Summer Entertaining...and a Seaside ~~Water~~ Tablescape

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A Seaside ~~Water~~ Tablescape
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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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It's here...it's finally here! 

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Summer that is! 

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 As of June 21st, we "officially" entered into the summer season.  Summer offers a multitude of opportunities...don't you agree?  The warmer temperatures bring about all kinds of change...inside and outside...of our homes.  It's time to "lighten and brighten" up our decor.  It's time to get out in the garden. 

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and...

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It's time to do a little summer entertaining!  One of my most favorite things to do!!!

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Today I thought I would share with you a summer tablescape that I created two years ago (June 2009) called ~~Water~~A Seaside Tablescape.  One of the first things that summer brings to mind...for me...is the seaside.  Maybe it's because I lived in Corpus Christi, Texas for 30 years.  I loved spending time at the beach and it was especially extraordinary during the summer!  Of course I am now living in Colorado...no where near the water...but that doesn't stop me from creating a summer "seaside experience" in my dining room!  Hehe!  I really loved how this summer table turned out and I hope that you enjoy it as well!

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It's time for a little summer entertaining...will you join me?

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~~~Water~~~
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The Tablescape scene is set...

I have set the table in our French Country dining room.
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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!
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*The lighting...the soft romantic glow of candlelight!
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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 entire 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...

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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*An "artsy" photo
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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!
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I am joining the Blogger Block Party...
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"Summer Entertaining"

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with Sherry over at No Minimalist Here.

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A special thank you to all the dear ladies that have hosted this fabulous, week-long, Blog Party for us!  Thank you, Sherry for hosting the "Summer Entertaining" party at your place!

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Well dear friends...I am sooo happy that you stopped by today!  Please leave me a note and let me know that you were here....I would love to visit with you!

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Warmest Summery Wishes!