"Life isn't about finding yourself, it's about creating yourself."
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A Thrifty Tablescape Thursday


Hello! Today, I'm combining 2 posts into one. For Tablescape Thursday, hosted by Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch, I'm sharing photos of our Valentine's dinner from last week-end. I was very pleased w/ this table but of course half-way through the meal, I wished I had used crystal votives instead of the red. Never fails...it's always something!!!! ;o) And then I'm also playing in a new meme hosted by Leigh @ Tales from Bloggeritaville ...Thrifty Thursday. I use a lot of thrifted finds in my tables so I thought it was OK to combine the 2 memes.



(click on any picture to enlarge)


You see that "bell cloche". Look a little closer....doesn't the knob on it look a bit familiar? Kinda like a vintage glass knob? That's because it is! I scored this wonderful candle basin (pretty sure it sat in something @ one time & was used as a candleholder) @ GW for $3. Brought it home & glued on one of my glass knobs & VOILA! a $30 cloche for $3. It's almost the exact same size & shape as the one Coleson broke too but I like this one sooo much better! The funny thing is, that very same day, I had stopped in @ Pier 1 to see if they had a bell cloche. Tar @ Confessions of a 40 Something Drama Queen had given me a heads up that she saw one there so I looked but no luck. Since I was out & about & near Goodwill, I stopped in to see what they had...they had me a bell jar! *grins*


I really do like this one sooo much better. I like that it is creative, functional & attractive but most of all, I like the fact that it was only $3! ;o)



An aerial shot. ..you can better see the quality of the crocheted lace tablecloth, another thrift store find.



The mirrored "placemat" is a candle base from Hobby Lobby...wait until they go into half off & they're like $4 a piece. The ruby red dinner plates & goblets were thrift store finds (I'm telling you...nearly everything in my house was bought second-hand)... I have never been able to determine the pattern or maker. The plates have a kind of hobnail detail to them on the underside.



The crystal salad plates were also a thrift store find. I can't remember who (sorry!) but someone from last week's TT inspired me to do the "key to my heart". I glued rhinestones onto heart ornaments & tied them & an old key onto a tag I printed & distressed.




Hubby & I spent Valentine's Day @ the cattlebarns flea market. It's open year-round, except when the rodeo is in town. And nope, you cannot smell the former tenants. ;o) Anyway, I bought a couple of vintage Valentine cards....this one under the cloche is one of them. It doesn't show in the pic but it has been glittered generously. Love the little doggie at their feet...just like us!











Hubby bought some sweet & spicy nuts for me cause he says I'm sweet & spicy *grins*....I put them in a cordial (King's Crown Thumbprint) & added a framed "I'm nuts about you" sentiment. I know, I know...corny but isn't Valentine's all about corny? Guess where I bought the Bombay picture frames. Yep, at a thrift store!



Dinner was marvelous! I love the food site Fine Dinings ...check it out, you'll be glad you did! Does this woman ever know how to present food! I decided that for Valentine's ,I would try out some of her recipes & see if they taste half as good as they look. For starters, we had Sweet Potato Slice with Shrimp and Garlic Cream Sauce Recipe . To be honest, I chose the recipe more because of the appearance & the heart shape I cut the sweet potato into, than I did for the expected taste. I figured as simple as the recipe was, that it wouldn't be that flavorful. I was wrong. There was a lot of flavor packed into these little bites!


Then we moved onto Cream Cheese Prosciutto Valentine. Loved the presentation of these & again, they were packed w/ flavor. These rectangle plates are one of the few, I've bought new. I got them @ Target.


For the entree, I wanted something fairly simple...last year's menu was very elaborate & time-consuming...but I still wanted elegant & delicious. I just discovered Boursin cheese (I know...where have I been?) so I chose her Stuffed Chicken Breast with Boursin Cheese & green bean bundles (I didn't follow her recipe for green bean bundles as I think the beans benefit from being cooked w/ the bacon grease).

Hubby is pretty accomplished at fruit carving so he had no problems w/ the tomato rose.


I had planned on making a mousse recipe of her's for dessert but we spent more time @the flea market than expected & instead of stressing on it, I decided to serve instant chocolate turtle pudding in white chocolate shells. Yep, you heard me, instant pudding .... and it was delicious! ;o)



We have Strawberry Champagne Soup w/ our dessert nearly every Valentine's...it goes sooo well w/ chocolate. I don't use a recipe, I just use pureed strawberries (you can either puree frozen or use the bar mix stuff), yogurt, a splash of OJ, a squeeze of lemon, mint, maybe sugar (taste test to see) & then add a bit of champagne right before serving. I stick the flutes in the freezer for about 30 minutes & then rim them w/ magic shell ice cream topping before filling w/ soup.




Can't wait to see all the other tables. More & more join us each week...last week there were over 60 tables on Susan's, Mr Linky!


And if you love thrift shopping as much as I do, follow me to Leigh's to see lots of thrift finds.

55 comments:

Susan @ A Southern Daydreamer said...

Oh my...it is beautiful! I don't know where to start! Food looks fantastic too... I think my favorite is the frame and the key to my heart...

Love it!

Susan

Confessions of a Plate Addict said...

Cami...What a beautiful tablescape! Your cloche idea was a real find!! I'm really starting to love GW! And your menu sounds so yummy...and looked wonderful! Great post!...Debbie

Robin said...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your tablescape!!!! You are so creative!

Thanks for visiting my itty-bitty blog today! You really made my day! I hope you come back again!

Robin@http://alabamaslackermama.blogspot.com/

Kathleen Ellis said...

My, my...that food looks DELISCIOUS!!! any leftovers? ;-)
Those ruby plates are beautiful , I like how you put them on the mirrored chargers.
Lovely!
;-D

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Your food looks absolutely amazing, Cami, and you set it off well with these great tablescape!

My favorite is the key to your heart. That's neat.

Thanks for sharing...

XO,

Sheila :-)

Anonymous said...

Oh what a beautiful and fun table! I like it. I can't believe you found that bell cloche at Goodwill. I've been looking for them!

tam said...

WoW gorgeous table setting-loved the vintage Valentine and the heart and key! The food looks like it was very yummy too! Sounds like you had a wonderful Valentines Day.
Hope you week is going well
~Smiles~Tam!

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Cami- You are my new hero! What an amazing job on all your thrifty finds!! I love the red dishes, the valentines cards....and that cloche that you made-WOW! I am so going to do that (and give you fiull credit of course). Great ideas! I love it!

The food- Whew! That looked divine!
Thanks for playing along with my Thrifty Thursday!

Kathy said...

Beautiful tablescape! I love your red plates and goblets!
xo...Kathy

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Thanks for stopping over and LOVE your "cloche"...great idea and your table is lovely. I just love going to thrift stores, garage sales and estate sale. I feel I'm a junkies for "junk"!! Your food looked so yummy :)
Let's chat again:)
Deb

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful table you've set! I love that you put that little glass knob on your cloche - it's lovely! Your cake stand is Fostoria - Colony, right? I have lots of this, but I've never seen the cake stand!
Everything is really pretty!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)

Kathleen said...

Great post!
The table is so pretty, and the food looks delicious!

Tardevil said...

Enjoyed reading about your sisters! :O) Thanks for the shout out! Those red hobnail plates are TO DIE FOR! I have never seen anything like those, and trust me, I've done lots of looking. You must have the #1 GW of all times! Don't you wonder what's wrong w/ people who donate all of that good loot? How do they part w/ that stuff? Like that Valentine card too!

redsoxmom said...

Next year I'm coming to your house for Valentine's Day dinner!! LOL You made me hungry! Beautiful tablescape and food presentation. Enjoyed it!!

xinex said...

How beautiful! Love the Vintage cards and the dome they're in and the plates and everything else. Absolutely stunning!...Christine

j said...

Everything looked so wonderful! Loved the cloche. I would love to have one.

Ribbonwood Cottage said...

What a great post. Boy that food looks wonderful. I love the glass dome over the vintage Valentines. Great idea and it looks soooo amazing. Everything looks wonderful And I like the little red votives!
Blessings,
Debbie

Chandy said...

Wow! Another great table! Love the menu! I feel hungry now...

Linda (Nina's Nest) said...

That is a lovely table and a gourmet meal - wow! But the best is your "bell cloche". That is so much fun - you kind of did a Cinderella number on that dome! Love it. Linda

santamaker said...

What an awesome dinner and the tablescape looks so pretty!

"J" said...

Hi!!!!!

I'm here via Leigh and her Thrifty Thursday!!!!!

I love love love your table decor!!! WOW!!! Where was this post when I was thinking of things to do for V-Day!!!

You gave me some GREAT ideas for NEXT year!!!! =)

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!!!

Jewel Sauls said...

Great table! Amazing it is also thrify!!! Love the cloche. Wonderful menu also! :D Jewel

Anonymous said...

Hello Suzie homemaker!What a meal.What a table.What a production you did put on.And your finds.Wow.
I lived ion Ft.Worth for a few years.Yes,Those antique stores there are awesome.and you're right,ha,no smell.
Did you do good with that cloche or what?I should be so lucky.Great idea.It works perfectly.And I think my fav of all is that Valentine under it.Tha caught my eye from the very start...ann

Designs on 47th Street said...

Just soooo pleasing to the eye. I love your tablescape. I also love that sweet vintage valentine under the cloche.

Guess what? I found another anniversary clock at a thrift store yesterday for $2!! It is smaller than the last, so I can either pair them up or sell one. Thanks so much for that idea. Still can't believe I didn't think of it. It seems anniv. clocks are abundant..anyway the cheap ones!

Great post!

Anonymous said...

Everything looked perfect! And of course, aren't I just eyeing those recipes.

Cami, you are a gem!

Linda C said...

Wow! Has anyone given Martha Stewart a heads-up that she's got competition?!

Your table looks beautiful and your food and presentation look amazing!
Just amazing!:)

Linda C

GRAMS said...

WOW That's beautiful. I'm bookmarking that so I can use your ideas next year. You've made me hungry. Yay, treats for breakfast. Janis

Rattlebridge Farm said...

What a great post! I love the key, the dishes, and that fabulous food!

Unknown said...

Wow... I love all the details! And the food! Yum. Thanks for posting that with the food!

*Really Rainey

Missy Wertz said...

I love your Valentine tablescape! And the food lookes heavenly.

Also love your little Shih Tzu. We used to have one and just loved him so. And now are looking to get another one in the future. They are great dogs.

Fifi Flowers said...

LOVE the hanging hearts! GREAT idea!

Chrissy...The Apothecary Shop said...

O.K....first of all your table is sooooooooo prettty,such attetion to detail!!Second of all you made me hungry!!!! Great post!

Unknown said...

you won the pink purse you lucky girl! I am soooo jealous!

Victorian Garden Gourmet said...

Your tablescape is delightful. I loved how you accented the valentine under the cloche for your centerpiece. I was going to do that with vintage Christmas cards, but can’t get the water spots off my cloche. The food looks just divine!

Keetha Broyles said...

Cami - - - THANKS so much for following Leigh's Mr. Linky to my tea party today!!!! Actually, since you are a ROSE lover I'll tell ya, I've got some tea things with roses on them too - - - I just didn't use them in THIS post.

Your tablescape is gorgeous - - - - BUT THAT FOOD!!!!! Oh my goodness!!! That chicken roll thingamabobby looks so good I'm having trouble not licking my computer screen!!!!

Joyfulsister said...

I love how you created your Valentines table, What a way to celebrate the day of Love!!!. Thanks for your visit you made me smile when you said..
"I think it's God's way of trying to help us w/ our issues. Or maybe it's just his sense of humor. ;o) I like to think of it that way too!!! LOL

Hugz Lorie

Heather Bug said...

Oh wow, your Valentine table was gorgeous!!! I wish I would have seen it before my Bunco party a couple of days before Valentine's day...I could have gotten some great ideas! :) You are really talented! Hope you have a great day!

2 Dogs said...

Oh my what a glorious job you did here. Who would know we could find so many beautiful tablescapes as we do here on Blogger.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

I love this tablescape! And I love your cloche! You are just too clever. Those red plates and stemware are beautiful! You are just so creative. I love coming to see what you've done. Your menu looks and sounds delicious! laurie

Kim @ Starshine Chic said...

Wow!!! You always have such great tables. I love the cloche. I am going to be looking for something like that to make my own. So clever! Your food looks spectacular. And you call it simple? It doesn't look simple. I'll have to check out her recipes. Thanks for the all the great ideas.

Anonymous said...

I love that you did this pretty tablescape with thrifted finds! Good deal on that cloche!! The food looks fantastic.

Manuela

Linda Q said...

Cami, WOW! Great ideas, reuse of things, little touches that just make the table. And there you go with the fabulous food again!
Linda Q

pammiejo said...

I'm thinking that the pattern on your crystal plate could be the pattern that Cindy from My Romantic Home referred to a couple of weeks ago in her blog on Cambridge glass. It looks very similar. You went the real "extra mile" for Valentine's Day! PAM

Debra Hall said...

Wow:)You are so talented girl! What a steal on the cloche, I have those all over my house...love them!
Thank you for stopping by my blog via-my buddy Cheryl! You are brilliant with the picture loading problem...I bet you are right. That's what I do sometimes is drag and drop out of order. You still have to load them "all" at the top right?? But just in order (not dragging over the top of another). I wish you could type then load a picture at your cursor, then type and load and so on.Thanks a million Cami-I will try it!
I'll be back!
Debra

Jessica said...

Hi Cami~

I just LOVE your blog~ your table scape & thrifty finds are right up my ally! I'm so glad you came by. :)

Hope to hear from you again soon!

Hugs~ J

P.S. I have keys all over the place~ great idea!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

Goodness that meal and table look wonderful! I love the wall of pictures behind it all too!

Envoy-ette said...

Oh! Lovely table only outdone by the meal!

Queenie's Vintage Finds said...

Wow!!
Everything looks and sounds sooo delish! I tell you girl, you amaze me...you are so very creative and a gourmet cook too. Your Valentine's Day Dinner looks extra sweet for you and Darling Husband.
I love that you found the cloche at a thrift store and then added the vintage knob to the top, It looks precious with the vintage card and yep, that doggie at their feet is you and dh for sure! I tell you...I have still been on the hunt for a cloche...with no luck...I am going to pure scream out loud when I do find one! LOL! You did wonderful marrying these two together. It's always so fun to see what you do.
Hope you have a beautiful weekend.
big hug,
Queenie~

Lady Katherine said...

love the cloche, great find, love the dishes, I love most the stemware, no the food carving, no I love it all, You have out done yourself! This is on great Valentines table, now I do not want to show my V. dinner post! lol I love all your ideas!

the author said...

Oh my goodness, Cami! Your tablescape for Vday was gorgeous! How are you and your family doing? Hope to catch up with you and finish reading your blogs that I've missed soon!
Much love!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful table!
~Liz

Sandi said...

WOW this is all so beautiful!! Puts me to shame! LOL
Blessings!

Linda said...

Vinty I want your cake plate underneath the cloche!

The sweet potato recipe looks fantastic!

Miss Janice said...

Wow, this is just precious! I love the table setting and the food display is awesome! Great job.

Sassy said...

It says L O V E all over it...sooooo pretty! I also love the pictures on your wall...they are besutiful!