When Katherine from Katherine’s Corner invited me to the Summer on a Tray blog tour, I immediately started thinking of my summer tray decor. What really meant “Summer” to me? The first things that popped into my mind were berries flowers, books, and birds! (I guess we could say blooms, berries, books, and birds, then we’d have all B’s … ! But I digress!)
Katherine’s blog tours are always so much fun, and if you’re coming over from Life and Linda, welcome to the next stop! All the participants are listed at the end of this post, so you can carry on with more inspiration when you’re done here. Thank you so much Katherine!
The Elements of Summer
I remember the summers when I was a kid – they were endless. As we got older, we went to a week or so of camp, but the rest of the time was just for playing and hanging around outside in the warm weather. I was raised in the same town I live in now, Portland, OR. And to say that it rains a lot here is an understatement, as most of the country knows. So we treasured the few mostly warm and dry months each year, especially since they involved a lot of empty days on the calendar!
I can still feel the warm shade of the dip in the lawn where I used to sit with my book. I can smell the ripe berries in the heat, see the beautiful flowers in my dad’s garden, and hear the birdsong in the otherwise quiet afternoon. That’s the epitome of summer to me, so I used those four elements for my summer tray decor.
The Summer on a Tray Tray
I’ve always wanted a tiered tray! I’ve done a couple of other “On a Tray” tours (Winter Tray Decor – how to create a beautiful sparkling wonderland and How to Create a Very Beautiful and Romantic Valentines Tray, for instance) but I had to use regular flat trays because that was all I had.
But I just recently bought myself a beautiful Wedgwood tired tray for another big project coming up, and I’m so excited to use it here. It’s really fun to have those three separate areas to decorate, while still having them be connected.
Because this one has so many of my favorite summer elements, it makes me smile whenever I see it. I admit, I did eat the fruit pretty early on, but I replaced it and switched out the flowers too to keep them all fresh.
Birds for Summer Tray Decor
I knew I could always get flowers and berries this time of year, and of course I had books. But I didn’t know what to do for the birdsong. (A mini-tape recorder hidden in the foliage? Ok – no.)
So I went to the internet and found these darling little white ceramic birds! They came in a little box with six little dividers that looked like nests, with a different chubby white bird in each one! They all look a little different – the one on the top tier has his nose up.
The one on the middle tier has his head on the side.
And the one on the bottom tier has his head on the other side!
The other three are also different. My favorite one has his tail in the air! But the best thing about them, as far as the summer tray decor goes, is that they’re almost exactly the same color as the relief on the tray. A perfect match!
Very Special Books
I love books! Not only do I love the stories they contain, I love how they look. And these particular books are very special for me. My mother bought them in Copenhagen when she was a flight attendant back in the late 50’s, and they lived on our bathroom counter all the years I was growing up.
They’re Hans Christian Andersen stories, which were just different enough from our regular fairy tales to grab my imagination. Mom told us we had to be extra careful with them, so I was always very gentle, especially when I took them out in the yard.
When she redecorated her bathroom years ago, I got to become the keeper of the books. Even though the quality and construction of these books is very good, they’ve seen a lot of love. The woven fabric covers are wearing at the corners, and they’re scuffed and water-spot-stained, but that makes me love them even more. They’re small enough to fit on the tray, so on they went.
Berries and Flowers
I have so many wonderful summer berry memories! One of my favorites involves strawberries. Every year, Mrs Kelleher, our neighbor and mother to my childhood playmates, would make strawberry jam. My own mother didn’t make jam, so the steamy strawberry air wafting from the Kelleher’s kitchen in the summer was always unique and exciting.
When I grew up and had my own kitchen, I also steamed the air with strawberries! And raspberries, my very favorite fruit. So of course, it was strawberries and raspberries for my summer tray decor. Plus, then I could eat them as I was designing it!
As for the flowers, I usually choose single varieties and mix them together in my own way. But these were all part of a lovely mixed bouquet created by the grocery store florist. I love the pinks and purples with the blue tray and books.
Balancing the Tray
A very talented photographer and teacher, Jamie Jamison of @alajamie, once told me that a good photograph has diagonal lines that lead your eye through the picture. I was pretty sure that concept would work for tray decor too, so I put my little birdy focal points in diagonal lines on the tray.
I love how the top one seems to be peeking out from under the flower, and whistling.
So that wraps it up for my summer tray decor offering on the Summer on a Tray blog tour! Next on the tour is the lovely MaryJo from Masterpieces of My Life.
And – Spoiler Alert – we’re going to have a brand new Traveling Teacup adventure from MaryJo very soon! Stop back for that, but in the meantime, have fun continuing on with the tour. Thanks so much for coming by!
If you’ve enjoyed this post and want to get notification whenever there’s a new one, (plus other fun M&T news,) I’d love to invite you to join us at Mantel and Table by putting in your email address below.
I love this so much!! What a beautiful combination – and those little white birds have stolen my heart!
Aww thanks! Those little birds are so fun. As I was taking the tray down, I tucked one on a shelf between a couple framed pictures, and it already looks at home! 🙂 It makes me smile every time I pass it. Thanks so much for stopping by Janet! Take care till next time!
Barbara,
I see this blog was a huge success. Look at all the comments! Almost decided not to comment due to thelength of time it took to scroll through all of the previous ones! BUT, I do so love the blooms, berries, birds, and books. The display is stunning and oh, what a beautiful ccenterpiece this would be for a tea party or book club meeting! You’ve done such a beutiful job arranging and presenting this display. I just love it!
The “Other” Barbara
Ha – I’m glad you did decide to comment Barbara – I love to hear from you! And I’m also glad you like the tray. You’re right, it would be great for a book club meeting! I’ll have to remember that when it’s my turn to host next. 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by – Happy Summer!
What a fun way to celebrate the summer season, Barbara! I loved your walk down memory lane too. It definitely makes me think of my own days gardening with my grandparents, writing letters home from sleepaway camp, and spending lazy days on the river. Love how you mixed the Wedgewood blue and pink too. It’s such a gorgeous combination. Hugs, CoCo
CoCo your summer memories are so fun, and make me think of even more of my own. Summers were the best! 🙂 Thanks so much for stopping by, and hope you’re having a lovely week!
Barbara,
wanted to stop by to thank you for your visit and kind words!! I hope you are surviving this heat and enjoying your Summer!!
Hugs,
Deb
Hi Deb! Absolutely – always so much fun to see what you’re up to! Happy Summer to you too!
OH THE EPITOME of SUMMER!
A BEAUTIFUL PLATE TIERED RACK to display pretty oddities or FOOD!
We down SOUTH here in CALIFORNIA have-not had much of a summer this year!I did luck out on my BIRTHDAY!
A BALMY EVE for dinner guests outside in the garden.
Summer as a child was such a special time!
XXX
Elizabeth! So lovely to see you! I’m glad you had wonderful childhood summers too! I’m just hopping over to read all about your birthday party – it looks fabulous! Thanks so much for stopping by, and take care out there!
I really like enjoying summers with my friends. Definitely gonna try this for our next get together.
So glad you liked it Jesicca! Thanks so much for stopping by!
This is such a lovely tray & post. You’ve brought me on a journey through your childhood. My childhood summers were full of B’s as well. Beaches, Bibles, and bikes. I spent most days biking the neighborhood with my brother and friends, spent a week in Vacation Bible School with more time with my mom & Granny as they helped plan it, and we live on the Gulf Coast so there was plenty of time on our boat to the barrier islands where we would camp for the weekend. It’s great touring with you! Pinned your tray idea!
Hi Niki! Your summers sound just wonderful, especially being on the water! Thanks for the pin. It’s always lovely touring with you too!
Barbara, the tiered tray is stunning! I love that you shared all of your sweet memories as you described the elements on your tray. I also love books and blooms. I began my love for reading as a child and it continues strong today. Thank you for sharing your elegant tray with us.
Hi Pam! There’s something so wonderful about reading in the garden, isn’t there?! 🙂 I’m glad you like the tray, and thanks so much for popping over!
Barbara, your Wedgwood tiered tray is lovely. I love how you dressed it. So feminine.the books are a nice touch. Very creative and yet beautiful. A pleasure joining you on this Summer on a Tray tour.
So nice to join you all Linda, and thanks so much! I’m late visiting everyone, but I’m always so inspired by Katherine’s tours! Hope you’re having a lovely summer!
Barbara, I love the elegant style you’ve used to convey special memories of summers gone by. Oh for the feeling of endless days with nothing scheduled! But your tray would be a fine substitute, conveying beauty and creativity. The books are wonderful and I’m astounded they survived through the years in a bathroom! Just lovely, my friend.
Ha! Yes, I’m surprised myself that those books have lasted so long! I just pick one up and open randomly to a page for a story now and then. They’re always so much fun. Thanks so much for dropping by – I love touring with yoyu!
Loved this tray. You incorporated so many favorite things…flowers, books and Summer fruits. The tiered tray is lovely.
Lynne
Thanks so much Lynne! I know you love flowers as much as I do! 🌷 Hope you’re having a wonderful summer!
What a beautiful tiered tray!! I love Wedgewood…And how wonderful that you styled it using items that invoked such lovely childhood memories!! Wonderful!! Great touring with you!! Have a good week!
Hugs,
Deb
Thanks Deb! Isn’t Wedgwood beautiful? I only have a couple pieces but I cherish each one! Great touring with you too – hope you’re having a lovely summer!
Absolutely beautiful tray Barbara and a lovely tribute to your childhood memories! Weren’t summer holidays just awesome? How special to be the keeper of those books and its even better that they have been much loved. The flowers are gorgeous (of course) and those little birdies are so cute. The raspberries look scrumptious and I don’t think they’d last very long here either lol. The Wedgewood tiered tray is just stunning and I can’t wait to see how you use it in your upcoming project. Happy summer to you my friend!
Thanks so much Kim! I think the tray is going to be making a few appearances in the near future – it’s always so fun to think up different things to do with one piece. 🙂 So glad you stopped by. I always love to see you here. Hope you’re having a lovely week, my friend!
Barbara, I think you and I were both thinking back to our childhood with this post. I love your four Bs – Blooms, Berries, Books, and Birds. These are all favorites for me too, but I guess I’d need to add a fifth, Beaches. I smiled at each layer of your tray, how you tucked in the cute plump birdies among the beautiful blooms. The Wedgwood Queens Ware tray is gorgeous! I recently bought a set of salads in this very pattern and used three of them on a silver tea tray recently. It’s somewhat like a tiered tray. I’m so happy to have hopped along with you today. Your tray is sheer delight! Happy Summer!
How fun that we both revisited our childhoods on this tour, Sarah! I’m right there with you about adding beaches. If I’d thought of it, I’d have taken this tray down to the coast for a long weekend! I should have talked to you earlier! 😊 Thanks so much for stopping by – it’s so fun touring with you!
I loved this! The tired Wedgewood tray is beautiful. What really stands out to me is that the pieces you used to decorate the tray are very much in keeping with the character of the tray. In other words, the flowers, berries, birds and books are perfect for the tray. (Feel like I’m babbling here…) The story about the Hans Christen Anderson books is wonderful. Holding books that belonged to your family is a rare gift. I have a good sized collection of books from my parents, and I hauled them from San Diego to NE Indiana. Having them helps me feel connected to my parents and growing up. Thank you for creating and sharing this beauty!
Hi Kristine! Isn’t it fun to have things that remind you of people – and places – you love? Especially if they’re books. I laughed at your hauling yours across the country. I did the same thing, and had almost as many book boxes in the moving truck and I did kitchen supplies! The movers were “impressed!”😊 So glad you like the tray, and so happy you stopped by. Hope you’re staying cool and enjoying your summer!
Barbara your tray is a great representation of my kind of summer! Being outside, fresh flowers and getting lost in so many books. Love your tray!
Thanks so much Nicolle! So nice to be touring with you! Hope you get to enjoy lots of happy summer days!
Your tray is a beautiful representation of your wonderful memories. I love that the books have seen so much love and how wonderful to be the keeper of the books now. I really like ceramic birds. I recently went through a bunch and donated some. I like the way the top one peeks out from beneath the flower. Thank you for sharing your lovely memories and Thank you for joining in the fun. Hugs!
Thanks so much for the invite, Katherine – I love being part of your tours and getting to see everyone’s amazing ideas! SO much creativity! Funny that you just donated some birds – maybe we should make a Bloggers’ Closet, where we just exchange things we don’t need anymore! 🤣 Thanks again for hosting, and for stopping over. Hope you’re having a lovely week!
Absolutely gorgeous, Barbara! You had me at Wedgewood – I’m a huge fan!
Oooh another Wedgwood fan! I inherited a couple pieces from my mom and now I’m hoooked! 😊 So glad you liked the tray, and I hope things are coming along on your big projects. I’m hopping over to check out the progress very soon! Take care till then!
Barbara, your summer tray is just gorgeous! Your flowers are beautiful and I love the books you added, too! Blessings, Cecilia @My Thrift Store Addiction
Thanks so much Cecilia! It’s always fun touring with you! Happy Summer!
Hi, Barbara! This tray is so pretty, and such a wonderful way to display your summer memories, thank you for sharing!
Hi Irene! Thank you so much – I’m so glad you like it! Hope you’re having a lovely summer. Thanks for spending a bit of it with me!
Omgosh Barbara! Can we just stop a moment, and talk about that Wedgwood tiered platter?!? That’s simply stunning. I collect green jasperware and I’ve never seen a piece like that. It’s beautiful. You could have just put that on the table and I’d be happy. Lol. Can’t wait to see your special project. You created a beautiful vignette for our summer tour. I love your theme and all the wonderful stories you shared. I love books- those are a true treasures. The birdies are adorable. Lovely job may friend. XO- MaryJo
Ha! Yes, I like the tray just by itself too! In fact my big project displays it just that way. 😊 Always so nice to tour with you my friend. See you around the internet!
hi Barbara, Stopping by the holiday hop with Katherine! So pretty! xo laura
Hi Laura! Thanks so much – nice to hop with you as always!
This is so beautiful Barbara! Your Wedgewood tiered tray is so special and the pink flowers and blue books look fantastic on it. I can understand how the original fruit didn’t last long, it is very tempting! I love the pink, red, blue and white color palette and the ceramic birds add a nice contrast of texture. Simple yet elegant and a very creative combination of elements, it really is gorgeous!
Thank you Jenna! Yes, the fruit goes fast! 😊🍓 I was pretty happy with the birds, so glad you like them too! Thanks so muc for stopping by – it’s always fun touring with you!