I haven't done a tablescape post in a while, so I figured it was time. Better than rehashing the ups and downs of daily life (an ain't we all got those? :) )
I still adore dressing the table with a cloth, placemats, napkins and rings, and cute themed centerpieces. It's both a creative outlet and a way to beautify what might be a bland area in our home.
Our table (bought used) is 44"x86" and has 8 chairs. I know, what was I thinking??? There are only 3 of us, and neither side of the family is big on get togethers (and my mil is doing all the 'stuff' this year).
Nonetheless, I do love our table. It's sturdy and wide, great for spreading out a monopoly game, or schoolbooks, or just sitting at the head of it and admiring it's broad, serviceable, width. What I don't care for is the color. It was originally a weird pink-blond wood, but the folks we bought it from took the the two leaves out and restained the table (but not the chairs, sigh) a hideous golden color. The leaves remained unstained.
Needless to say, this thing needs clothes! I found tablecloths to fit (72x120) at tableclothsfactory.com, for around $9 each, plus shipping. I have 10 different solid colors now. They are polyester and nothing fancy, but I'm pleased with them after a year of service. On top of the cloth I put placemats. Now, I don't use just one set continuously. What's the fun in that? Nope, I have around 15 different sets! Some of 6, and some of 8.
A few are round, solid colors, but most are patterned. There are Santa ones, Snowman ones, Gingerbread ones, ect for Christmas, pink, green and white trellis for spring, pastel plaid, cat tapestry ones, birdhouses, African safari/animals, ect. I'm continuously on the lookout for more. I get them secondhand at Ebay, mostly. Usually under $10 for a set of 6 or 8. Bargains, baby!
Then, there are the napkins. Again from TCF (link above), I have sets of solid color poly napkins, as well as patterned ones from Ebay. There are napkin rings of every color, santas, pigs, ladybugs, dragonflies, ect. Sometimes I do a fancy fold and forgo the rings (I have a book for that, too).
I have used my MIL's grandmother's ceramic cats (one over 100 years old, and over a foot high) as a centerpiece, two wooden elephants I decorate our bookshelf with, plants, candles, a bowl of pinecones, even my son's stuffed animals when they fit the theme! I look around my own house to find inspiration for the next table, and the centerpiece idea usually drives what I look for in linens.
But sometimes, you cannot find, or rather, afford what you like, even from Ebay. Right now, I'm focused on Easter. Now, I had an adorable table last year, and I am honestly proud of how that turned out. This year, I will reuse that 'scape, but not for Easter itself. I've got the stuff for that already, but I want some actual Easter/bunny themed stuff. Ebay is not helping with this right now.
If I had a 4 seater table, I would be awash in affordable placemat sets. Get up into 6 or 8, and you are talking some money (over $20, which is out of my budget). What to do, what to do....
Then it hit me. I have vinyl placemats, and in looking at other stuff, found sewn vinyl sets (my MIL has bought me for Christmas (my pick) the cutest set of...but you might see that in summer, lol) and thought, I CAN DO THAT!! And I was off the to races.
Get a vinyl tablecloth, dollar store or WM brand will work, cut it up, find a suitable colored backing cloth, and stitch those babies up! You'd use the regular pattern for a placemat, I'm thinking. You could get 6 out of a 52" cloth, with careful cutting (fronts only, of course, it would take two cloths for a set). And all for around $5-10.
I am inspired to pull out my sewing machine and relearn how to use it (my MIL had it for years, and I forgot, and also don't have the book anymore, sigh). Anyone have any tips to make this easier, or the mats look better? A narrow gauge needle? Type of thread? Should I put batting in the middle, or no?
Ideas about....fishing themed, hunting, perhaps a county fair cloth/set....woohoo!!
You can probably find the book online somewhere or even from the manufacturer itself. What brand is it? My sewing machine is in the repair shop so I can't do any sewing lessons. I've been teaching myself or rather I had been teaching myself.I got frustrated because I don't have patience with myself but once I get my "baby" back from the shop I can get back into the swing of things. Have fun learning to sew.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Regina!
ReplyDeleteMy machine is a Brother XL 5130. I can probably find the book, I've just been lazy. And busy, too. Any experience sewing vinyl?
I would expect that you could put 2 layers rights sides together, stitch around but leave an opening, trim and turn, iron, then top stitch around the edge, both for decoration and to close the hole where you turned. Be sure to trim the corners to get a crisp corner.
ReplyDeleteYou could use vinyl, or cloth. I guess I got my vinyl ones for about $1 each, a long time ago, but I don't know what they cost now. So, watch that--it may be less expensive to buy some. The tablecloths at JoAnn's are usually cheap after holidays.You can usually get really inexpensive cotton fabric if you watch the sales as well. I'd put a very thin batting in, if any. Otherwise, they will not be stable when you set things on them, if there is too much "poof" in them.