Thursday, September 16, 2010

Autumn Birthday Brunch

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship.  As the harvest season approaches I am mindful that many are not so fortunate.  My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank.  As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project.  Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video.  I've included a link in the side margin of my blog.  I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger. 


The Garden Friends enjoy celebrating birthdays for everyone in our Bible study.  Today we celebrated with a brunch for Debbi, our September birthday girl.  All across blogworld, many talented contributors have been immersed in Fall and everything that goes along with it.  I've been inspired by the wonderful posts that I've seen, and I have decided to embrace the elements of Fall for my tablescape today.  

The front doors are all dressed for Autumn and waiting for the guests.  Before brunch was served...

...each guest was offered a Mimosa.  I painted the inexpensive "Bed Bath & Beyond" flutes using glass paint.  I baked them in the oven, and they have been used many times.  The color is "Emperor Gold."  Tip:  Sometimes when I'm hosting a bridesmaid luncheon or bridal shower/luncheon, I'll paint another 24 of these flutes.  After using them for the party, I give 12 to the bride and 12 to the MOB.  They are always a hit!

The dining room table was set for eight...

...and with the addition of the Flip-top Table Top, the game table in the living room was set for seven.

I chose the soft cream color of old Madeira linen tablecloths from our precious Nana.  The Madeira napkins on the dining table were bounty from an estate sale that I explored this past weekend.  There were 12 napkins in excellent condition for $18.00.  SCORE!!  I have been searching for this Victorian reproduction French Wire basket for a long time.  I found them just this week at Hobby Lobby on half-price sale for $8.00 each.  Two baskets were placed on the dining table, and the game table featured one.  I bought three fall bouquets at Sam's and deconstructed them to create my centerpieces.  Tip:  They are secured in Oasis sitting in the large round plastic lids that you get when you buy a tray of cookies from a bakery.  To camouflage the plastic, I cut leaves from a Photinia bush in the backyard.  I slipped them between the plastic liner and the wire basket...let's hear it for roadsidea!  A pair of three-light sterling candleabra, a wedding gift, and an Indiana Glass, Ruby Flash Compote, bought on eBay completed the centerpiece vignette.

The brown charger is an inexpensive resin plate from Hobby Lobby.  The service plate is topped with a Royal Doulton, "The Beaufort," dinner plate.  The browns in the chinoiserie center design and the brown furled cartouches were perfect for an Autumn tablescape.  The silver flatware is Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance," my wedding silver.

The raised design in the red Fenton "Empress" goblet complemented the cutwork in the tablecloth and the design in "The Beaufort" plate...

...and the sun streaming through the goblet was almost magical.


With a few modifications, I was able to achieve the same design for the second table.  I made the brown undercloth, and the square table topper is actually a vintage Madeira bridge table cloth that was Nana's.


Some of Nana's lovely old Madeira napkins and my mother-in-love's Reed & Barton's "Francis I" also fit right into the look.


The AJKA "Arabella" goblets were set on a kitchen counter for guests who chose to enjoy a glass of wine.  I bought these years ago at Tuesday Morning.  I wish that I had bought more.  They are still available, but they now cost more per goblet than I paid for a set of four.


Everything is in place....


The resplendent colors of Autumn have set the tone...


Choose your seat...


...and save me the seat next to yours!  I'm excited to get to know you better.







Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, "Tablescape Thursday.  I'll be linking my post to "Tablescape Thursday.  Click on the button below to hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.




   
Entertaining Women
Entertaining Women

Hello, I'm Cherry Kay I was 40 before I realized that I am an artist. I love to paint, work in clay, rubber stamping, design tablescapes, entertain, and share ideas. I'm an interior designer wanna-be...no credentials, but lots of experience.

44 comments:

  1. Cherry Kay, once again you have set stunning tables! The floral arrangements are gorgeous, and I appreciate the detail of how you assembled them. I suspect a lot of us will be heading to Hobby Lobby! The colors you've used would be perfect in MY dining room. I also love the idea of the painted flutes, though I might not be artistic enough to pull that off. Thanks for another great post!

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  2. How beautiful everything is from the front doors (love them) to your gorgeous jewel tones. Thanks for visiting Buttermilk Cottage.
    Susan

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  3. Your first photo took my breath away and I thought to myself, "Those look like hand painted gold goblets!", never thinking you might have hand painted them. This is the coolest idea and i love the idea of giving some away to the guest of honor. You are amazing.

    Of course the fall table is gorgeous too. I love the goblets anything red, and the china. The detail is gorgeous.

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  4. Okay, Cherry Kay, I would love to sit down and save you a seat! You painted those goblets??!! Gorgeous! I think we need a closeup of all those goodies in that china cabinet I see! I have seen/wanted those Arabella goblets but they need to go on sale first! Love your front door and the lamps on your sideboard! Linda

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  5. I always know I am in for a treat when I come visit your blog...Cherry Kay, your table is one of the prettiest I have seen on TT...beautiful linens, dishes, stemware and gorgeous floral centerpieces. Thanks for sharing and have a wonderful weekend.

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  6. Gorgeous centerpiece! A very beautiful setting!

    Hugs
    Charo

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  7. I love your setting, what lucky friends you have. I am a "regular" at the same haunts you have listed for your table scape decorating. I was just at HL yesterday picking up a couple of things for next weeks table scape. Your china and silver are just beautiful and I see from one of the shots there are a lot more pieces in your china case.

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  8. How gorgeous your setting is. I am just an ameteur at this beautiful tablescape thing, I stress beautiful because I have been setting my table for 6 kids and a hubby for so long but I always just threw on what was needed. There had to be lot's of room for the food!... Now with everyone getting older and leaving, I am exploring what fun it can be to set it pretty. I might even start making dinner again!!

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  9. Pretty settings & it gives a fall nesting too!

    Love the goblets more... I now want to have some of them. I saw here in Stockholm, set of 4 cost in dollars 50$.

    Have a happy TS...

    Greetings from Stockholm,
    /chie

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  10. Positively stunning table!!

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  11. Hi Cherry Kay,
    You are SO very talented! The flutes you painted are spectacular! I'm sure the ones you've given as gifts became instant family heirlooms. Loved the centerpieces and, I agree, that photo with the sunlight streaming through the red goblet IS magical -- breathtaking!

    Have a wonderful weekend!
    Kindest regards,
    Bill

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  12. GORGEOUS...every piece from the linens to the china to the silver and glassware. The hand painted glasses are so pretty and a charming idea for the showers.

    Your photography is beautiful also!!

    Thank you for sharing!

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  13. Oh dear my first comment disappeared somewhere. The doors are such a lovely greeting to your event and those painted flutes with mimosas would be another wonderful greeting. I'm so impressed with your painting skills!! I would have been a very happy guest at this event and I would have chattered about it for a week...

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  14. That is a gorgeous luncheon table. I love the colored goblets. My MIL has those and I spy them all the time:) You did a great job, it looks so warm and festive.

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  15. How lovely.... and what a great idea to handpaint your goblets as gifts. I can imagine the recipients would be so tickled.

    Warm blessings,
    Spencer

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  16. WOW your talents are just endless. If I remember correctly from an earlier post, you said you liked to paint. Never did I imagine your painting included glassware. They are so pretty and what guest of honor wouldn't love a set of these. Your whole table is lovely, as usual. The use of the wire baskets with the flowers just adds another touch of fall. Now, if I can just find one of those Photinia bushes...great filler.

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  17. OH, what beautiful tables! I love your vintage napkins. Those painted flutes are gorgeous. I have a dear friend that does those. I will show yours to her. You have such a gracious style, so filled with elegant details. I always love looking carefully at each and every photo.

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  18. Denise, thank you for your kind comments. I'm glad that you liked the wire baskets...I looked for that specific shape for such a long time. It was an 'oh my gosh' moment when I walked into HL and there they sat...I wasn't even looking for them that day...kind of like love...the moment that you stop looking for it, it jumps up and grabs you. I have to admit that I felt a bit cocky when I found that the plastic cookie tray lid would work as a liner. Come visit any time, please! Cherry Kay

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  19. AS always....lovely. did you ever take part in that where do you keep all your dishes party? I did not but would love to see your post if you did or have you make one! ;-) Everything is so beautiful. Love that more rustic looking buffet in the back.

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  20. Cherry Kay:

    Beautiful Tables, as usual. Love the pop of red of the goblets!

    It would be great if you did a tutorial on how to paint those goblets. They are AMAZING!Obviously I didn't paint my apple goblets but I'd love to learn the technique.I think I've mentioned before that I host a weekly meme called Seasonal Sundays. Perhaps you could link your tutorial to Seasonal Sundays?

    You should google Christmas Tree Shop and see where the stores are located. They used to only be in New England, but I hear they've branched out as far as Texas. They don't do email or catalog sales.

    - The Tablescaper

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  21. Cherry Kay, I just love to come see what beautiful table settings you'll come up with next! Love the use of the brown cloths with this stunning china. All of your stemware is gorgeous, and I love that you painted that set you used for Mimosas. And what a great idea for a gift for a bride! I see those gorgeous wine glasses at Tues AM all of the time, and I always wish they'd mark them down some more. I do wish that I could come sit with you at one of these stunning place settings. laurie

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  22. Love your table settings!! You do a great job! I could only hope that one day I could do just as good of a job!!!

    Hope you visit and follow simple 1-2-3 soon!

    Kudos to you again!!

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  23. What a beautiful table! Your dishes and chargers are gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the nice comment!

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  24. This is really beautiful! Those flutes you painted are marvelous! Wonderful job!

    Katherine

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  25. You've set a beautiful table! The plates, the linens, and the floral arrangements... perfection! (I just very recently discovered the wonders of floral foam... very useful indeed!) Thanks for stopping by my place, and thanks so much for your sweet comment!
    - Meg

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  26. I'm sure the birthday folks felt very special because of your creativity! The bold colors brought a bold spirit to the table. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us!

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  27. As always your tablescapes are breathtaking. I must say that you must be one of my favourites!
    Ever the gracious hostess, Cherri Kay and never too busy to stop by my blog!
    Thanks again for sharing.
    Looking forward to visiting you next week!
    Warm South African Blessings.
    Shel

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  28. Dearest Cherry Kay,

    I came to visit your beautiful blog yesterday at length and got so caught up with the 'ooh's and aah's' of sheer delight, that I plumb forgot to leave a comment before duty called me away!..,

    So here I am once again dear lady to warmly thank you so very much for your visit and kind words and to also tell you just how much I enjoyed also reading your delightful descriptive prose of each aspect of your magnificent tablescape vignettes.

    ..,I also very much so enjoyed looking in detail at the stunningly pretty pictures, while drinking in every exquisite detail of loveliness!..,

    It is just so delightful,generous and sweet of you to do this for your friends and also to share this lovely time of fellowship, good cheer and the warmth of hospitality with us; your Fall birthday celebration for one of your dear, bible study, Garden Friend ladies!

    Cheers, hugs and blessings from Wanda Lee
    @ http://theplumedpen.blogspot.com
    and also
    @ http://silkenpurse.blogspot.com

    P.S. ~ My husband and I share the running of a bed and breakfast, so I am always looking for more affordable, yet oh-so-delightful ways to entertain and extend hospitality to our guests; thanks so much for the inspiration!..,(Here is the link if you would care to take a wee peek); @ http://www.blueforest.ca

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  29. Hey,Cherry Kay,OMGoodness,your home is amazing,you are so creative,painting the inexpensive flutes,WOW!Thank You for visiting LazyonLoblolly,and your sweet comment was appreciated more than you realize,cause I always feel like I didn't tablescape THE RIGHT WAY,and I always think about it at night,and want to delete,and I wake up to such wonderful comments and it gives me hope to "carry on".Thanks Again!
    ~JO

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  30. Beeautiful table setting!! love your dishes..! The flutes painted by you look awesome!! fantastic job!! The flower arrangement looks splendid!!

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  31. so elegant, I love it. Thank you for stopin by. I love Hobby lobby.

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  32. Cherry Kay what a lovely birthday luncheon. First of all I would like to say I adore your front door. The color and style is gorgeous. The painted glasses are amazing. The table and all the trimmings are all beautiful. Very well done. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving sweet comment.

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  33. Your table is lovely. I love the old linens!! You are so right about the glasses, I looked the other day and just cringed at the individual prices!! Save that for another day. I am blessed just coming by your blog. Thanks for stopping by mine with sweet words.

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  34. What a gorgeous table! And those flowers . . . Fantastic. Thank you for stopping by my blog. Glad you enjoyed the Martha post.

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  35. Everything is so pretty and so well thought. You are really so talented in setting a table. The glasses you painted look amazing!...Christine

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  36. Oh so beautiful
    Thank you for visiting My Cozy Corner.
    I love your silverware and napkins.
    xoxo
    Betty

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  37. Hi Cherry Kay,
    Everything is stunning, the red goblet with the sun streaming through on it is gorgeous! But my favorite are the gold painted glasses, they are magnificent! I have painted a lot of glasses etc. but have never given away sets like that, what a wonderful idea. I use to paint little appetizer plates and give them to my mother and mother in law for mother's day. I can only imagine how excited your guests were to receive a service of hand painted stemware!
    xo
    Bunny

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  38. What a warm and welcoming table. I am sure that you blessed all those attending.

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  39. What a pretty table setting and floral arrangements! Who would not like to be a guest setting there for a meal and good conversation. Love the goblets you painted and what a thoughtful gift for a bride and MOB.
    Thanks for stopping by. Have a great week.

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  40. What a magnificent table..and the hand painted stemware is wonderful.

    Thank you for telling me about your sister. This just might be the connection between Taylor and I that God has wanted. Just maybe Taylor needs to talk with Pat. I will surely give her name to him, in case he might need her. He tells me that this is the first time this has happened to him..maybe, if it was his first experience with drinking, he just couldn't handle it. ANYway, I am pleased to have a name for him to contact if he needs to.
    Thanks so very much.

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  41. Cherry Kay, What lovely centerpieces! The dishes are divine, and the colorful stemware is totally fabulous! Very nice post and tablescape! Thanks for dropping by to visit me recently! ~Ciao

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  42. I love your front doors - are those grey or a blue - either way I LOVE the color - they look great with the simple but elegant door baskets (yeah SLaH)!

    PS - Your daughter's so is great! Is it only available on youtube?

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  43. Breathtaking!!! I love the AJKA goblets you purchased at Tuesday Morning. I considered buying them myself...sorry I didn't! They are beautiful on your incredibly fabulous table! The centerpieces are lovely!!! I'm cheering loudly for that flatware, too. Just beautiful!!! I am going to certainly have to become a follower so that I can keep up with viewing your lovely displays!

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