Folk Art 4th of July Tablescape

Folk Art 4th of July Tablescape

The inspiration for my Folk Art 4th of July Tablescape is Sakura’s Country Life Dinnerware. The line was designed by Vermont folk artist Warren Kimble. You can read more about him here. The salad plates used in my patriotic tablescape feature a little red schoolhouse, a barn, and two different white houses. In my opinion, Kimble’s work screams Americana, and has a primitive vibe about it as well. Perfect for the 4th of July!

If you look behind each building on the salad plates, you can see one of the other featured buildings in the background. Since I’m a former public school teacher, and I love homeschooling, the plate with the little red schoolhouse is my favorite.

For the dinner plates, I used Chantilly Stoneware by Hearthside. The story behind the Hearthside Stoneware is kind of funny. I worked at Winn Dixie when I was sixteen. The store allowed customers to buy a certain amount of dishes in this pattern with each grocery purchase. My stepmother bought lots of groceries and several sets of dishes from Winn Dixie while I was employed there. When I got married, she gave me the blue ones. My stepsister has the pink set. One thing I share with my stepmom-that my mother did not have-is a love for dishes.

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I have another set of dishes with a similar history. I grew up seeing a set of golden brown plates on the shelves of my grandmother’s kitchen. When I finally acquired the long-sought after Homer Laughlin Coventry Castilian Dinnerware, I learned that my grandmother most likely bought her set from a grocery store, piece by piece. To me, the familiar is more important than the fancy, when it comes to dinnerware.

My silverware is an old German silver-plated set that I found at Goodwill last year. The forks and spoons are huge, and the knives are really sharp, unlike the ones we use most of the time. I like the beaded edge. I also threw in a few Roger’s Brothers monogrammed silver-plated forks as well, in the Olive pattern. I would love to know more about the bride and groom who most likely received the set as a wedding present.

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I bought the blue checked napkins and primitively styled 4th of July garland at Old Time Pottery in Charleston, SC.

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The centerpiece was made from a Cameo milk glass compote topped with a Century Fostoria crystal serving tray and relish bowl. There is also a Century cream and sugar set to the right of the centerpiece. Century was one of Fostoria’s elegant glass lines. Elegant glass was more expensive than Depression glass, and was typically given as wedding presents. The pieces I have are very clear and beautiful.

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I filled the relish bowl with tinsel, because it reminded me of 4th of July sparklers. Then, I placed a candle in the center to light during dinner. The milk glass Cameo compote was wrapped with faux eucalyptus, the primitive flag garland, and a pack of fabric flags from Dollar Tree.

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I placed a Westmoreland milk glass chip and dip set on the right side of the centerpiece. It has a raised grape and leaf pattern. It sure seems tiny compared to today’s chip and dip sets. I do plan to fill it with different foods as we use our Folk Art 4th of July Tablescape over the next few weeks.

I used my floral Pioneer Woman drinking glasses. I have these glasses in three different colored floral patterns. My children and I keep breaking them. Every time we break a few, I buy a new 4-pack. Sometimes the last color combination I purchased isn’t available. Luckily, I do have 6 in each color scheme (at this moment).

I hope you enjoyed my Folk Art 4th of July Tablescape. I plan to use it until after the 4th. I’ll have to wash the tablecloth and napkins over and over, but’s it’s worth it, knowing that my children will remember how we had special plates and decorations for our family meals throughout the year. I didn’t bother with placemats or place cards, since this table setting will be used for a lengthy period of time. I didn’t want to have a lot of things to move back and forth when I wash the tablecloth.

Blessings,

Kristie

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