Whitehall Goblets

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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

~ 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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 ~ 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.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

~ 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!


  ~ 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.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

  ~ 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.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Happy Anniversary, Southern Vintage Table!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

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

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
This unconventional planter is made from a Harkerware bowl. There was a chip on the underside so I drilled a hole in the bottom, planted some sedums and placed it on a candleholder pedestal. Love this look!

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!

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.two cups

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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

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!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental

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

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental
Photos by Live View Studios, Katherine Miles Jones Photography, Katelyn James Photography

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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Photo by Anna Kirby Photography


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.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Top left photo by Ginny Corbet Photography; top right by Katherine Miles Jones Photography; bottom right by Live View Studios


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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Top left & middle,bottom right photo by Katherine Miles Jones Photography; bottom left by Live View Studios


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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Top right & left photos by Katherine Miles Jones Photography; mid top by Katelyn James Photography; bottom photos by Ally & Bobby Photography


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!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Chins Rental NC
Top left photo  by Theo Milo Photography, top right by Gents & Belles Photography;, bottom left by Scott Faber Photography; middle bottom by Kait Miller Photography.


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental

Vintage Feature – Planning a Bridal Shower with Friends

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Getting things ready to take to Louise’s house for our bridal shower!

It was Friday and I started to panic. Usually by now I had decided on my weekly post topic, taken all the photographs, edited and uploaded them and written the first draft. Well, with all the preparations for our Yaya bridal shower, I kept pushing blog stuff to the back burner. I know next week’s post will be about our lovely shower, but what about this Sunday? Then it came to me – I should set the stage for next week’s post by sharing a little about my friends and our shower planning. Won’t be as many photos but next week there should be a plethora of images, thanks to Katherine Jones Miles, who is coming to take photos!

My friendship with this wonderful group of women goes way back to when we were young teachers. Most of us worked at one school together for years and when the new school opened, we all followed our incredible principal, Charley. That was 1994 – 20 years ago – and as our working relationship strengthened, we also became very close friends. Somewhere in there we officially became the Yayas.

We love spending time together – whether we are lounging at Louise’s beach condo, eating dinner at Margaret’s Cantina or Dick & Jane’s Martini & Tapas Bar, savoring our Christmas feast at Mary’s home or planning one of new adventures, we love sharing our lives with each other. Now two of us have retired, two more will retire this year and in the next few years, the younger two will join the rest of us. We all look forward to spending more time together!

When Mary told us her daughter was engaged the rest of us were so excited for her and for us, too, because we knew we would be planning a bridal shower together! Cis got on her computer and our first email was entitled “Initial Delegation of Duties for Melanie’s Shower.”  Classic Cis – getting us organized and ready! Knowing Mary, the quintessential Southern lady, we easily came up with the menu – country ham biscuits, pimento cheese and cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad, cheese straws, vegetable tray, fruit salad and deviled eggs. Our drink list included iced tea and a mimosa bar.  Desserts featured Jami’s key lime tarts and Pat’s top-secret-recipe chocolate cake. Yummy!

Our duties were divvied out – Pat, Cis, Jami and Louise had the food covered, I would handle the tableware and decor, and Jami would design our flower arrangements. Louise offered hers and Pete’s beautiful country home as our venue and she and I would take care of the invitations. It may not take a village to host a bridal shower but it’s definitely more fun when you have good friends!

With help from Pete, Van, Carrie and Bill, we were ready for Saturday’s “Linens, Lace & Lingerie” bridal shower.  Check in next week to see how our Country Farmhouse decor theme works out. As Louise would say, we are sooooooo excited!  Right on, Louise!

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Vintage Glass Pitchers

Vintage Feature – A Medley of Vintage Pitchers and Teapots

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Yes, they are utilitarian but they can also be delicate, bold, pretty, artistic and fun! I’m talking about pitchers and teapots, of course. Ceramic, glass and even metal – they span a variety colors and styles and are available at Southern Vintage Table.

Let’s start with our classic vintage amber and avocado green glass pitchers. Like vintage goblets and tumblers, the textures and shapes make them all so interesting!

The clear glass pitchers in our inventory are also varied and beautiful!

Teapots were first designed in China during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when leaf infusion became a popular way to drink tea. Typically made from porcelain, they can have many shapes, colors and designs. Here are some in our collection!

 

 

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Serve up your iced and hot drinks with our vintage pitchers and teapots from Southern Vintage Table!  Be sure to check out more of our lovely inventory on our new Pinterest Board!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCHere are a few articles about pitchers and teapots!
Pitchers – Wikipedia
A History of Teapots
A Brief History of Teapots
Teapot – Wikipedia

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – Happy Yellow Vintage China

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Vintage Romance pattern by Duchess features yellow and pink flowers.

If there is one color that embodies happiness it has to be yellow!  It’s the color of daffodils, sunflowers and sunshine.  Now that spring is officially here, it’s the perfect time to showcase our inventory of yellow at Southern Vintage Table!

Let’s start with vintage china patterns that feature yellow flowers.  We’ve got Golden Button by Taylor Smith & Taylor, Starlight by Salem China, Summertime by Staffordshire and Forsythia by Knowles.  Aren’t they all lovely?

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

I adore yellow roses and this vintage pattern is beautiful!  I can’t find the pattern name but the mark on the back says American Ironstone.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Yellow also shows up in many bold, geometric vintage patterns.  This collection comes from Royal China and Taylor Smith & Taylor.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Watch your guests smile when they see your table set with vintage yellow china patterns. Southern Vintage Table also has an amazing collection of vintage amber goblets and tumblers that are the beautiful compliment!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature: “Forget-Me-Not” Vintage Pattern is True to its Name

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

According to German legend, a delicate little blossom was almost forgotten when God was naming all the flowers.  “Forget me not, O Lord,” cried the little flower. God decreed, “That shall be your name.”  How charming!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Wikipedia describes another tale that explains the pretty shade of blue.  As the Creator was assigning colors to the flowers, he heard a soft whisper, “Forget me not.” The only color left was a little bit of blue which was given to the small flower. As the story goes, the flower was delighted and so are we as we admire this lovely midcentury pattern created in its honor by Myott & Sons of England.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

I first saw this pattern at Elma’s Copper Awning in Mebane. In a previous post, I mentioned that she and Scott bought this set of china for me at an auction as part of our bartering arrangement. I immediately fell in love with the creamy color, the swirl around the rim and the color of the delicate flowers. With these features, it’s perfect for mixing and matching with some of the other vintage patterns at Southern Vintage Table.

Let’s start with the dinner plate. Here are several different looks this charming pattern can create with other lovely vintage patterns!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Whether on the outside as the dinner plate, or inside as the salad, the “Forget-me-not” pattern is sweet!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCSouthern Vintage Table is also fortunate to have serving pieces in this lovely pattern.  With such a beautiful color and pattern, Forget-Me-Not on your table will help make your gala affair unforgettable!Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature: Add Historical Charm with Vintage Sad Irons and Iron Trivets

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor Rental NC

Have you ever had a “a-ha” moment about a word you have used all of your life but didn’t really think about where it came from? Recently I did with the words “iron” and “ironing”.

Last week a set of vintage iron trivets was shared with Southern Vintage Table and as I was imagining how they could be used as vintage decor, I wanted first to learn about them. According to Collectors’ Weekly Sad and Flat Irons, it turns out vintage irons and iron trivets are a part of a long history of people wanting their clothes and linens to be smooth and unwrinkled, dating as far back as first century BC.

The word “iron” wasn’t used until the “de-wrinkling” instrument was made from the metal, iron. Before then, people used a variety of other things like stones, wood, glass and even bone.  After the English traveled to China and saw that heat helped to de-wrinkle, they started using heated utensils.  Along came “sad” irons, solid handled pieces of iron that when heated over a hot fire, could smooth fabrics. Moving this hot piece of iron over the cloth became known as “ironing.” A companion piece to the sad iron was an iron trivet, a metal stand to set the iron on when hot.  By the way, “sad” doesn’t mean you were unhappy when ironing although it was a hard, hot and even dangerous task back then; it is the old English word for solid.

In our vintage decor collection at Southern Vintage Table we have this sad iron with “Jakes” on the handle and an early electric model with an indistinguishable label.  Both are very heavy!  Also below is a stack of vintage iron trivets.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor NC

A breakthrough in ironing was made when Mary Florence Potts invented the sad iron that was pointed on both ends. Then she introduced a model, which she patented, with a detachable handle. Sets of 3 irons with one handle hit the post-Civil War market. With two irons on the stove or fire, the person could quickly exchange the cooled iron for a hot one. In 1882 an “electric sadiron” was invented by Henry W. Seeley but since many rural homes did not have electricity for many decades following his invention and the many improvements thereafter, sad irons were commonly used in rural America up to the 1950s. My husband’s mother remembers her mother, Esther, using one which would be sometime in the 1940s to 50s.

After my research, I started playing around with the trivets, exploring different ways they could be used on the vintage table. With their flat sides, they are perfect for setting something on – like a plant, a bowl of fruit or a vignette of old bottles and flowers. Of course, it also can be used as a trivet for a hot dish. Notice how the trivet interestingly defines the space on the table.

Then I noticed they sat upright, too!  Pointing up, the trivet can be a stand for a vintage card, a table number sign or even food signs on the buffet table. I love this look!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor Rental NC

Once considered an essential skill for a young woman to have, ironing is now an occasional and simple task. Pay tribute to the many women, and even men, who labored with these irons and trivets by decorating with them on your vintage table. From vintage iron trivets to elegant china, Southern Vintage Table is ready to help make your event charming, memorable and even a bit historical!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage Decor Rental NC

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – From Elegant to Rustic, Vintage Silver-Plate is Chic

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

No doubt, I love vintage china, glassware and linens – the patterns, colors, and beauty all inspire me. But there’s another category of tableware from the vintage table to rediscover and admire – silver-plated dishes, flatware and accessories. Whether elegant, casual or shabby chic, the gleam of silver adds sophistication and richness to the table.

One cool feature of silver is the gradient from really tarnished to really shiny.   I love shiny silver but I also appreciate the rich patina of the darker, tarnished pieces. This metallic range of colors translates into versatility and style!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

The first silver I started collecting for Southern Vintage Table was flatware. I remember finding several in a bin at the thrift store and making that decision to bring silver flatware into the inventory.  I knew it would take some time to build up a collection for a large gathering.  Fork by fork and spoon by spoon, we now have beautiful, gleaming collection of vintage silver flatware patterns.  How delightful that each guest may personally enjoy the beauty of silver with every bite!

Along the way, we also have collected beautiful serving trays, pitchers, bowls and platters. I did not have time this week to research the history and makers of these lovely pieces but plan to feature them in an upcoming article.

Want just a few accent pieces?  We have a little bit of a lot – bud vases, small trays, goblets, candle holders – even a vintage hairbrush.

Our silver-plate collection at Southern Vintage Table also includes a large wine cooler, ice bucket and serving utensils. As you plan your next gathering consider adding touches of this precious metal to your table. Whether a little darkened with tarnish or gleaming with sheen, vintage silver will dazzle your guests!  Be sure to check out more pieces on our Pinterest Board!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Milk Glass Vase with Dried Flowers

Vintage Feature – The Beauty of Vintage Milk Glass

Milk Glass Vase Rental

I remember the first time I heard the term “milk glass.”  My dear sister-in-law, Cathy, was packing up her house to move to the Outer Banks.  She showed me a vase and explained it was hobnail milk glass.  I recall thinking “what a cool name” and I think I even had her spell it since I had never heard “hobnail”, but it wasn’t love at first sight for me.  Of course, I said something like, “hmmm, that’s interesting” but I didn’t quite understand why anyone would collect a knobby white vase.  Like many twists in life, I never imagined I’d be building a collection of milk glass today for my business, Southern Vintage Table!

Since then I’ve educated myself a bit on this classic vintage glassware. I’ve learned that milk glass has been around since the 1500s but the term “milk glass” wasn’t coined until the twentieth century.  Although “milk glass” was popularized by the white milk-like color, the word “milk” doesn’t necessarily mean white; it means the glass isn’t transparent, but translucent. Here’s a little bit of chemistry trivia – they use either tin oxide or bone ash (yep, ashes of real bones) to give the glass that milky white color!

“Opal glass.” as it was called, comes in white, brown and black as well as in hues of green, yellow, pink and blue. It was invented in Venice in the 16th century, spread to France and England and then to America.  First considered collectables by the wealthy, many American companies began making less expensive milk glassware for the masses.  One highly, collectable and popular variety is Jadeite, which has a beautiful light green color.  Our collection is only white but I’m always on the lookout for the other colors.

Probably all of us have seen the many styles of milk glass vases. I’ve collected small bud to large bouquet vases, with wonderful designs and textures. Here are some from our collection!

Milk Glass Vase Rental NC

Milk Glass Vase Rental

I love the vintage compotes and serving dishes in the milky white color.  Food just looks extra delicious against the pure white of the dish!

Milk Glass Compote

Vintage milk glass goblets and small compotes are also lovely and can be used as either vases, planters, or small serving dishes!Milk Glass Compotes Rental

The purity of white vintage milk glass is a classic choice for so many special gatherings such as weddings, receptions, showers, anniversaries, and dinner parties. Invite Southern Vintage Table to help you set the table with this charming vintage accessory! More of our collection can be seen on our Pinterest Board.

Milk Glass Vase Rental

For more about milk glass, check out these resources!
Milk Glass Kitchen
Wikipedia
About.com Antiques

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Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC