An Udderly Charming Summer Tablescape

July 13, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

The subtitle of this tablescape should be called, “Hubby brought home a cow cookie jar from an estate sale and even though I have done a cow tablescape before and I already have a cow cookie jar, I had to use it before it goes to the thrift store”. I’m not sure where I found the black and white cotton gingham tablecloth, maybe it came from Amazon. I have had it for several years. You can see the other cow themed tablescape that I did a few years ago as well as 300+ other themed tablescapes of mine on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes.

I wanted to find a salad plate that had Holstein cows on it to match the centerpiece and I finally found this one. The plate is marked Tienshan Stoneware and it was made in China. The pattern was called Buttercup and it has been discontinued. I bought the plates at Replacements online. The faces make me laugh and I love the yellow bell and the pink flowers that one of the cows is eating.

This matte baby blue coupe dinner plate is marked Madam Marble, durable porcelain. I can’t remember where I bought them. I chose it because I wanted to match the blue that was on the salad plate. It is not an exact match but it works.

This black plastic acrylic charger came from tableclothsFACTORY online a few years ago. I was happy with the relatively inexpensive price for six chargers. A basic black charger is always a good purchase when you are starting a tablescaping collection. To read about what you should be considering when you are buying chargers, please click here.

I wanted another set of black flatware that was all black and different from my Ginkgo International LePrix black flatware 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 is called Portola. I love the simple design and shiny black color. I suspect this set will get a lot of use. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

These black cotton napkins came from Crate and Barrel a few years ago. They are a really nice study cotton fabric in a true black color. So often black is actually a dark charcoal or dark gray but these are the perfect black color. Although Hubby mumbles about tablescape storage, he is often a partner in crime. He likes to go to estate sales and garage sales and he found these Holstein cow napkin rings at an estate sale a few years ago and brought them home. He knows I have a weakness for napkin rings.

I found this hand-carved linden wood Holstein cow on Etsy. I often search there for interesting items to use as place card holders.

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 several 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.

This ceramic cow comes in three parts, each with its own lid. It had a few very tiny color nicks that I filled in with marking pen. Hubby found it at an estate sale and he loved the yellow chicks so he brought it home. It is a vintage Coco Dowley Holstein Cow 3 Piece Cookie Jar or Condiment Set made by Certified International in the 1990’s. As you can see it is large!

This ceramic Holstein cow butter dish was made by Boston Warehouse Trading Corp. I can’t remember where I bought it.

This is a vintage Boston Warehouse “Udderly Cows” salt and pepper set. It was part of a line of country farmhouse kitchenware released by the Boston Warehouse Trading Corp during the 1990’s and 2000’s. We found the set inside the Cow Cookie Jar Centerpiece. I suspect it is part of the same set of dishes as the butter dish shown above.

Holstein cows originated in the Netherlands approximately 2,000 years ago. The Internet says that California has the most number of Holstein cows but I am not sure that is true. Holstein cattle are the most prominent of the seven major dairy breeds in the United States. Cows of Holstein descent make up over 90% of the cows on U.S. dairy farms. Interesting!

To see over 300+ different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas Facebook group (4,200+ 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. (200+ members) https://www.facebook.com/groups/440356398581157 We had a gathering for tablescapers last year in the Los Angeles area and we are planning to have another one this fall in Riverside.

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

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

A Sailabration Summer Tablescape

July 06, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I have been thinking about a Sailboat themed tablescape for a few years but I couldn’t find what I wanted to use on it until now. We had a small Hobie Cat catamaran for a few years but we didn’t use it as much as we should have so we finally sold it. I bought this polyester nautical themed tablecloth on Amazon a few years ago to use on a lighthouse themed tablescape and I knew it would be perfect for this theme as well. You can see that tablescape and 300+ other themed tablescapes that I have created on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes . I am trying to make more of an effort to reuse what I already have on my tablescapes. I often forget what I have and so I am continuing to inventory and take photos of things and put them in folders on my computer so I will have a record of it all and not spend money on things I already have.

These melamine Sailboat salad plates were originally sold by Pier 1 but I bought them on Ebay. When I saw them I knew immediately that they would go well with this tablecloth because they were a similar style with the same colors.

I am using my Fiesta Scarlet dinner plates on this table. I like to use the red, white, and blue color combination on my tablescapes and if you look at my blog, you will see me using those colors together on many of my tablescapes. I have this dinner plate in many different colors now because it is the perfect size to use with my chargers and my salad plates. I often buy Fiesta dishes at Everything Kitchens online because they have sales from time to time or I go to the Fiesta site online.

I bought these chargers on Ebay, a few at a time when I could find them. They are Color Spectrum by Mikasa and the color is called Royal Blue. I love these chargers, I bought them in several different colors. They are a simple design, the perfect size, and the quality is good.

This red flatware set is called Ginkgo LePrix in Milano Red. I have had this set for several years but you can still buy it online. I also bought this pattern in a few other colors as well. I can’t remember where I found this red set but if you google it, sources will pop up. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I think I bought these red napkins on Amazon, I love the bright red color. I found these wood sailboat napkin rings on Ebay. They were a bit dinged up but I touched them up a bit with color markers. To read about the What, When and How of napkin rings please click here.

I was looking for something that I could use as place card holders on this table and I found these IMIKEYA mini sailboats on Amazon. They came in a set with four different designs. I am amazed at the detail on them. They were just what I needed for this tablescape. To read about the What, When and Why of place card holders, please click here.

I found this nautical sailboat on sale at Grandin Road online. I set it on a drink dispenser stand from Pottery Barn that I bought years ago. Over the years I have bought several things from this company for my tablescapes.

To see over 300+ different tablescapes that I have created please click here. If you are on Facebook, join my Table Settings and Tablescape Ideas Facebook group (4,000+ 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

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

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

A Star-Spangled 4th of July Summer Tablescape

June 29, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

Nothing more appropriate than stars for a 4th of July summer tablescape. I found this Tommy Bahama star studded tablecloth at HomeGoods. I love all the clusters of red and blue stars and it sets such a festive mood for the Fourth of July. You can see 16 other 4th of July tablescapes that I have created as well as 300+ other themed tablescapes of mine on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes .

I often forget to take a photo of the tablecloth before I set the table but I remembered this time!

I think that I found the blue melamine star shaped salad plates at Michael’s. I bought red ones too because I like the color and shape. To add some interest I added a Geelin felt star ornament to the center of the plate that I found on Amazon. I just turned the hanging ribbon under.

I found these melamine white star shaped dinner plates at Kohl’s several years ago. I bought them in blue and red as well. I like the design around the rim.

I bought these resin red chargers at our Pier 1 store many years ago before it closed. I bought them in blue and white as well. I really like the stars on them. I love decorating for the 4th of July and I have lots of patriotic dishes now.

This flatware set is called Milano Red Ginkgo International LePrix. I have had this set for years but it is still for sale. I am not sure where I bought it. I use it often when I need a more informal red flatware set for a tablescape. You can see it on a Candy Cane Christmas tablescape that I did here. I now have this set in several other colors as well. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

I think I bought these red napkins on Amazon. I’m not sure where I found the blue metal napkin rings.

I can’t remember where I bought the metal star place card holders. I have had them for years. The set came with three navy, three red, three turquoise, and three white stars in the set.

Hubby found the red glass goblet on the left at an estate sale several years ago. I think they are hand blown Ruby Red Bubble Glass Goblets made by Artland. I have this glass goblet in yellow, amber, and purple now as well. The blue goblets are definitely hand blown Iris Blue Bubble Glass Goblets made by Artland. I bought them at Replacements online.

I found these white ceramic stars on Amazon. They were made by Santa Barbara Design Studios. I set them on three drink dispenser stands that I bought at Pottery Barn many years ago and then I scattered tiny red, blue, and clear acrylic star gems that I found on Amazon around the stars.

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

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

Uncle Sam's 4th of July Tablescape

June 23, 2026 by Beth Wilson in Tablescapes

I created an Uncle Sam Tablescape seven years ago and I have wanted to do another one for a few years now. I finally gathered what I needed for this one. Uncle Sam figures are difficult to find, the good ones anyway. I am happy with the ones that I found for this tablescape. This tablescape is very different from the older one. You can see that one as well as 300+ other themed tablescapes that I have created on my blog here: https://www.whispersoftheheart.com/tablescapes . I post a different and new themed tablescape every week. This Uncle Sam tablecloth came from Spoonflower online. Their tablecloths are expensive so I wait for them to go on sale.

I looked for a long time for an Uncle Sam salad plate but I couldn’t find anything that I liked. So I found these paper Uncle Sams on Etsy and I set them on a simple small white plate. I really love this image of Uncle Sam! I was struggling with the plate stack trying to get the colors right and decided that I really needed a small white plate to set on the top of the stack and I didn’t have one. I found these white melamine plates on Amazon. They come in three different sizes and I bought the smallest 7 inch size, just what I needed for this plate stack.

This salad plate is made by Fiesta and the color is called Cobalt, it is now discontinued. This set is part of our every day dish set.

This dinner plate is another Fiesta plate and the color is navy blue, I think! Sometimes it is difficult to sort out the colors of Fiesta plates depending on how your monitor shows colors.

This is a Mikasa Color Spectrum Charger in the color Alpine White. I have this charger in several different colors and I bought them all on Ebay as I saw them over a few years. The Internet says that this pattern was only made between 1992 and 1993. I am not sure that is true but in any case they are no longer being manufactured. I have been trying to get six of this white color and pattern for years with no success until this last year when suddenly I found six at different places online after occasional google searches. You need to have patience when you are looking for things for tablescaping, that’s for sure!

You can really see the tablecloth Uncle Sam design in this photo. I bought this frosted white flatware set on sale online at Wayfair several years ago, it was made by Cambridge. It is 18/0 so the fork tines are a bit sharper than they would have been if it was 18/10 but I really liked the frosted white color on the handles. You can read my blog post about what to consider when you are buying flatware here.

This plastic Uncle Sam napkin ring is actually an outdoor tablecloth clip. The back is a clip but when I saw it a few years ago I realized that I could use it as a napkin ring also. I can’t remember where I bought the red cotton napkins. To read about the What, When and How of napkin rings please click here.

I found these Sebastian Miniature Uncle Sam figures on Ebay. When I saw them I knew that I could use them as place card holders. Sebastian Miniatures are a line of small, hand-cast, and hand-painted figurines created by American artist Prescott W. Baston, Sr. starting in 1938. Originally designed as educational tools for classrooms, they evolved into collectibles depicting historical figures, literary characters, and everyday New England life. This figure was made between 1975 and 2013. To read about the What, When and Why of place card holders, please click here.

I think the red glass goblet on the left came from Crate and Barrel a few years ago. I had been looking for some simple red goblets and I grabbed these when I saw them online. I only bought six and I wished I had bought more but Hubby found six other red glass goblets at HomeGoods that are so similar you can’t tell the difference. The polymer Monique Lhuillier Campania navy blue goblet on the right came from Pottery Barn a few years ago. I am still on the lookout for a simple navy blue glass goblet that is a true navy blue and not cobalt blue or a purplish blue. 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 love Johanna Parker products, her designs are so cute! I like Uncle Sam and when I saw this Johanna Parker Uncle Sam cookie jar a few years ago I bought it. I can’t remember where I found it. I set it on a Pottery Barn drink dispenser stand.

I wanted to add two smaller Uncle Sam figures on the left and right of the centerpiece and I found these BkeeCten wood Uncle Sam figures on Amazon. There were five different designs in the set.

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

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

This blog posted was shared on Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, https://www.mizhelenscountrycottage.com/ and Life and Linda, https://www.lifeandlinda.com/ Please visit these blogs for lots of great ideas!