Don't Let the Details Fool You, 2.1.16

I always like to study the cose-up photos of the beautiful pieces of china, crystal, silver, etc., that are displayed in blog posts each week.  There has been more than one of those  close-ups that has inspired me to add a certain pattern to my collection!

We see delicious place setting ideas and new ways to display our linens...

 ...and beautiful crystal always elicits an ooh and an aah from me!

 Who knew that there could ever be such a plethora of delightful flatware...

 ...and how about the nearly endless ideas for wonderful centerpieces?  But don't let the details fool you...

 They could just mean that I totally forgot to take pictures of my tablescape until after the luncheon was over and most of the the dishes had been removed to the kitchen.  Whew!  Thank heavens for those little details.  :-)

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Cindy"s Birthday Party, June, 2014

"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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My dear friend Cindy celebrated her birthday in June.  Five of us gathered to celebrate her special day at the games table in the living room.  Come...join us!


Cindy likes high color, so....

 I decided to push the envelope with reds and oranges on black and white!  Red and orange are cousins, right?

 My centerpieces usually follow my design philosophy called "mini-max"...

Minimum effort...

 ...for maximum effect!


Yet again, I've turned to a piece in my collection of tureens.  This time I'm utilizing the Rosenthal San Soucci.  The grocery store flowers are set in black tole jardinieres found at Hobby Lobby.  I not only used them for my recent 50th high school reunion, but I plan to employ them again for another of my luncheons for my sorority sisters in mid-October.

 Ready for some details?

 The Caspari rattan charger has been languishing in the cabinet for quite awhile.  I decided to put it to work for my early summer occasion.  It lends a relaxed air to the table.

 Lunch will be served on the Wedgwood Countryware dinner plate.

The flatware is L'Argent Sophia, collected over time from Horchow and Tuesday Morning.

The Waverly beaded napkin ring, from Cuisine Kathleen, surrounds a Pottery Barn white linen hemstitched napkin.

Picking up on the colors of the floral arrangements, I chose the Waterford Simply Red goblet and the Bohemian orange wine.

Ready, set, done!

 Each of the floral arrangements is placed in a clear glass container inside of the tole jardiniere.  After we completed our party, I sent a bouquet of flowers home with each of my guests as a party favor.

I continue to relish entertaining my precious friends in our home.  I love that we can enjoy a relaxing environment with each other sans extraneous noises and interruptions that by necessity occur in a restaurant.  Chez Entertaining Women would love to set a place for you at the table some day.  Are you headed my way?  Just let me know in time to set a table!

This week I'm joining:

Katherine's Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

A Woman Without Her Sisters is Like a Bird Without Wings

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 once again blessed to welcome a group of 65 of my sorority sisters for an al fresco luncheon this past Friday.  They came from all over our great nation, from Mexico and from France.  Many of us hadn't seen each other for more than 45 years.  It was a special, precious time, and I am still on cloud nine.  Our luncheon started at 11:30 AM, and the last guests left between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.

Fall has finally come to our house...

Come on in...

Find your name tag...It's been a long time, and some of us might not recognize each other...

May we offer you a Mimosa?...

Everyone is bringing a salad or dessert to share.  Put your salad on the dining table.  The desserts go on the buffet.

I kept the centerpieces pretty simple....there is a boatload of great food.  Blue and white toile tablecloths set the mood for the day.  The tureen is antique Luneville, French faience.  Tip:  There are currently a couple of really good looking Luneville tureens up for auction on eBay.   Best of luck if you decide to bid!  The jardinieres are from Hobby Lobby.

Some of my sweet sisters arrived very early to help with final preparations.  Because we served al fresco, the tables were all set up the "morning of."  Come on out and join us on the back porch.

 Originally, I thought that I would use fall mums in the blue jardinieres, also from Hobby Lobby, but all the pots that I found were either too large or too small.  I ultimately settled on Kalanchoe in a variety of colors.  I was happy with my choice.

The back porch is an easy fit for four 60 inch tables.

Each placesetting featured a dark rattan charger, a blue dinner plate, a simple white cotton napkin, and party favors...a plaque and a cookie with our sorority name or letters on it.

Several tables featured Spode Warwick Vase, part of the Spode Blue Room Collection.

The party favors were a huge hit.  My co-conspirator, BJ, found these wonderful stitcheries.

I love the blue in this Castleton Blue Empire plate.

Each place setting held only a fork, Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance.  The Godinger Crystal, Sutton Place Goblet was placed upside down to avoid leaves falling from the trees...it is Autumn, after all. 

The blue in the Furnivals Blue Quail was just right for the toile cloths.  The Quail is one of our everyday patterns.

My Yorkshire Terrorist, Little Charlie Dickens was doing his last minute patrol of the yard before everyone arrived.

I grabbed one last look at the tables...It's time for my sisters to be walking up to the front door.  I wanted to be on the front porch to greet each one of them with a great big hug!

Wednesday evening is the 30th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH".   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 October, I think about glorious days, prefect for dining al fresco.  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!   

   

Safe Harbor

"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.



Several weeks ago, I shared a table with you that used four of six wonderful hot pink goblets that I found while on a trip to Scottsdale.

I also told you that I had looked for additional stems without success.  Late last week, the Fed Ex man rang my doorbell and handed me a box.  I was totally blown away when I opened the box to find four more of these marvelous goblets...from one of you...who chose to remain anonymous.  You made my day!  Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for your generosity.  I am looking forward to setting a table for ten with my beautiful stemware!  The kindness of friends is sometimes overwhelming.

Today my friend who needed a Port in a Storm a couple of weeks ago, called seeking another safe harbor.  Once again, she stopped at one of our favorite spots to pick up take out salads, and I quickly set a table for two at the game table.  I wanted to establish a soft and calming mood.

White-on-white, the softest blue, and gentle browns set a relaxing tone for our tablescape today.  The Williams-Sonoma white linen hemstitched table square was laid under a water blue and taupe on cream toile square.  Both pieces were recent eBay purchases.

I went against type today and chose to create an asymmetrical centerpiece.  The old Lalique rose bowl was one of my favorite treasures from our dear Nana.  The Hydrangeas are dried from the centerpiece that I made for the last luncheon with my friend.  I just jerked them out of the Bordallo pitcher and plopped them into this neat old piece.  The browns in the Hydrangeas worked well with the toile square.  The Wedgwood "Queensware Patrician" tureen is a great eBay get.  I bought it with the underplate for $50.00.  There was another of the same tureen, minus the underplate, listed right next to this one for an opening bid of $600.00.  Score!!!!  Start looking, people...there are wonderful bargains just waiting for you.

To counterbalance the offset centerpiece, I positioned the Haviland, "Ranson" butter dish and Nana's crystal and silver salt and pepper cellars on the other side of the table.  

The Caspari rattan chargers added a nice touch of texture and continued the use of soft browns.  I liked my wedding silver, Reed and Barton, "Grand Renaissance" with the motif of the toile.  The silver cream soup, for a Tomato Bisque first course, was an eBay purchase that I enjoy mixing with other patterns.  The Copeland Spode, "Jewel" luncheon and dinner plates were chosen because of the cream color and lacy texture.  I collected the "Jewel" through eBay over a period of time.  

Dear, sweet Nana has blessed us in so many ways.  I think of her each time that I use her antique  French cut crystal.  I wish that I could take a picture that adequately shows you the beauty of these goblets.  Using them always give me such pleasure.

The finishing touch for today was the Pottery Barn, "Flax" hemstitched linen napkin.  I love this silly napkin because of its color and the 'hand' of the linen.  Did you catch that the Williams-Sonoma hemstitched linen tablecloth  and the Pottery Barn napkin are the exact same fabric.  Did you remember that Williams-Sonoma owns Pottery Barn?  Could be a helpful tidbit of knowledge when you can't find something at one store...try the other one...especially with the hemstitched linens.

That does it for today...a tablescape in under twenty minutes.  If you ever need a safe harbor...a port in a storm, give me a call.  I can have our table set in a flash!

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 9:00 pm on Wednesdays.  You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.


When I think of summer, I think easy going afternoons shared with friends over a no fuss table.  How about you?  With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts, I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her meme Seasonal Sundays.  Don't miss out on this marvelous blog party HERE.  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 "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!