Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Butterfly Birthday


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.


Several weeks ago, I was thrilled to learn that I had won the give-away from Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for a service for four of Mikasa, "Modern Butterfly."  The moment that I opened the box that appeared on my front porch, I knew exactly how I wanted to use it.  My friend Sheila absolutely ADORES butterflies, and her birthday is November 18.  On Monday, the 15th, I hosted a luncheon for four featuring "Modern Butterfly" to celebrate Sheila's birthday.

I want to recognize Mikasa for their generosity and kindness, and I have decided to share some of the options that I considered while designing my tablescape for the party.  There are so many possible variations for this gorgeous pattern; It took a bit before I could pick just one and go with it.  I think that you would have a blast using this marvelous design.  It lends itself to a multitude of design styles; I think that you're going to want to add these pretty butterflies to your personal collection.  Grab your net!  (I need to advise you that this is a photo intensive post.  Scroll away!)

I started...

...with a matelasse tablecloth.  I bought the fabric on eBay, and I made the cloth.  Tip:  When I make the cording, I cut my strips on the grain instead of on the bias.  It makes the cording much stiffer, and it holds the folds in place as the cloth falls against the floor.

Not only did the color of the cloth compliment the soft sage in the dishes, the design in the matelasse seemed to showcase the stylized artwork in the dinnerware.

I liked the potential of the individual dessert pedestals...

...the natural rattan charger from WalMart...

...WalMart's dark rattan charger...Have you found your personal look, yet?...

How about the animated flavor that flourished when I added the Hobby Lobby black acrylic charger...really emphasizes the graphic nature of the design...for those of you with a more contemporary flair...


While I was playing with the Mikasa, "Butterfly," the postman delivered this black and white toile tablecloth, an eBay purchase...so I gave it a try...pretty spectacular, don't you think?  It really punches up the black weighted lines that make up the form of several of the butterflies...


---or how about a shot of red sandwiched between the butterflies and the toile?...

Ultimately I chose the matelasse cloth and the red acrylic charger.

So many choices, so little time...I finally decided to go with the red charger and the matelasse cloth.  I added the vintage small red bowls, an estate sale bargain.

The Argent, "Sophia" 'gold' flatware is a Tuesday Morning find.  The color in the handle picked up just the right touch of golden yellow in the butterfly wings.  More of the plate color is repeated in the Waterford, "Simply Pink" goblet.  I love these goblets; they have a way of adapting to different shades of pinks and reds...very chameleon like. Our precious Nana is once again responsible for several elements in my design.  She used the lovely white linen napkins for years; I suspect that they are Marghab, but I can't verify that.  The ruby flash bowl and oriental stand also graced her tables...and now mine.  

 The clear wine goblet is Lalique, "Treves."  It is a part of my wedding crystal; this single stem was responsible for my choices for china and crystal all those years ago.  I still cherish it.  When Sweet Mr. and I were married, I was amazed that friends would actually spend $25.00 per goblet as a gift for us.  The individual salt and peppers are by Mackenzie-Childs.  Victoria Childs is such a gifted artist.  Her designs are all at once whimsical and elegant.  I've been collecting different styles of these tiny jewels for several years.  We have a wonderful store, On A Whim, that stocks a huge inventory of Mackenzie-Childs.  Check them out at www.onawhimokc.com.

The centerpiece is a mixture of flowers that I found at Homeland Grocery Store.  Do you see the white color behind the pink medallion in the ruby flash bowl?  Tip:  I didn't want the green oasis to detract from the lovely design in Nana's old bowl, so I actually constructed the centerpiece in one of my Blue Willow cereal bowls that just happens to be solid white on the outside. Not only was I able to effectively camouflage the infrastructure of my design, but if I need to, I can change the ruby flash bowl for a different piece that is better suited for a different tablescape.  My dear friend Cindy, at http://www.moreentertainingwomen.blogspot.com/, is hosting a large party in her home tomorrow night.  I took the flowers to her this afternoon, and I'm thrilled that they can be put to good use once again.  I added the butterflies for Sheila's special day...I found them several years ago at Pottery Barn.


Okay, I'm going to shyly step into the world of candlelight photography...
...and miles to go before I sleep...At this point, I went to bed, excited to greet my guests the next morning.

Everything's ready.  I decided to go with the small pink votives instead of the tapers...

...And I chose to exchange the small red bowls for the wonderful Mikasa, "Modern Butterfly" rimmed soup.  It was perfect for the first course, Tomato Bisque.

For the main course, I prepared a Shrimp Remoulade Salad and Quiche Lorraine.  Dessert was my mama's Brandy Ice, always a winner with my guests.If you'd like the recipe, it can be found in an earlier post HERE.

Everything is in place, and we're ready to come to the table.  See the blue gift box tied with the red picot ribbon?  Inside is one of the Mikasa boxes that contained a place setting of the beautiful Mikasa, "Modern Butterfly."  At the end of the party when the gifts were opened, I gave my dear friend Sheila this amazing china service for four as her birthday gift.  She absolutely loved it, and now she's going to go home and order more!  I hope that some of you have decided that you must have this pattern, too.  You're going to love creating your own tablescape with it.  Thank you once again to Mikasa and Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for making this magical celebration a reality!





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.     




You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube.  I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen.  You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site.  The girl can really write!  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."
 

  

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.

39 comments:

  1. Lucky you and more lucky that you gave them to your friend. Beautiful Mikasa dishes. They are so versatile. I love that. Adding the butterfly in your floral arrangement was a nice touch. I love the candlelight pictures, too. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Very interesting to see your table come together like that! Your home looks so warm and inviting.

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  3. Beautiful as always... Oh, I do love stopping by here!
    Blessings from South Africa
    Shel

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  4. Hello,
    this was really a nice entertainment to see how different the Mikasa pattern looks with all those tableclothes and placemats. Great idea for the post. Thank you for the tipp how to cut the strips for the tablecloth. It worked out beautiful.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  5. When you have china with a pattern it is amazing at how you can change the look through table linens and chargers. A very pretty table.

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  6. Congratulations on winning Mikasa! What a fun pattern~ I love all the different tablecloth & chargers options you played with~ Your centerpiece is lovely, especially with the butterflies visiting~ What a delightful Butterfly Birthday for your friend :-)

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  7. I love how you composed your post and the photos. The Mikasa is beautiful. What a wonderful way to present a gift!

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  8. I love how using different charger plates and tablecloths completely changes the looks of the china. Your birthday table is stunning with the red charger plates. The centerpiece with the butterfly is beautiful. Oh, congratulations on winning the china!

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  9. I love all the different views with the china. It's most interesting to see how the slight differences change the way the china reads. Your friends are truly blessed to have you in their lives. Once again, simply stunning.

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  10. How fun to see all the ways to use this Mikasa pattern! They need to put you on the payroll! I know your friend was delighted with the gorgeous table at her birthday luncheon. Once again, you've arranged a stunning centerpiece!

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  11. I feel like I was right next to you as you looked through things, trying this and that. It was so wonderful to see all your choices and how they worked even though they may be so different from the next. I am sure your friends were delighted with their beautiful luncheon and what a gift!

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  12. WOW! I loved how you showed us how the dishes looked with different chargers. Amazing! thank you for sharing! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

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  13. I had forgotten that you won that! I'm glad a person with such a creative flair was the winner. I'm also glad that you ventured into the world of candlelight photography because that was my favorite shot.

    It's beautiful,every way that you used it. You're going to get such pleasure out of using this pattern, Cherry Kay.

    (And the centerpiece is lovely. And THANKS for the tip!)

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  14. What an absolutely perfect table setting you have created just in time for the holidays. I just love all of the different textures. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving.

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  15. Oh how pretty -- thanks for letting us watch you set the table. I love all the different lighting too.

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  16. You have so many lovely things, and each week you use them to create a wonderful table.

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  17. Congratulations on a wonderful prize. I love how you paired them with your fantabulous Waterford goblets! Wow, they are extraordinary. I just can't get past them. I love the beautiful bowls too which look so good on the plates. What a pretty and fun table.

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  18. Wow! SO much possibilities and so pretty! Congrats for winning, Cherry Kay!...Christine

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  19. It was fun to watch the evolution of your tablescape and to get a little insight into how your creative process works. Your friend must have been thrilled to open her gift and discover that the dish were hers.

    The cording on the tablecloth certainly added to the beauty of the cloth itself (if that's even possible). It is all I can do to put a shirttail hem around one!

    I love those ruby glass bowls. You called them flash bowls. Now I'm going to have to look that up.

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  20. Congrats, You can do so many different Tablescapes with this wonderful china! Love the stemware, I spied the salt and pepper shakers! I adore them!

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  21. Beautiful table! Thanks so much for your visit!

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  22. Absolutely beautiful! Fabulous centerpiece! I love all the colors, and the choices you made.

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  23. Hi Cherry Kay! Thank you so much for walking us through your thought process as you played with your new dishes. It's so much fun to watch a tablescape evolve! I love your final choices. Those goblets are gorgeous! It's funny how pink can be so much more versatile than you might think. I am sure that your guests were absolutely charmed by your table and the fabulous menu...with two of my favorite dishes! Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving such a sweet comment! It is so appreciated! Have a geat weekend!...hugs...Debbie

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  24. It looks beautiful! So many ways to use it! The possibilities! :)

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  25. That was so interesting!
    I can't imagine a prettier birthday table - like Spring in November.

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  26. I am glad you showed us all your choices, and you did a great job on the tablecloth. I am sure the birthday gal was delighted with her beautiful luncheon and gift!

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  27. Very beautiful luncheon table! I loved all views! Thanks so much for visiting me! Love, ~Nana~

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  28. Hi Cherry,

    What a fabulous table you set! I love all the options you have shown...I do that too and love getting several looks just by changing one item. I love the tablecloth you made..and I also the dramatic change the tablescape takes on when you add the black and white tablecloth! I love Homeland flowers ..in fact I'll need to buy mine soon for Thanksgiving. Your friend must have been thrilled with this wonderful and thoughtful luncheon. Congrats on winning that wonderful set of dishes! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday!

    Miss Bloomers/Sonia

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  29. Loved it with the black and white! The read was perfect, and by candle light all of the colors are amazing. Very pretty.

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  30. What a beautiful pattern and so many pretty settings.

    My favorite is the red charger with the toile cloth. Such a treat for you and your guests! I'm sure the real treat was time with friends.

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  31. So interesting. Love the seafoam green matalase tablecloth.

    - The Tablescaper

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  32. Congratulations on winning those pretty butterfly dishes! The look you've created with the matelasse tablecloth makes for a lovely formal look, but when I got a little sneak peek at the dishes on the black and white tablecloth Oh my! I'd love to see it also completed in a casual french country look too!
    I also watched your lovely daughters video, and you must be so incredibly proud of her, she has a beautiful voice, and for a such a wonderful cause...
    May you have the happiest Thanksgiving, and thanks so much for stopping by to visit!

    Hugs, Sherri:)

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  33. Wow, congrats on that lovely win, and your table setting is just beautiful. I love the center piece too. We are truly blessed when we can open our homes to friends and family. Hopefully next year I'll have more around our table :)
    Thanks for stopping by my blog and for your lovely comment.
    hugs Denise

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  34. Very pretty! I like both tablecloths! Those little S&Ps are adorable!

    Sorry to be late with my reply, we've had company since Friday!

    Katherine

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  35. Wonderful tablescapes~~Love the butterfly dishes:))

    Have a blessed Thanksgiving!!

    Hugs,
    Kay Ellen

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  36. Very lovely! Great job building "up" the event at your table! Thanks for visiting my blog and entering my Giveaway! Blessings, Heidi

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  37. Hi lovely lady, You have put a lovely Tablescape together one more time sweet lady.
    Thanks so much for your sweet comments abouth my Tablescapes for Two. I hope you have a Great Thankgiving Day. Sorry I did not get back to you right away I was out of town. Diane

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  38. What a fun win! Your tablescape is gorgeous! The centerpiece is so pretty. I bet your friend loved this! I love the chairs there as well.

    Nancy

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  39. Hi Cherry, congratulations on the Mikasa win. Your table settings looked amazing with the dishes. You responded to a recent post of mine & asked what the "big box" store was that I referenced. It's Walmart. We have 3 Walmart Super Centers in our little community. I know, gasp! Anyway, the one I frequent just got remodeled & is set up like more of a department store & has much better quality items than I've ever seen in a Walmart before. Bottom line, in Yuma, they have the best prices over all other grocery/variety-type stores. Also wanted to let you know, I am a new follower.

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