Yellow and Blue and Organizing, Too!

It is not normal for me to go a week between posts, but this week seems to have been crazier than usual. Since my last post, my stress level has increased significantly. Some of the issues are/were my husband’s medical appointments (now leveled out and relatively stress-free), issues with my parents and trying to help them out (big mistake; let them take care of their own issues), beginning preparations as co-director for our annual Passion Play at church (stress level never decreases here), trying to study for an antiques appraisal course (why did I start this at this time of year again?), and other things, too many to mention.

Right now I am at home waiting for a repairman because of some possible issues with my heating unit-yes, more stress.  What is a good way to tackle stress?

Relax! For me, what is a good way to relax? Blog and tablescape, of course! So the housework is piled up, errands have yet to be run, and the December books for our business are waiting for me to “get around to them.”  So what am I doing? Well, you’re reading this, right?

As I went through some of my various tablescaping items searching for an inspiration for this table, I came across these April Cornell napkins. I actually purchased them some time ago and have not used them yet. With the blue background, yellow, green and red print, they will go with a number of different table settings. I thought for a few minutes and decided to stick with the blue.

Because I want these napkins to be the star, I started with a plain white Dollar Tree placemat and topped it with my Salem plates. I love these plates!

I have several napkin rings in my collection that would either match or bring out different colors of these napkins. Because I had used silver and blue last week, I settled on these nice brass ones. I really like them and I think they look great with these napkins.

I also decided on my San Remo flatware. I liked the black with this place setting.

I selected Dollar Tree flutes and my clear wine glasses for the glassware for this place setting.

I had a lot of trouble deciding on a centerpiece. I tried several different variations of the above, and I still don’t think that I am totally satisfied with it. But it will do for now. I started with the yellow and blue pottery plate above and flanked it with antique yellow vases containing the only blue silk flowers that I could find in my tablescaping stash.

This little vignette did not look right alone, so I added my cream-colored pillar candles on clear pedestals. This set is truly one of the best tablescaping items I have ever purchased. I use them all the time and they can be used in a large variety of ways.

Because I did want to use just a little bit of  the other colors (red and green) in the napkins, I selected this vintage Salem bowl to finish off the look. I call the edge of this bowl “cabbage leaf,” even though I have no idea if this name is correct. I have seen these types of bowls in antique malls with the cabbage leaf decoration in green and light red also. I have a larger one with the yellow edge that has no center decoration which once belonged to my grandmother. I found this one in an antique mall and purchased it to match that one. The floral decal in the center has some red, yellow, green, and blue, so it is great with the napkins.

I was pleased with the final look of the table and did feel somewhat more relaxed after finishing it.

OK, you are probably going to find this next thing pretty nuts, but I love to organize. The middle drawer of the buffet holds all of my all-occasion napkins {my holiday napkins are elsewhere}. It was a jumble, which might be why I had forgotten about those cute napkins!

So after finishing the table, I did a quick organizing project in the napkin drawer. I pulled out every single napkin and stacked them according to color. Obviously, this is the blue stack.

If the napkins are printed, I tried to put them in the stack according to the most dominant color, such as these sunflower napkins in the green stack.

I also have a large stack of browns, taupes, and other neutrals.

Lots of white, which I don’t really use a whole lot but can’t bring myself to get rid of.

I have only a few yellow ones.

I have a few more pink than yellow napkins.

I have one set of purple, one set of black, and a couple in shades of red.

I have two sets in which orange is the dominant color.

OK, are you ready? Wait for it, wait for it….

Ta-da! Love this neatly organized drawer. Hopefully, I won’t forget about what I have again. In addition, I pulled out a few to sell at my booth. If you read my blog, you know that I don’t buy anything for tablescapes unless I get rid of something else. If I didn’t do that, my house would be taken over by dishes, napkins, placemats, and artificial flowers. [I’ve already been taken over by salt and pepper shakers, but that’s a different story.] I really don’t mind getting rid of placemats, tablecloths, and napkins, but the problem is that they just don’t sell very well, even when I price them very, very low. Right now I have some placemats and table runners up there, and I will add the napkins next week. Well, I’ll see! Hope they sell!

As I prepare to sign off, I can tell that my stress level has dropped, so my goal was achieved! Hope everyone has a great, stress-free week!

I am joining: A Stroll Thru Life for Tabletop Tuesday, Home and Garden Thursday at A Delightsome Life , Vintage Thingie Thursday at Colorado Lady,   From the Farm at Sunny Simple Life, Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday, Metamorphosis Monday, Masterpiece Monday at Boogieboard Cottage ,  Cozy Little House for Tweak it Tuesday,  Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase ,  The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home, Brown Gingham Creations for Rednesday,  Cuisine Kathleen for Let’s Dish, Treasure Hunt Thursday at From My Front Porch to Yours,  Make the Scene Monday at Alderberry Hill , Cottage Style at Lavender Garden, Homemaking Paty at Hope in Every Season,   The Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday, The Thrifty Groove for Thrifty Things Friday, What’s It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants; Weekend Bloggy Reading at Serenity Now, Meet Me Monday at You Are Talking Too Much,  Spotlight Saturday at Classy Clutter, Feathered Nest Friday at French Country Cottage, Pink Saturday at How Sweet the Sound, You’re Gonna Love It Tuesdays at Kathe with an E, Mop it Up Monday at I Should Be Mopping the Floor , Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style ,  Make it Pretty Monday, Anything Blue Friday at The Dedicated House,Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style,  Create It Thursday at Lamberts Lately,   Flaunt it Friday at Chic on a Shoestring,  Tuesday’s Treasures at Uncommon Suburbia,  Return to Loveliness at A Delightsome Life, Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters,Open House Party at No Minimalist Here Time Travel Thursday at The Brambleberry Cottage , Tips and Tidbits at The Stone Gable, Thursday Favorite Things at Katherine’s Corner , Sizzle into Summer at DIY by Design