Winter Blues

The period between Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day marks winter to me. In Northern California, this time of year typically brings the "Pineapple Express" or "Tropical River" of storms from the Pacific Ocean, delivering rain and wind in succession. The origin of these storms—either Alaska or Hawaii—determines whether they are cold and wet or mild and wet. Although I enjoy staying indoors on rainy days to organize the house or relax on the couch, I prefer being outside, gardening or biking. Today was rainy, and after completing my closet purge (yay me!) and before switching my dishes to St. Patrick's Day colors, I set the table with wintery blues, ivory, and chocolate browns.

After setting the table, I quickly reconsidered and swapped out the centerpiece. I started with the one on the left. I recently purchased these buffet lamps that I love, and I thought they might look nice on the table. I think it would have been ideal if it were evening. The lamps are charged via USB and offer three different color settings. I originally bought them for the buffet in the dining room, however, I found a better place for them! When not on a table, they are on a table in the foyer and provide just the right amount of light!

The brown leaf tray between the lamps complemented the table, and the willow spheres and ceramic pear mirrored the hues of the tablecloth. It was nice, though maybe somewhat monochromatic. As I wandered around the house seeking inspiration, I noticed the Paprika Fiesta vase already filled with flowers and thought, "this might work!"

I kept the willow spheres and added white lanterns. I'm unsure which I prefer, but changing the centerpiece definitely altered the table's ambiance. The centerpiece with the lamps feels cozier and slightly more formal, while the tall flowers in the vase and the lanterns give off a casual and fun vibe.

When I was a kid, my mom had Currier and Ives dishes that she got at the grocery store. They were made by Royal China from 1950 - 1970. I love the shade of blue on the plates. The pattern is called "Old Grist Mill." My mom mentioned she sold her dishes at a garage sale; oh, how I wish we still had those originals!

I have only four Currier and Ives dinner plates, so I added Fiesta to the table! Fiesta Lapis is a highly versatile color, and the snowflakes on the luncheon plate complemented the snow in the Currier and Ives plates. A Johnson Brothers Windsor Ware transferware salad plate in Dover Brown, made in England from 1960 - 1965, is included. The bread plate is a Staffordshire plate in Liberty Blue, with the pattern called "Monticello." I initially thought these were antique plates, but they were actually made from 1975 - 1981. I love the variety of patterns and colors of transfer ware.

You might recognize the tablecloth and placemats from a table I set in early 2024; they were a gift from a colleague in India and are from one of my favorite stores, Fab India. https://www.astheluckycrowflies.com/post/fab-india

I arranged the placemats lengthwise on the table, and the napkins, featuring a bit of embroidery, are from Etsy. The silverware, named Treble Clef, is from Cost Plus. The glassware, Vardagen in brown, is from Ikea and has become one of my favorite choices for table settings.

One of my favorite vintage Fiesta pieces, an Ivory lidded casserole, accents the table beautifully. I love the art deco-inspired handles on both the main bowl and the lid. The vintage ivory color is another aspect I love; it's more matte and creamy compared to the Post 86 Fiesta ivory, which appears more yellow to me.

The Fiesta disc pitcher is one of the line's most recognizable pieces and is available in various colors and sizes. The Periwinkle pitcher and the Paprika vase complement the colors in the tablecloth.

Soon, I will be replacing the Fiesta blues and browns with shades of green to celebrate St. Patrick's day, in the meantime, I will love the colors of winter.