The Scarlet Petticoat

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.