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."