"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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Missed all of you last week.  We lost a long-time, close friend, and the week was spent caring for his son and the funeral.  We hosted an evening for around 40 friends and extended family.  It was time well spent.  I didn't even try to take pics.  This week has continued to be a bit hectic, so I thought that this would be a good time to share some of my photos from the Theta Flaming Festival that took place in November.  Tonight I'm posting one of two tables that I did for the festival.


 A Coalport Blue Willow presentation bowl,  a fortunate find on eBay, held a bevy of fresh flowers...orchids, hydrangeas, and ranunculus...certainly some of my favorite blossoms.

 Cobalt depression glass candlesticks and a pair of Coalport blue and white decanters flanked the centerpiece.  Each place setting featured a stitchery that read, "A woman without her sisters is like a bird without wings."...pretty perfect for a sorority philanthropic event.

I found the brown flatware during a Horchow ClickTock sale...always a great deal.  The goblets are AJKA Arabella cobalt and Glastonbury Lotus Goldenrod.

 The foundation of the stack was composed of a duet of charger plates...the Steelite (by Royal Doulton) cobalt charger beneath the Maryland China Company Minuet charger plate.  The stars of the table were the Booth's Real Old Willow dinner plate and crescent salad plate.  The Booth's is a relative new member of my collection.  Have you ever been to the Randolph Hurst Castle?  This is the only pattern that Hurst used in his ranch house (really...that's what he called it!)  The silicon china had belonged to his beloved mother.  You'll remember the beaded napkin rings from Cuisine Kathleen.  They work in so many different situations.  Thanks again, Kathleen!

A simple champagne charmeuse tablecloth provided a nice backdrop for the setting.  I look forward to recreating this design at home one day.  I'll post more in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

This week I'll be joining:

Tablescape Thursday with Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch.

Oh, the Places I've Been with The Tablescaper