amber glass and pumpkin spice

Happy first Sunday in September! It’s so nice that the temperatures have dropped here just a little bit and that fall really seems like it’s arrived.

It’s my favorite time of the year to bring out what I call my “glass menagerie”. Those are favorite pieces from my collection of different colored glassware that I’ve collected over time, including this amazing amber color.

As you can see I like to use it a lot for fall tablescapes. It captures the light just right and really adds sparkle to the table.

The alfresco tablescape below is one I created exclusively for Romantic Homes. I just wanted to use subtle colors of the season for this table to really make the glasses be the star of the show. 

I love how these amber glasses twinkle with the candlelight and setting sun. These are vintage glasses also called "Depression Glass" because it was mostly made during the 1930's.

Keep your eyes open for glasses like these in all colors, especially at flea markets, estate sales and even on ebay!  

Also featured in Romantic Homes this month are my super yummy Pumpkin Spice Spritz Cookies. You're in for a special seasonal treat with these buttery cookies.

Hop on over to Romantic Homes to get the whole recipe. They’re really easy to make, and all you need is a cookie press to shape these adorable pumpkin-shaped cookies.

Wishing you a relaxing loooong weekend,

and if you have a chance stop by instagram 

and follow me there for all the lastest!


x o  x o

 ciao! fabiana

spring tablescape inspo

I have to let you in on a little secret.

You may have already noticed,

 that I’ve been slightly obsessed lately…

with vintage glasses in the prettiest shapes and colors.

Aren't the colors just amazing?

I found these blue dessert glasses

last year at one of my favorite thrift stores

in Huntington Beach, 

and I think I got the pink ones on ebay. 

I just love how they capture 

the light in my dining nook, 

which is surrounded by windows.

You can find pretty colored glasses

just about anywhere…

like

Home Goods, World Market, Amazon, Anthropologie,

garage sales and of course, flea markets.

My little assortment has grown quite a bit in the last year,

and I now call my collection my little glass menagerie.

I love how this grouping of glass looks with

 my gorgeous Valentine flowers,

in my favorite white and gold vase.

This colorful bouquet includes

white & pink stock and pink & lavender hyacinths, and...

they smell soooo good!

It makes me look forward to all the spring flowers

coming up in my garden.

Wouldn’t this look be perfect for Easter and Mother’s day?

I think I’ll have to repeat the look!

ciao! fabiana

collecting: my glass menagerie

Over the past year, I’ve been steadily collecting beautiful vintage glassware for my table settings. The ones I look for are vividly colored and have an interesting shape or pattern. Mostly I’m attracted to the color and how it will enhance a table.

Actually, most of these are vintage, but I have plenty that aren't. You never know where you'll find some. World Market has some nice ones occasionally. 

These vintage pieces are really affordable. You just need to keep your eyes open for them at thrift stores, flea markets and yard sales. 

Sets are always great to find, but individual pieces work nicely for coordinating with glasses of the same color. I try to stick to the goblet shape mostly, but tall tumblers and old-fashioned sizes are a nice find too.

I did buy these blue ones online only because it’s been impossible to find them elsewhere. I found the amber version of this glass at Home Goods years and years ago, and haven’t been able to find any since.

As you know, I love the different blue tones from the palest baby blue to sophisticated navy, and they look so good with blue and white transferware. The green glasses are surprisingly versatile too, as you can see in the following photos.

I just love using at least one of these candy colored glasses in each tablescapes I set. They’re like jewelry to a table and add that necessary sparkle that everyone loves!

blue 

       turquoise

amber

green

pink

amethyst

mixed

vintage clear 

black

accented with gold

I hope you’ll check back tomorrow when I share all of my favorite blue glassware. You won’t want to miss it!

ciao! fabiana

💕

While I’m here today, I wanted to share some of my "Tablescaping Essentials" with you. I have a whole page on the Amazon website with my favorite picks for setting a beautiful table.

Quite often time is of the essence, and I have last minute projects or events to work on, so I turn to Amazon for one or two day delivery. You’d be surprised at how many amazing items they have to offer! And I'm constantly updating this page with my new favorites. 

You can check it out here, at “Tablescaping Essentials”.

P.S. I’m on a mini-summer vacation for August, so you’ll be reading condensed versions of summer-inspired blog posts this month.