Antique Glass Club Spring Luncheon, Part 2, May, 2018

This week I'm continuing to share a few more of the lovely tables from the Antique Glass Club Spring Luncheon. I had to move quickly to capture as many of the tables as possible before the approximately 350 guests began to be seated. Also, I enjoyed playing with my new Sigma 35 mm Art Series lens made for Nikon. I still have a lot to learn about this lens, as some of my pics will testify. I hope that you will enjoy them, even in the hands of this amateur. Text will still be fairly minimal. Here we go...

This centerpiece was luscious. I loved the arch crafted of grapes and florals. The colored crystal posey vases were delightful.

Schuman Empress Dresden Flowers needs no introduction.


The reticulated charger and the layered napkins added texture to the design.


Tissue paper was cleverly used to craft the centerpiece for this tablescape.


I want to say this is a Herend pattern, but I shall willingly stand corrected if one of  you knows more about this dainty pattern than I.


Okay all you napkin ring collectors. This rose napkin ring was so impressive. I wish I had been able to inquire about current availability. The soft green goblet was the perfect color.


A second table laid with the Schuman Empress Dresden Flowers appeared a bit more regal because of the gold glass charger plate. Placed around the floral centerpiece...party favors became part of the design.


My picture of the floral design shows the colors more accurately here. Photography involves a steep learning curve for me.


The designer of this table mixed and matched with two classic china patterns. Another beautiful floral centerpiece graced the middle of table.  I wonder what this table would become with colored crystal goblets?




Mottahedeh Blue Canton is one of my favorite patterns. I really liked the cobalt tumblers. I wondered if the B&O Railroad mugs were party favors for the guests?


The train centerpiece might be a delightful centerpiece for a Father's Day table.


I hope that you are able to discern how beautiful this table is...


...despite my photography shortcomings. The exotic bird dinner plates were magnificent. The hostess for this table made the tablecloth and all of the placemats and napkins. They were meticulously constructed. I was agog!


This was definitely one of my favorited tables.


The Fitz and Floyd turkey tureen was the perfect centerpiece. Notice how the aqua accents in the turkey...


are perfect with the turkey plates and the handpainted cups and saucers. The terra cotta under plate was the spot on contrasting color for this table.  The wooden acorns of assorted sizes were hand made by the hostess' son. The cups had belonged to her grandmother. I'm not normally a huge fan of turkey plates, but if God looked kindly on coveting, I would be first in line. They are magnificent!

That's enough for this week. I'll share some additional tables next week.

Remember to leave a comment to be entered in my 8th Blogiversary Give Away of a set of 12 Pottery Barn Sophia dinner plates and salad plates! The winner will be announced the week of July 7!

This week I'm joining:

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Dishing It and Digging It with Vanessa @ DIY Designs

Thanksgiving Blessings, 2016

It's Thanksgiving at our house, and there's been a lot going on for weeks...

Even Beatrice Emaline was working on her own tablescape.  She told me that she had gathered berries for her centerpiece.  I had to get busy if I was going to keep pace!  I set a table for 12 in the dining room.  This may be photo intensive, so enter at your own risk.  Come on in...

 There were a number of inspirations for this year's tablescape.

My main inspiration was Sweet Mister.  I wanted to honor him with my design as much as possible...


I give thanks to God for giving me such a strong anchor in my life with Sweet Mister, so I wanted to anchor my design with the tablecloth and napkins that my love bought for me in a beautiful linen shop in Sorrento, Italy...part of our 48 years of memories.


 Sweet Mister is an avid and accomplished bird hunter, so...

 ...in his honor, this year's Thanksgiving design featured...


...the Anton Wingen, Jr. carved stag horn handled flatware which flanked the very affordable and manly Pier I hammered copper charger.  I began collecting the flatware for him last Christmas.  A year later, the collection is almost complete.  Tip:  This delightful charger demanded a crocheted doily to act as an anchor underneath the dinner plate.  Minus the doily, the plate could be rotated on the charger much like a lazy susan....not an experience that I wanted for my guests.  This sometimes happens when we mix and match plates for our tablescapes.  When I shop an estate sale or antique shop, I always take a minute to check for the grandma's old crochet doilies in about a 9" round.  They are a great solution for this problem and frankly they are kind of fun.


I chose the masculine Spode Delamere brown and white dinner plate for him, too.  You probably already know that the Delamere is the same pattern as the Woodland Spode, minus the wild game scene in the center of the plate.  I like that the plate is more versatile without the  wildlife design.  I managed to capture the beautiful charm of the Woodland pattern with...


...the Woodland Spode accent/salad plate.  There are number of different bird designs.




  To complete the place setting, I chose the Vietri optic acid green goblet and the Tiffin Elyse wine goblet.  Did you know that the lovely old Tiffin patterns were made by the Franciscan company?  I didn't.


I hope that it's not boastful to say that when Sweet Mister took his place at the head of the table, he had a great big smile on his face!


I have to admit that I'm a major fan of a full table...you know, "more is more".  I find that I really like a bountiful look for my centerpiece, and what better moment for a bountiful centerpiece than the Thanksgiving table?


There's nothing prissy and feminine about the Copeland Spode Gadroon white tureen, plus I really like it.  It was the perfect selection for today's design.


The copper mercury glass trees will make at least one more appearance when I decorate my tables for holiday entertaining.  I found them just last week at one my favorite local florist shops.  I've had the quartet of red mercury glass hurricanes for almost two years, but this is the first time I've used them.  I found them in a small florist shop that was next door to the physical therapy clinic where I spent many months rehabilitating after my two knee replacement surgeries.  As I remember, it had been a particularly rough day of rehab, and I decided that I deserved a treat as I was slowly making my way to my car and saw one of the hurricanes in the shop window.  I knew immediately that if the florist had enough, they were coming home with me.  She actually had to dismantle the finished piece in the window to complete the sale.  She was happy to do it.  The lovely fall leaves are Hobby Lobby garlands...but you already knew that!


The pumpkins are left over party favors from one of my earlier Chi Omega reunion luncheons.


Ready to party.  We served our Thanksgiving feast about 2:00, which allowed KC and David to sit and enjoy their meal while Hollis Harper took his nap in the nursery.


Our Thanksgiving menu featured traditional selections...well, traditional for us.  Isn't it interesting how many different Thanksgiving menus are thought of as traditions?!


We served the expected turkey and dressing, whipped potatoes and gravy, creamed peas, green beans...


sweet potato casserole, Cranapple Crunch, Christmas Pretzel Salad, lots of hot bread,...

...and pecan pie, apple pie, and vanilla bean ice cream for a dessert.

Yesterday, the little white owl was delivered to my door, a gift from a dear friend.  I thought that Beatrice Emaline and Hollis Harper would enjoy him, so I set him on top of the tureen.  He ended up spending most of the dinner perched by the edge of Beatrice's plate.  He was a last minute hit.  

We lingered long at the table after the meal was complete sharing memories and personal observances of reasons to give thanks.

From our house to yours,  I pray that your own Thanksgiving Day was filled with loving family and friends.  We have been blessed to live in an amazing country, and I know that we have more in common than we have differences.  I pray that we will remember that we serve a higher purpose because:

Psalm 33:12-22

12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

13 The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.

14 From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

15 He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.

16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.

17 An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;

19 To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
22 Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee. 

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Celebrating in Gold and White, 11.18.16

My friends Sheila and Sandy have November birthdays, and I looked forward to preparing a small luncheon for their closest friends.  Both of these friends are lovely ladies, and I wanted to fete them with an elegant and feminine tablescape that also gave a very gentle nod to the colors of Fall.  I set a table for 5 at the games table in the living room.  Please, join us!

 Tiffany blue, white, and lots of gold were the name of the game today.

  A vintage white appliqué organza floated gently over a turquoise satin undercloth.

 Isn't it fun when you picture a design in your mind, and it ultimately turns out the way you envisioned it? This was one of those moments.

 I've been slowly collecting gold and white pieces for a long time.  I had a blast pulling all the goodies out of my cabinets and closets to create this confection for Sheila and Sandy's party!

 New to my cache of charger plates, the Vietri glass with a ruffled gold rim charger is probably currently available at a shop near you.  They are mid-priced, and I am collecting them slowly.  Tip:  Pier One currently has a similar charger for $15.00 each.  Take a look before they are all gone!

 The Coalport Lady Anne white and gold dinner plate is absolutely elegant.  It definitely demanded the gold toned flatware as an accompaniment for today's design.

 The antique English Crescent & Sons, salad plate came from our wonderful Susan Nowell @  My Place to Yours.  She was choosing to downsize, and I was the grateful recipient of these lovelies.  They were probably the beginning of my adventure into collecting white and gold.

 One of my best ever finds and fantastic "gets", I acquired these vintage Glastonbury-Lotus chillers at a local antiques mall for $70.00 for 12.  They had never been used and still had the original Glastonbury tag on them. I grabbed them as quickly as I could.  Yippeee for me!

 The Coalport gold and white Cairo was a sweet addition for bread and butter.

 The taller Glastonbury-Lotus Golden Rod served as our wine goblet.  Also by Glastonbury, the gold scrolled goblet held water for my guests. I don't know the name of the scrolled goblet.  Do you?  I'd love to know.

 No pumpkins today, but the coral and gold tulips were a gentle reminder of the season.  The petite jardiniere originally held a Seda France candle.  I've been burning Japanese Quince and French Tulip candles like mad.  I would love to be able to use 4 per table for a large seated luncheon or dinner...my idea of recycling.

 A quartette of tulip bouquets surrounded the Mottahedeh white and gold tureen...so little effort for a centerpiece with great impact.

 Our Nana's beautiful linen and organdy embroidered napkins worked perfectly with the other elements in my design.  Thank you, Nana, again and again!

 This is one of my "barely eats anything" group of friends.  This day the menu included a cold avocado and cucumber soup for an opening course.  The entree was a spinach salad tossed with chicken and bowtie pasta, and Caesar dressing,  served with hot bread.  Dessert was a birthday ribbon cake with whipped cream frosting.  

 My friends were at the front door...time for the party to begin!

As the Thanksgiving holiday quickly approaches, I am already thankful for precious friends with whom I can share food, fun, and fellowship.  They arrived at noon for our luncheon.  We lingered long into the afternoon visiting with each other...altogether a perfect day.  Let me know if you're coming my way.  I'd love to set a table for you, too.

This week I am joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

Dishing It & Digging It Link Party @ Life & Linda