carolinajewel's table

William's First Birthday Party!

2019-06-18T12:21:00.000-04:00

I have been a very busy grandmother in the last year! These two grandsons are such a joy, but I haven't had much time for tablescaping and blogging. My daughter just had the cutest party for my grandson and said I could share her table on my blog.

For William's first birthday the theme was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

She used the foods that the Hungry Caterpillar eats in the book for a lot of the treats.

And since the book begins with the Hungry Caterpillar as an egg on a leaf, there were deviled eggs on a leaf platter!

I am so proud of all my daughter did to make this a beautiful and memorable party. We had such a good time and all went well except for the cake smashing. William was not a fan of being the center of attention!

So Much to Be Thankful For!

2018-11-21T09:25:00.000-05:00

There have been many changes this year, but none bigger than the birth of my first grandchildren! Two grandsons, one born in June and the other born in September, are at the top of my list of things I'm thankful for!

And I'm lucky to have both of them here for Thanksgiving this year!

Here is my Thanksgiving table.

My centerpiece is a silver punch bowl with lights, leaves and a pumpkin.

At each place setting, I used Spode Woodland china and covered pumpkin bowls from Sur La Table.

The bowls come in three different colors.

I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Halloween Table 2018

2018-10-16T11:35:00.001-04:00

Well, two grandsons and two hurricanes have slowed me down, but I still have a Halloween Tablescape to share!

I sound these cute appetizer plates at World Market and they were 40% off! I used a white tablecloth with a black lace cobweb table runner. Black and rhinestone chargers with Gibson Claremont plates were topped with orange and black Halloween napkins, and finally the new plates.

For my centerpiece, I used a punch bowl, a wreath and a faux Jack O' Lantern with some wire lights.

The mantle and the rest of the room have lots of Fall Decor!

In the Parlor, I have my tea table set for an Autumn Tea Party!

And the Foyer is decorated as well!

Here's hoping you have a very Happy Halloween with nothing but Treats!

Aynsley Pembroke China

2018-05-17T11:15:00.000-04:00

I haven't had much time for blogging lately. Both of my daughters are expecting and I am so excited to become a grandmother! I did take a few pictures of my current table which features the Aynsley Pembroke pattern. I recently inherited this set from my mother. She started this pattern in the 1970s and I remember many meals on these beautiful plates!

I used a white cutwork tablecloth, gold chargers, and slate blue napkins. The beautiful Pembroke napkin rings were a recent birthday present from one of my dearest friends!

For my centerpiece, I used roses from a very thoughtful neighbor's yard in a Pembroke vase.

One of my favorite things about this pattern is the large assortment of goods made. There are vases and biscuit barrels and lots of beautiful pieces to choose from!

I hope you have a lovely day and thanks for looking! I will be sharing with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Halloween 2017

2017-10-14T10:33:00.000-04:00

My Halloween tablescape is the same as my Fall tablescape (Link HERE) with a few spooky tweaks!

As you can see, I used the same gold tablecloth, wooden chargers, Spode Woodland plates, Williamsburg Shell stainless and pewter cups.

I added pumpkin salad plates and Halloween crackers as well as a plastic wine glass.

I used some napkins I got at Target years ago.

This is the same centerpiece with a faux Jack O'Lantern instead of the elegant faux pumpkin. and I put smaller Halloween items around the base.

Not much work, but a whole different feel!

Happy Halloween!

I will be sharing with Between Naps on the Porch.

Fall Decorating October 2017

2017-10-05T10:41:00.000-04:00

I have probably written this before - October is my very favorite month! I love the cooler temperatures and lower humidity of North Carolina's fall, often no need for heat or AC. Of course, sometimes you have those days when you need heat in the morning and AC in the afternoon, but I still love October! Here are some of my Fall decorations so far this year.

In the Dining Room, we have a gold tablecloth and wooden chargers topped with Spode Woodland Turkey plates. I used a new stainless flatware pattern, Williamsburg Shell by Reed and Barton. I used Kirk Steiff pewter goblets and red napkins with woven golden pumpkins.

I also used my pumpkin place card holders but haven't put the place cards in yet!

For my centerpiece, I used my silver punch bowl and filled it with plastic grocery bags and covered them with green Spanish Moss from Michaels. Then I put a large faux pumpkin on top and added some fall leaves. I was inspired by Sheila's idea on her blog, My Kentucky Living.

Then I got the idea to add some lights!

Here's the whole table again with the pumpkin it up.

On the small buffet, I used a silver wine cooler and did the same pumpkin trick!

The hanging shelf above the small buffet is a new piece that I inherited from my mother. I love how it just fits!

Of course, I still have this hanging shelf on the back wall, too!

This is a new pumpkin I painted. It is faux and I painted a Blue Willow type pattern on it with craft paint. It took hours, but I am thrilled with how it turned out.

I made a vignette in my Butler's Pantry featuring the Blue Willow pumpkin.

October is a good month to sit and rock on the porch. There are lots of real pumpkins on the porch!

Before you go, let's have a Pumpkin Tea Party in the Parlor!

I will be sharing with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Spode Mayflower

2017-08-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

Today I would like to share with you one of my "new" china patterns - Spode Mayflower.

This pattern was introduced by Copeland Spode in 1929 and discontinued sometime in the early 1960's. It was re-introduced in 2004-2005. All the items I have are the older, Copeland Spode version.

My mother and father registered for this pattern as their "Everyday China" in 1957. When they were first married, they lived with my paternal grandmother who had her own china. When they built their own house in the 1960's, I was going through a PURPLE phase. I think lots of young girls go through a purple phase! When we unpacked this china, I fell in love!!! I couldn't wait to use it! Sadly, my mother said it had been discontinued and we were just going to put it in a corner cabinet for display. I was heartbroken. Every year on my birthday, my mother asked what I would like as a special meal. My answer was always the same: Spaghetti with Meat Sauce and served on the purple plates!

I just inherited these purple plates and I will have to serve spaghetti on them soon! For now, I am washing and cataloging them. I also set up a few vignettes on my Parlor Piecrust Tea Table.

As you can see, I inherited Dinner Plates, a Luncheon Plate and, Bread and Butter Plates. I really want some salad plates now!

Clockwise, from upper left, Dinner, Luncheon and Bread and Butter Plates

I love how the central design is just a bit different for each plate.

Dinner

Luncheon

Here is a Tea Time Vignette

I have lots of tea cups and saucers - 22 cups and 21 saucers! I can have quite a tea party!

I love the coffee pot in this pattern!

I also inherited small rim soups and the gravy boat.

I hope you have enjoyed seeing one of my "newest" patterns! I treasure it since it was my parents' and my special birthday pattern!

Sharing with Between Naps on the Porch

Independence Day 2017

2017-06-27T14:44:00.001-04:00

Here is my table to celebrate the 4th of July or Independence Day this year!

I started with my red tablecloth with the red paisley woven design. I don't know why, but it has always reminded me of fireworks!

On top of that, I used my First American or Betsy Ross Flag design placemats along with their matching napkins and a gold napkin ring. Then a gold charger, my Spode Tower Pink Dinner Plates, and Royal Staffordshire American Heritage Salad Plates which depict the Boston Tea Party. Flatware with a gold beaded edge and stemware of clear and ruby red crystal complete the place setting.

An Uncle Sam nutcracker is my centerpiece.

On the tea table in my Parlor, I have a service set up to celebrate Flag Day and Betsy Ross. It is still in the Red, White, and Blue theme for Independence Day!

I hope you have a very Happy and Safe Independence Day with those you love!

Sharing with Between Naps of the Porch

Easter 2017

2017-04-11T09:22:00.001-04:00

Here is my Easter table!

I started with a white cutwork tablecloth and added green ruffled chargers, flatware with a gold, beaded edge, and glasses with a gold Greek Key design.

My plates are Lenox Springdale and on top are Vera Bradley floral napkins with a Target carrot napkin ring. I also used white bunny place card holders from Target.

For my centerpiece, I used a pedestal cake plate and put a glass candy dish on top. In the candy dish, I used faux grass and placed Easter Eggs in the grass. I surrounded this with chicks and eggs.

On the mantle, I have various Easter decor.

I hope you are having a wonderful Spring and have a wonderful Easter!

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

St. Patrick's Day 2017

2017-03-17T08:25:00.000-04:00

You don't have to be Irish to love St. Patrick's Day!

I have a gold tablecloth with green felt placemats, white plates, gold napkins with emerald green napkin rings.

My centerpiece is an ornament tree full of glass shamrocks and leprechauns.

An assortment of Irish nutcrackers is displayed on my mantle.

May you have the luck of the Irish! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I will be sharing with Between Naps on the Porch.

Mardi Gras 2017

2017-02-27T21:10:00.003-05:00

It's the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, so

"Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

The traditional colors of Mardi Gras are Purple, Green, and Gold, but I couldn't resist adding a bit of Peacock Blue into the mix. My centerpiece is a beaded placemat and a vase of Peacock Blue with a feathered Mardi Gras mask and coins and beads. I even added a few peacocks around just for fun.

I used a gold tablecloth and napkins, Peacock Blue chargers, white plates and gold candelabras.

I added Mardi Gras masks around the table and put a few purple, green and gold coins in the plates to add color.

This reproduction Victorian postcard adds some Mardi Gras fun to my silver service.

So that's my Mardi Gras table for this year! Have a fun day!

I will be sharing with Between Naps on the Porch.

Presidents' Day 2017

2017-02-17T16:55:00.002-05:00

To celebrate Presidents' Day I always get out my Woodmere White House china. Luckily, I have added to my collection this last year!

I have given very detailed histories of these patterns in past Presidents' Day blog posts, that you can find HERE.

For this post, I will just give you the names of the Presidents.

James K. Polk Dinner and Dessert Plate

Thomas Jefferson Dinner and Dessert Plate

Abraham Lincoln Dinner and Dessert Plate

George Washington Dinner and Dessert Plate

Benjamin Harrison Dessert Plate on top of.....

Andrew Jackson Dinner Plate

Ulysses S. Grant Dessert Plate on top of...

Franklin Pierce Dinner Plate

So far, no new additions! But on my centerpiece, I have 3 new ornaments, thanks to eBay!

That makes 10 ornaments I now own!

I got 3 new Dessert plates over the last year:

The James Buchanan Dessert Plate - all I can find about this pattern is that it was likely a set that Mr. Buchanan owned privately and was the everyday pattern used in the White House. For State Dinners, he used the Franklin Pierce china

The Dolley Madison Dessert Plate - Real pieces of the Madison china are very rare since they were in the White House during the War of 1812 when the city of Washington was burned. I am surprised at how "modern" this pattern looks!

The John Quincy Adams Dessert Plate - this pattern was produced in France and believed to have been obtained by the Adams when they were living abroad before he became president. This was the pattern they used for their everyday meals and they used the James Monroe china for State Dinners.

Here they all are on the wicker tea cart with my Presidential Teapot and Pitcher. These items have a picture of every president from George Washington to Lyndon Johnson.

Here are the last two dessert plates I own: the Zachary Taylor in blue and the James Monroe with the burgundy border. Also on this table are a teapot and cup and saucer in a pattern called "Mount Vernon," a trinket box and cup and saucer in George Washington's White House pattern, a tiny Washington plate and a book called "Dining with the Washingtons."

I hope you have a wonderful Presidents' Day even if you don't get the day off!

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

Valentine's Day 2017

2017-02-13T19:10:00.002-05:00

Just a quick update with my Valentine's Day table!

I really think my Spode Pink Tower is perfect for Valentine's Day!

Cupids tumbling on the Dining Room Mantle.

Flowers in the Epergne in the Foyer

Some seasonal toothpick in a Pembroke holder.

My tea table in the Parlor in ready for a Valentine's Day tea party.

I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day surrounded by those you love!

What are you doing New Year's Eve?

2016-12-30T15:35:00.001-05:00

We actually have plans, but that has never stopped me from decorating my table!

My centerpiece is an ornament tree with New Year ornaments that I have collected through the years.

At each place I have a gold charger topped with a golden snowflake plate. Place card of golden ink on ivory held by golden place card holders. I know that flute glasses are better for champagne, but the saucer type look so old fashioned!

I started with an ivory table cloth and a gold sequined runner and gold napkins with gold napkin rings.

Happy New Year!!!

I will be sharing with Between Naps on the Porch.

Christmas Tour 2016

2016-12-20T10:14:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas and welcome to my home!

We'll start in the dining room. I have the table set with a gold tablecloth and a dark red, embroidered runner. I added gold chargers and red brocade napkins, as well as flatware with a golden beaded border.
On top of the charger is a Spode Christmas Grove dinner plate. Spode introduced this pattern in 2004 and I immediately started a collection. I had Cuthbertson Original Christmas tree for my Christmas pattern, but having moved to a Victorian house in 2000, I really wanted a more Victorian Christmas pattern. Spode Christmas Tree Grove is perfect! You can microwave it and put it in the dishwasher if you like and the colors match my reproduction Victorian wallpapers perfectly. I was heartbroken to learn earlier this year that this pattern was discontinued. Luckily, I have collected a full set over the years!
As you can see I found some fun Christmas Crackers at Target to add above each place setting!

For my centerpiece, I used a large apothecary jar and added some old glass Christmas ball ornaments and snuck in a multicolored battery operated lights.

On the mantle, there are Nutcracker Ballet nutcrackers surrounded by candy like the Land of Sweets in the ballet.

And in the dining room bay window, we have a Nutcracker-themed Christmas tree.

There are various Christmas teapots and pitchers on the hanging shelf.

There is a Christmas tea set on the wicker tea cart.

Now let's go to the Foyer.

Next, the Parlor where our big Christmas tree is featured!

Then into the Billiards Room.

The Sun Room is converted to the Town of Bethlehem for the season to display our Fontanini collection.

Next stop is the Library. This is my husband's study and office. He loves military history, so his Nutcrackers are soldiers, not ballet dancers!

I don't have many kitchen photos this year, but I do have a small kitchen Christmas tree!

I got these little kitchen ornaments last year at Sur La Table's after Christmas sale.

That's my home at Christmas this year! I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas season full of family and friends!

I will be sharing this with Rustic and Refined and Between Naps on the Porch.

Golden Thanksgiving Wishes!

2016-11-22T15:46:00.003-05:00

Here is my Thanksgiving 2016 table. I started with a bright golden tablecloth and red and gold napkins. On top of wooden chargers, I am using my Spode Woodland Turkey Dinner plates. The wine glass has a golden design, the napkin rings are a light gold and the flatware has a golden beaded edge.

At each place setting, I have put a Meri Meri Pilgrim cracker and place card.

For the centerpiece, I used one of my many ceramic turkeys on top of a glass cake stand, all on top of a beaded fall leaf charger. I scattered faux golden leaves all around and surrounded the centerpiece with golden mercury glass votives.

On the mantle are lots of Pilgrims and Pumpkins.

Lots of Pilgrims on the Larger Buffet as well!

On the Smaller Buffet is my Paternal Grandmother's Punch Bowl Set, surrounded by some glass punch cups that were my Maternal Grandmother's. Spiced cider, anyone?

Or would you prefer tea? It can be served from this tea cart and my Spode Woodland Tea Pot.

Lots of turkeys in my hanging shelf.

So much to be thankful for this year! I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful, too!

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Independence Day 2016!

2016-06-30T12:42:00.000-04:00

I am looking forward to the long July 4th weekend coming up and I have already decorated!

I love using my Royal Staffordshire American Heritage china for Independence Day! Here I have the Bread and Butter Plate which depicts the Boston Tea Party layered on top of a Spode Pink Tower Dinner Plate.

I am using placemats that look like the original American flag, gold chargers, and napkins.

For my centerpiece, I have placed a lantern on a small cake stand. The lantern reminds me of Paul Revere's signal lantern: one if by land, two if by sea! On top of the lantern is a Continental soldier.

I put fireworky - sparklers and an American flag in two Moravian star candleholders.

We put two buntings up on our porch. I could use about 50 more to go around all sides of this wraparound porch, but this will have to do for now!

When you walk into the foyer, Uncle Sam has taken off his hat!

And there's so good and appropriate reading material in the parlor!

I love the Signers of the Declaration of Independence plate. A close up of it was featured on my Instagram account (@carolinajewel) earlier this week.

Also in the Parlor is my tea table featuring a tea party with Betsy Ross. I shared this table a few weeks ago. (LINK HERE). The good news is that I just found a new creamer and sugar bowl in the Royal Stafforshire American Heritage pattern! The sugar bowl has Betsy Ross and George Washington and the cream pitcher has Paul Revere.

I have more Royal Staffordshire in the kitchen!

The plate on the left is the Spirit of "76 in the American Heritage pattern and the platter with George Washington Crossing the Delaware is Liberty Blue American Colonial Scenes on Stafforshire. The plate on the right is Wedgewood and shows Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home.

Close ups of all below!

And in the Butler's Pantry I have a plate depicting Independence Hall in Philadelpia.

I hope you will all have a happy and safe Independence Day with family and friends! I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

International Picnic Day!

2016-06-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

Sometime's my "table" doesn't have to be a table! This morning is beautiful, cooler than the last few days and gorgeous sunshine. Then I read that it was International Picnic Day! I hadn't even had breakfast yet, but I threw together a "picnic" in my front yard just for the occasion!

My tablecloth is from the Vermont Country Store and I bought it back in 1980 or 1981, for picnics and Italian dinners. (I've always loved a theme!) My husband and I bought this picnic basket shortly after we got married in 1982. Both of these purchases have been used a lot and still look and work great!

I have started trying to remember to watermark my photos since I found pictures of my house on Pinterest claimed by other people. Sad when others try and steal your pictures!

Have a very happy Picnic Day and Father's Day tomorrow!

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy Flag Day with Betsy Ross!

2016-06-14T08:31:00.000-04:00

Today is Flag Day and a great time to have a tea party with the famed flag maker, Betsy Ross! Of course, being a good patriot, Betsy prefers Liberty Tea, and herbal blend, since the tax on proper tea was one of the triggers for independence.

On my tea table, I have my vintage Madame Alexander Betsy Ross doll dressed in Red, White, and Blue and holding a scrap of red and white striped fabric. She is surrounded by a porcelain box in the shape of flag she and George Washington are said to have created and a porcelain box Liberty Bell.

I have my Spode Pink Tower tea pot ready for the Liberty Tea with a Spode Blue Italian Sugar Bowl and a Spode Blue Room creamer. The tea cups are Royal Staffordshire American Heritage and show George Washington at Mount Vernon.

I added some flag pennants and some flag-inspired napkins with gold napkin rings to complete the table.

Happy Flag Day!!!

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch.

April Showers 2016

2016-04-23T20:25:00.000-04:00

It's time again for the April Showers that bring May flowers! I decided this year to set up an April Shower tea table in my parlor.

My centerpiece is flowers set in glasses of water tucked into these children's rain boots. I added a small brass watering can and used a teapot with a gardening theme.

I love the flower pots on top of this teapot.

Even a trowel on the back!

The tea cups have butterfly handles and a butterfly motif.

Some bright floral napkins with dragonfly napkin rings complete the table.

Here's a view of the tea table in my parlor bay window.

I will be sharing this with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Happy 90th Birthday, Queen Elizabeth II !

2016-04-23T19:29:00.001-04:00

I had a really busy week, but I couldn't let such a mementos occasion pass uncelebrated!

On the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday, I realized that I had bought some napkins at Sur La Table a while back. Of course, I have Spode china in the appropriate colors of the British flag, so I had a celebratory tea in honor of Her Majesty! Here is a little vignette featuring Spode Pink Tower and Spode Blue Italian china.

Preservation Celebration Tablescape

2016-04-11T13:53:00.000-04:00

I finally got my Easter decorations put up and my house always seems a little bare without holiday decorations. Now, bare is not a word most folks would use for my Victorian decorating style, but I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder!

Preservation NC had asked a while back if we would open our house during their Preservation Celebration in our town and we are always glad to help them out! They showcased both commercial and residential properties, some restored and some in need of restoration. Of course, I set my table in the Dining Room for the tour. Here are some shots of my Dining Room and table with no theme or holiday - a rarity for me!

I used a burgundy tablecloth, gold chargers, Spode Pink Tower dishes with various stemware, gold napkins with dark red napkin rings and gold edged stainless flatware.

I used my cream soups for this table. I really love cream soup bowls!

Red and white azaleas in a silver wine cooler make up my centerpiece. I added ivory tapers to my silver candleabras to complete the table. I also used red and white azaleas on the mantle.

This room is very hard for me to photograph because of the light, but here is a shot looking into the room from the foyer.

Here is a view of the room looking toward the door that leads to the Butler's Pantry.

Here is a view of the room looking toward the foyer.

My house was built in 1883 and we restored it to try to resemble a dining room in the 1880's. Our wallpapers are by Bradbury & Bradbury and a reproductions of actual historic wallpapers.

A few more shots from the tour - this is my Foyer. Magenta and White Formosa Azaleas in my epergne and more Bradbury and Bradbury wallpapers.

I will be sharing this with Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Easter Parade 2016

2016-03-23T22:38:00.000-04:00

I really love Easter decorations: the colors, the bunnies, the chicks. With all the holidays falling so close together this year, I really feel like Easter has gotten the short end of the stick. So I may just have to keep this up a while after Easter is over!

I started with a light yellow tablecloth and green ruffled chargers. I used Lenox Springdale topped with Easter Bunny salad plates.

I used some Springy Vera Bradley napkins and clear and green stemware.

At each place setting, I added a matching egg cup and an Easter egg place card holder.

For my centerpiece, I used a cake plate to elevate a bowl of Easter eggs.

Bunnies and Chicks surround the centerpiece.

Easter egg Salt and Pepper shakers

Glass bunny butter dish

Assorted bunnies frolic on the hanging shelf in the Dining Room.

In the bay window of the Dining Room, the tea cart is also ready for Easter!

The tea table in the Parlor is also ready for an Easter Tea.

I will be joining Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Have a wonderful Easter!

St. Patrick's Day Decorations

2016-03-11T14:18:00.000-05:00

St. Patrick's Day will soon be here and I wanted to share some of my house decor with you!

Our Billiards Room, that we use as a Den, has our own Irish Pub set up! Here is a shot of the mantel and the Victorian Buffet we use as a bar below.

Here are three of my favorite porcelain items for the season.

A mini tea set

A Pitcher

An Aynsley tea cup and saucer

I shared my Dining Room table last week, but here is a refresher!

I didn't share my Victorian wicker tea cart in the Dining Room, shown below.

Outside I have a large flag at the front door, but I don't have any pictures yet!

At our side porch entrance, I have a small garden flag.

I will be sharing with Cuisine Kathleen for her St. Patrick's Day Blog Crawl (if she gets her computer fixed!)

St. Patrick's Day Preparations

2016-03-04T14:56:00.002-05:00

All the winter holidays are very close on the calendar this year! I'm going ahead with St. Patrick's Day, so I can start thinking about Easter!

I started with my gold tablecloth. Full disclosure, it was already on my table from my Presidents' Day tablescape HERE, and I think it makes a nice backdrop for St. Patrick's Day colors and it reminds me of the leprechaun's gold at the end of the rainbow. I used orange napkins for the orange in the flag of Ireland.

I used gold chargers and felt shamrock placemats at each place setting. The china I used is Lenox Springdale. These plates were a gift from a friend whose parents were downsizing and wanted their china to have a good home! I think they are just right for this table.

The centerpiece that I use each year is my ornament tree with Shamrocks, Leprechauns, and generally Irish ornaments, with gold coin scattered at the base.

So here's to a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I will be sharing this with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch and Cuisine Kathleen.