Waiting for Edie Elizabeth to Blossom

First things first...We are truly blessed to have the means to set a pretty table and invite our friends to join us for good food and fellowship. I am mindful that many are not so fortunate. My daughter has a passion for the work of the Food Bank. As a singer-songwriter, she has written and recorded a song that is the anthem for the world wide Crop Hunger Walk project. Her song, "Raise Your Voice" is featured in their video. I've included a link in the side margin of my blog. I hope that it will encourage you to support projects in your community that contribute to the effort to overcome hunger.

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As promised, I'm sharing the baby shower that I hosted with my friend Marsha a little over a week ago.

I am blessed with a friend who runs an invitation/stationery business from her home. I designed this invitation, and she produced it for me. We called our baby shower, "Waiting for Edie Elizabeth to Blossom." The liner paper that I chose to insert in the enclosure set the tone for our party. It was all about flowers....many. pink. flowers.

As guests entered, they were offered an "Edie Elizabeth Special", otherwise known as a Cranberry/Pomegranate & Pear Nectar Bellini. Over time, I've painted six dozen of the gold flutes. They've really come in handy, and I often loan them to friends for their parties, too. Today I've presented them on one of the Barker-Ellis Silver Galley Trays, a wedding gift from many years ago. Come on into the dining room...on your left...

We created a buffet table in the dining room....lots of pink...lots of flowers. Tip: My favorite time to host a shower is Sunday afternoon from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., for ladies. I find that the response is always good, and it ends up as an economical time to entertain. Everyone has already had lunch, and they're not ready for dinner. Fill the table with savories and sweets, and you'll be good to go.

With our floral design emphasis, the Coalport Sevres Group Luncheon Plates were a no-brainer choice. I really like this set of plates. They are all on the same white embossed blank, but there are numerous designs using similar flowers. I set the table with a combination of the Reed & Barton Francis I and Reed & Barton Grande Renaissance forks. They always seem to play well with each other.

Over time, I've kind of developed a formula for these events. Cheese and fruit...One of my favorites to prepare is Brie en Croute. Today I created a teddy bear to top the Brie's crust.

Up to my old tricks today...The flowers in the chandelier are merely a pair of pink Wisteria garlands found at Hobby Lobby.

The Williams-Sonoma White Matelasse Tablecloth, an eBay find, added a nice spot of texture to the design.

I perched the pair of Pottery Barn Mercury Glass Globes atop the Juliska-like candlesticks. The Cookie Princess mini-cupcakes were crowned with mini cookies decorated with E monograms, flowers, and baby buggies. These mini-cupcakes are always a hit. Because they are tiny, ladies tend to eat them without hesitation. I rarely have left-overs. I served them in our Nana's antique silver serving piece with ivory handles. I actually think that it was originally a fish server...not today!

Chocolate Cream Sherry Bars and Coconut Cake. Tip: True confession...the cake is from Sam's and cost about $16.00. At one party I served a homemade Coconut Cake that was really good at one end of the table....and the Sam's at the other end of the table. The Sam's cake was demolished, and we had left overs from the homemade cake. Now I was born at night, but not last night. I've bought the Sam's cake ever since, and it's always a hit!

I like to serve a variety of tea sandwiches...just in case someone didn't have an opportunity to grab lunch before they came to the party. For years, I had a wonderful little lady who made them for me. She finally retired when she was 100 years old...really! I made these myself, but they don't compare to the beautiful little jewels that Mrs. Beavers made. Mine tasted good, but hers were tiny works of art. I miss her! The antique Dorothy Thorpe Crystal trays holding the tea sandwiches and the Brie also belonged to our Nana.

I had such fun using the looping ribbon over the Christmas holidays that I decided to try it again with a shimmering pink mesh ribbon layered with a pink and white argyle ribbon. I interspersed the ribbon with sparkling candleholders from Hobby Lobby. Some of them were used with candles and some of them were used for my floral arrangements. In both instances, I lined them with hot pink glass containers.

The Hobby Lobby French Wired Bird Cage was filled with more flowers and featured our hostess gift for Edie Elizabeth...a silver duck bank. The flowers came from my usual floral boutiques...Sam's and Homeland Grocery Store.

The table is ready to roll. Come on in the living room for a minute...

More flowers graced different spots in the living room. This is an antique pink and white vase that belonged to Nana. Today it shared the table with the silver tidbit tray that eventually held a delicious hot artichoke dip. Did you notice the flowers on the right side of the coffee table?...

I always enjoy the opportunity to create an arrangement in our precious Nana's antique Black Starr & Frost silver presentation bowl. It's probably my favorite of all the lovely things that belonged to Nana. We are blessed to steward it until it goes to the next generation.

Sans food, of course, I even had a spot of time to capture some candlelight shots the evening before the shower...

It was a delightful day and a wonderful baby shower. All this pink has me thinking about Valentine's Day. Hmmm....I think that you might see more of these frilly girly elements next week! Stay tuned!

I'm joining Marty from A Stroll Thru Life for TABLE TOP TUESDAY. Won't you come along , too?

Wednesday is the 46th edition of Cuisine Kathleen's meme, "LET'S DISH". I'm excited to be a charter member. Pop over (pun intended for the Chef Supreme Kathleen) and join the fun!

Lots of great ideas to be gathered when you visit Yvonne at Stone Gable forTUTORIALS, TIPS, & TIDBITS. Don't waste another moment...hurry on over!

Thank you, yet again, to Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for hosting her magical meme, Tablescape Thursday. I'll be linking my post to "TABLESCAPE THURSDAYS." Hop on over and check out the myriad of marvelous tablescape designs, after 10:00 AM on Thursdays. You'll be glad that you made the trip...it's a wonderful adventure.

I always enjoy January for the expectations that it doesn't bring each year. How about you? With thankfulness for her dedication and efforts (even in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy), I'm joining the multi-talented Tablescaper for her fabulous memeSEASONAL SUNDAYS. Hope to see you there!

You can check out KC's music at www.kcclifford.com, on iTunes, and on YouTube. I hope that you'll take a few minutes and give her a listen. You'll also enjoy reading back through her blog on this site. The girl can really write! Her latest CD is called "The Tag Hollow Sessions"" It is available on iTunes or through her website. I hope that you'll give her music a chance. I know that I have zero objectivity where she is concerned, but I think that you'll fall in love with her music and her!