Sweet Valentine's Tributes

 Sunday  night, I was at my friend Jill's home for dinner.  It is always a treat to explore her little antique vignettes that are displayed in her home.  She has a natural talent for creating little magical collections of fresh flowers and antique accessories.  While she was preparing a delightful  dinner, Marlene ( who was visiting from Tennessee) and I were admiring and taking pictures of these thoughtful little displays. 

 

On the kitchen pine farm table, a mirror plateau with two small pitchers of fresh flowers, a candle, salt and pepper cellars and a sugar bowl.

 

A wooden bread board with Leslie Stowe crackers, Camembert, truffles and fresh roses - served with a gorgeous horn cheese knife.

 A collection of  silver, horn and iron pieces with fresh tulips and a boxwood ball for a pop of color!

 Parchment books, Victorian iron planters filled with fresh ferns,

a terrarium filled with tulips, nests, eggs and moss.

 

 

 The fresh ferns and moss remind us that spring is coming soon!

 

Moss, ex votos, roses, candles and the boy statue on a cement Jan Barboglio plateau in the center of the dining room table.

 

 

On a side note-----

The three of us had spent the day before at a local flea market.  One of the booths was displaying some handmade items made from old lace, rhinestones and old books. 

 We simply could not resist them.

Little card board potting pots with wire handles were covered with vintage lace remnants and then embellished with rhinestones.  Excited about my purchase, I placed them on a silver tray and filled them with dried roses that were left from Julie's birthday  party last weekend.   

 

Tossing a little bright green reindeer moss on the tray added the contrast that I needed.

Insides of old books are wrapped and tied with laces and rhinestone embellishments.

I added these to the tray.

 

I had purchased the candle bobeches the month before and they looked perfect with this Valentine's vignette.



 

Old wax cupids from the 1920's were then added to the grouping.

 

Vintage blush and grey beads from the flea market look so pretty on the tray.

 

 

 

Just need to add a few votives and voila-  a wonderful centerpiece for Valentines!

 

I have found that silver trays, plateaus, bread boards, and books are all great elements to "corral" a collection together on a tabletop. It unifies the statement and makes a stronger impact with all the items grouped together, rather than placed individually on the table. 

After being inspired by my friend's home on Sunday night, 

 I have decided that  Jill is a master of this skill!