Autumn Birthday Brunch

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.  As the harvest season approaches 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. 

The Garden Friends enjoy celebrating birthdays for everyone in our Bible study.  Today we celebrated with a brunch for Debbi, our September birthday girl.  All across blogworld, many talented contributors have been immersed in Fall and everything that goes along with it.  I've been inspired by the wonderful posts that I've seen, and I have decided to embrace the elements of Fall for my tablescape today.  

The front doors are all dressed for Autumn and waiting for the guests.  Before brunch was served...

...each guest was offered a Mimosa.  I painted the inexpensive "Bed Bath & Beyond" flutes using glass paint.  I baked them in the oven, and they have been used many times.  The color is "Emperor Gold."  Tip:  Sometimes when I'm hosting a bridesmaid luncheon or bridal shower/luncheon, I'll paint another 24 of these flutes.  After using them for the party, I give 12 to the bride and 12 to the MOB.  They are always a hit!

The dining room table was set for eight...

...and with the addition of the Flip-top Table Top, the game table in the living room was set for seven.

I chose the soft cream color of old Madeira linen tablecloths from our precious Nana.  The Madeira napkins on the dining table were bounty from an estate sale that I explored this past weekend.  There were 12 napkins in excellent condition for $18.00.  SCORE!!  I have been searching for this Victorian reproduction French Wire basket for a long time.  I found them just this week at Hobby Lobby on half-price sale for $8.00 each.  Two baskets were placed on the dining table, and the game table featured one.  I bought three fall bouquets at Sam's and deconstructed them to create my centerpieces.  Tip:  They are secured in Oasis sitting in the large round plastic lids that you get when you buy a tray of cookies from a bakery.  To camouflage the plastic, I cut leaves from a Photinia bush in the backyard.  I slipped them between the plastic liner and the wire basket...let's hear it for roadsidea!  A pair of three-light sterling candleabra, a wedding gift, and an Indiana Glass, Ruby Flash Compote, bought on eBay completed the centerpiece vignette.

The brown charger is an inexpensive resin plate from Hobby Lobby.  The service plate is topped with a Royal Doulton, "The Beaufort," dinner plate.  The browns in the chinoiserie center design and the brown furled cartouches were perfect for an Autumn tablescape.  The silver flatware is Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance," my wedding silver.

The raised design in the red Fenton "Empress" goblet complemented the cutwork in the tablecloth and the design in "The Beaufort" plate...

...and the sun streaming through the goblet was almost magical.

With a few modifications, I was able to achieve the same design for the second table.  I made the brown undercloth, and the square table topper is actually a vintage Madeira bridge table cloth that was Nana's.

Some of Nana's lovely old Madeira napkins and my mother-in-love's Reed & Barton's "Francis I" also fit right into the look.

The AJKA "Arabella" goblets were set on a kitchen counter for guests who chose to enjoy a glass of wine.  I bought these years ago at Tuesday Morning.  I wish that I had bought more.  They are still available, but they now cost more per goblet than I paid for a set of four.

Everything is in place....

The resplendent colors of Autumn have set the tone...

Choose your seat...

...and save me the seat next to yours!  I'm excited to get to know you better.

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.  Click on the button below to 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.

   

The Bungalow, Part II

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.  As the harvest season approaches 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. 



Last week, I gave you a peek at the changes that are taking place in my precious daughter, KC's and son-in-love, David's new home...a small bungalow in one of our city's historic preservation neighborhoods.

We started with the dining room which went from...

this...

to this.

This week, I want to give you a peek at the living room.  Although it is still a work in progress, with three chairs to be recovered, there are still some delightful things for you to see.  Come on in and make yourself at home.

Nana's 1920's hand carved couch has to be one of the most comfortable sofa's that I've ever known.  The down filled cushions take a good measure of plumping, but KC never seems to mind.  She has always adored her great-grandmother's couch.  Tip:  We found the Scalamandre cotton velvet on eBay for $10.00 per yard.  I always check out the internet when I'm shopping for fabric.  Fabric houses that would normally be totally out of my budget suddenly become affordable.  The vintage 1920's wedding ring quilt folded on the arm of the sofa and the Persian carpet were also Nana's.  The coffee table is actually an antique "Cook Box."  What is a Cook Box, you ask?  At the turn of the 20th century, household help worked seven days a week.  However, on Sundays, they were able to take an evening for themselves.  The cook box was probably the forerunner of the crock pot.  Once the lid is opened, you will find two round tin built-in containers into which two covered crockery bowls would be placed.  Closed inside the tin configuration is some sort of insulation that would provide heat.  The cook could prepare the family's evening meal earlier in the day and place it in the cook box to keep it warm.  Later in the evening, the family would open the box and serve themselves (heaven forbid) their Sunday dinner.  The cook box was also useful for picnics.  It would be placed in the back of the buckboard wagon and carried to a chosen location...the first tailgate equipment!  Sweet Mr. bought this for a lake house that we had years ago.  I'm thrilled that KC wanted to use it.

David brought the print of Klimt's "The Kiss" to KC as a gift before they were married.  Right now it is camouflaging an ugly old window unit that is scheduled to be removed, now that the house has central heat and air.  The slipper chair was a $35.00 flea market find.  It is awaiting a trip to the upholsterer's along with the two rust colored easy chairs.  The green armoire was a great get...$150.00 on clearance at Hobby Lobby.  I was initially a bit doubtful about its quality, but it has successfully made five moves and is still in great condition.  It's given me a new attitude toward furniture from Hobby Lobby.

The beamed ceiling is one of the most charming features of this little bungalow.  The light fixture is original, and KC chose to keep it.  In the corner you can spy an old barrister's book case that belonged to Nana.  I studied piano on that piano from the time that I was in the second grade until I graduated from the university.  I am thrilled that now KC writes some of  her music while sitting at the keyboard.  Through the doorway, you can catch a glimpse of next week's tour, the kitchen.

That's the tour...take off your shoes and curl up on the sofa; we'll chat for a bit.  Hope to see you next week when we explore the kitchen.  We're looking forward to your visit!

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.  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."

I am linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly meme, Metamorphosis Monday.  On Sunday evening click the button below to link to all the wonderful bloggers who are participating in Susan's party this week.  Thank you, Susan, for providing this marvelous forum.

        

Garden Friends Brunch

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.  As the harvest season approaches 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 area that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger. 

It's time for the Garden Friends to convene again after our summer hiatus.  I am so blessed to have my treasured friends at my table again, and I am excited to begin another year of our Bible study.  We have been gathering for twenty-three years.  We have lifted each other in times of celebration, and we have held each other through seasons of sorrow for all these years.  I can't imagine my world without these precious women, these mighty prayer warriors.  Each September, our first meeting is strictly social; we enjoy catching up on each other's lives and sharing a meal.  Today we are going to have brunch.

   When I think of autumn, my mind travels to the deep rich colors of fall foliage.  Although it is still relatively warm here, through the dining room windows, you can observe that the leaves are gradually beginning to change colors.  I decided that the rich ruby tones of Copeland Spode, Tower Pink would add to the spectrum of fall colors still to come.  These are the dishes that my mother-in-love used to serve daily meals to my Sweet Mr. and his brother and sister.  We shared many a repast on these at her table, and I am blessed to shepherd them for a season.

The Tower Pink features a Gadroon Edge.  I like the texture of the plate rim against the intricate design in Nana's old crochet tablecloth.  Tip:  When I first examined this cloth, after it came to abide with us, it was horribly stained.  It was really unusable.  In the 20's, most laundry detergents were lye based, and they were too harsh to use on fine linens; so women would try to spot clean them as much as possible.  The results were often less than sparkling.  That all changed when I happened upon an amazing product called "Vintage Soak."  I buy it from The Antique House, www.antiquehouseokc.com.  After washing the cloth and following the instructions, which includes soaking it in a bathtub with the Vintage Soak for up to 48 hours, this old cloth has a brand new life.  It is now a pleasure to use it when entertaining family and friends.

The old King's Crown Ruby Flash goblets were also my mother-in-love's.  She always used them with the Tower Pink.  They are a great deal smaller than most current glassware, but they just seem so right for the Spode.  The antique Ruby Glass bowl belonged to my Aunt Ida.  I wanted to keep the flowers simple, and Sam's provided the mini white carnations and apple green daisy mums.  Did you notice the silver stand lifting the centerpiece?  When we were married, I think that just about every bride received a crystal coffee carafe positioned on a raised silver stand.  Do you have one, too?  Sweet Mr. and I have never drunk coffee, but I often use the silver stand for centerpieces.  My stand-by Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks add just the right degree of sparkle with a pair of Indiana Glass Ruby Glass footed compotes.  One of them belonged to my MIL, and I found the match on eBay.  Yippeeeeee!

Today there were sixteen of us for brunch.  I often set a second table in the foyer, in close proximity to the dining room.  I combined a square crochet table topper with crochet place mats to mimic the design for the dining table.  The center piece is a vintage Paden City lidded compote floated between a pair of Aunt Ida's antique ruby glass candlesticks that I repurposed as floral containers.  Tip:  This table is actually one of my round wrought iron patio tables.  I bring it in, add one of the 60" flip-top tabletops (byinvitationonly@cox.net...if you wish to inquire)) and a 120" round, floor-length tablecloth, and voila...I have an extra dining table!

Today I used the breakfast room table to serve our brunch.  The antique Luneville trivet covered with cherries was a gift from my little sister after a trip to Paris.  The butter dish was my Mama's.  We used it everyday when I was a little girl.  Tip:  The three-tiered tray is actually just an inexpensive set by Anchor Hocking  .  I can insert a chop plate, a dinner plate, and a salad plate from any pattern of china, and it becomes the perfect serving piece.  I think that I bought it at Walmart for less than $20.00.  The old cut-glass pitcher was Nana's.  Today I filled it with orange juice.

The silver container with mini carnations is part of a group of Victorian Britannia Silver that belonged to my maternal grandmother.  In its former life, it was a biscuit box.  The plate rack holds Tower Pink breakfast plates.  Tip:  Choosing a luncheon or breakfast plate for food service will allow you to use most 10 1/2" - 11" dinner plates as charger plates...handy trick.

I think that I'm all ready for our brunch.  I hear the doorbell.  The Garden Friends are arriving, and they always contribute some delicious recipes for our feasts.  I wonder if I'll remember to light the candles.  Sometimes I do, and sometimes I don't.  I don't think anyone really notices...I need to remember to not sweat the small stuff. 

And so another year begins for the Garden Friends.  We'd love to have you join us.  Let me know if you're going to be in my area.  I want you to sit next to me!

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.  Click on the button below to 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.

The Bungalow, Part I.

Thanks to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her weekly meme, "Metamorphosis Monday."  I'm excited to join the party.

My precious daughter and son-in-law are both professional musicians.  KC is an independent singer-songwriter, and they travel much of the time.  They are "starving artists" in the true sense of the word.  They recently leased a small craftsman bungalow in one of our city's historical neighborhoods.  She invited me to join them the day that they viewed the house.  It was clean, well-built, old, and in my mind....terminally D.R.A.B.  But in her always creative way, KC had a vision.  I thought that I would share the dining room with you today.  I'll deal with other rooms in future postings.  So-o-o-o, the day that we looked at the house, I pulled out my phone camera, and here's what we found...

But not for long..KC and David went to work with their paint buckets, and in amazingly short order, they layered the walls with her favorite colors and filled this tiny house with furniture that has been well-loved by her family for generations...

Come on in!  KC and David love to entertain...wonder where that characteristic came from?  The first thing that they chose to do was flip-flop the layout of the public rooms:  the living room became the dining room, and the dining room became the living room.  KC wanted to use the craftsman glass front cases to store some of her china and entertaining goodies...do you see a pattern developing here?  She loves her light fixtures, and they travel with her wherever she lives.  The table and chairs were painted by her loving mom...that would be me.  The table originally belonged to Great-Aunt Dorothy.  Sweet Mr. and I used it as our dining table when we were first married, 42 years ago; and now it resides with KC and David.

Do you notice the lace panels covering the wonderful old craftsman windows overlooking the front porch?  They once belonged to our Precious Nana, KC's great-grandmother.  Sweet Mr. offered KC an old cardboard box that was left over after we cleared oh so many things from his mom's home.  She accepted the box, and this is but one of the treasures that rested within that unassuming box.  There are seven of these circa 1920 lace panels, enough of them to use for window coverings each time that they have moved to a new home.  She attaches them with push pins, and then she covers the pins with a variety of vintage clip-on earrings.  She calls it her "window jewelry."  I think that they are spectacular, and I love that they were made during the same period as the historic homes in which KC and David prefer to live.  Thank you, Nana, once again!

I am by no means an authority on lace, but I think that this is called "tape lace."  The Spode, "Blue Italian," is one of KC's everyday patterns.  The bowl is filled with antique and vintage handkerchiefs that have been stitched into small bags filled with potpourri.

A pair of mantle lamps flank two Parisian watercolors that belonged to KC's Great-Aunt Ida.  Ida brought the paintings back from Europe in the 1950's.  KC refuses to reframe them; she adores the history that the well-worn frames represent.  She has the beginning of a collection of colored glass containers to reflect the sunlight as it streams through the two windows flanking the fireplace.  That's a picture of KC's brother and sister-in-love, with their two precious little boys.  KC and David absolutely adore their nephews...I'm pretty partial to them, too!

You can never have too much storage space for your dishes, crystal, and silver.  We found these pieces  for KC and David shortly after they were married.  The Welsh Dresser was bought in a used furniture store for $125.00, and the Queen Anne buffet was a garage sale find for less than $100.  I painted and distressed them in the colors that KC wanted.  They have made it possible for her to always have her lovely things at hand, ready to use...such a blessing.

Can you see the plates, stored vertically, on the right side of the dresser?  I designed those for KC before she was married.  Each of the 12 plates is different.  I am honored that she still enjoys using them and likes to display them.  The next time that she uses them for a tablescape, I'll grab some pics of them to share with  you.

The pen and ink drawing was another treasure found in that old cardboard box.  It once belonged to Nana.  KC is a wonderful steward of her family's things.  She doesn't seem to care when something is a bit worn, a little tired; she believes that its history gives it value.

So, that's the tour.  I think that KC and David are ready to welcome their friends into their home.  Some night that might mean a jam session for their musician friends or a few of their fans.  

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.  Her latest CD is called "Orchid."

I am linking to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for her weekly meme, Metamorphosis Monday.  Click the button below to link to all the wonderful bloggers who are participating in Susan's party this week.

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Graphically Gifted

I am pleased to be joining my daughter-in-love, Jamiann at The Blackberry Vine for her meme, "Pretty Packages.  Thank you Jamiann for providing a forum where we can find inspiration from so many talented bloggers!

I'm also pleased to join  Pam's "Motivated Monday" party at Be Colorful  Check it out!

My creative capabilities took a huge leap the day that I bought my Cricut Expression.  It was so easy to make these party favor gift boxes for my al fresco "Black and White Luncheon."  I used the "Tags, Bags, Boxes & More" cartridge.  The card stock was taken from a DCWV "The Glitter Stack," from Michaels.  I tied the boxes with a variety of narrow black and white ribbons.  I was pleased that the boxes were the icing on the cake that was my "Black and White Luncheon."  For inquiring minds that might want to know:  The goblets are Waterford, "Simply Lime."  The dinner plate is Oxford Bone China by Lenox, "Filagree" and the luncheon plate is Haviland, "Ranson."  The sterling flatware is "Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance."

You may use the button below to easily access the "Pretty Packages Party."

  

Marie Antoinette Autumn Luncheon

I am a member of a wonderful, small Haviland Group.  Our entire mission statement is to meet at least quarterly and share a nice luncheon served on Haviland China...no rules...no dues...no required attendance...my kind of club!  One of our number is a knowledgeable Haviland dealer, and she always brings information to share with us about this lovely porcelain.  Did you know that although Haviland was designed and manufactured in the Limoges area of France, it was always marketed for and sold to the American market?  It amazed me to learn that there are more than 30,000 to 60,000 patterns of Haviland China.  Who knew?   We decided to explore the question, "How would Marie Antoinette set a table for an autumn luncheon?" Yes, we understand that Marie Antoinette was long gone before Haviland was ever produced.  In order to address that somewhat whimsical question, we volunteered to create a tablescape for The Theta Flaming Festival, an annual philanthropic fundraiser.

I think that Marie would have chosen to host her luncheon at her "Hamlet", located on the grounds in back of Versailles.  The "Hamlet" is where she retired with her court favorites to pretend that she was a simple country maid, living an idyllic pastoral life.

I made both the tablecloths, and I think that Marie would have appreciated the blue furls on chocolate moire.  I love the way that the cording, stitched on the grain instead of on the bias, causes the cloths to fall in the gently scalloped folds.

For our centerpiece, we elevated Nana's Haviland Chocolate Pot, and my Haviland Ranson Creamer and Sugar on a Ranson Chop plate.  We chose to fill them with Sam's Club roses in the corals and golds often associated with autumn, and we mixed them with luscious blue Hydrangeas.  When I think of Marie Antoinette, I always think of the multitude of hues and shades of glorious blues found at Versailles.  Hypericum berries added the finishing touch.  The Val St. Lambert crystal candlesticks danced in the glow of candlelight from the mini-hurricanes.  (The Flaming Festival does not allow open flames during the event.)

 The floral theme was extended onto the table with miniature arrangements at each place setting.  They were constructed in Haviland Ranson ramekins on matching underplates.  The Waterford Simply Blue goblets were paired with our precious Nana's antique French crystal wine goblets (Maker unknown).  The sterling silver flatware is Reed & Barton, "Grande Renaissance," my wedding silver. 

Nana's white linen napkins with light blue embroidered cutwork and a lace edge added a soft texture to the design.  A shimmering silver beaded charger plate anchored a Castleton "Blue Empire" dinner plate.  Next came a Haviland "Ranson" dinner plate, soft and feminine with its double ruffled edge.  The luncheon plate is Theodore Haviland "Rani", with it's intricate pattern and cartouches featuring exotic birds.  The final layer is a Charles Field Haviland dessert plate, featuring more exotic birds, holding an individual dessert cloche from Tuesday Morning.  The place cards were made from miniature gold frames attached to the cloches with pale blue picot ribbon.  I'm fairly certain that Marie Antoinette's favorite feature would have been the Ebony & Ivory' cupcake from Cuppies & Joe.  www.cuppiesandjoe.com

The doors of the Flaming Festival were about to open.  Ours was but one of many beautiful tablescapes intended to inspire you the next time that you create a design for family or friends.  If you happen to be in our area in early November, try to join us for Theta Flaming Festival, 2010.  It's always a marvelous experience!

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.  Click on the button below to 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.