Happy Birthday, Mama!

My mother's birthday falls right on the heels of the holidays.  It can be a challenge to come up with a table setting that sets a festive tone but doesn't look too much like Christmas or New Year's Eve.  My inspiration for this setting actually came from a remnant piece of fabric I found at JoAnn's last year.  There wasn't enough fabric for eight napkins so it became an overlay instead; and I ended up liking it better this way!

When planning my mother's birthday table I tend to think of rich, bright, jewel tones. That is probably what drew me to this fabric in the first place!  Then again, I tend to be drawn to those color palettes anyway.  Regardless of the reason it was just meant to be.  It became a lovely table in honor of a lovely lady.

I used a satin stripe white tablecloth as a base.  White is always perfect and will set off any other colors next to it.  Next came the inspiration overlay.  To change things up a bit I pulled the burgundy stripe for both the napkin and candle color.  The silk arrangement used the overlay colors in different hues as well as just a little glitter to pull out the gold.

Brass candlesticks and gold-tone flatware kept up the richness of the table setting.

Mahogany toned chargers and white plates laid the base for a delicious dinner of Braised Short Ribs with Smoked Gouda Cheese Grits, Salad and Bread.  My mother's green depression glass plates were perfect for slices for Lemon Curd Chiffon Birthday Cake and brought some green up to each place setting.  Menu cards and crystal wine glasses finished off each place setting.  I really like this table and I hope Mama does, too.

So, Happy Birthday, Mama!  I hope this table setting added a little something extra to your celebration!  I Love You! XO

A Tiffany-Inspired Christmas Table

Just when I think I've exhausted creative ideas for a Christmas table inspiration taps me on the shoulder.  The focus of the table decor would be some beautiful silver pieces given to my sister from her dear friend, Melissa. The silver had belonged to Melissa's mother, Lu, and Melissa gave some pieces to my sister knowing she/we would use them for entertaining. With that established my task was to decide on a color palette.  

My inspiration for the color palette actually came from another event I was helping with during the holidays. For that event we used various hues of blue and teal with silver accents.  When I saw the Tiffany blue with the silver I immediately knew in which direction I wanted to go.

The table decor actually pulled triple duty this year: hosting a Christmas party, a Girls Night Out Christmas get-together, and finally Christmas Day dinner.  As a result you may notice slight differences in the table decor and layout in some of the pictures: artificial snow, two different trays, and fresh versus silk flowers to name a few. However, some elements stayed the same throughout the holidays: the boxwood and crystal kissing balls, ornaments and candles.

                  During our Autumn trip for lunch (at Ruby Tuesday's) and pre-Christmas shopping at Hobby Lobby my sister, Lynn, and cousin, Lauranne, noticed some ornaments similar to these.  Since we already had the crystals (purchased from an antique store) we decided to make our own. Boxwood trimmings were stuck into a small square of floral foam attached to the top of the crystals.  The boxwood was sprayed with touches of diamond dust before hanging them from the light fixture above the table. My sister created these and they turned out beautifully!  We also found the vase and Tiffany blue round ornaments that day!

We added a box wrapped in Tiffany blue paper with a white bow (And who doesn't like a Tiffany box?), white candles in silver candle sticks, and just a little bling to finish the look.

I was very happy with how this table turned out.  It will always be one of my favorites. Many thanks to Melissa...every piece of silver is treasured and this tablescape is lovingly dedicated both Melissa and her mother.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas filled with love, laughter, friends and family.  

See you in the new year!

Our Thanksgiving Table: A Vintage Difference

Have you ever started a project with a plan in mind only to switch gears before it's finished?  I know I certainly have and this table setting was one of those times.

My usual Thanksgiving table celebrates the colors of nature during the fall season:  red, orange, rust, yellow, brown, and a little green. This year I wanted something different and I found it on Pinterest! Yes, I am a fan of Pinterest, and this year's centerpiece was inspired by a pin "picked for me".

There they were...white pumpkins with a blue/green/blue green color palette.  Muted tones and the use of faux succulents.  It was completely different from anything I had done before. I loved it the instant I saw it! It was the first week of November and I wondered if I would have difficulty finding faux white pumpkins.  I did.  However, my sister found some pumpkins on sale on Michael's.  Instead of a pretty antique white they were neon, glow-in-the-dark green!  (No wonder they were ridiculously on sale! And they really did glow in the dark!)  The first order of business was to prime and paint the pumpkins.

Once the pumpkins were painted ("Thank you, Lynn!") I began to plan each table setting.  It was during this process that I remembered some dishes our family had when I was growing up.  I wondered if my mother still had them.  My memory of them was that there was a wheat pattern in the center. That would be perfect for a fall table!  I called my mother and she had no memory of the pattern. Flowers, she guessed?  Then I called my sister. Her memory was of a futuristic, star-shaped design.  Only a box in the attic knew for certain.

And all three of us were wrong!  The pattern is flower-like with berries. However, the color palette would work well with the pumpkin centerpiece so I used them.  I coordinated the colors in the dishes with the colors in my inspiration "Pin".  They blended beautifully. There was one thing I did want to change.  One of the pumpkins should be painted blue to bring out the fading color in the plates.  Once that was done the toppers for the white pumpkins were put together:  faux succulents, silk hydrangeas, faux berries, and leaves were hot-glued onto small grapevine wreaths.  Using the grapevine wreaths gives me the ability to easily change color schemes and themes.

For height I rummaged through my stash of candle holders and candlesticks and found a tall bronze-hued pillar candle holder.  I used a mid-height pedestal pewter bowl for another pumpkin.  The third pumpkin sat on the table.  A gray table cloth, a burlap runner, woven chargers, and a brown satin ribbon brought the color palette together.  Scattered succulents, greenery and faux berries completed the look I wanted.

My brother was able to come for Thanksgiving this year; for which my mother, sister, and I were grateful. What fun it was to eat off of the same plates we had years before as children!

(We spent Thanksgiving day with extended family at my cousin's house.  Amy had created two beautiful arrangements honoring the colors of fall and the bounty God provides.  Thank you, Amy!)

Who Is Jesus? - 2016/2017 PCUSA PW Bible Study

Lesson 1/Preparing to Lead

Before you gather, invite participants to bring to your meeting “something” (a story, hymn, work of art, poem, etc.) that is their “portrait of Jesus”. Your time together might begin with each participant talking briefly about how they see Jesus. If you choose to do the “Starter” activity, you may also want to research films about Jesus.

Christ and Candle

A prayer is provided for the beginning of each lesson. You may have – or start – the tradition of lighting a Christ candle at the beginning of your meeting. Near the Christ candle, you might place something that speaks to the theme of each gathering's lesson. For this lesson, invite participants who brought an object to place it near the Christ candle. Taking a photo of each month's candle arrangement will provide a record of the objects that have helped answer the question “Who is Jesus?”

Lesson 2/Christ and Candle

Around the Christ candle you might place items that have to do with teaching. A second option is to use the things that Jesus said the kingdom of Heaven was like: mustard seeds, yeast, wheat, etc.

Lesson 3/Christ and Candle

Carpenter's tools might be placed around the Christ candle for this lesson. They symbolize how Jesus' first audience in the synagogue knew him – as the son of Joseph the carpenter. But they also symbolize his rejection. Jesus' first audience rejected him and then at the end of his life, those carpentry tools would be used to craft a cross to which Jesus was nailed.

Lesson 4/Christ and Candle

Items like eyeglasses, a glass or pitcher of water, bread (not Communion bread, just interesting kinds of bread) or cups (again, not Communion glasses but ordinary drinking cups) are all things that can be looked at with “regular” eyes and with symbolic eyes.

Lesson 5/Christ and Candle

What else would be appropriate but crosses – all kinds, textures, all materials. You may have invited participants to bring or wear crosses to your gathering. At the appropriate point in the lesson you might invite participants to share the meaning of their crosses.

Lesson 6/Christ and Candle

Around the Christ candle you might place items to do with preparing and writing sermons. Alternatively, you might want cheerleader items like pom poms or even a carrot on a stick. You might use motivational items – stickers and ribbons – like those used by teachers to encourage students.

Lesson 7/Christ and Candle

Around the Christ candle for this lesson, it would be appropriate to put books about Jesus that are not the Bible or perhaps picture frames – empty ones and ones with an image of Jesus – to remind us of the many portraits of Jesus that have been written.

Lesson 8/Christ and Candle

For this lesson, perhaps it is better that we bring our prayers to the Christ candle rather than bringing objects. A map of Jerusalem might serve as a “tablecloth” reminding us of the Psalmist's instruction to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” (Psalm 122:6) Certainly all three faiths are found beyond Jerusalem and the Middle East, but Jerusalem can serve as a focal point.

Lesson 9/Christ and Candle

If members brought their “portraits of Jesus” from lesson one, place them around the Christ candle. New objects might include different breads or a mixed bouquet of flowers emphasizing the varieties of bread and flowers, just as there are many answers to the question “Who is Jesus?” 

Easter 2016: From Inspiration To Table

In my post "Chocolate And Van Gogh" I shared the inspiration for this year's Easter table. It was right on target. And, ironically, that's where my journey began...at Target!  While cruising the internet I came across the perfect dessert/salad plates (a beautiful pale shade of robin's egg blue) to accent each place setting - and on which we would serve dessert. The pieces began to fall into place; and this year there were many pieces.

My vision began with twigs, paper eggs, berry baskets, plaster bows, and two wooden crosses - all of which would need to be painted.  Paints? Check!  Brushes? Check!  With a printout of Vincent's painting and one of the accent plates I began to mix paint colors.  Several different shades of a robin's egg blue and a chocolate brown  collected on my palette...um...paper plate. Because of the varying shades in the painting I didn't feel the need to paint the same blue and brown on everything. That turned out to be a good decision because I'm not entirely certain I could have recreated the same shades each time I needed an additional coat of paint.

The twigs, crosses, and a couple of eggs would be used in the centerpiece. The berry baskets - painted white and accented with a grosgrain ribbon - would be filled with goodies from "the Bunny" prior to dessert. The remaining eggs and bows would be scattered on the table and throughout the centerpiece area. On two of the remaining eggs I added stick-on crystal crosses for a little sparkle. One of these eggs would be placed in a glass candy dish with shred to mimic a bird's nest.

A brown table cloth served as a lovely "chocolate" base for the tablescape.  White plates anchored each place setting and the accent plates set off the place setting nicely. Simple white cloth napkins were rolled and placed beside each place setting. The centerpiece arrangement was created in a silver pedestal bowl and included branches of white flowers (to resemble those in the inspiration painting), silk greenery, Spanish moss, painted paper eggs and a wooden cross.  Two crosses were painted and glued together so that there would not be a front and back. Two silver candlesticks with white candles completed the centerpiece.

                        

I was quite pleased with the end result.  My vision came to life and I hope it enhanced our time together on this meaningful day.

Continued Easter blessings to you all and thank you for stopping by.

A Farewell To Downton Abbey

I have been a fan of Downton Abbey since the beginning...six seasons ago. It's no secret I love England. Watching each episode on Sunday nights took me back to a time I've only read about in books or seen on television. Therefore, it seemed only fitting that watching the series finale be something a little more special. Last week my sister and I came up with an impromptu Downton-inspired tea party...of sorts.  Nothing too formal, but a way to say farewell to the series we have loved.

Maggie Smith's character, Violet Crowley, has been one of my favorites.  Knowing that my sister has several violet-themed plates and tea cups made creating the theme obvious.  We planned a menu using mostly what we had on-hand.  A couple of finishing touches, a quick trip to the grocery store and we were ready.

Sunday night may have been a farewell, but only for the present.  I plan to have the entire series on DVD available for future viewing.  After that I'll be ready for another Downton-inspired event whenever the mood strikes.

A heart-felt "Thank You" to Julian Fellowes, the cast, the crew, and the Carnarvon family of Highclere Castle.  It has been a pleasure.  

Chocolate And Van Gogh

I am occasionally surprised by the direction in which inspiration sends me. I may have an idea in mind when I begin my journey, but I end up going around the world before I reach my destination. Once I get there the end result may or may not resemble my original idea. I love that!

Such is the case with my upcoming Easter table.  I was not initially inspired by an Impressionist, but there you have it! Inspiration took hold and led me in a direction I did not anticipate.  This is going to be fun! 

So...from Chocolate and Van Gogh to an Easter Sunday table setting.

I hope you will join me on this journey and perhaps be inspired along the way.  I will keep you "posted".