Tablescape Thursday...Japanese Style

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday. Please visit our lovely hostess for this event, Susan at Between Naps on the Porch, and stop by the other participants' blogs also.

~~~

I've set an Asian-themed table this week using a Churchill Blue Willow teaset and white dishes and bowls (Gibson from Big Lots).

There is a romantic story behind the Blue Willow pattern. I'm reprinting it from the Internet:

Once there lived a very wealthy mandarin who had a daughter named Hong Shee, who fell in love with her father's secretary, a man named Chang. To keep them apart, the father imprisoned his daughter in the palace. One day she escaped & the two lovers raced over the bridge to a waiting boat. They escaped, reached the boat & sailed away. A storm developed; the boat foundered; and the couple were lost at sea. It is said that two love birds appeared immediately thereafter - the spirits of Hong Shee & Chang, and live onto this day.

This lovely lady is waiting to serve us tea...green, of course!

The Target birds are standing in for the two star-crossed lovers...

There was an article about the proper way to serve tea in our newspaper a while back. One thing that was mentioned, that I didn't know, is that you should always point the handles of the teacups to match the time that tea will be served. Since I put this tablescape together around 4:00, I've turned the handles to reflect that time.

In keeping with the bird theme of the Churchill china, I used my Lenox Chirp napkin rings.

I used several of these crystal lotus votive holders from Colonial Candle.

Would you like some miso soup?

I recently heard the Japanese term Wabi-sabi, and fell in love with the tenant that nothing is ever complete or perfect. To me, life is ever-evolving, and not always perfect, but still good just the same. You can read more about it HERE.

Colonial Candle would like to offer a discount to the readers of my blog. For $15 off an order of $60 or more, use promotional code MAMAISON15 at checkout.