Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Welcome Home!


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 holiday season progresses 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.


My sorority sister was home from the East Coast for the first time in many years.  I received a call to join a group of sisters for lunch at a restaurant.  It didn't take long to convince everyone that it would be more fun to come to my house instead of dining at a restaurant.  Twelve of us gathered for lunch on a late November day.

For this party, I chose Schumann "Empress Dresden Flower" as the focal point of my tablescape. The Carl Schumann factory operated in Arzburg, Germany (Bavaria) from 1881-1996.  Schumann china was famous for its striking resemblance, in both quality and style, to the revered Dresden dinnerware.  Employing the same "Rococo revival" decorating techniques as these more prominent manufactures, Schumann china is known for its colorful fruit and flower patterns, set upon a translucent, eggshell white porcelain.

Although I would normally think of the "Empress" as a perfect choice for a Spring tablescape, I thought that I could adapt it for a Fall setting with the right choice of design elements.  Another feature that I wanted to highlight was our Sorority color combination, "Cardinal and Straw."  You know it as red and yellow.  I started by selecting the rich mahogany of my dining table as the foundation of my design...no tablecloth today.  A large ruby acrylic charger anchored a Godinger, "Silver Baroque" Charger underneath the Empress dinner plate.  My individual covered dessert pedestal waited for the dessert, a cupcake.

      My dear friend Cindy, http://www.moreentertainingwomen.blogspot.com, gave me the wonderful small Empress reticulated ramekins.  Today I placed a tealight inside as a special touch at each placesetting.  Just to the right of the dessert pedestal, you can catch a glimpse of the matching open salt.  I've been slowly collecting tiny silver salt spoons.  I like to have some form of salt dispenser at hand for each guest.  The monogrammed napkin belonged to my mother-in-love.  The soft yellow border is organdy, and the field of the napkin is a substantial weight linen.  I don't know the maker.  Another time, I'm certain that I'll share the amazing matching tablecloth.  There are actually two cloths in this pattern.  Sweet Mister's brother has the one for a smaller table.  I believe that this was part of my mother-in-love's trousseau from the early 1940's.  We are blessed to have it to share with friends and family who come to our table.  Today I used my wedding silver, Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance."  I thought that the filagree design complimented the ornate design of the china.

  The Waterford "Simply Pink," is an interesting goblet.  It adapts to many different shades of pink and red, and I enjoy using it frequently.  Today I paired it with our precious Nana's antique French crystal wine goblet.  I've never found anyone who can identify the maker and pattern.  If anyone recognizes it, I'd love to have more information about this lovely old crystal.

For the centerpiece, I used a Rosenthal, "Sanssouci" tureen seated on a Haviland, "Ranson" chop plate.  I elevated it on an oriental wooden stand.  Tip:  I've collected a number of tureens...for a purpose.  I often use them for centerpieces; I like that I can set a nice table with a minimum of flowers...very budget friendly.  The tureen is flanked by my Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks and a pair of Indiana Glass, "Ruby Flash" footed compotes featuring my floral arrangements.  Once again I found the flowers at Sam's.  The tureen was a great estate sale "get," and I bought the chop plate and the compotes on eBay.  

To emphasize the "Cardinal and Straw,"  I used clear glass cylindrical vases, tied with wide red Picot ribbon and holding long stemmed yellow roses, to flank Nana's Towle, "Lafayette," silver tea service.  The large gold mirror and the silver and crystal chandelier were also Nana's.  The chandelier originally hung in Nana's home when it was built in 1920.  We've been grateful to be its caretakers for many years.


      Everything was all set for our wonderful luncheon.  Each guest brought a covered dish, and the food was delicious!  We sat at the table and visited until after 6:00 PM!  I think that's a pretty good indication that our gathering was a complete success.  We could have shared the left overs for dinner.  I look forward to the next opportunity to open my home for these precious women who are such an integral component of my personal history.  Someday, I'd love to have you share food, fellowship, and fun at my table, too!


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.

25 comments:

  1. Oh so beautiful. You sure do know how to entertain. I'd love it if you'd link up with us to Seasonal Sundays one of these days.

    - The Tablescaper

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  2. What a lovely afternoon that must have been. I'd love to visit at your table! The china is familiar to me - I love it!

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  3. I always love how full your tablescapes are - a real feast for the eyes. Those silver chargers are to die for!

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  4. What a treat to wake up and visit this beautiful table this morning, Cherry Kay. I was drawn immediately to those gorgeous Silver Baroque chargers and love how you nestled them between the plates and an addition set of red ones to celebrate your sorority color theme.

    I'm coveting those dessert cloches again. I shalt not... I shalt not... I shalt not...

    I think your sisterhood is a wonderful one and they are all blessed to have an entertainer in the mix like you.

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  5. I so appreciate how you started with a little history lesson. I love reading about such things.

    Your flower arrangements certainly bring out the colors in your plates. The entire setting is very elegant. You write with such love when you mention your Nana. It's wonderful that you actually USE her things. How pleased she must be as she looks down on you.

    So you laughed and chatted until 6! That's the most beautiful part of this posting.

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  6. Just beautiful..I love those Godinger chargers and the desert domes as so cute on every plate! Your china is so lovely and the history is so interesting too. Enjoyed your post. Happy Holidays!!

    Miss Bloomers

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  7. Wow, oh wow....I mean WOW. Your table is just specticular and perfectly balanced. I'm sure that your sisters were over the moon with excitement at enjoying such a beautiful table that obviously was set to show them just how much each of them mean to you. Thank you so much for sharing.

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  8. This is so gorgeous, Cherry Kay! I know your sisters were delighted to visit over such a lovely table. Those napkins are amazing -- what a treasure! I didn't get to set a table this week -- the end of the semester is always a bit wild!

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  9. This is a most lovely table. Very charming and welcoming. I love Arzberg china myself. It's a touch of "home" for me. Your money saving decorating tips are the best.. Your flowers are stunning and I love the tureen as a center piece. simply gorgeous.

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  10. It is a stunning table and I'm sure there was much love around it. I love it when people bring in a dish...it makes more time for you to spend on the tablescape without all the worry about cooking several things. The china is really pretty and I love those individual dessert stands.

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  11. Hello Cherry Kay,
    your table is wonderful. Your Schumann china is really great and your brought it to its best with the ruby crystal stemware and all the decoration. And you inherited wonderful napkins. I have never seen such delicate embroideried ones here. Yery nice table, thank you for sharing it with us.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  12. Now, this is what I called FAB!

    Jst came home from work and run directly to the post office coz Marty at A Stroll Thru Life sent a parcel for her early Christmas gift to a new bloggy friend.

    I always opened my fav ladies blogs and I saw that you'd update your post. Rushed & I scream coz you really have treasure that I would love to grab and run §;-)

    Hope you have a gorgeous day and week-end ahead.

    TC & GB you & your family,
    /chie

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  13. Hi lovely lady. Your Tablescapes are so Beautiful. I love your Silver Baroque Chargers. I hope you are having a nice evening ~~

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  14. And how I would love to come!! You do such a wonderful job putting everything together and you think of every detail. I love your ramekins-gorgeous, and the china, chargers (would love to have those silver chargers!), and goblets all look great together. Very cool, too, that you decided to go with no tablecloth. I love that look. Thanks for sharing, glad you guys had such a good time!!

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  15. Spectacular, Cherry Kay, but your tables always are! I'd have a difficult time choosing my favorite elements, but the monogrammed napkins are amazing, and the silver chargers add a further layer of luxury to an already high-end dining environment. Thank you for sharing the information, ideas, and inspiration!

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  16. So lovely!
    This would be a pleasure to sit here and dine.
    Lots of class!!!

    God bless,
    d

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  17. Gorgeous!! And for twelve people too! All of the family pieces are beautiful, as are your own and your dining room, too. Much better than a restaurant and no one urging you to leave. What a compliment that people stayed til after 6p.

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  18. Cherry Kay,
    What a lovely day spent with 12 friends! Your table is exquisite as it always is, each time I am in awe of yet another masterpiece. Setting a gorgeous table is indeed a work of art and your table is your canvas. The dishes are gorgeous. I love the buffet and clock!
    xx
    Bunny

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  19. Your talents amaze me!

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  20. What a special time together with your sorority sisters! I'm sure they enjoyed everything completely!

    I think my favorites are the little ramekins, and of course, the yellow bordered monogrammed napkins!

    Katherine

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  21. What a fun get together and luncheon, Cherry Kay. I am sure you impressed your sorority sisters and it wouldn't be hard to agree to dine at your place with a gorgeous setting like that. If you have a chance, come look at the salt cellar set that I got (one post below my latest one) since you mentioned collecting them...Christine

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  22. How beautiful!!! I wish I could come dine at your table. Your friends are very lucky.

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  23. Exquisite doesn't even begin to describe it! The Waterford "Simply Pink" does adapt wonderfully, and the Godinger silver chargers...yowza!!! (I like that you stacked the chargers. That's one of my favorite tricks for lending color and dimension!) I really like the floral pieces, too. The colors really complement the china, etc. You have such a generously proportioned dining room table, and sometimes people have a hard time filling it to convey abundance without making it look like a big ol' hot mess. NOT the case here!!! Fabulous job!

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  24. Gorgeous table setting! Every item, beautiful in its own right looks fantastic on the table...just a show stopper!

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  25. Gorgeous! So elegant! I love your Empress Dresden Folwer china, just beautiful. It looks like you had a great time with your friends, I love to make tea for lots of girl friends and lunches like you too...maybe next time you can come too?
    Thank you for sharing and keep on doing it!
    Love
    FABBY

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Thank you for spending your time to leave a comment. I read each and every one of your generous thoughts. They encourage me in so many ways.

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