Tablescape Thursday: A Seaside Escape

After a month-long hiatus from tablescaping, I am finally back. Did you miss me? Just kiddin'! I had a lot of things going on, including spring break, a few trips out of town, helping some friends prepare their house for move-in, and some much needed time to be reinspired. I did some antiquing while on spring break and took lots of pictures with my camera. Unfortunately I can't find the little card I need to transfer the pictures, so you'll have to wait a bit longer. I refuse to buy another one when I know it's around here somewhere! Anyway, I'm glad to be back. I've enjoyed being a tablescape and Meta Monday spectator over the past month, though. What talent and creativity you ladies have!

Now that the warmer weather is here I am looking forward to sand between my toes, the smell of salt water in the air, and mouth watering seafood. Aren't you? That's where the inspiration for this week's tablescape came from.

Put on your flip flops, grab a frosty pina colada, and let's get started...

Even though my flash didn't open for this shot, I like the soft light. You might recognize some pieces from other blogger's tablescapes.

I absolutely love the sereness of the greenish blues in this tablescape. It is so mellow and calming. The overhead shot while standing on my bench. I almost went with a blue tablecloth, but I think I like the crispness of the white better. It helps the blues pop more. Anyone recognize this pretty girl? I had the salad plates and 4 bowls, but when I went back the dinner plates were gone. Well, it never hurts to keep checking because I recently found 8 of the dinner plates and 4 more bowls. I practically whooped right there in the store! These are my absolute favorites--even the salesperson remarked at how pretty they are. Enough about the plate...I really like the shades of blue and green in the placemat, don't you? I used my Lenox Shell flatware because it had shells...of course! I debated a few times purchasing some silverware with faux bamboo handles, but I don't like the feel of thinner flatware in my mouth. Is that weird? Maybe one day I'll find some stainless with bamboo handles.

I found these plates in TJM last month and snapped them up, along with 4 bowls (more on those later in the post). They are from Mesa Home. The raised design is lovely and so is the shade of blue.

Next I added this sand dollar plate from Kohl's. It would be perfect as a bread plate. This plate is more of a sandy color, while the salad plate is whiter, but somehow the blues pull them together, don't you think? Finally, I added this cute tidbit bowl from the same line as the sand dollar plate from Kohl's. I think it is perfect for a cup of soup. These were actually the first thing I purchased several months ago when I decided to put together a seaside tablescape. Aren't they the cutest?

The finished setting. Love it!!

The glass in front is lead crystal. Don't you love it when you find something beautiful for practically nothing? That was the case with these glasses. The starfish glasses I also purchased at Kohl's, with my Kohl's cash, so they were pretty much free! Love that even more! I think they are similar, if not the same, as the ones Susan has.

If only you could feel the softness of these napkins! I snapped these up from Target back in February after searching for ages for this exact shade. I got them to use in another tablescape, but they worked out perfectly here. I found little shell necklaces in the dollar bin at Michael's a while back and decided to use them as napkin "rings". They would be great to give to guests when you are through, too.

I added a bamboo placemat in the center for texture. I swiped the glass shell jar from the kid's bathroom (a future Meta Monday post), and added a few shells from our collection to spread around. The lantern is a beautiful, soft shade of blue and will be great to use outdoors as well. Finally, I used two starfish saucers as candleholders. More on those below.

A close-up of the lantern. FYI - the metal on top gets VERY hot so don't touch it. I wouldn't know because I did that or anything. ;)

Close-up of the shell apothecary jar.

Here are the two styles of bowls that match the salad plates you saw in my tablescape. They only had two of the handled bowls and three of the regular bowls so I bought them all. I thought about using them in the tablescape, but went with the smaller cup size bowls.

Here is the saucer I mentioned above with its matching teacup. I could only find two of these, so I'm hoping to stumble on a few more. They are made by Blue Sky and match this:
This little fellow is probably a covered dish but I will use it as a soup tureen as well. Can't you just smell the she-crab soup or lobster bisque? Y-U-M-M-Y!! I pulled out my ladle from my lion's head tureen to serve the soup. This was a Homegoods purchase.

If you'll excuse me, it's time for our seafood feast. We're having grilled tilapia in a Hawaiian marinade and cracker crust, roasted veggies, she-crab soup, rolls, and a salad tossed with steamed shrimp and ginger sesame dressing.

Can't wait to visit more tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch. Susan is our gracious hostess each week.

Blessings and Happy Decorating,

Linda