Author Archives: Jennie

Vintage Ferris Wheel Tablescape Inspiration

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When Cuisine Kathleen posted her “summer whimsey” challenge, I knew that the time had come to bring out my vintage Ferris wheel and feature it in a vacation tablescape.

GotMyReservations Chein Disney Ferris Wheel

J. Chein Disney Ferris Wheel

I grew up with this toy and played with it whenever we visited my great-grandmother’s house. I was named after her, and the toy was passed down to me eventually. I had it evaluated at one of those appraisal parties and they said at the time that it was worth about $100, but to me it’s priceless and will be one of the last items to pass on to family members when it’s my turn. The Ferris wheel brings back good memories of playing at Grandma Jennie’s house. Continue reading →

The Documented Life

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Recently a young friend commented on her frustration with Facebook constantly changing its formats, making choosing the way we interface with its programming difficult. She wants better control over whose posts she sees and the frequency that she sees them. I agree with her that it’s annoying to be faced with “suggested posts” and “sponsored posts” in addition to have people’s posts hidden from me because I didn’t comment enough. Annoying. Obviously, Facebook isn’t interested in what we want it to do for us; Mr. Zuckerberg and his staff want to make money. I get that and I’m happy that Facebook is still free.

Click into photo for source.

Click into photo for source.

Continue reading →

The Biggest Dish Room in the United States? — Biltmore Part 1

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The original photo of the two-story butler's pantry at Biltmore is courtesy of The Biltmore Estate.

The original photo of the two-story butler’s pantry at Biltmore is courtesy of The Biltmore Estate.

Dish rooms are my joy, my thrill, my raison d’être. Well, maybe not quite that much, but y’all know how much I love dishes.

When we began to plan our visit to the largest private home in the United States, I hoped to see lots and lots of dishes. Gobs of dishes.

Located in Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore House and its surrounding estate was imagined and created between 1889 and 1895 by George W. Vanderbilt and his all-star team of Richard Morris Hunt and Frederick Law Olmsted. It is still held privately by descendants of George and Edith Vanderbilt and is open to the public. There is a general tour of the house with an available audio guide that takes about two hours. There are also auxiliary guided tours of areas that are not on the main tour. We spent two glorious days exploring this beautiful estate.

In addition to the regular tour of the house, we also signed up for the Butler’s Tour, which took us “downstairs” into kitchen and mechanicals areas not seen on the other tours. This two-story butler’s pantry just took my breath away.

I’ll share lots more about our trip to the glorious Biltmore Estate, but today I’m going to start with a visit to the gift shops on the grounds of the Estate. After all, it’s dishes that we are interested in — right? Continue reading →

Flower Stories: Iris and Peonies

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A while back, I told you the story of my neighbor’s beautiful Bridal Veil Spirea.

GotMyReservations Bridal Veil Spirea 1

That was then…

I’ve also told you about how Oksana’s beautiful garden has been plundered and pretty much ruined by the flippers who are renovating her house.

GotMyReservations Bridal Veil Spirea

This is now — a desecration of a beautiful shrub.

The good news is that like all shrubs, this one will come back next year if no one disturbs it. Let’s hope my new neighbors — if we ever have new neighbors — will understand something about pruning shrubs and let it be. Continue reading →

Wedding China Tablescape

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When Cuisine Kathleen posed her wedding china challenge, I thought that I didn’t have much to contribute. We have wedding pink Depression glass, but I gave away all my first wedding china years ago.

While Noritake Savannah’s floral pattern is timeless, I needed to move on from the choices I made at age twenty. My best friend from college also selected this pattern when she married, and since she hosted Thanksgivings for the masses, she now had 24 matching place settings. It was a win-win for both of us.

Since then, I’ve inherited three full sets of someone else’s china, which you have seen here many times. I own my mother-in-law’s Noritake Aberdeen, my mother’s Four Crown Claridge, and my neighbor’s Noritake Stanwyk. Yes — the Claridge looks a lot like the Savannah, because my mom loved the pattern and chose a similar one.

GotMyReservations Wedding China Collage

So that brings us to 2014 and the newest bride in our family. My niece is getting married in just three weeks and has asked me to help with her tablescaping. I am honored to be included, and was excited that she has chosen to have mixed-pattern vintage china for her tables. Her tableware will come from the caterer, but my tribute to her comes from my own vaults. Once again, a family story drives this week’s tablescape. I LOVE my family stories and hope that you do, too! Continue reading →

Chalking It Up

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I know I’m late to the party, but I’ve recently discovered the joy of chalk paint.

GotMyReservations Lucky Junk Painting Workshop

I’ve been reading people’s DIY posts about using chalk paint and I was intrigued, but never quite enough to try it myself. Then I went to a workshop at a local shop called Lucky Junk, where I took a class with Janet (the owner) and Anne (from White Lace Cottage). Eight of us learned how to use Vintage Market & Design Furniture Paint. We tried out our techniques on old frames and it was a lot of fun. Here’s the link if you are in the Chicagoland area and want to come to Arlington Heights for a class.

GotMy Reservations Lucky Junk Project Bag

When I saw this display at a local nursery — Knuppers in Palatine, Illinois — I knew that I had not only sipped the “chippy chalk paint” koolaid, I had become drunk on it. This display made me melt in my unpainted jeans. So cute — I guess I’m a convert! And now I know how to create these pretty items.

GotMyReservations-White-and-Purple-for-Mom.jpg

I’ve already got a list of items to paint — my childhood Windsor chair, a pine planter box, a rummage sale wall shelf, a pink step stool I plucked from a neighbor’s trash, and my broken-but-patched cupid outdoor sculpture. All of these would benefit from a little TLC with chalk paint and wax.

I can’t wait to start! I am definitely a chalk paint convert.

Kentucky Derby Tribute Tablescape

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I am royalty — twice removed.

You were thinking kings and queens, right? Well, there are all kinds of royalty, and I know a prince, which makes me twice removed from the king. To be exact, one of my best friends is the son of a jockey who had an extraordinary career in horse racing — Ted was truly racing royalty. Ironically for today’s tablescape,Ted did not win the Kentucky Derby, but went on to win both the Preakness and the Belmont races in 1949. It’s just that whenever I think of racing, I think of Ted Atkinson. This Saturday, May 3, the 140th Kentucky Derby will be run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race will be televised on NBC, with coverage starting at 4:00 pm ET.

GotMyReservations Kentucky Derby Tribute Button Continue reading →

Fairy Garden Frenzy

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What’s the big deal with people making fairy gardens?

I’ve had conversations recently with two sensible friends who are creating little villages purportedly for their grandkids. I’m not so sure, given all the hype I’ve seen in gardening stores recently. It’s not little kids who buy this stuff. Continue reading →

Springtime in Vienna Tablescape

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It was pretty wet and chilly, that March spring break in Austria eleven years ago — my first trip to Europe. That doesn’t keep me from thinking about Vienna and Salzburg when I think spring. The pansies were profusely blooming and there were flowers and trees making their homage to spring everywhere, despite the weather. Nature is like that.

GotMyReservations Mirabell Gardens

Mirabell Palace and Gardens in Salzburg was one of the shooting locations for the Sound of Music.

Those pansies kept coming back to tantalize me when I started planning this week’s tablescape. I knew I wanted to incorporate the beautiful faux pansies I had seen at Joann’s, since it has still been too cold to have plants outside. I remembered the intricate embroidered cloths that I bought in Austria and voila! I had my inspiration for the week. Continue reading →

Easter Traditions

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Every family has its special holiday rituals and Easter is no exception.

Growing up, my mother always made us a lambie cake for Easter. My brother has her mold and continues the tradition. It HAS to have jelly beans for its eyes and nose and I love seeing that my brother makes the lamb cake to honor and remember her.

GotMyReservations Lambie Cake

Today I encountered another family tradition with another family.

GotMyReservations Black Sheep Cake

The black sheep — instead of the pure white lamb — sang a beautiful pascal song to me. Easter is a time of celebrating all humanity, not just the pure and obedient among us. Jesus’s resurrection brings us a new beginning and a washing clean of our prejudices and bad habits.

Happy Easter, and may you have a blessed and inclusive day.

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