Birds of a Feather

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Hello my friends...I hope that you're having a fabulous week!
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This morning I woke up to cold, foggy weather. In fact, we are supposed to get more snow this week. While some of you dear bloggers are already experiencing Spring...we still have a ways to go here in Colorful Colorado. I really am trying to get to my Spring decor! Hehe!

In light of our cold Colorado weather...I have created a wintery table situated by the fireplace in the living room. I really wanted an excuse to use my new "Brookshire" dishes by Johnson Bros...at least once...before putting them away. They will have to wait until next Autumn to make their return.
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Without further ado...
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Birds of a Feather

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A cozy table set for one...by the fireplace in my olive green living room.
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The place setting..."Brookshire" by Johnson Bros. of England 1883.
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This is the first time that I've used this pretty set of dishes. I found them at Dillards (online) during their "After Christmas Sale". I may very well have gotten the "Deal of the Century" on this beautiful set of dishes! They were originally $99 for a service for four....marked down to...are you ready? They were marked down to just $12! Yes...you read that right...just $12!!! I couldn't believe my good fortune! I ordered two sets!
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Each set had a 7 piece place setting for four! Altogether I received....

8 - 11" dinner plates
8 - salad/dessert plates
8 - bread & butter plates
8 - lg. rimmed cereal bowls
8 - berry bowls
8 - coffee cups
8 - saucers
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Altogether...that's 56 pieces for just $24! And...there was free shipping! Yeeehawww!
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Oooh...aren't they pretty?
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The dishes are off-white with bands of hunter green. Several different types of birds and feathers are seen on the rims of the dishes. We have pheasants, Canadian geese, ducks, chickens, etc. I call these my "manly" dishes because they have a masculine feel to them! Hehe!
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My favorite is the pheasant!
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I thought that this beautiful set of dishes would be perfect for a cozy table in front of the fireplace in my living room! There is nothing like dining in front of a warm, cozy fire on a cold winter's night! Okay...I must admit...this is a faux fireplace, however I can light all the candles that sit on the hearth! Hehe!
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The Table Linens...
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I used a beautiful olive green velvet throw for the table covering. I love the rich feel that it lends to the table!!! The dark olive green, sagey greens, and brown colors of the velvet throw go perfectly with the colors of the "Brookshire" dishes!
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I am also using an olive green striped placemat that I recently found on sale at Walmart for just $1.50/ea. I love the look of the striped placemat with the floral throw! I love to mix floral patterns with striped patterns...it just has an English Country style feel! The placemats are a lighter olive green with rusty brown and cream colored stripes...just perfect!!!
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Along with the floral and stripe patterns...I added a checked dinner napkin done in olive green and cream colors. These pretty napkins are from Walmart...on sale for $1.50/for two. The wood napkin rings have different types of leaves on them...another sale find from Walmart!
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I think I have created an English Country ambience using the floral, stripes, and checked patterns! That's the look I was going for! What do you think?
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The Place Setting...
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A "Brookshire" dinner plate and salad/dessert plate sit upon a woven reed charger plate!
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A Little History About Johnson Bros. China...
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The company's name derives from the names of the company's founders. The four original 'Johnson Brothers' were Alfred, Frederick, Henry and Robert, all four being grandsons of Alfred Meakin. In 1883 Alfred and Frederick Johnson began production at the factory they had purchased at a bankruptcy sale in Charles Street, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent. At first they specialised in the manufacture of durable earthenware which they called "White Granite". The success of this venture led to rapid expansion. In 1888, Henry Johnson joined them, followed ten years later by a fourth brother Robert Johnson.
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Having established a solid reputation producing basic “whiteware” the company developed a product known as "semi-porcelain", a range of earthenware that had the characteristics of fine china, but the durability of ironstone. This kind of tableware soon became very popular in the United States due to its durability and low cost. By 1898 five additional factories were opened in Britain to cope with growing demand, and Robert Johnson had relocated to New York City to manage Johnson Brothers' rapid expansion into the North American market.
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Johnson Brothers continued its growth in the tableware industry throughout the first half of the 20th century. During the 1950s award-winning designs, like "Old Britain Castles" and "Historic America", became very popular and the company was twice awarded the Queen's Award to Industry for their contributions to the British economy. *
Despite this award, the late 1960s saw changing popular taste, rising competition and spiralling production costs which led Johnson Brothers to curtail further expansion. In 1968, in order to remain competitive, Johnson Brothers joined the Wedgwood Group. This facilitated a further restructuring of the company and expansion into new markets. In 1995 the Hanley Pottery closed down and was soon demolished. At the same time a review of many of the traditional Johnson Brothers lines led to a rationalisation and a reduction in the number of patterns produced. In 2000 the tableware division of Johnson's temporarily moved to the J. & G. Meakin Eagle Pottery works.
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In 2003, the manufacturing of Johnson Brothers products in Britain ceased, and was transferred to China. According to the Waterford Wedgwood company, production in China cost 70% less than did production in Britain. The closure of British production facilities eliminated around 1,000 British jobs, contributing to the rising unemployment in Britain's old pottery-making centre. The Eagle Pottery works were demolished in 2005. (This article was found at Wikipedia)
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Whew...that was alot of reading but I thought it was interesting since Johnson Bros. China is so popular!
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A close-up photo.
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Birds of a Feather Tabletop Vignette...
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I was going for a "hunt" theme with a "days gone by" kind of ambience!

An old rattan chest sits atop a couple of old books (which I tried to color coordinate as well. Hehe!) I filled the rattan chest with pinecones and a ceramic duck that is in flight. The duck is an old vintage wall planter. Do you remember seeing these vintage ceramic duck wall planters? This pair belonged to my husband's grandparents. I thought they would work perfectly with the "Birds of a Feather" table theme! You will also see a few pheasant feathers in the mix! The second vintage duck planter sits on the table in front of the books...with pheasant feathers tucked in and around the planter. Ohhh...and we can't forget the candlelight! A muted orange candle on a tall bronze candleholder will "fill the ticket"!
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Well my friends...I hope that you enjoyed my "Birds of a Feather" tablescape. I'm so happy that you stopped in for a visit! I would love for you to leave me a comment and let me know that you were here! I'd love to visit back with you!!!
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I am joining in with these fabulous parties today...
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Table Top Tuesday...hosted by Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life.
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Tuesday Trivia Tie-In....hosted by Troy over at I Refuse To Recede.
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Tablescape Thursday...hosted by Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.
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Thrifty Thursday...hosted by Leigh over at Tales from Bloggeritaville.
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A big thank you to Marty, Troy, Susan, and Leigh for hosting these fabulous parties for us!!! Please go by and see what they have for us...and while you're there you will find a list of all the other party participants!
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Warmest wishes,