Saturday, January 1, 2011

Precious Metals table setting

Hello my lovely blog friends!

I had intended to post a beautiful blog wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season...  However the holidays took over my life and this is the first posting I have been able to manage.  I hope all of you had a wonderful time.  Ours was busy but lovely!

I was playing around with some table decor ideas (initially it was to be for a New Years party...  a little late for that!) and here is the result.  It particularly suits the winter but I think it would be a pretty color story for anytime of the year.


I was thinking what a lovely idea it would be to near the end of January when everyone has more or less recovered from the holidays and is least likely to expect it,  to host a quiet winter dinner that sparkles and twinkles.


I love the muted colors of old sepia tin photos and had always though it would make a great color story for an event.  To create this look I pretty much mixed all the metal colors, gold, brass, silver and pewter with the sparkle of crystal.  I started with some old silver plated candlesticks that were loosing their silver color and helped them along a bit.  I soaked them in Tarnex and lightly sanded them until the brass underneath started to bleed through.  This created a lovely vintage look and a great color.  I then glued on bits of trim, fringe and tassels and then added old pearls and jewelry for sparkle.



I covered the table with lots of layers and textures (something I love to do!).  I started with a long bit of olive green courderoy I picked up at a garage sale.  Over that I draped a pannel of chocolate brown tafeta curtains.  Then in a narrow band across the center of the table I placed a vintage tea stained lace cloth.  To top it all off I finished with an inexpensive glittery shawl I found in a thrift store.



I layered the dishes also starting with some funky old brass trays (again from the thrift store) then a crystal plate (again from the thrift store) then a small crystal plate and the soup bowl.  I placed the party favors in the soup bowls.  The napkins are mismatched lace pieces that I tied up with bits of trim or pearl necklaces (fake and again from the thrift store).  I then attached orphaned single earrings (again very inexpensive from the thrift store) or a crystal tear drop.





For the candles I had some beautiful Moroccan tea glasses and some old liquer glasses.  The liquer glasses were so tiny that I carved down a tea candle to fit.  For the silver wear I used mismatched silver and old ivory handled pieces.




The flowers were a mix of cream Roses, Hydrangeas, white Stock, assorted Eucalyptus and Berzillia Berries.  I tried to match the vintage color story however my choices were a bit limited since I didn't pre-order anything.  A better choice for the Roses would have been a true beige as in a variety called "Sand".  An antique variety of Hydrangeas with touches of burgundy and olive would have also been better.



At each place setting I also set another vintage stemmed liquer glass with a single Rose and a piece of jewelry.




All over the table and tucked in the flowers were more strands of pearls just to add to the decadent feel.



Hope you enjoyed my thoughts.  Have a lovely beginning to Winter!