TT#5 Thirteen Entertainment Tools I Love We entertain a lot--everything from biker parties to supper clubs to large family gatherings to wedding parties to intimate dinners for six to an annual party for 350 of our closest friends. Over the years, I have come to rely on items that I use over and over. I thought I would list twelve of them plus one new find. This is part of my effort to reuse, repurpose, recycle. Silver nesting vases. I bought these several years ago. I have used them and loaned them. They are 18, 24, and 27 inches tall. I like tall arrangements on my tables. My three favorite things to put in them are tomato red gladiolas, pheasant feathers, and nandina stalks trimmed like a topiary. Pheasant feathers. Tom hunted in South Dakota for years . The deal was---he brought me the feathers. I have a great collection, and I have used them in all kinds of ways. Chargers. I don't like an empty table. I have inexpensive chargers in several colors that I keep on the dining room table with napkins and plates. It always looks inviting. Odd candlesticks. I have a large pine-topped island in my kitchen, and I like to have an arrangement on it. I change it often, but it usually involves tall candlesticks and silver vases that I use with candles. Crinkle pillow shams. I have two sets of crinkle pillow shams. I use them on pillows, slipped on the backs of chairs, and to camoflage items. Right now, I have one covering a bowl on my island. Old bedspreads and quilts. I have several vintage bedspreads--chenille, crocheted, and plain cotton that I often use on tables as undercloths. I spread them casually on a table, and cover partially with a topper. I have one quilt hanging on the wall in our farmhouse. It's is what you see when you walk in the door. I keep a spotlight on it; it definitely has the wow factor. Shot glasses. I have 16 shot glasses in different colors that I found at Big Lots. They are great. I use them all the time for desserts and appetizers. Pearls. Big pearls. Big decorating item. I buy them in quantities from a mardi gras supplier. We use them on the girls when we travel, on green wreaths for parties, hanging on arrangements, on towels in the bathroom. It's sort of a theme for us. Striped napkins. Years ago, my mother made several dozen lapkins for me out of vintage kitchen toweling---red and white striped. Have they ever been used! Wine carrier. This nine-compartment Reisenthal bottle bag goes with us everywhere. It looks great; and it can carry plenty of beverage material for an evening or two--wine or liquor bottles, corkscrew, acrylic wine glasses, and I keep a bottle of water and aspirin in it to remind me not to over do it! Vintage tablecloths. I have bought great vintage tablecloths from Ebay--all sizes, but I never buy round. I think square cloths look much better on a round table. I have lots of fifties patterned kitchen cloths and beautiful white linen, damask, and cut work cloths---bought for a song. I call them my "old family cloths"---and they are someone's old family cloths! Sheeting. I happened in a mill store a few weeks ago, and I found yards and yards of sheeting in several patterns and colors. I paid $10 for about 50 yards, and I have already gotten my moneys worth. I simple tear it in the lengths I need for table covers or other decoration. Easy to wash, no ironing. Great! Red duvet cover. This is my newest purchase--from the same mill store: a Ralph Lauren duvet cover I picked up for $5. I love the red stripe and the burlap binding. I don't plan to use it on the bed, but I will use as a table cover, picnic blanket, or anything else I can think of. I hope this encourages you to look around you for items that you might "morph" into something else. Get the Thursday Thirteen code here! The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others' comments. It’s easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted! View More Thursday Thirteen Participants