Coalport Cathay, 4.7.14

"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'm excited to join Cuisine Kathleen's Spring Challenge...Birds, Nests, & Eggs.  Here we go...


I set a table for eight in the dining room.  I still can hardly bear to cover our new dining table.


If we've been hanging out together in blog world for any time at all, I'm pretty sure that the moment that you saw "Birds" as a part of Kathleen's challenge, you were at least half way expecting to see the Mottahedeh Musee Decoratif Tureen as part of my centerpiece.  This is probably my favorite tureen.


Flanking the tureen, a pair of white porcelain nests with love birds were a gift from my dear friend Marsha.  She brought them back from a trip to Nell Hill's in Kansas City...


 I filled them with faux eggs and acid green berries.  Thank you, Marsha!


A quartet of faux topiary balls were placed in white reticulated jardinieres, bought several years ago on the clearance aisle at Michael's.


The Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks complete the centerpiece.  I've had them for many years.


Centerpiece done...it only took minutes to achieve.


The Maryland China Company "Minuet" charger plate brought a touch of brightness and light to the place setting...


...and was the perfect frame for the Coalport Cathay dinner plate.  I couldn't resist the vibrant green birds.


I liked the frosted palm fronds on our Nana's antique Lalique tumbler.  It lent another gentle touch of white to the tablescape.  Today it is paired with the AJKA Arabella Green goblet.

To complete the place setting, I laid the Pottery Barn linen hemstitched napkin with the  L'Argent Sophia white flatware.  The Haviland Ranson butterpat  was a last minute addition....I just liked the look of it.


All done...


Birds ✔...Nests ✔...Eggs ✔  I'm ready for Cuisine Kathleen's Spring Challenge!

 I always sit at this end of the table.  Why don't you sit here to my right, so we can get to know each other better.  I'm so honored to have you at my table!

This week I'm joining:

Cuisine Kathleen's "Let's Dish"
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch
Seasonal Sundays with The Tablescaper