Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Pasta Dinner Tablescape - La Tavola di Cena Italiana

Ciao!!  We are going Italian this week!   Welcome to my pasta dinner.
Chef Luigi is overlooking the pasta selections.
I have had Luigi for several years and have always wanted to do a tablescape with him.  
I always pictured the chef with barrels of pasta around him.  So I made some barrels to hold the pasta out of some old soup cans, newspaper and scrapbook paper.
I folded some newspaper to fit around the middle of the outside of the can in order to build out the center to give it more of a barrel shape.  Using wood slat scrapbook paper I covered the can wrapped with the newspaper.  I clipped the ends all the way around the top and bottom in order to ease the paper into the narrower top and bottom of the can.  Then I cut some long strips of a grayish paper that kind of looked like metal, folded the strips in thirds lengthwise in order to have a nice finished edge. Making 4 of these for each barrel and glued them on as bands around the wood slats.   And Wallah!!  I had something that resembled a barrel!
I used my black and white checked table cloth to coordinate with Luigi's outfit.  Those black and white checked dishes keep making appearances at the table- but with a bit of a different look this time.
They are set off by rattan chargers and topped off with a smaller back and white check napkin.
I went with a stainless steel napkins rings and more casual black flatware.
Oil and Vinegar, fresh parmesan cheese to be grated, tomatoes and parsley all add to the Italian ambiance.
Of course you can't have a great pasta dinner with out a loaf of fresh Italian bread.  What's a few more carbs among friends!
Candles stuck in some old wine bottles set the mood for a festive Italian dinner.
Arrivederci!!

Sources:
White Plates - Pier 1, last yer
Black and white check plates - have a rooster on them - Marshalls 
Rattan Chargers - Pier 1, this week 20% off
Black Flatware - Homegoods last year
Black and White Check tablecloth - Food Network - Kohl's last fall 
Black and white check napkins - made from fabric I had down in my basement
Napkin rings - sorry don't remember!

I am joining the following linking parties:
Wow us Wednesdays @ Savy Southern Style
Let's Dish @ Cuisine Kathleen
Centerpiece Wednesday @The Style Sisters
Tutorials Tips and Tidbits @ StoneGable
Thursdays are Your Days @ 52 Mantels
Tablescape Thursday @ Between Naps on the Porch
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley
Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley

In the past few years my interests have grown from fabric to paper and now to dishes too! I just love prints, polkadots, plaids and paisleys- hence the blog name.

23 comments:

  1. I love this, what a cute tablescape idea! Using rattan with the black & white was a nice rustic touch, and the cutting boards are great too! Cute!
    Buon Appetito,
    Jenna

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  2. Very clever centerpiece - love the barrels you made! and Luigi is adorable - great tablescape!

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  3. I love the checks. Wonderful table, Ann!

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  4. Love the black and white! What a cute table!

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  5. Oh Ann, your table is too cute for words! Yes, we were on the same wavelength! What a clever idea to make the little barrels for the past. I have that same tablecloth and I love it.

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  6. What a wonderful creative table...if I didn't know you used tin cans I would swear they were real mini barrels...the staves look real! Thanks for sharing this table. I am your newest follower!

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  7. Great table, Ann, such fun! Love the theme, and your checks!
    Thank you for joining us at Let's Dish!

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  8. It's nice to find dishes like yours that you can just use with everything! Your barrels are adorable and so clever and I love Luigi! He looks like he has had a bit of pasta himself! Your table is wonderful and the food sounds delicious. Linda

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  9. Those barrels are SO unbelievably cute!!!! Applause, applause for your creativity!!! Those are really, really something! GREAT table, too, Ann! I love the way you put the garnishes on that cutting board. Such a great idea that adds color and ambience! I can just hear Frank and Dean and Tony's music in the background! :-) Terrific and highly imaginative table!

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  10. Chef Luigi is so cool! He reigns over this sweet, happy and creative arrangement... like a boss:))) I'm crazy about the napkin rings and the entire color scheme - following you now!

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  11. This is so cool! I LOVE Chef Luigi! Every detail is just perfect! Thanks for sharing this! I may have to use some of these great ideas for an Italian Dinner in our home! Have a great week! =D

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  12. Come link up to centerpiece Wednesday on my blog ...it is still live to link up to...I love all your ideas!,so creative to turn the soup cans into barrels! Love Luigi and all the colors...great job! Karin

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  13. I love you and Luigi's Italian table. Your barrels filled with pasta really made the table! Joni

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  14. Very cute! You are so crafty. I would never think of making barrels like that. great table!

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  15. Perfect! I wish I had not already sent out the menu for this weekend's gourmet gathering otherwise I would change it to Italian and copy your table. Another time!

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  16. Luigi is adorable! Love the black and white theme here.

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  17. I am blown away by your creativity on those adorable barrels! I have to attempt them now, although I seriously doubt mine will look half as good as yours!

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  18. Okay really!!!! How clever and cute are those barrels. Ann this is super cute I have to find a reason to make those barrels.

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  19. Hello, new follower here and I’d like to invite you to join me at my weekly Clever Chicks Blog Hop: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2013/01/clever-chicks-blog-hop-17-and-secret.html



    I hope you can make it!

    Cheers,

    Kathy Shea Mormino

    The Chicken Chick

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  20. Adorable! You are soooo clever!!! LOVE the barrel idea!

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  21. So charming!! Thanks for linking up at Feathered Nest Friday!

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  22. what a neat table. LOVE the barrels. Here I am looking to see where you bought them and you made them!

    - The Tablescaper

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