Blog - Page 48 of 55 - Southern Vintage Table

Vintage Tip – Make Your Own Tiered Vintage Plate Stand

I love tiered stands – whether they all match or they are all different – a tower of vintage plates filled with yummy treats is so pretty. As I have collected many dishes for Southern Vintage Table, some have come with chips, cracks and other imperfections. Although their lives as dinner or salad plates may be gone, many now sit either under or on top of a stack of vintage lovelies. If you love the look and have some vintage china you’d like to transform into a tiered stand, today’s post will help get you started!

Tip 1: Find a good set of basic directions.

Months ago I researched how to make a tiered stand from vintage plates and found many helpful websites. I like the directions found on “Make a Vintage Cake Stand” on Caroline’s blog, Lifestyle from Caroline. Her steps are a good place to start, but read on because I have more great tips you’ll want to know.

Tip 2: Make a cardboard template to help find the center of the plate.

Finding the center is easier said than done! After struggling with an easy, reliable technique, I finally came upon this idea and it works amazingly well.

Measure and cut a piece of cardboard that’s 11″ x 11″ or 10.5″ x 10.5″. Then measure and draw lines 1 inch and 2 nches from the edge on all four sides. If you wish to get even more precise, draw a third square at 1.5 “. As you can see, my template is not perfect but still works well enough.

Now place the plate in the center so that all edges are evenly spaced between the drawn lines. Take a ruler, place it diagonally, making sure it’s at the intersection of the squares in the corner. Draw a line near plate’s center with a non-permanent marker. Repeat the steps for the other two diagonal corners. Where the two drawn lines intersect is the center.

Tip 3: Get the plate up off the surface.

When you are ready to drill with the tile drill bit, elevate and support the plate on two pieces of wood situated between the center. When you finally drill through the plate, you don’t want the drill bit hitting the work surface.

Tip 4: Drill from both sides.

When your drill has peeked through the underside, flip the plate and drill from the backside. This will help you drill the hole through the plate more quickly.

Tip 5: Be ready with water.

Have a cup of water close by to cool down the drill bit – it gets very hot and can cause the plate to break. Dip the hot drill bit in the water and you’ll hear a hissing sound as it cools. Also, splash the plate with a bit of water to cool it down as well.

Tip 6: Consider buying your tiered hardware from Etsy.

Caroline suggests Amazon or ebay for the tiered hardware but I think Etsy is the best choice. I really appreciate the philosophy of Etsy – it’s a group of online shops that either sell vintage, handmade or craft items and many are women-owned. There’s no bidding and many of the shops are in the US. I found that most of the tiered hardware on ebay comes directly from China, Hong Kong or Australia, which means shipping costs more and takes longer. I would also suggest buying more than one set – you’ll get hooked once you get started!

Tip 7: Choose 4-6 mixed and matched plates.

To maximize the versatility with your tiered stand, go ahead and select 4-5 plates that coordinate with each other. If you can, have three different sizes of the same pattern and then two or three patterns that go well with the main pattern. You can then have a tiered stand with all the same pattern or a stand with ones that look nice together.

These beautiful vintage china stands are available from Southern Vintage Table. Create you own or request a set for your next gathering. Your tasty treats will look so lovely! Be sure to see more of our tiered and cake stands on our Pinterest board.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Southern Vintage Table Event – Vintage Milk Glass is Perfect at a Wedding

Photo by Rebecca Ames

A wonderful setting for an outdoor wedding is a lush garden, filled with beautiful greenery and colorful flowers. The North Carolina Botanical Garden in Chapel Hill has it all – the gardens, flowers and a upscale rustic reception room with a balcony overlooking the landscape. This is where Kate and Jeff were wed last weekend and it was beautiful!

Months ago Kate contacted Southern Vintage Table about renting some of our vintage milk glass for her wedding reception tables. She wanted a mix of vases and compotes, all sizes and shapes. Of course, the pristine white of the milk glass makes it a beautiful centerpiece for any table but for a wedding, well, it’s simply perfect.

Kate chose Fernrock Farm, a local flower farm, to provide the flowers for this special occasion. I delivered the vases and compotes to Carrie and she, along with helpers Gerri and Trudy, created stunning succulent arrangements and bouquets for these vintage pieces.

Photo by Rebecca Ames

Congratulations to Kate and Jeff! Wishing you endless joy and love. Thank you, Rebecca Ames, for sharing your photographs of this gorgeous wedding and be sure to see more photos on Rebecca’s blog. For a brief history on milk glass, check out our previous post, The Beauty of Vintage Milk Glass, and see more of our collection on our Pinterest Board. Celebrate any occasion with lovely, charming vintage milk glass!

Photo by Rebecca Ames

The folks who made this event possible:

North Carolina Botanical Garden
A Swanky Affair
Rebecca Ames Photography
The Happy Valley Pals
The Catering Company of Chapel Hill
Guglhupf
Get Lit
Joe Bunn DJ Company
American Party Rentals
Fernrock Farm
Robin Renteria, Officiant
Mina’s Studio
The Bridge Busz
Southern Vintage Table

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Southern Vintage Table Event – A Field Dinner Experience

Photo by Scott Faber

Envision yourself in the middle of a quiet country farm field, away from stoplights, traffic and city noise. The sun is setting and you begin to notice the symphony of night critters. But, you are not alone. You’re with your favorite friends, feasting on made-from-scratch delicious food prepared by a talented chef. A delightful assortment of chilled beverages are ready for all to enjoy. Sound wonderful? Yes, it was!

The vision for this outdoor dining experience came to Sharon and Tammy of RSVP-Events over a year ago They wanted to host an outdoor dinner in Ruby’s field on a beautiful fall or spring night. They invited Southern Vintage Table, Donovon’s Dish and American Party Rentals to join together and offer this evening as a raffle prize at their monthly Triangle NACE meeting. When Heather’s name was called, she was ecstatic. Imagine hosting a party for your friends and all you have to do make a guest list and show up!

The night for the farm dinner was set for a Sunday evening in early June. RSVP-Events designed the event and prepared Ruby’s field. A path and party area were mowed, twig light balls were hung, candles lit, flowers arranged, signs made and furniture set in place.

After consulting with Heather and then Christian from Donovon’s Dish, Tammy came to Southern Vintage Table to plan the table settings. Pairs of classic blue & white china patterns were chosen to go down the farm tables provided by American Party Rentals. To complement the blue & white china patterns, vintage clear glass salad plates and goblets were selected. We also chose pairs of serving dishes for the delectable dishes – BBQ chicken, fresh salad, string beans, quinoa, succotash and sweet potato biscuits.

We used a set of vintage hammered aluminum trays for the chicken, an assortment of blue & white bowls for the side dishes and bread baskets for the family-style meal. Glass compotes, which once held Big Top Peanut Butter, were selected for the individual strawberry shortcake servings. Tammy loved the vintage aluminum mugs for her flower and herb arrangements and the wooden cake stands were perfect to group the small bouquets on the table.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Now everything would have been absolutely perfect except one little thing – a light summer evening rain. But, in actuality, it worked out beautifully. Ruby’s field, graced with the magnificent colors of the setting sun, was center stage for the evening’s opening appetizers, drinks and guitar music by Daniel Wray. Dinner was served in the living room of Ruby’s home place and then guests returned to the field under the glowing twig lights and evening stars for their fresh strawberry shortcake dessert.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

It was a magical evening – the food was wonderful, the natural pastoral setting was inspirational and guests were very appreciative. These field dinner experiences are offered by RSVP-Events with limited availability. If you’d like to host a unique dining experience for your guests, contact Sharon or Tammy. They’ll be happy to talk with you and, of course, so will Southern Vintage Table.

These beautifully artistic photos were provided by Scott of Scott Faber Photography.

Photo by Scott Faber

This creative dinner experience was made possible by:
RSVP-Events
Donovon’s Dish
Southern Vintage Table
American Party Rentals
Scott Faber Photography
Daniel Wray, Musician

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Tips – A New Product for Removing Stains from Vintage China

A peroxide soak works to clean up stained vintage china as I attested to in a previous post, “Out, Dang Spot, On My Vintage China,” but I have another product worth trying – denture cleaner. Using the two together, this cleaning episode is also dramatic and definitely worth sharing!

Recently I picked up a small set of vintage china that came with 4 very stained teacups. Someone suggested using denture cleaner to get rid of stains so I decided to do an experiment – denture cleaner vs peroxide. I put two tablets of denture cleaner in a container with two of the cups and dropped 1/2 tablet inside each cup. I added water to both cups and the container. For the other two cups I poured peroxide inside the cups and placed them in a separate container. I also added peroxide to the container to cover the very stained bottoms.

Over several days the cups soaked in the two solutions. I changed the denture solution several times and added more peroxide as needed. The denture cleaner did remove some stains very effectively but stripes of stubborn stains still remained. What was interesting was the stains on the two in the peroxide were uniformly lighter but neither of the soaking solutions thoroughly cleaned the stains at this point.

I decided the denture cleaner had done all it could so I put all four in the peroxide soak. Over the next week, after rotating the cups periodically and adding more peroxide as the water evaporated, the stains slowly faded.

Following their second long soaking, I put them in the dishwasher. The hot water in the dishwasher continued the cleaning process as I noticed amber colored drops of stain had seeped out of the porous china. It reminded me of the previous time when I had heated up peroxide-soaked plates in the oven. What happens is the peroxide solution seeps into the pores. When heated, the water evaporates and brings the stains to the surface. Take a look at the photos in “Out, Dang Spot, On My Vintage China” to see what this looks like since I forgot to take photos this time.

One final hand washing and the results are stunning! The inner and outer stains are gone and these vintage cups look terrific!

Peroxide does a terrific job cleaning stained china but, in this instance, I also think the denture cleaner helped. With my next group of stained dishes, I’m starting with denture cleaner but I will be ready with the peroxide soak if needed. Although the process can take time, it’s both cheap and effective. More vintage lovelies restored and available at Southern Vintage Table!

FYI – After writing this post, I decided to separate my tips from the “Features” category on my blog. So, you’ll now see “Vintage Tips” in the menu on the home page. We are always looking for ways to clean and restore vintage treasures so if you have a tip, please consider sharing. And, as always, thanks for your visit!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – The Living Energy of Organic Vintage Decor

Organic, natural decor features once-living organisms – like wood, natural fibers such as burlap, feathers, shells, pine cones, moss, birds’ nests and even antlers. What’s terrifically remarkable is that the energy captured within these natural creations originated from our sun. How awe-inspiring is that? Maybe a throwback from my middle school teaching days when I decorated my classroom with all kinds of natural finds, I love using organic vintage decor.

I especially appreciate old boxes, crates and drawers with their rich, dark color and interesting grain patterns. In my opinion, their scratches, dings and cracks make them more perfect and beautiful. And, since they can hold things, such as napkins or gifts, they are utilitarian as well!

Vintage baskets and woven articles are also wonderful to use on the table. Whether it’s a tiered stand or a twig basket, they add texture and natural beauty to the tablescape.

Vintage Twig Basket with Vintage Napkins

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental

In the yesteryear home, many household items were fashioned from wood. Now collectibles, these not only add beauty, they remind us of a simpler time in our shared history.

I’m not sure why the distressed look is so appealing, but it certainly is chic! Maybe it’s the added character or just the notion that it’s been well used and loved, distressed wood embodies the perfect vintage look.

When you stop to consider that captured within these natural creations is energy from the sun, you can’t help but be amazed and inspired. These organic vintage treasures, each with a unique biological and manufacturing history, will add a beautiful, natural touch to a table or family event. To see more of our vintage organic inventory at Southern Vintage Table, check out our new Pinterest board!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – A Celebration of Numbers

Like one of my favorite characters on Sesame Street, Count von Count, I love numbers and it seems like we are always counting at Southern Vintage Table – like, how many vintage blue & white china patterns we have, the number of salad forks in our collection or the length of a creamy lace overlay.

Sometimes, however, our counting means even more – they mark an achievement – and we have a few of them we’d like to share. Let’s start the countdown with 10 numbers we are celebrating…

~ 6,065 Views on Our Wordpress Blog ~

This past week we marked our one year anniversary on WordPress and, as of today, our view count is 6,065. We think this is definitely something worth celebrating! To everyone who reads our weekly blog, we extend our sincerest thanks!

~ 1,242 Pieces of Vintage Silver-Plated Flatware ~

Okay, I didn’t really count each piece but we do have place settings for 200+ guests and many serving pieces as well. This cache of flatware didn’t come so easy – we’ve scoured thrift stores, estate sales, auctions, consignment shops, craigslist, ebay and more to find these glorious vintage patterns. Now, that’s certainly an accomplishment to note!

~ 882 Pinterest Pins ~

After one year we currently have 882 pins on Pinterest. These pins showcase our inventory at Southern Vintage Table. If you want to know what we have to offer, this is a great place to start.

~ 280 Facebook Likes ~

Thank you all for your “likes,” comments and post shares on our Facebook page! We love to share with you our new additions as well as our latest events. And, we love to hear from you!

~ 200 Guests ~

One question often asked is how many guests we can accommodate. With our inventory of china, flatware, linens and glassware, we can now service 200 guests. Now, that’s a festive feat!

~ 71 Blog Posts ~

We love writing and sharing our thoughts about anything vintage and so far we have 71 blog posts to attest to just that. Check in with us each Sunday to find out more about our latest vintage find, see photos from our most recent event or hear about our vintage adventures. We appreciate each and every visit!

Vintage Milk Glass Vase with Dried Flowers

~ 65 Vintage Whitehall Glasses ~

We now have 65 of this fabulous vintage glassware pattern in a rainbow of colors. Our goal is to have 100 in our inventory. Of course, we also have lots of other terrific vintage glassware patterns in these colors as well, definitely enough for your 200 guests.

~ 21 Pinterest Boards ~

Check out our fabulous vintage inventory, organized on our 21 boards. From elegant vintage china to vintage decor, we have so many wonderful items to help make your gathering unique and fun!

~ 18 Events ~

From birthday tea parties to holiday dinners to wedding receptions, Southern Vintage Table took part in 18 events this past year and loved every one of them! Thank you for inviting us to share some vintage with your special occasion.

~ 1 Year Anniversary! ~

Drum roll, please… And, now for smallest number but perhaps the biggest cause for celebration! Southern Vintage Table has been open now for one year! It’s been quite an adventure – collecting, researching, cleaning, repairing, photographing, identifying, writing, posting, washing, archiving, sorting – and we have loved every bit of it. Gosh, how to you thank everyone for their support and kindness? Simply and sincerely – Thank You.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Tips – Staining with Tea for a Classic Vintage Look

Want the classic creamy vintage color for a tablecloth, lace overlay or any piece of cloth? Try using a tea stain! It’s easy, inexpensive and fast.

This past week I was on the hunt for a few more lacy overlays for Casi’s upcoming wedding. I finally found one beautiful crocheted tablecloth with several stains and one white lace overlay. They had the dimensions I was looking for but I needed to do a bit of work on both. For one I needed to get the stain out and the other I needed to put the stain in!

The stained crocheted cloth had to be carefully soaked. After soaking in Oxiclean and gently washing 3 times followed by a concentrated overnight soak and a final wash, it is now ready. I should have taken a before photo but you can definitely appreciate the after. So beautiful!

The white overlay had to be treated in an entirely different way – I had to stain it. I wasn’t sure if it was going to work because it’s not a cotton material but it did! Here are the easy steps.

First, steep the tea. I used 5 family size bags and added hot water to a pitcher under my Keurig machine. I ran the water 4 or 5 times until the tea bag released all the tea color. After stopping up my stainless steel kitchen sink, I added the brewed tea and enough water to cover the cloth. One tip that was shared by the antique dealer I bought it from was to make sure the tea was evenly distributed so I used a wooden spoon to stir the tea. Then I added the cloth.

Pour into a stainless steel sink or container.

I quickly made sure all of the cloth was getting soaked in the tea. Standing there at the sink, I continuous moved the cloth through the tea water. Periodically I lifted it up to check on the color. When I got the soft creamy color I wanted, I wrung it out and put it in the dryer under low heat with a lavender dryer sheet. Don’t rinse or you’ll lose some of the color but the good news is that if you stain too much, you can rinse some of it out before drying. Also note that the dryer may pick up some tea stain so after I dried this lacy overlay, I put in a brown towel to clean off any of the tea color on the dryer drum.

Here’s the before and after!

The perfect creamy color! Now I have to remember to hand wash this as recommended but that’s no biggie because I can always dye it again. Want to add a little vintage color? Use tea! These and other lovely vintage overlays, crocheted and lace, are available at Southern Vintage Table. Our inventory is growing and we have many different sizes available.!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Southern Vintage Table Event – A “Spirited” Southern Tradition Delivers a Perfect Day!

With Ralph’s bottle of bourbon buried at the wedding site, the perfect day was delivered! According to Southern Living, legend has it that all you have to do to insure fair weather for your outdoor wedding is bury a bottle of bourbon, full and upside down, on a beautiful, sunny day weeks before the wedding date. After Mary, the quintessential Southern lady, read that bit of Southern tradition, it just had to be done for her and Ralph’s beloved daughter, Melanie. Well, it magically worked because Melanie’s and James’ wedding day was magnificent – perfect temperatures and a gorgeous Carolina blue sky.

After the wedding ceremony, Ralph digs it up!

Southern Vintage Table was thrilled to be a part of this celebration! Our first assignment was to set up a lemonade greeting station for guests as they arrived to this joyous occasion. With a charming assortment of vintage punch cups and two vintage punch bowls, Mary’s Yaya friends – Cis, Louise, Jami, Pat and I – served lemonade and welcomed guests. Rock Quarry’s vintage 1950 truck was parked next to us, joyfully bedecked with wedding photos of the bride’s and groom’s families. Southern Vintage Table‘s vintage suitcases and trunk helped complete this endearing tribute.

The second station was the coffee bar. Pairing the vintage teacups, Cis, Jami and I arranged them on the table. We also displayed several on the rustic shelf above. What a beautiful table with the teacups all lined up! At the end of the evening it was fun to see which teacup guests selected for their coffee as they enjoyed the delicious wedding cake baked by Sweet Memories Bakery.

Perfect day, perfect wedding, perfect love and all oh-so Southern! More photos coming later from photographer, Martha Manning.

Congratulations, Melanie and James! We all wish you a life full of love, happiness and joy!

We also want to send best wishes to Jill and David who were married on this gorgeous day in Graham. Thank you so much for inviting Southern Vintage Table to be a part of both of your wedding days.

Participating Vendors
Rock Quarry Farm
American Party Rental
Durham Catering Company
Sweet Memories Bakery
Southern Vintage Table
Martha Manning

PS – Thank you, George, for sharing these fabulous photos of this beautiful, happy couple!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – Inspiration from P. Allen Smith with Unconventional Planters

My friend, Carrie of Fernrock Farm, shared with me a terrific episode from P. Allen Smith’s Garden show. It featured a farmhouse dinner table set in one of my favorite vintage patterns, Blue Willow. With beautiful bouquets of yellow-green flowers and blueberry springs in a lush green outdoor setting, the dinner party was ready for guests. The second part of the episode was devoted to unconventional planters made from logs and branches. Carrie often has these at her stand at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market. As we were talking about my blog for this week, Carrie suggested I share my own version of unconventional planters in milk glass, porcelain, metal and wood. Brilliant!

I love vintage milk glass and with hens and chicks and other sedums, the milky white color just pops! I supplied the milk glass compotes and Carrie filled them with the greenery for an upcoming wedding next month. She and Gerri made a burlap bowl so the arrangement can easily slip out of the container. They are so charming!

Vintage Milk Glass Compotes with Succulents

Have a chip, crack or handle broken? No worries – turn the unusual or beautiful china dish into a planter! Drill a hole in the bottom with a porcelain drill bit and it’s ready for planting. These two cups are from a vintage Franciscan pattern from the 1980s. Below is an assortment of teacups, creamers and bowls filled with sweet sedums.

Metal dishes are even easier to convert into planters and Fernrock Farm usually has vintage copper molds available at their market stand. I found this blue metal pitcher someone had used to mix paint. The inside looks messy but who would know with a beautiful mix of sedums hiding it? The two metal bowls, one aluminum and one silver plated, also make wonderful, distinctive planters.

Here are two whimsical planters – a fountain and a egg basket. The pump on the fountain no longer worked so I drilled a few holes in the bottom for drainage and the basket is so quaint with a small plant tucked inside!

I love this transformation! With a vintage blackboard framed sign, guests immediately feel welcomed with this greeting station!

These lovely, sedum-filled, unconventional containers and planters are available from Southern Vintage Table. Add vintage and garden beauty to your table at your next gathering!

Be sure to also check out Fernrock Farm‘s offerings on their Facebook page or visit their market stand at the Carrboro Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings. Their locally grown flowers are beautiful, especially the dahlias!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Vintage Feature – 5 Reasons to Invite Southern Vintage Table to Your Next Occasion!

Planning a birthday party, wedding reception, baby shower or any special occasion? Here are 5 reasons why Southern Vintage Table can help you make it an unforgettable event for your guests!

Reason #5: Southern Vintage Table is a one-woman-owned small business. As a small business, personal, individual attention is top priority. Working together and sharing ideas with you to create a gathering that is unique, beautiful and memorable is as important to me as it is to you!

Reason #4: Going vintage is eco-friendly and environmentally responsible. Our inventory of dishes, silverware, linens and decor are all vintage items found at thrift stores, auctions, yard sales and consignment shops. Many family treasures also have been generously bestowed to Southern Vintage Table by friends. When we use, repurpose and repair vintage treasures, we are not only reducing our ecological footprint, we are embracing something very profound – that our shared past is to be revered, not thrown away.

Reason #3: Vintage means variety. There’s retro vintage, rustic vintage, boho vintage, elegant vintage, shabby chic vintage, farmhouse vintage and simply vintage. Invite Southern Vintage Table to help you uncover your vintage style!

Reason #2: Vintage has a story to tell. Encapsulated in every vintage dinner plate, goblet or silver spoon is a unique history. Once set on the family dinner table or present in the home of women such as Edna, Clara Mae and Clementine, these now vintage pieces bring a rich, historic energy to any occasion. While sharing them brings me tremendous joy as the proprietor of Southern Vintage Table, I also imagine their previous owners would love that their family treasures are appreciated by so many today!

Reason #1: Vintage instantly brings smiles. Setting a beautiful table with vintage treasures connects the love of families across generations. The collective positive energy radiating from each vintage item creates a wonderful memory-making experience and your guests of all ages will love it! Embrace your vintage style and invite Southern Vintage Table to help you with your next family gathering!