Are you looking at this from your phone? If you are, you may want to consider moseying on over to a desktop, or at least an iPad. You’re going to want to see this from a larger screen so you can fully appreciate all the delicious eye candy you’re about to see.
Saturday I went to a fundraiser called ‘Set To Celebrate’ in Hartford, Ct. that showcased table settings designed by various artisans. Most of the participants were florists or interior designers, so it’s safe to say they know their stuff, and it showed. But don’t take my word for it. Get comfortable and see for yourself.
Each table represented a different theme, and although it’s nearing the holidays and there were several Thanksgiving and Christmas themed tables, many were not. I’ll start with the more rustic, ‘Autumnal’ tables and work my way toward Christmas and then a couple of tables that would be fabulous for New Year’s and then my favorites, wedding tables.
I thought the shape of this plate was unique, and pairing a rustic napkin with it was a touch of the unexpected! This table was filled with succulents, moss and various plantings. Perhaps not the most practical table setting, but interesting nonetheless.
Ok, so I cheated a little bit here. This was a garland at the end of a staircase. I really like the mix of orange ribbon against the bright green evergreen, and it really shows how simple elements can make a huge impact.
Notice the chicken wire? How cute is that?
Each table, or in this case, vignette, were labeled with their theme name. This next one was located on a stage area and was labeled ‘A Posh Picnic’, and indeed it was!
This next table, with an Asian theme, was called ‘Christmas with the Goldberg’s’. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but in our part of the country many Jewish people go to a movie and out for Chinese food on Christmas, so this was a bit tongue in cheek.
Here’s a table that could easily be used for a wedding as well as New Year’s, or even Christmas. I love the classic combinations of gold, cream and crystal!
Here’s a close up of the napkin in the above picture. Interesting buttons sewed on make for a unique, albeit impractical, napkin!
This table, filed with antique hard to find Steuben glass, is so festive for a Christmas celebration.
Placing roses on top of cranberries in a compote dish is such a pretty, elegant way to add color and interest to a table.
This next table, perfect anytime but especially for New Year’s, represents what a table might have looked like at the famous Algonquin Hotel in the 20’s when it was a well known hang out for the movers and shakers at that time.
Tucked away in a corner was this stunning wedding table vignette. That was a real goose, stuffed of course!
Take a good look at this detail. Can you believe how beautiful this is?? It was even prettier in person!
On the other side of the room was one of my personal favorites (but there were so many!). I loved the use of pearls, crystal and soft apricot colors that this table showcased. So romantic, don’t you agree?
In all, I took over 130 photos. Of course, some of them aren’t worth sharing but there are many more that are so I will show you those in another follow up post later this week.
Update: Click here for the follow up post
Now you can go back to your phone ;).
In other news…
I don’t know if you’re tired of hearing about my birth certificate debacle, but let me tell you, I’m definitely tired of it! I thought I might have gotten things straightened out, but no such luck. One of the items they (Dept. of Mental Health) asked for was a letter from a Dr. I’ve seen for ten years or more. Well, there are only two that fall into that category…my gyno and my dentist. My dentist was easier to reach and communicate with so I sent a letter from him with the information they were asking for. Well, it looks like that wasn’t good enough because he’s not an ‘MD’. He also said that normally I would need a court order to change my name from ‘Dorien’ to ‘Doreen’ (even though the instruction document indicates otherwise) because the pronunciation is different. I almost asked him if English was his second language, because anyone with a 3rd grade education or above knows the pronunciations are the same.
Just shoot me now.
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Cecilia says
Beautiful tablescapes! Wow. And I can’t believe you are running into so much trouble with your birth certificate…hang in there!
Nana Diana says
Those tables are ALLLL just gorgeous!!!! I love them all..and I love that bit of garland at the end of the stairs, too. The wedding tables, of course, are always spectacular, aren’t they? The others are equally pretty though.
So sorry you are going through such a hassle with your name change. I have often thought about flipping my first name with my 2nd because my first name is very odd and no one ever called me by it once in my life except for the jerk at the driver’s license bureau! lol (and he KNEW I did not go by that name). lol Good luck getting the change done. xo Diana
Cyn says
They were all pretty spectacular, but so impractical! I do it to myself every year and have to keep removing things as the food is served, since then there’s nowhere to put anything! lol I do love a beautiful table,tho.
What a mess with the birth cert too. Ugh. Hang in there.
Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
I can’t get over how much troubles you are having with that situation. Crazy.
As to the tables what a variety…fun to see 🙂
Jane says
Yep…these are drool worthy!! The wedding tables are stunning!!
Keep up the good fight with the birth certificate, very frustrating but you will do it!
Janex
Brenda Callis says
I’m so glad I’m on my laptop to see these pictures! You did a fabulous job photographing them and describing them. Yes, I too love those odd white plates with the succulents all around them. And the green Steuben glass, wouldn’t I love to find that at the GW! And then the chicken breakfast table is darling and they look a lot like our Plymouth Barred Rocks. Chicken wire on the table might not be too easy to rest elbows on, but then you’re not supposed to do that anyway!
A white rose on top of cranberries! I’m loving that!
I never see anything like this table setting tour around here but I would love to go. That and house tours are so much fun, even in the snow.
Lovely post, with some great ideas to copy, in a simpler way, of course.
SharonFromMichigan says
I think you should stick with the name Dor_n. I kind of like the underscore in it – makes you really unique! (I’m just kidding! What a hassle. It sounds like an episode out of “I Love Lucy”.) Why would they require a note from an M.D.? Their rules are ridiculous but don’t give up. Great tablescapes by the way!
Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse says
So many good ideas in this post! If it makes you feel better, when I was hired by the government years ago to be a teacher, my name + middle name was too long for their computer software of the time… Up until now, the last letter is missing on all my salary papers!
Vicky Hunt says
Such gorgeous tables! I too love the pearls and apricot table…so romantic! My favorite is the Christmas table with the cranberries and roses. All of them are amazing though and I look forward to seeing more! I know you have got to be tired of dealing with the name issue…so frustrating. Best of luck with it! Patience is a virtue…lol!
kelly says
I’ve never seen so many beautiful table settings in one place before! It reminded me of the Festival of Trees we have in Atlanta around the holidays. You can go inside and see a bazillion Christmas trees decorated in different styles. I bet you came away with some great ideas for your own table settings!
Feral Turtle says
What a hassle for you! I hope you get everything sorted. But on the upside, those tables are all just so gorgeous. Great pics
Carrie says
Wow! I don’t know if I could even choose a favorite as they were all so beautiful! It’s amazing the creativity and talents of others. I really really loved that soft apricot one too though….breathtaking.
Prayers that your birth certificate hassles get rectified soon. What a pain in the you-know-what poor Gal. Hang in there and keep us “posted” 😉
Alycia Nichols says
If it wasn’t such a serious matter, I’d be laughing my head off. What on earth is this world coming to that you have to jump through these kinds of hoops for something so seemingly simple as getting your birth certificate fixed??!?! It’s not rocket science…this should not have dragged on this long. I guess it just speaks to the general state of our once great nation…sad, slow and cynical.
As for the “eye candy”…THANK YOU!!! Man, it must have been like being in heaven being in the actual midst of all that! SO pretty!!!!!!!
Julie says
Wow Doreen those tablescapes are really amazing, beautiful and elegant! I would have taken a lot of photos too! I can’t wait to see more of that eye candy. Sorry about the birth cerificate situation. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving if I don’t talk to you again!
Hugs,
Julie
Lavender Dreams says
Isn’t that Steuben glass elegant! I love imagining a beautiful party…magical and whimsical! I sure hope you get your birth certificate. I had trouble with one of my sons and it took a long time to get all the documentation. Hugs, Diane
Sue says
I like the gold and glitzy ones and/but this last orange one dipped in chocolate had me drooling. I pinned a lot and going back to the other post to pin one last one. Thanks for all the photos.
Vashti Quiroz-Vega says
Hello Doreen! Wow! Such creative and beautiful tablescapes. Even if you can’t replicate the entire tablescape you can get ideas to create your own. Very inspiring. 😀
Poppy says
Doreen, I somehow missed this post! Not sure if it’s because I literally, fell of my swivel chair during a lesson a few days ago, and have been feeling rather ‘off’ since then! Starting to wonder if I am all here – I know my entire right side is, as I fell on it and am still aching from head to butt! BUT, just saw your current post, marked Part 2, and knew something didn’t jive!
Of course, my favourite setting, (although all are gorgeous!), is the whimsical chicken wire one for its red and white crockery and those glam gallus domesticus gals! That Steuben glass is exquisite and so pretty with the red/white/green centerpiece. The white rose atop the cranberries, at first glance, looked like a dollop of whipped cream on mini strawberries! What a fun and fabulous array of creativity and a great way to spend an afternoon! Thanks for sharing!
xo
Poppy
Susie says
this was such spectacular eye candy your’re right how do you pick or choose the prettiest? I have never been to a display/show like this but boy d I want to get invited. there are not only such beautiful plates out there but brilliant creative people pulling them all together.thank you for this beauty you shared.Susie
Pat Cable says
Absolutely amazing. Would have loved to have seen them in person!!!!