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Tuesday 26 February 2013

A Bit Of The Emerald Isle

With yet another winter storm blowing in, and the skies a depressing grey, this house needs a bit of colour and sparkle!

I also need to do some St. Patrick's Day decorating or my dead, Irish ancestors will come and haunt me. Oh yes they will!  Why people think the Irish are a merry lot beats me.  My mom's family were melancholy and superstitious.  And that was on their happy days!

Let's dress up the dining room table. ~



Start with a fine, Irish linen tablecloth.  Emerald green is the hot colour this year and I just happen to have a length of sequined, emerald green fabric.  I bought this as a remnant at a place that sold fabric for skating costumes.  Actually, I was buying drapery fabric for a client and the store threw this piece in for free.  Bonus!

It makes a great table runner and all those sequins grab every bit of light this February day will give it! ~


The sweet set of napkins came in a box of linens I bought at auction.  They are hand embroidered with tiny shamrocks.

The centrepiece is in a bowl from an Irish art pottery that has a scene of a farmer ploughing his field with his draft horses.  A dollar store spray of shamrocks sits inside with a bit of moss to fill in the spaces.  I can't use the live shamrock that I've had for thirty years because the contrary thing decides to go dormant EVERY SINGLE MARCH!

The little book is titled Irish Wit And Wisdom.  I guess they couldn't find enough to fill a regular size book.  Now I'm looking up and mouthing, "Sorry" to my dearly departed ancestors.  I can feel my mom's frown all the way down here!


Now I need your suggestions for decorating the last dining room ornament.  Weeks later, Utah refuses to give up this bubble pack filled box that Miss Kopy Kat send her kind gift in.  If Maeve even looks inside the box he gives her the evil eye and she slinks away.  Luckily, she has decided she loves sleeping on sequined table runners!


It can storm away as much as it likes outside and I'll just think of this bit of Irish wisdom.

Life is like a cup of tea.
It's all in how you make it.

20 comments:

  1. How pretty Maureen - love all your little bits of Irish decor!!!
    I don't have one item - ( and my Grandmother would be turning over in her grave, let me tell you )
    Wish I had a big box filled with bubble pack - maybe I'd be able to sleep too!!! lol
    XOX

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  2. Mine too, I have nothing although I always try to wear something green

    hey if it wasn't for all the fires that destroyed all the births deaths and marriage info, we could've found out if we're all related, now that would be cool!

    My grandparents were so superstitious I think the merry stuff comes from mid party when they were all happy drunk. Mum is not so bad but I think that's because she grew up here. and married an Aussie at 18.

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    1. Sorry hit publish before I finished, I love the embroidered linens that was an awesome find!

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  3. Oh the superstitions still get in the way for me. I think my mom made up a few for her own convenience, like the tree coming down before January 1 since it is apparently bad luck to have two trees in the same year. Ha! Not sure about that one. My grandmother always said there was nothing merry about being poor.

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  4. Love the deep green runner, Maureen! Your Irish ancestors would be proud with your decor.

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  5. Your Irish tabletop display looks perfect!! Great vignette to brighten the day.
    Mary Alice

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  6. Cute decor and I even like the kitty in a box. :)
    Farmhouse hugs,
    Cindy

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  7. Cute Irish decor, I love the cat taking a little rest.

    Cynthia

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  8. "My mom's family were melancholy and superstitious. And that was on their happy days!" Made me laugh out loud -- thanks for that.

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  9. Love it Maureen. I never think to decorate for St. Patrick's Day. I think I will do good to get my Easter/Spring decorations up. I am so ready for Spring weather.
    Blessings,
    Audrey Z.
    @ Timeless Treasures

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  10. I have a bit of Irish love to spread around once I get through this week- Love YOUR green! xo Diana

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  11. I am so glad you decided to keep the ancestors happy. I only seem appropriate as Mom's birthday on only 1 day off. Love the arrangement.
    Lynn

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  12. Yay! You did a St. Patrick's Day post!!! Ooooh I love those shamrock napkins! So pretty!! It all looks good to me girl!

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  13. How lovely! Those napkins are really neat! Wouldn't they be pretty with any floral centerpieces?

    Happy Thursday!

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  14. All my North Carolina relatives were most certainly Irish and I never do a thing for the holiday. You did a good job. Love the napkins.

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  15. wonderful goodies, love the napkins! Happy weekend wishes to you and Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop, your participation is what makes it so much fun. Come back to Katherines Corner,I posted the new giveaway today! xo

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  16. How cute! That fabric makes the perfect runner for St, Patrick's Day! I love the centerpiece, too. So cute!

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  17. Maureen, I have so enjoyed your blog. I love your creativity, your sense of humor and the love of family and life that you share with all of us. I gave you an award on my blog today. Check today's post for the specifics.
    Dottie

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  18. Hi Maureen, I would hate for you to be haunted LOL I think your relatives would be happy. Those napkins are so pretty, perfect with the runner for St. Patrick's Day.

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  19. What a very pretty irish table! I love your shamrock napkins. Your Irish ancestors should be very happy... even your glitterdot-sequined-tablerunner is kinda Irish, because that's the kind of fabric they make the dresses from for the irish step dancing competitions. :-) ( My daughter competed for 9 years. She retired from dancing when she went off to college. Here we are several years later, and I still find the odd sequin or two under furniture when I clean. Still? Either my vacuum is really bad, or those sequins multiply like rabbits.)

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