My Super Cheap Thrift/Dollar/Flea Market Table Setting

It’s that time again…another Tablescape Thursday with Susan over at Between Naps on the Porch.

I’ve heard many people say “Oh I don’t have the money to buy all that stuff to go on the table”.  Well, I’m going to let you in on a little secret in case you didn’t know it…you can find all sorts of things for table settings and find them cheaply too.   Almost every single item I used on the table below either came from a thrift store, dollar store or flea market…or best of all, it was FREE!  If it didn’t come from one of those store, I bought it at Wal-Mart when it was on sale. 

 

I’m a sucker for curly ribbon…I love it.  There’s just something cute and playful about those little springy curls.  When I found this blue and white ribbon at Dollar General one day, I decided they would be perfect on some napkin rings…so began my super cheap thrift/dollar/flea market table setting, better known as my blue and white table.

Since then, I have been on the lookout for anything blue and white that I could use in a setting.  The whole table finally came together yesterday when I found this blue and white runner at the thrift store.  $.69 and it was in perfect condition!

The blue glasses were from Wal-Mart a couple of years ago and they were marked down to $.50 for each one.  You can’t ask for much cheaper on glassware!

The oil and vinegar cruet set, found at a thrift store, is “Diamond Fire” by Mikasa.  The set still had the stickers on it and I paid a whopping $.99 for it.  The silver was just the slightest bit tarnished when I bought it, but about 2 minutes with some Simichrome and it was sparkling again.  Since my family doesn’t care much for “oil and vinegar”, I’m planning to use the set for salad dressings.

This relish tray with attached slots for salt and pepper shakers was found at the flea market.   I paid less than $1.00 for it and it was intact with all the pieces.  I think I found a bargain!   Since we’re having pulled pork for dinner tonight, the glass insert will be used to hold barbecue sauce instead of relish.

This is my most favorite thrift store find that I used on the table and was also the most expensive item.  It’s a silver plate domed butter dish and has a glass insert under the dome to hold the butter.  Underneath the glass insert is space to put crushed ice so your butter stays chilled.  Hey, for $3.00 I couldn’t leave it behind! 

For the FREE items that I mentioned above, I borrowed a blue and white vase from my aunt to use in my centerpiece.  A trip out to the fence yielded wild honeysuckle for the vase.  I also used another tiny white flower that I found growing at the edge of the woods, but I’m not sure what it is.  Regardless, it was all free!

When my daughter was a little girl, she thought if you had candles burning on the table, you were having a “fancy dinner”.  Didn’t matter if it was hot dogs and chips, if those candles were lit, it was a fancy dinner.  She is almost a teenager now, but still loves to eat by candlelight.  For dinner tonight, we’re having Mean Chef’s Pulled Pork, baked beans, a garden salad, some type of potatoes, rolls and Peach Cobbler.  Nothing sophisticated, just good down home cooking…but it will be a “fancy dinner”. 

The placemats, votive cups and candles were found at Dollar Tree.  The dinner and salad plates were bought at Wal-Mart during one of their after-Christmas sales for 75% off.

It is possible to accessorize your settings with pretty items without spending a fortune!  You’ve just got to keep your eyes and imagination open to the possibilities.  

 

The recipe for Mean Chef’s Pulled Pork can be found at Recipezaar . If you like barbecued pork, I highly recommend trying the recipe.  It is delish!  By the way, while you’re there, please stop by the Table Settings and Decorating Ideas Forum and say “Hi”.  We’d love to have you join us!

DG