Mo's pennant is in the mail, so now what? My studio is a mess, and there are piles of fabric to made into tablecloths and napkins for various people, but I need a new creative focus. It is time to turn to my next seasonal table series, made for my sister Lisa. For many years she did not entertain very often, but then, for a number of reasons her social life bloomed and now gathering her family and friends for dinner is much more frequent. Frequent enough indeed that she bought new dishes! Her choice was "June Lane" by Kate Spade for Lenox. They are warm white porcelain with gray rims...not just flat gray but sort of a shimmery auto paint silver...with dark gold edge banding and a gold dragonfly center motif. The effect is beautiful, both warm and restrained, elegant and relatable. Dragonflies are a totem for Lisa and her family, so this pattern resonates on more than a decorative level for them.
My usual start on a project like this is a trip to my local fabric store with plate in hand to see which colors and patterns work well in real life. With this dish it was easy to find many fabrics that would combine well for a good setting, but only a couple that really sang, and evoked a season. I am sure that summer is one cloth I want to make myself, so that more dragonflies can be invoked, but will need to stay open to the possibilities for the others. I never get tired of thinking about it.