Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Amethyst and Toile

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.


Today I was blessed to host my treasured Garden Friends Bible Study, as we celebrated two precious January birthday girls.  I had such a good time creating my tablescape.  I was operating outside of my normal comfort zone, and I decided that I need to embrace such opportunities more frequently.  The color of the day was yellow...definitely not one of my "go-to" colors...but hey, I could learn to love it.

My inspiration for today's table was the yellow, cream, and gray toile tablecloth.  I bought a lot of them on eBay this fall, primarily to use on the back porch when I'm hosting larger groups and want at least three tables.  This is actually two tablecloths that I have layered. 

To disguise the spot where the two tablecloths intersected, I laid an antique lace square that belonged to Nana in the center of the table.  I like the texture of the lace against the furls and garlands in the pattern of the toile, and the cream color added a soft, romantic touch.

My second inspiration for this design was this old Mottahedeh Tureen, called "Lady Attended by Cupids."  I thought that it was a natural choice to use with the toile tablecloth.  It was an eBay auction 'win', and I won't even tell you what an amazing 'get' I scored on this neat old piece.  Some things are just best left unspoken.

The remaining components for my centerpiece included my faithful stand-by Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks.  If you think that they would work well for you, I see them pop up on eBay periodically.  I interspersed them with a pair of estate sale black tole containers.

I 'planted' the jardinieres with purple crocus purchased from the grocery store for $6.99 each.  I chose the purple because it is the complimentary color for yellow, and because the crocus was wonderful...

...with the AJKA "Arabella" amethyst wine goblets.  I also really liked that the shape of the goblet ...

...closely resembled the form of the crocus blossom.  Tip:  Repetition in elements like color, shape, texture, and pattern can be a very effective design technique.

The amethyst wines were paired with my wonderful new Mikasa "French Countryside" goblets.  We finally reached the point where we had to replace our everyday goblets.  I've been impressed with the optic design and weight of the "French Countryside" for some time.  This is a goblet that rests extremely comfortably in the hand, and it is a generous size.  Sweet Mister appreciates the 'heft' of this glass.  We bought the large goblet which holds 18 ounces, and this, the medium size goblet holds 15 ounces.  It is also available in a smaller wine goblet.  I haven't made a decision about the wine glass, yet.  I am pleased that my lovely Mikasa stem will work on so many levels...like that perfect dress that you can wear to work and then go directly out for a fancy evening on the town.

The vintage heavy linen and organdy monogrammed napkin belonged to my mother-in-law.  There is a gorgeous large banquet cloth that matches; I could envision using it, instead of the toile, for a dinner party with couples.  The sterling flatware is my wedding silver, Reed and Barton, "Grande Renaissance."  Forty-two years later, I would still choose this pattern.  I thoroughly enjoy it every single time that I use it.  Tip:  I highly encourage you brides-to-be to register for sterling flatware.  Although you may not use it very much in the early years of your marriage, the day will come when your husband or you need to bring home clients, a boss, or someone else for whom you will want to lay a table using your best things.  Silver is definitely expensive, but as a gift...one spoon, fork, or knife at a time...it's not hard to accumulate a service.  Down the road, trying to afford a complete set at the same time that you are supporting a family with children, can be very overwhelming...potentially out of the realm of possibility.

The starring role for today's luncheon went to my Oxford Bone China by Lenox, "Filagree."  "Filagree" is my wedding china.  Have you noticed how most young brides choose china with a platinum rim?  Although I now lean toward gold accents, at the time, I chose silver, too.  I love this pattern with the toile and with the design on the tureen.  I anchored the dinner plate with an acrylic black charger from Hobby Lobby.  I get a whole lot of mileage out of these chargers, and they are only $1.99 each, available in assorted colors.

As a finishing touch, I topped the dinner plate with a Haviland "Ranson" luncheon plate.  I adore the element of the double ruffle on the rim of the plate.  Tip:  Remember that the French manufacturers luncheon plates are often 8 1/2", smaller than English or American 9 - 9 1/2" luncheon plates.  The French version allows a greater portion of the design on the dinner plate to show...doesn't hold as much food, but it's really pretty.

It's a gorgeous, sunny January day here with temperatures in the 60's.  I can hardly wait for my cherished Garden Friends to gather around my table.  I can already hear the joyous conversation and laughter.  I relish the thought that someday...some way... I can have you seated 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  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.
For Tablescape Thursday, click HERE 



I'm excited to link my post to Masterpiece Mondays for the first time.  Click the button to hop over to Boogie Board Cottage and join the fun!

Boogieboard Cottage

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!  





  









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.

55 comments:

  1. Hi, this is just the loveliest table awaiting your Garden Club friends. I love the purple accents and well that tureen is such a find. Your china is beautiful too. I agree with you about the silver. I am very happy that I received it as a wedding gift -- too many other things to buy as newlyweds. Thanks for the peek at your table. Joni

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  2. Oh my! This is just exquisite....have I told you before, I love visiting you...everything is just beautiful...and amethyst...my birthstone...my favourite colour!
    Thank you for sharing!
    Shel

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  3. Oh, those goblets would be so happy to have a home at Purple Chocolat Home - I am feeling a little envy coming on!!! What a beautiful table and how clever to layer the two clothes and cover the seam. This is a table fit for royalty and I am sure the women felt royally treated.

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  4. This is a beautiful tablescape! I adore your wedding china. It is similar to mine which is Noritake Prelude. Your sterling is exquisite and love the toile tablecloth.

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  5. What a beautiful table, Cherry Kay. I love the colors that you picked. The urn in the center is my favorite piece of all.

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  6. Indeed, you have a very lovely table. I, too, agree with your thoughts on sterling silver. Hopefully, many can inherit what they once thought was not their style if they did not originally choose a silver pattern. I am holding two patterns for daughter and son.

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  7. The colors and textures are amazing! Gorgeous table!

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  8. Cherry Kay, your table is a masterpiece. I love the toile, the yellow and purple, the crocus (how fitting for gardening friends), the wine hocks, the mikasa, the dishes (ooh the dishes, I'm swooning) and I know you heard my sigh when I noticed the napkins! Those are splendid. You have such wonderful treasures which are so nice to see. Thanks for dropping in and leaving your very kind comments. Be blessed.

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  9. What a beautiful table and love those goblets! All of the elements on the table blended so well together, very elegant! Love those ebay finds!

    Andrea

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  10. Cherry Kay, this is simply gorgeous! The purple crocus with the amethyst crystal just MAKE this table. I always enjoy your interesting and educational posts -- as well as your thoughtfully and beautifully set tables. I know your garden club friends were thrilled!

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  11. This is a beautiful setting. I love the crocus ... can't wait to see them in the ground! The purple stemmed glasses are beautiful ... and don't you feel good when you score something like that tureen? Thanks for sharing!

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  12. Hello, You always set the prettiest tables! What gorgeous dishes AND I LOVE those glasses!

    So well done.

    Donna

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  13. Several things to love here -- the monogrammed napkins, those purple goblets and the purple Crocus! And, the tureen - 2die4.
    Summer for Swede Collection

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  14. The purple with the yellow looks exquisite. Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful Garden Club table today.

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  15. This is absolutely beautiful. I love it and I really LOVE your daughter's song. AWESOME!

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  16. Lovely! The stems are exquisite.
    The colors in the cloth remind me of Villeroy and Boch's, Auden .
    I love the monogrammed napkins. The whole table is wonderful!

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  17. Love your table-especially the tureen! Getting a bargain always makes a purhase special. The purple glassware-to die for! Thanks for sharing!

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  18. Everything looks just gorgeous and well put together. I just love the crocus to pull the amethyst out of your goblets and those heirloom napkins are beautiful. Hope you had a wonderful luncheon.

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  19. This is just too stunning, Cherry Kay. I am so in love with your Mottadeh soup tureen. Where do you ever find all these exquisite unusual pieces? Great idea on the lace. I have lace on my tablescape today too. Your who table is gorgeous and everything on it is enough to have everyone drool...Christine

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  20. This is a very pretty table scape! I would like to invite you to link this up to my new link party, Masterpiece Monday, at Boogieboard Cottage. The link will be up all week. Take care, Mary :O)

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  21. That is just the prettiest table! The purple and yellow is fabulous! Remember you gave me the same table cloth in round...just in case you need it!

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  22. Hello CK,
    What a wonderful table waiting for me at your place, tonight. I am so tired due to colds & cough & I jst started working after long break at work & when I open your blog, it really awaken me. Your goblets are to die for as well as the tureen.

    I love the toile tablecloth too that's the hardest part choosing a fave? Ahhh...love them all.

    Happy TS & have a great w/end ahead.

    hugs,
    /chie

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  23. Cherry Kay, this table is stunning! From the Mottahedeh turreen in the center to the black cachepots filled with crocus to the incredible color of those amethyst wines and everything in between, it's GORGEOUS. Please come sit by me! I want to tablescape some day with you when we get to Heaven... can you even imagine the Lord's dishes???

    This is so pretty and fresh, and I adore your linens. The antique napkins with the beautiful mongrams and the pretty toile cloth are perfect. You get an A+ for this!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  24. Such a beautiful table! I love the touches of purple with the yellow toile. Perfect colors for an often dreary time of the year.

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  25. I love the tablecloth, and those napkins are just devine!!!

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  26. What a wonderful table. It really is elegant. I love the splashes of amethyst! I'm sure your ladies were thrilled to sit at a table dressed so nicely...

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  27. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful! I am in love with the wine hocks. The tureen is gorgeous, it looks huge. Thanks for sharing.

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  28. Just beautiful! How fun to sit with friends at that wonderfully decorated table and enjoy the January sun shining in the window...not to mention the fabulous food that I'm sure you served! I really like the amethyst glasses with the purple crocuses and they look nice with the yellow toile tablecloth. Your new goblets are a terrific shape!

    DD

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  29. Cherry Kay, you really do think of everything! The color of the goblets with the crocus--it just all works together so well, the napkins, tablecloth, and oohh I just adore your wedding china. The tureen was a great buy, and I love how you used it with the black tole containers and crystal candleholders. I'm so impressed!! I would love to be sitting at your table! You have such a good eye for detail!

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  30. This is just so gorgeous! It has so many of my favorite elements combined into one beautiful setting. I love the yellow toile. I love all things toile! The amethyst goblets and black chargers add so much sophistication too. This tablescape is one of my favorites. Love it!

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  31. Truly stunning. I agree with you on the silverware...and all pieces of silver and crystal. Many times young brides will get rid of them thinking they won't use them. I encourage them to keep them. The day will come they will want it.

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  32. Ok, I had to come back. I scrolled through back posts and saw your Simpich dolls. I am unfamialiar with them so I went to Ebay. Wow! I knew they were beautiful but girlfriend. You have quite the collection. I am sure you cherish it!

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  33. 1st: Thank you soooo much for your kind comment on my little blog. We are truly blessed and excited to go to Italy soon to live for the rest of this year, or at least most of it!

    2nd: We have much in common. An immense amount. I'll try to write you an actual email later.

    But for now, suffice it to say that I think you are wonderful!@

    Not only is this fabulously elegant table (LOVE the Ebay finds--that toile is FAB as well as the urn!) wonderful, but your entire blog/you as a totality!

    Hugs/blessings,
    Lana

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  34. Cherry Kay- this is unbelievable.
    Those goblets are amazing.
    You are so talented and it is clear that you have an entertaining heart and the gift of hospitality.

    I enjoyed visiting,
    Laura
    White Spray Paint

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  35. What an absolutely stunning table! I love the toile and the goblets and the beautiful flowers~
    You are very talented at this and i enjoyed scrolling through the other posts, your china is amazing!
    I think the superwoman lives over here!!!
    HAGD,
    Cindy

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  36. Cherry Kay -- EVERY element of this table is fabulous. So elegant. I love the toile and that tureen is amazing. Your colors are a splendid compliment to each other. I can't say anything except I do Love this table!

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  37. Hi lovely lady. your Tablescape is beautiful. I love the yellow tablecloth, with your china, and the goblets !!!you are a superwoman the way you put it all together !!! Thanks so much for your lovely comments on my Tablescapes. Diane

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  38. Your table is absolutely breathtaking! I get weak in the knees for amethyst(Maybe it has something to do with the fact my two youngest sons were born in February)... You added the perfect touch with those goblets and that wonderful tureen!!!My very favorite thing though IS your Nana's Lace!!! Ahhh, SO Beautiful...Thank you for sharing.
    Hugs to you, Donna

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  39. Hi! Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier this week. I am just SO slow these days about getting through all the wonderful posts for TT because I like to take my time and REALLY see what everyone has done. Your table is fabulous! That tureen is the ultimate!!!!!!!! It goes SO well with the table linen you chose, and I just love the design. The surprise of the purple hues in the crocus and the stemware is marvelous, and I adore your mother-in-law's monogrammed napkins. Monograms are just the epitome of class and elegance! All 'round stunning...as usual! Have a wonderful week, and stay warm!

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  40. Beautiful table... LOVE the colour combination!

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  41. What a great and elegant table! Your bible friends are so lucky to be going to your home and enjoying such a tablescape. The yellow tureen is terrific...the whole thing!

    XO
    FABBY

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  42. This is a gorgeous table. Those purple wine glasses are incredible. I love the crocus...dare we think about spring??

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  43. Stunning and elegant are the first two words that come to mind when viewing your gorgeous tablescape. I am in love with your purple wine glasses, and that soup tureen is quite unique and beautiful (lucky you for that win!)
    This is my first visit to your blog and I'm looking forward to taking peeks at your other posts.

    Janay

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  44. Janay, I'm sad that I'm unable to respond to you via your blog site. I'll be eager to check out what you've posted, too! Thank you so much for stopping by my post. Come visit any time. Cherry Kay

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  45. It's a beautiful table!
    I'm going to look for the Mikasa goblets - they are just what I've been wanting.
    I enjoy looking at beautiful things. It's important to regularly cast one's eye on beauty, and your posts are always lovely.

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  46. Oh my, this is absolutely stunning! The table cloth is gorgeous! I can just imagine how delighted your guests were to sit down to the beautiful table!

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  47. As a lover of anything toile, I am enchanted by this tablescape. I love the tureen! What a beauty! You have the most beautiful tablescaping accessories, and I love stopping by to see how you put all of them together. This is another fab table. laurie

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  48. Your table is just gorgeous! I love the wine goblets, the tablecloth and the sterling silver! The tureen is lovely too and the crocus - adds to that yellow and lavender theme and looks great. A touch of spring!
    Hugs, Beth

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  49. Cherry Kay, everything here is just gorgeous as it always is! I love the amethyst goblets so much. Your sterling flatware is stunning. I agree with you about registering for sterling. I did not, the first time, and really didn't care. I'm really trying to teach my girls to love a beautiful table and also start some collections for them they can add too. Beautiful, beautiful!!

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  50. I can't remember if I left you a comment about your table but came back for another peek.. .sooo pretty!
    Thanks for stopping by to visit me the other day!

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  51. Thank you so much Cerry Kay, you have enlighted on the onion pattern, because my friend with the German gorgeous dinner set for 12 and all accessories...just loved my Meissen 2 tier and thought it would look great with her china. I wanted to know why their so much alike!Thank you again, so nice to answer me. Have to go back to cooking, wednesday I have a dinner party for 16! I'll take pics.
    Happy Valentine's
    FABBY

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  52. Cherry Kay,
    I didn't see this post, somehow I missed it. Wow I'm glad to see it now as it is amazing! The purple flowers and toile accents are gorgeous. It is so unique and as always so elegant and stylish.
    xx
    Bunny

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  53. Grande Renaissance is my silver pattern as well. I too would still choose it every time! It's ornate without being gaudy.

    I hear they just discontinued the pattern in 2011. I wonder what impact it will have on the prices.

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  54. I love this table. Yellow is one of favorite colors! Hubby found some plates last year at an antique shop, with a yellow rim and garden colored flowers in the center. We did not get them, but we are on an active search for some that are more in our price range :^)
    Love your sterling as well. I wish I had been smart enough to register for sterling......but, that was MANY years ago!!
    Blessings,
    J

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  55. I imagine this table was even prettier in person. Never would have thought to bring in the amethyst stems and crocus but it is just the right "pop" against the yellow tablecloth. So glad to have re-visited this post again!

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