SWEET TABLESETTING BY THE LAKE

I love these sunny warm days we have been having. I've been dying to do a photo shoot by the lake in our backyard. It's so beautiful this time of year and makes such a lovely backdrop, especially for a tablescape.

I started with my coral tablecloth. Of course I needed a colorful bouquet of flowers, so off to Publix I went. They had just what I needed. The yellows, purples, oranges, and lime green were just the perfect compliment to the placesettings.

The placemats, luncheon plates and coffee mugs are from my favorite HOMEGOODS store. I love the fun edge around the placemats. The colors sprinkled throughout are just perfect. My goblets were a recent find in DOLLAR GENERAL, yes, true....$1.00 each and they are very nice quality!

The white pitcher I am using for a vase is from HOMEGOODS.

The pattern on the coffee mugs and luncheon plates adds just the right amount of corals in various depth to compliment the yellow placemats and napkins.

Here it is.......all set for our girls luncheon on this lovely day!

Thanks for joining me today. I hope you enjoyed your visit.

                       Kathleen

DIY MAY DAY GIFT

Welcome to Monday friends!

In only a couple of short weeks May 1st will be here. This day is referred to as May Day and in some places considered the first day of Spring. Some of the May Day traditions are the crowning of a May queen or sometimes King. That person was to oversee all of the day's activities that would take place. Children and adults of all ages fill May baskets with candy or flowers and leave them secretly on neighbor's porches. What a sweet gesture of kindness!

One year I bought small baskets and filled them with flowers tying them on the door knobs of all of my neighbors. This year I changed it up a bit.

I made a quick trip to the Dollar General store and purchased these cute floral buckets and a spool of the pink polka dot ribbon. Then I headed to Costco and purchased a 6-pack of herbs that included Basil for $9.99. I left the Basil intact with soil and planted it gently into the floral bucket. Then I secured the handle of the bucket to the door knob with the ribbon and tied in a knot. I added a bow because when I wrap gifts, I always include a pretty bow on top!! Who doesn't like a gift with a beautiful bow??

Cost:

$1.66 Basil plant
$1.00 decorative bucket with handle
$1.00 1-spool ribbon (there is plenty of ribbon left for more pots)
Total cost for TLB's May Day Gift--less than $4.00

This DIY is so easy and inexpensive.You can personalize it with any plant you like. These little buckets would be great filled with cookies or candy also.

You'll be the hit of the neighborhood! Your friends will love the fact that you are thinking of them with something so pretty, fun and useful!

Happy May Day!

                      Kathleen

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THROWBACK--Tartan Christmas Tablescape

Welcome to throwback Wednesday....check out my Tartan tablescape from 2013!

Last week was such a whirlwind full of celebrations for our family. We call this our "Thanksmas Weekend." We were all (16 of us) able to make it to WNY despite the snow storm that threatened on time arrivals at the last minute. We celebrated our Thanksgiving on Thursday and our family Christmas on Saturday........which means presto chango, tablescapes went from Fall pumpkins and gourds to frosty greens and sparkles in one day!

Tartan Christmas Tablescape

I have not hidden my love for Tartan plaid this year. I found two Tartan red plaid table runners in Home Goods. I always love to use Christmas red somewhere during my decorating. To me nothing is more beautiful this time of year!

The tablescape required:
1.  2--plaid table runners (Home Goods)
2.  3--snowy evergreen branches (Michaels
3.  3--mercury glass candlesticks (Home Goods)
4.  6--crystal like short candlestick holders (Dollar General)
5.  6--white taper candles (Michaels)
6.  2--white tablecloths (Bed Bath Beyond)
7.  2 --strings of pearl garland (Michaels)
8.  6--small red ornaments (Michaels)
9.  2--mercury glass pedestal Christmas trees (Home Goods)
10. 3--6-inch white candles with glittery sparkles (Kohl's)
11. 16--red chargers (The Christmas Store)
12. 16-red linen napkins (folded to look like a bow tie--see U-tube video on How To)
13.  16-red berry napkins rings (The Christmas Store)

Starting from the bottom and building up; add the table runners to the center of the table. Find the center of your table and place the evergreen twigs with mercury candlesticks in between the branches so that you build outward with the rest of the materials. Find the center of each side and place the mercury tree, one on each side, then add a string of pearls around each tree and simply scatter 3 small red ornaments on top of the pearls. Space the taper candles in crystal like holders on the table for candlelight from one end to the other. Add the red chargers, white plates, and red linen napkins, folded to resemble a "bow tie." My daughter, created these by following a U-tube video online.

I hope you enjoy my Christmas tablescape. Why not try a Tartan tablescape on your table this year!

ENJOY!
K

 ****This year my family chose to use white divided disposable plates making clean-up much easier and leaving more "family time" when opening our gifts.

Countdown to Christmas--Week #2---DIY Duster Wreath

Welcome to the second posting for Countdown to Christmas- Everything DIY.  For the next six Wednesdays I will be posting some quick and easy ideas to encourage your inner foodie, decorator, and "gift giver." Today I am posting something that my youngest daughter and I made over the weekend.

When I saw the idea, I said to my daughter, "I thought of you because you are my vintage girl. What do you think?" She really liked it, hence today's project.

Welcome to Week #2- Duster Wreath

SUPPLIES:

1.  6 boxes of dusters at Dollar General
2.  1- pipe cleaner is needed to hang the wreath--I had a white one on hand.
3.  1-coat hanger
4.  Ribbon of choice for bow

STEPS TO ASSEMBLE:

Step 1-Unfold the hanger making a round circle open ended.
Step 2-Slide open the end of  a duster and slide onto the wire until the complete circle is filled.
Step 3-Wind the 2 open ends together.
Step 4-Locate top of wreath and form a loop with the pipe cleaner, attaching it to the coat hanger frame--this will enable you to hang the wreath
Step 5-Make bow in ribbon of your choice color and attach.

MY TOTAL EXPENDITURE:

*$5.00 for dusters
*$2.00 for ribbon
TOTAL--$7.00

I hope you have enjoyed this DIY segment. Sometimes the simplest materials have the most beautiful

outcome.

See you on Foodie Friday!

ENJOY!
K