Thursday, November 20, 2014

Happy Merry Thanksmas

"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 during this harvest season, it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.
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I am almost three weeks out from my first knee replacement surgery, and I'm excited to be able to share a tablescape with you from a family Thanksmas dinner that we hosted last weekend.  Our son's family will be with his in-laws for Thanksgiving this year, and also not here for Christmas.  We wanted an opportunity for our sweet ones to be together for a holiday meal...We call it Happy Merry Thanksmas.  Because my ability to move around was still quite limited by a walker, Sweet Mister arranged for most of the menu.  Can you say, "Honey Glazed Ham and fixin's"?  I was delighted to be able to assemble the table for our evening, and I'm very grateful to Cindy, the dear lady who stayed with me for the first two weeks, which allowed Sweet Mister to actually go back to the office. Cindy and I worked together to create the table design, and we had a great time.  We set a table for 9 in the dining room...Come on in...

 We had lots of males at our table on this evening, so I wanted to keep the design somewhat masculine.

 I've been eager to use the Williams Sonoma toile tablecloth, and tonight was the perfect opportunity.

 I'm a longtime fan of a blue and brown color scheme...

 ...To create a better contrast between the dinner plate and the toile cloth, I used the Maryland China Company "Minuet" charger plate.  Your can find them on line, and they have an abundance of very reasonable white blanks, mostly marketed to china painters.  Check them out!  Tip:  As much as I love using charger plates in my designs, sometimes the dinner plate won't "sit" properly on the charger.  You could place a folded napkin underneath to give the dinner plate stability.  I prefer to place one of grandmama's old doilies on the plate as a stabilizer.  I'll bet many of you have a stack of them, stuffed somewhere in a drawer...wondering what to do with them.  Here's your answer.  I always look for them at estate sales, too.  I'm usually searching for about a 9" doily, and they can normally be found for just a few dollars.

 Now the Spode Delamere dinner plate, from Replacements, is sitting steady as a rock!  Tip:  When shopping on eBay, I always double check price and availability on Replacements.  Because they offer free shipping on any purchase over $99.00, sometimes Replacements ultimately offers you the better price.  Do your homework!


I flanked the plates with an inexpensive brown handled flatware from Horchow.  My favorite napkin, the Pottery Barn flax hemstitched linen, seemed an obvious choice.

 Continuing with my simple color scheme, I chose the Gorham Octette Brown goblet.  Neat brown goblets are hard to find, in my opinion.  If you come across some and like them...grab them!



 My centerpiece needed to be put together by shopping my closets and cabinets, and my frozen garden.  A shopping trip was not yet on my agenda...or at least on my new knee's agenda.

 You may remember the pair of wooden finials.  I'm still pretty charmed by them...

 ...The Hartley Leeds Creamware "Chestnut Bowl" was a great get on eBay.  A set of dinner plates by the same company is still on my "list"...someday.  I flanked the tureen with a quartet of Autumn berries that I've used in years past.

 The Hartley-Leeds Strawberry bowls each held a dead dried hydrangea, which dear Cindy harvested from my frozen garden.  The color was just what I needed!

 Looks like Thanksmas to me....yep, it does.

 It was a delightful evening with our beloved children and grandchildren.  I'm looking forward to sharing more holiday tables with you in the coming weeks.  I'll be in physical therapy for the next five weeks, so you may need to color me invisible at different times until after the New Year.  Just know that I miss you, and I can hardly wait to be able to resume my normal routine of entertaining frequently.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hope with Katherine's Corner























  
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.

14 comments:

  1. A lovely table as always! Brown seems so tallish and Thanksgivingish. But then I adore Spode anything!

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  2. I don't think I've ever seen dead hydrangeas put to better use, Cherry Kay!!! LOL What a GORGEOUS tablescape...so unusual, with the different color combination & that beautiful Williams Sonoma toile tablecloth as your starting point. Just lovely!

    I had no idea that you went through knee replacement surgery!! I would have sent flowers or at least a card or something. I'm so sorry to have been out of the loop lately. DH has been in & out of the hospital with congestive heart failure as well as kidney failure too. Not doing too well these days. *sigh*

    Visiting you lifted my spirits immensely. I always love to see your beautiful things on display & I'm impressed that you were able to pull this together so soon after surgery.
    Heal quickly!
    Hugs,
    Rett

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  3. So wonderful to see you posting again. As always, your table looks fabulous. I am intrigued by the brown crystal glassware. I've never seen any, but here they look absolutely perfect.

    And I love your title for the day:
    Happy Merry Thanksmass!

    And Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours next Thursday, too. I will think of you when I try to arrange my table. You are always such an inspirtion!
    xoxox

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  4. This table is gorgeous! Love those plates...perfect for Thanksgiving.

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  5. Cherry Kay, this is a gorgeous table! Happy you had a special weekend with all your chicks. That had to be good for the healing process! '-)
    Love the blue toile and the brown details of the dishes, stemware, and flatware. Just goes to show that even knee replacement can't keep an diehard tablescaper down! Ha!
    Keep doing what the doctor says. Happy Thanksgiving, dear friend!

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  6. I LOVE this table! I haven't put blue and brown together in a tablescape, but you have shown me how absolutely lovely it can be. Your centerpiece tureen and bowls are exquisite; truly works of art. Bravo to you for carrying off such a feat while post-op. Thank you for sharing. Have wonderful holidays, and don't overdo. Rosie @ The Magic Hutch

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  7. CK, oh my, I think we're going to be buddies. Everything from the tablecloth to the dishes (love that blue & brown, as well as those little pops of orangw), to the tips on shopping - all so great. And all with a bum knee! Lucky for you to have a partner in crime. I'll look forward to sharing more with you and visiting again in the near future. It's getting to be that time with constant busyness, but count me as your newest follower. Have a good week, and work smart in therapy so you can get mobile again.
    Rita C at Panoply

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  8. Beautiful...glad you made out well...I have a niece that will have both of her knees done at the same time in January, whooo! Tablescape is beautiful as always!

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  9. I didn't know you had surgery - hope your recovery goes quickly!! But you must be on your way because you are up for entertaining - this is a pretty setting and I especially like the tablecloth! I am sure you enjoyed your family!

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  10. Hope all is going well with you!!! I almost wish I could have been Cindy and experienced your tutelage in doing up this table!!!
    You are great!!
    God bless your recovery and your Thanksgiving/Christmas!
    J

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  11. Hello Cherry Kay. I hope you moving around a little better by now. So glad to see another gorgeous table design from you. I am always so inspired by your stunning creations. That Williams Sonoma Toile tablecloth is spectacular and I love the brown glassware. You are right, the perfect brown glassware is very hard to find.

    I wonderful that your hubby and your friend helped you with this lovely family gathering. So happy for you sweet friend.

    Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving.

    Janet

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  12. Beautiful table...love the colors!
    Miss Bloomers

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  13. Hello CK,

    The pattern of the wooden finials combine perfectly with the Chestnut tureen. It is a BEAUTY!! I don't recall seeing a tablecloth with blue & brown & cream. It is very sophisticated & not 'manly' at all. The brown & blue color scheme works for both male & female guests. Well done. Regards, Robin

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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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