Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Flaming Festival, 2010

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.


Each year during the first week of November, Kappa Alpha Theta Alumnae host The Theta Flaming Festival.  The festival features tablescapes, some created by members and friends and some created by local merchants who also offer their wares for sale.  Although I am not a Theta, for years I have done tablescapes for this marvelous event with dear Theta friends.  This year a small group of us was asked to create the centerpiece for the tea table, where guests are served tea or coffee and cookies throughout the day.  Because the speaker for the luncheon today was Walter Scheib, the former White House chef for Bill and Hillary Clinton and George and Laura Bush, we decided that we wanted to build the White House out of Haviland Ranson china.  We had so much fun, and I thought that you might enjoy seeing the fruits of our labor.








I also thought that you would enjoy gleaning ideas from some of the gorgeous tablescapes that were on display today at the Flaming Festival.  I do need to warn you that you are entering a photo intensive zone, but I think that you'll really enjoy them!






  































 Look closely at the two floral arrangements.  The tablescape designer has taken the lids of the two apothecaries, turned them upside down inside the jars, and placed flowers in them...great idea!



I loved this table because of the old doilies.  Do you have a drawer full of these that belonged to your grandmothers?  I thought that this was a darling idea!



Is your mouth watering?




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."

    

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. 

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.

43 comments:

  1. Oh, so much eye candy I can hardly process it all. The White House is spectacular and so unusual and of course the lawns are immaculate!!! I loved so many of them. This would be a tablescapers dream to get to come and photograph all of these.

    Yes, I love the top of the apothecary jars turned over and used like that! I love the Krinkle style Wisemen too. WOW WOW WOW

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  2. This must have been a fun tour of tablescapes!

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  3. OOOh where to start.. I love the white house.. above all the china white house. What an imaginations. I loved seeing the others too. What fun that must have been. I'm in awe of all of the tables!

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  4. Your version of the white house is genius! Love the lawn too! So many fun and pretty tables. I really love the big old looking lantern!

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  5. What a unique and terrific idea to create the White House out of china for a White House Chef! A great job, I might add! Thanks for sharing all the pretty tablescapes too!

    DD

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  6. What a great treat taking us on a tablescape tour, Cherry Kay. I like everything I saw. Thanks! I like the white house the best, it's awesome!...Christine

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  7. Absolutely breathtaking! They are all creative and beautifully executed. The White House was magnificent. That looks like you are all having so much fun, in tablescaping "heaven" for a day......

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  8. Wow..a inspirational gallery!! I love the 3 vases in the lantern, the crochet doilies, winter themed table setting with the candy house ...every setting is so exciting and unique !!!

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  9. Hi,
    Although I have no tablescape today, because my first blog party "International Christmas Cookies" kept me busy, I enjoyed your tablescape very much. The WHITE HOUSE is just stunning, What a great idea to make that with dishes. And I love the New Years table with the firecracker decoration. But all the other table has very creative ideas and I am sure, some of them will influence my next decoration for New Years evening dinner. Thank you so much for showing this great photos.
    Greetings, Johanna

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  10. Events like these are fun and produce some amazing tables!

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  11. Imagine and event centered around tablescaping-too fun! Looks like you had a great time:@)

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  12. Thank you for the tour of the tables. I am in awe of the talent y'all have to have come up with a creative way to recognize the former White House Chef, I really believe that tablescape should be featured in a magazine. I'm sure your table was the hit of the function.

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  13. Oh, I am in love! What a fun event and what wonderful tables! I thnk it was so clever to use Haviland to build the White House, and I love how you mossed the grounds and even had the little light in the portico! Neat! And I loved seeing all the various ideas for other settings, too. That Christmas one with all the elves caught my eye. I usually do something that children love for my godchildren, and that one really gives extra sparkle to the holiday with the busy elves. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  14. What a fun event that must have been! I am just agog at the idea of creating the White House from china. Someone in your group gets an A+++ for creativity! Thank you for showing us so many of the other stunning tables, as well!

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  15. They are all great but I really love the "White House" best.'AMAZING"

    -Jo
    -LazyonLoblolly

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  16. Breathless! What an amazing tour of some great imaginations! Each one more amazing than the next.

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  17. ok mouth on the floor, I bow to your creativity!!

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  18. Hey,again!...To answer your question about the charger plates,YEP,they are lucite.EVERYTHING on my table came from the Dollar Tree,except for the gold candle centerpiece,I got it at an estate sale in Florida,but added the faux flowers and candle from,yep,the good ole Dollar Treeeeeee.
    -Jo
    -LazyonLoblolly

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  19. WOW - WOW - WOW!!!
    Enjoyed my visit to your blog!

    Julie
    www.equusvilla.blogspot.com

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  20. I have to say recreating the White House out of China is BRILLIANT!! Not to mention the landscaping out of moss & herbs...love seeing the creativity of the other tables too, but the White House is fabulous :-)

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  21. I love them! I found myself all sidetracked last night and today, and this is my first chance all day to sit down and enjoy tablescapes.

    Your Haviland White House is just fantastic! I also loved the others. I kept picking a favorite but changing my mind. It might be that pumpkin table with the black and white creamer/sugar set. BUT... I really just liked the whole tour.

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  22. Wow, how interesting. I loved the imagination. Of course the table with Rose Point stemware was my very favorite. Thank you for sharing.

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  23. Oh my, the White House is just stunning. It left me in a daze. How absolutely creative and perfect for your guest speaker.

    Of course, I loved the plates with the birds. ;)

    Thank you for stoppiong by my place. Blessings!

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  24. Well, great photos - and I have to say, we did a great job on the White House - our hats are off to Miss Marsha for her incredible creative genius - and to you for your artistic touches and engineering on the portico and light as well as the detailing on the windows and door. The landscaping was brilliant and The Haviland Club girls had a lot of fun! I really think Chef Walter was quite pleased. Marsha's creative brain is already thinking about next year and it was an especially fun few days working together on this endeavor for a worthy cause in our fair city. Blessings to you, my dear friend.

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  25. Your Haviland White House is very creative! The old looking lantern is stunning! Thank you for sharing the wonderful tablescapes. I did enjoy seeing the Mackenzie Childs pieces also. ;o)

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  26. Oh my! These are wonderful! Gives one terrific ideas! Love the one with the cloches! I could imagine you having a marvelous time!
    Kathy

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  27. Wow, those are impressive. H ow fun!I love going to events like that. We have a fabulous store nearby that hosts such events. Thanks for sharing. Linda

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  28. Oh my, that is quite amazing! How did you ever come up with that idea!! I love it! The door and the "lawn" all look just wonderful...thanks for sharing all the tablescapes. I think my favorite is the simple one with the vintage china and etched crystal, but they are all lovely. My daughter is in Kappa Alpha Theta at James Madison University in Virginia. She just loves it. You are sooo creative!

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  29. You are amazing! I cannot believe the White House and the grounds too. It is so original and clever! I really enjoyed looking at all the other tablescapes too. So much inspiration. I especially liked the teacups and the doilies. Thank you so much for sharing all of this with us. I had to go through it all twice.

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  30. Wow so many festive and colorful tables. This must be such a fun event to be a part of. The china White House is so creative. Thanks for sharing all the inspiration with us.
    My best- Diane

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  31. Well, we get to be recipient of another of your magnificent creative talents! Your White House replica was just wonderful. I love the details. To top it off we were blessed with an amazing tablescape tour. Thank you so very much.

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  32. When you wrote 'White House' I couldn't quite imagine how you'd manage - but it was really well done!
    I think my favorite table is the first - so festive!...although the ones with the doilies is being filed away for a trousseau tea.

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  33. What a fun post! Love the china White House...how creative is that? Looks like lots of fun!

    Nancy

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  34. What an array of beautiful tables...lots of talent in those photos. Thanks for sharing.

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  35. Oh, my! What an interesting and fun post! I would have loved being there!! Soooo many neat ideas!

    The "White House" is very creative, I have never seen anything like that done before! Wow!

    I enjoyed seeing all the different tablescapes!

    Thanks for your visit and sweet comment!

    Katherine

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  36. Hi Cherry Kay,

    The White House display is one of the coolest things that I have ever seen! I bet your guest was very please with it.

    The other tablescapes are also very beautiful. What a great idea this whole event is. In Eugene, Oregon they have an annual "Festival of Trees" a similar event with beautiful Christmas trees that are auctioned off for charity.

    I can't wait to listen to your daughter's song. It sounds like you are a very special and giving family.

    Take care,

    Kathy Matthews

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  37. This is all just gorgeous!! Love every single tablescape! What fun you must have had...that White House replica is so clever...and yes we have met each other -I've been Dr. C's nurse for about 10 years!! Small world. Hope you are enjoying this glorious fall weather. BTW K.C's music is wonderul!!

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  38. Cherry Kay,
    I am in tablescape heaven here, with such delightful eye candy. The white house table is my favorite, that is absolutely incredible and so unique.
    Oh this time of the year is so amazing!!
    xx
    Bunny

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  39. So many great tables! The first one is so elegant, the holiday ones are my favorite (of course), the one with red roses is so beautiful, and all of them are very nicely done. Lovin' the snow on the table idea, that is an idea I will have to try!

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  40. Oh my goodness, Cherry Kay...these are just SPECTACULAR examples! My eyes are dancing. I'm going to bookmark this for future ideas. They are all just wonderful.

    Thanks for sharing!

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  41. Oh Wow! So much inspiration in one post! I would never have thought to construct the White House with dishes. What a clever idea, and it looks fabulous. Love the landscaping! I bet it was the hit of the show! laurie

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  42. Hi Cherry Kay, that white house recreation is amazing! Using the tureens on the type was inspired. And I do think the upside down lids on the apothecary jars was clever. Looks like you had a great event. Linda

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  43. WOW! Just WOW to the White House china creation. That was not only a fantastic idea -- but you pulled it off beautifully! I saw some other great table ideas here, too, but I'm still "stuck" on the White House... Fabulous!

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