Stuck at home, after mom and I came home from Philadelphia with mild cases of COVID, we set a summer lemon table for a nice outdoor brunch before she flew back to Charleston.
Instead of being out and about, visiting with friends and family during mom’s visit to Pittsburgh, we spent the ten days isolating at home. Since breaking my right-hand, ring finger, I’m also contending with the awkwardness and restrictions of wearing a splint for six long weeks.
After all being fully vaccinated and double boosted, this was not how we planned spending our summer visit. COVID continues to mutate and spread. Life = lemons, sometimes.
Don’t get me wrong, I know that the vaccines and five-day course of therapeutic pills protected us from severe illness or worse. I experienced feeling like I had a severe cold. But, I was nervous about my elderly mom, and felt badly that she caught the virus while on “my watch.”
My finger, well that is indeed frustrating! Accidently broken by Mr. Buzz during a new card game with friends, I have another month wearing a splint And, of course it had to be my right hand — geez! Usually when I need a mood lifter I craft, but that’s not an option presently. Instead, mom helped me to set a sunny yellow lemon table, with tableware and linens already in the house. I even managed a new napkin fold!
Today, I’ve set a summer table with beautiful Portmeirion Botanic Garden dishes. Each piece is hand painted — in exquisite detail — with blossoms and butterflies, and an iconic border of green laurel leaves. Some are also decorated with the occasional garden insect, and my personal favorite — a bee!
A true British classic, Botanic Garden was designed by celebrated ceramicist and designer Susan Williams-Ellis. In 1960, she took over the business from her father, Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, an architect and creator of Portmeirion Village in North Wales.
While looking through rare books, Williams-Ellis discovered a volume of beautiful, meticulously drawn floral illustrations. In 1972, Portmeirion‘s launch of Botanic Garden tableware included 28 different flowers. It was an immediate success, and is still an active pattern.
This year, the company is celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the collection with a special edition, 18 piece dinnerware set. Inspired by classic English picnic hampers, the 2022 Botanic Garden exclusive comes in a willow basket lined with removable fabric. Bee still my heart!
Alas, the Botanic Garden dishes currently in full bloom on the kitchen table are only on a short flowering season. My neighbor, L, generously and enthusiastically agreed to lend the tableware so that I could style a new setting for June’s Summer Tablescape Blog Hop. For those coming from Mary’s nautical table on Home is Where the Boat Is, welcome aboard!
Now that it’s finally gotten warm outside, it’s time for some alfresco dinning on the covered back porch. So, to kick off the summer season, I’ve styled a whimsical flamingo tropical table.
It’s one of 17 settings in the Summer Tablescape blog hop. There’s something sure to please everyone — from nautical to patriotic to an intimate tea party — and more in between!
After many seasons organizing the year-round hop, Chloe has passed the mantle to Rita of Panoply, who graciously agreed to take over the task. Thank you Rita!
Today’s alfresco tablescape mixes inexpensive melamine plates and decor from Dollar Tree, with tropical and other elements from my existing tableware collection.
Today, I’m illustrating how to make a bee shape napkin fold in six quick and easy steps.
In anticipation of World Bee Day, I recently hosted the Bee-utiful Table Setting blog hop.
Included in the eight casual to elegant tablescapes was my, French Inspired, Royal Bee Theme Table & Napkin Fold. As explained in earlier posts, the ancient fleur-de-lis symbol is believed to represent a bee.
I first incorporated the bee shape napkin fold into the Back to School Table. Why? Bee-cause students are “busy as a bee” lol!
Although the lovely napkin fold can bee used to impress guests and enhance tables year-round, it’s particularly suited for spring or summer entertaining. Let me show you how easy it is to do. Grab any square napkin and ring to follow along.
Bonjour, mon ami and welcome to the Bee-utiful Bee Table Settings Blog Hop! Today, eight of us are getting together to share casual to elegant tablescapes and centerpieces.
I was motivated to host the hop in honor of World Bee Day, next Thursday, May 20th.
Hoping you’ll find inspiration for both spring and summer seasonal tables and gatherings. Perhaps even for a “Meant to Bee” or “What Will It Bee” bridal or baby shower?
Here at Debbee’s Buzz, the bee theme table was influenced by French ancestry and the pronunciation of my first name. Set on a black and white backdrop, the striking tablescape includes lots of metallic gold accents. Bees are featured on plates, glassware, flatware and napkin rings, along with a theme centerpiece vignette. There’s even a royal French bee shape napkin fold!
I’ve set a waning days of summer jungle table outside, on the covered porch.
With Labor Day not until September 7th this year, and temperatures still in the eighties to nineties, it still feels rather tropical here in Pittsburgh. How about in your neck of the woods?
Inspiration for the tablescape came from a set of plates decorated with an exotic animal print.
Yeah, I know; I need more tableware like a hole in the head lol! I had seen the plates months before, and resisted the urge to splurge. But by late August last year, they were on super duper clearance! Besides the plates are heavy-duty melamine, making them great for dining outdoors and dishwasher safe.
So come on outside on the porch with me for one last, fun jungle table of the summer season.
Thanks for buzzing by! I'd love to hear from you, please leave a comment.
Hi! I'm Debbee, a maker of all manner of things, who likes to incorporate themes into craft projects, holiday and seasonal decor, table settings, and parties. My friends call me, the Queen of Theme lol!
Home is the suburbs of Pittsburgh, but I also enjoy exploring the world with my husband. We raised two wonderful sons and are now early retirees.
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