Tomorrow Americans will celebrate the 246th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Towns and homes across the country have donned their banners, flags, and swags in red, white, and blue to recognize the day we mark as America’s birthday.
In recognition of this day of parades, fireworks, and family bbqs, we pulled from our archives images of vintage tableware and decor in red, white, and blue just for you!
RED – RED – RED – RED – RED – RED – RED – RED – RED – RED
WHITE – WHITE – WHITE – WHITE – WHITE – WHITE
BLUE – BLUE – BLUE – BLUE – BLUE – BLUE – BLUE – BLUE
Although perfect for a July 4th celebration, these patriotic colors are quite lovely for any event. Happy 4th, all!
Today’s post is not about pretty vintage dishes or goblets; it’s all about the fabulous folks who have visited our studio in search of their vintage jive. Whether planning a wedding reception, birthday party, bridal shower, dinner party, or styled shoot, there’s nothing quite like being amist rows of vintage goblets in almost every color, vintage plates from different decades, shelves filled with teacups, and a room full of decor.
Some folks come solo to concentrate on their own vision; others bring their mother, sister, best friend, planner, and even their florist with whom they share ideas. And, of course, the bride and groom often arrive together to plan their reception tablescape that’s uniquely theirs.
Thank you all again for coming over and chatting with us! We are always excited to share our inventory and witness how your creative tablescape emerges!
Seven years to the date, June 13, 2014, Southern Vintage Table celebrated our 1st anniversary! We were quite pleased with our progress during that year and paused to mark our achievements.
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…
So, 7 years later, we are pausing one again to see how much some our numbers have changed and what new numbers we’d like to note. From 32,957 to 1, here are the ten numbers we are celebrating today and our favorite number is last!
One –Â 32,957 Users from 1-1-2020 to 6-13-2021
To us, this number is amazing! In 2013 we had 6,605 views (a little different than users but this is the data we have) on our WordPress blog. Today we have a full scale website that folks from all over the world visit.
2013 Southern Vintage Table
2021 Southern Vintage Table
Two –Â 2,772 Pieces of Vintage FlatwareÂ
As before, we didn’t really count each piece but we do have a lot! In 2014 we only collected vintage silver-plated flatware and had enough for 200+ guests. By 2021, we had amassed enough vintage silver-plated and stainless steel pieces to accommodate at least 200+ guests in each variety. Recently, we have added vintage gold-plated to our flatware offerings and now can serve 75 guests. Along with place settings, we have lots of vintage serving pieces – cake servers, tongs, large spoons & forks, pickle forks, and sugar spoons.
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!
 Three – 1,996 Pinterest Pins & 667 Intagram Posts
The major force on the social media scene in 2014 was Pinterest. Folks still use Pinterest for ideas, but Instagram has since become the social media queen. In 2014 we had 882 pins on Pinterest; today we have pinned 1,996 images with 32 public boards. A typical monthly viewership is 29,000 but we have hit 78,000.
Our Instagram account has 667 posts and 1,766 followers. These numbers make us dance!
Facebook
Instagram
Four –Â 839 Facebook Likes and 911 Followers
From 280 to 839 Facebook likes, we are grateful for each of you! We love to share with you our new additions as well as our latest events. And, we love to hear from you!
Five – 402 Published Blog Posts
From 71 in 2014 to 403 Sunday posts in 2021, we have expanded our blog post menu to include Southern Vintage Table Events, Vintage Features, Styled Shoots, Vintage Tips, and News.
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!
Our count of vintage Whitehall goblets has grown in two ways – the total count and the number of colors – from 65 to 200 and 6 colors to 9! Many folks grew up with this popular glassware pattern and they evoke many wonderful family memories.
Seven – 7 Shades of Blue Goblets
Wow – 7 shades of blue in our vintage goblet collection! Don’t forget we also have green, yellow, amber, red, purple, pink, peach, white, and clear. How many you ask? Well, we’ll need to get back to you on that!
It’s been quite an adventure – collecting, researching, cleaning, repairing, photographing, identifying, writing, posting, washing, archiving, sorting – and we continue to love every part of it. Gosh, how to you thank everyone for their support and kindness? Â Simply and sincerely – Thank You.
Our vintage plate collection in 2014 totaled about 250 in assorted styles and patterns. Today we have 9 vintage collections or themes of patterns, all of which can be mixed and matched with each other or kept in the same theme. Some vintage collections have about 300, like our blue & white, and others have 30 or so, as in our mostly brown. How many total dinner plates do we have? We’ll get back to you on that, too!
Retro
White Stoneware
Elegant Florals
Large Florals
Red & White
Wildflower Stoneware
White/Cream & Gold
Bue & White
Mostly Browns
Ten – Our First Grandbaby Arrives!
Our most wondrous number is one – our first grand baby is born – Isla Elaine Dawson. What a wonderful number this one is!
Do you love bunnies, colored eggs, and fresh flowers? Of course you do! That’s what today’s post is all about, and the best part has to be the fresh flowers from Fernrock Farm.
The Easter Tree, filled with dangling decoupaged eggs, was made from a bunch of branches set in concrete and then painted white. I made it last summer and it is one of my favorite decor items because once Easter is over, I’ll adorn it with blue and white decoupaged balls. This year I plan to dangle other cute themed decorations for holidays coming up.
The bunnies and rooster are visiting from our studio and they’ll return there soon. We learned this week that the white rooster, while probably not the real thing, is a close sister to a blanc de chine, “white from china,” figurine. (Thank you, Jami!) We love how it looks with the white vases and we will be on the lookout to add more to our inventory.
The florals are in vintage vases from our studio. Different sizes in white were selected so the bright colors of the tulips and daffodils popped. We think our plan worked!
We hope everyone had a wonderful day. Flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and birds are singing. Ahhh, the perfection of nature!
“The love you feel in life is a reflection of the love you feel in yourself. “
Deepak Chopra
Today we wish all a Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether it be celebrated with your sweetheart, friends, family, or just yourself, this day is all about love – that inexplicable gift we both receive and give to others. But, perhaps the truest meaning is that love begins with knowing, celebrating, and loving yourself.
We love and thank our clients who participated in our Share the Love offer. We enjoyed planning, collaborating, advertising, and executing the details for you. We are so pleased that you enjoyed the experience, too!
Happy Valentine’s Day and thank you for making ours unique and special! Shelly, you could not have chosen better for us. I am in love with these plates!
AA
These clients have been instrumental in the planning of a new endeavor – offering intimate vintage “To Go” packages. The first to be launched will be a Tea Party To Go package. We are working on the details so you easily can host a magical and traditional tea party!
Valentine’s Day is three weeks from today! How will you celebrate with your sweetie, family, or friends this year? Do you need something that will brighten this day of love and create an everlasting memory?
We can help you put together an experience that will inspire sweet memories of love, beauty, and togetherness.
Our “Share the Love” Valentine’s package has everything you need to set a romantic tablescape. We will provide carefully selected vintage place settings for two (or more) , vintage table decor with a handcrafted bottle-vase filled with beautiful, everlasting dried florals, coordinating napkin rings, and 4 gourmet cupcakes. Prepare your special meal or order takeout from your favorite restaurant and the memories begin.
Intrigued? Here are four reasons why “Share the Love” is perfect for you!
Reason 1 – Everything included is eco-responsible. The dishware is vintage, the dried flowers are organically and locally grown, and the gourmet cupcakes come from a local baker.
Reason 2 – Three different vintage themesfrom which to choose! Elegantly Classic has sweet, fancy plates; Boldly Botanical features place settings with big, vibrant florals; and Naturally Neutral incorporates earthy tans, beiges and brown. All coordinated pieces complement each package.
Elegantly Classic
Boldly Botanical
Naturally Neutral
Reason 3 – Three local, eco-minded women-owned businesses have collaborated to bring you this collection.
Lisa of Fireside Farm grows organic flowers here in Orange County. Happily Desserted‘s owner, Shrimi, bakes speciality cakes and and uses locally and seasonally available ingredients. Shelly, owner of Southern Vintage Table, curates vintage tableware for rent. The three of us partner with the Green Wedding Guild, an organization whose goal is to help clients choose sustainable options.
Reason 4 – You also will be sharing the love with us! Our businesses have been affected by the pandemic. If you add takeout from a local restaurant, you’ll be helping four businesses! Your participation supports us during this time until we can safely gather once again. We all will be most appreciative!
Encouragements, questions, or comments? Please let us know! [email protected]
A bit of cheer was sent to us to start our new year!! The delightful news was the publication of an article that appears in the January/February 2021 issue of Southern Lady for which we were consulted. The article is beautifully presented in this lovely publication and we are so pleased to be mentioned.
The Legacy of Lace Touting both a rich history and perennial popularity, heirloom lace is unwavering in its versatile appeal. Written by Elizabeth Bonneer Czapski Styled by Melissa Sturdivant Smith Photographed by Stephanie Welbourne Steele.
Here’s an excerpt from the article which mentions us:
At Southern Vintage Table, an antique tableware rental company in Hillsborough, North Carolina, owner Shelly Heath shares a fascination with lace that she’s acquired for her events. But, she also believes that much of its draw, especially in our region, lies in nostalgic merit. “I think folks appreciate vintage lace because of the delicate and intricate designs as much as its personal history,” Shelly explains.
“If it has been handed down from previous generations, it carries a sentimental value that is priceless. Lace is also versatile – as a table covering, a hankerchief, or an embellishment on {clothing}.”
Southern Lady Magazine, Jan/Feb 2021, pages 45-50.
Of course, we are truly honored to have been asked about our deep appreciation for vintage lace. Our collection at Southern Vintage Table includes lace doilies, tablecloths, handkerchiefs, napkins, and even a boho-inspired lace curtain-backdrop. Let us know if you’d like to add a bit of lace to your next event!
Her soul overheard and replied, “It’s about time.”
As I read this quote I had an epiphany – I have loved creating, decorating, transforming, and arranging all of my life and haven’t given much thought as to why. Now, I understand.
My heart and soul need to create.
Our offerings of handcrafted items have brought us joy to create and now even more joy to share. They are all eco-friendly, natural, and repurposed – the hallmarks of a good steward of our planet. We hope you can imagine how they might be the perfect item for your next occasion!
Wood Rounds – Pedestals – Boxes
Wood may be the most versatile natural element. The live-edged rounds, purchased from a local vendor, were first dried and sanded. We then decoupaged one side with vintage newsprint and slightly stained the other with coffee to provide two different looks. Two have been decoupaged with blue & white paper. With these, you can define a space, elevate decor pieces, or hold dishes such as desserts.
Currently we are cutting fallen branches to make pedestals for small items. As seen in the opening photograph, these can hold votives, small plants, or simply be an architectural addition in a grouping.
Our favorite creation are these wooden boxes fashioned from old ceiling fan blades. Two of the same size were matched up for the sides, and the ends and bottoms were cut from recycled wood. The pieces were sanded and nailed together. So far, they have been used to hold cupcakes on the dessert table, stacked as steps to display individual pastries, and filled with florals as a centerpiece. How do you see them used at your event?
Top photo – Mylina Russell; second – Autumn Harrison; third – Rose Trail
Macrame Bottle Votives – Bottle Vases
Macrame was a big hit in the 1970s and now making a comeback with the boho style. These recycled bottles have been covered with a macrame wrap and look so hip! Some can be used as votives and others as vases.
Photo by Mylina Russell
Lace, Cloth, Macrame Boho Backdrop Curtain
As our linen collection grew, several overlays were put to the side for reuse. We weren’t quite certain what that might entail, but we knew they would be perfect for a project. Well, here’s that project – a boho backdrop curtain. Along with cut strips of overlays, we added strips of vintage cloth, ribbon, lace, toile, and macrame rope. Crafted for a fall porch wedding, it is now hanging in our studio. Perhaps you can see this at your wedding or event?
Decoupage Bottles – Vases – Rocks – Rounds
Decoupaging is an amazing craft because you can totally transform something ordinary into a work of art. Most of these have been covered with paper napkins, but we have used vintage book pages and crafting paper as well. These days our glass bottles and jars don’t make it to the recycling bin – they are destined to become a decoupaged treasure!
Our handcrafted recycled and repurposed decor items are at our studio along with our vintage wares. These two blend together perfectly and belong in each other’s worlds.
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul ” – Dieter F.Uchtdorf
Happy Thanksgiving! With this vintage embossed postcard from 1912, we extend good wishes and good health to all of you. This year’s family holiday will be one we will remember and serves to underscore how vital it is to be mindful of the wellbeing of others.
But, we’d like to tell what we learned about this vintage postcard that’s over 100 years old. There are two interesting details – a bit of information underneath the corn and the handwritten message to Miss Sanford from Isabella.
And, after much research, here’s what we know about “Design Copyrighted Only 1912 by Heymann.” First, we couldn’t find anything except that there’s quite a few Heymann vintage cards for sale. We had assumed the artwork was created by Heymann but that’s not the case. Heymann was part of Heymann and Schmidt, a luxury paper and printing company in Berlin. In addition to printing postcards, they produced calendars, posters, greeting cards, and packaging. Their items were shipped across the world. According to one source, the printing portion of the business operated from about 1904-1930. These postcards are highly collectable today. We still have two questions – who was the artist and why does it say “only 1912”? If anyone knows, do tell!
Now for the message. You can see that it was not mailed because there is no stamp or postmark. Why, we wonder? But, Isbella really wanted her friend, Miss Sanford, to come and spend Friday night with her, perhaps the day after Thanksgiving. We hope she did!
Dear Miss Sanford, I want you to spend the night before you goes home. Can you come Friday night or not and if you can, come visit come Friday night. Please send me word what night you wish to stay. I am looking for Delia and Fannie. Robert won’t be here Friday night he is going to the large (lodge?) so Please send me word From Isbella Trotter. by Hand
Thanksgiving will be different this year for many of us, including the Bass-Heath-Roberson clan. For over 6 decades we have gathered together sharing our speciality dishes to celebrate this day – aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, children, sisters, brothers, and friends. It became our yearly family reunion and the time we caught up with other’s lives and families.
This year we’ll be at our own homes and we’ll be okay. That’s because we will be keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe so we can return to this family tradition next year. The good part is we’ll have even more to share with each other!
