Rose Famille Valentine

"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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My friend Marsha has been hosting the Garden Friends Bible Study in her home this year.  This week, there was a death in her family, and I was blessed to have the group in our home.  Last night I decided to make a large pot of homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and invite those who could stay after our study to join me for lunch.  It was a good opportunity to play with the colors of Valentines Day, yet again. 

 I had heard on the news that Iran declared that Valentines cards and other heart shaped items are now illegal.  I had never really given any thought to whether or not other countries celebrated Valentines.  I'd pretty much always thought of it as a Hallmark holiday, fairly exclusive to the USA...I know, I know...hardly a global mindset.  The whole topic sent my mind on a stroll.  Do other countries celebrate Valentines Day?  What would a Valentines table look like in Sweden...in Portugal...in China?  That thought sent me to the china closets (pun intended) to pull out some of our Rose Famille, and I was off to the proverbial races.

Today was likely to be a dine and dash moment for some of my guests.  They didn't even know that I had prepared lunch until they arrived for Bible study.  For that reason, I decided to stick with placemats, and keep it fairly low-key.

The scalloped Capiz placemats were picked up inexpensively at an estate sale.  In case you're interested, just this week, I saw them advertised on Horchow's website in several shapes and colors.  The Royal Worcester, "Regency" dinner plate served as the liner for the soup bowl.  Although not pictured, I later added a bread plate to the setting.  The gold-toned bamboo flatware was another estate sale purchase...$65.00 for a service for 16.

 Today the lead role went to the Rose Famille Rimmed Soup Bowl, another estate sale score.  I only have six of them, so they are only used when I'm entertaining small groups.  They make me smile...sigh.

I chose the "Lipstick Red" linen/cotton blend napkins to coordinate with the crystal elements and the Alstromeria's...left over from last week's table.  

The pair of Republic Period, Rose Famille rose bowls were picked up for a pittance at the tail end of an estate sale last year. The pair of Cranberry Glass hurricane sleeves were found in a local antique store.

I recently happened upon the coordinating Rose Famille Tureen on eBay.  It was the floral pattern on these pieces that sent me to the crystal cabinet to retrieve the Waterford, "Simply Pink" goblet and the Bohemian Maroon Crystal wine stem.

The tablescape came together very quickly.  I had time to catch some candlelight shots once evening came...

 I think that I'm going to want to reprise this design for a dinner at some point.  I love the way the candlelight gleams off the Rose Famille.

I can smell the aroma of the Chicken Noodle Soup wafting from the kitchen.  Hmm...chicken...noodles...almost sounds like Chinese food...almost.  If you are one of our bloggy friends across the world, do you celebrate Valentines Day in your little spot on the globe?  Is it a holiday observed throughout your country, or it is just you?  Whatever the circumstance, Happy Valentines, my bloggy friends!

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.

Thank you to the talented Tablescaper for hosting "SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Come on over and join the party!

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!   

Pretty in Pink

"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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I've been searching for Valentine decorations that I like for a long time.  To date, I still haven't found any that I can't resist.  As a result, my Valentines table doesn't feature a single heart; I did however, have a wonderful time playing with shades of pink...and a dash of gray.

The game table in the living room hasn't been put to work in a while.  Today I've set a table for four to celebrate the holiday for lovers.

I don't know if anyone will actually be sitting here for a meal, yet.  I think that it may be time to whip up another large pot of chicken noodle soup and invite some of my dear friends for lunch on Friday.  To begin my design, I layered the table with a Williams - Sonoma Pink Linen Hemstitch tablecloth.  eBay Tip:  Have you all shopped on eBay for tablecloths, place mats, and napkins?  You can find some really nice deals on some really nice linens.  My favorites lately have been found under "Williams Sonoma tablecloths" and "Zina Vasi tablecloths."  You can also find some pretty special vintage/antique linens on eBay.  Covering the linen cloth is a smaller pink organdy  square with a white organdy border, antique cloth that belonged to our Nana.  I think that she must have used it as a bridge cloth...or perhaps on the breakfast room table.  It's still just gorgeous after almost 100 years.

The Silver Baroque Chargers, a gift from my sister, were never quite returned to their proper storage spot after I used them week before last...so I used them again...organized in spite of myself!  The dinner plate is Royal Doulton, "Ventura".  I bought 18 of them on eBay several years ago for...$42.00.  It was one of my all time best gets on eBay.  I was the only person who bid on them!  I love the dove gray rim with the white gadroon edge.  The gray made me of think of doves...love birds, if you will.  The silver flatware was my mother - in - love's Reed & Barton, "Francis I".

The napkin was part of the first nice set of linens that Sweet Mister and I bought after we were married more than 43 years ago.  I almost forgot about them today.  I kept thinking, "I wish that I had a pretty gray napkin for my tablescape."... And then the lightbulb went off.  I've caught them in a gentle fold with the Wedgwood, "Countryware" napkin ring.

The Waterford, "Simply Pink" goblet, an Ebay find, seemed an obvious choice in an ode to Valentines, and I liked that it picked up the color in the Dresden Flowers motif on the dinner plate.  The Lalique, "Angel Flute", is part of our wedding crystal...and it speaks to the love of my life, Sweet Mister.  If I had to choose all over again, I'd still choose him!  When we were married, the Angel Flutes were $25.00 each!

After deciding to use the Haviland, "Ranson" covered dish as a centerpiece, I realized that I wanted to elevate it a bit.  I didn't want to use any of my wooden stands, so I needed to "create" a base that worked with this table.  The silver leg that you see is the corner of an antique silver trivet that belonged to Nana.  To create a level base, I inverted a Haviland, "Ranson" luncheon plate and placed it on the trivet...kind of gives the whole thing a sweet petticoat appearance.  I used another of the dinner plates as the liner for the covered bowl, and voila...mission accomplished!  The four crystal rose bowls were a gift from a friend.  A pair of candles in two, and Alstroemerias, from Sam's, in the remaining pair completed my design.

I caught some candlelight shots....just for you...

 If you could make it for a big bowl of soup, I'd have you sit here...with a nice view of the fireplace.  I know that we'd have a sweet, sweet time sharing fellowship and food at my Valentines table.

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.

Thank you to the talented Tablescaper for hosting "SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Come on over and join the party!

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!   

The Butterfly Ball

"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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Keeping it simple this week.  One of the Garden Friends told me that her granddaughter's elementary school was hosting a daddy - daughter dance called "The Butterfly Ball."  The moms were in charge of decorating the tables for the special night.  I was happy to loan my friend a few things for her granddaughter's table.  Shortly before the evening began, I was able to go into the school gym and take pictures of the tables. Most of the tables were darling.   The food was prepared and served on site, so the centerpieces were the primary focus of each table.  I thought that you would enjoy a peak at the "Butterfly Ball."

 The Mackenzie-Childs "Courtly Check" chargers created a nice contrast agains the pink matelasse tablecloth.  I bought the cloth at Horchow Finale for $19.00.

 The tulips were from the tablescape that I posted last week...Family Style.  I often ask my guests if anyone is entertaining, and I send my flowers with them.  The butterflies were part of my Christmas decorating several years ago.

The metal party hats don't make many appearances, but they were fun for tonight's event.  I'll just let you stroll through the other tables...I don't have many details to share about the other designs...

The topiary made out of cupcake paper cups was one of my favorite details.  Looks like it would be easy to make.

 I think that this table achieved maximum punch with minimum effort.  Well done!

 Effective detail!

 Mini-Max design...minimum effort for maximum effect.

I enjoyed seeing the tables for this special night.  It reminded me of the Daddy/Daughter Banquets that I attended with my daddy as a child.  A recipe for special memories!  Did you attend Daddy/Daughter events when you were a girl?

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.

Thank you to the talented Tablescaper for hosting "SEASONAL SUNDAYS.  Come on over and join the party!

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!