Black Widows on a Halloween Tablescape

October 25, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

This is a Halloween tablescape that I did in 2015 and then I repeated it in 2019 and 2022 but I am posting it again just for fun. The white polyester tablecloth probably came from Amazon or TableclothsFactory online several years ago. The black, red, and white spider quilted table topper came from Etsy several years ago. I have a constant battle with black widow spiders on our back patio but they hate peppermint so I mix a bit of peppermint oil in water and spray it around and they often move on. I know this tablescape won’t be to everyone’s liking but I think it’s important to change things up a bit once in a while and I want to celebrate the creative handmade work that was done on all the black widow spider items on this table. To see 30 other Halloween themed tablescapes that I have created as well as 330+ other tablescapes of mine please visit my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes .

Since it has been several years since I did this tablescape the first time I can’t remember what caused me to create a table setting with black widow spiders. I think I may have seen these hand painted black widow spider salad plates on Etsy and the table design grew from there. I love the clean crisp design, the black lines really stand out against the white.

The photo distorts the shape of these square black glass appetizer or tidbit plates a bit. We found them somewhere in Virginia while we were visiting our son and his family several years ago. They were made by Luminarc France. They were really inexpensive so I bought some white ones as well.

Using our everyday red dinner plates on this tablescape. They made by Fiesta and the color was called Scarlet. When we remodeled the kitchen several years ago I picked white with red accents as the color scheme and we bought this new set of dishes. I still love the bright red color. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying dinner plates here.

I bought these black and white chargers at Crate and Barrel many years ago. They were some of the first chargers that I bought. I just really liked the lace like design on them. The design reminds me of spider webs so I added them to this tablescape.

This flatware is made by D & D Inox in Italy and the pattern is called Roma. I bought them at Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales during a major sale several years ago. I really like the marbleized design on the handles and the quilted stainless design. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

These white cotton napkins came from Pier 1 several years ago. The black metal spider web napkin rings came from Amazon several years ago. To read about the what, where and how of napkin rings please click here.

These metal black widow spider place card holders came from Pottery Barn several years ago. I bought the same design painted like red ants but Hubby painted those black for me and I used them on a Picnic themed tablescape a few years ago. You can see that tablescape here. To read about the What, Where and When of place card holders, please click here.

I think these red glass goblets came from Crate and Barrel a few years ago. I had been looking for some simple red goblets and grabbed these when I saw them online. Now I wish I had ordered more of them. I found the hand painted black widow spider goblets on Etsy several years ago. They were made by the same person who created the black widow spider salad plates. It is a clever design, there is a spider web on the back as well as the spider on the front. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection (including the colors that I use most often) here.

I can’t remember where I bought the tall glass cloche, I have had it for several years. I bought all the spiders that I attached to it on Etsy several years ago. Some of them are pins. I bought the red pillar candle on Amazon a few years ago. I have had the small white plastic stand for several years and I don’t remember where it came from, probably HomeGoods.

I have had these black spider candle holders for many years, can’t remember where they came from online. I always have a stash of tea light candles on hand for when I need them for tablescapes.

I really don’t like spiders at all, and I especially dislike black widow spiders. We have them in our garden and I wish they would disappear but I do like this tablescape. I haven’t seen one like it before.

To see over 330 different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas Facebook group (4,400+ members) for lots of tablescaping inspiration! Just click on the Facebook Search box at the top of the page and type in Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas or click here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2553689988183392

If you live in Southern California join our Facebook tablescaping group Southern California Tablescapers BTS Group (300 members) https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 . We had a gathering in January 2025 and we are having another one in November.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

A Tree-mendous Halloween Tablescape

October 18, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I decided that I needed to do at least one Jack-o’-Lantern themed tablescape for Halloween this year. You can see about 30 other Halloween themed tablescapes of mine as well as 330+ other tablescapes that I have created on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes This Ambesonne Rustic Plank tablecloth came from Amazon several years ago and I have never used it before now.

Once I decided on the centerpiece for this table I knew that I wanted a jack-o’-lantern salad plate that looked a bit rustic and I found these Inspirado Stonelight ceramic Jack-o’-Lantern plates on Ebay. I must admit that they are a bit unusual looking.

These pumpkin colored dinner plates came from Pier 1 right before our local store closed several years ago. The pattern was called Radius Pumpkin. I really like the lip design. I like this plate color for fall tablescapes too.

Hubby was out and about and saw these faux wood resin chargers at Michael’s. He sent me a photo and asked if I wanted them because they were really cheap. I had been thinking about some kind of wood charger for this tablescape and these were perfect.

This amber flatware was made by D & D Inox in Italy. I bought the set online at Neiman Marcus or Bloomingdales during a major sale several years ago. I have this flatware in a few other colors too, I really like the design. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

My sister-in-law gave me these brown cotton napkins, they belonged to my mother-in-law. I am so glad to have them and use them. I love true traditional primary colors that aren’t some weird modern variation. She gave me some green napkins too. I really need to inventory all my napkins, I forget what I have! The jack-o’-lantern napkin rings came from Ebay several years ago. I like jack-o’-lanterns with friendly facial expressions.

These battery operated lanterns were used as place card holders at my daughter’s wedding last summer. She and her wife were married outside in the mountains and it was a beautiful wedding. I saved several of them because I knew I could use them on my tablescapes. They were just the rustic look that I wanted for this tablescape.

These orange glass goblets on the left were some of the first goblets I bought many years ago, I think I bought them at Ross or T.J. Maxx. I remember thinking that I would probably not use them very much but I have more than I thought I would. I think I probably found these coffee colored glass goblets on the right at HomeGoods. Over the years I have purchased several goblet sets there because they are really inexpensive. I have found some unusual colors there too like this one. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection including the colors that I use most often here. This photo looks cozy and warm.

There is a nursery, Roger’s Gardens, down in Orange County that has gift shops as well as plants. Every Halloween and Christmas they have large displays of holiday decorations for sale and we always go down to take a look. I saw this brown Halloween tree but I didn’t put it in my cart because I thought that it was too much money and all my Halloween items are black not brown. As we were driving out of the parking lot I told Hubby about it and he said buy it. So we turned around and went back. I have to admit I love it. It is battery operated and it changes colors and makes a loud noise!

I wanted something for each side of the tree and I wanted it to be rustic looking and brown. I found these plastic woodgrain brown skull/jack-o’-lantern candle holders on Etsy and they were just the rustic vibe that I was looking for. I wanted to put orange candles in them and I found some battery operated orange candles on Amazon.

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

Owl Eyes on this Halloween Tablescape

October 11, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

This Halloween tablecloth was designed by Johanna Parker and the design is called Vintage Halloween Patchwork. I bought it at Spoonflower online a few years ago because I loved all the Halloween symbols and the bright black, orange, and creme colors on it. Black owls are one of the designs on the tablecloth so I decided to use it for this Halloween tablescape. You can see the other thirty Halloween tablescapes that I have created as well as 330+ other themed tablescapes of mine on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes .

One of the first things that I do when I have decided on a theme for a tablescape is to start looking for a salad plate that will help illustrate the theme of the table. I first check to see if I already have a plate that would work. If I don’t I look online. I couldn’t find a salad plate with black owls on it that I liked. When that happens I start looking for something to set on the salad plate to help illustrate the theme. I found these embroidered owl ornaments on Etsy but they were white. Hubby spray-painted them black for me. In the past I have set up a Halloween tree and I knew that I could use them on that tree too so I bought them. I used a small size Fiesta plate in the color called Linen instead of a larger salad plate on this tablescape. I bought these plates online at Everything Kitchens.

The dinner plate on this tablescape is another Fiesta plate in the color called Poppy. I bought these plates at Fiesta Factory Direct online a few years ago. I really like the strong bright orange color.

This black glass charger plate is really reflective so it is difficult to take a good photo of it. The charger is a Starburst pattern and it is called Charge It. It was made by Jay and I bought them several years ago on Amazon. They are heavy glass and work well with many different color schemes. A black charger with a simple design is a good starter charger plate if you are thinking about starting a tablescaping hobby.

I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix set to use on a Halloween tablescape a few years ago and I found this set on sale at Macy’s online. It was made by Lenox and the pattern was called Portola. I love the simple design and shiny black color. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I think these orange cotton napkins probably came from Pier 1 or HomeGoods several years ago. I love the bright orange color, it’s a perfect color for a Halloween tablescape. I found the owl napkin rings on Ebay but they were silver. Hubby spray-painted them black for me.

To read about the What, Where and How of napkin rings please click here.

I found these wood owl place card holders on Amazon and Hubby painted them black for me. I set the owls on a dark bronze metal place card holder that I already had. To read about the What, Where and When of place card holders, please click here.

I like to use these black and clear goblets together because they complement each other. The goblet on the left with the black bowl and clear stem was made by Classic Touch and it is called V-Shaped Water Glass, Black With Clear Stem. I bought them at Houzz online sveral years ago. The clear fluted goblet with the black stem on the right is called Octime and the manufacturer was Luminarc Arcoroc. They were made in the 1980’s. I bought them on Ebay. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets for your tablescaping collection (including the colors that I use most often) here.

Sometimes when I am browsing online looking for things to use on my tablescapes I find something that strikes a chord with me. That was the case with this black flocked owl that I found at Cotton & Crete online. It makes a real statement and I love the eyes. I knew that it would be the perfect centerpiece for this table and I think it will be out at Halloween time for many years to come.

I found these polyresin black owl taper candleholders at Cotton & Crete online as well. They are a great match for the black owl centerpiece. The orange candles came from Amazon.

Whooo’s ready for Halloween!

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

A Skeleton Scholar Halloween Tablescape

October 04, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I try to use my book shaped plates when I can and when I saw this skeleton figure who looked like he could be reading I immediately started thinking about a skeleton reading themed Halloween tablescape. Then I found this tablecloth design with a skeleton reading a book at Spoonflower online and I couldn’t believe my luck! It was black and orange too, Halloween colors! I keep telling myself no more tablecloths but… Halloween is one of my favorite times of year to create tablescapes. You can see the other thirty Halloween tablescapes that I have created over the years as well as 330+ other themed tablescapes of mine on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes

I knew that I would never find a salad plate with a skeleton reading design on it so I started looking for something to set on one of my book shaped appetizer plates that could carry out that theme. I always begin with Amazon because we are Prime members and we can get free shipping. I can’t believe that I found a square leather bookmark with a skeleton reading a book design on it that was the right size, it was just meant to be! It is the perfect fit for this white book shaped appetizer plate. I bought this book shaped white plate in four different sizes several years ago online from Webstaurantstore.com. Unfortunately you had to buy a case of the plates because the web site is a restaurant supply store. I bought them anyway because I felt a librarian who does tablescaping should have these plates! (I was still working at the time.) They are labeled CAC China. If you google book shaped plate you might find some on another site. This white appetizer plate is on top of the plate stack.

The next plate on the plate stack is the same book shape as the appetizer plate only a bit larger. I like the way that the appetizer plate fits perfectly in the salad plate.

The next plate is the dinner plate, same book shape as the other plates only a bit larger. I like the bright white color of these plates.

I needed a basic square black charger and I found these on Amazon a few years ago. They are melamine and they are made by American Atelier. I think you can find them in other stores too. If you are a tablescaper, it’s a good idea to have basic plates in neutral colors that you can use over and over again. To read about what you should consider when you are buying charger plates please click here.

I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix set to use on a Halloween tablescape and I found this set a few years ago on sale at Macy’s online. It was made by Lenox and the pattern was called Portola. I love the simple design and shiny black color. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I think these orange cotton napkins probably came from Pier 1 or HomeGoods several years ago. I love that they are a true primary orange color. I found these other bookmarks with a skeleton reading design on them on Amazon too. They are a smaller size and they are actually magnets. They came in a set of eight with different designs on each one. I just taped them temporarily to a black napkin ring that I had.

To read about the what, where and how of napkin rings please click here.

I found these black resin skull place card holders on Amazon. They were made by Marspark and they came in a set of twelve for a good price. I set the skulls on a dark bronze metal place card holder that I already had. To read about the What, Where and When of place card holders, please click here.

I bought these orange glass goblets at Ross or T.J. Maxx many years ago. They were some of the first goblets I bought when I started tablescaping. I love using them this time of year, I often use black and orange goblets on my Halloween tablescapes. I had black goblets that were shorter than this goblet and black goblets that were much taller than this goblet but I wanted goblets this height that were all black. I was delighted to find these black plastic ones on Amazon. The advertisement said that they were disposable but I plan to keep them for a while until I can find some black glass ones that are the same height. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying goblets (including the colors that I use most often) for your tablescaping collection here.

I had to laugh when I first saw this skeleton figure at Pottery Barn online. They called it Thinking Skeleton but I immediately thought of putting it on a book as if the skeleton was reading so I bought it. Sometimes everything just seems to come together when I am working on gathering things for a themed tablescape and this was one of those times. I knew I wanted to set the skeleton on something with some substance and I remembered this black wooden stand that I bought at our Pier 1 store several years ago before it closed. The stand was a natural wood color but Hubby painted it white for me to use on one tablescape and then black for a few other tablescapes. I thought it would be funny if the skeleton was reading a book about skeleton behavior so thanks to Hubby and the power of AI this skeleton is reading two pages about skeleton behavior that we set on another open book.

These black skeleton taper candle holders also came from Pottery Barn. If you read my blog you saw them on a different Skeleton tablescape a few weeks ago. The candlesticks are handcrafted of aluminum with an Antique Bronze finish. I bought the orange candles on Amazon.

Time to find a book to read!

Don’t miss the Tablescape How-To tab at the top of my blog for DIY tips and tricks or click here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapehowto

I put a new tablescape on my blog every week, please check back!

This blog post was featured at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, https://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.com/ Please visit this blog for lots of great recipes.