Snow Bird, A Reprise

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.

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We just arrived home from a wonderful trip.  My birthday was in November, and Sweet Mister surprised me with a trip to The Biltmore Estate Christmas.  We stayed at the lovely Inn on the Biltmore Estate.  It was delightful.  My only sad moment came when I realized that visitors are not allowed to take pictures in the mansion.  Sigh.  I'm a bit late to the party this week, so I thought that I would share a reprise of a table that I designed in December of 2010.  I called it "Snow Bird."  I'll be back with more of this year's Christmas next week.  In the meantime, I hope that you'll enjoy this again...or for the first time.

Several weeks ago while whiling away some time exploring the marvelous blogs that participate in Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, I came across Cuisine Kathleen's post and learned that she is hosting a White Christmas/Winter White Event.  I don't usually design Christmas tables in white, but this time my interest was piqued.  Today I hosted a Christmas luncheon for my precious Garden Friends Bible Study, and I chose to create two white on white tables for our party of 15.  Tonight I'll link to Cuisine Kathleen's White Christmas/Winter White Event as well as Susan at Between Naps on the Porch's Tablescape Thursday.  This tablescape has ended up as one of my all time favorite designs.  I had so much fun creating it, and I hope that you enjoy it, too.

 Come on in!  My Yorkshire Terrorist, "Little Charlie Dickens" told me that you were at the door.  Some of our friends have decided to rename "Dickens."  They call him, "Doorbell."  Most of the Christmas decorations are in place, and it's going to be a great day for a party!

You might remember that a month or two ago, we decided to have our dining room repainted.  I'm really happy with the changes that we've made. Tip:  If you happen to be interested, the color is Benjamin Moore, "Woodstock Tan," HC-20.  The only thing that I'm still waiting on is the custom cafe curtains and rod.  In the meantime, I've placed some ready-made sheers on the windows.  Our dining room is on the front of the house, and I thought that it was important to maintain some level of privacy.  The drapes were actually in the living room, and I decided to move them to the dining room  Years ago I took the Fortuny drapes out of our sweet Nana's home when it was sold.  I deconstructed some of the them and had them remade into this window treatment for my house.  I still have a large box full of her old 1920, Fortuny panels.  I plan to use more of the fabric and have new window treatments created for the living room.  I bought the Persian rug on eBay for $350.00 and free shipping...such a deal!

Kathleen really inspired me with her White Christmas meme idea.  I had so much fun creating this tablescape.  Things just seemed to fall in place.  Let me share some of the details with you...

When I thought about a white Christmas table, my mind flew to the Mottahedeh "Musee de Arts Decoratifs Bird Tureen." I immediately knew that I could create a table for Kathleen's party, and it would be called, "Snow Bird."  This is one of my favorite tureens.  I smile each time that I walk by the dining room and see it resting on the table.

The Mottahedeh tureen was an eBay purchase.  The day that I won the high bid on the auction, my dear friend Marsha gave me a pair of these darling bird jardinieres for my birthday. She found them at Nell Hill's in Kansas City.  Aren't they just wonderful together!

White Poinsettias were purchased at a local nursery and just plopped into the pair of jardinieres.  The faux greenery is from Michael's. and I topped the Mercury Glass candlesticks with white beaded candle rings, found at a local gift shop.  As a finishing touch for the centerpiece, I tucked in my Lalique, "Love Birds" in several places.  

I continued the same motif on the buffet.  Nana's Towle, "Lafayette," Silver Service is flanked by a pair of Nana's silver champagne buckets filled with more white poinsettias and surrounded by greenery.  The two German porcelain angels belonged to my mama.  I am blessed to be their caretaker for a season until they are handed to the next generation.  TheBarker-Ellis Candelabras also came from Nana.

I chose to work without a tablecloth today.  I thought that the mahogany of the dining table created a valuable contrast against the white of the china and the centerpiece.  Instead, I anchored each place setting with a Godinger, Silver Baroque Charger.

 Topping the silver charger is my Wedgewood, "Countryware"  dinner plate.  Ready for our first course, Lentil Soup, is Nana's antique French crystal footed compote and underplate.

  The antique French crystal tumbler and wine goblet also were Nana's, as was the vintage cutwork linen napkin.  The Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance" is my wedding silver flatware.

I chose this particular napkin because I thought that the cutwork design was extremely compatible with the detail in the tureen.  Tip:  Remember to look for "Vintage Soak" for laundering antique linens.  It's an amazing product!  I buy mine locally from www.antiquehouse.okc.com.

  I created the second table at the game table in the living room.  Tip:  Thanks to a "Flip Top Table Top," I am able to turn our 48" game table into a 60" round dining table.  They are available through "By Invitation Only" 405-748-4949.  To recreate the same contrast that I achieved in the dining room between the white of the china and the brown mahogany of the dining table, I used a chocolate brown moire tablecloth that I made.

For this tablescape, I used a Rosenthal, "Sanssouci" tureen flanked by a trio of white poinsettia that I planted in white milk glass beakers.  You'll notice the same greenery and theLalique, "Love Birds"  that are also present in the dining room tablescape.

I adore this napkin, an estate sale find. Because of the placement of the intricate design and monogram, it is impossible to fold it in the proper manner...a bit unusual, but no less beautiful.  The silver flatware was my mother-in-love's Reed & Barton, "Francis I."  I am so grateful to have her silver.  It allows me great leeway when entertaining larger groups. The goblets are a recent estate sale purchase.  I bought a set of 8 of each to use alongside Nana's beautiful antique French crystal.  The people conducting the sale told me that they are Tiffin.  A dealer who was at the sale said that he thought that one of them was "Heisey."  I don't have a clue one way or the other.  I just know that I really like them, and they were a great deal!

Although some of them got away too quickly, we managed to get a group pic of most of the Garden Friends who were able to come for our luncheon today.  This is one of the most incredible groups of prayer warriors that you could ever hope to meet.  I am so blessed to call them my sisters in Christ...my dearest friends.  That's your's truly in the middle with the red turtleneck.  Since I'm always behind the camera lens, you won't see me in photos very often.  If you ever come our way, we'd love to have you join us for one of our Bible study lessons and of course...lunch!  After today, I'm definitely filled with the Christmas spirit.  MERRY CHRISTMAS, dear blog friends.  I'm having so much fun getting to know you.

Wednesday is the 38th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".  I'm excited to be a charter member.  Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable for TUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS.  Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!  

                                                                

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."   Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

When I think of December, I think about the day that I married Sweet Mister...in just a few weeks, we'll celebrate our 44th anniversary.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous meme SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Hope to see you there!  

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 "The Tag Hollow Sessions""  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!