Wednesday, January 19, 2011

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!


  



   


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.

33 comments:

  1. What a beautiful table for your tea! I agree about Sunday afternoon being a good time for a tea, btw.

    I also agree about carnations. They are definitely underrated. I think your topiaries are lovely and have a soft touch to them which just goes with a baby shower theme. I have decided that I would love to attend an event hosted by you. Your tables are always so gracious and beautiful, and I have a feeling that the the whole occasion follows suit.

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  2. A very pretty table and I love the hot chocolate and the demitasse cups! You have such lovely things and set such a nice table. ALL of the food looked fabulous!

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  3. I absolutely love, love, love the tablecloth! the whole table is beautiful but that tablecloth is so rich!

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  4. What a lovely setting for the occasion! The tablecloth is indeed perfect with all your blue elements, and now I'm thinking I need to visit the fabric store to explore tablecloth possibilities. I love the abundant flowers, too. I know the guest of honor was delighted!

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  5. What a very beautiful baby shower. That urn was a wonderful gift from your sister that I am sure that you use all the time. I love your use of 3 jardiniers -- three really makes the table stand out. Lovely cookies and a wonderful advent calendar for the new arrival. The food looks great too. Joni

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  6. This is so lovely. I love the idea of ribbons to add to the decor. Your coffee cups are so beautiful as is the precious gift from your sister. The advent calendar for a baby gift is the best idea ever!!

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  7. Just beautiful, in Turkey we have a saying "ellerine sağlık" meaning health to your hands when you do a beautiful things that involves efforts.

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  8. Cherry Kay, your niece had her reunion.. what year did she graduate? I think there were several this past year, one being the class of 65.

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  9. Oh, what a beautiful setting for a celebration, and I know the young mother being feted was just thrilled with this shower! I love your silver samovar, and your pretty Haviland cups. AND your table with the cachepots filled with the white flowers. Every detail is just perfect. Once again, you receive high praise from me! I was thinking tonight how important it is to use our good things for others to enjoy, and I love seeing you do just that!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday to you...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  10. I think a elegant shower is the nicest thing anyone can do for a mother-to-be. It's a last opportunity for the once-bride to have the limelight and feel special before all of her attention goes to her new baby. Your table is lovely - the ribbons are the final festive touch.
    I'll be taking the idea of hot chocolate in the demi tasses. I have a collection that I haven't used in years because no one drinks coffee after dinner anymore - at least not that kind of coffee.
    Lovely post!

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  11. It looks lovely! I like to use ribbon too. Can't beat the 50 yd rolls at the big box stores, so inexpensive and such a great selection.
    Have way too much of it it, just like dishes, linens etc.! Bad habit! :)

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  12. Yes, I'd love to be a guest walking through your door anytime!! You always do such a fabulous job. I agree with you, I think you can get a lot of mileage out of carnations, and people don't use them much anymore. Your arrangements are lovely, everything is just beautiful. I'm sure a good time was had by all!!

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  13. Oh, I wish I could attend. Your parties look fabulous.

    - The Tablescaper

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  14. I'm so glad you went to the archives because I wasn't following when you posted this the first time! Very pretty table with great suggestions. I'm sure the event was a treat for the guest of honor.

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  15. Your tablecloth is just wonderful that you made. What a lovely luncheon, and even if I had already eaten, I would overeat here. The silver urn is out of this world. You are very blessed to have been given this, what a wonderful sister. You always do up everything with style. I bet they never forgot this one.

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  16. That was so nice of you to host the event for the new mother. So many are too casual nowdays so it is nice to see something more formal and lovely. I would liked to have you talk more about making the tablecloth. I've never purchased demitasse cups because I didn't know what to do with them since they are so tiny. That was a great use for a women's event. Summer

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  17. The shower looks so elegant! I'm sure everyone there appreciated every touch you created. So lovely!

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  18. What a wonderful occasion -- you've set the tone beautifully. I'm sure everyone is delighted to get an invitation to one of your Sunday afternoons of elegance.

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  19. I SO agree with you: The much-maligned carnation deserves a higher ranking than it is often afforded. Presented en masse as you did here, they are gorgeous, especially with the hypericum berries flanking them! What a beautiful table! I'm glad you re-posted this so that I could see it since I didn't start blogging until September of '10!

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  20. You did it again, Cherry Kay! Your table setting is just beautiful with all the delicious food and pretty flowers. The tablecloth that you made is exquisite! Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my Japanese table...Christine

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  21. Oh how pretty! You do have the Midas touch when it comes to tables, Cherry Kay. Everything is so beautifully coordinated & you think of all the extra little details...like ribbons on the candlesticks!
    I'm curious about your tablecloth you made. Did you find that luscious fabric with the scrolls already on it or did you somehow draw them? Did you use a serger or a sewing machine to finish the edges? Inquiring minds want to know! LOL My sunroom table is an odd size when I have the leaf in it...60" square! Tablecloths are hard to find to fit it so I'm going to try to make a few. Yours are always so beautiful.
    Thanks for sharing all your great idea!
    fondly,
    Rett

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  22. What a beautiful shower this must have been. The table and buffet look stunning.
    Thanks so much for sharing..
    xo bj

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  23. What a gorgeous shower. The table and food is wonderful!

    Happy Weekend!

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  24. That is a most beautiful tablecloth and the cachepots of carnations are lovely. Everything is a feast for the eyes.

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  25. Such a lovely setting and I also agree about the carnations. I love how you've arranged them here. The cloches are all too adorable!

    Thanks for sharing this beautiful table with us,

    Nancy

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  26. Cherry Kay, I want to thank you for the suggestion of a duvet as a double for a tablecloth! That is a wonderful idea!

    I'd been struggling with how to avoid a seam on the tabletop but this would solve that problem. I was considering buying some of the wide backed quilting cottons but none that I saw online looked like what I wanted in a tablecloth. Your suggestion widens the possibilities! Thank you!

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  27. This is so elegant! I'd love to have been there.
    Your tablescapes are always so beautiful. I really love visiting here.
    Thanks too for stopping by.
    Have a wonderful week!
    Shel x

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  28. What a lovely baby shower and a lucky girl for sure. The baby themed cut out cookies are so cute!!

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  29. People must get so excited when they know they are coming to your house! Everything is always so perfect. This is elegant, so pretty and the food looks delicious too! I love what you did with the carnations!

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  30. Cherry Kay...

    I'm slowly making my way around TT and want to thank you for stopping by my blog!!

    Your table is beautiful...that tablecloth is gorgeous and adds a special touch.

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  31. Thanks again, CK, for the tablecloth suggestions...your math is better than mine. LOL
    I'll see what I can find!

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  32. CK, I truly appreciate the offer of your help with the table.
    I DO sew, but it has been mostly quilting & garments for my DGD, Caroline. Smocking & heirloom are my true loves.

    I have not done much at all in the way of home dec, though.

    If you're interested, you can go to my photobucket to see some of my projects:

    http://s102.photobucket.com/albums/m97/Rettabug/?start=all

    I could not get that link to work so you'll have to copy & paste. Sorry!

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  33. Cherry Kay, so glad you came over to the new blog. I am glad to have you, and thank you! As for what is DT, you are going to laugh. It is the Dollar Tree. LOL! They really do have some of the best selections of themed holiday items to help with creating cute vignettes and of course you can't beat paying a buck for them can you? Have a great day!

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Thank you for spending your time to leave a comment. I read each and every one of your generous thoughts. They encourage me in so many ways.

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