Click to Visit These Popular Posts

CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT DIY Spring Tulip WreathCONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Pottery Barn Inspired Nest Place Card HoldersCONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Farmhouse Spring Porch 6CONFESSIONS OF A PLATE ADDICT Easy Flower Pot Wreath

31 December, 2010

Happy New Year 2011...A Tablescape and A Tradition

Happy New Year, everyone! Are you ready for the celebration? Once again our charming webmaster Miss Kitty has agreed to be the hostess!

The table is set...just a variation of our Christmas table. Can you spot the changes?  The plates are my bargain Goodwill Wedgwood Queensware sitting atop silver chargers. My great go-to Irish crystal goblets and my mom's Towle Silver Flutes flatware are back. The napkins have been exchanged for white damask.

Of course, the burlap table runner is still there, as well as the drop cloth tablecloth! I have enjoyed them so much! A few changes have been made in the centerpiece. A candle in the center has replaced the Red Cliff ironstone soup tureen...

...which has moved to the buffet. I love seeing its reflection in the silver tray! There are just some simple changes in the tablescape since the Christmas decorations are still up at my house. They will come down after New Years.

However, the menu is another story! We have the traditional Southern New Years meal for luck and prosperity...collard greens (click here for my recipe),  black-eyed peas and ham...with some rice, stewed tomatoes, mac and cheese ( Patti LaBelle’s recipe)  and cornbread on the side! Yum yum!  A previous dinner is pictured...but the menu never varies. I am really not superstitious, but let's just say that the one year I didn't have my collards was not a good one!

Sooo...I make sure that everyone in my family has at least a bite of them! My wonderful son-in-law, who doesn't like them at all, takes one for the family each year and has one black-eyed pea and one tiny shred of collards! Now that's a great son-in-law!
I hope your celebration is fabulous no matter what your traditions and wish you and your family a New Year filled with peace, prosperity, love and much happiness!

28 December, 2010

My Favorite Projects of 2010

IMG_3134 I have to admit that in looking over this year’s projects I have been really surprised at all that I have accomplished! My favorite, however, has to be my  master bedroom! I wanted a departure from my more traditional Provencal French country style of decorating to a more feminine frenchy look. Hmmm...the paint color is looking a little off in the night light.

IMG_3132 I used what I love as the anchor…toile and plates…what else? lol  I do think it has a softer edge, though. I stayed in a pastel color palate with pinks and greens and brought in more white in an attempt to lighten up the room.

IMG_2506 Have you ever noticed that sometimes all it takes is finding one right piece to get you started? Well…this lamp was it! It just screams Paris to me! Then I found the toile fabric to make the drapery panels  and the rest of the room created itself!

page3 I also found two wonderful frenchy chairs that I recovered and even painted one of them. The hunt for accessories lead me to some fabulous Victorian silver plate pieces hidden in the dusty corner of a thrift store…a sugar spooner doubling as a vase and a wonderful old calling card holder! I also shabbied up a couple of frenchy candlesticks to complete the look

IMG_3141 And I even learned how to make piping for the throw pillows! Woo hoo! I love my new bedroom! It finally looks like me!

IMG_0650 I also gave the guest room a re-do and finally finished that black and cream toile bedroom that I had been dreaming of for years! It was trial and error finding the right shade of green!

page The room has gone through a few changes in accessories and even more that I haven’t shown you. But I am happy to finally to have a place for my guests to stay!

IMG_4419 However, I will have to say that my Christmas mantel was the most fun! I made almost everything on it this year and had to start well in advance. The sheet music wreath was my inspiration…and a labor of love! I started with a healthy portion of mercury glass, then I added the sheet music candles

IMG_4404 …and the little snow birds…another easy and inexpensive project!

IMG_4415 The finishing touch was the homemade burlap stockings! I still haven’t taken it down!

IMG_3891 But by far the most versatile, surprisingly enough, has been the burlap table runner that has been on my table since October and has managed to look good no matter how I set the table…through Thanksgiving and Christmas and even now as I have the table set for New Years…something I’ll show you later!
There were many more small projects that I enjoyed, most of which have links on my sidebar. All in all, I think I have accomplished a lot! Now my question is…what will I do next year. Hmmmm…I am looking around the house even as we speak, thinking about what I want to change! What about you?

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my favorite projects from this year!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Rhoda at Southern Hospitality for Top Projects 2010
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Before and After Party on Wednesdays
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays
Layla at The Lettered Cottage for Room Re-do's 2010
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Mary at Boogieboard Cottage for Masterpiece Monday
Sarah at Thrifty Decor Chick for Before and After Party
See you next time! A la prochaine!

26 December, 2010

Our First Christmas Snow!

IMG_4934 It finally happened! It started last night and continued into the morning…wonderful, wet flakes of snow! And, as I told you in my last post, it was my first white Christmas ever!

IMG_4932 The ice crystals hang like diamond drop earrings from my little Japanese maple…

IMG_4952 …and the snow has clustered inside the leaves of the holly, making it look like a snowy rose waiting to bloom!

IMG_4930 It’s a wonderful winter wonderland in our little neighborhood…the best kind of metamorphosis!

IMG_4903 There will be no lunch on the patio or time on the swing set with the grandchildren today! They are at home, not too far away, enjoying their own first white Christmas!

page1 Of course, the staff each took a turn to check out the snow…

IMG_4928 …and opted to stay inside and play by the fire…

IMG_4922 …which is where you will find me all day today...enjoying a little quiet time after a very busy week! Won’t you join us for a cappuccino? Now, where’s that Sunday paper? Hope you are enjoying your day!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing our first White Christmas!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday...Anything Goes!
Susan at A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday


See you next time! A la prochaine!

25 December, 2010

My First White Christmas...Ever!

Woo hoo! History is being made tonight! We are having our first white Christmas here in the Atlanta area in 128 years...which, of course, means it's my first white Christmas ever! It started snowing...big, wet snowflakes...just before dark, so this is all I have to show you so far! I can't wait to wake up in the morning and see it! Yes, I know all of you folks up North are not much impressed, but please indulge us Southerners as we enjoy a little taste of what it must be like for you!

I hope you have had a wonderful day...I know I have! I have relished every second of it! I have played with each and every toy with my sweet grandchildren and eaten waaaay too much, so this is just the icing on an already fabulous cake! I'll keep you posted...but in the meantime...
♫ ♪ Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! ♪♫

23 December, 2010

Merry Christmas...From Our Home to Yours!

IMG_0027We are all snuggled in and ready for Christmas here in the Plate Addict household!

IMG_4780 The house is all decorated! Hmmmm…I am rethinking the chandelier decor, though! Shoo, Isabellla!

IMG_4436 Ozzie, Baby Kitty, Isabella and Kitty have hung their stockings by the fire…

IMG_9810 The cookies are made and are waiting for Santa…

IMG_8404 ...and so is Isabella!!
Here’s wishing a wonderful Christmas and happy holidays filled with love, peace and joy for you and your family from all of us here at Plate Addict! We want to take this opportunity to thank you all for the support and friendship that you have given us throughout the year. The blogging community really is like a big, wonderful family!
And so we wish each one of you a very...
MERRY CHRISTMAS
and
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

16 December, 2010

Christmas Home Tour at the Plate Addicts!

IMG_4688 Welcome to the Christmas home tour at the Plate Addicts! It’s warm and cozy inside, so come on in and join us by the fire!

page You may have already seen some of our home since I have shown you the mantel, filled with many of my recent projects… 

page1 …and the dining room, all set for Christmas eve dinner!

IMG_4717 So today I would like to show you some other parts of our home. This vignette greets you as you enter the door. I added little silver balls this year to tie in with my silvery theme and used some favorite silverplate pieces…a porringer and a wine caddy…as candleholders. I am serving corks in a little silver bonbon dish, much like the one I used in the dining room!

IMG_4712 On the little pony wall, the fork candle from last year’s Christmas decor has gotten a shimmering new ribbon and is accompanied by a silver plate topped with a red bow and berries. I love this candle and change the bow with the seasons!

IMG_4669 A second tree is found on the drop leaf table behind one of the love seats. This one is new this year…decorated with silver, blue and white! The bowl is filled with glittery fruit that I found at Dollar Tree…for 50 cents each! Beautiful and inexpensive!

page1 Here’s a closer look at the decorations on my tree…flatware, napkin rings and salt and pepper shakers! The cute kitty and little plate came from my friend Kathysue at Good Life of Design and the demitasse spoons are from Sarah at Hyacinths for the Soul!

IMG_4772 And as a tree topper…this little urn-shaped salt shaker!

IMG_4684 On the coffee table in front of the fireplace…my santos cage doll, holding a glittery ornament…

IMG_4751 …and on my favorite grape-design Goodwill silverplate tray…a wreath dotted with silver balls and a red velvet bow surrounding a three wick candle! And do you see…just beyond on the media cabinet…

IMG_4727 …a little vignette with some of my favorite things! The lamp was my mother’s and decorated our home at Christmas when I was little. And if you have been following my blog for very long, you know I can’t resist a mouse wearing clothes! lol Yes, I know…weird, but true! This one reminds me of Ratty in The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame…my favorite childhood book! I gave him a jaunty Christmas scarf! And don’t miss the La Neige (“snow” in French) hoop ornament…a sweet gift from a dear friend who had it sent all the way from France!

IMG_4743 A few more old favorites are on the painted table on the opposite wall…an ornament that was a gift from my mom, featuring little mice decorating their tree. It is sitting on some old books, GW finds a while back, under a little cloche…as a tiny wooden Santa and his reindeer stop by!

IMG_4700 A tiny forest of glittery trees is on another old book…a Paris bookstall treasure…perched on the demi-lune table near the fire. That’s Kitty looking on and enjoying a warm spot! 

IMG_4728 And here’s my third tree…sporting snowflakes and berries, along with a flock of little birds.

page3 Most of them are cardinals…my favorite!

IMG_4753 Another cardinal is nesting on the skirt, made of remnants of a wonderful French script fabric that I used to cover a stool and make a pillow…love it! This tree is on the little drop leaf table behind the opposite love seat. I decided that I would rather have three small trees than one big one.

IMG_4686 And there you have it…our Christmas home tour! The staff here at Plate Addict and I would like to thank you for dropping by! We hope you enjoyed your tour…

IMG_9810 …and that you’ll sit by the fire for a little while and have some homemade Christmas cookies and Russian tea! We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you a very merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season! May this special time be filled with peace, joy and love for you and your family!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my Christmas decorations!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Nester at Nesting Place for the Christmas Tour of Homes
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Share the Decor
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Before and After Party on Wednesdays
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for the Holly Bloggy Home Tour and Transformation Thursdays
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Linda at A la Carte for Junkin' Finds on Fridays
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
See you next time! A la prochaine!

12 December, 2010

Icicles and Snowflakes with Cream and Silver...My Christmas Dining Room

IMG_4629  I hope everyone is staying warm! It's freezing here in the South...but that makes it seem more like Christmas! This week I have my dining room ready to show you! I am using a theme of icicles and snowflakes with cream and silver...continuing the colors that I used on my mantel.

IMG_4550 And just in case you think that we Southerners don't know what icicles look like, here's the fountain at the world famous (or around here anyway) Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, Georgia! It's a restaurant known for its Southern-style food. I had lunch there yesterday and have to say they have the best fried green tomatoes on earth!

IMG_4511 And at home, even the staff is snuggling to stay warm...like Baby Kitty  and Kitty...who are not normally very friendly!

IMG_4534 So where are the icicles at my house? Why...on the hutch, of course! I found these at Overstock.com. Aren't they realistic? They are made of recycled glass and come in a set of 20 of them...all different lengths...for only $26!

page And they are not the only sparkly things on the hutch! I pulled out my favorite old silverplate pieces,  gave them a good polishing and mixed them in with my wonderful bargain set of Wedgwood Queensware that you may remember...a Goodwill bargain at $68 for 52 pieces!

IMG_4453 I tried really hard to stick to silver and cream, but little pops of red kept sneaking in...like this fabulous red amaryllis! Isn't it gorgeous? Unfortunately, it bloomed too soon for Christmas!

IMG_4572 So where are the snowflakes? They say we may get a few today, but in the meantime, you can find big, glittery ones on each plate! This is the same Chris Madden Felice dinnerware that I found at GW for $10 and used at Thanksgiving. I have added silver chargers to go along with my sparkly theme.

IMG_4612 That's my mom's Silver Flutes flatware from Towle. I love it...so simple and classic!

IMG_4571 Are you noticing that I used many of the same pieces that were used at Thanksgiving...just dressed them up a little for Christmas! Here are my Irish crystal iced tea glasses mixed with my GW wine glasses! I am loving the contrast of the glitter and sparkle with the textures of the plates and the greenery!

IMG_4566 And speaking of texture...I used my handmade ruffled burlap table runner again, too. It has proven to be so versatile! My Red Cliff ironstone soup tureen is the star of the centerpiece for now, but will be replaced by a shorter cream three wick candle at dinner.

IMG_4564 And do you see my little snow birds peeking out from the greenery? You might remember them from my mantel..a fun little Dollar Tree project!

IMG_4607 On the buffet, you will see more of my Red Cliff ironstone collection...a tea pot along with a creamer bought for a song on eBay and a sugar found at GW! I love the way they are reflected in my monogrammed tray...a gift from my students many moons ago! And what's that I'm serving?

IMG_4582 Why, corks, of course! lol They are served up with a garnish of glittery balls and holly with my favorite Rodgers Brothers Vintage cold meat fork!

IMG_4557 And have you looked up? I have also decorated the chandelier! I have added swags of cypress and tied silvery ornaments at varying lengths.

IMG_4638 Here is where I used those $2 mercury glass acorns that I found at Walmart a while back...gorgeous!

IMG_4630And there you have it...my icicles and snowflakes themed dining room all dressed up for Christmas! Now if we can just stay inside and keep warm while the real ones are glistening outside!

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my Christmas decorations!  Please visit these wonderful bloggers and their beautiful blogs to see what they are up to and to find a list of this week’s participants!
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday
Linda at Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
The Nester at Nesting Place for the Christmas Tour of Homes
Kathleen at Cuisine Kathleen for the White Christmas Party
Sherry at No Minimalist Here for Share the Decor
Kim at Savvy Southern Style for Before and After Party on Wednesdays
Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for the Holly Bloggy Home Tour and Transformation Thursdays
Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday
Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
Artie at Color Outside the Lines for Vignette Fridays
Courtney at French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Linda at A la Carte for Junkin' Finds on Fridays
Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few of My Favorite Things Saturday
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special
Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for the Sunday Showcase Party
See you next time! A la prochaine!