Natural Tables: An Interview with Shellie Pomeroy

As a designer and artisan, Shellie Pomeroy is finely attuned to the wonders of nature, from the vivid hues of a summer garden to the sumptuous forms of ripe fruit, from the striking shape of a bare branch to the stunning sight of holly berries in the snow. Shellie loves collecting and creating with these gifts of nature and, years ago, she started using foraged foliage, berries, nuts, and flowers to dye silk, satin, and cotton, imbuing these natural fabrics with brilliant colors. In 2014, Shellie decided to marry her two loves — design and slow-craft color — in the form of Silk & Willow. Through Silk & Willow, she creates unforgettable tablescapes for weddings and other major life events.

This summer, Shellie shares her wisdom with readers in Natural Tables: Nature-Inspired Tablescapes for Memorable Gatherings, a sourcebook full of ideas and inspiration for creating beautiful tablescapes of your very own. We sat down with Shellie to talk about where she finds inspiration, how she fell in love with natural color, and why making pom-poms is the perfect project to do with kids.

When and how did you first fall in love with nature and natural materials?

SP: I’ve always loved nature. I remember, as a child, plucking red tomatoes in my aunt’s abundant vegetable garden, and in winter, admiring the blanket of white snow against the evergreen trees. When my daughters were born, I began to consider the materials and fabrics they wore and played with. I learned to knit, sew, and, eventually, to dye fabrics using natural materials. From my first experiment (conducted in my kitchen, using food items cooked in stainless steel pots to create color), I was hooked! As a trained designer, I appreciate color, and the colors created from natural dyes are unlike any other — they’re just magical.

When did you first start working with natural dyes, and how did that feed into the creation of this book?

SP: My first natural dye experiments were when my daughters were in kindergarten and pre-K, and now they are graduating from college! While my girls were growing up, my full-time job was “mom,” which involved countless craft projects. For instance, we would often gather a few flowers from the yard and place them with a candle in the center of the table wrapped with a bit of plant-dyed silk. The colors, textures, and process of creating an intentional space made our simple, everyday dinners feel special.

As my girls got older, it was time for me to enter the workforce full-time. My passion was crafting with my hands, so I designed my perfect job, and founded Silk & Willow. At Silk & Willow, I help design tables for the most memorable life events, but the process for me is the same as it was with my girls years ago: creating a warm, inviting, and intentional space — inspired by the colors, textures, and gifts from nature. Natural Tables is a marriage of my past and present: It walks you through my process of connecting with nature and bringing the outdoors into your home.

What inspires you when you create a tablescape?

SP: Each of my tablescapes is inspired by the season. As I think about a table I’m about to design, I look first out the window to see what’s available to harvest. No matter the season, there is always décor waiting to be gathered; it can be as simple as a branch with berries or a bundle of wildflowers.

As a backup, I always have a collection of dried flowers on hand. The sculptural shapes and textures of dried flowers and pods add a unique and alluring element to your tablescape; the image on the cover of the book is a beautiful example of the way that dried flowers can be woven into your tablescape design.

**Once you knew you’d be writing Natural Tables, what was the first table you knew you had to include, and why?**

SP: I immediately gravitated toward the Botanical Birthday Table and Celestial Celebration Table. When my daughters were young, I would theme their cakes to coincide with their interests: a teapot-shaped cake, a horse cake, a fairy wonderland cake. Since we have so many fond family memories of baking these cakes and setting our birthday tables, the Birthday Table was a must.

The second table I had to include is the Celestial Celebration Table. I have always wanted to create a monochromatic table with my crystal collection, but I just haven’t had the occasion for it. However, making that white tablescape for the book was so fun, I can’t wait to do it again when the perfect event arises!

I love how the book includes a variety of DIY projects readers can do to make their next gathering more special, whether by making a home-baked galette or crafting a custom menu. Of all the projects in the book, which one would you recommend doing with kids?

SP: One project that’s easy enough to do with children is making pom-poms. In addition to making a fun addition to your centerpiece arrangement, as in Natural Tables, the pom-poms make fun gift toppers for any occasion. If you’re ambitious enough, you could even make a rug or wall art with your pom-poms.

What did you love about writing this book?

SP: For years, Silk & Willow customers have been asking me about how to style their table linens. I dreamed of creating a sourcebook with step-by-step instructions on measuring your table and selecting table linens to create a particular mood or feel.

Writing Natural Tables was a dream come true! It allowed me to share my process, and take the guesswork out of designing your table. The bonus was that I had the chance to collaborate with some amazingly talented artists and makers, each an expert in their field. Natural Tables is the book I wish that I had a decade ago. I hope readers love it as much as I loved making it!

To learn how to bring nature to your table, check out Natural Tables, available for preorder through Chronicle Books.