We are joining the Tablescape Thursday party given by Susan at Between Naps on the Porch please visit her site to view lots more 'fun with dishes' blogs!!

Mom, Laur and I have been busy this month  !!!

In June we graduated 2 children, attended the graduations and parties of 3 others, traveled through 6 states, attended 2 weddings, became a mother-in-law and retired (again)! Not to mention searching for a new place to live, stopping to honor the Dads involved, wishing ours a happy 73rd birthday and attending farewell parties for yourself!

Whew! And I though May was a big deal! That was childs play!

Today is the first of July and I am terrified of what this month has to offer. It better involve serious hours by the pool is all I can say!!

On to tablescape land!!

Let's start with Laurie's

Samantha quietly enters the darkened room. She breathes a sigh of relief when she catches sight of the beautifully set table. A few of her fellow graduates are about to arrive and it has been a truly busy spring.

As usual Mom has thought of everything and the table is ready for a relaxing luncheon with friends. The atmosphere is tranquil.

When the ladies arrive at the table they find pale green silk kimonos, embroidered with lavender peacocks waiting at their seats.

The damask napkins are rolled into bakelite rings balanced by chopsticks from takeout nights!

A light sushi meal has been prepared. The young women enjoy the exotic food in candlelight and the fragrance of fresh hydrangeas.

  Recapping the best and worst moments of the last four years, the conversation turns to plans for the future and each girl confesses her dreams and wishes, feeling safe in this quiet circle of friendship.

 As lunch comes to a close, Samantha hears a knock at the door. When she opens it she is greeted by two women equipped to give massages and pedicures!
"awwww mom"

 The girls are excited by their good 'fortune' and laughingly rub Buddha's belly for good luck!

orange melamine plates...walmart - 1.00ea
white smaller plates.........walmart - 1.00ea
white rectangular dish, stones...walmart
green plate....................marshalls - 3.00
napkin rings.........vintage bakelite
napkins....................vintage linen
hydrangeas.................my garden!
wooden shelf!....................tjmaxx
rice wine cups............votive holders

Just Starting Out
presented by Eileen
The young bride gently removes the quilt top from between the layers of tissue.  Mother has sent her chest filled with things acquired over the years in hopes of her marriage. 

Her grandmother taught her how to cut old clothes and found fabric into strips and stitch them together to create a quilt. It is with sadness that she caresses the fabric and feels the loss of grandma. She died before she could show Juliette how to make the tiny, precise stitches that would define the quilt.

With a chuckle she realizes grandmother would never tolerate self pity and so she continues her hunt through the box of treasures. There is the blue agateware coffee pot! The color is so vibrant and reminds Juliette of the beautiful sky over her seaside cottage.

The next thing she found were the little animals her brother carved for her, he said they would remind her of the farm. Living on the New England coast was a huge change from the farm in Wisconsin, but, Juliette was happy for the change. She loved the sea air and the craggy rock lined coast and of course her wonderful new husband!

Just today he had picked a bouquet of wild daisies for her before he headed down to the docks. Fishing was Jays life. The thought of him joining her family on the farm was unthinkable and so he brought her back to his home.

Juliette smiled as she planned the dinner she would serve him later today. For now she began to set the table.

On top of the quilt she laid out the red wooden chargers and gray metalware plates. She pulled  two bread warmers out of the hope chest and thought they would look sweet under the mugs. The Griswold dutch oven was one of the most important tools in her kitchen. Juliette used it to make all sorts of delicious meals.

Today would be a lobster bisque using milk from Louden Hill, the local dairy and lobster fresh from Jays catch yesterday.

The soup had been simmering for hours. By the time dinner was served the seafood and spices would have bubbled and mingled to become the main course in their simple meal.

For desert there were fresh strawberries picked from her very own first garden!
Juliette placed the white pitchers and crocheted napkins that were wedding gifts with special care. These were her favorite things and she treasured them.

For the last touch she added some vines around the coffee pot and filled it with the daisy bouquet.

Singing and giggling to herself, Juliette stepped back from the table to admire her work.

Something caught her eye and she turned suddenly and raced through the front door!

Thank You, Susan for hosting the party!

Met Monday goes to the Prom!!

The Best Formal Ever!!

I am joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch

for Metamorphosis Monday!!

This is my daughter Vivian in her formal from Prom 2009.

I have always made Vivian's special occasion dresses and last year while we were shopping for the right style, Vivian tried this dress on.  She turned to me with tears in her eyes. (Viv never cries) and said "I know we can't get it but, do you think you could copy it for me?"

Now, I can sew like nobody's business...but, this was a prom gown on steroids!  Just looking at the layers of tulle made me want to take a sedative.  She really looked so beautiful in it I couldn't help but buy it for her (by now we were both crying!).  We ate macaroni and cheese for the rest of that month!

Vivian said she would wear this gown to every formal occasion she would ever attend!!

I actually sprung for alterations because there were no others in her size and it was discontinued.  So they had to take it from a size 6 to a 2.  Vivian went to the prom and felt like a queen!

Here she is with her date...

Don't forget cheesy picture with little brother!!

For her Senior Prom Vivian wanted to be a little more sophisticated and so as the prom date drew closer she began to think she might want to change the bodice. Since I have tried to cater to her every whim create original clothing for her over the years, I set about coming up with a plan. We decided on a plain black bustier and cutting the gown down to a long skirt.

The original dress was extremely heavy on her shoulders...this way the weight would be on her waist and hips...which we thought would be more comfortable. It was comfortable and she loved it!

Even though I asked her not to tell anyone I made it since I had over a month to do it and yet waited until the last minute and did a rush job which it looked like in my opinion!

Hello...Gorgeous!!!

Don't forget goofy face picture with younger brother, Wesley!

.....and here...sob...sob....is the real metamorphosis....

Please stop by at Between Naps on the Porch to see some really cool Metamorphosii!!!!!

Just click here...

METAMORPHOSIS MONDAY AT BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH!

Vivian goes to the Prom!!

I am goofing off resting up for Memorial Day guests...(what? am I crazy?). I still haven't posted the remaining two tablescapes! But, since I mentioned working on my daughter Vivian's prom gown I thought I would post a few photos of her in it. I might join Metamorphosis Monday for this project!!!

Anyway, if I don't post the other two table settings I will link up with Susan for next Tablescape Thursday.

My daughter loved her dress from last years' prom and wanted to wear it again this year (her Senior year). As the prom date drew closer she began to think she might want to change the bodice. Since I have tried to cater to her every whim create original clothing for her over the years, I set about coming up with a plan. We decided on a plain black bustier and cutting the gown down to a long skirt.

The original dress was extremely heavy on her shoulders...this way the weight would be on her waist and hips...which we thought would be more comfortable. It was comfortable and she loved it! Even though I asked her not to tell anyone I made it since I had over a month to do it and yet waited until the last minute and did a rush job which it looked like in my opinion!

So, here is my spoiled, moody and crabby beautiful daughter with her boyfriend Chris in their prom finery! 

Vivian and Christoforo!

 Pensive, romantic pose! 

   Me, hiding!

My daughter Vivian and my son Wesley 
   

The cover Shot!!!!

Dear Friends,

Happy Tablescape Thursday!!

I am adding tables from Mom and I to last weeks post of Lauries' Brunch which has some slight changes.

First we have the post from 27 May...

Tonights' post is very late and almost didn't make it! I was all prepared with a table setting. Actually had it done days ago! Photos and all!! I forced Mom and Laurie to hurry and send me theirs and look at me now! Exhausted! I spent all day sewing my daughters' gown for the prom which is....you guessed it...tonight!!!

These past two weeks included Senior Awards Night, chauffeur service to and from artists night and then film night and then vocal performance night...(my daughter attends a performing arts school). A morning meeting with the child study team from my sons' school, numerous gown fittings, multiple cake baking and delivering, not to mention groceries, laundry, meals (sort of). And kicking off the whole thing were two birthday parties (which included sleepovers and food) for my newly minted 16 year old.

Graduation is next week and I am hoping for a nap after that!!

Even though it has only been a month, we love tablescaping and dish hunting!!! It is relaxing and challenging all at the same time!! So, without further ado...

What is this? Graduation Brunch a la Scarlet O'Hara?!

Laurie surprises us by mixing amber depression glass with a beautiful black toile.

Little Lenox dish is a housewarming gift from 20+ years ago.

Eiffel tower was a school dance decoration in the '90's!

Curvalicious white gravy boat is a yard sale find!  

Madrid depression glass collected over the years. 

 

 Add a few flowers from the yard and Voila!! .........Brunch is served...

You are wondering why this 'scape' is called Scarlet O'Hara?

Why the tablecloth was ripped from the windows in the front parlour!!!!

Prom Invitation Day!

The invitations to prom have arrived in the mail and Betsy is giving a breakfast to celebrate.

The six girls locate their place cards strung across the chairbacks with vintage lace.

The intrigue begins...

First, there is the matter of those who need escorts.

The Senior Prom is a once in a lifetime experience and the utmost care must be exercised in choosing a date.  The girls put their heads together to compile a list of desirable boys. The criteria for a good prom date has many aspects to it.   The young man must be able to afford the expenses of a fancy date such as this. Even with the ladies' contribution it can be taxing to a gentleman's wallet.  Family members are eliminated from consideration. The social ramifications of being escorted by a brother or cousin would be more than a genteel lady could bear.  The only exceptions to this rule are if the relative were A..famous, B...foreign, C...a recipient of the make a wish foundation.

Lifelong friends and sweethearts are of course the most desirable; however in a pinch an unknown from another school can be quite promising.  The criteria established, the ladies move on to the attire.

Adorning the table for inspiration (?) is a porcelain doll handpainted by Betsy's Great Aunt Ruth.This darling dancing figure represents Aunt Ruth's fantasy, you see Ruth's hair was completely white by the time she was eighteen!!

 

In this techno generation there are websites devoted to showcasing your dress to prevent someone from your school wearing..heaven forbid...the same formal! Betsy distributes a list of these sites along with the most fashion forward and interesting retailers within a 100 mile radius.  Corsage or nosegay?  That discussion is postponed until gowns are purchased.

The ladies toast the prom with orange juice in sparkling crystal goblets inherited from Betsy's paternal grandmother.

Brunch is served on Farberware China in the Southampton pattern.

The flatware is Reed and Barton silverplate.

The Prom theme is 'On the Threshold of a Dream' and that is where our young friends are poised today...

A Painterly Lunch

It is while the last blooms of Spring are filling the air with their fragrance that Eileen gathers her painting class for a little luncheon.  Before the artists disband for the Summer they take this occasion to reminisce about the fun they had since last Fall.  Every Wednesday rain or shine they congregated at the Dietrich Theatre for the weeks' project. Honing the techniques they had acquired over the last few years.

The ebullient group of ladies ooh and ahh over the handpainted porcelain plates. The plates, created by local artist Nancy, feature fruit designs with lovely scalloped borders rimmed in gold. Carolyn pronounces them 'beauteous'!

Each place is crowned with an embroidered tea towel, an auction find!

In honor of Spring, Eileen has used the Peach Blossom canary tone china by W. S. George. This pattern also comes in white. The canary shade is much softer.  The delicate peach blossoms along with the uniquely scalloped platinum rims lend a slight oriental flair to the china.

Mo's favorite, Irish coffee (Mo is first generation Irish American and married to...how'd you guess? a retired Manhattan Policeman!!) will be served in etched stemware. A 25th anniversary gift.

 
The centerpiece is a Hull vase inherited from Eileen's paternal grandmother, Nellie Thomas. The sculpted flower candle holders are Paula West originals.

Doesn't this pattern seem to be painted by hand?

  Along with the place settings there are many serving pieces, extra salt & pepper shakers and gravy boats!

If you like the Peach Blossom dishes they are for sale!! Just send me an email if you are interested!

Thank you to Susan from betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com  for hosting Tablescape Thursday.

We feel blessed to be a part of this lovely blog community.