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| Photo from Stock x-chg |
Valentine's Day was the icing on their proverbial cake. The very spacious room was decked out in red and white. The display tables had white chocolate cakes or candies artfully arranged. This was the inspiration for my tablescape. While I took license with some of the colors, I went looking for my on Garden of Sweets.
I'm lucky to live near the place the Lenox china factory calls home. I'm only fifteen minutes from their warehouse and they are always having a sale. At Christmas time extra security guards are hired to control the lines. Many of my friends are impressed when they get a gift because they think I paid a fortune for it. Little do they know. So don't tell them. It'll be our little secret.
The dishes below are part Lenox and part flea market find. My good china is the solid white plates with the silver edge. The smaller plates with the grayish-silver border is something I found when I hit the Motherload last week.
I went looking for just a couple of plates to build a tablescape around, but in my pursuit I scored BIG TIME. I got carried away and bought more than I should, but they will come in handy for huge gatherings.
The Lenox plates are Oxford bone china and the pattern is Lexington. My grayish silver pattern is from Imperial China and the pattern is Whitney. I didn't have placemats that fit the Valentine's Day theme I was going for, so I went to the fabric store and bought a remnant for about three dollars. I cut it an inch larger than the size of a placemat and ironed the sides under. I had enough fabric left over to do the same for napkins. So while the plates may be china, the other items are improvised.
Now, I'm going to make that desert from the Designs by Gollum blog and entrench myself in my own Garden of Sweets.
love the mix you used!! Happy Tablescape Thursday
ReplyDeleteThank you. It took a while for me to get it done since this was a new venture for me. I took way too many photos trying to get the right lighting and the right composition. I have ordered some photo light kits.
DeleteI love the detail on the plates. I would be in so much trouble if I lived that close to the Lenox factory...I think self control would fly out the window when I would walk through the door. Thanks for sharing your beautiful table.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right. It is hard not to fill up a basket with so much expensive stuff.
DeleteI would be in big trouble if I lived near a Lenox factory! I just moved and I am still unpacking dishes! lol Love your table...so pretty! Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteBlessings My Friend,
It's a good thing I don't live anywhere near Lenox... oh gosh. I love your new china, it's so classic and pretty. The fabric for the placemats and napkins is so perfect! great score.. xo marlis
ReplyDeleteHi, Shirley! This is my first visit to your blog. I don't remember ever seeing you on Tablescape Thursday before, and I see you are a fairly new blogger. Welcome!!! Wow...so you live near the Lenox factory warehouse, huh? Hmmmmmm....are you accepting applications for overnight visitors? ;-) I would go berserk if I lived that close! I'll bet your friends think you are just too fabulous for words when you gift them with such pretty stuff from Lenox! What you found when you "hit the Motherload" last week is fabulous!!! The design on your "Lexington" is absolutely gorgeous!!! I like your description of the Garden of Sweets having an "edible" smell! Those kind of places really stick in our minds over time. OK...so now I'm going to go poking around on your blog since you're new. I will also become a follower. Again, welcome, and I look forward to seeing other creations in the future!
ReplyDeleteAlycia,
DeleteThanks for dropping by. With so many people on Tablescape Thursday, I'm amazed you found me. Like I have mentioned, it's very hard NOT to go to the Lenox factory. And when I do go to get a gift for someone, I always come out with more than I planned. Luckily, I'm on the list and they send me coupons.
Your dishes are beautiful. This is a festive and fun tablescape. We used to have a Lenox outlet--I miss it! Have a great weekend. XX
ReplyDeleteWhat a place to go for Valentine's Day than the Garden of Sweets! I would have loved to have visited the shop! The next great part is living 15 minutes from Lenox warehouse. I absolutely love your table with the new Lenox china and would have been right behind you in line with a basket full of china bargains.I love the sweet pattern of your placemats. I have been to just a few sales of a life time! One was in Waco, Texas when Minton and Royal Doulton had their warehouse sale right before they closed. The second was when Imperial Glass closed their factory. The third was in Houston when Edish was closing their doors and they kept dropping their discount! The times I went to England and made the rounds of the china factories at Stoke-on-Trent was amazing! I had boxes shipped and it was like opening Christmas packages when they came! Sadly, most of the factories are closed except, Royal Crown Derby! If you have a need for replacing any china, Dishes form the Past is closing and has 60 percent off! I visited and bought more of my pattern Blue Rock by Shelley! My mother found a wonderful set of pink rosebuds on a Haviland pattern named Plaisance. When you said warehouse, I know when there is a sale you can get great bargains. Usually, I just use some fun china when I do a tablscape on my blog but I love your lovely and very formal Lenox China! Happy Tablscaping! Pam
ReplyDeleteI would love to find an old pattern. The company went out of business in the 90's. The pattern was called Ming Tree. My father chose it long ago and over the years it was lost, especially after I left home. I see an occasional piece here and there, but no place settings.
DeleteThere is a Mikasa outlet in a town of outlet stores. I haven't been there in years. Like you, I did the china and glass factories when I visited England. I fell in love with Waterford Crystal, especially after I saw them blow it and cut the glass. Before that I wanted everything to be smooth and without detail. Afterwards, I appreciated the detail so much more.