Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Springtime is Served!






With the arrival of spring,

I've been playing in the dirt 

rather than the dishes.

Not much time for setting tables when

a springtime garden needs attention.




When I popped into my favorite 

Anthropologie  right before Easter,

 a garden of spring dishes immediately caught my eye.

Yes, Anthropologie is "Serving Up Spring!"





~ Garden Buzz ~

An Anthropologie exclusive by

Michelle Morin.




Delightful dessert plates 

feature three different garden blooms.

~ Sunny Yellow ~




Paired with a cute bowl 

perfect for a springtime soup.





The etched details 

provide a charming touch.




As do the adorable

Elephant March napkins.




~ Ellie ~

elephant creamers 

also come in three colors.

~ Yellow ~




~ Green ~




~ Orange ~




~ Blue Garden Buzz ~




~ Green Elephant March Napkin ~





~ Red Garden Buzz ~




~ Red Etched Bowl ~




This is not a sponsored post.  

I simply wanted to share  

 Anthropologie's "garden delights".

To help your own springtime dish garden grow,

I'm offering one of my followers a 

$50 gift card to Anthropologie.

All you have to do is leave a comment below.

If you share this post on your blog or social media site, 

leave me a message for additional chances.

Random # Generator will select a

winner on May 1, 2014.

Open to all followers 

who love to shop Anthropologie.

My way of thanking those who follow along with me @

Hyacinths for the Soul

Joining

Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olsen


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Saturday, April 19, 2014

Inspired By Friends







When you enter my friend

Alison's beautiful home at Easter time

you are greeted by this charming 

figure atop her living room mantel.

The sheer simplicity of it makes me smile.




The mantel in Alison's family room,

showcases fresh peach blossoms from her garden

and a simple metal tree from Mexico.





Simplicity at its best!

These metal trees were all the rage in the 1980s,

and many of us here in Central Texas have these.  

Years ago I shared mine 

decorated for the 4th of July HERE.

Alison has inspired me to pull out 

my metal tree and use it more creatively.




My friend Susan loves to decorate for every season.

Believe me, her home is a wealth of inspiration, and every

year she does something different each holiday.

You can see more of her home 

decorated for Easter HERE and  HERE.





Susan has a beautiful collection 

of blue and white ceramics.

She has inspired me to incorporate 

my blue and white pieces into my Easter decor next year.





Her collection of needlepoint Easter figures 

has also inspired me.  I stitched the petite little white bunny 

with green background for Susan many years ago.





I didn't stitch this Peter Rabbit for Susan,

but I did stitch one just like him for a friend's daughter.





Just looking at Susan's delightful group of needlepoint  

inspires me to get stitching to add a few more 

Easter needlepoint pieces 

to these above that I stitched many years ago.



                        


Perhaps more two sided figures like

this little guy I stitched in the 1990s.





Yes, I'm inspired!

Time to stitch a few bunnies to add 

to my own Easter decor next year.





My friends inspire me.

Have you been inspired by someone recently?

All the best to each of you in this season 

of promises of new beginnings.

Joining

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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Birds, Eggs, Nests



Detail of  "Spring" by Nancy Thomas

Spring ~ a time of renewal and birth.

Bird ~ Nest ~ Egg



"Spring" by Nancy Thomas 
A whimsical piece that hangs in our upstairs sunroom.

Spring in central Texas has taken

its time, but I think it has finally arrived.

As our days are longer and warmer, 

I find myself out in the garden.

Bird songs echo from trees above

as birds call out in search of a mate.




In honor of Cuisine Kathleen's April Challenge

~ Birds ~ Eggs ~ Nests ~

I took my table-setting out

to the garden among the flowers.





This cute little bird on a cage

is meant to hold a votive.




I repurposed it as a vase and filled it

with hydrangea blooms for the garden tray.




With the nesting theme in mind, 

I pulled out a set of plates with a twiggy border.




The plates are by Jeremie.

They are oval shape with a textured twig border.




The salad plates .   .   .

 Robin's egg blue ~ a perfect color for spring!




Moroccan Garden,  by Dena Home

These spring time napkins were a thrifty find

at Tuesday Morning.  I bought a dozen for 

less than the original price of a set of four.  




Vintage napkin ring 

with a sterling "B" for bird 

and silver mother of pearl flatware.





Couldn't resist this cute little dish.

It's perfect for serving 

 savory flakes of Lemon Sea Salt.




~ Birds ~ Eggs ~ Nests ~




The bird a nest,
The spider a web,
Man friendship ~ William Blake

Joining 




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Wednesday, April 2, 2014

White By The Gate Camellias







~ White By The Gate ~

I planted this camellia japonica last March, 

and I selected it specifically for its double white blooms.

Camellias are considered the rose of winter

in southern gardens.  The dark green glossy foliage 

is a beautiful contrast to the pure white.





The information card said it would 

produce continuous displays of perfectly 

formed pure white flowers.





I'd agree!

 This has to be one of the most perfectly

formed pure white flowers I've ever seen.





~ White By The Gate ~

I'm off to the garden center to buy more.





This pretty pink camellia is from a friend's garden.

 It was the star of a table setting a few years ago.

 You can see an update of the original post here.

Joining
Cottage Style Party @ Lavender Garden Cottage




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