This Mother’s Day weekend is gonna be busier than a bee in a honeysuckle patch. My daughter, the jet-setting’ flight attendant, is swooping’ into town, and both my mom and step-mom will be here, ready to soak up the love. Add to that the dance recital for 2 of my 3 granddaughters (we also have 3 grandsons), who are twirling’ their way through The Little Mermaid. The oldest is channeling’ her inner sass (which she’s got plenty of) for the role of Ursula, and the younger’s playing’ a whole cast of characters. Those girls have been practicing’ their hearts out, and I’m already planning’ to be the loudest in the cheering section—probably embarrassing’ them with my enthusiasm, but that’s my job as G, right? Yes, I’m one letter. Started out as G-mom, but only the G stuck!
Find Your Inspiration…
Biscuits and gravy, how could you not be inspired by this tablecloth? It’s like a Southern garden exploded in the best possible way—pink roses, periwinkle blooms, green ferns, and a trim so perfect, it deserves its own fan club. This print is basically a love letter to anyone who’s ever dreamed of sipping sweet tea (half and half for me, please) in a flower patch. I’m tellin’ ya, it’s the kind of fabric that makes you wanna throw a garden party just to show it off.
Select a Color Palette…
Picking a color palette with this tablecloth was easier than finding a four-leaf clover in my family’s lucky patch (we’re a little bit Irish, y’know). The pinks, yellows, and periwinkles in the flowers, plus the green ferns (or whatever those leafy lovelies are), gave me a palette so vibrant it could wake up a hibernating bear. I leaned on coolors.com—yep, with two O’s, not colors, because apparently, they’re too cool for standard spelling—to match the hues perfectly.
Now, I’m gonna let y’all in on a little switcheroo: instead of the periwinkle, I went with a soft light blue. It’s got that calm, collected vibe that says, “I’m fancy, but I still hug my kinfolk.” Plus I already had treasures in this color! It tied the whole table together like a bow on a present.
Make it All About the Patterns…
This tablecloth is the star of the show, a medium-scale pattern that’s not too loud, not too quiet—Goldilocks would approve, calling it “just right.” It’s the kind of pattern that makes you wanna pet it like a puppy.
Now, I’ve been on a mission to sprinkle some small-scale prints into my collection, because apparently my linen closets (yes, plural) weren’t stuffed enough. I realized most of my tiny patterns were on my dishes, not my fabrics, so I snagged these Two’s Company floral napkins from Amazon. They’re dainty, they’re delightful, and they scream “Mother’s Day Garden Party” louder than me at a UGA football game.
For my large-scale pattern, I needed something that wouldn’t steal the spotlight from my Mrs. Alice masterpiece. Enter the Meakin Queen’s Castle plates, my latest obsession. I snagged one—yep, just one—at an estate sale, feeling like I’d won the lottery. Before we even peeled out of the neighborhood to hit the next sale (check out my tips on estate sale hunting here), I was on Etsy, tracking down more, and found some from FarmetteFinds. They arrived faster than gossip at a book club, and I’m pretty sure these plates, circa 1945-1965, never even saw a fork. Whoever owned them must’ve just admired them in a china cabinet. Y’all, use your pretties! Set those tables, invite your people, and make memories—your dishes deserve a life, not a museum!
These were circa 1945-1965, according to the mark on the back, Someone must have put them in their china cabinet for display only. People, use your things! Enjoy them! Set pretty tables! Invite people over for dinner! I promise you won’t regret it!
Pick Your Stack…
Puttin’ together this stack was smoother than a Sunday drive. First up, I laid down these pink placemats from Etsy’s DécorWeddingGifts—snagged ‘em on sale, because you know I’m not paying full price unless it’s Mrs. Alice or Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf. They’re light, they’re lovely, and they beat out my pink velvet option for this springtime vibe.
Now, some folks might clutch their pearls at the idea of a placemat on a tablecloth, calling’ it redundant. To them, I say, “Hold my mimosa, ‘cause I’m about to get extra redundant.” Next came my Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage chargers in green—because nothing says “garden party” like cabbage, am I right? I’m dreaming of adding the pink ones to my collection one day, but for now, these greens are working overtime.
On top went the Queen’s Castle dinner plate, looking like it was born to be there.
I almost stopped here, ‘cause that plate’s design is so stunning’ I didn’t wanna cover it up. But a salad plate was calling, and my new Burleigh Asiatic Pheasants in pink from Replacements answered the call. They’re listed as dessert or pie plates, but in my world, they’re whatever I need ‘em to be. Delicate, dreamy, and just the right touch of fancy. Got some light blue ones coming’ soon, too—watch out, y’all!
Select the Linens…
With my tablecloth and napkins already in place, this step was about adding a little extra zhuzh with napkin rings. I wanted to keep the garden party vibes rolling, so I dug into my stash and pulled out an assortment of ceramic floral napkin rings. No matchy-matchy set of eight here, so I mixed three different designs and alternated ‘em like a pro. The single-flower ones were estate sale treasures, and the three-flower ones? A Facebook Marketplace steal. One day, I’ll spill the tea on how I’ve got my FB algorithm trained to serve up all the best table goodies—it’s easier than teaching a cat to fetch!
Time for Glassware & Flatware…
For glassware, I stuck with my trusty Bormiolo Rocco Bahia glasses in blue, and green—because they’re just perfect! I’ve got my eye on their water goblets to add to my iced tea and champagne/tall sherbert styles, but can someone please explain why water glasses are called goblets? Is it just to make ‘em sound snooty? I need answers, y’all!
Since we’re having wine with lunch (because Mother’s Day calls for a little sparkle), I added my pink Estelle dupes from Amazon. The shape’s divine, the color’s perfect, and they make me feel like I’m dining with friends. Here’s the link for those beauties.
All 3 colors together? It’s like a glassware garden party!
You probably can guess which flatware I’m going to use… If you said, Gorham Strasbourg, you would be correct. Yes, I’m breaking out the sterling. I did mix in a few Birks Louis de France pieces because I’m still filling in my sterling.
Centerpiece Magic…
My centerpiece game is tighter than my nanny’s hugs were, and I stuck with my foolproof formula for rectangular tables. Three low floral arrangements—one in the center, one at each end—connected by taller, statement-making pieces. For bigger tables, just keep adding’ more, but for my eight-seater, this trio and duo does the trick.
I kicked things off with round acrylic vases for the flowers—easy to arrange and oh-so-not-pretty. Full confession: the plastic look wasn’t my jam, so I wrapped ‘em with floral ribbon to blend with the greenery. Sneaky, right?
For the thriller, I went with permanent pink hydrangeas—big, bold, and sassy.
Next, I tossed in two creamy, almost-yellow roses a nod to the tablecloth’s yellows. I usually go for three, but with only eight roses for three arrangements, I made do. These came from Sami Sacha, an online flower delivery I tried out. They were fine, but I’m sticking’ with my local growers from now on—supporting’ small businesses feels better than a warm biscuit.
I filled in with greenery and white carnations from my Chinoiserie Easter table. Say what you want about carnations, but they’re the energizer bunnies of flowers—lasting forever. Pro tip: pluck the center petals for a faux center to make ‘em look extra bougie. (Pic)
For the tall pieces, I brought in my Mrs. Alice pagodas—snagged on sale, which had me dancing like nobody’s watching.
I also found some lookalikes at Dillard’s for a fraction of the price, and they’re just as fabulous. Check ‘em out!
I stuffed the pagodas with moss balls—probably a Michael’s find from the early 2000s, because I’m a hoarder of crafty goodness. Then, I added little birds to honor all the “Mama Birds” gatherin’ at my table and tucked in pink candles in my Grandmother E.R.’s candlesticks. If you haven’t read about the woman who hauled her wicker basket of china, crystal, and silver to Bradley Acres, meet her here. She’s the reason I love pretty tables!
The Final Touches…
Time for the checklist, y’all—let’s make sure this table’s ready to shine:
♥ Height variation? Check! We’ve got peaks and valleys like the Blue Ridge Mountains near my hometown of Blairsville.
♥ Colors balanced? Check! Pink, green, blue, and a whisper of yellow, all playin’ nice.
♥ Inviting and functional? Check! This table’s ready to hug every mama who sits down.
Capture the Look…
My goal was a table that feels like stepping’ into a Southern garden, and honey, I think I nailed it. The colors pop, the patterns dance, and the textures sing—every mama at this table’s gonna feel like the queen she is. Here’s to celebratin’ all the Mama Birds!
From My Table to Yours,
Melissa
