It's A Blue Mosaic Monday...
With an Update!

Hello my friends! It's time for Blue Monday with a blue mosaic! Blue Monday is hosted by our very own Sally over at Smiling Sally. Thank you, Sally for hosting Blue Monday! Please drop by Sally's and see the beautiful blue that she has for us today and while you're there...please visit the other Blue Monday participants!

For today's Blue Monday post...I created a mosaic so that I could join in the mosaic party hosted by Mary over at Little Red House. Mary, thank you so much for hosting Mosaic Monday...I've had so much fun making photos mosaics!!! You won't want to miss Mary's fabulous mosaics that she has created for us today...please pay her a visit and check out all of the other mosaics created by participating bloggers!

............Ahhhh....The Blues of Provence!!!

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Ohhhh....those beautiful frenchy blues!!!

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All of the photos in the mosiac that I created were taken in Provence, France (photos courtesy of the internet). Provence is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. I have had the privilege of traveling through this beautiful region...ohhhh so beautiful! When I think of Provence...I think of the famous European/French painters...like Paul Cézanne who was born in Aix-en Provence. Other well known artists...Renoir, Matisse, Picasso, and even Van Gogh spent time painting in Provence! And...what did so many of their famous works from this region...have in common?
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BLUE!!!...the soft baby blues of the sky...the aqua blues of the water...the vibrant blues of the provencal linens ...and the earthy blues of the grapes! * *
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Sooo many fabulous frenchy shades of blue!!!
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Isn't it funny...when I think of France...I think of blue....

and I think of the fleur de lis!!!*

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My New Frenchy Blue China 

Lamberton Fine China
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Ohhhh...I am so excited to share with you today...my new fabulous frenchy find! This beautiful blue china was manufactured by Lamberton China USA and the pattern is called "Puritan".

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Photo of the manufacturers mark...
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History of Lamberton Fine China

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*I was really curious...I had never heard of this china manufacturer before so after doing a little research...this is what I found. Lamberton Works was founded in Trenton, New Jersey along the Delaware River in 1869. Later purchased by Maddock Pottery Company, and then by Scammel China Company in 1901. Scammel continued to use the Lamberton name on some of the pieces. Lamberton china is considered fine-grade semi-porcelain and avidly collected.

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I was doing a little "window shopping" on ebay a couple of weeks ago and ran into this beautiful china. It was love at first sight!!! I love, love, LOVE the pretty fleur de lis and laurel garland....Ohhhh, and the beautiful shade of blue!!! To me...it just doesn't get more "frenchy" than this...blue and the fleur de lis!!! A fruit basket surrounded by laurel garland can be seen in the center of the plates. There is just a hint of yellow on the fruit and tips of the laurel.
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A close-up...
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I found six bread and butter plates for a total of $9.00.

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six dinner plates for $8.00 ea.
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I thought this was an extremely great deal...considering the bread and butter plates sell for $9.99 ea. at China Replacements Ltd. The dinner plates sell for $29.99 ea. Now I'm looking for other pieces to complete this pattern! In the meantime, I can use them with my white ironstone.
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A couple of great books...especially if you like French Country decor.
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"Country French Living" by Charles Faudree.
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"Creating the French Look" by Annie Sloan.*
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...Now for the Update...
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A couple of weeks after I found the Lamberton "Puritan" china with the beautiful blue "fleur de lis" on them...I found another set of Lamberton China on ebay...and just had to have them!!! Ohhhh...they are soooo beautiful!!!
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*Up for auction was a set of six dinner plates...I only paid $15.00! I just couldn't believe my good fortune...just look at these beauties!!!

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I just love the beautiful "french" blue banding...and ohhhh...look at the gorgeous gold gilding! I adore the frenchy scrolled pattern!!!

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Close-up of the beautiful gilded scrolls!

The ebay listing mentioned that this was a very "rare" pattern. I'm wondering...I have searched and searched the internet (including China Replacements Ltd.) to no avail. I cannot find this pattern anywhere. If anyone knows anything about it...I sure would appreciate you letting me know!

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This is the manufacturers mark on the back of the china...it is definitely Lamberton China but it doesn't have a pattern name???

Now...for the sweet reveal!!!

*The photo above pictures the new Lamberton china dinner plate with a bread and butter plate from the Lamberton "Puritan" pattern.

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I just couldn't believe that they both had the exact same color of french blue banding...and if you look...you'll see that the Puritan "fleur de lis" pattern has the gold gilded bands around its edges!

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These two patterns just look like they belong together...don't they?

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I was so excited when I found this second set of dinner plates on ebay!!! Now I can mix and match them for a tablescape!!!
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Ahhhh...those frenchy provencal blues!!!

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I just love it!!! I can't wait to set a french table with my new china!!!
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The two Lamberton China dinner plates...side by side!
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Well my friends...thank you so much for coming by and taking a peek at my newest "treasure find"...I was so excited to share them with you!!! Don't forget to go by Sally's place for Blue Monday and Mary's for Mosaic Monday!!!
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Love ya'll,
Chari

Welcome to the 19th "Sunday Favorites"

"Sunday Favorites" is a Sunday meme designed to give bloggers a chance to share a favorite post from the past!!! For more information on how to republish a past post just click on the "Sunday Favorites" info photo in the sidebar of my blog.

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Hello my friends!

Welcome to the 19th run of "Sunday Favorites"!!!

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Wow...this past week has been a glorious week for me and Happy To Design! I celebrated my one year blogging anniversary!!! I had so much fun...loved and appreciated all of your kind, warm well wishes...thank you, my friends!!! It's been a fabulous year...where has the time gone to? It really has gone by so quickly! Speaking of which...this will be the last Sunday Favorites post of the summer. Yes, that's right...August is at a close and summer is fastly fading away! Here in Colorful Colorado, Autumn is quickly approaching! That crisp Autumn air is greeting us in the mornings...we've been in the low 50's! It won't be long and our beautiful green trees will be "sporting" their new Autumn dress of beautiful deep reds, bright oranges, and golden yellows! I just love Autumn...it's my favorite season!!!

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In celebration of the Autumn season...I am republishing an Autumn tablescape that I did in October of 2008! Hope you enjoy! I don't know about you but I'm ready to start a little Autumn decorating...maybe this will help to get you in the mood! Hehe!

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Well my friends...Have a super Sunday! Thank you so much for coming by today!!!

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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

Sunday Favorites

My favorite post: October 5, 2008

It's "Tablescape Tuesday" and I'm Celebrating Autumn!

Hello my friends! Susan over at Between Naps On the Porch hosts "Tablescape Tuesday" each week. She is such a sweet lady and a very gracious hostess...if you haven't ever been over to her place for a visit, I urge you to do so! Susan's blog address is http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/

I have followed "Tablescape Tuesday" since it's debut...each and every week I visit the blogs that participate. Wow...I'm totally intriqued by all of the talent and creativity! I've seen some of the most beautiful tablescapes! Therefore, in celebration of the fact that Autumn has finally visited us here in Colorful Colorado and that Autumn is my favorite season (I just love all of the rich, warm colors....the reds, oranges, and yellowy golds) I decided to do an Autumn tablescape and join in the fun of "Tablescape Tuesday"! I hope you enjoy my Autumn table as much as I enjoyed putting it together! I really felt like a little girl again...playing with dishes!!!
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Deep, rich colors of olive green, red, and gold flourish in my French Country dining room making Autumn decorating a cinch! First of all, I would need to dress the table because I wanted a more formal look. I decided to layer two table cloths...I used a crimson red colored silky tablecloth underneath and then placed a gold tablecloth (that I made a few years back...it has the prettiest "scroll" pattern on it) cross-wise over the red cloth. The Autumn placemats have different shapes of leaves within the red and sagey green color blocks. Secondly, I decided to use dinner plates that I already had...a large, dark red plate serves as a charger or underplate and on top of that sits a sage green dinner plate. Do you see the leaf salad plate? I found these at Walmart for $4/ea. I placed little ceramic pumpkins and squash on top of the leaf plates just for decoration...a great find from Dollar Tree for only $1/ea. I used my amber colored goblets and topped the place setting off with a glimmery gold napkin! The napkin rings or ties that I used are made of gold braid with small crystal balls on each end. I stuck a sprig of Autumn berries into each napkin.

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A few weeks ago I decided to make a floral arrangement/centerpiece for the dining room table. I used an old footed serving tray with handles...the distressed, silvery-gray, metal finish was perfect for the look I was going for! I arranged Autumn colored florals and berries to spill over the sides of the tray onto the table. You can see the pattern of the gold tablecloth better in this photo.

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I love these wood acorns...I scattered several of them around the table with Autumn leaves! Each of the acorns are different so keep an eye out for them!

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I added candles to the little lidded pumpkins. We can't forget ambience...hehe!!! (Found the lidded pumpkins at Hobby Lobby...50% off for a total of $4/ea.)

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Normally I wouldn't use placecards for a dinner party of just four. Besides using names, you can add a favorite Autumn saying, etc. The cute little pumpkin place card holders were only a dollar at Hobby Lobby...I thought it would be fun to use a silk leaf as the note card.

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Here is a view of my finished Autumn tablescape. I did my part...now I'm wondering who is preparing the meal??? Hehe!
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Okay...I told you that I had lots of fun playing with dishes...hehe! For a different look, I changed out the floral centerpiece and used a large pillar candle and candleholder in it's place! Do you have a favorite?

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In this photo, you can see the different shapes and colors of the little wood acorns!
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Voila!

And there you have it! My French Country dining room...all "decked out" in it's best Autumn finery! Just to the left of the table is our old wood stove...on a chilly Autumn eve with a warm fire all aglow...our dinner guests can enjoy a nice glass of wine and dinner...sweet fellowship and a celebration of all that the Autumn season brings...a time of harvest and blessings!!!

Well my friends...I would like to take this time to wish each of you and your families a happy and prosperous Autumn season! It's the time of the year to harvest the fruit of your labours....to count your blessings! While counting mine, I call out your name...my dear, sweet friends! Thank you so much for your visits to this little blog and for your friendship! I appreciate and cherish each of you!!!

Warmest wishes....Chari

Hello my friends!

Today is the day!!! The day to announce the winner of Happy To Design's one year anniversary...."Celebration Giveaway"!!!

However, before doing so...I would just like to thank all of you! Thank you for your friendship...thank you for your support and encouragement...and thank you for following Happy To Design!!! This past year has been such a glorious experience for me...I have loved every minute of the journey!!! Thank you, my friends...I love you dearly!!! I am really looking forward to "year two"...getting to know you better and making some new friends along the way!!!

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"Celebration Giveaway"

In celebration of my one year anniversary, I wanted to do something special...so I ordered two more copies of books that I already had in my design library. The first book is called, "The Art of Accessorizing" written by Christi Carter and the second book is called, "English Country" written by Julie Fowler. Both of these books are excellent reads...with so many fabulous photos and so many helpful hints!

I was overwhelmed and so touched by all of the comments and well wishes that you left on my "Celebration Giveaway" post! Thank you...thank you...thank you so very much!!!

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There were 64 of you lovely people to enter the giveaway.

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I gave you an opportunity for more than just one entry...one entry point for your comment left on that post...a second entry point if you are a follower of Happy To Design...and a third entry point if you posted about the "Celebration Giveaway" on your blog. Many of you took advantage and had three entries in the giveaway...I just love it!!!

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Okay....are you ready?...shall we see who the lucky winner is?
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My honey did the "honors"....
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And the winner is....

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Melissa from Melissa's Heart and Home!!!

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Congratulations Melissa!!! I hope that you enjoy your two design books!!!

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Again...I want to thank each and every one of you!!! You are all such a joy and blessing to me...sure wished that I could give each one of you a special gift...you all mean so much to me!!! Thank you for making this such a memorable year for me!!!

Love ya'll,

Chari

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Let There Be White!

Hello my friends! Today I'm joining in with the "Let There Be White" Party...hosted by Kathleen over at Cuisine Kathleen.
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I was so excited when I found out about this fabulous "White" party...don't know what it is exactly...but lately I've been so infatuated with all things white...white decor...white dishes! Maybe it's because white brings such a fresh, cool, crisp feel to the table...and that is so welcoming during a long, hot summer!
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Please go pay Kathleen a visit over at her blog...Cuisine Kathleen...you won't want to miss the beautiful white table that she has prepared for us today!!! While you're there you can check out all of the other participants beautiful "show" of white!!! Thank you, Kathleen...for hosting this "Let There Be White" Party...what a grand idea!!!
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It's a Beach Party!!!

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I also am joining in with Gina over at The Shabby Chic Cottage for her August 26th Beach Party! How exciting...and ladies, I have the feeling that this may be the last beach party of the season! At least for me...Summer is quickly coming to a close in Colorful Colorado...Autumn is well on its way!!!

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Thank you, Gina...for hosting this fun filled party!!! Okay ladies...get out your flip-flops and sunscreen...let's all head on over want to head to Gina's place for a little fun-n-the sun!!! We can just spend the entire day "party hopping"...hehe! Don't forget to visit all of the "Beach Party" participants!!! Ohhh...this is going to be fun!!!

Coastal Whites

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Today for the "Let There Be White" party and the "Beach Party"...I wanted to share a tablescape that I did in June using my new seashell dishes called "Water" by JC Penneys! So this is a repost...hope you don't mind!

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My Seaside ~~Water~~ Tablescape

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Several weeks ago I purchased a new set of dishes and I've been so excited to do a tablescape and share them with you!!!

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Also...

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Today is my wedding anniversary!

(Just a note: This post was from June 4th, 2009)

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I am so blessed!!! I married the man of my dreams, Russell, four years ago to this date! I am so happy...in fact, at times it still feels like a dream...every once in awhile I have to pinch myself to make sure that it is real!!!

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Russell is my best friend...I just can't imagine living life and not having him to share it with! He is my confidant...I trust him with my heart! He is my lover...eeekss...guess I better not get too graphic here since this is a PG blog! Hehe! Seriously though...I truly believe that I am a woman blessed among women...Russell is my knight in shining armour!!! He is such a dear sweet soul...sensitive, intelligent, hard working and a great provider, loyal, sexy...well, the list goes on...but I have nothing but the upmost respect for my husband and I know it sounds a bit cliche but Russell completes me!!!

In celebration of my husband and our love I have set a romantic, seaside table...this tablescape is called ~~Water~~!!!

~~~Water~~~

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The Tablescape scene is set...

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I have set the table in our French Country dining room.

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With the lights dimmed and candle light aglow...

so softly the notes of a love song are heard.

The hands of time have seemed to slow...

and whispers of love resound through word!

Setting the Scene...Ambiance

The definition of ambiance is: the mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc., particularly of an environment.

Just like setting the scene for an act of a play...ambiance sets the scene for your table!!! The lighting...the music...even the type of dishes, table centerpiece, and linens contribute to the ambiance of your dining experience!!!

Ambiance can take a great tablescape and lift it into the realm of FABULOUS!



The lighting...the soft romantic glow of candlelight!



The centerpiece...seashells and sea glass in soft shades of blue & green...a little moss and rattan...and what speaks ~~Water~~better than a few starfish scattered about!
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The Place Setting...

As I mentioned earlier, I purchased these dishes several weeks ago. I have seen some gorgeous "coastal" tablescapes in blogland and I really wanted a set of "coastal or shell" dishes. This set is called...yep, you guessed it, ~~Water~~ from JC Penneys. When I first saw them, I thought Ooooh...I want those but they were to expensive for my pocketbook...soooo....I waited (as any good little bargain shopper would do...hehe!)

Ohhh yea....they went on sale...they were really marked down...and on top of that, I had a 20% off discount coupon! Yeeeehawwww!!!

This set was originally $162.00 for a 4 piece place setting for four.

I paid only...are you ready?...can I have a drumroll please...

I paid only $59.60 for the set!!!

(Oh yea...oh yea...I'm still doin' the Happy Dance over this one! Hehe!)
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~~Water~~

Home Collection by JC Penneys

*Dinner plate (a nice sized 11" plate, ivory, with embossed shells and starfish)
*Salad/dessert plate (8 7/8 in., ivory, embossed with shells and starfish)
*Soup bowl (7 x 3 in. tall, shell shaped, ivory)
*Canape plate ( 7x5 in., shell shaped, ivory)
*Water/Iced Tea goblets from Dollar Tree...$1 ea.
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The Shell Soup Bowl...

These shell soup bowls are really nice sized! A healthy serving of soup or a salad can be served in these pretty shell bowls!!! They are large enough that they could be used for a vegetable serving dish as well.
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The Salad/Dessert Plate...

I just love the embossed design on the salad/dessert plates...shells, starfish, lobster & crabs swim around the border!
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A close-up so you can see the pretty pattern!
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The Dinner Plate...

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Ohhh...I do love these pretty seashell plates...the shells are nearly 3-dimensional! These plates measure 11 in. They are actually large enough that they can double as a charger plate.
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The Canape Plate...
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The Table Dressing...

Just as ambiance is important to setting the scene of the tablescape...so is the dressing of the table!

The table linens and placemats act as the foundation for your tablescape!


The Table Cloth & Napkins...

I found this beautiful striped tablecloth with matching napkins, called "Kendall", at Pottery Barn. The fabric has a nice substantial feel to it and is 100% cotton. The napkins are a generous 20x20 ins.

I love the washed out look of the off-white, brown, blue, and green stripes!!! It's exactlly what I had envisioned for this ~~Water~~tablescape...a fabric with a distresssed look, if you will!

The Napkin Rings...

I found stretchy shell bracelets at Walmart made by Panama Jack...I attached a seashell and used these for the napkin rings. One of the things that I enjoy most about doing a tablescape is coming up with creative ideas for the table...I just love the seashell bracelets for the napkin rings. $3.97 for a package of 3 bracelets!

The Placemats...

I found these pretty rattan placemats at the Dollar Tree. They're perfect...made of rattan and in soft sea colors of green and blue. I decided to layer the placemats...placing a green rattan mat over the top of a blue rattan mat. Only $1 each!
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The Centerpiece...

Ohhh...I do love making the centerpieces for a tablescape!!!

My New Wire Rattan Finial...

I purchased this large wire rattan finial from JC Penneys at the same time that I got my dishes. I just love the dark French Roast color and it makes quite a statement at 20 ins. tall! It was also on sale for $17.99...I think I will get alot of use from this beauty!!!

I put moss in the bottom of the finial so that I could place a candle in the center. I added different kinds of seashells around the edges of the candle! Then I placed the finial atop a rattan mat. I used fresh fern fronds around the base of the finial...scattered blue and green sea glass...and added a few starfish!
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Candles and Candle Holders...

Hand crafted Seashell candles...

Ahhh...do you remember these seashell pillar candles? I made these last week! For the tutorial you can click HERE...it will take you to that post!

I had so much fun crafting these. JC Penneys had similar pillar candles that went with my seashell dishes but ohhh myyy...they were $49.99 for just 3 little candles...eeekkkss!!! I wasn't about to pay that much for candles so I made my own...two 6" seashell pillar candles for just $4.85!!!

I had these chunky white glass candle holders...added twine around the base for a "coastal" feel! It's all in the little details...isn't it? Hehe!!! I really like how my homemade seashell candles look with the "coastal" candle holders!!!

Votive Candles...

I found these glass votive candle holders at the Dollar Tree...$1 ea.! They just had a nautical feel to them...hehe! I added crushed seashells to the bottom of the votives...placed a white candle atop and added a few small shells around the candles!

Each place setting has its own votive candle holder!
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My "artsy" photo...
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Another "artsy" photo...hehe!
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~~Water~~
...by day!
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~~Water~~
...by night!
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Well my friends...I hope that you enjoyed my ~~Water~~tablescape as much as I did creating it!!!

I'm looking forward to a romantic evening with my honey...celebrating four fabulous years of marriage with the man of my dreams!!!

Happy Tablescaping and Let There Be White!!!
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Love ya'll,
Chari
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Don't forget...you have today and tomorrow left to sign up for my "Celebration Giveaway"! For more information just click HERE.
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PS...Just wanted to let you know about a couple of great blog giveaways going on right now...

* Kim at Charmed I'm Sure is having a clock giveaway sponsored by CSN who carries everything from clocks to mattresses. Stop by before 11:59 pm Mountain Time on August 28th and enter to win.

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Dawn over at Life at Eventually Cottage has two great giveaway gifts...go and check them out!!!