Unveiled: Festival of Tables 2011 - Part 2

Last week I showed you Part 1 of my local Festival of Tables,
and this week it's time for Part 2.

Remember, you can click on the photo collages to enlarge them.

Click twice to enlarge them again!

The first three tablescapes in today's post were done by a mother and two of her three daughters.  I love it when tablescaping becomes a family affair!  This first table was done by the youngest daughter; she's 13.  This is definitely an example of using a collection as inspiration! Be sure to notice the cute Minnie Mouse Rice Krispies treats she gave to her guests! I definitely think she's got tablescaping in her blood ...

 

So does the middle daughter.  She's 15, and this is her second year to tablescape at our Festival of Tables. Look how cleverly she handled the plastic flatware:
it's hidden inside a paper napkin and then tucked into a napkin ring.
Who says napkin rings can only be used with cloth napkins?
No fly-away napkins at this picnic!

And here's Mom's table ... with its refreshing strawberry theme. I LOVE those scalloped square salad plates!  Mixed with both fresh and faux strawberries, they gave this table just the punch of color it needed to make it wonderfully inviting.

This table hostess has ties to Carson-Newman College, a Christian liberal arts college in East Tennessee founded in 1851 as Mossy Creek Missionary Baptist Seminary. An antique moss-filled window frame, moss green china,
and vintage photographs from the college's past joined beautifully to create a tablescape rich in both texture and history. I definitely think this table deserves a grade of 4.0!

Side note:  I smiled when I saw she'd used this beautiful crocheted tablecloth.  The first time I laid eyes on it - a couple of years ago - there were yellow stains all over, and our tablescaper had declared it "ruined."  But I insisted on trying Restoration Linen Cleaner -- and now there's not a stain in sight!  Check it out in the Linen Care section of my Etsy shop.

Is there anyone who doesn't like sunflowers?  Their colorful faces seem so friendly and cheerful, don't you think? Many times I've combined sunflowers with cobalt blue, but never this pretty light blue.  I'm definitely going to borrow that inspiration one day!  I had no idea a sunflower table could have
such a "soft" look ...

I mentioned in Part 1 last week that at our event the meal is served on clear plastic plates. For that reason, an actual place plate isn't necessary, so this table hostess decided to do without.  Instead, she focused on the placemats she had cut from a tree trunk. What great "presence" they give to a woodsy-themed tablescape! Notice, too, how the tiny bit of purple added to the earth tones keeps your eye moving around the table ...  Great idea!

Soothing ...  That was my first thought when I saw this table from across the room. The soft blues just seemed to say, "Sit down and relax with me."
The centerpiece ring of seashells, wave-like designs on the plates and flatware, and sand (white in the center and blue in the clever bottles) work beautifully together to evoke a sense of calm.  I can almost hear the waves
lapping on the shore ...

I believe this tablescaper was also a first-timer to our event, but when her sweet hubby walked in carrying the centerpiece of silver branches, I knew she was one of the lucky ones ... a woman whose husband understands (or at least lovingly accepts) her passion for playing in the dishes. I'm one of the lucky ones, too!  Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about.  I loved her pretty silver accents -- especially the butterfly -- and I don't think you can ever go wrong with an optimistic theme ...

A heart full of joy and gladness,

Will always banish sadness and strife.

So always look for the silver lining,

And try to find the sunny side of life.

B.G. DeSylva (1919)

I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit -- and I hope you've found a little sunshine for your day right here ... at My Place to Yours!  May it follow you right into the holiday weekend.  Enjoy!

I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch.

It's Tablescape Thursday!

Off The Beaten Path ...

I first traveled this road a decade ago -- just weeks after moving to East Tennessee.  Venturing out from what had quickly turned into a newcomer's "beaten path," I took a side road ... just to see where it would lead.

As the road curved ahead of me, I became more and more enchanted.

The bridge over the river ... and a rolling countryside so different from anywhere else I'd ever lived.  I loved it.  Still do.

But as I continued to drive, the eye of this girl from the South began to notice something.  Do you see it?

It's aggressive, invasive, destructive ...

It's pervasive -- and has a one-track mind.
It lets nothing get in its way ...

It's kudzu ... not so fondly referred to by many as "the vine that ate the South."  A Japanese plant first introduced into the United States in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia, Wikipedia reports that kudzu has spread at a rate of 150,000 acres per year. First viewed as the solution for soil erosion, one can only hope that new uses for the prolific, virtually impossible-to-eradicate vine will be found. While it's true that innovative souls are making kudzu baskets and kudzu candles and kudzu paper, there still seems to be an endless supply here in the Southeast.

We can only pray that the medicinal benefits now available only to alcohol- or Alzheimer's-afflicted lab rats will one day be realized by humans ...

While I still wish it weren't taking over our beautiful roadsides, kudzu has become a useful "visual" for me over the past several years ... a reminder of something important.

When life is crazily passing by at a rapid pace ... and I'm tempted to take my focus off of things that really matter, kudzu (believe it or not) gets my attention.

I recently attended an event that brought much-deserved recognition to a couple who "took the high road" during a time when many who considered themselves to be "fine, Christian people" were doing everything in their power to tear the couple down. Those were days of intentional behavior -- in direct opposition to what is good and Godly.

Days when I grieved ... and wondered how -- and why -- such hateful attitudes had been allowed to take root in people.

How something that began so quietly ...

had grown into such a public, injurious attack.

And while I believe that this past week's thoughtful and well-timed event served to bring some closure and healing to hurtful days gone by, it still made me sad.

Sad to remember how quickly people were willing to tear down another in order to lift themselves up ... how deeply words can hurt ... how hard it was to watch.

How pervasive the evil ...

That may explain why the past few years, I've found myself making an annual pilgrimage back to this kudzu-covered countryside ... to remind myself that good people can make really bad choices -- and allow themselves to be pulled into something that is wrong. To re-focus and prayerfully ask for grace to discern what is good for me -- and for the Kingdom -- and what isn't ... because I don't ever want to be on the wrong side of obedience. Because I want an attitude of love rather than hatred to permeate my heart.

Because there will always be deadlines and stresses and temptations that weigh heavily on me.  And if I'm not intentional about making good choices, the chances are high that I will make really bad ones.  That the kudzu-like vines of pride and selfishness will choke out kindness and compassion.  That the weeds in my life will overtake the potential beauty.  I don't want that.

And so I take the drive down the road of remembrance, mindful that the roots of my choices run deep ... and the fruit of their consequences affect those around me -- for better or for worse.

Don't be misled -- you cannot mock the justice of God.

You will always harvest what you plant.

Galatians 6:7

I hope you'll join me in reflecting ... to see if there's any kudzu-like danger trying to penetrate your heart ... so you can kill it before it takes over everything that is good.

I'm linking to Spiritual Sundays

at Blogger Spirit and

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Unveiled: Festival of Tables 2011 - Part 1

Welcome to My Place to Yours!

I have a special treat for you today. I'm going to show you tablescapes from my local 2011 Festival of Tables. I've decided to show you half of them this week -- and the other half next week.  No need for sensory overload on one blog when there's an entire Tablescape Thursday celebration happening in Blogland!

This first tablescape may look familiar. I shared lots of pics and details about it with you last week in THIS post. It's the table I did ...

But today ... and next week ... I want you to see ideas from other tablescapers.  Some of them did tables at last year's Festival (I showed you the 2010 event HERE), but some are first-timers this year.  I always love it when we have new participants!  I think you will, too ... so sit back and enjoy!
Be sure to click on a collage to enlarge it.
Click twice if you want to enlarge it even more!

The young mother who did this table had a busy weekend!  She has two children who were born on the same day -- five years apart! Less than 24 hours after Festival of Tables, she hosted a joint Princess and Firetruck party for her 8-year-old daughter and 3-year-old son.  (I know for a fact that this pretty pink tulle made an encore appearance!) Good thing our table hostess has lots of energy and creativity.  Look closely ...  There's a lot happening at this table.  Who wouldn't like a real-life Candy Land?

This table was done by a veteran tablescaper whose inspiration was "things that remind her of her father." Doesn't that just prove that anything can be a source of tablescape inspiration?   Her dad's been gone a long time, but I could tell that doing this tablescape was a pleasure for her. I love the way she set the neckties "spoke"-fashion under the mirror as her centerpiece. And I reeaally love the napkin rings she made -- and the tie clips!

This was the 10th year of our Festival of Tables, and our oldest tablescaper has done a table all 10 years.  She says this is her last year. I say if she's going to give such fun little brooches to her guests, they're going to hope she changes her mind.  At the very least, don't you think she needs to do a "swan song?"
My mind is whirling with ideas already ...

50 years of marriage ...

That's what this table hostess is celebrating in 2011. I think big congratulations are in order, don't you?  She did an interesting thing, though.  Not only did she focus on her own anniversary, but she included memories from her parents' 50th wedding anniversary, too.  What a nice tribute to two couples who stayed committed to each other -- "for better, for worse..."  What a wonderful example they set for all of us!

This table proves that if you have a collection -- any collection -- you have the inspiration for a tablescape! At our event, the meal is served on clear plastic plates, so table hostesses don't really have to provide plates.  This hostess decided to focus on placemats instead.  Every pooch pic was different ...

Two young teenage girls worked together on this table.  It's their first time to do a table at our event, but I hope it won't be their last!  You can never again use the excuse that you don't have enough dishes to have a party, 'cause some parties just lend themselves to "casual" -- and paper plates, cups, and napkins.  So if your dish selection is limited, plan one of those parties, and
laissez les bons temps rouler!

 (Let the good times roll!)

I learned something from this table. I didn't know there was as book out entitled A Truth Universally Acknowledged:  33 Great Writers on Why We Read Jane Austen.  But the young women who did this table knew -- and I'm going to make a wild guess that they're both Jane Austen fans!  Such a soft, feminine mood in this tablescape ... I only wish I could have gotten a good picture of the circle of delicately-colored ribbon streamers that hung above the table.

How about you?  Are you a Jane Austen fan?

This table hostess is new to our event, but she's very obviously not new to tablescaping! I thought my own table was labor-intensive until I saw this one!  She made the birds -- and the napkins -- and the tissue paper flowers.  Amazing, don't you think? I love the vibrant colors! In fact, I tried to think of a way to steal away with those napkins, but alas ...
I do hope this is only the first of many tablescapes we'll have the privilege of seeing from this woman!

So ... are your creative juices flowing?

Leave a comment and tell me what you think.

Does one of these tables "call your name?"

Next week I'll show you 8 more totally different tables. You'll love them, too! But today, I hope you'll join me at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday.

Thanks for visiting!
Please come again.  You're always welcome ...
at My Place to Yours!

Clark Gardens - Part 2 : THE FORMAL GARDENS

The change was subtle. In the midst of rustic grasses and casual plantings ... little touches of formality.

I was at Clark Gardens Botanical Park in Weatherford, Texas. In case you missed last week's post, I should tell you that Clark Gardens is 35 acres of traditional landscaping right in the middle of rugged mesquite trees and prickly pear cactus.  I've already showed you what I called the "rustic" part of the gardens.  Today, we're leaving behind the rock, as impressive as it is ...

and catching glimpses of brick ...

and wrought iron ...

and vast expanses of manicured lawn ...

Don't these areas feel a bit more formal to you?

Fountains -- even whimsical ones -- are on my list of "formal" elements.

So are trellises with roses -- and gazebos ...

... and raised brick flower beds.

How I was wishing I could do a tablescape in this gorgeous space!

Just imagine sitting down for a meal -- with this view ...

I guess you've figured out by now that this was one of my very favorite spaces in the garden!  So much to see and experience ...

Here's a view from inside the beautiful covered walkway you saw above ...

The amaryllis plants in this area were amazing!

These oversize urns stood at the entrance of a chapel.

You may have noticed its steeple in this picture last week ...

Postcard-perfect ...

I love that a chapel was included in the garden. 

Perhaps sometime I'll show you the inside ...

Beyond the chapel, the fountains and statuary got more and more impressive ...

I'd love to have this sweet girl in my garden!

This, too ... but it's a bit much for a typical backyard, don't you think?

I love the detail on the frieze ... and those pots of overflowing fruit!

The sky's starting to look a little dark, so we'd probably start thinking about heading home ...

It's been a wonderful afternoon.  I'm so glad Max Clark and his wife Billie tried to tame their wild Texas land -- and succeeded!

Everybody's happy ...

Time for one more look back ... Beautiful!

 So long Clark Gardens ... and Texas.  Until next time ...

I hope you have a great week!

Remember to stop by Wednesday night ...  I'll be posting tablescapes from last weekend's Festival of Tables.

But today, I'm joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday.