10/31/2011

French Wire Cloches...Dressed for Autumn

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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Today, Marty over at A Stroll Thru Life, is hosting the annual Autumn Cloche Party! 
I just love being able to participate in the Marty's cloche parties.  She is truly the sweetest
 and most gracious blog party hostess!  Thank you, Marty!  You will find a link to the
party at the end of this post.
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~French Wire Cloches...Dressed for Autumn~
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I only have a couple of cloches to share with you for the party today.  I have several
 cloches...six to be exact and most of them are glass.  I used all of them in my spring
 and summer decor and when it came time to decorate for autumn, I put all the cloches
 away (just for a change) except for two...my french wire cloches.  They are all dressed
 up for autumn and ready to go!  I hope you enjoy!
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Here we are in my kitchen.
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This old, chippy enamel topped table sits in the corner of my kitchen.  I just love
 this old, vintage table.  She has beautifully shaped legs...don't you think?  This table
 was sitting outside when I came to live in my honey's home.  It was love at first
 sight...yes, it was love at first sight for my honey...but I was talking about the
 table!  Hehe!  I saved this little beauty from the harsh environment and brought
 her into the house.  Sooo...all the distressing and chippiness...is "au natural"!
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My enamel top table is always decorated for the season. 
 Here she is all dressed up for autumn!
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A Mix-Matched Autumn Vignette
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A Whimsical Table Lamp...
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The tall table lamp always resides here.  It provides a little extra lighting for this
 corner of the kitchen when needed.  I love the curvy lines of the bronze base! 
The black shade is lined in leopard print fabric...a little fun and whimsy!
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  My orange and yellow rooster tassel looks nice with the black shade.
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Close-up of the rooster tassel.
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I just adore this pretty tassel!  Just look at all of the luscious layers of ribbon
 and beautiful trim!  Kristen from Kristen's Creations made this beautiful tassel.
  Thank you again, Kristen!
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I used a couple of burlap placemats for the foundation for this autumn, table top vignette.
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French Table Tray...
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A distressed gray french table tray has joined in with this autumn vignette. 
A set of autumn acorn plates, a small pumpkin soup tureen, autumn napkins,
 and a few cluster of grapes fill the french tray.
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Creamware Pitcher...
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An antique creamware pitcher filled with old nickle plated knives and
forks can be seen behind the french tray.
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New Autumn-Like Bowls...
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A stack of four autumn-like bowls join this table top vignette.  I just found
 these pretty bowls at Dollar Tree.  One can always use a few extra
 bowls...I love the color and the sweet olive pattern!
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Large Glass Canister...
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My large glass canister is filled with cookie cutters.  I love the look of old,
 vintage aluminum cookie cutters.  I can enjoy them year round in the glass canister!
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...and...last but not least...
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French Wire Cloches...
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A pair of french wire cloches are the star attraction of this autumn vignette.
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Tall Wire Cloche...
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The tall wire cloche in the back corner of this autumn vignette...measures
 a stately 30 inches in height. 
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It is also gray in color and pairs nicely with the french table tray.  It is filled
 with autumn leaves, acorns, and berries.  Climbing bittersweet is making its way
 up to the top of the cloche.
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A close-up of the autumn pretties inside of the tall wire cloche.
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Wire Cloche with a Pillar Candle...
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The smaller wire cloche sits upon a silver pedestal dish and hosts
 a lovely "goldenrod" colored candle.  This french wire cloche is also
 gray...pairing nicely with the tall wire cloche and french table tray. 
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 If you are a follower of Happy To Design, you may have noticed that I have a "thing"
 for the color goldenrod this autumn season.  I recently created an autumn tablescape
 with a new set of goldenrod colored dishes...if you would like to see it...just click HERE.
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Isn't that bird finial on top of the wire cloche...just the sweetest?
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A close-up of the new autumn-like bowls.
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I thought I would show you what is under the enamel top table. 
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An old, rusty wire basket filled with goodies!
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Inside the rusty wire basket...
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   Burlap and woven gray placemats and a glass milk bottle fill an old crock mixing bowl.
  A smaller crock can be seen next to the large mixing bowl...a trio of aluminum buckets
 spill forth from the smaller crock.
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...and Voila!
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 An autumn table top vignette with french wire cloches!
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I hope that you enjoyed!
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Autumn Cloche Party
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Thank you, Marty...for hosting the autumn cloche party for us!
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Well my friends...I am so happy that you stopped by for a visit today!  Please leave me a note to let me know that you were here...I would love to visit with you!
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Warmest Autumn Wishes!

10/29/2011

Sunday Favorites...No. 123

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Welcome to the 123rd "Sunday Favorites" Party 


"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 HERE.

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Hello my friends!
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Welcome to the 123rd run of "Sunday Favorites"
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I hope that you're having a wonderful weekend!  It's a bit chilly here at my place.  We had our very first snow of the season here in Colorful Colorado this past week.  There have been a few nights when we got down into the "teens" for temperatures...brrrr!  Honey and I are spending a leisurely weekend...just enjoying a warm fire and one another's company! 
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  Last week for the Sunday Favorites party, I revisited a post where I shared my Frenchy studio/office.  Today, I thought I would share "Part II" of that three part series...called "French Flavored Vignettes".  I hope that you enjoy!  
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 Well my friends...I'm looking forward to seeing your Sunday Favorites posts this week and visiting with you!  You can sign up for the party at the end of this post!
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Have a super Sunday!
Chari
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Sunday Favorites My favorite post from:
August 15, 2011
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"French Flavored Vignettes"
A Tour of my French Studio (Cont.)
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Bonjour, mes ames!  I hope that you're having a fabulous day!
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It's a beautiful, summery day here at Frenchmen Creek!  Today I thought I would
 continue the photo tour of my frenchy studio/office.  I have a few "french flavored"
 vignettes that I would love to share with you!  I hope that you enjoy!!!
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My French Studio/Office
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Here we are...back in my little french studio/office.
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Last week, I took you for a little photo tour around my desk. 
If you would like to see that post...just click HERE.
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My little french studio/office is my "calgon...take me away" place to go!  It's
filled with all of my favorite things...family heirlooms, precious gifts from family
 and friends, and...well...just everything that inspires me!  This room belonged
 to my step-son before he moved to the "man cave" downstairs.  I am sooo happy
 to have a place that belongs to just moi!!!  It's a very small room...measuring
 about 10'x12'...but it's warm and cozy...just the way I like it!
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Won't you come along...while I show you a few of my favorite things?
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This antique desk once belonged to my in-laws.  I'm just sure, that if it could talk,
 it could tell all kinds of wonderful family stories!  I found the antique chair
(covered in black and white toile) at my favorite antique flea market.  I think
 it's a perfect match for the desk...don't you?
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My Old Iron Garden Gate/Memo Board
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A very old...rusty...iron garden gate hangs on the wall behind the desk.  I use
it as a "memo board".  As you can see, the wire on the inside of the gate works
 perfectly for holding papers, etc.  I just adore this old rusty garden gate...it's
 very ornate!  All of the old latches are still intact too!
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A french vignette for the left-hand side of my desk.
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I just adore the french chandelier lamp.  A very special friend made it...just for
 this desk...just for moi!  A few of my favorite things...our wedding photo...an old
 silver tray with a photo book...and a framed "Amazing Grace" picture...which
 belonged to my dear, sweet Grandma!
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A Few of My Favorite Treasures...
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One of my favorite garden cherubs is holding a leaf full of vintage jewelry.
 A very old silver serving spoon is tied to the gate with a black ribbon....and a few
 frenchy tassels, an ornate cross, and one of my favorite gold and white
transferware plates joins the mix as well!
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On the left hand-side of the desk...
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A bust of a french girl sits atop a few of my favorite decorating books.
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A pair of sweet songbirds...a gift from my dear friend, Gloria, from Happy To Be blog!
  Thank you, Sis!  You know how I love all sweet little birds!  An old tarnished silver creamer
 holds old clothes pins and another silver spoon.  I use the clothes pins on the wire of the
 gate...to hold papers, photos, etc.
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Close-up photo of the gold transferware plate. 
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I found this beautiful, old plate at the antique flea market.  It is the only one...
of this color...that I have ever seen.  I love the golden, frenchy scrolls that decorate
 the plate...Ooo La La...sooo pretty!!!
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Honey found this olden photo at the antique flea market.  I'm not sure if this is what
 you call a "lithograph" photo...or not?  It was made for one of those old-time viewers
 that you hold in your hand.
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  The photo is of Lake Como, Italy.  We just had to have the photo since we visited
 Lake Como on our honeymoon!  I wished there was a date on the photo...but there isn't.
  It had to be taken in the early 1900's...I'm thinking.
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A long shelf runs the length of the desk...up above.  I have it filled too!  Hehe! 
Soooo many treasures...or at least...treasures to me!
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Two very large, framed prints of Paris sit on the back of the shelf against the wall. 
We picked the prints up while we were honeymooning in Paris. They hold such precious
 memories for me!  A long, greenish-gold candleholder with four burgandy pillars
 sit front and center on the shelf.
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The frenchy vignette on the left-hand side of the shelf.
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A large, leather box with an "embroidered" Eiffel tower is filled with autumn
 colored eucalyptus and peacock feathers.  I found this pretty box at Hobby
 Lobby many years ago.  One of my favorite angel dolls along with a small
 porcelain doll join the vignette.  The little porcelain doll belonged to my grandma.
  Two of my favorite glass containers.  The container with the pretty rhinestone
 crown topper was a gift from my dear friend, Cindy, over at Applestone Cottage.
  I just love this little glass bottle with the pretty jeweled crown!  Thank you,
 dear Cindy!  Every time I see it...I think of you!
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Another sweet little pink angel...a gift from my sister! 
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"Sweet Little Girl" Photo...
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Behind the angel, I have a very old photo displayed on a flower frog.  Honey and I
 found this photo...when we were going through stacks and stacks of old family photos
 that were left to us.  So I am just postive that this sweet little girl IS "family"...but
 there was no name or date on the back of the photo.  I just hate that!  I guess we
 should always label our photos...because you just never know who may
 be looking at them...in years to come.
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Now...looking toward the right-hand side of the shelf.
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The Frenchy Flavored Vignette continues...
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On the right-hand side of the shelf...more treasures!  Another very old family photograph
 of a very sweet, little baby.  Again...no name or date was given but isn't she a sweetheart?
  She very well may be a distant aunt or cousin...or maybe a great-great-grandmother???
  I sooo wished that I knew who she was! 
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A little muslin angel sits just to the side of the photo. 
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And in front...my little, golden cherub "L-O-V-E" letters. Aren't they sweet? I found these
 "cherub letters" a couple of years ago at Hobby Lobby and just adore them! An old glass
 milk bottle filled with gold buttons joins in with this french vignette!
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A close-up..so that you can get a look at the pretty details in the old photograph.
  I just left this sweet photo in it's original olden gray paper frame but I added the
 black grosgrain ribbon to the side of the frame and the vintage pearl pendant.
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A close-up of the golden cherub..."L-O-V-E" letters.  Two of the little cherubs
 are playing music...the other two are holding beautiful garlands of roses!
  Ahhh...sooo pretty!!!
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Voila...and there you have it!  A few french flavored vignettes!
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Hopefully before this week ends...I can finish the tour of my french studio/office.
Soooo...stay tuned!
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Another photo...of another french vignette...for later in the week!
 Please do come back by!
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Well dear friends, I hope you enjoyed!!!
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Au revoir jusqu'à plus tard!
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Sunday Favorites
Guidelines for Participating in Sunday Favorites
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Add a "visible" link for the Sunday Favorites party to your blog post or add the Sunday Favorites button from my sidebar.  The link leading back to Happy To Design should be a "visible" link in your post...not "Parties Here" or "Find the parties that I am linking to in my sidebar" or somewhere else is...unacceptable!   No one should have to search for the parties you are joining.
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Please do not add your link below, until your Sunday Favorites post is actually published to your blog.  If you are participating in Sunday Favorites, please be sure to add your permalink and not your general blog address.
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If you have found that your link has been deleted...then it was not following the guidelines.  Please read the instructions and try again.
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Thank you so much for your participation!!! I am going to really enjoy going through your "Sunday Favorites" posts!!!
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***Just a little note: Sunday Favorites Criteria***
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When I first started the Sunday Favorites meme, my initial thought was to offer a solution for getting a post out on the weekend without having to spend alot of time doing so...weekends are just a busy time for most of us! Copying and pasting a previous post is so quick and easy. Not only is this a quick and easy solution to the busy weekends, but it's also an opportunity to dig back into our blog archives and share a favorite "past" post once again! Many of us spend alot of time and effort creating a post and it just seems a shame that it is viewed only once and then forgotten about!
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I would like to reiterate that Sunday Favorites is a meme about sharing or revisiting a post from the PAST!  Please do not add a freshly published post to the Sunday Favorites party...it is NOT what this party is about.
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Thank you!!!
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10/26/2011

~Goldenrod Autumn~...an Autumn Tablescape

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Hello my friends...I hope you're having a fabulous day!
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I love autumn!
I love the rich, warm colors!
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I love playing dishes!
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I created an autumn table with the new goldenrod colored plates
 that I found at Walmart a few weeks ago.  I sure had fun with this
 tablescape!  I hope that you enjoy it too!
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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Here we are...in my french country dining room.
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As you can see...my french country dining room is dressed
 in red and olive green, with accents of gold.  A color palette
 that hosts autumn with ease.
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Not only is autumn my favorite season...but I believe that
 a beautifully attired autumn table is my favorite "seasonal"
 tablescape as well!
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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This autumn I seem to have an attraction for the
 warm, rich color of goldenrod.
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"Goldenrod"
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The color goldenrod is a representation of the color of some of the
 deeper gold colored goldenrod flowers.The first known recorded use of
 goldenrod as a color name in English was in 1915.
(source Wikipedia)
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 A large pitcher with matching platter...sharing the same rich hues
 as the new dinner plates...bring the warm glow of "goldenrod autumn"
 to this table.  Autumn pears, golden stemware, and dinner napkins
 also help to bring the "goldenrod" color theme home.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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Table Centerpiece...
Autumn's Bounty in a Dough Bowl
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I placed a tall masonary candleholder with an "earthy"
 colored candle in the center of a large woodendough bowl. Autumn
 fruits of grapes, pears, and pomegranites...along with a few sprigs
 of autumn florals, seed pods, and nuts. Deer antlers, pheasant
 feathers, and a stately pheasant join the autumn mix.
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This autumn, I decided upon a "rustic luxe" style of decor
 for my dining room.  If you would like to see my autumn dining room
 in its entirety...you can click HERE.
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The wooden dough bowl filled with autumn's bounty continues the
 "rustic luxe" theme onto the table.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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An autumn table set for four.
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The Place Setting...
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Layer upon layer...building a delicious "goldenrod"
 autumn place setting.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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The Place Setting
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A woven wicker charger
An earthy brown charger plate with embossed autumn leaves
A goldenrod colored dinner plate by Mainstays
A sage green salad plate by Gibson
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...topped off with...
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an acorn shaped dessert plate.
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A view from a different direction.
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Luscious autumn layers.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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The Table Linens
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Two dinner napkins layered for a colorful effect.  An olive
 green and khaki check dinner napkin serves along with a goldenrod
 colored napkin at each place setting.  I love the pretty white
 embroidered vine on the goldenrod colored napkin! 
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A khaki colored hemstiched table runner makes for a nice
 neutral foundation for this autumn table.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
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The Stemware
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A simple amber colored goblet works nicely with the
 goldenrod color theme.
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A place setting from a different view.
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Goldenrod Pitcher with a Handled Platter...
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I purchased this pretty "goldenrod" colored pitcher
 and matching platter from a local gift shop several years ago.
  It usually resides atop the refrigerator in my kitchen.
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I love the embossed grapes, vines, and leaves on both
 pieces!  The pitcher and platter have an "old world" feel with
 a distressed finish.  You can actually see the terra cotta colored clay
 bisque under the glaze in places.  I also love that the platter
 has handles in the shape of twisted grapevine!
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This pretty acorn shaped dish came from Dollar Tree
 a few years ago.  I love the embossed lines of the acorn and
 leaves...and the warm, rich reds and greens on the
 oak leaves.
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
in my french country dining room.
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...and for a final thought...
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~Goldenrod Autumn~
in Still Life.
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This was my favorite photo!
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I am joining these fabulous parties...
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Thank you, dear ladies...for hosting these lovely parties for us!
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Well dear friends...I'm so happy that you stopped by for a visit today!  I hope that you enjoyed my ~Goldenrod Autumn~ tablescape.  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 Autumn Wishes!
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