It’s hard to believe. Memorial Day celebrations begin in just a few days.
It’s the official weekend to kick off everything summer.
One thing is for sure, many families and friends will be gathering to enjoy delicious food.
With that in mind, today I wanted to share with you a few…
Patriotic Tablescape Ideas
It’s easy for me to set a patriotic table because I have dinnerware in red, ivory, and blue.
Red and white is great for Christmas and Valentine’s Day.
Blue and white is terrific for the snowy days of January and Hanukkah and Thanksgiving.
And then, I confess, I wish I had a set of plain ivory or white dishes. I do prefer that for spring and late summer. Regardless I am blessed with my abundance of dinnerware.
For some visual interest I added a cloche to the center of my tablescape.
This is no ordinary cloche. It’s a Grandma Bonnie’s Pie Plate in Classic Red turned up side down with a hurricane also turned upside down over it.
For fun I placed three cobalt blue jars that I filled with some blossoms gathered nearby.
And then I topped it off with a little cobalt blue bird. I think it looks like my ‘cloche’ has the cutest handle.
I just might have had a little too much fun with this.
When you are thinking of patriotic tablescaping ideas, think outside the box. And upside down. [wink]
This is a casual table setting with a large mug that reminds me of a tankard. It can just as easily be filled with lemonade or sweet tea as well as coffee. And for the tablescape, filled with everyone’s stars and stripes napkins.
The star dishes complete the red, white, and blue them nicely. Plus they are just plain fun as well as perfect for that fresh fruit salad. Yum!
Just for fun I added some place cards to each place setting.
These were actually stationary cards that I have had and rediscovered the other day when I was looking for my miniature American Flags which I have yet to locate. And just as I tapped that in, I remembered that I had some little cupcake flags that I was going to add to the little cobalt bottles. Oh well. Next year?
Anyway, I cut the backs off the cards and set each in a vintage floral frog.
It’s the little details that make it more fun for our guests.
Behind the cloche you can see a card with red & blue stars. I have two star punches and punched out the stars and glued them on the backs of the place cards so they would be fun to look at from the back side as well. And add to our stars and stripes theme.
In case you had not noticed, we do have a stars and stripes theme. It’s subtle, but it’s there.
Stars with our blue star bowls, and stars and stripes both played out with our two sided napkins and the place cards.
I should probably mention that except for the vintage frogs, the silverplate, the place cards, and the candle sticks, everything else is from Longaberger.
Every table needs fresh flowers. And since I am on a zero spending budget, I gathered a few sprigs of forsythia for my filler and more of the wild berry bushes….which were really thorny….to create fresh arrangements in our color theme. I used 1-pint crocks in the paprika red for the arrangements and set them on top of small pie plates turned upside down.
Are you getting some inspiration as I share my patriotic tablescape ideas?
If you are, be sure to let me know in the comments what sparked in your mind.
The star dishes even have stars.
In the background are some pewter candlesticks. I actually bought those for my mom shortly after I was married. They are taller than the ones I got as a wedding gift which works out great sometimes.
The hurricane turned cloche has a lovely etching on it. Unfortunately it makes it difficult to see the cobalt bottles easily. One of the jars in front has Milk of Magnesia embossed on it.
You may notice the place card has a prayer on it.
It might be a good thing to have everyone gathered for the meal pray for our country and her leaders. And for each of us as her citizens as well. May we all consider the words of John Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
And let us give thanks for the men and women, and their families, who have sacrificed life and limb for our freedom and liberty. And may our good country be truly free from tyranny.
Hopefully these patriotic tablescaping ideas will be useful for this week, or maybe for your Independence Day celebrations.
How are you celebrating this important weekend?
Do you decorate your house in red, white, and blue?
Do you set a patriotic table?
Do you hang a flag for the holiday….or the whole summer?
Wishing you an extraordinary Memorial Day….filled with remembrance and celebration.
Diane
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Your tablescape is gorgeous. I love your cobalt blue and the small bottles under your cloche are fabulous. Beautiful tablescape. Thanks so much for joining the party. Hugs, Marty
Oh Marty, thank you for giving me the nudge.
May you day over flow with joy and blessing.
Loved it all & think you did such a good job! I too am of the opinion that a hostess can delight all the senses of her family or friends by just taking a few minutes to add those special details that say she cares & want sthem to be able to enjoy more than just the good tastes & affirming conversations ’round her table!
I will be doing a red, white & blue theme on our enclosed back porch at a small lake house. It will probably just be the two of us but all the same, I want to be reminded of the true meaning of the day. I have lots of small American flags & have red, white & blue candles, plus a patriotic tablecloth. I like the idea of red or blue bandana napkins…we shall see.
I may incorporate an idea or two from you, as well. (: Be very blessed this significant holiday, Diane!
Carolyn, my weekend dream would include doing exactly what you will be doing. It sounds absolutely delightful.
Oh I love bandana napkins….that makes me wonder what happened to mine. haha! The joys of moving….it take years to find some things again. 😉
Thank you for your kind and encouraging thoughts. May your holiday weekend be blessed as well.
Thanks for sharing all your patriotic table ideas. Each one is lovely! Happy Weekend…….Sarah
And thank you Sarah, for taking the time to leave your sweet words of encouragement here.
Wishing you an Extraordinary holiday!
You have done so very creative things How clever to use an upside down pie plate for your cloche base. Thank you for the prayer for our service men and women and our leaders. I know we are sunk in this country without depending on our creator to help us and guide us.
I love your cobalt bottles and your Grandma and I have the same name. Enjoyed your post.
Awwww…you just put a big smile on my face, Bonnie. 😀 Thank you!!!
Let’s be sure to keep those prayers going for this blessed country we call home.
Wishing you an extraordinary holiday weekend.
Just adore your beautiful and patriotic tablescape – I also collect Longaberger so I admire all your beautiful pieces incorporated on the table ! I am in the process this week of turning the house over to “summer” decor which means the living room is a “beachy” theme, while the dining room, kitchen, front porch and family room are all red, white and blue and will stay that way most of the summer. I introduce some sunflowers into the mix come August and I remove any “fourth of july” related decor after the 4th. I have bins and bins of red, white and blue – It’s one of my favorite decors to do! Happy Memorial Day 🙂
Oh Dorinda….I think that we must have similar styles. I too enjoy the red, white, and blue for most of the summer and just like you, make a switch to sunflowers in August. I love the idea of a ‘beachy’ theme somewhere. It’s so refreshing in the heat of summer.
Thank you for stopping by and leaving you kind and thoughtful words. 🙂
Wishing you an Extraordinary Memorial Day and weekend!
It’s beautiful! You never cease to amaze me with what you create even with a zero spending budget. Just goes to show you some creativity and resourcefulness (plus shopping your home!) go a long way! The flowers are perfect and my favorite part is your “cloche”. I would have never known it was anything else had you not revealed your secret. Any plans for hosting loved ones at this beautiful table?
Awwww….you are so kind. Yes…it does help to have some boxes and cupboards to shop. 🙂 And being an only child of older parents, I ended up with “a few extra things.” That ‘cloche’ is really a funny thing. One day I was looking at it when it was serving as a hurricane and I realized the shape was similar to a cloche but it had a flat top. I decided that as long as it has something to look like a knob on top it would work.
Unfortunately, we live 4-5 hours from our friends who are like family and my husband’s family is more than 8 hours away. We will still enjoy the weekend, and the following week a friend is coming to stay a night on her way out to a wedding and then again on the return. And…she would love this…so I will probably leave this set up (except for the dishes) and eat elsewhere. Of course, I’ll need to find some more flowers for the table…but that will be a fun adventure.
Blessings, sweet friend. 🙂
Excellent job! Love the cobalt blue accents and your creative way to make a cloche! I like the napkins in the cups..great look!
Awww….thanks Liz! You are a great encourager!
Blessings!
I absolutely adore your amazing patriotic tablescape!
I don’t decorate much for Memorial Day but I finally get around to it for July 4th.
Your table is very very well done!
Michele…I do enjoy our patriotic holidays and love decorating for them.
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. 🙂
Blessings and wishes for an extraordinary holiday weekend.
What inspired me?? well all of it. I was intrigued with the cloche to start with.. a pie plate and a hurricane.. really? It’s just wonderful. I love the cobalt blue. Omg. And the plates are wonderful. Just love this table. Have a blessed and enjoyable Memorial Day weekend. xo marlis
Marlis…you just put a big smile on my face. 😀 Thank you!!
Wishing you a joyful and blessed Memorial weekend.
Wonderful red, white and blue layering of plates! I especially like the blue and white design on your plates plus the addition of the star bowls. Your patriotic prayer cards are so appropriate! We need to also pray for the tornado victims from the last few days! Have a lovely weekend!
Pam
Awww….thank you so much Pam!!
Oh, yes, the tornado victims are in our prayers. 😉 What devastation.
May your Memorial weekend be extraordinary!
Diane, lots of inspiration on your lovely table. I love the centerpiece…I never think too far outside the box! Great idea using the frogs for placecard holders. Love the red/white platter on your sideboard!
Have a wonderful weekend…
Thank you Marigene! I’ve been forcing myself to think outside the box and I’m finding that it’s fun. I just need to be reminded to do that…haha!!
My dear friend gifted me the platter last summer. I love how it’s perfect with a red, white, and blue theme.
Thanks for your lovely thoughts.
Wishing you an extraordinary Memorial Day/weekend!
You’ve been hit with that “zero spending budget” curse, too? Sorry ’bout that! You and I rowin’ the same boat, sister! I have been duly warned and slightly threatened! 🙂 Oh, well…it just makes us get more and more creative, and that’s exactly what you’ve done here!!!
First, I have to tell you how much I LOVE the idea of using the vintage frogs for name card holders!!! What a neat thing!!! That really works well here!
You’ve put a really terrific spin on a patriotic table by giving it a whimsical touch with the tiny cobalt bird atop your cloche and a feminine touch with the flowers. Very pretty! Great quote – on of the all-time greatest – to end your post, too!
I wish you and yours a very safe, happy and reflective holiday weekend!!!
I do hope we get out of the row boats soon! Do you see our ship on the horizon? 😉
Thanks for noticing the little things that made my heart sing, too, Alycia!
You are always so wonderfully encouraging. Thanks for taking the time to bless me.
May your holiday be extraordinary in every way. 🙂
Such a beautiful patriotic table.
– The Tablescaper
Those words mean a lot to me coming from the Tablescape Queen!!
Hope your holiday weekend is extraordinary!
Thank you Diane, that was a wonderful table and lovely thoughts~your place cards are wonderful, the prayer written around the edge is such a special touch~it looks like a hand painted watercolor? Happy Memorial Day,
Jenna
You are so sweet, Jenna. Thank you for your kind words. 🙂
Wishing you and yours a blessed Memorial Day!
Beautiful tablescape Diane! Especially love your place cards! Happy Memorial Day!~~Angela
Thank you Angela!! Isn’t it interesting how it really is the littlest of things that make it special?
Blessings sent your way for an Extraordinary holiday weekend!
My favorite thing are the repurposed cards serving as place cards. I have a passion for paper and save beautiful cards, place cards, tissue paper, wrapping paper, sacks, etc… to re-use in decorating also. Your table setting is very inspiring.
Judith
I was thinking that I could add colored cardstock to the backs and create a matted look and place them in a frame, too. Isn’t there always something fun to do with these kinds of things?
Thanks for your kind words. 🙂
Wishing you An Extraordinary Day!
Ah. So THAT’S why the neighbor was out and about putting out flags and pulling out lights.
*laughing* I thought he was a tad early for the 4th.
*sigh* I’m soooo out of the loop some days. Oh, but thank goodness you’re keeping me in it! It means the flagpole will be drug out and the flag will get hung. (It goes up for holidays along with everyone elses’ on this street) And I’ll have a go at pulling to box of goodies out and seeing what I can construct. Now, it will NOT be as organized and thoughtful as your table. Oh my…I need to find some of those antique froggy things and make some place cards. THAT is a cool idea! And the pie plate with a hurricane atop it with the cute little bottles inside–adorable. I was trying to decide if I could do that, but the pie plate I have is bigger than the hurricane glass–and it’d mean a pile of beach shells…….somewhere…if I stole the hurricane. LOL Oh, but yours is just too cute!
And it’s a holiday weekend! Which means I best get a move on it this evening and get ‘er done Friday/Saturday! And I commented that I was starting to get bored…..LOL
Haha!! Bored! I seriously could not believe that you would have a bored bone in your body!!
But…I sure get how quickly this holiday has crept up on us. Oh my!!
Have fun with all your holiday creating!! [hugs]
Beautiful! I would love for you to share this at http://hickorytrailblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/assets-and-efforts-linky-party-3.html
Thanks,
Angela
Awww…thank you Angela!! 🙂
Very pretty table. I love the place card with the prayer. Very fitting for the Memorial Day tribute.
Thank you Jocelyn. Don’t you agree, it’s the little details like that make the dinner meaningful? I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Blessings for a lovely Memorial Day & weekend!
I love that you’re on a zero budget, so am I. Sometimes I get frustrated but it makes me really be creative & simple. I love your dishes, cloche and your place cards. I love all the red, white & blue! Have a great weekend!
Blessings My Friend,
I can’t say that I love this….because the why is so difficult…but it share has given my creativity a huge boost. There’s always a silver lining in every cloud. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. 🙂
Wishing you and yours an Extraordinary Memorial Day & Weekend!
Ah, what a sweet tablescape. Don’t think I will be decorating the camper table much, but you have inspired me to pick up some patriotic plates and napkins!
Awww…stars and stripes paper version is a great idea! I love any excuse to enjoy red, white, & blue!
Hope your camping excursion is extraordinary!!
All so pretty! And very pinnable.
Brenda
How nice of you to say that Brenda! Thank you!!
Wishing you an Extraordinary Memorial weekend!
Beautiful table! I was drawn to the cloche immediately and love that you created it with an inverted pie plate. I will remember that! I also love the little place card with the prayer at the end. I will AMEN your prayer.
As to the questions: We keep a flag up all year. We will celebrate with a picnic at my mother’s house. Unfortunately, our town does NOTHING in the way of formal celebration so we try to honor the fallen in our own way. At my own house, I will be setting a patriotic table (basically, a version of the one I posted) on my kitchen table. It has already been moved in there, in fact.
Thank you for noticing the little things, Debbie! And thanks for sharing your plans, too.
Wishing you a blessed holiday with your family. 🙂
I love everything about this table! Your cloche, and the little blue jars in it, is just lovely! I too love to dress my tables as inexpensively as I can. Have a wonderful holiday weekend 🙂
Awwww…Kathe with an ‘e’….you just put a big smile on my face. Thank you for your sweet thoughts.
Wishing you and yours an Extraordinary Memorial weekend.
Lovely table! I especially like the centerpiece you made – so creative, and the candlesticks. They remind me of the ones in the taverns in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. I usually put some flag buntings on the porch railings, and I’ll put a black streamer on my porch-mounted American flag from sunset until noon on Memorial Day. (That is the traditional way to put a porch-mounted flag in mourning, since you can’t really put it at half-staff.) Blessings – Dawn @ We Call It Junkin
Thank you Dawn….I did want a bit of that colonial feel to the table and because you noticed the candlesticks…I feel like I achieved it a bit.
I am unfamiliar with the black streamer for Memorial Day with a porch flag. I’m going to look it up to learn more. Thanks for sharing that.
Wishing you a blessed Memorial holiday.
Wow your tablescape for memorial day is awesome! Love it!
Mary, MI
Thank you soooo much Mary!! 😀
Wishing you a wonderful Memorial Day holiday!
Wow!!! thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things hop xo
Awwww….thanks Katie!!
Hope your Memorial Day & weekend are Extraordinary!
A lovely and Patriotic tablescape! I really liked how you raised items using pie plates upside down…great tip!
Thanks for joining Diann and I at TTF!
Linda
Thank you so much Linda for you kind words and for hosting, too!
I loved that the design of the pie plates gives the table a bit more color that way, too.
Best wishes for An Extraordinary Memorial Day and weekend!
I love the look of your table, so patriaotic.
Have a safe and fun Memorial weekend.
Awwww….thanks Tina!!
You, too!
Love the way you put all of this together! The cloche idea is terrific! Gives everything in it so much more presence! Think I will try this as well. Thanks for the beautiful inspiration! : ) Catherine (new follower)
I’m thrilled that you got a bit of inspiration from this post! Thank you for your kind word Catherine!!
Wishing you an Extraordinary holiday weekend!
That is the cleverest idea for a cloche I have ever seen! I absolutely love it! Your tablescape is so pretty and patriotic. It’s good to remember what we are celebrating. Lovely post!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend.
Peace,
Linda at The French Hens Nest
Awwww….Linda…thank you sooo much!! You just made my day!!:D
Best wishes to you for an Extraordinary holiday, too!
Thank you for being a part of Seasonal Sundays.
– The Tablescaper
Always a pleasure to join in the fun! 😉
Tahnk you for sharing. I love your pictures and alternative use of things you have. Please add my email to your list for updates.
Barbara Drone aka Spke (because sometimes one needs a little attitude)
What a beautiful tablescape! So many great little details! I popped over from Alderberry Hill–thanks for sharing!
~Abby =)
Awww…thanks for noticing….and for taking the time to leave your thoughtful words. 🙂
Abby, I hope your week is Extraordinary!
Your tablescape is just beautiful..thank you so much for sharing at One More Time Events
Awww…thanks Tammy….it’s always a pleasure! 🙂
What a wonderful Memorial day table! I hope your holiday is a happy one!
Thank you Diann! I hope your Memorial holiday was wonderful too!
You just can;t beat Red, White and Blue. The cobalt looks great under the cloche. Thanks for sharing. Kathy.
There’s something about red, white, and blue that just makes a heart happy. Thanks Kathy!!
Simply beautiful! You really are blessed to have the tableware.:-) I love the star plates. Everything flows together so smoothly.
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy! I really had fun with the table.
Hope your Memorial holiday has been extraordinary!
Such a beautiful tablescape, love the red, white and blue, especially the dishes!
What a lovely thing to say. Thanks Rondell!
Lovely table setting! Greetings from Australia♥ ~Pernilla
How nice of you to say that Pernilla!
Blessings!
Just beautiful! Thanks for sharing this at the Creative HomeAcre Blog Hop!
Thank you so much!!! 🙂
So pretty and patriotic. I also love your table cloth! Thanks for sharing at Silver Pennies Sundays. x
Thank you, Danielle! It’s interesting you noticed the tablecloth. It was our first tablecloth purchase when we got married and it’s seen many special occasions.
Blessings!
I love your arrangement, it looks so festive! 🙂 I love the cloche. Thank you for linking up — I’m featuring your beautiful table tomorrow. Hugs!
No way!!! Thank you so much Clydia!! What a delightful blessing. I may have had a tough week….but God sure knows how to send encouragements through his people. [hugs]
I always live your tablescapes. We have a wonderful weekend planned. My oldest nephew, my godson, is getting married in Ashville, and my granddaughter is going to be his flower girl. I will get to see my family. It is going to be a grand weekend!