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!
