A Patriotic Table Centerpiece

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Today, I created a patriotic red, white, and blue table centerpiece for my dining room table.

Though spring is almost behind us, I still use these white tulips because they are life-like and beautiful. It’s hard to put them away in exchange for summer flowers!

I used red and white checked placemats as the foundation for this patriotic 4th of July centerpiece. A few years ago, I ordered the red, beige, and blue miniature stuffed flags from an Etsy shop.

The stuffed flags were placed in a heavy milk glass fruit bowl. I think that’s what it’s called anyway.

A Tuesday Morning Purchase:

The blue and white balls and the bowl they’re in were a Tuesday Morning find before they went out of business a few years ago. I miss Tuesday Morning! It was the only retail store I went into to shop.

Once the table centerpiece was put together, I realized I probably should replace the blue and white ceramic balls because of the kittens. Otherwise, I might be picking up broken glass pieces. So I put the balls away and placed a milk glass creamer there instead.

If they knocked one of the balls out of the bowl and it began rolling, they’d be chasing it, because they love batting balls around.

So I replaced the blue and white ceramic balls with these red, white, and blue wooden stars, which I also bought from an Etsy shop.

What Is Milk Glass?

Milk glass is an opaque or translucent, milk white, or colored glass that can be blown or pressed into various shapes.

It was first made in Venice in the 16th century (lattimo) as a translucent competitor for porcelain. Colors include blue, pink, yellow, brown, black, and white. Some 19th-century glass makers called milky white opaque glass “opal glass”. The name milk glass came about relatively recently.

Milk glass has a considerable following of collectors. Glass makers continue producing original pieces and reproductions of popular collectible pieces and patterns.

Thrifted Coffee Pot & Creamer:

The white coffee pot and the milk glass creamer in this centerpiece were thrifted.

This centerpiece is probably the only 4th of July decor I will display this year. Sometimes, less is more.

I don’t want to tempt the kittens with more surface decor, and I’ll be lucky if they don’t knock over what’s there now.

Red, White, and Blue Patriotic Decor at Amazon:

• Milk glass vase
• Blue and white ceramic balls
• Milk glass hobnail salt & pepper shakers
• White porcelain teapot (It also comes in a red color)
• Blue and white ceramic fruit bowl
• White ceramic coffee pot
• Red and white checked placemats
• White porcelain creamer

If you want more information about milk glass, here is a collector’s encyclopedia of its identification/values.