Come sit with me for awhile . . .
and see what I’m bringing to the table ©

Oh sure, you can physically leave New York, but once a New Yorker always a New Yorker, and the same applies to being a Californian. So your asking, my point? Patience people .   .   . all in good time.

Please peruse the above photo, showing you a table for two, set in the garden. Cluck, cluck .   .   .  not getting it yet? Look again .   .   . Mmm hmm .   .   . yes .   .   . it is a painting of Gramercy Park, nestled on the lower east side of Manhattan. I found this nostalgic painting in a local LA flea market for the exorbitant price of $5. Not only did it tug at my New Yorker heart strings, but it also allowed me full unhampered visits to an otherwise locked park. Gramercy Park is only available to those lucky few who own land, lease, building, condo, or brownstone, that are awarded ‘The’ much coveted key to the park’s locked gate. Please .   .   . I kid you not .   .   .  Yes, yes there is more to the story of my little painted treasure .   .   . but alas, you must read on in order to find the rest of the treasure.

I grant you, that a table for 2 is not new by any stretch of the imagination, but there are always exceptions. The one itsy -bitsy difference to my table is that you need to click on this 2nd photo.

No, no .   .   . don’t just click on the photo .  .   . roll up your sleeves, get in there, and really look! See the very tiny hang glider, on the left side of the painting, getting ready to soar off the cliffs. Hellloo .   .   . yup, this little treasure afforded me the flip side to my heart strings! Ah ha, most of you just sighed .   .   .wow, it is a little treasure. However, for this evenings memory lane, I have opted for the New York side of my personality.

My tablescape below is a perfect example of making a simple dinner into an event for two. The table linen is a vintage quilt, with a wonderful self fringed throw, strewn across the top. The dishes are a combination of gray with a colorful floral, and leaf  pattern found in a thrift shop. To further pop the place settings, I blended in green frosted plates, that I topped with a burst of an orange smaller plate, that will be used for appetizers. Lime green leaf pattern napkins, set against green bamboo looking flatware, adds yet another layer of color and texture. I finished the table off with a wonderful antique looking mirrored, and metal plant holder, filled with stalks of eucalyptus. An odd shaped hand thrown jug found in Portugal, along with two mini vintage kimono tasseled pillows tucked on each side of the planter added the finishing touches. Now all that’s needed is to sit back against the colorful pillows that I added to the chairs, and partake!!!

Are you looking for a new twist on the same-old, ho-hum table setting? Well look no further help is here .   .   . Now on Amazon / Barnes & Noble /  IndieBound.org             “a collection of… Tableofferings from the go-to expert tablescaper” Available in E-book and HARDCOVER getBook.at/Tableofferings.

Book 1, 2 and 3 is out, with 5 STAR REVIEWS on Amazon  “I AM SOOO LUCKY!!!”  Start with 2 sisters, add 1 part fascination, a pinch of curiosity, a dash of learning, & mix in a whole lot of joy!  http://amzn.to/1O6BaJj   What’s your review going to say?

Sharon Insul is the former owner of the popular Beverly Hills boutique Candle light and… Beverly Hills, California