Mama's Ma Lin

Every time I go to Little Rock to visit my parents, I look forward to playing with Mama's dishes.  I have blogged about at least two different tables set with Mama's beautiful Castleton Ma Lin china, but this time I wanted to try yet another color scheme.  Here's a photo of the pattern from Replacements.com. 

Replacements.com

I have set a spring table highlighting the yellow in the pattern . . .

and a fall table highlighting the "cinnamon" color, as Castleton described it:

This time, though, I wanted to try a spring table to bring out the pretty greens in the pattern.  I knew Mama didn't have any green table linens, so I stuffed some in my roll-aboard suitcase.  (The section designed to hold a carefully folded man's suit is perfect for placemats and napkins, if you ever need to know!)

Here's how the placesetting looked with green linens:

The placesetting included Mama's sterling, Reed and Barton's French Renaissance.  I love the shape of the salad fork's tines -- perfect for cutting through lettuce ribs or a firm pie crust.  I also included the iced tea spoon, since I'm using her iced tea glasses.

 Mama's crystal is Fostoria's Navarre, a beautiful etched pattern with the prettiest stem design.

Mama already had the perfect centerpiece on her table to go along with the blue in the Ma Lin design -- blue candles in her pair of double-light candlesticks and an arrangement of silk hydrangeas.

Here's a closer look at one of the candlesticks.  If anyone can identify the pattern, I would love to know it!  (Oops, you can see my striped shirt in the mirror as I take the photo!)

Here's one more look at the placesetting:

And one view of the table.  By the way, the mirror over the table used to hang in my grandfather's jewelry store in a small Arkansas town.  He used it to see who had entered the store as he sat at his workbench, repairing watches.

Thank you for visiting!  I will be linking to Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen and Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

Castleton Mayfair for Fall

This week I'm showing you a second table I set while visiting my parents in Little Rock recently.  This one features Mama's other Castleton pattern, Mayfair.  I set a spring table with it back in April, using pale yellow napkins, but wanted to try a fall version.  Here's a close-up of the pattern.

This time I wanted to use gold placemats and gray napkins to complement the roses and leaves in the pattern.  As I mentioned last week, I flew to Little Rock with a variety of table linens in my carry-on.  And, yes, that IS a little bit crazy!  Here I'm using the underside of the Turning Leaf placemats from a recent fall tablescape and gray napkins from Crate & Barrel.  Mama's silver is Reed & Barton's French Renaissance, and her crystal is Fostoria's Navarre.

Yellow roses, of course, were essential for the centerpiece!  Conveniently, Kroger had some at a good price.

Here's a view across the table.  In addition to the roses, I found some gray Colonial candles at Fifth Season, my favorite gift store in Little Rock.  If you're ever in Little Rock, it's a must-see!

Although the light isn't great in this view of the table, it does show the herringbone pattern in the gray runner.  I found the runner, originally marked $24.95, on the clearance table at Denver's The Great Indoors last spring.  It was marked down to $5.18, and I got another 20% off that!  I think it adds a modern feel to the table.

Here's a closer look at Mama's beautiful Navarre crystal.  I love both the etched pattern and the elegant shape.

Here's another look at the yellow roses.  You can see Mama's living room reflected in the huge mirror, which originally hung in my grandfather's jewelry store.

Here's another view of the table.

And here's one final view, which unfortunately reveals that I didn't use a hot enough iron on the runner after pulling it from my suitcase!

Thanks for visiting my parents' house this week!  I hope you will leave a comment before you leave to visit all the wonderful tablescapes at Susan's Between Naps on the Porch!