Inspiration for new tablesettings come from random sources and sometimes from unexpected combinations of events. An early spring blue and purple tablesetting is one of those that began with a beautiful new blue scalloped edge tidbit plate and unseasonably Spring-like temperatures.
Out of the blue, an unexpected package arrived in January from a friend who lives in San Antonio. Our friendship was born through this blog. We have never met in person, but talk to one another via blog comments and emails regularly.
Of course, I think she has great taste since she reads Botanic Bleu and leaves witty, encouraging comments. Her sense of humor makes me laugh out loud.
As soon as the four blue plates were in my hands, I was in love with their color, their shape, and their texture. As I ran my hand over the smooth plate surface and ran my fingers around the curved scalloped edge, I cocked my head a little to the left, and my eyes glazed over as I stared into space envisioning a future tablesetting featuring these plates.
The blue plates are S T A R S in the dish world.
This week I found a small bag of blue shredded paper used for Easter baskets in years past as I was reorganizing things in the garden shed. You know the shed that took all my money to buy it a French style eyebrow window. If you haven't read French Design on Friday 6, be sure to check it out to see the eyebrow window.
Look at the color of the blue paper shreds... a match made in heaven for the new blue plate S T A R S.
Old Man Winter is not over yet, but our weather forecast high temperatures for the next ten days is 68°-78°, definitely Spring weather. My mind turns to eggs, bunnies, bird's nests... in Spring.
Once I made little blue paper shred nests in the purple votive candle holders, the whole early Spring blue and purple table starting coming together.
White scalloped edge dinner plates and salad plates perfectly showcase the blue S T A R S.
Blue Fostoria water glasses complement the little blue plates.
Paper napkins with lavender stems repeat the bird's nest element with eggs the same color and design as the little ceramic eggs in the purple votives. Sometimes everything comes together as though items were special ordered to coordinate with one another.
Spring-like weather means spring flowers like the purple pansy in the clay pot and the purple muscari. A twiggy bird's nest holds a green ceramic egg.
Add a few extra things to a man-made nest to give it a natural look. Fine golden brown grass lines the nest to shelter the egg. A bit of green moss is another natural filler.
Wild tendrils around the pansy plant make the faux flowers more realistic. Purple-tipped matches in a hydrangea decorated match box go with the purple votive perfectly.
An early Spring blue and purple tablesetting adds color to the drab overcast winter skies.
The centerpiece and votive nests can last until Easter in mid-April.
Any day now, I will be able to cut fresh muscari from the yard. Won't they be pretty with the new blue plate stars from my friend?
Receiving such a thoughtful gift from a long-distance friend made me reflect on all the wonder-woman friends who have touched my life over the years. Each of us has a circle of friends who have made a difference in our lives by mentoring us in our jobs, caring for us in times of despair, and adding joy in everyday living.
Yes, I have men who are acquaintances and who have mentored me in a job, but they are never friends to the depth of women friends. The Long Tall Texan is the only man who has the status of wonder-man friend.
Each time I moved from a job or moved from a city, I was sad to leave wonder-woman friends I had made. Yet, I soon realized that in each new job or new city were new wonder-woman friends for me that I would have never known if I had not moved there.
Blogging has provided new wonder-woman friends I would never have known had I not started writing Botanic Bleu. My life is richer, fuller, more joyful because of all of the new wonder-women I know in the blogging world.
Thank you for reading, for leaving comments, and for joining my circle of wonder-woman friends.
My friend in San Antonio inspired me to create a beautiful blue and purple tablesetting with her blue plates as the stars. This is just the first of many ways I will enjoy those little blue plates, and each time I use them I will remember our friendship.
Now, I will think of those wonder-women friends as B L U E P L A T E S T A R S in my life.
Thank you, my friend in San Antonio who knows me well.
Who is a BLUE PLATE STAR in your world?
