Friday, February 21, 2014

Paradise in Blues Tablescape

Paradise in Blues Tablescape - A Late Winter Tablescape
February 21, 2014

A long time ago (about two generations back) I walked past a florist store that was going out of business and saw a peacock display for sale in the front window.  I was in love with this peacock.  I wanted that peacock.  I scrimped for two weeks to get fifteen dollars saved up to buy him,  I was so proud of this peacock until I realized that I had used money that should have been going towards a car so I would not have to take a bus to work.  My happiness disappeared and turned to shame and embarrassment. I knew my father would think I was more than just frivolous,  he would think I was stupid to be buying a peacock when I needed a car. I ended up hiding the peacock in the attic,  and later he ended up at a rummage sale without me ever getting to really enjoy having him.  I just could not bear to look at him and remember how misguided my priorities were when I bought him.  But now I have a car,  a home, and all of the usual stuff that anyone could ever need.  I can buy myself a frivolous thing now and again,  and I do.  Witness my new love,  peacock plates and all the trimmings for a Paradise tablescape.
 I came across the dinner plates made by 222 at the Home Goods store a year or two ago (apparently the pattern was being updated).  They had been marked down from $16.99 to twelve dollars for four plates.  A second box with three plates had been marked down to eight dollars.  Recently I found salad plates to go with the dinner plates (both are made by 222). 
After Christmas I found a set of marked down turquoise water goblets made with a mirror like finish that resembles peacock feathers.  I paired them up with aqua wine glasses that I had bought from Marc's (my favorite close-out store) for a dollar each.
Last fall I bought a vase and two candle holders at the Volunteers of America store at 75% off the marked prices.  The vase had been marked at $4.99 (= $1.25 net), and the vases had been marked at $6.99 (= $1.75 net)each (the original price stickers on the candle holders said Stein Mart and were marked at $29.99 each).
Vase ($1.25)
Peacock Candle Holder ($1.75 each)
I found this exotic tablecloth at Goodwill for $2.00 (less 10% senior discount = $1.80) it was made in India by a company called Trendz.  It is very colorful with birds and jungle animals on and surrounding a rendition of the tree of life.  I used the vivid blues in this tablecloth as the inspiration for the rest of my paradise tablescape.
The peacocks on the napkins came from Home Goods after Christmas and the Humming birds were bought at a garage sale last summer for twenty-five cents each.




Now you might ask if I ever saved enough money to buy my "first car".  And of course I did.  A young man in the neighborhood had received his orders to ship over to Vietnam and wanted to sell his car. I bought his 1960 white Corvette convertible for six hundred dollars.  I loved that car even more than I ever loved that peacock!


 Have a wonderful week - Thrift on ladies, thrift on.

New champagne glasses and a special friend to help celebrate Mardi Gras.
Coming soon.

Linking with:














32 comments:

  1. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful table, Candy! 2 peacock tables this week...I sure wish I had bought those plates when I had the chance. The tablecloth is fabulous, as are the stemware. I especially like the ones that look like feathers etched into them.
    Have a great weekend.

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    1. Thank you Marigene, I had a lot of fun for two days playing with this tablescape while I put everything together. The tablecloth was the inspiration that helped me pick all of the items from my stash for the paradise them.

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  2. You have made my heart sing and brought me to tears of joy that is how much I like your tablescape. No lie, with each gorgeous piece I was more captured than the next. Course I love these colors, peacocks, and hummingbirds in the first place so there is that. Then, you tied it up in a bow with the ending of the car/Convertible Corvette story. I am trying to breath... Have the nicest weekend and of course this is getting pinned and everything else too.

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    1. Sue, You made me laugh so hard that I was crying too. I can't tell you how much fun I had so much fun with that car. Can you imagine five girls all dressed in the same shocking pink outfits riding around in that two seater in the dead of winter with the top down? Those were the days. I do have to say that I have thought of the young man that sold me that car many times through the years. I pray that he came home safely and that he has had a wonderful life.

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    2. So glad I made you laugh. Love thinking of this story of you girls in pink with the top down in the winter..ahh those were the days.

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  4. Candy, this tablescape is so beautiful. I think everyone loves peacocks and all the wonderful colors they display. I love every element you have used and I loved that you were able to get such great prices on your accouterments. Thanks for the beauty. Ginger

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  5. OMGosh, Candy! That is absolutely beautiful! Your colors and textures are amazing. xo Diana

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  6. love your peacock tables-cape and touching story thanks so much for linking up to Meet the Neighbors I will now be following you

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  7. And bingo, bango...you did it! It looks fabulous! So rich and full of color and texture! I'm super jealous of the great bargains you found to complete this! You really have an eye for thrifting!

    What a wild and heart-wrenching story about the peacock! My goodness! To buy him after wanting him for so long, and then never to be able to put him on display...just gut wrenching on this end! It really got to me, too, that the young man sold you his car because he was headed off to Vietnam. I hope he made it back OK.

    Terrific table, Candy! Thanks for giving me a heads up on it!!! Have a great weekend!

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  8. Oh my - dazzling dazzling!! I had to go through three times to get the full effect of everything. Those peacock plates - and the peacock feather glasses!!!!! Don't you just love a bargain? Everything is so beautiful. If you had that car now you could drive it around to buy your bargains - or sell it and get a LOT of dishes. LOL

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  9. I cannot get over how those glasses are etched with peacock feathers! So pretty. And I Loe the plates and the entire tablescape. I have a thing for peacocks, too, and I ought a peacock feather fan that is totally frivolous. And now, I have misplaced it! I am wondering if I accidentally gave it to the thrift store... I hope not! Usually about five minutes after I donate so etching, I need it!

    I am glad you finally got your peacock table!

    xoxoxox

    Sheila

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  10. Sorry about the typos. I have trouble seeing small print, and this IPAD is not my friend. ;-)

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  11. Love, love, love! The way you put it all together with finds from different places is wonderful. Score!

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  12. Good Morning Candy, I thought I would pop over and visit you, to say hello, and I am so pleased that I did. I love your peacock plates and your gorgeous peacock feather glasses are delightful. The tablecloth you used is beautiful and I love the colours.
    I see a lot of peacocks when I visit New Delhi, India, wandering around the Nature Reserve, I only mention that, because your beautiful tablecloth reminds me of cloth which can be bought in India.... so very lovely.
    You are very clever at tablescaping.... there is so much to take in and enjoy..... your table is a feast for the eyes.
    I was just reading some of your other comments, where you talked about you and your friends wearing pink when riding around in your car. That brought a smile to my face. Do you know you reminded me of "The Pink Ladies" in Grease.
    Candy I have enjoyed my visit and I have become a new Google+ follower.
    Best Wishes
    Daphne

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  13. I understand that two generations ago feeling... but you proved that you could lived with postponing the car but wouldn't without having a dream.
    I bet it shaped you into may wonderful things you are and have today.
    Such an inspiratio you shared that I won't even comment on the tablescape... ahahahah... And don't get me going on having the blue hour outside your window to match your decor.
    Too too lovely the setting you created. Even nature decided to join in... in fact, that's how the peacock got so gorgeous and unique.
    Love,
    T

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  14. Great job. Your table setting is beautiful. I have been looking for some charger plates and wanted to know where you got those green ones. Thanks. Kathy

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    1. The charger plates came from Goodwill so there is no telling how old they are, the label on the back was a Walmart label.

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  15. GORGEOUS table setting! I just adore peacocks! Your plates are fantastic and your story is a good one. ;-)
    Have a great day. Visiting from Home and History link.
    Gina

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  16. Ahh....birds! I truly believe that if you put a bird on it you can make anything pretty. Hubby has out his foot down on adding anymore bird decor to our home. Don't you love those peacock plates? I gifted them to a dear friends who also happens to love peacocks. Needless to say she was thrilled!

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  17. Your table is just so beautiful! Love all of the pretty colors and thank you for popping in to see me.
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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  18. Candy S.,
    Hi! Love those goblets! Your table is beautiful! What a popular color this year...

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  19. So so pretty! Have you seen Alycia's peacock tables over at tabletwentyone.wordpress.com? She has the same gorgeous peacock plates! You have incorporated so many beautiful elements! Love the peacock colored glassware too~
    Jenna

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  20. Oh so pretty!
    Wonderful to have you at Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  21. I have done that too, spent when I shouldn't have. But in the long run....it always works out, so I am glad you splurged and treated yourself! Those dishes are stunning and totally worthy of expanding your collection and using them over and over....Just one question though; Ummm, who are you going to leave them too in your Will?... LOL

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  22. Oh how beautiful this table is, Candy. Those plates are extraordinary! I love all of your commentary about how this table came together (and about the peacock you never got to use). That stemware with the design that resembles peacock feathers is gorgeous, and so are the vase and candle holders. What a unique and beautiful tablecloth. I also love your cute clown for Mardi Gras. laurie

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  23. Gorgeous tablescape, Candy! However did you come up with such an imaginative theme?! Love the blues, the greens and the gold in your peacock plates and accessories and my favourite feature here is the tablecloth - just stunning in design and colour!!

    Poppy

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  24. Be still my heart! You have an exceptional talent in tablescaping, Candy! Your attention to detail is absolutely amazing:) What a gorgeous table setting you have created, feels like I am dining with royalty! From the beautiful tablecloth, stunning dinner plates right down to the peacock feather glasses every detail is so gorgeous.....beautifully done! The colors in this tablescape is so gorgeous! And I also loved the story behind the white Corvette....I am glad you got your dream car as well as your pretty peacock, which inspired you create this masterpiece:) Hugs, Poppy

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  25. Pretty peacocks. It reminds me of a pillow I've seen on One Kings Lane that I like. I came over from a comment you left on my blog and I'm so glad I did!

    Shannon ~ bohemianjunktion.com

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  26. I was tempted to buy these same 222 plates several months ago! Love them! Didn't get them though because they were full price when I saw them. I love what you did with this table, so very pretty, and wow you sure got some great deals. That's a sweet story you shared from your youth, we all have a lesson we've learned the hard way, don't we? Thank you for sharing this at my History & Home link party, take care. Dawn @ We Call It Junkin.com

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  27. I too just found these plates. I immediately came home after purchasing them and went straight to pinterest for some inspiration in creating a tablescape with my new plates. Of course your blog was the highlight! What a beautiful table you have created. Thanks for sharing!

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  28. I am so glad you stopped by and left a comment. The first thing I do when looking for inspiration is head straight to Pinterest. It is so much fun looking for ideas, I could get lost for hours. I will be using ideas from several other tablescapes that I saw on Pinterest for my Easter dining table in the next week or two. I hope you come back to see them..... Candy

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