What's Your Favorite Decorating, Gardening or Tablescaping Book?

Mr. Weatherman says it's getting down into the teens tonight. Again. Ugh. So, I thought the evening called for the resurrection of an older post, one just right for a cold winter night.

Recently, I placed a little Amazon widget on my sidebar so I could share some of my favorite decorating, gardening and tablescaping books. I thought it would be great fun if you left a comment on this post, sharing the name and author of YOUR favorite decorating, design, gardening or tablescaping books. Or, maybe you know a great reference book for china, crystal or flatware.

If your book suggestion isn't already listed in my Amazon widget, I'll find it on Amazon (if it's there) and I'll add it to the widget, along with a comment stating you recommended it. Be sure and leave your first name and the first initial of your last name in your comment. That way I'll know to whom I should credit the recommendation.. :-) I know many of you enjoy decorating, gardening and tablescaping as much as I do, so I can't wait to hear the names and/or authors of some of your favs!

Hope you enjoy this post from a previous winter's eve...

A little birdie told me you had the winter blues...


So I was thinking...since Old Man Winter is here to stay for while, instead of fighting those winter blues, why don't we just embrace them.


Come on over here; I have the perfect spot for you...a comfy blue chair with a friend who also likes good books. He heard you were coming, so he put on his very best, blue, bow-tie. :-)


You'll need a nice hot cup of tea, served from a Blue Willow teapot, of course. ;-)


How about a soft, fluffy pillow...


Covered with a pretty, blue wreath...


And of course, you'll need a wonderful, blue book. Here's one of my favorites, Winter House by Charlotte Moss. Amazon says, "a Winter House is a place to recharge your body and your spirit....the perfect reference for creating your own winter sanctuary."


Winter House is full of beautiful pictures...they will warm you right down to your toes. ~~SIGH~~


So, here you are...relaxing with a good book...in a cozy, blue chair, with a blue, bow-tied bunny...


In the soft glow of a blue candle...tucked into a little blue candle holder...


With a blue bird singing sweetly on ruffled, blue doilies.


I'll just tip-toe out now and let you enjoy those winter blues. :-)

~~Whispers~~ Did you get a chance to see all the wonderful "Before and Afters" posted for Met Monday? If not, just scroll on down...so much inspiration in each post. Don't forget to leave a comment with your favorite decorating, design, gardening or tablescaping book along with your first name. :-)

Tablescaping in Blue and White

I don't know what it is about a crisp, white, linen tablecloth and napkins...but I love 'em, especially with a blue and white tablescape.


Magnolias and wisteria...romantic and ooooh, so Southern! :-)

A couple of years ago, I begin to collect salt cellars to use in my table settings. It just seems like such a simple, yet wonderful way to spoil your dinner guest. It eliminates having to pass around a salt shaker and your guest will be able to salt their food to their individual taste.

Zipper cut, crystal salt cellars paired with salt spoons in the same pattern as the sterling...

And just to spoil my guest (and family) a little bit more, I'm using a special salt that melts easily when sprinkled over food.

This particular brand is highly rated and reasonably priced. Click on this article to see the names and ratings for many gourmet salts.

This french salt, Fleur de Sel, is another great salt to use. I had trouble locating it locally, but it's readily available online.

I liked pairing the crystal goblets with the crystal salt cellars in this tablescape.

Cloches are so versatile...so many fun ways to use them in tablescapes and vignettes!

This cloche came from a antique shoppe near my home. It's really nice and large so it worked well as a centerpiece in this tablescape.

I bought these cute, ceramic blue and white balls a couple of years ago to use as a decorative accent in my upstairs family room. I recently found out, they are actually called carpet balls and were often used in parlor games back in Victorian Days.

Every tablescape needs a little candlelight! Colonial Candle is my favorite source for beautiful candles and candle accessories.

Years ago I purchased a coffee type drink that came in these cobalt blue bottles. I thought the bottles were too pretty to throw away. So, I just kept saving them...having no idea how I might use them one day. I love how they look mixed in with this blue and white table setting.



I love using a sugar scuttle instead of a regular sugar bowl. You can find them for very reasonable prices on eBay. When you have a large party, they are great to put out where you have your coffee available for your guest.
Some times I fill the scuttle with sugar cubes and use little silver tongs instead of the scoop...

Blue and White...it will always be one of my very favorite combinations! :-)

Information about items used in the tablescape above: China is Churchill, Blue Willow, Crystal is Waterford, pattern Araglin, Sterling is Towle, King Richard. Chargers came from Neiman Marcus, online about a year ago...Horchow had them, too. I've had the napkin rings for years but apparently they still make them because I saw them in a Macy's about two weeks ago. Found the crystal salt cellars on eBay.

Don't forget to stop by A Stroll Thru Life to see all the wonderful uses for your cloche and Happy to Design on Sunday for some great posts you may have missed the first time around. Thanks, Marty, for our first ever cloche party! And, Chari, thank-you for hosting our favorite Sunday event each week!

Have a wonderful weekend...see you here on Sunday eve for Metamorphosis Monday!

Tablescape for the 4th of July! Happy Independence Day! Welcome to the 43rd Tablescape Thursday!

Independence Day is just around the corner.  What better way to celebrate this Tablescape Thursday than a celebration in red, white and blue! I've been working on a patriotic themed tablescape in my head for weeks now...couldn't quite pull it together in time for Memorial Day. But, there was no way I was letting the 4th of July get by without celebrating the Red, White and Blue!



The porch is the perfect spot for a celebration...especially the kind that involves cooking on the grill...






For this tablescape I used the bowls from the "Gollum" china...the red plates were purchased last summer at Home Goods. My everyday china, Blue Willow, provided the blue needed for this patriotic table setting. Big Secret...word has it that the Gollum China (Gibson white china) is on sale now for only $19.99 a box (6 place settings) at Big Lots.



When I'm out shopping, I'm always thinking "tablescape." I spied these adorable, little chair candle holders and an idea popped right into my head.



Come a bit closer...yep, look just like cupcake holders to me.


Here's the blue version....


Dessert is served!


The napkins are hand towels from Dollar Tree...six napkins for $6.


Cupcake holders are from Old Time Pottery.






Celebrating the fourth with sprinkles...lots and lots of red, white and blue sprinkles!



Looking in from the deck...



Every table needs a bit of whimsy.





You may recognize this antique graniteware pitcher filled with daisies...it's usually on the trunk/coffee table in the upstairs family room. Often, we already have just what we need for our tablescapes...just look for the things you already have and love. I really like the pop of the yellow daisies...the only other color in our patriotic themed tablescape!



Last year our whole neighborhood celebrated by lining the streets with flags when a neighbor's son returned home from Iraq.



As I used them again for this centerpiece, my heart was flooded with the memories of that day.



A few days later, I heard a knock on my door and a tall, handsome, young man gave me a big hug, thanking me for my small part in his welcome home. Can you imagine...he was thanking me?! There aren't enough words or deeds to thank him for his service.



God Bless ALL our service men and their families, here and abroad! We LOVE and appreciate each and every single one of you!







If you are participating in Tablescape Thursday, please be sure to add your permalink below, and not your general blog address. If you aren't sure how to obtain your permalink or have any questions about using Mr. Linky for this post, just click HERE for detailed instructions.

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Please link back to the host blog, Between Naps on the Porch. This is important because it helps those who are visiting your blog, find the other wonderful tablescapes posted for this Tablescape Thursday.

Please do not add your link below, until your tablescape post is actually published to your blog.

The following beautiful Blogs have lovely tablescapes awaiting your visit: