Let's dish.....about Dishes!

My husband, John, and I love to set a table! We have four sets of dishes; two formal china, one Christmas china and one everyday stoneware set (above is a sampling of our dishes). In addition, we have pieces that we use to accessorize. I thought we were an anomally but there seems to be a recent resurgence in table setting!
Living in the south, the art of dining has never completely died, but this seems to be an international rebirth. If you visit Victoria Magazine's website you will find the current home page slideshow is filled with table setting shots.....lovely! I often peruse a couple of British home decor mags and have found the same focus on the table. I hope this revival of the table encourages us all to linger over our meals and enjoy the company of those who we are dining with!

The dish is the guest star at the table and the possibilities are infinite. I want to share a little inspiration with you for your next table setting.....
A little taste of one of our Easter tables last Sunday.....

You can find some great additions to your table setting from many sources....try you local Goodwill, consignment stores and flea markets. Etsy and eBay are also great sources....here are a couple of nice dishes from my Etsy store and my booth at Harpeth Antique Mall...

Do you have an upcoming event that will require a large number of dishes but you still want a homestyle feel or an elegant touch? You can rent! Vintage and Antique rental dishes are now a business......

Rent My Dust specializes in vintage for that at home feel....perfect for a Fourth of July or Family Reunion celebration!

Table Graces' focus is on elegant, antique table settings.....visit their site. The china is exquisite!

Have an inspired day!

White Wednesday......

I have been following Faded Charm's White Wednesday posts for quite some time. Last week I participated and this week I would like to invite you all to join me. She starts it off with a post on Tuesday and then fellow cottage chic bloggers join in! The result is just beautiful....you will find inspirations from the garden, ways to use those flea market finds, lovely Easter decor and much, much more! I have placed my inspiration below followed by a couple of my favorites from today's participants. I hope you enjoy this as much as I think you will. Better grab a cup of your favorite bevvie......the very first click will start you on a wonderful little adventure, enjoy!
Spring has sprung, (an aside to my northern friends, you are just gonna' have to trust me, it really is spring), and Easter is upon us...here is my White Wednesday reflection for you...

....some of these goodies are still in my booth.

More Easter decorating motivation in case you are still preparing for the upcoming festivities....this delightful place setting is from The Vintage Nest, she shares her Spring Celebration Brunch with us....

Anyone that has visited my booth knows that the following little goody could have come straight from it, but it did not....this little piece of inspiration is from Fishtail Cottage, yummy!

Lamentations on scrapbooking.....

i want to scrapbook.....i need to scrapbook.....My wonderful husband suprised me with a 50th (ugh!) Birthday cruise through the Mediterranean. While we were on the ship he asked for ONE favor in return. The words are still echoing through my brain.....scrapbook the trip......(heavy sigh). I can sew (I made my daughters presentation formal and yes, we do live in the south), I can paint (still learning, but I CAN). I can even pull together some pretty nice greeting cards, but I can't scrapbook. I know, I know.....you're going to say it's just like making a card only bigger.

Maybe it is that "bigger" thing.....my garden is full of petite flowers. My favorite finds for my vintage/antique business are the "smalls", the "bigs" scare me! Now if I could just get my hips to follow the trend!

I am leaving early Friday a.m. to meet my best friend from high school. I can't wait to go spend some "girl time" with her. We were inseperable for 6 years and now we see each other once a year...you think I have gone off subject, don't you? WELL LET ME TELL YOU WHAT WE ARE GOING TO DO! We are going on a scrapbooking retreat! A retreat....purgatory I say!!

Consequently, I have gone in search of INSPIRATION.......(but i am still taking my cards making supplies just in case)

Too cute (SplitcoastStamper Gallery)

Gourgeous (SplitcoastStamper Gallery).....

OK, maybe....BUT here is what I am starting with.....oh my, still taking my cardmaking supplies!

It's Monday.....Let's have Some Fun......

Let's have a contest.....just a little fun between friends! Help me get to 100 fans on my Facebook page and you get to help choose the prize! Here is how we will play: Step One: Go to my Etsy Store by clicking here. Choose your favorite item. Step Two: Go to my Facebook Fan page (see the link box on the right side of this page) and tell me about your favorite item. Step Three: Share my Facebook Fan page with your friends. Step Four: As soon as we get to 100 fans Random.org will choose winner and the prize will be the most commented item from my Etsy Store.....(in the case that the item would sell I will use the second most commented item and so on...) Now that sounds like fun....a 1 in 100 chance of winning (not bad odds as contests go) and you get to help choose the prize!! Have fun and Happy Monday!!

Old Books.....

I love the feel, smell and look of old books. I like rag tattered bindings and writing on the pages. I like bookplates, formal and informal.....love to see the sentiments from the book gifter and sometimes you find a little critique from the recipient. I recently found one that read "This book sucks!" on the inside front cover.......LOL!

With so many other ways to "read" a book today I feel a need to find ways to preserve and use these lovely relics. If you visit my booth at the Harpeth Antique Mall you will find these timeless treasures sitting here and there. Some are vintage and some are antique. Today I will share one way I have used an old book and a couple of other inspirations with you.....enjoy!

This Rolodex is available on my Etsy store!

Lately, I have also been seeing a lot of unique "wreath" wall decorations done with old book pages.....I love the multi-dimensional look of these and hope to do a few soon. Here is an example I particulary like from NiceDwellings.....

Or how about this.....what an inspiration! WOW....this piece of art is from Mixed Media Artist, Deb Holien. Visit her blog for more inspiration.

Have an inspired day!

Toni

~J'Aime Vintaje~

Dreaming in shades of White.....

While most of North America is dreaming in shades of green....I am still stuck in white. I must quickly add this is not the same "white" that we all endured for months over this past winter and that some experienced again just last week. This is creamy, dreamy shades of white that make you feel comfort and warmth!

On Feb. 7th, I completed the set up of my new booth in the Harpeth Antique Mall on Murfreesboro Rd. in Franklin, TN.....and I am in love! Creamy, dreamy whites with splashes of color to honor each season! Yumm!!