Hannah's Bridal Shower and Supper

"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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Did you miss me last week?  I certainly missed you!  KC hosted another party at my house last Wednesday.  I kept thinking that I could get all the details together in time to publish my post about the evening, but it just didn't happen.  Not only did I work up to the last minute, I was totally pooped by the end of the party.

Hannah is one of KC's close friends, so I was blessed to be able to open our home and the china closets to KC to create her party.  KC was excited because this was the first of the fetes that she planned that featured a seated dinner.  She was excited to use a number of her grandmother's and great-grandmother's things to design her tables.  Because KC was the matron-of-honor in the wedding and busy with a multitude of wedding party duties, she chose to cater the food.  Fair warning:  this is a photo intensive post.

 KC prepared the dining table...

...and the games table in the living room for her 16 guests.

From the get-go, KC knew that she wanted to use our dear Nana's antique Limoge gold incrusted, Dresden Flower dinner plates.  Tip:  The tables were going to be a bit crowded, so KC chose to forego a large charger plate to create a feeling of more space.  Dinner was plated and served on the Castleton Laurel luncheon plate.  I forgot to snap a picture of it.  For the record, I try to avoid serving food directly on these great old Limoges plates.  They've survived this long, and I want them to be available for the enjoyment of future generations of our family.  The Reed & Barton Francis I sterling flatware belonged to my mother-in-love.  KC also chose this pattern for her wedding silver.

An assortment of four colors of the Waterford Simply goblets was paired with Nana's antique French cut crystal wine goblets for the dining table.

The games table also featured the Waterford Simply goblets with the Lalique Treves wine goblet, part of my wedding crystal.

 My mother-in-loves peach Madeira napkin was held by an engagement ring napkin ring...

...It matched her magnificent tablecloth...such a noble old piece.  I don't know the maker for certain, but I have often suspected that it might be Marghab Madiera.  The workmanship is exquisite.

 The games table was laid with the Williams-Sonoma light pink hemstitched linen table cloth.  The lace topper and the Madeira napkins  also belonged to sweet Nana.

KC's centerpiece for the dining table featured Nana's English silver presentation bowl, bursting with Hydrangeas, and flanked by the Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks, the Dollar Tree crystal votives...

...and a quartet of peach rose nosegays in Nana's antique French crystal tumblers.

The games table centerpiece featured Nana's Black Starr & Frost presentation bowl overflowing with assorted colors of Hydrangeas.

KC knew what she wanted to achieve from beginning...

...to end.  

I even managed to capture some candlelight shots...

Hannahs bridal supper and lingerie shower was a delightful and lovely evening.  After the gifts were opened, the wedding party departed for downtown to continue the celebration.  I don't know how KC was able to keep going...I couldn't get in bed quickly enough!  Ah, youth!

This week I'll be joining the following parties:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life
Centerpiece Wednesday with The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Chelsee's Shower, 4.21.13

"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. During this beautiful season when we celebrate harvest and Thanksgiving, 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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KC and her friends were back this week, hosting another bridal shower.  This one was for her dear friend, Chelsee.  The hostesses met at our home weeks before the party.  After a trip to the 'china room', they agreed that they wanted to build their design around the...

...Coalport Sevres Group luncheon plates and Nana's antique Italian cutwork figural tablecloth, definitely one of my favorites of her amazing collection of linens. 

The hostesses created a specialty Bellini, and upon entering the house, each guest was offered a "Happily Ever After".  They were served in the flutes that I painted.  These puppies get quite a work out at a number of parties.

 The hostesses, once again, wanted to create an elegant table to honor their dear friend Chelsee.

  

 Everything is ready and waiting for the foods to be put on the table.

 KC knew that she wanted to use lots of lovely florals.  She bought her flowers at the grocery store, and she created the arrangements the evening before the shower.

KC chose a pair of my silver pitchers, wedding gifts, to flank... 

 ...her own lovely silver wedding basket.  The Val St. Lambert Crystal Candlesticks added yet another spot of shine. 

 I wonder if I can convince her to come do the florals for all of my parties?  I think that she has the magic touch!

 A pair of crystal jam jars provided the punctuation marks for her centerpiece.

Nana's antique crystal bowl held croissants...

...for chicken salad served in Nana's ivory handled silver chafing dish.

Assorted silver pieces... 

...joined the Dorothy Thorpe crystal bowl and the pair of footed silver shell compotes... 

...the Dorothy Thorpe crystal tray...

...and other pieces...

as an elegant base for the delicious treats that the ladies offered their guests.

 Chocolate Cream Sherry Bars...

...Salmon Cream Cheese...

...Coconut Cake...Vegetable Tray...

...Chicken Salad and mini Croissants...

...the blank space would hold Brie en Croute with fruit, which was still in the oven... 

...Chocolate Cake and Chess Squares...

 ...Aahhh...the Brie just came out of the oven...

...to join those Drunk Strawberries.  Yes, they're back.

The plates are ready to be filled.

These young hostesses had everything under control!  They created a gorgeous party to honor their dear friend.  It was a beautiful day, and everyone had a great time!

Wednesday is the 58sth edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "Let's Dish". Her challenge this week is "Birds, Bees, Flowers, & Trees". I hope that I barely qualify with a bounty of flowers.  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."   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.

April...time for wedding showers and all the festivities that lead up to the multitude of May and June weddings.  We've already hosted two bridal showers, with two more in the planning stages.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, 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!