For our last summer hurrah, many of you spend Labor Day weekend at the seashore. Here in the Midwest, we call it going to the lake house.
You might find a few shells on our inland shores, but for this tablescape, I used my son’s collection of shells that I found in the garage with some of his other treasures. He’s thirty-six years old; I think it’s time that I considered that collection mine to use! Continue reading
Vintage pieces are everywhere and are the perfect backdrop for interesting blogging and photostyling.
This display was taken at Lucky Junk with my cell phone. Interesting blog photos are everywhere!
While I’m still learning about photography and photostyling, I’ve figured out a few pointers that might help people who are starting out in blogging. I’m not a professional photographer, but the difference between my old and new photos is noticeable. Continue reading
Our Chicago suburb has a garden walk every summer as many towns do.
We saw some beautiful flowers…
Good as Gold Hybrid Tea Rose
…and sat on a lovely front porch in the shade while the garden clubbers handed out cool water and cookies. Continue reading
It all started with these cute plates from Tuesday morning. French script, a radish, and a stylized fleur de lis pattern had me hooked. At $2.99 each, they were a bargain I couldn’t pass up.
The textural elements just began to create themselves — the crocheted lace tablecloth in a muted beige, the play of the dark wicker placemats against the lighter colors, and the glorious greens of summer. The trefoil bronze vase from Garden Ridge continued the French theme. Continue reading
Usually I open my blog posts with a family story, but I’ve got nothing this week. This piece of vintage pottery isn’t even mine. Do you see the tears rolling down my sad face?
My favorite local antique shop is special — it’s kind of cross between a thrift shop and a high-end decor shop. Janet at Lucky Junk specializes in found items and French Country decor and mixes them together in a funky design style. Her vignettes in the store are gorgeous and always thought-provoking. I’m sure you know that “I can do that!” moment.
Lucky Junk is open twice a month, usually on the second and fourth weekends. Janet posts the schedule on the shop’s web site and Facebook page. She also sells Vintage Market goods including chalk paint and wax. I took a class there this spring.
When I saw this beautiful casserole in a Lucky Junk cupboard, I knew I had to feature it. It’s just gorgeous! It would be really fun to build a tablescape around its bright but slightly aged colors.
The casserole is marked Japan on the bottom but doesn’t have any manufacturer’s mark. It was quite reasonably priced if you can’t live without it.
I’m linked up this week with Dawn at We Call It Junkin’ and Christine at Rustic and Refined. Be sure to stop by and say hello — and “like” their Facebook pages as well as Lucky Junk’s page.
My daughter knows me pretty darn well. When she went to Rome on vacation, she brought me a beautiful tea towel to be used for staging still life food and tableware photos.
When I saw my first ripe Italian plum tomatoes on the vine, I knew just how to use her beautiful gift.
Now I have to figure out what to do with those heirloom purple cherry tomatoes that are almost ready!
Back in April, I went on a scouting trip to Crate and Barrel to see what was new for summer. This adorable pattern popped out at me.
I’ve been wanting to use a green pottery vase in a tablescape, but I can’t figure out if it’s old and unmarked or whether it’s just a cheap florist’s piece that’s just vintage.
Normally here at Got My Reservations, I feature a family heirloom or at least a vintage piece that inspires a tablescape. For this year’s Fourth of July tablescape, I’m pretty sure there’s absolutely nothing old or inherited on this table! Continue reading
What pairs well with the biggest private home in the United States? Why, one’s own forest and mountain, of course.
On our visit to the Biltmore Estate we marveled at the beautiful landscape surrounding George Washington Vanderbilt’s mansion. It is even more amazing when you realize that most of this landscape was immature during Vanderbilt’s lifetime. He and his very famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, both died before really being able to appreciate the glory of what they designed.
Biltmore Estate forests with view of Blue Ridge Mountains
