...family, friends, home and other tidbits of a blessed life

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Today, I'm thankful for a thanksgivings tablescape

I've decided how our table will be set for Thanksgivings.. and it's not even the day before!!

Since I dropped off the "Not buying anymore dishes" bandwagon in January, and I reasoned I could use these for Thanksgivings, I challenged myself to try these dishes on. Yes, you read correctly that I fell off the bandwagon (I started Jan 1) around... let's say.... ooh, ouch.. January 14th! 

It was NOT my fault. Really. That email from One Kings Lane just jumped up and down in my inbox and I had to act on it.. fast.. I mean real fast. I never even slowed down until I was at the finish line! The price was so low, it literally took my breath away. Okay, enough excuses....

I used a linen tablecloth and napkins from Williams Sonoma. Brown with a green band. It's great to use chargers on fine linens because it keeps the little messes off the tablecloth! This is one of their jacquards that are made in Russia. Great feel and drape!

I brought in my nut trees. I had seen these years ago at Horchow's for a pricey amount. Especially for nuts. So I went to the grocery store, picked up some nuts and then purchased some styrofoam shapes. It's better to spray paint them with spray paint made for styrofoam.. brown would be my choice. That way you can't see anything behind the nuts if they don't overlap. Use hot glue (not the low temp type) to adhere the nuts.

I really like the addition of the pears and the little vases of wheat. It was too early to go buy some flowers and expect them to last until next week. I'm thinking of some of the little mum buttons and maybe a berry type of something to poke in with the wheat. 

Still loving these Libbey Rock Sharpe glasses. 

I like to keep a towel  or spare napkin with the water pitcher. Easy to catch any drips.

Antiques make a good  accessory for this chore!

The pears are also found in the plates. I think I'll do a sugared fruit centerpiece for Christmas. 
Yes, dear sweet husband, rest assured we can use the same dishes twice!

I love to use the silver pieces I have. Call me silly/stupid/crazy, but I love to polish silver. 
I like to polish a piece or two every Saturday. That way they are never all tarnished at the same time.

Can you believe these pears are fabulous fauxs?

The fauxs look very much like the pears on the plates!



Another treasure, one of those use many ways candlelabras.


I might or might not get the sterling out of the safe. But this set of Old Company Plate is really one of my favorites. 

 And then I remembered that I had purchased these white boo pumpkins specifically for this table. Better late than never, I put them on the dinner plates.


 Notice that there is no salad plate. I tend to do a Buffet for the bigger meals, only because it's easier to have everyone get what they want than to pass a gazillion bowls around the table. How do you serve?




Cast:
Tablecloth & napkins - Williams Sonoma
Chargers - Tuesday Morning
China - Lenox Holiday Tartan
Water stems - Mikasa Parklane
Wine stems - Libbey Rock Sharpe
Flatware - Old Company Plate
Candlesticks - antiques

Today, I'm thankful for you. For your visits, your comments and your continued support. You make my life a lot brighter each and every day. Your visits make my day. I get most of my visiting done on Saturdays! See you the. Have a very blessed Thanksgivings with you and yours. 

Joining


31 comments:

The French Hutch said...

Hi Marlis, I had a good laugh at your comment about your email jumping up and down with a great deal! Don't feel bad, we all would have fallen off that bandwagon. Beautiful pattern I'm sure you'll use often during the holidays. The tablescape is gorgeous. I remember seeing those nut trees. Yours look great and you saved a lot too. I have to say the crock pot potato soup sounds delish. Perfect fall meal.

Happy Thanksgiving Marlis,
Emily
The French Hutch

Jacqueline~Cabin and Cottage said...

Such a pretty table! Especially that tablecloth!! ;0) We do buffet too. Too many people! I love all the silver. You have a smart way of going about it. I like all the varied action and details going on here. Just lovely. Happy Thanksgiving dear Marlis!

Alycia Nichols said...

Do you have any idea just how much I am crushin' on those nut trees??? Wow, Marlis! Great job! You did a really, really fantastic number on those! I see things at places like Williams-Sonoma or Pottery Barn or Horchow and WANT to replicate them myself, but I would NEVER have done such a great job as you did here! Great advice, too, about spraying the Styrofoam before gluing on the nuts. I didn't know there was spray paint made specifically for use with Styrofoam. I'll have to look that up to have on hand. I like the wheat all by itself if the little vases. You could certainly go with it just as is. It's pretty. Great idea to have the pretty napkin right there on the pitcher for drip catching. GORGEOUS tablecloth!!! Like you, I don't mind polishing silver at all. It brings a great deal of satisfaction to see that tarnish rinse away down the sink. You've got that butter dish gleaming like the stars in the heavens! As for the "not buying anymore dishes" bandwagon, don't beat yourself up. I have fallen off a couple of times this year, too. I think I have actually done pretty good, though, considering all the temptation out there. My purchases have all been minuscule. I applaud you for getting your table done way in advance! It takes a lot of pressure off. Oh, you asked how do I serve Thanksgiving? I like to serve the salad at the individual places and then have the group go through a buffet for the rest of it. That way they feel like they've been served. I like to serve the dessert, too, when possible. Everyone is usually passed out from the turkey by then, though! :-) Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Kathleen said...

Hello dear Marlis!
I am so glad to see you use "our " :) dishes for Tgiving!
I am not hosting Tgiving, but I pulled some out to do my table for tonight. Then, I couldn't find, read, not in the mood to search for, the linens .lol
I love what you did with them, the nut trees go so well with the little acorns on the plates! Beautiful linens too!
We serve buffet too, much better than pass, pass, pass!

See you later!
Going back for another look so Ican snatch some ideas, I mean get inspiation from your table. I have some gold urns with sugared fruits that I planned to use, but I need something for the middle.

Tricia said...

Beautiful, Marlis! I love this look, and now I think I "need" to make some nut trees! What gorgeous china -- I can see why you fell off the wagon. One King's Lane is dangerous territory! I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

This is so pretty -- that china is perfect from Thanksgiving straight through Christmas! My mother and grandmother used to have some beautiful nut wreaths.....now I wonder where they went....

Meredith said...

Those nut trees are beautiful. Lovely dishes...I'm sure you'll get a LOT of use from them!!

Anonymous said...

I would love to have Lenox Tartan. I would have ordered them quickly too!:-)

I don't even think about getting on the wagon. I would just fall off as soon as I set one foot upon it.

Your table is wonderful. I am happy you decided to use the Lenox for a Thanksgiving table.

Tea in Texas said...

Glad you are enjoying the beautiful china for Thanksgiving! The nut trees are a great idea and this has given me the idea since I did my tablescape with acorns this year! I love your vases of wheat in the small vases and the button mums would be pretty, too. The table is very elegant with your lovely silver pieces! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Thanks, Pam

Dianne said...

Hi Marlis,
I totally relate to jumping off the wagon. I have decied I will NEVEr say no more dishes again. It's a promise I cannot keep. I love your centerpiece and the nut trees are fantastic. You are so clever. Dianne

Entertaining Women said...

Wagon? There's a wagon? Never did like to ride on wagons anyway. Dang. How did I miss the Lenox Tartan on One Kings Lane? I must have been traveling someplace without Internet service...double dang. The tablescape is exquisite, and now I want nut trees. I'll have to speak to the squirrels in our back yard. You've inspired me to get busy with our Thanksgiving table...as soon I get everything cleared away from the luncheon that I hosted today. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

Beautiful Marlis! I think your new dishes are wonderful and hey we all fall off the wagon every so often eh!!
I love your nut trees- I know that was a bit of work! You didn't have any trouble with the styrofoam melting on you? Anyway, I know that took some perseverance! Beautiful stemware! Have a great Thanksgiving!

Ann @ Corner of Plaid and Paisley said...

Love, love, love your nut trees!!! Your table is beautiful. Your silver pieces are gorgeous, especially that photo of the water pitcher with the pretty linens. Ver nice! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Penny @ Penny's Vintage Home said...

Thank you so much for the visit and leaving such a sweet comment! We have eaten at the Dinner Bell, but that day we ate at Leal's! I love your tablescape.. Your china is gorgeous, and I love the nut trees! Hugs, Penny

A Cottage in the Clouds said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Now I want nut trees! And I've always wanted Lenox Holiday Tartan... so pretty! I'm jealous - by the time I open my Kings Lane emails everything is sold out!
The silver candelabra adds a beautiful touch, too, among the nuts and wheat and all. Just all very beautiful.

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

Oh Marlis, there are so many things I'm loving on your table. First of all, you just make me LOL with your getting off the bandwagon way back on January!!!! Im glad you did because those dishes were too pretty too pretty to pass up. The nut trees are gorgeous, my dear. The flatware and those wine glasses are wonderful.

Jacqueline said...

I just spent the first of the week down in the basement in the "holiday" room and I told myself over and over and over again, "I am not buying anything else"!!!!! I don't have a spare inch left. I understand - I have a problem and I need a 12 step program - ha ha!

But who could pass those beautiful plates up? Your nut trees are wonderful too. Yes, I would love to make some, but again, where would I put them. My husband says he is getting worried because I am moving food out of the food storage room for dishware!

Oh, the temptations we face!!

Mary said...

Marlis~ I love your nut trees, pears and wheat at the table! All so wonderful for Thanksgiving with your Lenox Holiday Tartan! I wouldn't have been able to resist those dishes either. I'm trying to limit myself to two's & four's to help with storage and my dish addiction :) Happy Thanksgiving to you & your family!

xinex said...

Hi Marlis! I know the feeling,I keep telling myself I am not buying any more dishes because I have so much already but it is so hard to resist whenever I see a pretty one with a "good deal". But I already made a New Year's resolution of not buying any that we do not need in 2013. Your table is stunning as usual. Great job on the nut topiaries. Pretty glasses, plates and centerpiece....Christine

On Crooked Creek said...

Marlis,
What a gorgeous tablescape for Thanksgiving, indeed!!! I love using pears in any tablescape! Your fauxs are such a great match to the dinner plates! Nautral elements with the silver looks stunning! Have a blessed week, dear friend!!! Look forward to seeing you soon!
Fondly,
Pat

Scribbler said...

I love everything! I have three of those big styrofoam cones, been intending to do nut trees for ever, never have. I probably spend too much time on this computer!

Your Holiday Tartan is fabulous -- I regularly fall off the wagon, myself, so you are not alone.

I don't mind polishing silver -- wish I had somewhere to put it, besides the garage.

Chubby Chieque said...

Oh dear Marlis,
I am loving on your silver gadgets. They are beautiful in their forms. All in all--- Absolutely stunning. Everything is well choosen in this great setting for a great dinner.

Greetings from dark Stockholm City,
/Chie

Debbie said...

I love those dishes for Thanksgiving. I have seen them and have really wanted them, but I've never caved. I didn't do my Thanksgiving table yet. I just couldn't get the groove or something. Thanks for inspiring me to get to work on mine.

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Oh these are so pretty! I have loved these dishes for so very long. Two years ago I won 8 settings from Lenox in a Christmas giveaway and really leaned very heavily on getting these but ended up passing them up for the Butlers pantry because I had already started that collection. I think they are definitely appropriate for Thanksgiving as well as Christmas. Your setting is just beautiful with them and I'd bet my last dollar it is even more stunning in person. I love it!

Marigene said...

Those dishes are gorgeous and what a beautiful table they make! They would be great for Christmas, too. I really like the nut trees...wonder how hard they would be to make.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Marlis, this is beautiful! Love, love that china pattern (and I've had OKL emails jump up and down in my inbox too~you're so cute). Those nut topiaries are great! How smart of you to make those. and oh, I cannot forget to say something about those stems-absolutely stunning. laurie

suzyq said...

Wow Marlis, this table is just so elegant. Don't worry about purchasing new tableware - it hasn't stopped the world, has it, so it's all ok!!
Your family will feel very special dining here.
Suzyq

Maria C said...

No jury in the world, if it were composed of tablescapers, would convict you for falling off the wagon! :-)

I was so looking forward to your first tablescape with these new dishes! Your table has definitely lived up to my expectations. Everything is so, so lovely!

But, really, Marlis, I don't think I can handle your showing me yet another tablecloth to love! This one is fantastic! And the nut trees are just delightful!

I didn't have time to put together my Thanksgiving tablescape, but I'll be posting it next week. I'm afraid I'm one of "those" that waits until the last minute to pull everything together.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all your family! Blessings!

Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside said...

Love your table, Marlis! You have so many pretty touches!

Lulu said...

So much elegance and creativity is built into your beautiful table. I'm betting a lot of people are going to copy your nut tree idea. Thanks for the tip about using special Styrofoam paint.Now I know why the paint didn't stick to the forms I tried to spray.

Yvonne @ StoneGable said...

Oh, Marlis... this table is so rich, traditional and opulent! Perfect for Thanksgiving! I love the china... sigh... and the GORGEOUS linens! I got a little chuckle out of your post! YOu are too cute!!!

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