October Shells and Pumpkins!

I am a big believer in simple, but pretty.  My mom gave me the crystal bowl a few years ago, and it finds its way on our dining room table often filled with beach treasures, sea glass and what ever else I can find to change with the season.  Here's what we came up with this weekend!

*Potpourri from Homegoods

*Pumpkin Spice Candle from World Market
*Real Mini Pumpkins from Trader Joe's
*Collection of White Seashells and Green Sea Urchin Shells gathered on Washington and California beach walks
*Burlap and Shell Tablerunner from Caron's Beach House (could not resist - had to keep on for myself!)

Have a great Monday everyone!

Sunflowers and Blue Willow... A late summer Coastal Tablescape

We are so lucky to live in California where we have foggy mornings and sunlit days, and we can hang onto every little bit of summer before we really have a "fall" season.  I was inspired  by all of the gorgeous bunches of sunflowers that are so abundant at roadside stands, our coastside farmer's markets and in our local grocery stores.   Could not resist picking up a bright happy bunch at Trader Joe's!

Then I got to thinking about how pretty they would look with my grandmother's blue willow dishes.... Maybe a late summer tea party setting? 

Step One: Find all of the pieces of Blue Willow.  I packed it up when I moved to California a few years ago, now where did I put the boxes?

Step Two: Sort through my vast collection of sea glass and shells to come up with some pieces that would match my color scheme.  Truly - you would never believe how many pieces of cobalt blue and amber pieces of sea glass I found!

Step Three: Let imagination be my guide.

Blue and amber sea glass mixed with white shells in my sunflower vase.
Vase found at Ikea - set of 3 for less than $15.00

I mixed in some pretty yellow sunflower shaped glass salad plates that I snapped up at Homegoods. Tablecloth is my favorite - $1.49 at Goodwill in Seattle about 10 years ago!  Blue Willow and antique silverware are inherited.

Do you remember my cottage boat rental sign?  

Found at the Fremont Flea Market in Seattle earlier this summer!

This was fun.  I was so glad to see all of those vintage Blue Willow pieces unpacked, they were just hiding in my extra closet waiting for an opportunity to come out and play.  

Have a great weekend everyone!  

Good Morning from Poulsbo

Sometimes the best laid plans just don't work out, and sometimes kids (although he's not really a kid anymore, he's 24) get sick.  Thank goodness for good friends that are there to support you when emergencies happen and thank goodness for all of my (online and off-line) friends that sent prayers and love.

But especially thank goodness for jet travel, calm (wonderful) boyfriends and Virgin Airlines.  Alex called on his way to the ER; one hour later I had booked a flight from San Francisco.  Within 3 hours I was on a plane to Seattle.

Alex is fine, I am still a little shaky.

Cannot begin to tell you all how much it helped to sleep all night in a cozy bed and to wake up at Suzanne's to an absolutely stunning Pacific Northwest day in Poulsbo.