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.