Thursday, March 31, 2016

Set Your Table With Flair--A Spring Tea For National Tartan Day

Hello, dear friends!  Thank you so much for stopping by to visit me!

Are you a fan of tartan?  I can clearly remember when my love affair with tartan began; as a girl, going to school smartly dressed in penny loafers, knee socks, a cabled sweater, and of course, a wonderful skirt or shorts of Black Watch Tartan (Think:  Alicia Silverstone or Stacey Dash in Clueless, but loooong before the film was released).

In just a few days is National Tartan Day.  National Tartan Day occurs every April 6th, and it is a celebration for people of Scottish heritage.  Did you know that plaids and tartans are not the same, and that all tartans are plaids, but not all plaids are tartans?  According to Encyclopedia Americana 1957 ed., a plaid is a pattern in textile fabrics consisting of bars, or stripes of color crossing each other at right angles, and a tartan is the typical Scottish plaid; a thin worsted cloth having alternate bands of different colors, forming a checkered pattern, which has been highly specialized by Scottish weavers for the dress of Scottish Highlanders, each clan having its own pattern

The word plaid originated from the Gaelic word for "blanket."  Therefore, plaid may have originally referred to a long cloth, double the size of its wearer (patterned or not), and was worn by people of the Scottish Highlands.  The word tartan originated from the French word tartarin meaning "tartar cloth".  It has also been suggested that "tartan" may be derived from modern Scottish Gaelic tarsainn, meaning "across."  Tartans are usually specific to a clan.  So many Scottish wore tartan plaids, that in Northern America, the terms became confused and intertwined. 

There are a multitude of websites on which people can research the tartan of their specific clan, but I find that The Scottish Register of Tartans is the most complete and concise.  You can even create a new tartan if so desired with an interactive online weaver via House of Tartan, Tartan Designer, or Tartanmaker.

Black Watch Tartan has been a favorite of mine as long as I can remember,


with McQueen (registered as MacQueen on The Scottish Register of Tartans) as a close second,


especially during Christmas.  I usually prefer rich tartans such as these during the holiday season, but for National Tartan Day, I thought it might be fun to take tea with a pretty Spring theme, and of course, tartan!  I hope you enjoy the post!



I began the table with a pretty topper of Springy pastel;


a simple centerpiece of coordinating colors


in a depression glass bowl lined with pink petals


lends to an atmosphere of playful springtime whimsy.








A flowered teapot along with a creamer and sugar, all in white...


dainty gold-rimmed teacups and saucers sit pleasantly on plates, also of fresh white.
 

At each setting, a delicate gold spoon, sachet of tea, and napkins held by pretty peony petals.







If you would like to view the tutorial for my pastel Victorian tea sachets, you may do so on my blog The Crafting Table here.



Completed Tablescape.








We enjoyed some delicious little bites.


Although not traditional teatime fare, they were a hit.
 

To view the recipe for my spicy grilled ham and cheese, you may visit the post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.
 

To view the recipe for my spicy roast beef brioche, please visit the same post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.


This week was spring break for us, and it was so enjoyable.  My eldest and I just started watching the full series of Soap.  Do you remember it?  I vaguely remember it, but I knew I liked the series, so when I saw it, I nabbed it.  It is pretty zany, and very un-PC!  You would never get away with some of those off-color jokes nowadays.  How times have changed!



I hope you all are enjoying the beautiful springtime!










From my collection:

Topper:  Tommy Hilfiger, HomeGoods
Pink teacups and saucers, Grace's Teaware, HomeGoods
Gold flatware, Wallace Silversmiths Grand Duchess Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus
White plates, Ralph Lauren Club Collection 
Teapot, Godinger
Sugar, creamer, and white napkins, generic
Pastel Victorian Tea Sachets, yours truly
Peony napkin rings, Bed, Bath, and Beyond
White cake plate, Ralph Lauren Pavilion Collection


UPDATE

 

04/08/2016~~ 


I have noticed a few comments and/or questions about the bench featured in this post.  The bench is my handmade highback bench, which also was the impetus for starting this blog.  You may visit the full tutorial for the bench in my archives or by clicking here.  Thank you so much!
 

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 
Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤










Sunday, March 27, 2016

Happy Easter 2016



We have so much to be thankful for.  I hope all had a blessed Easter Sunday!  

To view the recipe for my ham, you may do so on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.

If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 
Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤

Saturday, March 26, 2016

Adding the Final Touches For Easter

Hello, friends!  Thank you for stopping by to say hello for a few minutes today.  I am so glad the kiddos are beginning Spring Break, so we can spend some much-needed time together!  Earlier today, I spent a bit of time putting together the finishing touches for our Easter Sunday celebration.  Just a bit of tweaking here and there...nothing too complicated, will make for a sweet time that is enjoyable and relaxing.  I hope you enjoy the post!


More Flowers For the Entry 
 
I recently shared the tutorial for very simple baskets which I have hung on my front doors.


To make the entry even more welcoming, I added another arrangement indicative of the Spring season.    I began on my little garden pillar.   I added a large urn.  On the urn, I set a large rustic basket.



 I made sure to use a basket with almost the same diameter bottom as the mouth of the urn.
 

 
I have filled the basket with colorful blooms such as lilacs, lilies, daffodils, delphinium, grasses, et cetera...

 
and a sweet little bunny.

 
 
Isn't he cute?


 
To anchor him, I simply used a bamboo skewer.  I pushed the skewer into a tiny hole in the bottom of Mr. Cottontail




 
and placed it into the basket.




 
 
There's nothing like flowers for Easter!!


 
 
Setting The Table With Flair
 
For this year's Easter Tablescape, I am keeping things simple with a beautiful palette of fresh spring color.

 
Fresh white linen, crisp blue,



and soft, springy yellow,

 
makes for an elegant yet low-key setting.


A simple centerpiece of ample flowers in antique English Crockery,


sweet dessert forks,


and silver flatware


completes and compliments the setting.



I hope you are enjoying the beautiful weather and bounty of Spring!


From my collection:

Arrangement 
Urn, TaiPan Trading
Flowers, The Dollar Tree
Concrete bunny, Target
Rustic basket, thrifted 

Tablescape 
Transferware plates, Spode's The Blue Room Collection 
White saucers, Ralph Lauren Whipstitch Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus 
Daffodil bowls, exclusive Horchow/Neiman Marcus 
Silver flatware, Wallace Silversmiths Antique Baroque Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus 
Crystal goblets, Godinger Dublin Collection, Horchow/Neiman Marcus 
Dessert forks, Spode Italian, HomeGoods 
Large pitcher and basin, Chatham England, local antique 
Blue flutes, generic






If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 
Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤







Sunday, March 6, 2016

Set Your Table With Flair--A Simple Saint Pat's



Hello, friends!  Thank you for stopping by to visit me today!  I can't believe that another year has gone by and that once again it's time to don our green and take a sweet little mental jaunt to the Emerald Isle.  I also will be hopping along with one of the sweetest hosts, Cuisine Kathleen, for her Annual Saint Patrick's Day Blog Crawl.

I am reflecting a bit today, as my husband's paternal grandmother was full-blood Irish.  She was a lady with a wicked sense of humor, my eldest daughter's namesake, and the glue that kept the family together.  Prone to joking and inspiring bouts of laughter, even in her later years...she was definitely a character and very endearing.

Each year when the weather becomes warm, all of my little ones' hair turns to beautiful shades of auburn, burnished copper, and strawberry blonde...I am reminded of those wonderful genes, and I can only smile.


This year for Saint Patrick's Day, I am keeping things low-key and simple.  A sweet and uncomplicated table set with a little bit of kitsch for fun seems so fitting for the overall sentiment of this joyous holiday, also reminiscent of my hubby's dearly departed grandmother.  I hope you enjoy the post!


I began the setting with a linen of white with shamrocks, shamrocks, and more shamrocks!!



A rustic little teapot planter became the centerpiece


filled with green, green,


and more green!


Crocheted tea towels adorned with patterned green napkins (shamrocks) and tied with a bit of fabric (more shamrocks!) were placed over simple white plates and celedon saucers.



At each setting, a gold coin with either a four-leaf clover


or sweet words were placed 


along with very simple flatware.



Stout mugs and tumblers of green 


join a jolly little pot



perfect for serving sips of Irish Mocha Crèmes.  To read the recipe for my simple Irish Mocha Crèmes, you may visit the post on my blog Parsimonious Pabulum here.


Happy Saint Patrick's Day!



From my collection:

White plates and mugs, Ralph Lauren Club Collection
Celadon saucers, local thrift
Teapot, Target
Green tumblers, HomeGoods
Flatware, Ralph Lauren Beacon Collection
Teapot planter, HomeGoods
Florals and gold coins, all, Michael's Crafts
Crocheted Tea Towels, Boutross Fine Linens, Horchow/Neiman Marcus
Fabric, all, thrifted 


Please be sure to use the link above or this one to visit all of the lovely posts during Kathleen's Blog Hop!



If you enjoy this post, please visit the archives!  You may also visit my full profile to view my other blogs. Connect with me on my Facebook Page, Parsimonious Décor Darling.   You might like to visit my other blog hubs,  

The Marvelous Maison, a lifestyle blog hub and 
Frugal Fab Fashionista, my fashion blog hub. 

Follow me on Pinterest!!  Please be sure to kindly follow the board guidelines, as it takes time and effort to find fabulous pins across the Internet and Pinterest!  Thank you!  

Thank you for stopping by! ❤