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A former middle school principal, I am blissfully enjoying retirement with the Headmaster! Thank you for visiting, commenting, and following!

08 May 2012

Violets for Mom



My mother has always loved flowers, and her yard is one of the nicest in the neighborhood. It is amazing  the way she can take a teeny cutting of something, put in the ground, and in a very short time, have a nice sized plant. 

Sadly, I have no such green thumb; I was dearly hoping to acquire that particular gene.

So, on this Mother's Day, I thought it only fitting that the table reflect her love of flowers and gardening.

Collecting china decorated with violets is my latest obsession; I have to stop soon, because there is very little room left to store everything!  But, I'm happy to have the few pieces that have managed to come my way.  For this setting, a collection of violet china (some mismatched), my Grand Baroque sterling (mixed with her Sir Christopher), and her Fostoria Rosepoint crystal will be the main focus.  The centerpiece:  a sweet box filled with African violets for her to take home.  I hope she enjoys it!



Here is one of my 'several' caveats:  I didn't have time to set an entire table, so I used the antique tea cart to do a place setting for one.  The green stem is from the Dollar Tree.



Using my mother's Rosepoint Fostoria...so beautiful!




This adorable box (wish the writing would have shown up) will hold three African violets...


Beautiful dinner plate from the Czech Reputlic...




Ah, yes...the usual suspect used as an underplate for the salad plate (to bring out the green in the stems and leaves of the violets)...



Limoges salad plate...poor photo :(


A sweet little berry bowl from Germany...



A combination of my Wallace Grand Baroque and my mother's Wallace Sir Christopher.  I love to mix up the silver!


A sweet little amethyst dish from One King's Lane...and


Because I didn't have the violets tonight, I have added some gardenias from her garden...it's all about her, after all, isn't it?

THE HEADMISTRESS AND THE HEADMASTER WISH ALL OF YOU A VERY LOVELY MOTHER'S DAY!

Linking this week to...
Let's Dish ~ Cuisine Kathleen

72 comments:

  1. Your floral plates are absolutely beautiful :)

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  2. Such a pretty setting - I'm sure your mother will be very happy with the real thing. I have a few pieces of Limoges in a violet patter, given to me years ago by my mother. Little by little I'm passing them along to my daughter-in-law, who has always like them. Happy Mother's day!

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  3. I love your different violet dishes, Nancy. The amethyst and green add the right spark to table. The sterling is gorgeous and I like how you mix up the patterns. It is all just so beautiful.

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  4. Hi Nancy! What a beautiful setting! You may not have gotten your mother's green thumb but you sure have the tablescaping thumb! :) Everything is so pretty. Love your violet dishes and those gorgeous crystals!
    Thanks for popping in to see me.
    be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

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  5. Nancy,
    The idea to use the theme of violets is so sweet! I absolutely love them. Your violet china is very dainty and the lavender dish is perfect in the center of plates. Your Mother must be an amazing gardener! My great Aunt Grace was the productive gardener and had violets in her windows. I have blooming violets in my windows and hope I carrying on her love of flowers. My cousin was so cute, she said Aunt Grace would give her flowers and she always said she then murdered them. The love of gardening is in your DNA for you collect and display lovely tablesscapes! Hope you and your Mother have a great Mother's Day together.
    Pam

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    1. Hi, Pam! Thank you so much for your comment!
      I love, love the story of your great aunt and your cousin! That's such a sweet memory! No, you didn't murder them...they just didn't do well!
      For some odd reason, those violet dishes just grabbed my attention; I'd love to have more, but I'm running out of room!!! The hubs is...just a tad irritated! :) He'll get over it; he always does!
      Happy Mother's Day to you!
      Nancy

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  6. Oh how I love the violets! A gorgeous setting.

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    1. Thanks so much, Pat! Happy Mother's Day to you!
      Nancy

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  7. So pretty! I love the amethyst dish, and the two silver patterns play so well together! Your mom's crystal is gorgeous. My mom has Fostoria Navarre, which I also love. This is my first visit to your blog!

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    1. Welcome, Tricia! I am a VERY new blogger and am trying to learn my way around! I think the Fostoria is a fabulous crystal! Happy Mother's Day!
      Nancy

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  8. I love the old china patterns with violets! My daughter has some and her main silverware pattern is Sir Christopher! Love your table and learning about your mother's "green thumb"! Sadly, I missed that gene, as well. The Fostoria is gorgeous. I am planning an "obsession" blog on the Fostoria that I own soon. Love the glassware that they made!

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    1. Hi, Diane! What wonderful taste your daughter has with Sir Christopher! One of those timeless patterns. Fostoria is truly a fantastic crystal. Please let me know of your blog so that I can follow (if I'm not already)!
      Happy Mother's Day!
      Nancy

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  9. I enjoyed seeing your beautiful dishes and reading about your mother. I am a middle school nurse and dream of the day I retire - soon! It's hard to let go of such a great job. Only 11 more days till summer break!

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Patty! I remember very well those countdown to summer break, even though I was a 12 month employee. ENJOY YOUR SUMMER, AND HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
      ~N

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  10. What a wonderful combination and mix with berry bowl and plates sprinkled with violets! Your mom's crystal and silver are the crowning touch! Happy Mother's Day :)

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    1. Thank you, Mary May! Happy Mother's Day to you as well!
      ~N

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  11. What beautiful dishes! So lovely to pay tribute to your Mom by setting a bouquet of violet dishes!
    What a lovely and delicate table!

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    1. Thank you so much, Yvonne! I am so happy you visited. Happy Mother's Day to you!
      ~N

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  12. A very pretty setting. Lovely plates with violets.

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  13. I love your sweet dishes...violets are one of my favorites! I especially like your silver...I mix and match mine, too. These are beautiful pieces! Happy Mother's Day!

    XO,
    Jane

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    1. Thank you so much, Jane! I'm so appreciative of your comments!
      ~N

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  14. My mother-in-law has that same gift with plants. Amazing what she can do. I can see why you're obsessed with violets. So dainty and I just lover purple and green.

    Robin
    Robin Flies South

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    1. Thank you, Robin! I'm searching for MORE room so I can collect more violet dishes!
      ~N

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  15. This is a very sweet setting befitting a special Mom, Nancy! You may not have inherited the Green Thumb Gene, but I know your Mother appreciates your efforts!

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    1. Thank you, Alycia, for commenting and visiting!
      ~N

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  16. Your mom's love of gardening and flowers was passed on to you through dishes! My grandmother always had a green thumb for violets and would have loved your dishes. Hope you and your mom have a wonderful day!

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  17. Ohhh, those violet dishes are lovely!

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  18. Love all your violet dishes!!! The Bordallo cabbage plates are perfect with it. I really think the two silver patterns should marry and run off together.. they are so perfect.. Happy Mothers Day.. xo Marlis

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    1. Great idea, Marlis! Let's plan a wedding!! Happy Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  19. So pretty! Love the violet dishes! I can imagine how wonderful those gardenias smell!
    Thanks so much for linking this to Let's Dish!

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    1. Thank you, Kathleen, and thank you so much for hosting the lovely party! Happy Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  20. Oh so pretty! What a lovely tribute to Mothers.

    So happy you will be joining us for Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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    1. Thank you, and thank you for hosting your fabulous party each week!

      ~N

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  21. Lovely floral dishes you have collected. I love them too! I also adore the smell of Gardenia. Well, sometimes we don't inherit certain skills our mothers have, like me, I never learned how to crochet like her...but the esence is there and we were so happy to be born from such wonderful ladies. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY.
    FABBY

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    1. Fabby, the whole house smells like gardenias! They are 'fab'ulous!
      Happy Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  22. I absolutely love violets and have seen and wanted violet plates lately too. I haven't gotten any yet, which is incredible self-control on my part. I love them.

    Yours are all so lovely, and I love the amethyst dish to top it all off. That's my favorite style of sherbet dish these days. I DON'T seem to have self-control in that area.

    What a treat to see!

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    1. Thank you, Debbie! I'm so glad you enjoyed the pictures!
      ~N

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  23. How pretty! I love all of those soft colors together mixed with a pop of green. That is such a good idea to have a box ready to fill with violets that she can take home with her too.

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    1. Thank you, Kelly! Going to find violets on Friday; hope it will look nice! Have a Happy Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  24. Hi Nancy,

    So nice stopping by to visit and enjoy the lovely setting and beautiful photos. A sweet tribute to your mom :)

    Kindly, Lorraine

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    1. Thank you so much, Lorraine! It was fun putting it together!
      ~N

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  25. A beautiful setting, and lovely tribute to your mother!

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  26. Love your setting for one. Your post portrays a beautiful tribute to your Mother. The dishware is lovely. Gotta love the Dollar store. Happy Mother's Day

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    1. Thank you for visiting, Linda! Happy Mother's Day to you, too!
      ~N

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  27. Hi! So nice meeting you! Your Mother's Tribute is so beautiful! I love the picture at the beginning! The violets china is all just gorgeous! I also like the way you mixed the silver!

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Katherine

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    1. Katherine, thank you so much for your lovely comments! Happy Mother's Day to you as well!
      ~N

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  28. Your cart setting is just beautiful. I love the violets, silver, and the Fostoria is so pretty. Love every piece you have used.

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comments, Judy! Doing one place setting was a WHOLE lot easier than a whole table - I took the easy way out!
      Happy Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  29. Such a wonderful tablescape for your mother. The violet china is unusual. I am trying to visit my followers tonight to make a personal contact and see what they are up to - I see you are quite prepared for Mother's Day. My mother likes to be informal - just sitting around talking, then off to a favorite restaurant for lunch. This year she wants to do this on Saturday to avoid the crowds. Thank you for following me - I believe you were to first to follow - I so enjoy your posts and will definitely visit again.

    Distressed Donna Down Home

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    1. Love your sweet comments, Donna; I'm so proud to have been your FIRST follower...I adore your blog!!
      Happy Mother's Day to you as well!
      ~N

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  30. Hi darling, what a beautiful table. Your mother was gorgeous!! I see where your beauty comes from. The table setting is incredible, love all the purple. You know I don't have one thing purple.. hmmmm might have to work on that.. lol hugs ~lynne~

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    1. Lynne, what a lovely comment! My mom is 92 and looks like she's 62! Thank you for visiting, an have a lovely Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  31. Hi Nancy! Since I love purple ANYTHING, but especially purple flowers, I couldn't miss your post. I think your dishes are as delicate looking as the flowers potrayed on them. The crystal is absolutely stunning (one of my favorites I have ever seen!) and the flatware is amazing. I can't help but notice how much you look like your mom! Have a wonderful Mother's Day and I'm sure your mom will love her violets!

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  32. Thank you for visiting and commenting, Elaine! Happy Mother's Day to you as well!
    ~N

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  33. Hi Nancy,
    So nice to meet you and thank you for following my blog. Your table setting is lovely and I know that your Mother will love her violets. My Mother also loved violets and even had them on her good china.
    Your blog is charming.
    Blessings and Happy Mother's Day.
    Erin

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Erin! I'm a new blogger and am just learning my way around. So happy you enjoyed the violets!
      ~N

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  34. The gardenias are the perfect addition to your beautiful Mother's Day table. Happy Mother's Day!

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    1. Thank you so much! Happy Mother's Day to you, also!
      N

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  35. Stopping by again to take another look. Thanks, so beautiful.

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    1. Thank you so much, Judy! I have some additional pictures I might post maybe tomorrow. I hope you had a great Mother's Day!
      ~N

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  36. Hi Nancy,
    Your setting looks gorgeous. I just love african violets and they are going to look just adorable in that box. She's going to love it! Hope you have a great Mother's Day!
    I'm a new follower and would like to invite you to join our link party, we'd love to have you!
    Hugs,
    Patti

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    1. Patti, I am beyond flattered! Thank you so much! She did, indeed, love it! I'll be joining your party very soon!
      ~N

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  37. You had me at violets, Nancy. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE violets, and my grandmother gave me many small pieces over the years (planning a post with them at some point). Your setting is absolutely beautiful. Rosepoint is one of my faves, not just because of the design, but I love the shape too--it's perfect for your table with your beautiful dishes and lovely silver. I'm sure your mother was thrilled. ~Zuni

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  38. Thank you, Zuni, for your sweet comments! I will be looking for your post on your violet pieces. Collecting these plates and dishes was kind of a 'whim' for me, but I love them! Mom loved the whole thing today! Thank you again for your visit!
    ~N

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  39. What amazing violets! Thanks so much for being a part of my 100th Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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    1. It is I who thank YOU for hosting this fabulous gathering! So happy that you enjoyed the violets!
      Nancy

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  40. Lindas fotos e homenagem, Também tive uma mãe maravilhosa, mas que já faleceu. Sou herdeira de suas lindas louças, mas agora ainda estão na casa de meu pai, é bom uma filha respeitar tanto assim a mãe. Parabéns.

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