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

A Riot of Thanksgiving Colors

• This week I bring you a new post for your eyes, but a trip back in my photo archives to our family's Thanksgiving table from November, 2015.  This holiday fell during my prolonged absence from blog world.  I thought that this would be an appropriate time to slip it in, hopefully for your pleasure.  I was still not back to full speed after my second knee replacement and subsequent back problems, but I was determined to lay a welcoming table for our guests.  It was a special moment because all four of my grandchildren would be at one of my holiday tables together for the first time.  Today I set a table for 13.  I thought that I would be preparing two tables, but Sweet Mister and KC, my daughter, were dead set on having everyone at the same table...so I happily obliged them.  This time there is a boat load of pictures, so proceed with fair warning. We gathered in the dining room.  Come on in... 

My inspiration for my Thanksgiving tablescape was...

This Williams Sonoma Harvest Jacquard tablecloth.  

 It pretty much jumped out of the closest and into my hands. Because there were so many of us seated at my dining table, charger plates were out of the question.  I liked the way the way the dinner plate

perched firmly on the dividing line between two of the color blocks of the tablecloth.

 Again, as a concession to the cozy nature of the place settings, I placed the napkins on the top edge of each dinner plate.  I couldn't bear the thought of covering up the elaborate design of the dinner plate.

 If you've been reading my blog for a period of time, you perhaps remember that come Fall, I find myself repeatedly using faux elements for centerpieces.  This table was no exception. The Autumn leaves are nothing more than several garlands from Hobby Lobby.  I've had this one for many years; it has earned its keep.  The small pumpkins were extra party favors from one of my Chi Omega luncheons.

 The pair of lanterns were also from Hobby Lobby.  I chose them because they were rather subdued and didn't try to fight for attention.

Although I wasn't able to post on my blog for a season, I was still delighted to continue adding to my collections.  I don't think that I have shared this Mottahedeh tureen with you, yet.  Again, it is lovely, regal even; but it maintains a quiet presence in the midst of a very exuberant design.  I like it a bunch!

 I think that you will agree with me that the star of this production was the dinner plate.


I kind of held my breath as I placed this Royal Crown Derby Olde Avesbury on the quite busy tablecloth.  It could have been a design disaster...but for some reason, it just worked.  I framed it with the gold toned flatware that I found at an estate sale for a steal.


The Vieri optic amber goblet and the AJKA Arabella red wine begged to be included in my design.  Entertaining tips: The Vietri is still in production, and at $21.00 per stem, I think that it is well priced for a crystal goblet.  They are available in an assortment of colors and work equally well in classic and contemporary settings.  The wine is no longer in production, but you can find it quite regularly via eBay

The tiny spots of lilac are charming little antique Limoges open salt cellars that belonged to our dear Nana.  I love the opportunity to use them whenever possible.  The beaded napkin rings are really candle rings.  Remember to think outside "the box". 

I look forward to this year's Thanksgiving feast.  I'm playing with different elements for my new tablescape.  Is your table already set?  I'll bet that I find lots of inspiration when I visit your blogs this week!  This year I am thankful that I live in the United States of America.  After a turbulent election season for all sides, I find encouragement as I watch the beginning of the peaceful transition that plays out between the current executive administration and the new administration.  We are truly blessed.

This week I'm joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch

H"OWL TIME FLIES, 10.14.16

  The past few weeks I've been preparing for my semi-annual luncheon for the women of my sorority chapter who lived in the chapter house at some point during the four years that I also lived in the house.   This is always one of my favorite luncheons; these women are very important to me.  They hold my history, and I hold theirs.  I have managed to build a database of about 250 ladies.  Preparing for this day is a labor of love.  The riot of color provided by the flowers of Autumn just made it that much better as I designed 9 tables for 70 guests who came from all across our nation and from deep down in Mexico. 

I used three of this bouquet for the dining table buffet.  Sadly I forgot to capture any shots of the dining table, so use your imagination, please.

Fall offers pro and cons for entertaining al fresco.  The weather is as close to perfect as it comes out here on the prairie, but there are definite signs that nature is preparing to cause the lawn and flowers to go to sleep for the coming winter. The greens are less than vibrant, and the hydrangeas are long gone.  The yellow mums were a welcome spot of color, as were the bright red cyclamen plants used as the centerpiece on each table.

Blue and white are the colors of choice for today's festivities.  The mimosa in one of my hand-painted flutes was offered to guests as they entered the house.  I also see a few purses on a couple of chairs.   I think that my guests must already be saving seats.  Typically, many of the sisters like to sit with others from their pledge classes.  There is a great deal of visiting and catching up to be accomplished.  Some of these precious women have not seen each other in 54 years!  It's always a very special day. 

I bought the 10 blue and white toile tablecloths some years ago on eBay for $10.00 each.  $100.00 for 10 tablecloths versus renting 10 cloths for a minimum of $35.00 each for one day.  Now that's a no brainer in my mind.  I snapped those puppies up in a New York minute!

I chose to design my tables with three blue willow variations and an assortment of blue chargers.  Here I've placed the Burleigh Blue Willow, one of my everyday china patterns, on the Royal Doulton Steelite cobalt charger.  The goblet is Godinger Sutton Place.  For this type of gathering I tend to use what I call my "walk around" wine goblets from Bed Bath 'n Beyond.  These type of occasions tend to include dear friends who talk enthusiastically with their hands.  It's definitely not the time to pull out the Lalique, the Baccarat, or the Waterford crystals.

A variety of white napkins were caught in red or white watches...party favors used as napkin rings.  The ladies loved the watches.  I was thrilled that one of the charms on the woven leather band of each watch was a pair of wings...tempus fugit...time flies.  It was the perfect choice because of our invitations...

"H'OWL TIME FLIES".  My dear "sister" and friend, BJ always designs, addresses, and mails the invitations as well as comes up with the perfect party favors each time.  I give her an idea that has sparked my interest, and she takes it and runs with it.  This year I had visualized lots of clocks.  She's amazing, and she makes the process so much easier.

This table featured the Mottahedeh Blue Canton dinner plate on the Mottahedeh Blue Cornflower Lace charger plate.  The goblet on this table was the Mikasa French Country.  The flatware on all the tables was the blue, white, or red L'Argent Sophia.  Sorry for the wonky position. I was taking pictures as quickly as possible because my guests were beginning to arrive.  I did straighten it up right after I snapped the shot.

It was a glorious day.  On Monday, the weather forecast for Friday was 90% chance of rain and 30 mph winds.  Thank you, sweet Lord!  The day was a blessed 74º and 6 mph winds (that counts as no wind at all on the prairie).  It was absolutely perfect!  Answered prayer.

Here the Burleigh Blue Willow is paired with the Spode Vermicelli charger.  I had to step away for a while, and evidently my servers couldn't find all the walk around wines.  Somehow the Pier One Pink goblets made the billing.  They weren't part of the original plan, but I really like the way they look.   Flexibility is the name of the game for a luncheon this size.

The third pattern that I chose for today's luncheon was the Booth's Real Old Willow.  Here it is resting on the Mottahedeh Blue Lace charger plate. 

Booth's Real Old Willow perched atop the Anna Weatherly scalloped cobalt charger plate.  After saying grace, each guest picked up her plate and headed to the dining room to fill it.  I provided an entree of Kind Ranch Chicken, and each guest brought a salad or dessert.  It was delicious!  We started at 11:30 a.m. The last guests departed after 5:00 p.m. Priceless hours for everyone.

Time to stop taking table pics for today.  I can't wait another moment to go welcome the rest of my sisters.  I want to encourage you to reach out to friends from your past...high school, college, sorority, neighborhood friends.  The importance of reconnecting with old friends cannot be overestimated.  By my age, all of us have overcome some major experiences, be it illness, marriage issues, loss of  loved ones, financial disasters, and on and on.  At this point, we are all survivors in some arena, and coming together again proves to have incredible value.  As much as I am able, I never want to lose another old friend without have had the opportunity to say one more time, "Hello, I love you, and good bye. I pray that you will find your way to the same blessing.  It doesn't matter if the menu is creamed tuna on toast or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches; just please, find a way and do it. You'll never regret it!

This week I'm joining:

Inspire Me Monday @ Domestically Speaking

Inspire Me Tuesday with Marty @ A Stroll Through Life

The Scoop @ Domestically Speaking

Tablesccape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch