Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mexico On My Mind

Ever since Cinco de Mayo became commercially popular in the United States, I have wanted to celebrate it. I'm not quite sure why. I'm not Mexican. But I do love to visit Mexico. I also like Mexican food and drinks. Any excuse to have a pretty party, right?

During a trip to Playa del Carmen, I bought a beautiful hand embroidered blanket. It was love at first sight and I HAD to have it. Well, lots of dollars and several years later, the blanket was still folded in the closet. Until now.

Bienvenido! Tonight we're having an intimate Cinco de Mayo celebration on the lower patio. What do you think of the tablecloth? Yep. That's the blanket. Do you love it like I do? And to answer your questions about why it's been in a closet, it's a little too colorful for my usual decorating style. But I love it nonetheless.


We're only set for three tonight (because I didn't feel like dragging out a bigger table...sorry) but I have settings for four. I found these gorgeous talavera style salad plates on clearance at Marshall's recently. The yellow dinner plates were Goodwill finds. They are originally from Crate and Barrel. Margarita glasses (can't leave out those), beaded flatware, white napkins and red napkin rings round out the place settings. Because the table is small, I just used small colorful votives instead of a centerpiece.


Here's a closer look at the plates. I hope I can find some more!


If I had a bigger table, this would be the centerpiece. The lanterns were part of the centerpieces on our wedding reception tables almost nine years ago.


This patio is normally decorated with a cabin/camp feel. I replaced the fishing creel on the ladder with a sombrero and some tissue paper sunflowers. Don't look too closely at the sunflowers. I made them in about five minutes. The sombrero was a Dollar Tree find. Our six-year-old son has asked me repeatedly when he can have the "umbrello." Am I the only one who thinks that's cute?

*Carol at Serendipity asked how I made the sunflowers. I should clarify that the flowers in the tin bucket are real. The flowers on the ladder are tissue. I made them by following this tutorial. I used four sheets of yellow and three sheets of black (cut shorter) for the center. I tied them off in the center with floral wire. Hope this helps!*


A proper fiesta goes into the night (so I say). This is my attempt to create a dreamy, nighttime feel. We had a Halloween party last year and strung these lights under the porch. I love how they look at night and they illuminate the patio perfectly. I dream of a backyard party with these and paper lanterns strung over the tables. Sigh. Maybe one day....


Thank you for stopping by! Seal says hi! Please visit all of the other great tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday. Come again!



19 comments:

  1. I love the bright "rug" and if you get tired of it, I'll take it!

    Scribbler
    http://scribbler-unfocused.typepad.com/

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  2. Hi Erin,
    this looks like a great fiesta. I love your blanket as much as those stunning plates. Wish you luck to get more of this. A very happy tablescape.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  3. What a great cloth for a cdm table, and the dishes too! Very colorful..I love it!
    We don't celebrate it either, don't know anyone who does, and we don't like Mexican food!
    But I bought dishes, therefore we will celebrate! It's all about the dishes, LOL

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  4. So is it a rug and not a blanket? Does anyone know? The little old lady we bought it from didn't speak English, so I'm not sure. It's not really heavy, so I just assumed it is a blanket. But I guess it could be used as a rug.

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  5. I love that blanket! I'll keep in in my closet if you need your storage space :)

    When I first saw the fuzsy photo I thought maybe you'd been hitting the margaritas a bit this afternoon...lol, just kidding. I do love your table.

    I'll be using the Cinco de Mayo theme next week on Woo Hoo! Wednesday and it's so fun to play with holiday decor.

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  6. Oh pretty! Love your rug and dishes - perfect for Cinco de Mayo! How cute your lantern is -- this all pulls together beautifully.

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  7. Great colorful table setting. That blanket is fantastic. That is too pretty to put away.

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  8. That blanket is a great inspiration piece for the rest of your tablescape. Very colorful and festive. Perfect for Cinco de Mayo.

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  9. I love the blanket as a table covering. The dishes are gorgeous and how do you make sunflowers?

    Carol

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  10. Whichever it is, it's fab! Looks like a lot of hand work. Very colorful and festive!

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  11. Erin, Muy bonita chica! Your blanket/tablecloth is just fabulous! What a treasure. I love how you used the sunflowers to pull it together.

    Your marshall plates look like those made in Delores, Mexico! When I was there I fell in love with their beautiful pottery.
    This is the best Cinco De Mayo I have seen! Love it!
    Yvonne

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  12. Erin, that table covering is so bright and cheery...love it with the plates and vase of sunflowers. Very nicely done.

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  13. Oh, so many good ideas here! I'm working on my Cinco de Mayo table this weekend. Love the paper sunflowers! And I also love your use of several colors along with the beautiful "tablecloth." Note to self: Add margaritas to the menu!

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  14. OH MY!! That blanket is just unbelievable. I LOVE it. Your whole Cinco de Mayo is wonderful. (Even the puppy). I loved the lantern and sunflowers as well. Thanks! Lori L

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  15. The blanket is gorgeous. I think you should find a permanent spot to display it. How about the media room?

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  16. Love your theme for Cinco de Mayo.
    Kelly Bookend Diaries

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  17. Your blanket is terrific and your tablescape compliments it so well. Your Cinco de Mayo party is wonderful - and I love your sunflowers, too.

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  18. Love this Erin! This post just made me happy.:)

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  19. It is just beautiful. I like to take advantage of any excuse to do a table and have folks over -- doesn't matter which country it is and it's always a conversation starter when people come over and say, "what holiday is it where?". Very fun. Your setting is perfect and so colorful and festive. Makes me want a margarita

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