Fall Tablescape Styling Idea

Now that school is back in session, fall will be here soon. Yay! My favorite season! I don't know which I love more, the food or the decorating. So I want to give you some styling ideas for a fall inspired tablescape. This one is set up for a cocktail hour. So fun to create and very simple.

Come on in!

Looks like a lot of work, but it's a very simple menu. I picked up almost all of it at Trader Joe's. 

A small charcuterie board served on slate includes manchego cheese, chianti salami, apple slices, mango chutney, dried cranberries, and farmhouse cheddar with a honey drizzle. 

A few appetizers from the frozen dept....mushroom turnovers, chicken parm pops, pastry bites with carmelized onions and feta cheese. Yum!

I found some delicious pumpkin salsa from my local Fresh Market store, served with blue and white tortillas. 

Some dipping pretzels with stone ground mustard and a bowl of mixed nuts.

I used a box of butternut squash soup for these mini tasting bowls. I love the little spoons! I added a dollop of greek yogurt and sprinkled a little berbere spice for color and a kick!  A grey linen napkin tied with jute and a sage sprig makes the perfect cozy for a loaf of french bread. (from our line of European Linens HERE).

Some wine and pumpkin ale of course! I rimmed these small tasting glasses with a cinnamon sugar mix. So good!

So that's the food, now for the decorating. I always start with my layers...trays, platters, platforms, crates.  I lay it out keeping the flow in mind and the reach. You want it all to be easily accessible. 

You can use tablecloths too but I prefer some linen napkins here and there, I like to see the wood of the farm table (not just because my husband made it ;)  

Now for the the fun stuff! Flowers and props! Keep it simple. I have one large centerpiece down the center and I just coordinated everything else with the green/burgandy preserved hydrangeas.  These pears were the perfect color and I love decorating with produce. You can eat the decorations after! These artichokes are dried however, so no consuming.

Just a few paper mache pumpkins from the shop (because I couldn't find any real ones yet:)

I hope I gave you some ideas for your next dinner party, get together or holiday! Would love to see your tablescape photos. Please share!

3 simple arrangements for Thanksgiving

It's in the 30's today on Long Island so I was thrilled to stay in and create some pretty simple florals for you to recreate for your Thanksgiving table or to bring to your Thanksgiving dinner host. Most of these "ingredients" can be purchased at your local supermarket.  I picked out several bunches of mostly single type flowers, greenery and berries at my local Trader Joe's for a whopping total of $26!

You can also grab a bag of pumpkins/gourds at the market.

I love using dried artichokes in my arrangements, fresh ones from the market will also work! You can also use colorful fruits such as apples, clementines, or pomegranates.

I'm probably breaking some kind of floral design rule but I like to use dried hydrangeas in my designs. These limelights came from my garden.

Another thing I like to use from the garden - twigs for added texture. These birch branches are a favorite of mine.

Now for the containers. I love using a decorative rustic planter. Simply filled with mason jars, it makes arranging really easy. You can also used soaked oasis floral foam (set inside a waterproof liner) to easily make your stems stay put. The jars are just readily available in your home. I also save empty food jars for this reason.

You may also have a favorite pitcher, sugar bowl or creamer that your not currently using. These all make perfect floral vessels.  I love to use old tarnished silver pieces for that perfect vintage feel.

So let's start with the planter box and jars. Fill a pitcher with water and mix in the appropriate amount of flower food which should have come with your flower purchase.  Fill each jar with the water mix.
I started with the seeded eucalyptus which smells great and will also dry beautifully. I love the way this hangs over the side.

Because it's so top heavy, you may have to adjust them a little but they will be fine once everything else goes into the jars. (this is where the foam would make things a little easier)

Next, I secure bamboo skewers (from the supermarket) to the bottom of my artichokes and pumpkins. You can secure with a little drop of hot glue if you need.

So I added a few artichokes and pumpkins and a few top heavy flowers that are supported nicely with a  plastic straw.

The sturdy stemmed alstroemeria and green kermies add height and color to the arrangement.

And because this is "Hydrangea Home", I need to add in some of my dried hydrangeas.  I also tucked in some salmon lilies and berries. A few birch twigs were also tucked in.

Voila! So pretty and festive. A quick and easy one to put together at the last minute.

I used what was left of the bunches for the sugar and creamer. Just add water and tuck the flowers in.

This idea can be used on a small side table, or hutch. It can also be used down the center of your table. Picture maybe five different silver pieces in alternating heights going down the middle with little pumpkins scattered about. An old book makes a great riser as well.

My final idea is on an old silver platter. You can use ceramic or a wood tray if you'd like.  Stack your pumpkins in the middle.

Tuck in some dried hydrangeas, seeded eucalyptus and a few artichokes.

Done!

I hope this inspires you to create one of your own!


A couple of floral tips:

• make sure you strip the leaves from any stems headed under water. 
• keep adding fresh water to your vessel

*rustic planter is made by us and can be found in our shop in any size/color.

beauty-full autumn

A recent ride upstate NY to visit our daughter in college was all the inspiration I needed to do some fall decorating around the house. 

limelight hydrangeas turn the most beautiful color in the fall and they dry perfectly

dried artichokes in a glass display box...simple and natural

easy vignette...more pretty limelights in tarnished silver on an ironstone platter with mini whites and colorful fall oak leaves I picked up while walking the dog

limelights everywhere

more neutral pumpkins for the mantel...put a special one on a pedestal

my favorite pumpkin ever...it was 25 pounds! I love it on this vintage folding chair

just a pumpkin in a bowl...on a farm table:)

just a pumpkin on a book:) found a great bag of these assorted minis at the supermarket ~ $5 - love that!

a special pumpkin should be on display

a baby white on a bed of moss...even more special in a box

baby whites tucked in all over the place

a rustic tray needs flowers and pumpkins...always

love the color and the little girl holding it:) a trader joe's find...I think I will roast this one for dinner tonight

shop update...new for fall

We have just loaded our website and etsy shop with some new products for fall.

Lots of new preserved florals in these vintage style zinc cups with great patina.

So excited about these new photo/art pieces we have added to our line!
Showcasing 3 of our loves:
art
photography
woodwork

and we have added some new tray styles to our collection. So much fun to create little vignettes in these. I am working on some to show you how you can use them for each season and will share them here soon!

Hope you are enjoying this beautiful fall weather!!!