Happy St Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is a holiday known for parades, shamrocks and all things Irish. From leprechauns to the color green I am getting into the spirit this week.

 

To start with I used my Grandma Elsie Jacobsen's linen and embroidered table cloth. 

Don't ya just love the green and black stitching?

You've seen it before, on the other side are pink and white flowers.

 

I know it's simple, but I wanted to show off the table cloth.

Yep those are faux artichokes, we are actually having soup.  The dishes are The Mill green transfer-ware in green.  Richard and I bought them in Sonoma, CA at the Church Mouse Antique Store.  We have a setting for four.  Alfred Meakin from Staffordshire England.  And the chargers are wooden.  The cream plates are vintage Metlox Poppytrail Antique Grape.  They came from my grandma Ellen Heinz, and I have the whole set of them.

I looked around the house to find "this and that"  Here is a tray of items that have green in them.  This is set up ready for tea.  This afternoon I have two neighbors stopping by and I'm inviting them to join me for tea and some cookies.  Don't you love the cake top couple.  It is sitting on top of one of the cake stands I made. check out my blog entry http://jotraveler.blogspot.com/2011/06/odd-pieces-of-china-laying-around.html  This is the wedding topper that was on my mom and dad's cake 54 years ago.  Did you notice the odd spoons are from Ireland. They are travel spoons one collects on their travels.  The linen napkins are hand embroidered with matching flowers to the tea pot.

This is the back, I like that it looks nice all the way around.  The cabbage soup terrine was found at a garage sale.  I use it in the winter for soups.

Here I decorated the room in beaded garland I bought last year at Joann's for 45 cents a bag.l  I also used the shamrocks I purchased three years ago for a party.  It's fun to decorate when you use what you already have.

Lastly I put out the oldest thing I have in my house.  This green pitcher and two tall glasses came from my grandma Elsie's family.  They made it through the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and the six moves that I made.  I love how delicate they are and the charming painting of a woman and man with outreaching arms.  I framed that St Patrick's Day card and below you will see I added antique books, gloves and perfume bottles.  The pearls are 1950'd, but I liked the way they look on the silver tray.

 I decided to make rice crispy treats for the laddies.  I have some shamrock clover design cookie cutters, and two colors of green sprinkles.  FUN!  So easy to make, you can make some too:
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 package (10 oz. about 40) regular marshmallows
OR
4 cups miniature marshmallows
6 cups  Rice Krispies cereal
Canned frosting or decorating gel
Green decorating sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS
1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.
2. Add rice krispies cereal. Stir until well coated.
3. Using buttered spatula or wax paper evenly press mixture into 13 x 9 x 2-inch pan coated with cooking spray. Cool slightly. Using cookie cutter coated with cooking spray cut into shamrocks. Decorate with frosting and decorating sugar (if desired). Best if served the same day.
MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.

Odd Pieces of China Laying Around?

DIY Cake/Candy Stand


While going through my odd china pieces to decorate a table, I noticed I had a few pieces that went well together.  I store the pieces in a beautiful old lingerie cabinet that came out of the old Harts Department Store in downtown San Jose circa 1900's.  These pieces have come from garage sales and thrift stores.  Treasures I love and use for tea's and special occasions.  I also have a wonderful collection of cut glass candle sticks I use at Christmas on my table.  I decided to make small cake/candy stands out of the china and candle sticks. 

Here is how I did it:

After deciding on the three pieces I wanted to use for the cake/candy plates I matched them up with a few of the odd crystal candlestick holders I have collected over the years.  I will use these for the base.

I washed all pieces thoroughly and then marked where the center of the plates were so I could make sure the stands would be placed correctly.  I then added a generous amount of E-6000 glue to the top rim of the glass candlestick holder.  This glue is the best glue for glass, metal, ceramics and more.  I bought it at Joann's with my 40% off coupon.

I then glued the other two stands, turning them upside down to dry.  I placed a book on top of each upside down stand to make sure there was pressure.  I let them dry overnight (I made this project about 10:00 at night.  I get so excited when creating I really don't care about the time).

And Voila!  Your own unique cake/candy stands made by re-purposing some china and candle sticks you can find at any thrift store, flea market or garage sale.  I made mine to each be a separate stand, that way I can use them in different ways.  Be careful not to have the base be too tall for the plate you choose.

Here is another glue I use called GOOP.  I like this one too!



Supplies:
Candlestick holder
Plate, bowl, whatever you can think of
Clear epoxy craft glue E-6000 or GOOP!

Now send me one that you have made...  I am going through some other china things to come up with some new ideas this weekend.  Enjoy creating something new out of something old!