Opulent Cottage

Native American Tablescape

For today’s Tablescape Thursday, I brought out the Thanksgiving decorations for our breakfast table, in the kitchen.

 

These Native American figurines were the inspiration for the table. I headed to Hobby Lobby one morning, intent on buying Pilgrims, but these caught my eye instead. Her gorgeous, fringed white deerskin dress was just irresistible. His cape is beautifully fringed, also. Their faces are so serene, so peaceful. And they are half price right now, so I had to buy them!

 

My vintage Fostoria cake plate gives these statues a regal platform to stand upon. I added a few pretty leaves from the front yard, pecans from the back, and these crazy acorns that I found down the street. They’re huge! I’m not sure what kind of tree they are from.

 

The same yellow plates from Halloween work for this tablescape, also, paired with more of the brown transferware. Just for fun, the cereal bowls are holding tiny ceramic turkeys. I don’t usually use paper napkins, but I was charmed by the faux zig zag stitching and vintage vibe of these.

 

 

Aren’t these forks lovely? I bought them last year at Target, on holiday clearance, for something ridiculous like 29 cents each. I need to go back and see what they have this year! The fall-colored tablecloth was another Target find from years ago. I always enjoy using it every year for Thanksgiving. That’s when you know you have made a good purchase!

 

These little leaf plates have been around forever, too. They seem to end up someplace different every year.

 

Just this morning I found these green goblets at Dollar Tree. The lady who was ringing up my sale said she thought they look like something from Pottery Barn. I agree! They have flutes and martinis available, also. I think they’re pretty for some homemade apple-pear juice. We have been making a lot of fresh juice, thanks to the bounty of fruit that comes in our co-op bin every time. If you haven’t made fresh juice before, be sure to put one of these on your Christmas list – you won’t regret it!

 

Don’t forget, it’s Tablescape Thursday! If you have a holiday table to share, come join in the fun!

 

Turkey Time

Wow, time has been flying by! I can’t believe that we have already said goodbye to the kitties and hello to the birds! Yesterday I redid the china cabinet, getting ready for Thanksgiving.

 

The turkey takes center stage! Every year when I unpack the Thanksgiving box, I’m always so glad that I bought this guy. Target had them several years ago, but I didn’t find them until after Valentine’s Day, and even though they were 75% off, I thought, will I use this? Crazy that I would even think that.

 

I love my brown transferware plates, too. I know I did not think twice when I found these at the thrift.

 

Ceramic gourds are so much more practical than the real thing!

 

Bordallo turkey candleholders and gravy boat. I could not get through a single holiday without something from Bordallo in my displays.

 

 

Aren’t these acorn plates adorable?

 

Maurie cut this branch for me yesterday, from our red oak tree in front. We’re having beautiful fall color here in Dallas this year, a nice surprise, as we don’t always. I’ll take some photos this week for all of us to enjoy!

 

Happy Monday,

Andrea

 

Black Cat Collection

For Show and Tell Friday this week, I’d like to introduce you to the other 20 felines at Casa Haywood.

 

Meet the Halloween Kitties! Aren’t they boo-tiful?

 

I have been collecting these cats for about 4 years now. None are antique, but most have a vintage appeal to them. This is the kitties’ first appearance as a group here in the china cabinet. Last year, they were spread throughout the house. Don’t they look all cute and chummy now that they are displayed together?

 

Some of them were purchased at Joann’s, and others came from discount stores and yard sales.

 

Someday I would like to have some authentic vintage black cats, but I’ll always enjoy these thrifty kitties, too. I’m pretty attached to them!

 

The felines seem comfortable among the tarnished silver and transferware plates. Sophisticated cats, they are! My crochet garland adds a vintage touch, also.

 

Time for me to go and start cooking for Halloween! Please visit this weekend to see some of the horrid h’ordeuvres and ghastly desserts that we’ll be serving.

 

I hope you’ll visit Cindy for Show and Tell Friday!

 

 

Fall Pumpkins

It’s pumpkin time!! Last week, I was asked by a friend at The Dallas Morning News to show how I’m decorating with pumpkins this year. I still needed to decorate my pumpkins this year! But I knew that I wanted something simple, lovely and EASY. Something that every reader of our paper could see and recreate themselves. Cause we all love easy. We’re busy!

 

These were so simple to make. Carve a 5 to 6 inch circle in the top and hollow out your pumpkin, and stuff in a mum from the garden center. You might need to carefully crumble away a bit of the extra potting soil, in order to get the plant through the hole that is carved in the top of the pumpkin. If the plants are small, you can use two, like I did with the yellow mums. Gather a handful of dried wheat and tie together with twine. Gently insert the wheat into the center of the plant, and tie a ribbon around. You’re done! Lovely!

 

 

 

For a crunchy treat, clean the pumpkin seeds by pulling away the strings that are attached. Toss them with a few tablespoons of olive oil, and season with salt, or seasoned salt of your choice. (We always enjoy Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning.) Bake on a cookie sheet at 325 for 25 – 30 minutes, stirring once or twice.

 

How have you decorated YOUR pumpkins this year? I would all love to hear about it! And to see other pumpkin displays, visit Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdooor Wednesday. It's all about pumpkins this week!

 

xo, Andrea

 

Black Cat Breakfast

Our black and white Halloween décor continues at our kitchen table, where we usually have breakfast. There are very few Halloween items here, but they blend well with our everyday dishes, and give the whole table a festive feeling. This tablescape came together with almost no effort at all! It’s one of my favorites ever. I wish my table could be this adorable every day!

 

 

The inspiration for this table came from these vintage-style black cat bowls, another great Dollar Tree find. They are filled with one of Abby’s favorite candies, salt-water taffy. I was so happy to see the taffy in Halloween colors!

 

The checked plates are by Isaac Mizrahi, from Target forever ago. The yellow dinner plates underneath really reflect the color in my kitchen! I whipped up these toile napkins in just a few minutes, from leftover fabric. Ever since I saw the Halloween magazine from Better Homes and Gardens, I wanted to bring some toile in to mix with my spooky decorations.

 

 

Cascades of moss accent a vintage candelabra, painted white. I couldn’t resist tucking a few spiders into the centerpiece for a little added creepiness! The black crows have landed in the kitchen, also. The entire centerpiece sits atop a tarnished silver tray containing a bit more of the moss.

 

This pretty crochet topper was another wonderful Canton find from Lynda Saxton. And guess what I used for the black lining – a fringed wool cape! Why not? I like to be resourceful and use what I have, and not have to go shopping for something new.

 

Have you used your everyday items to decorate for the holiday in your home? If so, I would love to see what you’ve done!

 

And don’t forget to check out the other fantastic Halloween tablescapes at Between Naps On The Porch.

 

Happy Tablescaping,

Andrea

 

Fanciful Halloween

Opulent Cottage has taken a twirl

The Halloween season has us in a whirl

Ghastly décor has taken over our home

I’ll show you some how-to’s to make it your own

 

A dusty old clock still tells us the time

Chains, skulls and skeletons make the ghoulish sublime

 

Newspaper covers our books of décor

A few vintage bottles add bits of glamour

 

Black crows watch over our spooky display

Admiring the creepiness that’s here today

 

Come visit soon to see more eerie things

Like Halloween houses with plenty of bling!

 

Vanessa’s famed Halloween celebration is going on at A Fanciful Twist, with over 200 participants and more Halloween magic than you have ever seen!

 

Vintage bottle labels found here.

 

Happy Haunting,

Andrea

Show and Tell Ornate Lamp

Today is Cindy’s Show and Tell Friday, and this week I’m showing another favorite item in our home. The pretty, ornate lamp is in our living room. I love it today as much as I did when I bought it in 2001.

 

This was a Canton First Monday find back when I had part of a little store out there. I used to go early every month, where they have a section of the grounds that opens a few days earlier than the rest of First Monday. Most of those spaces are unreserved, and you never know what you will find in that area.

 

This poor lamp was in a pile of grimy merchandise, covered with mud! I wasn’t even sure it would work, but knew that Maurie could rewire it if it didn’t. I took it home, cleaned it up and voila, it worked like a charm! Amazing, since I knew it had been out in the rain the night before, and who knew how many nights before that.

 

These scalloped crystals came from Freedom Crystal online. I used to buy them in bulk when I redid and sold a lot of lighting fixtures.  They always have some kind of wonderful special going. I can still remember that I was able to purchase 50 of these gorgeous crystals for only $15.

 

This lampshade started out as a plain, discount store shade. I recovered it with floral fabric and added this lush bead fringe. The beads were red when I made this 8 years ago! Now they have definitely faded to pink, but they’re still pretty.

 

For more Show and Tell Friday, visit Cindy at My Romantic Home. Enjoy!

 

Homecoming, Again

Here in Dallas, it’s customary for schools to allow their students to ask a date from another school. Abby has been asked again, so we get to do it all one more time!!

 

At this school, the homecoming festivities began with the girls bringing a “lunch basket” to their guys. Abby thought that filling a tool box with lunch and goodies would be a fun and clever idea. What guy wouldn’t love a toolbox full of candy and chips? Abby’s date loved it, thought it was really witty, and it was the only tool box there, which he loved.  

 

 

 

When we got to the school, we could hardly believe our eyes. The baskets filled an entire hallway of the spacious school.

 

 

These girls are super creative! The Seniors really go all out.

 

 

 

Look at this football mum! She might fall over, wearing this gigantic thing! Her date made it himself.

 

The mum she made for him turned out really well. They all wear them to school on the day of the game, then to the game that evening.

 

Abby’s man is on the team, so she cheered him on with friends in the crowd. Her friend is a senior, so her mum is all white. Isn’t it just gorgeous?

 

Another fun Homecoming!

 

 

Kappa Tablescapes Sneak Peek

For Tablescape Thursday this week, I have a special show and tell. This coming Monday I’ll be participating in Kappa Tablescapes, a charity fundraiser that is held every year here in Dallas. This event has raised over $1.7 million for local charities, and I’m thrilled to be involved in such a fantastic event. I’ve been working on my table for weeks. Projects are strewn throughout the entire house. Good luck finding a table to eat on over here! But I wanted to share a little of my progress with you all today.

 

This gorgeous feather wreath inspired the whole table. It will take honors at the very center of my display.

 

My classic cabbage plates will be paired with fall-colored, fiesta style ceramic plates, and topped with nests containing tiny quail eggs. Well, they will be quail eggs when I finish painting them.

 

Glittered shells will have a special, tiny home of their own. You’ll see next week!

 

The Dollar Tree gourds are going to this elegant affair – how hilarious is that!

 

Glittery birds will be nesting on lofty perches. 

  

 

You can find photos of last year’s event here. It’s amazing, true tablescape eye candy. The featured designers are the best of the best!

 

I’ll be showing as many photos as I can at next week’s Tablescape Thursday. In the meantime, wish me luck! I may have a few sleepless nights ahead …

 

xoxo, Andrea

 

Show and Tell Friday

Cindy at My Romantic Home is hosting her first Show and Tell Friday, and I’m joining in the fun! Today I’m showing the item in our home that I get the most questions about – our Venetian mirror in the living room. We have had this mirror for 12 years. It’s a doozy, and just barely fits over our fireplace. Soon after I acquired this, I saw the same one in a local glass shop for $5,800. Now of course I did not pay anywhere near that.

 

When Abby was a baby, I worked part-time for a friend who imported beautiful decorative items from the Philippines and sold them in a showroom at the Dallas World Trade Center. I helped him out at market several times a year, as well as did sewing of cushion covers, bed linens, and draperies.

 

This mirror was in his home for awhile, until he acquired one that he liked better, and it went up for sale. Can you believe that it never sold? It ended up stashed in his bedroom, behind the headboard of his bed. One day he said he would sell it for ANYTHING, he was so sick of it being behind his headboard. We settled on $440. And he allowed me to barter for sewing and a couple of days of working Market – no cash involved!

 

In a million years I would NEVER had paid thousands, and at that point in life, I might not have even been able to come up with $440. It was a sheer stroke of luck that I ended up with this beautiful piece at all. At first I thought it was ridiculously large, and almost gave it back. Can you imagine? (And can you see the strip of our old wall color in the closeup? There was no way I was taking this baby down just to paint! It doesn't show at all in our living room lighting, but sure popped out with the camera flash!)

 

Please join Cindy, and let’s help her have a successful first Show and Tell Friday! Her gorgeous blog is a daily source of inspiration to me, and to many, many others. Thanks Cindy, for hosting!

 

Happy weekend, everyone!

Love, Andrea