March is a strange month, don't you agree? Part winter, part spring, with a flurry of changing weather patterns that can literally leave you catching your breath. And it's got 31 days to get through!
But luckily for me, the middle of March brings a fun holiday to observe — St. Patrick's Day, a day to celebrate my Irish heritage!
I've set a table around shamrocks, the quintessential symbol for the holiday. Shamrocks are depicted on the small plates and are scattered with abandon across the placemats.
Shamrocks are a type of clover, serving as an Irish emblem purportedly because of their use by Saint Patrick as a metaphor. Whether that's true, the shamrock has been a symbol of Ireland since the 18th century. The word shamrock comes from the Irish Gaelic seamróg, which is the diminutive of the Irish word seamair and means "young clover".
Two of the small plates feature four leaves on the clovers, while the leaves on the other two appear torn or separated.
Therefore, the plates don't actually feature shamrocks which only have three leaves in Ireland. But since I was enchanted by their watercolor rendition, I'm choosing to call them shamrocks!
Complementing the green of the shamrocks are daffodils in vibrant yellows and golds that I gathered from my garden. I placed them in a lovely vase that I've used before, as in Simple Elegance for St. Patrick's Day. I then added camellia leaves and blossoms, also from my garden.
On either side of the vase are a pair of candlesticks that I love, but haven't used in a while. Their classic design of leaves on fluted columns goes well with the organic feel of the shamrocks and daffodils.
Now for the plate stack! The dinner plates are Portuguese majolica in
two patterns — dragonflies with flowers, and overlapping leaves. The
rim of the salad plates are covered with flowers and add a charming touch. I think the pink
ones could be camellias or peonies. In any case their color repeats that
of the camellias in the vase.
For glassware I chose my favorite tall 1960's glasses with their swirls of gold and black. They go with all types of table styles and I use them often! I decided on cut crystal glasses to use for Irish whiskey in a toast for health — sláinte. These had belonged to my parents.
I don't have as many daffodils blooming in the garden as I usually do by now. I assume it's due to the colder winter we've had, although I've had daffodils bloom in snow before. The camellias were hit hard by last week's freeze so I didn't have as many to choose from. Their deep pink shade corresponds to the color saturation level in the daffodils.
In the center of the table is more shamrock decor. This piece is done in pretty stained glass; meant to hang in the window it still catches the light leaning against the candle holder.
I found the wooden shamrock with a Celtic design in green on Etsy.
I love the stylized florals on the vase. They seem to be Art Deco-inspired.
I like that the shamrocks on the placemats are rendered in a similar way to those on the small plates. Although the patterns of the three plates are of very different styles, I think they work well together.
To increase my chances of being lucky on St. Patrick's Day, I've filled depression glass bowls with shamrocks and gold coins. And whether they're shamrocks or not, four-leaf clovers are supposed to bring you luck. After all, you can never have too much luck!
There aren't any leaves on the trees outside yet.
Lastly I laid gold flatware on pretty napkins edged in a trellis-like design. Without napkin rings, they help to impart a more casual feel along with the placemats.
Several years ago, we took a wonderful trip to Ireland, starting in Dublin then working our way south and west. This lovely area is located on the grounds of Blarney Castle near Cork, the general area where some of my great-grandparents and great-great-grandparents came from.
This photo was taken nearby in early May, by which time only the very last varieties of daffodils would be blooming around my house.
May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow.
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.
If you'd like more enchanting inspiration for St. Patrick's Day tables, please explore Lucky Enough to be Irish or Daffodils and Irish Spring Colors.
Table details
Dinner plates, candle holders | Bordallo Pinheiro
Salad plates | Royal Doulton 'Floradora Gold'
Vase | Rosenthal, pattern unknown
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Gorgeous, Sandra! I love your Irish table, from the plate stack (fabulous!), to the napkins, to the laser cut shamrock decor, and everything else accenting the entire look! Ireland is a bucket list trip I'd love to check off. My paternal ancestors immigrated from County Tyrone in the Northern Ulster province in the 1770's.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rita! I'm glad you enjoyed it. I don't spread green everywhere throughout the house, but there are a few places that get the shamrock/leprechaun touch. I want to go back -- there was so much to see and do -- especially since we've been able to narrow down the areas our ancestors came from.
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