Red, White and Black Tablescape and our Lazy Susan's new do!

Company for dinner can, sometimes, be really casual and then there are those times when I just can't resist the opportunity to set a pretty table!

We invited company over for a good, old fashioned, Italian, Sunday dinner a few weeks ago.
I decided to go with a red, white and black, Italian theme.
It gave me a chance to use our newly, transformed lazy susan...

 and some country roosters for the centerpiece.

 Waiting for our company.


I wanted to paint it white since I recently painted the base of our table pure white. I'm glad that I did...we love it!

  My, woven, market basket made a pretty photo shot.

The lazy susan is perfect for our round table. I painted it with a freehand design, a few years ago, in a neutral color scheme, but just got tired of the look.

 So, I thought that it would be fun to paint it white and add some fun words to the sides in Italian and English.

  I wasn't about to dare to attempt painting all of the words by hand. It would have been far too time consuming to make my own transfer words. Luckily, I had a few packages of these vinyl letters on hand and used some Mod Podge to decoupage them on permanently.

 The hardest part was the spacing in between. Luckily, I managed (with a few repositions) to make it work!

It's perfect for our kitchen, but now if I tire of it or want to hide the words all I have to do is make a cover up. I made one for our 4th of July tablescape and have a few more ready...one in burlap and one in a black and white check.

The trim possibilities for it are endless!

 I went with the black, white and red, Italian, theme because of this woven, tea towel that I framed just for our kitchen...

and our black and white checkered stool that I shared with you a while back.

 

  I used it as an extra place to hold a basket of bread..faux bread... pre-dinner photo shoot! 

Who serves a full loaf with tongs? LOL!!!

 Along with our red stool they made the perfect side servers.

Black and white checkered place mats were a $2, thrift store, score and were perfect for the base of the red and white dishes and flatware layered on top.

Red place mats were the base for the alternating black and white dishes.

 A red, rose napkin sits inside appetizer bowls at each setting.

 It was, absolutely, the easiest fold to do!

(grab a napkin...try it, now!) 

 1- fold napkin in half to form a tri-angle

2- roll (starting at the widest side to the point)

3-roll again (from one end to meet the other) 

4-simply tuck the loose end into any spot underneath to secure it

5- lift the center, gently, to "fluff"

6-VOILA!

 Personalized, cardstock, chalkboard tags, tied to each wine glass, always makes it a "no brainer" where everyone is to sit!

White paint marker looks just like chalk.

 My honey made his, famous, jumbo, shrimp scampi as an appetizer...not a picture perfect shot, but it sure was a "knockout." I can still almost taste it!

For dinner we served chicken parm, with meatballs and sausage, rigatoni and salad with a, gourmet, balsamic vinaigrette and of course some, fresh, Italian bread. Our
 guests were also sweet to bring some fabulous appetizers and dessert to share.

I wish that I had pics of all our food, they looked and tasted amazing...I just have a hard time playing hostess and photographer, too!

 This is another pre-dinner shot with that "fake" bread. ;)

And, as always, "Gucci" is always lurking somewhere near! 

  It was a wonderful gathering that we will need to repeat, again...I've got a new chicken recipe that I recently made and I'm dying to let them try it !!!


 

 Love, Hugs and Kisses,
JP

and Gucci, too!

Can you see him? He's playing "peek-a-boo!"

 
 
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A Faux Chalkboard Window & Some Changes in Our Corner Cupboard

Vintage windows always get my attention and I love using them in our decor as well as doing something special with them to pass them on for sale.

This double paned oldie is now a useful organizer/memo board and is waiting for a new home.

It looks like chalkboard, but just a little neater. I just painted the back black and attached a white, paint marker to write lists, notes and to-do's.

Eight bronze hooks were added for hanging all sorts of things.

I had a really hard time parting with it!

That's because I really love my Italian, linen, tea towel that I framed a few years ago.....I don't think that I'm ready to part with it or should I?

I retired some of the dishes to the storage cabinet to make room to display more of my white ironstone in our corner cupboard.

Many of the pieces are Goodwill finds.

This was a real oldie that I just couldn't pass up for 2.99

And this is my vintage, mid 1800's, platter that I scapped up from there, too. I love it stains, crazing and all!

It's signed Thomas Hughes Burslem.

I added a few roosters here and there.

Beatrice and Mathew were my grandparents and these were their vintage egg cups.

This was another GW steal for just 2.99

It's an old toleware, hand painted, cup.

Signed in old English.

That's all for this post :)

  Love, Hugs and Kisses,

JP

and Gucci, too!

Visiting Southport,  N.C? be sure to stop by my booth @ the Northrop Antiques Mall and see what I may have there for you!


A very special "thank you" to Dawn from wecallitjunkin for featuring this post on her blog!

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