Thursday, October 27, 2011

Black & White Spooky Tablescape


Welcome to my first ever tablescape post.  I fear it could be addictive.  What do you think?


It all started when I purchased this set of creamy white owl napkin rings in one of my favorite little junk shops.  I started looking at the thrifts for black or black and white dishes to add some pop to my almost 30 year old Mikasa dishes and found 6 of these little cuties for a couple of bucks.


I started getting the idea of using the white owls as a more subtle table dressing.  THEN I saw the little mercury glass owl in West End's catalog with 50% of the purchase price going to St Jude's Hospital for cancer research.  Being a mom of a kid with leukemia (in remission), that sealed the deal and West Elm got my $14 which included shipping, by the way.  I put him in a little birdcage cloche that I previously got from WUSLU deal a day (don't get me started on that-too much fun, too cheap, and way too easy to buy).  He nestled in with some reindeer moss from last Christmas and some little white pumpkins.  As you can see, several items are stacked to make the centerpiece with the bottom being a bride's basket that I've had for years.


My friend Michelle made the adorable tombstone tag that hangs from the top of the cloche.  She took actual photographs from when she was visiting an old cemetery and made a set of these great hangtags.  LOVE THEM!  They almost look 3 dimensional...


Candles from last year topping old faux mercury glass curtain tiebacks I've had and used forever.



I was unsuccessful at finding something resembling cute black napkins or black and white napkins and I wasn't in the humor to spend a lot of money, so at the aforementioned thrift store, I found some black linen looking fabric for $2 and proceeded to make my own, using my late mother's sewing machine with the nifty little embroidery feature.  I then made my own stencil of an owl.  I was so proud...until I put the napkins in the rings and realized it was too much owl. Sigh...back to the drawing board.  On the opposite corner, I stamped the word "Spooky" and called it good. And now I can use the owl corner or the "spooky" corner.  Seriously, that's like 4 hours of my life I'll never get back again, but it's DONE!  YAY!  And thrifty touches like that allow me to splurge on more fun things, right?



Napkin Option "Deux": 


Oh no, I DIT-UHNT?!  Oh yeah, I did...a PAPER stencil.  Desperate times call for desperate measures...and the price was right, just one piece of printer paper.


The adorable place cards seen best at the top of the post were fashioned from an owl graphic from (where else?) Graphics Fairy. Glossy computer paper, stuck on black cardstock folded in half to make a tent card (I think that's what they're called).




What to do for a tablecloth...trip to another favorite junk shop where a favorite textile vendor had a black and white striped twin flat sheet for $6, everything in the booth...40% off.  Yeah baby, now we're cooking with gas...top it with one of my antique tablecloths, marginally ironed, and you've got TABLESCAPE, baby! Woo! Hoo!  Of course, mismatched silver plate is always a favorite in my house. 


Next project, black and white coasters.  Only one is done so far, but I think they will be used for more than Halloween, so we can talk about them more another time.





A fun hors d'oeuvre or sushi set from West Elm.  One of those splurges you can have when you aren't out buying tablecloths and napkins (that's what I'm telling myself anyway).




If you have gotten this far and your eyes haven't yet glazed over, THANK YOU!  Now go on over to Between Naps on the Porch and look at some pros at Tablescape Thursday.  I'm linking up with their party this week.  It should be fun.


Until next time,




Also linking up with the following parties this week:
Feathered Nest Fridays
Vintage Inspiration Friday
Farmhouse Friday
Wow Us Wednesdays
Show and Tell Friday
Tuesdays Treasures 
Funky Junk's Saturday Night Special
Pink Saturday 
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here 
Home Sweet Home Friday 
Tutorials and Tips 
Air Your Laundry Friday
Graphics Fairy Brag Monday
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37 comments:

  1. Very spooky indeed! I LOVE the stripes and lacey tablecloth!

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  2. Welcome to Tablescape Thursday! You did a wonderful job! This is just the kind of thing I love - the black & white, the graphics, the making things when you can't find what you really want. I just love those napkin rings and I am really regretting not buying that skeleton set at WE. I am a big fan of mismatched silverplate too. I look forward to seeing a lot more tablescapes from you because yes, it IS addicting!

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  3. Judy we are on the same Owl loving theme! Oh my I love yours hoot-Hot!

    Stop by and check out mine...
    xo
    Kay Ellen

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  4. Love your table! The black and white is perfect and the owls are the perfect touch. I really like the little mercury glass one. Have a wonderful weekend.

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  5. Oh spooky! Love the owl napkin rings. Come see who Jack the Ripper really was!

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  6. Oh Judy your table looks wonderful, everything looks so great together.
    hugs~~~ Daphne

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  7. Super cute table...Thank God we have all these wonderful blogs to chose form.. Because I just got the magazines I love and it the SAME OLD peoples houses over and over again.. I pick your to be in the pages....

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  8. Hi Judy, this is so wonderful, LOVE that owl graphic that you used for namecards. Isn't it funny how one thing leads to another! It's just the perfect Halloween tablesetting. Thanks so much for linking up to VIF! xoxo

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  9. i just LOVE this tablescape! it's creepily elegant! merci for the shout out regarding my tombstone tags! ;)

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  10. You have a talent for arranging. I love all the owls and spooky stuff. Fabulous job.

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  11. My daughter loves all things with owls, so I'm going to send her over!♥♫

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  12. I love tablescape and this one is beautifully fun!

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  13. Thanks for coming over Judy! You're welcome to come over anytime!

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  14. Your first tablescape post is a winner...somehow I knew you would be very good at this...love all of the custom touches and the way you achieved a very put together themed table without spending a lot of money...I hope we see more French Laundry tablescapes in the future. Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Halloween!

    Jermaine

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  15. Wow! A fabulous tablescape (I'm sure you'll soon be addicted) and I WANT that birdcage! These are all wonderful! We don't really 'do' Halloween here in the UK - but having seen these, I think we have a lot of catching up to do, lol. Happy Pink Saturday, Happy Halloween and hugs from the UK.

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  16. This is wickedly AWESOME! Thanks for sharing =)

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  17. What awesome use of owls for this creative Halloween (or is it Owl-o-ween) tablescape!

    Thanks for the comment left on my own owl post at my blog mentioning you have a thing for owls too- I came, I saw, I'm deeply impressed!

    Thanks again,
    Suzanne in NW IL

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  18. Well WOW! Your first tablescape was a success! I see a lot of ideas here. I love the black and white so much that I see myself doing it again next year! This is wonderful! I love the centerpiece, and napkins. Great job! Thank you very much for linking it up at Home Sweet Home!
    Sherry

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  19. Oh this is a beautiful tablescape! Spooky & beautiful! I love the mercury glass owl & the cloche is gorgeous. And yes, you should fear because tablescaping is terribly addicting. LOL

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  20. This is fantastic!!!
    I am in awe at how beautiful a Halloween table can be...
    classy, spooky and gorgeous all rolled into one!
    Smiles~
    Cat

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  21. Darling! :) I love your little owl napkin rings. :)

    ~Liz

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  22. Gorgeous! I adore the birdcage idea! And the skulls made me laugh. :) Way fun!

    Shared on FJI Facebook for SNS 105 and pinned! :)

    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150422693746141&set=a.192514281140.164586.175378011140&type=1&theater

    Donna

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  23. I am loving this table setting!! How charming (and a little spooky) :) I love it- sharing it on Facebook/twitter- thanks for Sharing at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  24. I love the table setting, but am IN LOVE with the antique tablecloth!

    Diddie @ citicasita

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  25. FAN-tastic!!! Especially love the wire cloche with the skulls. Found you at French Country Cottage.

    :)

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  26. Amazingly wonderful job. I can not seem to find small skulls! Something for me o thrift hunt for next summer.
    I had not thought of using owls so prominently but they fit the theme. Very creative.

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  27. well...goodness...I loved this post and had to pin a few things so I could remember next year for that Halloween party I want to have. I loved every single aspect of your tablescape. The best I have seen out in blog land. :) xo

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  28. How darling!
    And I love that tombstone tag, too.
    Too cute!!!

    XO,
    Anne

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  29. Hi Judy!
    Your table looks amazing ~ save me a seat!
    You did an amazing job, love the attention to detail!!
    I also loved you and the mister's costumes!!

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  30. WOW indeed! Love it all -- amazing job putting it all together with bits and pieces. Love the white napkin rings that started it all. That bird cage cloche is so cool and love the chicken wire one too. :)

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  31. Beautiful table! Thanks for sharing,JoAnn

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  32. Love your first tablescape. Great job. Yes, it is addictive.
    I am a new follower. Please come by for a visit. Maybe you will follow me as well. Ginger

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  33. ESE MANTEL ME PARECE HERMOSO.....
    BUENO TIENES MUCHAS COSAS LINDAS.
    SALUDOS

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  34. So many great touches! Thanks for linking up to The "Autumn Décor" Talent Scouting Party at WhisperWood Cottage!

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