AN AUTUMN GARLAND CENTERPIECE

Autumn

Every new season for me includes pulling and rotating some of my collections. I wanted to use this beautiful harvest garland as a centerpiece on the dining room table. 

This colorful dried garland is perfect for using during the autumn season. The garland was gifted to me by my sweet sister. The botanicals included in the garland are blue lavender, Mexican sage, achillea, golden yarrow and orange safflowers. Herbs include marjoram, thyme sage, bayleaves and pepper berries.  The scent is heavenly, I wish you could smell the herbs!

I decided to add a few fresh flowers and plants to the centerpiece, a vase of flowers with similar colors and small terra-cotta potted flowering plants.

Baby boos and a few faux flowers round out the centerpiece with a few other Quimper pieces.

My favorite Quimper faience border is used on these decorative plates,

Ajonc and Bruyere (also know as gorse and heather). 

These flowering plants are native to the British Isles and Western Europe. Some  plates have one figure, a bretonne (woman) or a man (breton) and some have a couple. I’ve enjoyed collecting these plates over the years.

My favorite piece, this platter with a musician, I found displayed on a hutch at the Quimper boutique in Paris. I am sad to say this shop is no longer there.  

Hand painted, these pieces are truly "works or art"

A Quimper vase and kerosene oil lamp

Canadian Maple Leaves 

A souvenir from the QCI meeting I attended in Seattle and British Columbia 

The wreath has the some of the same colors as the garland. It's not dried but faux flowers and herbs. It looks remarkably like the real ones. I've had it for years, found at the Pierre Deux shop at Miami Circle in Atlanta. Sadly, those shops went out of business in 2011

Thank you if you are still here, a lot of photos! I hope you enjoyed seeing some of my treasured Quimper plates in this table setting. I think the colors found in the plates are lovely alongside the colors in the garland. I hope you will leave a comment, it's the only way I know you stopped by.

 

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TALES OF THE TRAVELING TOTE AND A GIVEAWAY

Welcome to another adventure of The Tales of the Traveling Tote. This is where my fellow Tales of the Traveling Tote friends and I share our latest travels, projects and our most current events. You will have an opportunity to visit other members at the end of this post and learn about our giveaway.

More Tales in the Time of Covid19

We are going out only when we need to and then we go early and try to avoid crowds. Being outside helps when you need to stay home most of the time. Early summer we were adding new plants to the Veranda and I've enjoyed adding flowers. It has been really hot so time spent outside now has to be early mornings and late afternoon. I've always loved being outside early, just something about starting the day with the birds singing and sparkle from the dew on the grass. With cooler weather predicted for the week you will find me outside on the veranda.

Enjoying flags all summer long, Memorial Day to Labor Day 

This pair enjoys having a tea party 
So happy to find them at the MacKenzie-Childs virtual barn sale

Since our travel plans for this year had to be cancelled and Miss Courtney was so disappointed she didn't get to go on the trip to Scandinavia, we decided to take a virtual tour to some of my favorite places! And include her......

This is the trip that was cancelled with Jim's retirement group

So, since we have no travel to share from this year, join Miss Courtney and me on some of the cities Miss Courtney would like to visit.

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If you follow my blog you know how we love France but did you know we also love Italy!



Rome, Italy

Piazza della Rotonda
Lunch with a view of the Pantheon

Roman Colosseum

Miss Courtney certainly wants a picnic at Palatine Hill

Trevi Fountain

I always throw in a coin and hope I will get a return trip

This adorable group was celebrating Carnival in Rome

Venice 

We were there during Carnival

Jim enjoying the sights of Venice

Miss Courtney says she already has her mask for our trip

Meet Marco, my gondolier. He was very attentive!

The hotel room was very grand and included a welcome basket of fruit and the window overlooked Plazza San Marco 

Isle of Capri

Positano

And, some other favorite destinations  
Portsmouth
 A Trip to England in December for Christmas shopping

Keukenhof Gardens
 Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Nothing like a parade!
Windsor, England

Lucerne, Switzerland

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 So, have you learned to Zoom? I did and I've enjoyed meetings with friends and Traveling Tote friends.
It's a great way to stay in touch!

I am grateful to have seen so many sunsets in far-away places. But now, during this time of Covid19, I am thankful to be in my own backyard!

Now for the Giveaway

Just leave a comment with Rita here for a chance to win a four piece set of coasters from MacKenzie-Childs. 

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Visit the Tale of the Traveling Tote friends for more fun adventures.
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Tales of the Traveling Tote Friends

Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths 

Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch

Jenna with Miss Coquille @The Painted Apron

Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda

 Patti with Miss Kenzie @ Pandora's Box

Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply 

Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul

Jackie and Miss Madi K @ Purple Chocolat Home

Ricki Jill and Countess De Monet @ The Sketchy Reade
Cherry Kay and Carrie and Hall @ Entertaining Women

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Thank you for your visit. I hope you are well and safe. I would love for you to leave a comment, it's the only way I know you 
stopped in!

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Wishing everyone,
 a safe and Happy Labor Day Weekend!

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