14 February 2011

Stuff - the makings of tablescapes

I'm going to be joining Marty at A Stroll Through Life for TableTop Tuesday and Jenny @ off on my tanget for Alphabe-Thursday where Today's Letter is "S" - S is for "Stuff". Check out these wonderful blogs to see who else is playing along.

This past weekend the Guy and I made a final trip over to Louisiana to meet with the realtor and arrange for the sale of his mother's house. My MIL loved dishes and collected them all her married life. She also liked accessories to go along with the dishes. Today my tabletop is just an assortment of things I brought home from her house that will make their way into future tablescapes here at RMoaDL.

This is just an overview picture.

In the back are a pair of matching Christmas tablecloths. I brought those home so that each of my girls will have one. There is also a Victorian fishbowl vase. That thing is going to hold a LOT of flowers!

The black and white dishes are Ebonette, by Knowles. These are the dishes that the Guy ate off of while growing up. They are very mid-century modern. We have a service for 12 of these. The birdcage planter is older - from the 1940s. My MIL had that before she ever got married. The lace tablecloth belonged to the Guy's grandmother.


While my MIL had a little bit of depression glass, she mostly had American pressed glass. I just brought home a few pieces.




She also liked apothecary jars. These are from the 1960s and most of them came with decorative soap, bath salts, etc. in them.

There are some other vases, candleholders, cruets, and a milk glass comport in this photo, also.

Little pixies/elves were very popular in the 1940s and 50s. This pair sat on the curved shelves on either side of my MIL's sink since they built their house in 1950. (I'm thinking they will go nicely on a St. Patrick's Day table.)

That one on the left looks to be full of mischief!

The Guy's family often had canaries and parakeets when he was little. This was their first canary cage from the 1950s.


And to go along with the cage, here are a pair of canary salt and pepper shakers.


These dishes are Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian made in 1948. We only found 8 cups, saucers and berry bowls. No one seems to know where my MIL got these, though they do think they were inherited.


Now I am not sure exactly when or how these different things will be used, but they all called out to me to bring them home. How do you collect your "stuff" for tablescaping?





namasté,
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33 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

What wonderful heirlooms, I know you will enjoy all of them and find many uses for everything. Precious memories also. Thanks for joining TTT. Hugs, Marty

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

What fun goodies! Love the little elves... They WILL be perfect for St Paddy's Day! I don't collect my goodies THEY ALL FOLLOW ME HOME! "It's My story and I'm sticking with it", hehe!
Hugs to you,
Donna

Linda @ A La Carte said...

So many pretty items and how wonderful to have them come from you MIL. Love the little elves!

Ces Adorio said...

I LOVE THE PIXIES!!! Soooooo cuuuute!

So many wonderful things. I love the egg server too.

My dearest friend, Happy Valentine's Day to you dearest Becky! May your life be filled with love everyday!!! Tsup!

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

You have lots of neat pretties there! So much potential for future tablescapes and tabletops!

Katherine

Natasha in Oz said...

I don't really have many things so I probably need to find some more. You have a wonderful collection of goodies!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

we three dogs and me said...

What a great collection to add to your tablescape and bring back good memories. Love the elves.

Mary Bergfeld said...

What treasures, Becky. I can't wait to see the tablescapes you create using them. I hope you have a great day. Blessings...Mary

KimMalk said...

The canaries are so darned cute! I envious that you got such great treasures from your MIL. I'm due to help my mom relocate and I'm pretty sure she doesn't have anything like this.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

This may be a duplicate comment - I am having problems leaving comments on posts today.
You have some nice treasures, Thanks for sharing with us.
Thanks for stopping by. I will try to take a pic. of the lid and send to you later this afternoon. I am on my way out now. I had 2 other jars from the same company at one time, but they were barrel shaped.

Daphne said...

I'm looking forward to seeing these remembrances in your tablescapes, Becky!

Gail said...

Oh WOW you have a lot of beautiful treasures! Thanks for sharing with us.

Enjoy your evening,
Gail

Martha said...

Becky -- what a great assortment of things that you got from your MIL -- beautiful treasures all. Plus they have the added benefit of memories!

Unknown said...

What a wonderful variety of items!

Donnie said...

I'm sure your MIL would be thrilled that some of her "stuff" will be part of your beautiful home now. She had some lovely items.

Lola said...

Terrific selection - & terrific blog too!

XOXO Lola:)

Mary said...

What a wonderful assortment of items~ I love your sweet cup & saucers!

Lynn said...

Beautiful items, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun and fond memories using them-enjoy:@)

Judie said...

That's some neat stuff there, for sure! I love those canary salt and pepper shakers! So sweet!

Cheryl said...

By far my favorites are the elves and the Homer Laughlin pieces.

I don't tablescape. I rarely even set a table. Total loser in the kitchen.

Rocky Mountain Woman said...

I'll bet your mother in law would be thrilled to know that you are going to love and use her special things...

Unknown said...

Those are definitely beautiful heirlooms you inherited from your MIL. She will be so happy to know that they are in good hands :) Can't wait to see what you will do with them too!

Annie said...

The pressed glass is fab!

Jenny said...

Such beautiful memories in each shining piece of glass and china. I hope that you find comfort and joy in all these treasures.

How wonderful to know that things you love continue to be loved when you are gone!

Thanks for this sweet and sentimental link to Alphabe-Thursday's letter "S".

A+

EG CameraGirl said...

You have wonderful STUFF, Becky. All your tablescapes must be fun!

Monica @ Happily Playing with Dishes said...

Great memories and items. I bet it will be fun to tablescape with all of them. I get my stuff at thrift stores, estate sales, and clearance sales. I have a few pieces that were my moms and treasure them. I hope you are feeling well.

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

It's nice that you will continue to cherish your MIL's dishes and use them with love. What a wonderful collection!

Unknown said...

Lovely collection. Very 'special stuff'!
Best wishes,
Anna
Anna's AT-S, S is for Swedish Summer in books

Ames said...

Such wonderful treasures to incorporate in your tablescapes. Lovely that you are passing things down to your daughters too!~Ames

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

kindness wins kindness...

have fun yourself and get your in laws involved and feel loved.

Thanks for the treats, love those images.

~~louise~~ said...

What a lovely assortment of treasures Becky. I can't wait to see your tablescape creations.

Thanks for sharing...

An Oasis in the Desert said...

It is so wonderful that you have all these wonderful treasures with so many memories attached. I have a few treasures that my grandmother passed to me on the QT before she passed. She wanted me to have some things of hers and of my great-grandmothers', but knew she couldn't leave that up to my mom to do for her. My mom had no sentimental attachments to anything & either trashed or sold anything of that nature. Pretty sad, huh? My MIL was completely the opposite and made sure that I received certain things of hers even though she had two daughters of her own. I truly cherish those things as well.

Your collection of Valentine boxes is so sweet. I can remember when those heart-shaped boxes were so amazingly beautiful. I know you will do something wonderful with all your collectibles.
CAS

Annie Jeffries said...

Becky, you create the prettiest tables. I must admit, I would be mostly at a loss to create such lovely table settings but it's no problem at all admiring them.