My Sewing Group Comes For Lunch

My sewing group rotates the location of each

bi-monthly meeting

between the members' homes.

We enjoy tea with lunch

before we work on our projects.

I sent out the invitations to start

the winter meetings (none in the summer)

at my home this week

but only 3 of the 6 ladies could attend.

This works out perfectly for me, since now

I can use the 4 pretty salad plates

I won in Marty's

"Pay-It-Forward" giveaway at her blog,

A Stroll Thru Life.

Thank you, Marty!!

You can read about my Pay-It-Forward giveaway
of monogrammed linen hand towels here.


We'll be seated at the big wooden table

in the kitchen's sunroom where

you can see part of the gazebo out the back windows.

Each salad plate has a different fruit featured in the center.

I wandered around my house, looking for things with fruit

or green to use for this tablescape.

The oval quilted placemats are from Home Goods, last year.

The flatware is my everyday Oneida

"Rose Pendant" pattern which sadly, is no longer available.

The white dishes, cups, saucers & napkin rings

are the Gibson pattern from BL.

With our tea, I'm using my mother's vintage

cut glass sugar & creamer

sitting on a cut glass pickle dish

as well as her vintage Scottie dogs

as holders for the artificial sweeteners.

If you'd like to learn more about

American Cut Glass

go here.

I'm told the glass dogs were given away for free

in boxes of Grape Nuts® cereal a loooong time ago.

I don't think they are antiques yet, though.....just

"cherished collectibles" like in the movie Toy Story.



Here are views of the different plates at each setting.

The green chargers are going

to be great for a St. Patrick's Day table next March.

I thought the water glasses with the outdoor French Bistro scenes

picked up the colors of the salad plates nicely.

I borrowed the idea for the black ribbon & key tied onto

the apothecary jar from one of the posters

who participated in Marty's Cloche Party.

I used the front flap of one of my invitations

& tied on a key that was a wedding favor.

It is really a heart shaped bottle opener!

I filled the jar with beaded fruit

Christmas ornaments.

The two little ceramic flower pots

will hold Ranch & Italian dressing for our salads.

I didn't want them to wobble on the plate

while being passed around

so I've anchored them with a tiny smidgen of

candle wax. I use this method for security

many times especially in my

all white dining room.

It works great to hold the gravy boat securely

onto its base plate.



You only need a little bit of each wax disc &

I've never had it stain or mar anything.

I use it to keep lamp cords tucked in place

and out of sight.

Its also great to keep those candles straight.

Nothing makes me crazy like tippy candles!!

I'm making Ina Garten's Eggplant Gratin

because we grew so many eggplants & tomatoes in our garden.



The soup for starters is

pictured below with a

bit of blue cheese melting on top.

It is from Lorrie's recipe blog.

I made a test batch last week & it is WONDERFUL!

Thanks for sharing this one, Lorrie.

I know the ladies will enjoy it & its GREEN

to match my tablescape!

Thank you so much for visiting with me today.

I hope you check out all the other participants in

Tablescape Thursday at Susan's lovely blog




Between Naps On The Porch.

Thank you, too, Susan, for hosting this weekly gathering

of people who love dishes & enjoy setting

pretty tables.