301 moved permanently

April 22, 2009

A Tablescape, Baking Day and a Clothesline

Today was such a gorgeous day I decided to wash some of my vintage linens. I have a regular routine of washing all my vintage quilts, lace and linens in early Spring and always air dry. They smell so wonderful and the sunlight makes the colors so bright and gorgeous. Most of my tablecloths I pick up at Garage Sales or Church Rummage Sales for $2-$10 each.

Below is my typical dinner tablescape with my every day china. We always eat in my kitchen unless it's a special occasion or we have guests. I just love my every day china. It's Bennington Stoneware but when I bought I did not know anything about Bennington Pottery. I bought it at TJMaxx and a dinner plate was $2.29!! I bought 8 place settings for myself and 8 place settings, including bowls and butter plates, for my housekeeper as a Christmas present. I also picked up a few serving pieces and the total for everything was around $150. Dawn was thrilled beyond thrilled with the dishes and her children were so excited! I love my stoneware as much today as when I bought it. And now knowing the cost of Bennington Pottery, I wish I'd of bought more!

I'm a baker. I bake almost every day and some days I just bake all day long. When I designed my new kitchen it was with baking in mind. Below are a few pictures of my kitchen on particularly heavy baking days. Note you can always see a latte sitting somewhere within my reach!

Now this is how my island is supposed to look, very neat and clean. The large cutting board is from my MIL and it was 1 thing she brought to America when they immigrated in 1947.

The below pictures are of my working island. As you can see from the photos, I multi-task and usually have several baking projects going at once. The large blue/white mixing bowl is Spode, a $49 Ebay purchase on a particularly bad day during our construction project. It definitely lifted my spirits! I always have at least 1 cake stand containing cupcakes, brownies, cookies or whatever on my island. I've noticed that when people enter my kitchen they immediately look around for something handy to eat, so I just make it easy.

Tablescape Thursday is a weekly event graciously hosted by Susan of Between Naps on the Porch.

And Thrifty Thursday, another weekly event, is being guest hosted this week by Chandy of What Now? and Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville.

34 Comments:

Elyse said...: I just loved this little tour of your kitchen. I'm in total admiriation. Your kitchen is a baker's dream. And that island, well, it's fabulous. You know, my favorite part of going home to Atlanta is getting to cook and bake in my Mom's kitchen, where there's plenty of room to spread out! In my apartment, the kitchen is about the size of a shoe box :); April 23, 2009 at 1:57 AM
The Raggedy Girl said...: Happy Table Scape Thursday!

I am stopping by to visit From Between Naps on The Porch and your Farmhouse table scape is lovely. Thank you for sharing.

from Roberta Anne = The Raggedy Girl; April 23, 2009 at 8:06 AM
Linda in AZ * said...: * What fun this was ~~~ and I really LOVED the laundry blowing the the breeze, as well as seeing your FAB stove/oven and setting! YUMMY! THANK YOU!!! Linda*; April 23, 2009 at 8:07 AM
Keetha Broyles said...: It is all lovely, especially the linens on the line picture.

BUT to be honest - - - the thing that really calls my name, being a displaced Wisconsinite, is the red barn in the background.; April 23, 2009 at 8:21 AM
Chandy said...: Good morning! Wow, those linens are precious! Love clothesline drying and wish that I can have one someday...

Bennington sounds wonderful and those dinnerware look great! I'm so glad you joined in on the fun this week!; April 23, 2009 at 8:23 AM
Katy said...: Beautiful tablescape and lovely kitchen! Great job... the island is just perfect for baking! Great job!! ~Katy (please stop by my blog and register for a blog give away today!~); April 23, 2009 at 8:24 AM
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...: Love your dishes. They are just wonderful. Isn't it great to find some that you just love and use them for years. Your kitchen is so lovely. I adore that huge island. I had a really huge one in my last house and it is so nice to be able to really spread out and still have everything in one place. I now have the whole kitchen messed up when I bake. lol I also love that ruffle edge cakestand. So Pretty. Thanks for coming by my TT and your kind remarks. I really appreciate it. Hugs, Marty; April 23, 2009 at 9:04 AM
Joyce said...: Oh honey what a fun post. I love the tablecoths on the line which reminds me of easier times. Your kitchen is beautiful. Can I come over and play with your flour since I like to play with flour? Thanks for sharing this refreshing post with me.
Joyce; April 23, 2009 at 9:14 AM
Yellow Rose Arbor said...: What a great kitchen! I wish I could bake everyday, I love to bake, but my husband is diabetic so I can't :-(

I love the picture with the clothesline and barn!

Nice pottery dishes!

Katherine; April 23, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Unknown said...: What a wonderful kitchen you have. Oh, I would love a big kitchen! Your dishes are wonderful and how lucky you thought of your housekeeper and got such a great deal!

I love the vintage tableclothes hanging outdoors to dry. When I was little my Nanny (grandma) used to hang her laundry outside whenever she could, seeing that picture reminds me of her.; April 23, 2009 at 9:41 AM
Candy said...: Oh, but it takes one back to see pretty linens blowing in the breeze...
Love that red cake plate and all the baking, everything. Except no flour flying through the air...Go Girl!
Candy; April 23, 2009 at 10:24 AM
xinex said...: I love, love, love your kitchen! I like your tablescape too, of course, pretty eggy tablecloth, perfect for the dishes!...Christine; April 23, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Tiffany said...: What an amazing kitchen you have! I'm jealous of your clothes lines. When we buy a house, I WILL have some.; April 23, 2009 at 10:30 AM
Anonymous said...: I would love to be standing at your beautiful island baking all day. The photo of the linens on the clothesline makes me hope that spring will be here to stay soon.; April 23, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Mid-Atlantic Martha said...: Oh I do love your vintage linens! And what a wonderful kitchen - perfect for your baking!; April 23, 2009 at 11:47 AM
Terrie's Lil' Piece of Serenity said...: I loved this post. It feels like you're almost there with you. You have a wonderful kitchen. I adore vintage linens. And I love your dinnerware. I am a very casual person. I could move right in and feel at home. Thanks for sharing!; April 23, 2009 at 11:56 AM
j said...: I am captivated by the photo of your vintage linens on the line! That is an awesome photo!

Great post.; April 23, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Cass @ That Old House said...: Gorgeous spatterware dishes! And what a buy on them, too.

But your kitchen? Spectacular. Wow, just wow.

I love the hanging laundry, too. Reminds me of our last NYC apartment; I used to hand my damp laundry on a clothesline out a big kitchen window. Not exactly a farm setting, but -- still, it worked! Love wind-dried clothes and linens!

Cass; April 23, 2009 at 11:58 AM
Carrie said...: What a great kitchen...your table setting is very welcoming and lovely.; April 23, 2009 at 12:45 PM
Christi @ A Southern Life said...: Thanks for the tour of your kitchen. Everything you were baking looked yummy. Love the clothesline with the vintage linens and I always enjoy seeing the "everyday" dishes.; April 23, 2009 at 3:21 PM
Ivy said...: I am so jeleous you can hang your wash out in the sun. I love that!
And you vintage linens ARE great!; April 23, 2009 at 3:48 PM
Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...: I am so happy you stopped by, so that I could find your lovely blog! Your kitchen is my dream kitchen and the table you set is just how I like things. I love vintage linens too. I'll be back soon,.... Cindy; April 23, 2009 at 4:29 PM
Kathleen Ellis said...: Your linens are lovely...and your kitchen is fabulous...great work space on that island!
;-D; April 23, 2009 at 4:37 PM
susan said...: Your kitchen is beautiful, but I just loved the picture of the clothesline with the linens blowing. It brought back fond memories from my childhood! And you're right they do smell better!; April 23, 2009 at 5:19 PM
Melissa said...: You just have one of the best blogs! I love the kitchen...I love your non-dusty wood floors (mine are dusty today)...I love your posts. Great one on the puff pastry!; April 23, 2009 at 5:32 PM
Susan (Between Naps On The Porch.net) said...: That was sooo much fun...just like being there and getting a real tour of how you work in your kitchen. I love your everyday china...and what an awesome deal you got! It must be great to live in your home and always find these delicious little treats waiting in the kitchen! :-) Susan; April 23, 2009 at 5:36 PM
From the Old InkWell said...: What a lovely kitchen! Next time you bake, call me, I'll be right over! :=)

Marsha; April 23, 2009 at 8:50 PM
Robin said...: I love your dishes......and that tablecloth too. :-)
Every time I come by you have such wonderful recipes, which doesn't help the diet any. But as I told my husband the other day.....I've decided to retire from waistline management. ;-)
Thanks for sharing all your lovely recipes.
Hope your day has been beautiful....; April 23, 2009 at 10:06 PM
Ldy ~~ Dy said...: Your table is very inviting and cheery! Love it! I also like your kitchen... perfect for all your baking. Your picture of drying linens is great! Thanks for dropping by!!; April 24, 2009 at 3:32 AM
Kammy said...: Hello,
I loved your tour - I too remodeled my kitchen (still the
floor to do) I loved also choosing
what I needed - isn't is great ?
I see you have a clothesline,
I do too - I just love to use it!
I added my name as a follower to
your blog as I like your style !
Hugs ~ Kammy; April 24, 2009 at 6:07 AM
Kathleen said...: Beautiful, Michelle..your kitchen is delightful! And your dishes are lovely..; April 25, 2009 at 3:56 PM
Christina said...: What a wonderful, happy post. Love your table setting with all the mix of beautiful things. The tablecloth and the green gravy boat are my favorites.

Love the island and the history of your cutting board. Just loved the whole post. Makes me want to go and bake banana bread for my family.; April 26, 2009 at 4:04 PM
Kim @ Starshine Chic said...: You have a fabulous kitchen. I would kill for a work island like you have. I might even do some baking. I am not a cook nor a baker, but wish that I were. If only I had more time & wasn't quite so lazy. Thanks for visiting my tablescape post & leaving me a comment. It really means a lot to me. Sorry that it took me so long to visit yours. I enjoyed my visit.; April 28, 2009 at 6:06 PM
Shari said...: I love the peek into your kitchen! Looks like a wonderful place to work/play.; April 30, 2009 at 8:30 PM

Devils Workshop

http://www.bigblackdogs.net

Big Black Dog

April 22, 2009

A Tablescape, Baking Day and a Clothesline

34 Comments:

About Me

Previous Posts