Transition Table

I'm not quite ready to start on a Christmas table but fall has certainly left the building so to speak so I thought I would do a Winter transition table.  Its very cold here right now, the windchill this weekend was only 4 and today we have added 6 inches of snow to the season. 

I've taken my best china and combined it with some earthy natural elements to try and bring a nice blend to the table.  The blue pumpkin I used for the centerpiece is left over from my fall decorations, I cleaned it out and I'm drying the seeds in hopes of trying to grow some of these beauties in my garden next year.

For the centerpiece I filled the pumpkin with greens from the yard and roses and spider mums from the florist.  There are also bitter melons tucked in with the greens, unfortunately there wasn't enough contrast from the greens so they just kind of faded into the background in the photos. The candle sticks were a free find from dumpster diving after sidewalk sales in our little town. 



I love the shaggy look of the evergreens from in front of our home.

 The chargers are from Nell Hill's.  I picked those up last week when I visited the stores in Kansas and Missouri, I was on a mission to get them knowing I wanted to use them for this particular tablescape.  The china is my best china; Lenox Autumn.  I've been collecting pieces for a few years, NEVER paying retail.  I have service for eight with the exception of the cream soup bowls which I only have two of, some day I'll find more at a reasonable price. I used mini grape vine wreaths for the napkin holders.

My silver flatware was given to me by my mother in law when she no longer needed it.  Its not a pattern I would have picked out but I love it because it was hers. I had to stack the forks because of the size of the chargers, I kinda like the look. She saved S & H Green Stamps to be able to get a service for eight back in the 50's.  I remember my mom collecting the stamps too, my brother and I loved to put them in the books. 

I scattered pine cones and little faux acorns that I purchased at Pottery Barn this fall.  Again, trying to add the earthy informal look to my formal china.

The lone antler below is from a white tail deer which are prevalent in our part of the country.  This was found in the back of  Dustin and Katie's property.  Even after our dogs have gnawed on it I think it still looks pretty good.  Unfortunately it doesn't show well on the white tablecloth.

The little silver buttons are from Nell Hills, I don't know what their purpose is but I liked them.  I bought several and plan to put our initials on them later. 

I wanted to do chocolate covered carmel apples to again bring in that earthy element, this time I coated them with chocolate to give the appearance of tree bark.  However, I decided to bring the touch of elegance to them with silver handles. 

To make these silver apple holders I went to the Salvation Army and picked up some flatware knives for ten cents each.  I then asked my brother to cut them down for me because I only wanted the handle to show with the apple not the blade.  He did a great job, even rounded the edges for me.  Of course the look of "you need to get a life" that I got from him when I asked if this could be done was priceless.

The apothecary jar is filled with the PB acorns and pine cones and Sterling Silver spoons that were a gift from a friend.  They stand at the ready to accommodate the soup to be served in the cream soup bowls.  They look beautiful when the sun shines through the glass but I couldn't get a clear enough picture, you'll just have to trust me on this one.

Mr. Squirrel stands guard over the acorns on the table.  I picked him up at Home Goods a couple of months ago knowing he would fit into my transition tablescape.

I am happy to be joining Susan at

Tablescape Thursday 

and

 Tabletop Tuesday

with Marty

Marty's Tabletop Tuesday