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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

A Raven's Tale Halloween Tablescape

The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore,
While I nodded, nearly napping, suddenly there came a tapping,
As of someone gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
" 'Tis some visitor," I muttered, "tapping at my chamber door;
Only this, and nothing more."


And the silken sad uncertain rustling of each purple curtain
Thrilled me---filled me with fantastic terrors never felt before;
So that now, to still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
" 'Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door,
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door.
This it is, and nothing more."

Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
"Sir," said I, "or madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is, I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you." Here I opened wide the door;---
Darkness there, and nothing more.
  .....Open here I flung the shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter,
In there stepped a stately raven, of the saintly days of yore.
Not the least obeisance made he; not a minute stopped or stayed he;
But with mien of lord or lady, perched above my chamber door.
Perched upon a bust of Pallas, just above my chamber door,
Perched, and sat, and nothing more......
Edgar Allan Poe 1845


 Blood red napkin rings.. creepily ensnaring the white napkin below the neck


Gothic black flatware with which to dine

 Then this ebony bird beguiling my sad fancy into smiling,
By the grave and stern decorum of the countenance it wore,
"Though thy crest be shorn and shaven thou," I said, "art sure no craven,
Ghastly, grim, and ancient raven, wandering from the nightly shore.
Tell me what the lordly name is on the Night's Plutonian shore."
Quoth the raven, "Nevermore."

 I see a spider has taken a liking to Lucrezia's crystal goblet

Even a spot for the poet should he choose to grace us with his presence

A bit of blood red drink to wet your whistle

The blood red drinks flash their glow onto the mirrored placemats

And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming.
And the lamplight o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted---nevermore!

Cast:
 Tablecloth and napkins - hotel linens
Napkin rings - World Market
Dinner plate - Midnight Trellis by Home Essentials
Salad - Matceramica, Portugal
Flatware - Horchow
Crystal - Mikasa Parklane
Mirrored Placemats - gifts from MIL approx 33 years ago
Bottle candleholders - Napa Style
Bottles - McPherson Cellars, Lubbock, Texas
Crows, Spanish moss, spiders - Dollar Tree
Small pumpkins place card holders - Michaels
Poetry - Edgar Allan Poe
Thanks so much for dropping in. I am honored by your comments and time spent here. I'll be linking up to Tablescape Thursday's at the Porch. CYA there!!!

40 comments:

Elaine said...

Oh my goodness, that is one creepy table! The spots of red are perfectly gruesome! Your table looks as classic as "The Raven" itself! Very entertaining post!

Lynn said...

Spooky fun Marlis! Love the black, white and red! And the bottle candle holders are really fun-enjoy:@)

Miss Char said...

I love this table Marlis, being a non Halloween person this type of tablescape with just a the hint of Halloween is really fun. Thanks for sharing your Raven table, all the elements are just perfect.

Rettabug said...

GREAT table, Marlis!!! You have a strangely sick way with words...." Blood red napkin rings.. creepily ensnaring the white napkin below the neck" Too perfect!!! Loved it & all the gory accents.

Thanks for all the neat ideas.
fondly,
Rett

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Marlis, you really hit the perfect note with this tablescape! Your dishes are as cute as can be, and they are so well coordinated with the theme. I just loved the whole thing! It's poetic and lends the right amount of panache to this table without being scary! Many thanks for also telling us where you found your goodies.

Happy Tablescape Thursday to you...

XO,

Sheila

Alycia Nichols said...

This is classically beautiful! I am SO sorry I gave away my mirrored placemats!!! (I had them for about 20+ years and thought I would never use them again...WRONG!!!) They really do wonders for the whole complexion of the place setting. The salad plates are ROCKIN'!!!! Go, girl!!! This is beautiful!!!

Mary said...

Oh what spooky & elegant fun! Love the blood red reflections & raven perched on your wine bottle candelabra! You've taken advantage of that beautiful light as it highlights all your wonderful pieces! Edgar Allan Poe would be proud to dine at your table :)

Dianne said...

I am not a fan of the "official" Halloween decorations, but I am huge fan of EAPoe and memorized the Raven in high school and quoted it to anyone and everyone for years afterwards. Thanks for bringing back some good memories and for showing a table that would suit my Halloween style. I really like the candle holders. Are they made to sit on top of a bottle or is the bottle part of the candlestick? Dianne

Anonymous said...

Love it Marlis! Absolute perfection!!

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Poe would be so proud! A beautiful upscale and just a little spooktacular!
What a clever girl to put each place setting on a mirror!!!! Your use of light photographs this table beautifully! The look of rich silver and whites play against the black ravens! Every detail is perfectly poe-worthy!
Yvonne

Marigene said...

Fabulous table, Marlis! I love those salad plates, they would be perfect on a winter table, too. The white pumpkins look so eerie with the ravens perched on them...

The Tablescaper said...

Great table. Love the little pops of red!

- The Tablescaper

Kuby said...

I love Edgar Allen Poe and your table! The white pumpkins are so inviting. It is such a fun table!

Entertaining Women said...

Beautiful table in a perfectly creepy way. I can't believe that I used to know "The Raven" by memory...and used to have American Lit students memorize it. Yikes! Glad that you're computer is up and running again! Thank you for inviting us to your amazing table. Cherry Kay

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Spooky, but beautiful! I like the pops of red!

Neat theme and adding the poetry!

Katherine

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Who better to spend Halloween with than Poe? Love the way the shadows fall across your spooky table.

Kathleen said...

Yikes, Marlis, I am so frightened I can't eat. Oh wait, I am ok now, pass the food. My napkin is being strangled , oh no!
Bloody good table, I hope it attracts the right caliber of guests. Keep your neck covered and serve lots of garlic!

Anonymous said...

Bootiful. Simply Bootiful. (sorry about the pun). It is an exquisite TS and I'm going to World Market tomorrow to find those gorgeous napkin rings.

Anonymous said...

Just when I think you've done the best table ever you come up with another one. I love this one. It's so elegantly creepy. A raven found its way to my table as well. Maybe he got lost on the way to Texas.

Jocelyn said...

You know Marlis, even though this is a spooky type table, there is an elegance about it. Love the dishes and the crystal.

Jocelyn @
http://justalittlesouthernhospitality.blogspot.com/

A Perfect Setting said...

Hi Marlis, this table is just so creepy in an exquisite, elegant kind of way! I love it! So perfect with the narrative. I am curious about those candleholders as well, they are awesome. The pops of red add a scary, gothic touch. I have some of the Parklane crystal and recently broke a water goblet. I can't seem to win on Ebay, oh well, I'll keep trying, it looks perfect with your 'scape.

Debbie said...

Well, since I love Poe, you had me from the beginning. This is wonderful, and it does go perfectly with the inspiration poem.

The white and black with pops of the blood red looks absolutely perfect.

I really want some flatware like that. All of our black flatware is too casual. That's just elegant looking.

Susan Freeman said...

Love your "cast of characters"! Lovely and yet spooky tablescape and oh so creative too!

Hugs,
Susan and Bentley

xinex said...

The Raven is one of my all time favorite poem, Marlis and you made it alive in this amazing tablescape. I love it!...Christine

Chubby Chieque said...

Wow! your table is really my style.

With those colour combo? my kitchen motive.

Unfortunately, Sweden isn't into Halloween.

TY again for the inspiration.

Greetings from chilly Stockholm
/chie

Donna said...

All I can say is, you did a wonderful job on this table.
Love it.

Gina said...

This tablescape is perfectly creepy! I love it. I also think it was clever to bring in the red.

Anonymous said...

Marlis, I love your Raven's Tale table. The splash of red with your white and black is PERFECT!!! Thanks so much for visiting and have a wonderful Halloween!!

Michelle @ Sweet Something Design said...

Hi Marlis, what a great table!I think the red looks great and a little unexpected, great job!

Decor To Adore said...

This tablescape is simply spooktacular!

I created a Mad Scientists lab this past Monday and hope you'll come take a peek and shriek.

Unknown said...

Oh, so elegant and I am just LOVING the pops of red :)

Blessings!
Gail

Carrie said...

Utilizing a literary thread certainly adds distinctiveness to your special setting... It's gorgeous!

Unknown said...

Nevermore have I seen a more ghastly, gorgeous table - love love love!

Unknown said...

Beautiful! Joann

Jacqueline said...

Oooohhh, chilling and thrilling. I loved it and even a spot for Edgar!
The picture of the plate as you begin to read the poem is perfect! Truly, I had chills and I love the place cards. Then top it off with blood red accents - Marlis, you are tons of fun!

Barbara said...

Oh, you had me at "once upon a midnight dreary"! Combining this gorgeous table with that poem just delights my former English major's heart! Each and every detail is so spookily (that can't be a word!) delicious. The black, the shocks of red, the mirrors, the placecards are all just perfect. I love it when someone can do a Halloween table in a sophisticated way. You sure did! Delightful!

swedecollection said...

Marlis, you are really creative! I enjoyed this one so much. And, I haven't read The Raven in years. Very, very well done!

BluBabesCreate said...

Totally perfect! Come see my Jack the Ripper tablescape!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Very elegant and gorgeous tablescape my dear, the center piece with the pumpkins is lovely! Marlis you have made a beautiful table, I enjoyed it so much. Have a terrific weekend. FABBY

Maria said...

Wow! Just awesome!

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