Easter Mantel

I was thinking about the fact that I don't have a lot of "Easter" things out when I realized I probably haven't shared my mantel since Christmas or right after. I bought some new pussy willow stems and white blooming branches for Spring-i-fying the pottery vases, since I couldn't locate any Spring branches here at the house. I think my second tub of Easter goodies that I had from last year is buried somewhere in our basement storage room (story of my recent life).

Weekend Cottage Review: A Garden Wheelbarrow Tablescape

Hi friends, with Mother's Day next weekend I thought I'd share a post that I put together about 10 years and two houses ago. I had recently found the magazine "Southern Tables" and was immersed in lovely tablescapes, many in an outdoor setting for Spring.

Many of you host a Mother's Day brunch or luncheon and I thought this would be such a fun theme to recreate. You wouldn't need a mini wheelbarrow; a basket or crate, even a doughbowl would do. When I saw that feature article I fell in love and since I had a mini wooden wheelbarrow about the same size, I used what I had and did a bit of "recreating" the setting.

This designer used real veggies and clearly put a lot of time and thinking into this tablescape, but it was a fun outlet for me using what I had on hand.

"I had a similar whitewashed small wheelbarrow made of reclaimed barnwood, 

so I filled it with a variety of faux  garden veggies.

(The wheelbarrow has made an appearance before on the deck

 for a Back Door Christmas)

 But I felt like my rendition needed a little more personality, 

so a ceramic rabbit tureen that I made years ago hopped inside.

Gardens and rabbits just go together.

You know you have too much "stuff", when you completely forget about a set of green transferware china! Yes, I totally forgot that I had this great set of Enoch Wedgewood Kent china, that had been stored in the side door of my breakfront.

On one of our recent trips to St. Louis I found three of these wonderful consume/berry bowls and salad plates in "Crown Ducal, Florentine England". They are very old and have a black transfer rural cottage  scene on the bowls and plates that read "Little Comberton". A gold rim and raised green fruit design on the border of the plates/saucers had me smitten.

 

Green Glassware is Martha Stewart

Last week I found the cute little whitewashed Pottery Barn napkin rings that look like flowerpots. Had to have them...and next week I'll show you another fun way I've used them. Woven placemats were from TJ Maxx a couple of years ago, and the linen napkins are just a few of my vintage collection.

I like to set a fun and casual place setting, so small whitewashed garden pots with a faux lettuce leaf hold the silverware.

And vintage French Seed Packet Labels attached to a tag

can be used for place cards. 

 Carotte's...

and Chicoree Frisee

more coming up with the French Seed Packets...

A small ceramic cabbage covered veggie bowl / soup tureen.

...and a French Rabbit Tea Towel from my daughter from Easter.

Lapins de Jardin.

A French botanical print brings in the colors of Spring and Summer.

I'm so glad you came by for my little Garden Setting Luncheon.

You can find a few more Spring Garden Tablescapes on my Pinterest Page.

joining in here:

The House on Silverado,  Love Your Creativity at Life and Linda, 

All About Home at Common Ground and Follow the Yellow Brick Home
Inspire Me Monday at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia 

 Met Monday at Between Naps on the Porch 

  Inspire Me Tuesday at A Stroll Thru Life  Home Imagined at the Antique Journey

Turnabout Tuesday at My Wee Abode, Wednesday Link Party at Our Tiny Nest

Whimsy Home at  Fifth Sparrow No More

 Wonderful Wednesday at Eclectic Red Barn

 Centerpiece Wednesday at Karin's Kottage Share Your Style at French Ethereal,  

Vintage Charm at Our Hopeful Home, and My Thrift Store Addiction

Thursday Favorite Things at Follow the Yellow Brick Home,  

Home Matters at Southern Sunflowers, Grace at Home at Imparting Grace

Farmhouse Friday at  County Road 407  Fabulous Friday at WM Design House 

 

A good hare day on the sunporch...

I don't want to talk about what's outside at the moment, except to say there's nothing Spring-y about it. These last few days have been gray and snowy and altogether yucky. I bought some tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths last week that I was wanting to get planted, but forget it...they will have to wait until the snow goes away. So I'm choosing to boost my Springtime thoughts with what's going on out here on the sunporch.

 Yep, it's definitely Spring on the Sunporch!

Decorating out here always starts with different seasonal quilts.

Changing them out gets me in the mood for whatever the season may be.

 Then layering on the pillows, and bringing out the fun vintage goodies...

I'm not really a "blue" person, 

but this wonderful floral quilt has me almost there.

It was from my mother-in-law's stash

 that I think was from her mom back in the 40's.

I have the tail end of the paperwhites in that little USA yellow planter

and I've been browsing through my vintage Better Homes and Garden binder.

I can always count on it looking warm and Spring-like out here,

even if the outside temps don't agree.

This is another favorite quilt of mine in the Tumbling Block pattern.

My white paper mache buns is sitting 

on the little green chair from when I was a baby.

We won't talk about how old that rickety little chair actually is...

Vintage pink rabbit planter, birdie tin, and seed packets...

Hey, an old chalkware chicken is even roosting out here.

One more chance for snow this evening,

and then I hope we're done!

Just a housekeeping note...

I've just added the Bloglovin' follow option to my sidebar. If you haven't tried it yet, let me say it's my new favorite. It's so super easy and you can import all your favorite blogs that you follow from Google Reader at one click, not individually. I've actually been using it this week, and it's better than the old method. So if you're a follower, I'd love you to click and follow me there. You can get set up in half a minute! 

 joining in for these parties this week:

The Dedicated House for Make it Pretty Monday

TTT at A Stroll Thru Life

Between Naps on the Porch
Tweak it Tuesday at Cozy Little House
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday at Coastal Charm
The Scoop at Cedar Hill Ranch
Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend,

Easter in the Holiday Cupboard

You all will be thrilled to know that this year I have recovered the lost stash of Easter Goodies. Last year I was bemoaning the fact that I had a bunch of my vintage Easter things that were lost somewhere in the Twilight Zone. You know, that place that various and sundry items go to that is unbeknownst to your conscious mind. Yep, that happens to me every once in awhile, and when it does it triggers all kinds of thoughts about the state of mental health concerning moi.

(not too old cauliflower teapot) 

I prefer to regard it as just a busy person

 with a lot of "stuff" and not enough organizational skills.

(mini wheelbarrow with turnips)

Anyhoo, a couple of my old chalkware bunnies have found their way out of that parallel universe and back into the Holiday Cupboard.

I love old seed catalogs and Garden books

and just received a new purchase that I'll show you soon.

See the green garden box here on the bottom shelf?

Next week I'm going to share an idea I have for making them...

It won't be rocket science, but it will be be fun...

and on the cheap.


I'm joining these parties this week:


Wow Us Wednesday at Savvy Southern Style
Rooted in Thyme
French Country Cottage
The Charm of Home
From My Front Porch to Yours
Coastal Charm

xoxo,