Luneville & 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.

Luneville faience, French tin-glazed pottery, has intrigued me for a number of years.  It is beautifully designed...so feminine and romantic.  I've been just a bit leery about the original Luneville because I have been told that it was produced with lead based glazes.  With that in mind, I was pleased to discover Copeland Spode's interpretation of the French faience.  Their pattern is named "Luneville".  I usually purchase the Spode for plates, and I'll mix in the original Luneville faience serving/display pieces.  Today, I've used my Luneville for an early Spring luncheon.

   Every once in awhile, I find some neat fabrics for great prices on eBay.  This yummy green and white toile is called "Central Park".  I was able to obtain enough yardage to make a 120" round cloth and a 144" oblong cloth for the dining table.  I like the way that the fabric pulls the green leaves through the window into the vignette.

 With the addition of the "Flip-top Tabletop", the game table is easily converted to a table suitable for seven to eight guests. Today, I'm seating seven for lunch.  Many of you have asked about the pair of green crystal lamps in the background.  We've had them for 26 years, and given the opportunity, I'd still choose them again today.  They are made by Wicker Works, and they are named "Baluster".  They are still in production.

The Luneville faience tureen, placed on a Luneville chop plate, served well as the centerpiece. Flowers are simply small pots of Impatiens from a local nursery.  They'll be planted in the garden later.  Today the pots are placed in reticulated creamware cachepots that I found on clearance at Michael's several years ago.  Tip:  When I find containers like these...and at a great price...I tend to buy quite a few of them.  They stack, so they're easy to store.  I bought 8 of them to use when I'm seating larger groups at multiple tables.  See that one pink goblet?  I set them out in the kitchen for my guests who wanted to have a pre-lunch glass of wine.  They were brought to the table when lunch was served.  I was just doing a dry run here.

I've always been drawn to the detail work on the old Luneville serving pieces...what a wonderful shade of pink!  These Elfin Impatiens are called "Lipstick". Tip:  Elfin Impatiens grow profusely!  They become HUGE, and they are quite hardy.  I give them extremely high marks.  Give them a try! 

Today, I used the Godinger, "Sutton Place" goblets.  They were an eBay purchase, less than $5.00 per stem at the time that I bought them.  I still see them offered in auctions; I don't see them at that price any longer.  The individual lead crystal salt and peppers were a wedding gift many years ago.  Guests always seem to appreciate easy access to the condiments.

The Caspari rattan chargers lend an organic texture that speaks of Spring.  Spliced between the charger and dinner plate, the vintage Damask napkins belonged to our dear Nana.  She blessed us with so many beautiful things.  I think that it's really important to be a good steward of our family treasures.  I'm a strong advocate for pulling them out of cabinets, drawers and closets and using them as often as possible.  The softly rounded handles of the Towle, "Antique Bead" stainless steel seemed a good match for the gently scalloped shape of the Copeland Spode, "Luneville" dinner plate.

We were out of town last week.  We had so much fun taking our grandsons, 6 and 5, to Disney World with their parents.  I was exhausted when we returned home.  It will be so nice to sit and have a restful meal and visit with dear friends.  I think that everything is ready...and if I've forgotten something, no one will know unless I tell them.  

There's the doorbell ringing...I wish that I could walk to the door and find you crossing the threshold...I'll keep hoping!

   

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 HERE 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."  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!