Blue²

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. 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.

I really thought seriously about creating a tablescape using something other than blue this week...after all, I gave  you a serving of blue last week.  But...I just couldn't help myself.  I'd been moving ideas around in my head for this design for quite awhile, and I wanted to strike while the iron was hot.  Today the Garden Friends Bible study group celebrated our March and April birthday girls...do we ever quit calling ourselves 'girls'?  I hope not.  Although last week was lovely...sunny and warm, this week has been unseasonably cold and quite gray.  Weather like this always makes me think of Heathcliff calling across the moors, "Cathy, come back, Cathy!"  I actually like hazy gray days; I find them rather mysterious and romantic....but I digress.

Come on in, my bloggy friends.  There's a lot to explore today.  I just completed the preparations for my precious Garden Friends; there will be ten of us for lunch after we have our Bible study.

The Williams-Sonoma white-on-blue Edwardian motif/toile tablecloth is a recent ebay get.  I don't know how I missed this when it was in production at the WS store, but I'm really glad that I did because I bought it for less than half of its original price.  Woohoo!

This tablecloth is my inspiration for today.  I am a huge fan of the lifestyle books by Carolyne Roehm.  In her book At Home with Carolyne Roehm,  she shared a wonderful table using a magnificent white-on-blue toile matelasse cloth.  I looked for that tablecloth for years, but alas, my search never proved fruitful.  I was thrilled to find this one; it achieves virtually the same look.

 I opted to refrain from using a large cobalt charger today.  I wanted to highlight the contrast between the cloth and the bright white of the Wedgwood, "Countryware" dinner plate, an eBay purchase.  I made the same design choice when I laid out the Argent, "Sophia"  flatware, Tuesday Morning and Horchow.  I didn't want them to be 'swallowed' by the intense motif in the tablecloth.

  You originally saw the Miessen, "Blue Onion" luncheon plate when I posted about one of two back-to-back luncheons canceled because of snow storms.  I thought that it was a natural choice for today.  I like that many of the design elements in my cloth can be found in this wonderful old plate.  The "Blue Onion" plates were one of my last day/last hour, 75% off, estate sale finds.  Atop the luncheon plate, sits a simple Pier One cotton napkin held by a Coalport, "Countryware" napkin ring.  Remember, when Coalport went out of business, its molds were obtained by Wedgwood.  Coalport originally produced the "Countryware", and Wedgewood continued the exact same pattern for a number of years.  Both are still available on the secondary market.  Tip:  You'll pay about half as much for the Wedgwood as for the Coalport.  Just sayin'... :-)

Back for an encore appearance this week, the over-sized Godinger, "Sutton Place", goblet, yet another eBay purchase, adds a classic touch to my design.  I've paired it with...

...this smaller, unidentified etched goblet.  This stemware was another estate sale find.  Tip:   Around here, it is possible to leave a bid on most items in estate sales.  At the end of the first day, of a two-day sale, the vendor will call the high bidder on items that didn't sell at the original asking price.  I generally offer $5 - $10 over half of the asking price.  I get a lot of calls!  Just ask the person at the cash register if they accept bids!

Does anyone recognize this goblet...the maker, please?  Bill, Mr. Affordable Accoutrements, do you know anything about this wonderful old stem?  I was able to buy 20 of them...so excited!

Now obviously, no one would accuse me of going minimalist with today's table.  Still, I did restrain myself by using only one color for the floral arrangements in the centerpieces.  Sam's provided the yellow mums.

The large Burleigh, "Blue Willow" bowl is flanked by an inexpensive pair of blue and white import bowls that I picked up at an estate sale for $4.00...last day, last hour.  I'm telling you, people!  You're missing out if you're not at the good sales at the end.  The white ceramic birds were bought on clearance at Michael's.  I placed a small tweetie at each place setting.  Three larger birds flank the centerpiece.

To complete the centerpiece, I interspersed white porcelain candlesticks between the floral pieces.  The taller pair are Coalport, "Countryware".  The smaller pair are Rosenthal; I can't remember the name of the pattern.  Both were eBay finds.  The salt and peppers are Coalport, "Countryware".

  

As a finishing touch, I filled a pair of old Lenox vases with Sam's Dutch Iris. Many of you have inquired about the silver pieces on the buffet.  The Barker-Ellis candleabras and the Towle, "Lafayette", tea service all originally belonged to our dear Nana.  The pair of Lalique, "Le Coq", also belonged to her.  The buffet is an antique French piece, purchased locally.

For the candlelight photography fans.  I'm working on a steep learning curve here.

I think that I've taken care of all the details.  If I've missed something, no one will know unless I tell them.  Lunch will feature Chicken Tetrazzini, a big green salad, fresh berries, Italian Garlic Bread, and Harvey Wallbanger Cake.

"Little Charlie Dickens", my four-pound Yorkshire Terrorist is watching for our guests to arrive.  Some of our friends fondly call him "Door Bell"  He'll alert me as you approach the front porch.  We can hardly wait to share food and fellowship with you at the table.

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 HERE 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."  It is available on iTunes or through her website.  I hope that you'll give her music a chance.  I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!