Happy Easter - The Centerpiece

It is no surprise to my family that the centerpiece arrangement was the last thing I fussed over just before we sat down to eat. Positioning...re-positioning...taking out... putting in...a snip here and a tuck-in there. Creating a centerpiece, for me anyway, is what brings the table decor together - using elements I chose for the place settings and perhaps adding some new ones.

The elements I chose for this centerpiece were based primarily on the place settings. The arrangement was in a silver pedestal bowl. The head of cabbage and the pink flowers restated the plates, and the dogwood branch I chose for a contrasting white element and because I love dogwood blooms. The dogwood also gave me the height I needed.

I used floral foam in the bowl as a base for building the arrangement. The head of faux cabbage was enormous but beautiful! I removed the three outermost layers of leaves for a better size relationship to the flowers. These leaves I reserved for later use as "filler". Spanish moss helped fill in gaps and position the cabbage leaves and pink flowers.

One note. I use silk flowers and greenery most of the time. I may, on occasion, mix fresh with silk for some interest, but primarily the flora is silk. It's not that I don't like fresh flowers...I love them! I just can't always find the color combinations I want to use. Using silk gives me more arrangement options as well as opportunities to "recycle" in future table settings. I am continually surprised how different the recycled flowers and greenery look in different arrangements.

When I do use fresh flowers my sister arranges them.  Family Skill Set!

Rounding out the centerpiece were pink pillar candles, a silver compote dish and a sheep, which my sister has named "Ramen Lamben" because its curly wool feels like Ramen noodles. It was a whimsical addition to the table and was put at each place setting at some point during the meal. It made us smile.

From a Strawberry Cake inspiration to a table setting.  I believe it worked!

Happy Easter - Place Settings

These cabbage plates are some of my favorites.  They have been used many times for different occasions.  The beauty of having these is that they compliment different style settings. They were a purchase I made when I worked at "my favorite store", Williams-Sonoma. 

The pink-rimmed plates were actually an impulse buy when I checked-out an "antique" shop that opened around the corner from my house.  The  shop has since closed so I'm glad I bought the plates when I did.  $10!

Layered napkins are my way of adding color and interest without taking up additional space on the table.  I enjoy using different fabric textures, colors, and patterns.  For this place setting I gathered the napkins and used lace trim to add some texture and a little sheen.

The menu card is kind of a signature piece for me.  Even at family dinners I add a menu card.  For me it compliments the place setting and also satisfies my love of creating something on paper.  Yes...I am a font junkie! But that's a topic for a future post.

Check back in a couple of days when I will post about the centerpiece and how it came to life for this Easter table.

Happy Easter!

I hope each of you had a lovely Easter. I know I certainly did! And...as predicted...finishing touches were taking place as the Ham came out of the oven.

It was all about the cake!  Strawberry to be exact.  Pink frosting to be more specific!  Here is the end result.  

And...the inspiration.  

            

More to come later this week!