Fall Garden Harvest Creatures Tablescape

Hi everyone, and welcome to my blog, Panoply! Today I'm hosting a fall tablescaping event with some very talented stylists ready to inspire you with their ideas for entertaining, as the autumn season approaches.

My fall theme for the table was inspired by salad plates I scored on eBay a few months ago, but originally sold at Pier 1 several years ago. It is Fall Harvest Garden Creatures. 

Like many of you, I was ready to embrace an early autumn look after the past two months of high summer heat. Often a theme and its details come together organically for me. I was originally planning to use more of my Parchment Check (the chargers) from MacKenzie-Childs on this table, but changed direction once I found my tablecloth at HomeGoods in mid-summer. The bright orange plates were a perfect match to what looks like Chinese lanterns and dahlia plants in the cloth. 

I switched to using my rattan chargers and napkin rings to accentuate the rustic colors of the season and to lend a bit more punch to the overall appearance here. My Parchment Check serving dish became my centerpiece, filled with artichokes, cotton bolls and felted pumpkins. Mixing patterns, the napkins complemented the colors of the tablecloth, and the glassware blended with the shades of green found in the both the cloth and the landscape this time of year.

Even when we don't have company, I like to make my tablescape part of my seasonal decor. If eye-catching table settings are something which appeal to you and you're just getting started, here's a few tips for quickly and inexpensively amassing a good inventory of basics: 

1. Go to thrift stores, antique malls, and estate sales to check out what's there. 
2. Shop eBay anticipating a particular season, but not at the height of the season, which is when bidding prices tend to be higher. 
3. Go to Dollar Tree. Let me say it a little louder for those in the back, GO TO DOLLAR TREE.
4. When buying retail, shop sales and use coupons. Last week when I was preparing this post, I went to Hobby Lobby just to browse with a friend and all fall decor was 40% off on August 28th!
5. Borrow elements from your mom, your sister, your friend or your neighbor. 
6. Use throws, quilts, scarves and fabric remnants for tablecloths (and napkins). Iron on seam tape is your friend for a no-sew fix to raw material edges.
7. Get creative. String, ribbon, even decorative hair ties can become napkin rings, just as one example. 
8. Things found in nature can be place cards (pine cones, tiny plants, shells, even rocks!)

Be sure to check out the complete list of bloggers participating in this fall tablescaping event below.  Simply by clicking on the linked titles will take you to each and every stylist's post quickly. You'll see many of the tips I noted earlier put into practice among their tables, sure to spark some creativity in you. If the link is not yet live on their blog, have a cuppa and come back!

My Thrift Store Addiction - Bienvenue L'automne! Macarons and Champagne at Sunset

The Painted Apron - September Pumpkins

Everyday Living  - A Welcome to Autumn Tablescape

Home is Where the Boat Is - Whimsical Fall Tablescape: Trucking to the Pumpkin Patch

Life and Linda - Poppies and Checks

Hyacinths for the Soul - Colors of the Season

My Hubbard Home - Pretty Autumn Tablescape Add Soft Blues For An Updated Twist

Panoply (you are here!) - Fall Garden Harvest Creatures Tablescape

Corner of Plaid and Paisley - Fall Tablescape - Mixing Some Blues In 

Dinner at Eight - Easing Into Fall

Bluesky at Home - Outdoor Fall Tablescape with Harvest Colors

Red Cottage Chronicles - Cozy Autumn Table

Zucchini Sisters - Glam Pumpkins Fall Table Setting Ideas

Me and My Captain - Woodland Critters Come Out For Fall....and More

Celebrate and Decorate - A Walk in the Forest Tablescape for Fall

The Sweet Sensations - Welcoming Fall in Copper and Gold

Without affiliation to any sponsors, I always like to add my source list to my tablescaping posts. It gives you an idea of the variety of places where I find the elements I use.

Harvest Garden Creatures Fall Tablescape Source List

Autumn Sunrise Tablecloth - HomeGoods

Dinner Plates, Wine Stems - Dollar Tree

Rattan Chargers, Napkin Rings, and Harvest Garden Creatures Salad Plates (eBay) - Pier 1

Parchment Check Serving Tray, Salt/Pepper Shakers - MacKenzie-Childs

Flatware - Target

Napkins, Faux Artichokes, Tiffin Glasses - Vintage Finds (estate sales)

Cotton Boll Stems - Decor Steals

Felted Pumpkins - Marshall's

Over the years, I've ended up with a good stash of items that can be mixed and matched for any number of seasonal tablescapes, both a hobby and favorite blog topic for me. Thank you so much for joining me at the table today. I hope you gained a little inspiration and will come back again. Feel free to share your comments and ideas on this post.

Rita C. at Panoply

A special thanks to Linda of Life and Linda's Love Your Creativity #115 and Cecilia of My Thrift Store Addiction Vintage Charm Party # 303 for featuring this post!

Parties I Share With: Pieced Pastimes, Love Your Creativity, 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, Apple Street Cottage, Zucchini Sisters, French Ethereal SYS, Happiness is Homemade, Katherine's Corner TFT, Follow the Yellow Brick Home TFT, Grace at Home, My Thrift Store Addiction, Our Hopeful Home, Karin's Kottage, My Hubbard Home FWF, County Road 407 Farmhouse Friday