Subtle Sunflowers

"Keep your face to the sunshine
and you cannot see the shadow.
It's what sunflowers do."

-Helen Keller

When I googled "sunflower poems" I certainly didn't expect to find one from Helen Keller.  She never ceases to amaze me with her observations on life.  When my daughter was in 3rd grade she did an oral report on Helen Keller.  As she did with most things when she young, she immersed herself in the life of this remarkable woman.  And it turns out, my daughter's favorite flower is the sunflower.  Maybe this was a seed planted long ago!

Last week I decorated my front porch with lots of sunflowers, all bold and showy, but for my tablescape today I'm using just a hint of them here and there. 

What better color to compliment the golden yellow than black?

I bought these sunflower salad plates (or are they dessert?) last year at Ross.

I didn't think they looked right with my yellow dishes so I went with my gold ones.  Some days your camera just doesn't capture true colors and today was one of those days.  They are much deeper color than they look in most of my pictures.  If I tried to deepen the color with photo editing, the whole table got too dark. 

I used the matching bowls and placed them on my Goodwill chargers that I spray painted ivory.  The plate stack sits on a felt placemat from Marshalls.

I would have rather set a table for six but I could only find 5 of these pretty scrolly (spellcheck doesn't think this is a word) things!  So frustrating!

The silverware is Cambridge pearl (Ross) and the floral napkins are from Old Time Pottery.  The golden yellow wood napkin ring is from Goodwill.   Goodwill is like the napkin ring graveyard.  They are just waiting there to be resurrected onto someone's table.  I don't think I've ever left a GW store without a set of napkin rings!

The glasses are from Dollar Tree and Bed, Bath and Beyond.  I just bought 2 more of the goblets at Dollar Tree if anyone is looking for them.

I made this little desert stand using a candle stand, another of the salad plates and a glass cloche from Goodwill. 

The quilted table runner matches the napkins and they are all reversible.

I think most of us tablescapers have discovered the secret of black and white (or ivory) and a pop of color.  This combination usually photographs well too (minus my gold plates that look washed out!)

Instead of going with the obvious sunflower centerpiece I topped a small wreath with a lantern (Home Goods).  The wreath is from the Rustic Rose (a gift shop in my town).

I'm using a picmonkey effect to show off my Dollar Tree bird. 

A few more candles (if you look closely the candlesticks are not exactly the same) and that's it. 

Be sure to visit my sister's blog, Creating Wonderful Spaces!

My "Subtle Sunflowers" will be making an appearance at the following parties...

Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch

Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style

What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

Open House Party at No Mininalist Here

Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters