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Monday, February 1, 2010

The Tablecloth, The Flower Bouquet



What I must have is a Flower Bouquet and a Tablecloth on my Dinner Table. And whoe to the person who wants to remove my bouquet to make more room for another food item.



What I can't resist is a simple tablecloth, old or new, made of cotton or linen. Each one of these cloths' has a story to tell and I remember each and everyone of them. They all come from countries we have visited in Europe.
The embroidered, in cross stitch, linen cloth on top, was purchased many years ago at an Italian flea market. The simple red and white checkered cloth I found at the weekly market in Busseto, Italy. With a big smile, the vendor "threw in" a present, another cloth, this time blue and white.



The dark blue, with dots, tablecloth has a very special story to tell. It came from an Indigo textile dyeing and printing shop in the Burgenland of Austria. An elderly couple, whom we visited, spent the day with us demonstrating the time consuming art of printing fabric with natural indigo dyes.
The most remarkable part of their Atelier was the huge Roller Press, pulled by 4 large horses. It occupied the entire and very large building. It's purpose was to produce a very shiny material, made of cotton, which mimicked silk, a fabric the Austrian middle class could not afford.

Gina



14 comments:

  1. I love the flowers and the tablecloths, and would love to see the tablecloths in more detail!!

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  2. Hi Wini, I can certainly arrange that. Are you interested in any one tablecloth in particular?

    Gina

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  3. I love flower bouquets, but on our kitchen table they are always in the way. Still, they make their way into the house in spring and summer, when there are also fewer school materials scattered around. Flowers and tablecloths (and candles) can really make a dinner very cozy and special.
    PS the blogging class sounds quite interesting!

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  4. Hi Francesca, You are right, flower arrangements can get in the way. But there is usually room for a little, tiny bit of sunshine in a vase. I have to be careful not to be too exuberant with my flower arrangements on my dinner table... guests don't like to crane their necks just to see each other.

    Participants from all over the world have joined the blogging class. We are learning a lot and it is also fun to meet other bloggers.
    "Blogging your Way" is usually taught only once a year. Let me know if you would like additional information.

    Ciao, Gina

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  5. Hi Gina, sorry it has taken me so long to visit you again! Thanks for you reply. The Austrian tableloth and the cross stich one look interesting. I just thought that it would be nice to see the actual designs, but there's no need to go out of your way.

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  6. Hi Wini, thanks for asking. Both tablecloths are so special that I will be happy to take a picture of them. Look for a new post in a couple of days.
    Gina

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  7. Lovely tablecloths and the flowers are gorgeous! Happy Seasonal Sunday!

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  8. Gina, love your tablecloths.. it's perfect to have a story with them and then to share them with your dinner mates... Your photos of the flowers are soo very pretty. many blessings, marlis

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  9. Hi Gina...

    So happy to have you for the Sunday Favorites repost party this week, my friend! I loved your post...of course, floral bouquets and tablecloths are two of my favorites to see and talk about as well! Ohhh my...your fresh flower arrangement is simply gorgeous! I love all the different flowers and such a variety of pretty colors! Ohhh boy, and as soon as I seen that pretty stack of tablecloths...I started to salivate! Hehe! Very, very pretty and I loved hearing about where you found them. Isn't that simply amazing? The craftmanship of the blue indigo tablecloth...what a process! That is so interesting...I would love to see it done!

    Thank you so much for sharing this sweet post with us for the party today!

    Have a super Sunday, my friend!
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  10. What a wonderful collection!!! So many wonderful linens.

    Thanks for being apart of Seasonal Sundays.

    - The Tablescaper

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  11. Hi Snap, Thank you for your visit and thank you also for your lovely compliment. It is so appreciated.
    Gina

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  12. Dear Marlis, and many blessings to you. I love every one of my tablecoths and I remember how I acquired them... makes for lovely memories.
    Gina

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  13. Hi Chari, Thank you for having me at your Sunday Favorites...such a good idea you came up with.

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  14. Hi Tablescaper, I look forward to your next tablescape...they are always so incredibly detailed and beautiful.

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