Fall Fiesta

 I use Fiestaware in fall colors to decorate my kitchen for autumn.

Mini disk pitchers in seamist green, scarlet and marigold

Dinner plates in ivory and black with metal sunflower

Sunflower platter flanked by paprika and tangerine dinner plates 

Forgot I had a chocolate mini disk pitcher!

Tablecloth Tip

I am frequently faced with the dilemma of wanting to use a tablecloth that doesn't quite fit the table.  (I think that one comes under the category of "first world problems".)  

I'm happy to say there's a simple solution.

I placed this tablecloth on the diagonal across the table exposing the table top on two of the opposite corners. 

The wood-look surface of my table suited this particular color scheme featuring fall colors which included a chocolate brown.

If you wish to cover the entire table, you may want to layer a full-size tablecloth under the cloth that is too small.

Autumn Leaves

A pack of pretty autumn-leaf themed napkins I got from a friend for my birthday (thanks, Bethany!) inspired my latest tablescape.

My fall decorations came out of storage for the occasion - leaves, pumpkins and scarecrows.

Fiestaware in shades of tangerine, paprika, lemongrass, shamrock, chocolate, marigold and sunflower were pressed into service, along with some green glass luncheon plates of unknown origin.

Love the carved wooden ghost pumpkin shown above!

 Cute little scarecrow stands guard on this autumn table

 Close up of the napkin along with maple flavored, leaf shaped cookie

Vino!

These cool wine napkins rings I found on ebay were the inspiration for this table...well, the napkin rings and all those bottles of wine I have stashed away.

A row of reds and whites encircled with a leaf garland creates the centerpiece of this table.

Close up of a place setting in cinnabar and juniper Fiesta dinnerware

Red goblets were purchased at Herberger's housewares department

Minnesota Nice wine!

Burgundy, gold and green tablecloth in a fall leaf pattern - perfect with the colors of the wine.

Autumn!

I couldn't wait for the temperature to cool down to use my pretty Fiesta dishes in autumn colors!

A gold tablecloth served as the back drop for Fiesta dinnerware in  marigold, juniper, shamrock, paprika, chocolate and tangerine.

Gold leaf napkin rings

 Fiesta plate in the Happy Pumpkin pattern

Girl Power

We invited my daughter's tennis team and coaches to our house for brunch after practice today. 

I purchased brightly-colored party goods from Wal-Mart featuring polka dots and stripes.

 M & M candies mimicked the dots on the plates.

Rainbow licorice echoes the stripes on the napkins and creates an edible centerpiece.

An extra table was brought in to help seat the 25+ expected guests.

The team was treated to mini-bagels with strawberry cream cheese, donuts, assorted muffins, caramel monkey bread, scrambled eggs with bacon and fresh fruit.

Lining up at the buffet

 Food, fun and fellowship

DON'T BUG ME!!

Here's the tablescape I created for my husband's birthday.  As you know, he's a beekeeper, but he's also interested in insects in general.

Colorful bugs serve as napkin "holders".

Although the patterns have been discontinued by the manufacturer, I was recently able to purchase another Fiesta bee place setting and a ladybug setting from a fellow collector.

As I teach first grade science, I felt the need to make the table educational as well as fun.

I'm pretty sure ladybugs are the supermodels of the insect world.