Baby Blues

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.

I was truly blessed by all of your kind comments for last week's post, "Shower of Thankfulness, HERE.  I'm currently planning a birthday luncheon for the Garden Friends for next week, so tonight I'll delve back into my archives and share a baby shower that I enjoyed creating.  The guest of honor was Emily, the daughter of my dear friend Marsha, and it took place on a chilly Sunday afternoon in November.

 As our guests arrived to celebrate the coming birth of a precious baby boy, they were given a cup of French Hot Chocolate served in an assortment of my Haviland demitasse cups.  The large silver urn was a birthday gift from my sweet sister.  The pair of crystal lustres belonged to our precious Nana.  I used a blue matelasse cloth to cover Nana's wonderful old English tea cart.  For the party, the cart made the trip from its normal home in the breakfast room to the foyer.

Tip:  Sunday afternoon is my favorite time to host a shower for ladies.  They've eaten lunch, and it's too early for dinner.  I find this to be the most economical time to host a shower, and it's easy to come up with a delicious but low stress menu.  My table for this type of party will usually feature a fruit dish, a cheese offering, a vegetable choice, maybe a meat, and a selection of sweets....lots of sweets...I. Like. Sweets!  Today all of the goodies are showcased on a tablecloth that I made.

The jardinieres were purchased on clearance from Michael's.  I bought these several years ago, but I found some that are very similar in a cream color, just a few weeks ago at Hobby Lobby.  Tip:  I really like pretty ribbon, and I think that it's possible to get a lot of design mileage by simply tying an assortment of ribbons to candlesticks, etc.  I created the trio of white carnation topiaries for my centerpiece.  I think that carnations are quite the underrated flower.  They are inexpensive, they are fragrant, they last a long time, and I think that they are charming.  The tall crystal compotes add a reflective element to the table.

I think that Hypericum Berries always add a nice finishing touch to a centerpiece.  Today I used my "go-to"  Val St. Lambert candlesticks.

For the buffet, I filled a pair of matching vases with Stargazer Lilies from Sam's.  The plates are Haviland, "Ranson."   Between the vases, I nestled our hostess gift for the mommy-to-be...

...a fabulous Advent Calendar, filled with small toys for the baby's first Christmas.  Tip:  When hosting a shower, I like to integrate the hostess gift into the design of my tablescape.  Another one of my favorite hostess gifts is a custom "Moses Basket" filled with flowers for the table.  At the end of the party, the guest of honor can take home her gift as well as some beautiful flowers.

A trio of lacy white covered pedestals features darling iced sugar cookies from The Cookie Princess....

...and a variety of yummy goodies are ready for our guests.  I hear the door bell; I'd love for you to be one of the guests walking through the door to share this marvelous day.  It's going to be a great party!

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

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!