Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Birthday Tablescape…Where the Deer and the Antelope Play

Susan, our gracious hostess at Between Naps on the Porch has invited us once again. As someone else pointed out: I don’t really think she naps :)! I know everyone is neck deep in Thanksgiving plans…cleaning, cooking, or a lucky few packing. But we are have a double celebration before the big holiday. First Born and our new son in law (hereafter known as Shug and pronounced like the first half of sugar :) are both celebrating birthdays! First Born is celebrating a milestone one and it is Shug’s first as a member of our family. He proposed to Sunshine on his birthday last year. It calls for a celebration—and a manly one!

CIMG0645

This antelope started it all. A friend had it left over from a garage sale. He was originally an ash blonde color. The tablescape wheels starting turning in my head and with a can of gold spray paint he became my centerpiece.

CIMG0644

We are usually an informal family more prone to barbecue on the deck than formal sit down meals—but this one is special and required a special table setting.

CIMG0665

Glenda at A Dab of This and That tipped me off on these large faux acorns at Cracker Barrel. Perfect and 40% off to boot—thanks Glenda!

CIMG0676

It’s hard for me to set a table without flowers no matter how manly it is. Since I had a gold theme going, I spray painted these Dollar Tree candle holders with the same gold spray paint. The roses (always from Kroger) are yellowish with burnt orange tips to pull out the colors in the china.

CIMG0674

I used my grandmother’s Lancaster by Haviland—a great pattern for autumn. One of the things that I love most about this china is what it represents to me. This china was not a wedding gift to my grandparents. My grandmother, a career woman, bought every single piece on layaway—that thing people used before credit cards. She had a great appreciation for beautiful things and was willing to work for them. I found these great gold napkin rings at Old Time Pottery recently for $1 each. The sterling is Burgundy by Reed and Barton.

CIMG0679

I dressed up the Lismore by Waterford with wired gold ribbon. Each person will have their own little crystal salt and pepper set.

CIMG0684

No one but my grandmother would have ever dared to wash this covered dish…we were all afraid we’d break it :)

CIMG0673

I am serving Rett’s (from The Gazebo House) individual beef Wellingtons and the gravy boat will be perfect for a horseradish sauce or bearnaise

CIMG0668

Butter pats for the rolls will hide inside here. I usually use this china for Thanksgiving, but this year we will be eating with my daughter—my first time to be a guest in over twenty five years. The Thanksgiving torch passed directly from my paternal grandmother to me…so I had to get out her china….I hope you’ll enjoy sharing it with me.

CIMG0663

Click on the TT button on the sidebar for more tablescape with Susan! Don’t forget Deck the Halls will be on Tuesdays beginning December 1. I hope you’ll join in the fun and grab a button! For details click here320597529_6c21476212_m

42 comments:

  1. Susan what a beautiful table and a great way to celebrate both birthdays! I love the gold sprayed elk, never would have thought of that! One of the reasons I love Blogging is getting such a treasure trove of ideas from such creative people like you! I am sentimental as well and the story of the china means a lot. May your party be joyful.

    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  2. That is a beautiful table and very Southern Bellesque. After all, Burgundy is one of the Top 10 sterling patterns, at least according to "The Southern Belle Primer." Love the gold painted antelope (I guess they're not really Southern, but it's pretty anyway). Glad for the reminder about Deck the Halls. I'm grabbing the button now.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a special celebration and such a pretty table. The story behind the china is precious. It makes you know just how special those dishes were to her. I hear you on that lid to the casserole dish!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Susan one word BEAUTIFUL...HAPPY BIRTHDAY also...you out did yourself my friend...Many mountain Hugs to ya my friend....Gl♥ria

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh how lovely, Susan!! I'm a gold lover & the more sparkle & bling, the better. This is just super with all your wonderful extra special touches.

    I'm honored that you, too, are going to try *my* individual beef wellington recipe. I hope they all love it like my guests did. It makes for a really knock-your-socks-off presentation & its almost all done ahead of time. My kind of cookin'!

    Thanks for sharing your special event with us. Happy Birthday to both your First Born & Shug!

    fondly,
    Rett

    ps I ♥ your Lismore with the bow!!!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your table looks so beautiful. I love the story of your grandmother purchasing the china on layaway and saving for it. Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Such a beautiful tablescape. I love the gorgeous china and all the accessories are perfect. Stunning photography too. Hugs, Marty

    ReplyDelete
  8. Beautiful - who wouldn't like to sit at that table with family/friends to celebrate a special occasion or just a regular meal.
    You are very welcome - re: the acorns. Glad I could help out. :)
    Happy Birthday to your Son and Son in Law!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What a gorgeous table. It is so inviting! Perfect spot for a wonderful family dinner.
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  10. Just gorgeous and so creative too, your family will be so impressed! Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  11. What a beautiful table. I just love all of the warm colors!

    Chelsea

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love the antelope, but really love your grandmother's china. It is gorgeous. How lucky for you to be able to enjoy it.

    - The Tablescaper

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh, Susan! I love your gorgeous table! That antelope is perfect and I'll bet you could dress him up to use for Christmas too! Your grandmother's china is just so beautiful! Your crystal, napkin rings, and little butter pat is beautiful! Now those two birthday boys will feel so special sitting at this table.
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia ;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. You are getting so handy with that spray paint. I would never have thought to spray that antelope! How pretty he looks in the center of your table. I love that you cherish your grandmother's beautiful china, and I love knowing that she paid for it on layaway. This table looks stunning, and this is going to be a fabulous birthday celebration! You'll love those beef wellingtons. laurie

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is so beautiful and elegant. I'm sure your daughter and son-in-law will be so thrilled. I guess I really need to start thinking about spray painting everything. You all come up with such transformations.

    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  16. How wonderful! Every detail is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Manly, yes, but I like it too!!! Everything is gorgeous. I love your china and the family story that goes with it. Looking forward to Deck the Halls! :D Jewel

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a beautiful celebration! I think that I have a little crush on your Haviland dishes...gorgeous!
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Susan, I love yor beautiful table... You did a wonderful job...Everthing is perfect...Happy Thanksgiving
    xoxo
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  20. Beautiful table! Those dishes are wonderful -- hope you have a happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful Birthday celebration.

    ReplyDelete
  21. A wonderful table. Lovely dishes with a wonderful story. A great Birthday celebration.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Hi Susan,

    The table looks magnificent and I love the way you spray painted the antelope and that started the theme for your birthday dinner.
    Happy Birthday to your First born and Shug.

    Hugs
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  23. Beautiful, elegant and very sophicated! I love the china, and what you did with spraypaint!
    I'm sure your "boys" will feel very loved!
    I am so drawn to formal and so very detailed tablescapes.
    Have a blessed and happ Thanksgiving!
    Yvonne

    ReplyDelete
  24. Beautiful! Hall the best for your party. Birthday blessings to your son.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Love the title of this post. Happy Birthday to the guys. Isn't it amazing what a can of spray paint can do? Good idea to spray with gold paint. Now your GMs china is lovely and I would have been a bit nervous washing that cover dish too:)
    Joyce

    ReplyDelete
  26. LOVE it....so festive and warm!

    Congrats on the new baby!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Beautiful table set for a King--all in gold. I wish we had a cracker Barrel here. Love those acorns! Happy Thanksgiving even if it won't be at your house this year. I am doing the same thing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Susan that is a beautiful table. Happy Bithday to firstborn. Love what you did with the glasses and the deer.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I love your grandmother's china! I'm planning to use my grandmother's china for Thanksgiving, too. It also has lots of amazing serving pieces that are fun to pull out -- but not to wash!

    ReplyDelete
  30. It looks wonderful. I love the way the candlelight reflects on the antelope.

    ReplyDelete
  31. What an amazingly beautiful way to celebrate! Just lovely. I want those acorns!!! :( They are super cute! If only we had a Cracker Barrel nearby.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Hi Susan,
    What a beautiful table you've set! I loved the story of your grandmother buying her lovely china piece-by-piece, putting it on layaway (got misty-eyed as I read it). Her determination was matched by her good taste, wasn't it? It's so nice that you have it and enjoy using it on special occasions.

    Hope you have a great weekend!

    Bill

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is very pretty. I love the antelope and roses. It all looks so elegant.

    ReplyDelete
  34. All the details of your table are outstanding and exquisitely put together to form a beautiful and warm table setting.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Susan, I've been in involuntary exile due to my wireless router acting up, so I'm late visiting. I have to say that this is one spectacular table. I love the antelope sprayed gold, your grandmother's limoges, your Burgundy flatware, and your Lismore with the bow. I also like your beaded napkin rings, the dollar store vases sprayed, and all of the other touches that make the table so pretty. My MIL has Francis I, but I actually like Burgundy better. My mother had Chantilly, so I didn't have a choice... it was picked for me before I knew I could choose something else. ;-)

    Happy Birthday to Sug and to your son! Hope you all had a wonderful celebration.

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

    ReplyDelete
  36. A fabulous gift idea that any mom & grandma links of london sale would be glad to accept is a mother's ring. There are countless styles to pick from london links charms and every one permits each of a mother's children's birthstone to be placed in the ring so mom & grandma can remember her children wherever she goes.Jewelry links london bracelet that is personalized or engraved makes great jewelry gifts for mom. You can have a particular word or meaningful expression engraved inside a ring, necklace or bracelet links of london earrings to demonstrate to your mother the depths of your feelings.Stylish watches are an additional idea for great jewelry gifts for mom. Your mother sweetie bracelet needs a stylish watch to go with her favorite outfit and perhaps even a few to go with her entire wardrobe.Another example of mom's & grandma's jewelry that makes a great gift is mother's earrings.

    ReplyDelete
  37. This website really has all of the information and facts I wanted concerning
    this subject and didn't know who to ask.

    Here is my blog post; jobs in uk

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn. That is an extremely well written article.
    I will make sure to bookmark it and return to learn extra of your helpful information.
    Thank you for the post. I will certainly comeback.


    Also visit my web blog: Fake People Quotes and Sayings

    ReplyDelete
  39. What a material of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable experience about
    unpredicted feelings.

    Feel free to surf to my web-site :: Graduate Quarterly

    ReplyDelete
  40. I read this post fully about the resemblance of latest and previous technologies,
    it's amazing article.

    Here is my weblog :: Spazio-kovan

    ReplyDelete
  41. I was pretty pleased to uncover this web site. I wanted to thank you for ones time for this particularly
    wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and i also have you bookmarked to see
    new information on your web site.

    Also visit my web site ... diclofenac interactions

    ReplyDelete