Welcome to my blog, Panoply! Today we are diving into summer, with a side of patriotism, in a tablescape that symbolizes each. Summer in America, with the traditional peak holiday being Independence Day (July 4th), is a time when we typically celebrate both our freedom and leisure activities. While this year may mean more staycations, we remain steadfast in our values of freedom and leisure time.
This table was initially conceived with the salad plates purchased last summer. Shopping sales after Christmas as well pre-COVID fleshed out my ideas for the table earlier this year.
Vintage postcards on the place settings satisfy the vintage and antiques dealer in me, and add the 'just right' amount of patriotism to an otherwise mostly blue & white table.
Something different for each place setting.
Of course, summertime is a time for diving into pools, lakes, rivers and oceans.
Inspiration hit me like a wave when an artisan friend of mine shared one of her fused glass creations (below) on Facebook in February. This serving platter traveled from Arizona to West Virginia to take center stage on my table.
My friend was originally inspired by these two pictured below. They are salad servers she purchased as mementos from a European vacation. I was lucky enough to find a set willing to swim across the ocean from France, just in time to meet their match on the table!
They make me smile. In fact, the retail shop from where they are sourced - Pylones - has as its tagline, "Createur de Sourires" (creator of smiles).
Here comes the sun!
We are all set for diving into summer, with a side of patriotism. Let the fun begin!
Panoply (you are here!)
Diving into Summer Tablescape Source List
Tablecloth - (Kate Spade Charlotte Street) - HomeGoods
Napkins (Santorini), Pedestal (Royal Check) - MacKenzie Childs
Woven Jute Placemats - Kohl's
Galvanized Chargers - Hobby Lobby
Blue & White Ticking Plates (Laura Ashley Blueprint Collections) - HomeGoods
Blue & White Salad Plates - Big Lots
Water Stemware (French Bee La Rochere) - Sur la Table
Stemless Glassware (Blue Bubble) - Pier 1
Ivory Flatware (Sophia) - Horchow
Pewter Napkin Rings, Postcards - Vintage
Whirligig Swimmer - Eddie Bauer Home
Glass Platter with Swimmers - Artisan-made - Mary Nunn
Salad Servers (Quelle Salade 50th Swimmers) - Pylones (Colombes, France)
Salad Servers (Quelle Salade 50th Swimmers) - Pylones (Colombes, France)
Here Comes the Sun brimmed hat - gift
Thank you for your visit today. Whether you're a longtime reader or new visitor, I appreciate your stopping by. Tablescaping is one of my favorite hobbies I share on my blog. You can check out my drop-down menu at the top of this post (desktop) to see other topics within my blog, or scroll through my archive or subject labels on the sidebar. If you're on a handheld device, just scroll to the bottom and click on 'view web version' to see the menu (at the top). Whether you subscribe for post updates (signup is just above my profile picture on the sidebar) or just occasionally visit, I hope you'll return again soon. Stay safe, and be well.
Rita C. at Panoply
Sharing: Pieced Pastimes, Best of the Month, Love Your Creativity, Finding Silver Pennies, BNOTP, All About Home Common Ground, All About Home Follow the Yellow Brick Home, A Stroll Thru Life, My Wee Abode, Thistle Key Lane, Bluesky at Home, The Dedicated House, Zucchini Sisters, French Ethereal SYS, Delightsome Life H&G, Katherine's Corner TFT, Grace at Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, Karin's Kottage Centerpiece Wednesday
Rita, My heart beats red, white and blue and I adore your vintage patriotic post cards! I can always count on your witty text ‘Inspiration hit me like a wave’ to go with your well executed and thoughtful theme for your table, no matter the season or holiday. Your table is perfectly set for diving into summer and your French diving servers are très belle. So happy to be hopping with you this week, Happy Summer ♥
ReplyDeleteI love it! The chargers give such texture to those gorgeous plates! Plus that fun platter, oh wow!
ReplyDeleteRita, this made me smile. The patriotic Vintage postcards on the place settings, your new plates, and the fused glass platter is the piece de resistance. I have a cute pie server from Pylones, and I agree with their tagline, "Createur de Sourires" (creator of smiles). I'm looking forward to visiting the other participating blogs as well. As far as how we are celebrating our leisure time this summer, it's mostly going to our camp at the lake and enjoying dinners alfresco at home. I am still working from home, so I really only have evenings and weekends to enjoy free time. I don't want to let my guard down as I feel from a fairly reliable source that the second wave of "19" may be coming at the end of August. Enjoy your summer!
ReplyDeleteWhat a festive table. I love all the pretty accents, will pin to my tablescape board.
ReplyDeleteRita, I love your whimsical and artistic flair on your table today.The glass plate with swimmers and salad servers are a delightful focal point for your theme. Very creative!
ReplyDeleteI could get into collecting vintage postcards. Some vintage elements are always charming to me. I love your extensive list of table elements. I could study it and learn.
Our lives are far from normal these days. We are guarded where we are going and mostly staying at home. We are experiencing the virus up close and personal as my husband's 94 year old mother who is in a nursing home has tested positive for Covid.The nursing home has a terrible outbreak. I almost deleted this but because you asked and I hope people are being careful I left it. The numbers are up here.
Your table made me smile. You have a knack for adding just the right Rita touch.
Morning Rita,
ReplyDeleteLove your summer table with the patriotic mix. Those lil swimmers are adorable.
Lovely plates and a very cute table.
Blessings, Nellie
Oh Rita, you are the "creator of smiles" with this charming Fourth tablescape. Beginning with the vintage cards to the whimsical divers and the fused glass platter (gorgeous blue color) make for a festive Fourth celebration. I love how you used texture with the placemats and the cloth is a great backdrop for this summer table. This reminds me to pull my few vintage cards and reproductions that always fill the hutch here. A lovely nod for our special patriotic holiday!
ReplyDeleteNow, this works for me. I'm not really big on red, white and blue, go USA. So this pushes all my happy buttons -- the blues of summer, that fabulous platter. To me, July 4 is summer celebration and this table kicks it off perfectly. With just a touch of patriotic essence but not over the top. I would be very happy and relaxed eating at this table and to me, that's what it's all about!
ReplyDeleteKatie and I went shopping in Myrtle Beach last Friday. It's the first time that we made such a big excursion. Of course, we wore our masks and carried hand sanitizer. We went to 4 stores and got everything on our list plus some! Now, we'll be home bodies again.
ReplyDeleteRita, your little divers are the cutest--I've never seen anything like them! You always come up with the cutest themes--and this is so fun! It is a pleasure to join you for another hop. Pinned! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
ReplyDeleteJust to respond to your question about vacations, we have cancelled our travel. Plans were to travel Scandinavian countries. We are hoping if things improve, a road trip to the beach in the fall. That's about the only thing we are thinking about.........
ReplyDeleteWow what a great table! Love the dish pattern with the polka dot tablecloth. Those swimmers are so cute (I think they are ballerina swimmers)!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, original idea for your table, Rita!! I love the little divers and they do bring smiles!!!i love the whimsy of the polka dot table cloth and the salad plates that almost look like a deep pool of water with ripples from where someone just dove in!! See where you have taken me?!? Love it!!! We have been cautious with our coming and goings, I am staying home a lot, we have postponed travel plans, good thing is that we are getting some much needed work done on the lower level of our fixer upper!! I hope you enjoy your 4th!!🇺🇸❤️💙
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun idea for a summer table! I love the whole diving theme and of course those charming vintage postcards. Beautiful job! Great hopping with you again!
ReplyDeleteShelley
Oh Rita, I so love your swimmers!! The diving patriotic theme is fabulous, so summer and so Americana!! Love your plates and the polka dot cloth, so much red white and blue fun!!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Rita, I do love your table and the red, white and blue. So love the swimmers and the polka dot tablecloth. I have always been a bit over the moon for polka dots.
ReplyDeleteWe are staying very close to home and being quite guarded. Cases in our county are moving up, as they are in our state as you well know. I think this is far from over.
Again love your table, stay well Rita.
Rita how stickin' cute your table is. I love the little plate and swimmers. How clever. I am sure your dinner guest will be talking about your table for a while after they leave your home. It looks amazing. Happy July 4th.
ReplyDeleteRita this is amazing. I love love love the little swimming girls plate. How adorable is that! Your table is gorgeous for the 4th of July. I cannot believe it is almost the 4th of July already. Summer is moving quickly. Have a great week my friend. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteRita, I adore your sweet table. Those swimmers are darling. Such conversation pieces. The new plates are lovely. Red, white and blue looks so pretty on your polka dot tablecloth. The vintage postcards are a great addition.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing art(of any kind) grace our tables. Thanks for the smiles I got from your swimmers.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sandra. We all need something to smile about, and I'm glad I could provide it for you. Happy summer!
DeleteRita, I love, love, love your tablescape. The vintage post cards, those amazing French salad servers, the gorgeous platter with swimmers, the cute salad plates, and MKC napkins all combine for a perfect table! Great job combining Patriotic with summer theme! It is always fun blog hopping withYou!
ReplyDeleteAs a virtual non-swimmer, I could still love your divers; such a summery vibe! Wish I could look like that in the water! I always love your tablescapes. I went back to look again and discovered the shells around the candle! So simple but so pretty
ReplyDeleteKathy, thank you for your visit and comment! Happy summer, and stay well.
DeleteRita, it is like I forgot everything else on your table after I saw those adorable swimmers! Those are as cute, as cute as can be!! Makes me REALLY want a pool in the backyard now just so I can entertain around it with such cute accessories. The postcards were also a lovely touch! How fun! Thaanks for hopping with us again!
ReplyDeleteRita, a darling, clever and creative table for the holiday! Perfectly set off on the polka dot tablecloth too.
ReplyDeleteRita, your table is beautiful! Those gorgeous plates caught my eye first thing. The vintage postcards are a pretty added touch. I love vintage things so much! We will be staying close to home as our numbers in Oklahoma seem to be climbing. We are just making the best of things by gardening and spending a lot of time outside. Our Fourth of July celebration will be a small one this year, but we will continue to make it special. I hope you have a very happy Fourth of July! Take care!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute table. Love the accent swimmers and polka dots together. And I think I need those plates in my life! Love it all!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cindy. I don't have much blue & white in my decor, but with each small addition, I really enjoy, something others have used so tried and true for so long. Happy 4th and happy summer. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteRita, love your table with the divers ~ how cute. The blue plates are lovely. Love your beach hat. I need one of those.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about every detail of your table. The postcards on each place setting are a perfect 4th of July touch. Love your new platter with the swimmers and matching salad servers.
ReplyDeleteYour polka dot tablecloth caught my eye right away! The post cards are cute and a great conversation starter, too! Love the 'swimmers', especially the glass plate - so unique! Very festive table!
ReplyDeleteRita, my heart in "drowning" in love over your unique and whimsical Swimmers plate and serving utensils. They are so sweet and do bring a huge smile! Your paired them up with your polka dot tablecloth which adds even more playfulness. I love your gorgeous vintage postcards too. It is such a pleasure to blog hop with you. Have a lovely holiday.
ReplyDeleteWhat a perfect patriotic Summertime tablescape! You know I love the vintage postcards, and the art pieces are perfectly whimsical.
ReplyDeleteI love me some whimsy, Rita, and your diving into summer provided some smiles for me today, with just the right amount of patriotism. Those vintage postcards are wonderful, and the salad servers and your plate with the divers are so fun. Of course, let's not forget about the polka dot tablecloth that is so playful. Looks like you're ready for the 4th, which I can hardly believe is almost here.
ReplyDeleteHi, Rita. Greetings opening from Indonesia. Your table is festive and decorated with unique sets of cutlery, especially swimmer motifs.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first time I have a plate with a motif like that.
Rita those salad servers are adorable. Of course I love anything that's colored glass. Those blue plates are so pretty too. As usual, your table is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tammy! Happy summer to you!
DeleteRita, I'm late to the party! Guess I'm not a fast swimmer!
ReplyDeleteThis table is checking the boxes for me. I like the mix of patriotism and summer fun. Seems that is the way summer should be. Your plates are fresh and crisp with the touches of dots and checks. Yes, my kind of table!!! Love the little swimmers, and Pylones is always a must when I'm in Paris. I can tell you exactly which corner! 😍 In fact, I've sever souvenirs brought home from this fun, off beat store. Do you know its history? Its been around since 1985. Clever designers and a successful business now in several countries. Your swimmers are adorable!
Rita, I love your eclectic summer and patriotic tablescape, The swimmer serving plate and salad servers are so unique! Your varied blue and white dishes and linens are perfect for summer. And of course, I’m crazy about those vintage postcards! As always, it’s a pleasure to hop with you!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at that polka dot tablecloth.
ReplyDeleteI love your swimmers too.
Have a lovely weekend.
What a fun table, Rita! I love the polka dot tablecloth, those blue and white dishes, and those vintage post cards! It all just makes me smile! Wishing you a very happy 4th of July! Pinned!
ReplyDeleteRita, I absolutely adore your table! It's so festive and fun. The dishes and vintage post cards are amazing! Pinned and tweeted! :)
ReplyDeleteI adore your salad servers! Love this post chock full of patriotism.
ReplyDeleteCute hat!
ReplyDeleteI just love that serving platter!
ReplyDeleteLOVE the table and wow those swimmers!...Too darn cute!!
ReplyDelete