them because I wanted them to stand a bit taller on the table setting.

This magnetic black and white cats salt and pepper set came from either Amazon or Ebay last year.

It was worth taking all those years to create this tablescape. It certainly makes a statement!

To see over 260 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

For lots of other Tablescaping DIY tips and tricks click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group, click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers in January in the Los Angeles area..

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Tablescaping DIY; Napkin Rings, What, Where and How

Everything You Need to Know About Napkin Rings: Uses, Types, and Selecting the Right Ones.

Napkin rings are small, usually decorative rings that are a great addition to table decor and a wonderful addition to the dining table setting. They are a perfect addition to the tablescape to help carry out the theme of the table setting. In history the napkin ring was a functional and decorative way of keeping cloth napkins neat and organized and specific to each guest at the dining table. Typically, each person at the table was given their own personalized ring to use during meals, allowing them to easily identify which napkin ring and napkin was theirs. When the napkin was still relatively clean after the meal, it was a place to return your napkin back to, to identify it as yours. Sometimes rings would even hold the guest’s individual salt, poison testing, and other material they would need for dinner. More recently napkin rings are typically uniform in style and decorative in purpose. They can be made from a variety of materials, including metal, plastic, or wood.

Why use napkin rings

Napkin rings have a variety of purposes, the most common of which is to keep the napkin from falling off the table. They can also be used to identify which side of the napkin is meant to face up on the plate, as well as a way to decorate the table setting.

This bumblebee napkin ring adds a touch of whimsy to this Bumblebee Tablescape and it is a perfect match for the bumblebee cloth napkin. More information about this tablescape here.

This gold shamrock napkin ring was a great addition to this tablescape. I found the tablecloth first and then searched for gold shamrock napkin rings and got lucky. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day Tablescape here.

These black and white polka dot napkin rings match one of the pumpkins on the tablecloth. I bought them a few years ago because I love polka dots. It was serendipity that they matched part of this Halloween tablecloth that I found. More information about this Halloween tablescape here.

How to select the right napkin ring for your needs

Napkin rings come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials. Here are a few tips on how to select the right napkin ring for you. 

When I started tablescaping I bought napkin rings in all the primary colors slowly over time so I would have the colors that I needed. I knew I would be able to use them over and over again. More information about this Fall tablescape here.

What purpose does the napkin ring serve?

Should the napkin ring be small and simple, placed on the side of the plate to hold utensils and napkins in place; or a decorative piece front and center on the plate?

For this sea shell tablescape I decided to fold the napkin around the shell salad and dinner plates and add the napkin ring. More information about this sea shell tablescape here.

Sometimes when you can’t find the napkin ring that you need to match your tablescape you can just fold the napkin beside the plate and go without a napkin ring. More information about this St. Patrick’s Day tablescape here.

What is your budget?

When thinking about a napkin ring collection, consider your budget. I probably go a little overboard because I really enjoy using different napkin rings for each of the tablescapes that I create. Napkin rings can range in price from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars, depending on their type and material. Choose something that fits within your budget without sacrificing quality. Remember that you will be using the napkin rings year after year so that sometimes makes the price more easy to digest. Finally, take into account the style of your table setting, and choose a napkin ring that will complement it nicely. There are a wide range of options available so you are sure to find something that matches your taste and tablescape theme.

I love how this vintage peppermint stick napkin ring matches the theme of this Peppermint Candy Christmas tablescape, more information about it all here.

How to store napkin rings

Napkin rings can be a fun and easy way to add a touch of personality to your table setting, but they can also be difficult to store. Here are a few tips on how to store napkin rings so that you can keep them handy when you need them. If you are not using your napkin rings regularly, it is best to keep them in a craft or storage box. This will protect them from becoming bent or damaged. If you plan on using them often, it is best to purchase a ring holder. This will keep them organized and easy to find when you need them. I use clear shoe box sized plastic containers and I label the end. I like them because I can see what is inside. We bought the containers on Amazon and at The Container Store. If I were a perfectionist I would create and print out labels to use but I just wanted to get them organized quickly so I could find things and I just wrote on the end of the boxes. Before they were scattered all over the house and I wasted a lot of time looking for them. The containers are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I have inventoried all of these napkin rings and place card holders. Each one has a photo and a record of how many I have. I have the photos and information stored in folders on my computer. The folders are arranged by holiday, theme, or color. I can easily look at the photos and think about the tablescape that I want to create.

This rattan napkin ring works well with an informal Fall tablescape especially when you have a rattan charger on the table as well. You can find more information abou this Fall tablescape here.

Different types of napkin rings available on the market today

Napkin rings come in all shapes and sizes, and are made from a variety of materials. Here are some of the most common types of napkin rings available on the market today.

• wooden napkin rings

• metal napkin rings

• plastic napkin rings

• beaded napkin rings

• gemstone napkin rings

• novelty napkin rings

• leather napkin rings

I only have a couple beaded napkin ring sets but this beaded butterfly napkin ring is a favorite. For several years if I found a napkin ring that was more expensive I bought a few at a time over a period of time until I had the number that I needed. There is more information about this beaded butterfly napkin ring and this table setting here.

I love this red leather napkin ring. It was one of the first napkin ring sets that I bought when I started tablescaping. I really like the simple design, more information about these napkin rings and this tablescape here.

Where to find unique and stylish napkin rings

If you're looking for something a little different when it comes to napkin rings, you might want to check out some of the more unique and stylish options available online. Here are a few places to start your search. I usually buy my napkin rings online after I do a Google search by subject. Etsy is a great place to find handmade napkin rings in all shapes and sizes. You can find everything from simple wooden rings to ornate metal designs. Amazon has a large selection of both traditional and novelty napkin rings, as well as a wide variety of materials and prices. I love finding vintage napkin rings and I often find unique designs on Ebay. I actually buy my napkin rings from all over the Internet, a Google search turns up lots of different sources for great napkin rings.

Sometimes I find a napkin ring that is just perfect for my napkin ring collection and I must have it. I love this silver colored skull napkin ring. Halloween tablescapes are some of my favorite tablescapes to create and when I find the right elements like this skull napkin ring it makes the table setting so much more fun to create. You can find more information about this Skulls Halloween tablescape here.

I created a Farm Animals tablescape this last summer and I found farm animal napkin rings, mostly on Ebay. Each place setting had a different farm animal. I just love these cow napkin rings! More information about this tablescape can be found here.

DIY Napkin Rings

Unique napkin rings can be hard to come by, but they don't have to be expensive. In fact, you can make your own napkin rings with a few simple supplies and a little bit of creativity. Here are some tips on how to make napkin rings on a budget.

• Use materials that you already have around the house and a hot glue gun to create one for any occasion. There are tons of materials that can be used for DIY napkin rings, including beads, stones, wire, and even old jewelry.

• Get creative with your designs. There are no rules when it comes to making DIY napkin rings - so get creative and have fun with it!

• Use recycled materials whenever possible. Not only is recycling good for the environment, but it can also save you money on supplies.

• Try out different techniques until you find one that you like best. There are lots of different ways to make DIY napkin rings, so experiment until you find one that's right for you.

I had bought these small crabs on Ebay to use as table scatter on a crab themed tablescape a few years ago but they were shiny red when they arrived. Hubby was going to spray paint them orange-red for me so I could use them as scatter on this table setting. My daughter was visiting and I was telling her about my bad luck finding napkin rings and she suggested that I turn these small crabs into napkin rings, genius! So Hubby bought plain wood rings and spray painted the crabs and the rings and we glued the crabs to the rings and suddenly, cheap napkin rings! Any small object can be glued to a wooden or metal ring to create a simple and easy napkin ring. If the color is wrong it is easy to use spray paint to create the color you need. For more information and photos of this crab themed tablescape please click here.

I was working on a tablescape with a travel theme and I wanted napkin rings with maps or flags and I couldn’t find anything close to that. I finally found some pins with country flags on them and I just temporarily attached them to a simple black napkin ring that I had with Sticky Putty. If you go to a hardware store and wander the aisles you can find many different materials that can be turned into napkin rings, all kinds of rings, pipe, and square objects with holes are available. Small plastic items can be found on Ebay or Oriental Traders online or at any party supply store. For more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.

I was working on a John Deere tractor and farming themed table setting and I couldn’t find any napkin rings that fit the tractor theme anywhere. I finally looked on Etsy for some John Deere scrapbook paper to buy and download. I found exactly what I needed and then we cut it and taped it to a simple napkin ring I already had. Using this technique the possibilites are endless! You could actually recycle the same napkin ring over and over many different times for different themes (or different colors too). To see more information and photos of this tablescape, please click here.

To see over 260 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my new Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas Facebook group for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Tablescape and Table Settings Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group. https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We are planning a gathering for tablescapers in January in the Los Angeles area..

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks.

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!