Here is the front and back of my centerpiece. For my Easter tablescape, I chose orchid and white for the colors. You may have seen the orchid linen tablecloth I made and posted about earlier this year. I wanted to use it again for this tablescape as it is so spring looking especially with white flowers. When you put the color orchid and white Lilies together, they automatically spell Easter.
I decided to make a fresh floral centerpiece for this table.
At Marburger Farm Antique Show the first of April, I purchased a gold metal frame stand and an English Meakin ironstone bowl from an antique booth called Rubbish. I have been using it to hold shells on my foyer table.
Here is a closer look at the frame but with another tureen that I was testing to see how it would look.
I like being able to get the floral arrangement up off the table surface with some sort of pedestal. I decided on the ironstone tureen as it was deeper and would hold more water and Oasis. I purchased Lilies and Mums from our local Fresh Market grocery store and cut greenery out of my yard.
There were only three stems in each package so I needed two packages of white Lilies, two packages of large Fuji Mums and three packages of small Mums. I also had six lilac Roses left from another bouquet that I used.
These Nandina shrubs are in my front yard. I cut a few stems from them to use as I wanted the greenery to be light and feathery.
Above is the Nandina in the ironstone tureen. I only needed one brick of Oasis which I soaked in water for about an hour. I wanted the greenery to hang out in a lace-y fashion from the tureen.
The white Lilies are added first because they are the primary flower and give it the structure and shape I want. Be sure to pinch off the pollen stamens or you will have orange die all over your tablecloth.
Next, I add the lilic and white Fuji Mums.
And last, I fill in with the mini lime green Mums and the lilic ones with the yellow centers.
For chargers, I am using lilac buffet plates that match the tablecloth pretty well. They are from Jammett Seignolles, another French porcelain maker that I like. On top of the chargers, for the service plates, I am using German plates with a magenta border. I really love these plates. Easter and Thanksgiving are the two times that I use novelty items on my table. I've had these glass bunnies for many years. I believe they were made by Smith Glass. I got them at Williams-Sonoma. This year W-S had glass lidded bunnies but they were very miniature and would not hold very much. I place gifts inside each bunny for the guests and try to find things each person would like. I don't like filling them all with just candy. For women, I might use nail polish, lipstick, sewing items, cooking spices, or costume jewelry. Children's bunnies are pretty easy to do but for men, it is harder to find items that they might like. Golf balls will fit inside, store gift cards for a particular hobby or interest work. One of these days, I will be so organized I will make a list of items that have worked in the past!!
Since I could not find orchid colored napkins, I went with my French monogrammed white ones. The placecard holders are green glass rabbits from Williams-Sonoma.
Above, you can also see the embroidered paisley motifs that embellish the linen.
At Marburger Farm I found a set of mother of pearl knives and forks. I like the light white color for this table.
There were no spoons in the set, so I am using Tiffany's Japanese pattern sterling from 1871. Birds are always good for a spring table.
Below is an angle view of the table set for the first course. I enjoy watching everyone open their rabbits. My husband always finds a surprise for mine.
I am using three pieces of glassware. On the right is an etched tumbler by Zodax, in the center is William Yeoward's Flavia pattern, and on the far left is a crystal stem that I purchased on eBay whose seller didn't know the pattern.
Here is another view.
The dinner plates I have shown before. They were hand painted in Germany from Fraureuth. Some of the flowers in the pattern blend well with this tablescape.
Below is a wider view of the table with the dinner plates.
The dessert plate is an antique Cauldon one that actually has a pale blue border that looks in the light, however, like it is a pale gray. I wanted to use these even if they didn't coordinate perfectly with the orchid. I love the design and have never seen anything like it.
Below is an overall view of the table with the dessert plates.
The candlesticks are from Pottery Barn purchased several years ago. Our PB has since closed. The mercury glass lilac candlepots hold battery operated flameless candles and are from Target.
I am participating in Tablescape Thursday this week on the blog Between Naps on the Porch.
To see all the entries, after 9:00PM Eastern on Wednesday, go here:
http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/
All the best to you,
Summer
Photos: Swede
