Prettying Up the Table

One of my biggest issues at home is my kitchen table. It's my catch-all for mail, keys, notes, magazines -- anything I throw down as I walk into the apartment. I think Sew, Mama, Sew's table setting contest is the perfect opportunity to clean up the table and make it pretty.

The best part about my table? I used fabric from scraps and the giveaway table at work, so it didn't cost me anything!

The Flower
I cut this flower from a bit of Marikmekko fabric I experimented with at a Crate and Barrel workshop a few months ago. It's coated cotton, so there was no sewing involved -- plus, I can easily wipe it clean.

The Napkin
A simple sewing project, I just hemmed the edges of scrap fabric. Easy peasy.

The Coaster
This coaster is reversible. The side you see here is Lotta Jansdotter fabric, taken from a goodie bag I received at her Purl Soho fabric launch party.

The Fishbowl Terrarium
I made this terrarium at an Etsy workshop back in April, and -- my goodness -- it's still alive! Keeping plants around during fall and winter is important to me, so that I don't feel like everything is dead.

The Fruit
My CSA is overflowing with apples and pears these days. I don't have a lot of counter space so rather than keeping them bagged and out of sight, I display them and eat them right from the center of the table.

The Tablecloth
I love dark greens and oranges and reds as much as anyone, but I don't believe fall decor has to be dark and dreary. I sewed this using yardage of Robert Kaufman polka dot fabric I found on the giveaway table at work. Just like the napkin, super simple project of just hemming all the edges.

Before I set the table, I had some giggles looking up old school napkin-folding techniques. What would you do if you went to someone's house and their napkins were folded like this? Not sure I could bring myself to ruin such a display by wiping my mouth on it. Teehee.

Now that this looks so lovely, I'm hoping I'll be less tempted to cover it up with magazines and mail!

Are you doing anything special to your table for fall?