The purpose of a vase is simple – to hold pretty flowers. The vase, however, is also the frame for the bouquet, creating a look that might be beautiful, elegant, colorful, fun or whimsical. Today’s post, short on words but long on photos, features the eclectic mix of vintage vases and containers at Southern Vintage Table and how they display their lovely flowers in many different ways.
Teapot Flowers
Beautiful flowers always are appreciated at any affair and even more so when framed in a vintage vase or container. Southern Vintage Table has many choices – milk glass, blue mason jars, petite ceramic, silver pitchers, green glass vases, teapots, sugar dishes and creamers, small bottles and even a Coleman jug or two. To see more of our collection, take a look at our new Pinterest board, Vintage Vases. More pins are on the way!
Another delightful vintage accent for your next event – decorative metal trays. Along with their metal partner, vintage tins, these trays are beautiful, historic and practical. As I surveyed our small, growing collection at Southern Vintage Table, my organizing instinct just kicked in. I decided our vintage collection fell into three categories: advertisement, decorative printed and hand painted.
Advertisement Trays
This grouping of trays tell a story about America in the early 1900s. Heinz, Pepsi and Coke were three of many companies that used trays to advertise their products. Although these are reproductions of their original run, they are all vintage 1970s. Check out the evolution of the latest fashions depicted in these advertisements!
Catsup Metal Tray
Pepsi Metal Tray
Coca-Cola Metal Tray
Coke Metal Tray
Coke Metal Tray
Decorative Printed Trays
These trays, with their printed motif, are all interesting. The round tray has a well around the center, perfect for crackers or cheese, and the raised center could hold the dip – in a vintage bowl, of course. The small red floral tea tray is very dramatic and would definitely add color to a table. The gorgeous, romantic rectangular tray, made in England, is a Daher tea tray from the 1970s. A bowl of treats would look so sweet on this lovely tray.
The oval “Old Ironsides” tray was produced in 1976 to mark America’s 200th anniversary and would be perfect at a bar or drink station. As the story goes, the wooden sides of this 18th century ship, officially called The Constitution and named by George Washington, were so strong that British cannon balls would bounce off. One other tidbit – it was one of the first original six frigates of the Unites States Navy and is the “oldest commissioned ship in the world still afloat.”
Floral Rings Metal Tray
Ship Enameled Tray
Hand Painted Metal Trays
These three trays are literally works of art. As you can see, each has a handwritten note or signature that gives it that one-of-a-kind uniqueness. I think each qualify as tole trays – hand painted metal trays. According to French Garden House, tole refers to a tray or metal ware that has been painted.
Tole refers to decorated tin and iron wares from 1700-1900; but most people also use the term to refer to various painted metalware from the late 19th to mid 20th Century… American Toleware features fruits, florals and symbols. Mostly these pieces were painted by amateur artists using the “one stroke” technique with the paintbrush loaded with several colors at once.
Along with our vintage tins, collection, these vintage trays would add beauty and history at your next gathering. Our collection of both now can been viewed on our new Pinterest board, Vintage Metal Tins & Trays!
For more information about metal trays, check out these articles.
Each week I wait for an inspiration for my Sunday post. Typically I don’t actively look but instead I trust, with my antenna up and ready, that I’ll receive this cosmic message. It’s kinda magical – waiting for something you don’t know when, where or how it will appear – but it can also be a little nerve-racking if nothing has shown up by week’s end. But, knock on wood, that didn’t happen this week and my inspiration was truly delightful.
Here it is – these darling, vintage tea napkins with embroidered roosters. I found them at one of my favorite haunts and instantly loved them. As I studied their delicate stitches, so many questions came up. Who did these once belong to … who would stitch small roosters in the corner of her tea napkins … was tea time a daily part of her life … did she love roosters…? As I stood there, admiring these dainty, charming napkins, I knew my inspiration message had arrived. Chickens and roosters!
I went through our inventory at Southern Vintage Table and starting pulling together vintage items that featured chickens and roosters. I knew they were there but I hadn’t thought of them as a group onto themselves. Not surprisingly, I came up with some dishes, baskets, a tub and salt & pepper sets.
First, let’s look at the dishes and start with, of course, deviled egg trays! My aunt Aline always prepared deviled eggs for our family reunions and she also loved to collect deviled egg trays. I am so pleased that two from her vast collection are now available at Southern Vintage Table. Thank you, Aline!
These vintage patterns and dishes all feature chickens and roosters. I especially love the Provincial pattern by Scio and Weathervane by Taylor, Smith & Taylor. There’s something wholesome and good about having a chicken on your plate or in your bowl!
Weather Vane by Taylor, Smith & Taylor
Here are more vintage chicken treasures in our collection – two chicken baskets, a pair of roosters and even an enameled pan with a painted rooster on the side. Aren’t they all charming?
As I am taking these photos, I remembered the first time I met a chicken. One summer our family, with eight children aboard, loaded up the station wagon and made a road trip from Maryland to Dunn, NC for a long visit with mom’s parents, Susie and Wiley. With chickens, pigs, a mule and a huge vegetable garden, we learned how to gather eggs, pick peas and feed the pigs.
In the cool evening air, we often sat under their big tree and, with an enameled pan in our laps, we shelled peas while Grandma’s chickens roamed freely in the yard. I remember how much Susie loved those chickens, calling out to them by name and throwing corn at their feet, but I also remember that she made the most delicious chicken and dumplings. Sigh. Some tough lessons were learned that summer and I am so grateful for that time we spent on the farm with my hardworking, loving grandparents.
My sisters, brothers and cousins all have these sweet childhood memories about our summers on our grandparents’ farm. Today when I see a chicken, real or on a vintage napkin, I oftentimes think about Susie. Add a little vintage chicken to your next family gathering. Chances are someone will have a cherished memory to share as well.
In recent years folks have re-fallen in love with the Mason jar. Many of us remember our mother or grandmother canning vegetables and fruits from the garden and others love the quaint look of flowers in a blue Mason jar. Whether used for canning or decor, the Mason jar has an interesting story to tell. Here are 8 things you really do want to know about this simple, yet magnificent, American invention.
#1 – Mason is a proper noun when referring to a Mason jar.
John Landis Mason
Mason jars were patented on November 30, 1858 by John Landis Mason, a Philadelphia tinsmith. He invented a machine that could cut screw threads in the lip of a glass jar. A metal lid with a rubber ring inside could be screwed securely on the jar and food could then be safely preserved. This was a major breakthrough because it meant summer vegetables and fruits could be preserved for the winter months.
#2 – Mason jars are not a brand but a type of glass container.
When you refer to a Mason jar, you are talking about a type of jar with screw threads at the mouth. There were once many different manufacturers of this patented design. Although many of us are familiar with Ball Mason jars, there’s also Kerr, Lamb, Atlas, Drey, Golden Harvest and a few others. Today, the primary Mason jar producer in the United States is Jarden Home Brands. Along with an extensive product line, they make both Ball and Kerr Mason jars.
#3 – The age of a Mason jar can be roughly determined by its manufacturer and logo.
With short-lived companies such as Lamb, Atlas and Drey, it’s pretty easy dating their Mason jars. For instance, a Lamb Mason jar was made from the 1930s to 1940s by the Lamb Glass Co. in Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Ball Mason jars can be roughly dated using their logo. With this chart found on the Minnetrista website, it’s pretty easy to get an approximate date.
The Ball jar on the left is dated between 1923 and 1933 because of the absent underscore. The two Ball jars are the right are dated by the lettering and underscore marking. The one of the left has an “a” loop and is dated 1910-33 while the one on the right has an open “B” loop and, with the underscore, was made between 1933-62. Cool stuff, huh?
#4 – Ball Perfect Mason jars were a type of fruit (and vegetable) canning jar made from 1913-60.
Other types of Ball jars include Ball Mason, Ball Ideal, Ball Improved, Ball Special and Ball Sure Seal.
#5 – All Ball or blue jars are not Mason.
These jars do not have a screw threads and therefore are not Mason jars. The Ball jar on the left is an Ideal Bar jar and the one on the right is a RE Tongue and Bros Lustre jar made in Philadelphia. These are called Lightning jars because you can take the lid off “fast as lightning.” This design was invented in 1882 by Henry William Putnam of Bennington, Vermont.
#6 – Mason jars come in more colors than clear or blue.
Although I have not come across them, Mason jars come in many different hues – green, pink, red, amber, yellow, cobalt blue, black and milk glass. Some of these colors are very rare and quite valuable.
#7 – 1937 was the last year a blue Ball Mason jar was made.
This means that any authentic blue Ball Mason jar is at least 77 years old. The blue color was partially caused by the minerals of the sand on the shores of Lake Michigan.
#8 – Mason jars, especially the blue Ball, are beautiful, vintage flower vases!
Before the modern grocery store with rows of canned goods and freezers stocked with frozen vegetables, there was the Mason jar. Filled with vegetables and fruits from the family’s garden, the Mason jar, with its patented screw threads and rubber sealed tops, kept food fresh in the pantry for the winter months.
Nowadays, “putting up” the garden’s bounty isn’t as important as in the past, but many folks are rediscovering this lost kitchen art and some have just continued their mother’s and grandmother’s tradition of canning their garden vegetables. I remember rows of colorful fruits and vegetables in Mason jars in my mother’s pantry. Opening one filled with tomatoes or beans was a celebration of our hard work and a delicious reminder of our summer garden.
Southern Vintage Table has vintage blue and clear Mason jars available for your next event. Use them as flower vases or as simple decor and appreciate this marvelous invention by John Landis Mason.
Want to know more about Mason jars? Here are a few websites I used for this blog post.
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.
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!
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!
~ 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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!
Glass Pitchers-15+ (Gallery)
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!
Lemon Teapot
Pair of Dark Blue Teapots
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!
Beautiful flowers always are appreciated at any affair and even more so when framed in a vintage vase or container. Southern Vintage Table has many choices – milk glass, blue mason jars, petite ceramic, silver pitchers, green glass vases, teapots, sugar dishes and creamers, small bottles and even a Coleman jug or two. To see more of our collection, take a look at our new Pinterest board, Vintage Vases. More pins are on the way!
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!
