Layering My Nest. . .

In The Land of Blog. . .
challenges use to cause an uneasiness within me.

In the beginning, I felt constrained.
Forced to "fit" into a specific mold.
I prefer to be allowed carte blanc within my designs.
Having accepted a few, I now embrace the challenge.

Kathleen @ Cuisine Kathleen 
has given us the April Let's Dish Challenge of Birds, Eggs or Nests.

The requirement states that our entry of 
a table or vignette has to include at least one of these elements to qualify.

Accepting Kathleen's April Challenge,
I knew exactly which dinnerware I would use.

I was sure of the color scheme. . .or so I thought.
That is, until I lost my heart to this bird statute 
during the Spring Open House at Memories of Home.

You're heard said, "That one design element can change the whole scheme."
That's exactly what happened when I made this purchase.

This amazingly crafted bird statue changed the whole tablescape.

As is the scenario for any of my tablescape designs,
I begin by layering the linens atop the table.


Two freshly starched square white linen heirloom tablecloths
were placed atop my circular Dining Room table.
Angling the cut work grape patterned linen cloth on top
gives movement and visual appeal to the linen cloth below.

Natural ecru hued linen place mats 
give a neutral background 
for my Home Laughlin Turquoise China 
and Pottery Barn Bird stoneware plates.

I adore how the Turquoise hued rim is 
again, present within the wing of the bird.

I chose my everyday dishwasher safe stemware.
Simply accompanied by a vintage juice tumbler 
rimmed in the same hue as the grass 
now beginning to awaken outside the patio door.

The other design element that remained the same 
are my linen aqua napkins and shabby chic wrought iron napkin rings.

Each place setting has a miniature crystal salt and pepper
atop a petite silver tray.

I borrowed two cups and saucers from the built~in china cabinet.
Not a match to the stoneware bird plates, 
they are a whimsical complimentary accent.

As if the bird on the handle wasn't sweet enough,
I was quite smitten with the saucers.

Directly behind the bird statue 
sits a creamy ivory porcelain urn filled with a birds nest on twig branches.

It would appear that this protective pair is  carefully 
keeping watch over their dappled eggs within the nest.

Keeping a simplistic design is a must, 
for this week was filled with the finalizing 
for our Spring Booth at Unique Antique Market.

All too quickly,
the hours from breakfast~to~dinner will slip away.

Instead of using just one of the requirements,
I was able to blend all three harmoniously throughout my tablescape
by simply layering my nest. 

Until next time. . .

On Crooked Creektt will be joining

Kathleen @ Cuisine Kathleen for Let's Dish!

Be sure to visit for viewing 

all  of the amazingly creative tablescaping

using April's Let's Dish Challenge!