Welcome to the Thankful to bHome Blog Tour, I'm so excited to be part of this amazing group of twelve talented Home Bloggers who will inspire us with tips and ideas for your Thanksgiving Entertaining! I am going to share my French Country Thanksgiving table setting with you, usually I decorate in a more muted palette...but this year I fell in love with the deeper jewel colors of autumn. {visit my fall home tour here.}
I am sharing my French Country Thanksgiving Table and then I'd like to invite you to enjoy today's 4 other bloggers who are linked at the bottom of this post. AND....at the bottom is also the information for the FrenchGardenHouse Hostess Gift Give-Away. Just follow the easy directions and leave me a comment to enter!
If you've read my blog for a while, you know that while I'm probably a passable cook, my true love is setting a beautiful table!
I really look forward to the holiday season! Especially during this time I am more than thankful for all our blessings, and to be home to share them with my family and friends too.
Being an antique dealer I always use antiques in my table settings, dishes, of course, but also unexpected things to spark conversation and to add an element of personality, quirkiness and fun. This year I was inspired by this superb antique French wheel barrow, probably a child's toy, which was painted a deep French blue color. Isn't it divine?
For this visually exciting center piece, I added a few baby boo white pumpkins, one really BIG white pumpkin, little orange pumpkins and beautiful orange roses and then those bright green hydrangeas. I put the flowers in floral water tubes, but you could also stick them in wet florist foam inserted in a plastic bag. {See last year's centerpiece}
The combination of fresh lush flowers with fruit or vegetables is always a winning combination, don't you agree?
For this tablesetting, I started with a hand woven antique French homespun runner. It's a really long one, it fits the entire length of our 12 foot table. The woven raffia placemats add a big helping of texture, they also give each guest their "own" little space on the table.
The placemats really highlight the French Country Plates, too, and {oh! I love these!} our new Blue Linen Napkins.
I stacked the French Country blue check dinner size plate with an antique French plate, and topped that one with another French Country small plate.
Aren't these blue linen napkins to. die. for? sorry. I love them! I used mis-matched French flatware, silver-plated forks and spoons, and these great black bakelite or some other early plastic handled knives. They're not perfect, they've been used for decades by a French family, that's what makes them special.
Each guests has a small baguette on their plate which I placed in a parchment paper bag from the restaurant supply store, tied with a vintage rust colored velvet ribbon, a small tag that says "I'm thankful for ......{each guest's name}" In some of the shots you can see that the bags have the FrenchGardenHouse logo, those are see-through stickers...I haven't decided if I will use those or not.
Here is a close-up. For special dinners I think it's nice to have assigned seats, that way people aren't juggling seats and/or trying not to hurt anyone's feelings by not sitting with them. Plus, having some sort of placecard makes your guests feel like you really thought about your table, and did everything to make the meal special for them!
The other elements that add a festive glow to the table are some simple wine colored votives I found in my stash. I have a good collection of inexpensive votives to set on the table, and always have those little tea lights on hand. Even for tables that aren't as thought-out as my Thanksgiving table, a few votives sprinkled around your tabletop does wonders to bring a touch of magic!
A stack of other French antique plates elevate an antique French compotier, which holds a few apples. I like to offer fruit during a meal, most likely for the actual Thanksgiving meal I'll add those sweet little mandarins to the dish. With all the sweets served for dessert, it's always a grand idea to offer fruit. My grandchildren actually sometimes prefer that to a cake, or pie!
This is my serving station for dessert. For the table to work with a larger centerpiece like this, the food is served buffet style. Dinner can be set up on the kitchen counter, or sometimes outside {I live in California!} on the patio, which is adjacent to our kitchen dining room area.
These new Turkey Pillows are so great, aren't they? What I really love about them is that they are covers only, you buy the cover, and use your own insert. That way you can store them {there will be two designs for Christmas coming} flat in your linen cupboard, they take up very little space.
Right now you will have to pretend with me, I didn't have the pies and cakes we will serve on Thanksgiving, so this is a Pumpkin Pannetone from Trader Joe's.
I love the orange pomanders, I'll be sharing how to make and dry those soon. They are so festive, smell great, and since we have an orange tree in the back garden, a "gather from my own garden" project I love to do.
Since so many of you asked for this after seeing a sneak peek on instagram and/or FaceBook, I've included a source list.
Source List – Click on the items below for direct links to the products.
- French Country Check Dinner Plates
- French Country Check Salad Plates
- Blue Linen Ruffled Monogram Napkins
- French Wine Goblets
- Vintage French Flatware
- Antique French Blue & White Plates
- French Country Cake Pedestal
- Exclusive French Country Turkey Bucket
I am sponsoring this Thanksgiving Entertaining Tour by gifting a Hostess Set to one lucky winner.
You can mix and match these French Country Plates with any all white or blue & white dishes you already have to create a gorgeous table TO ENTER THE FrenchGardenHouse GIVEAWAY: Please click over to the shop at FrenchGardenHouse.com and let me know what is your very favorite piece, what would look amazing in your home? Or what would you give someone as a gift? Then come back here and let me know in a comment. You'll be entered to win the FrenchGardenHouse Hostess Gift Set, one lucky winner will get all the items shown above.
Thank you for visiting with me today! I hope that you're inspired for your own holiday tables and entertaining planning. Please enjoy the other blog posts by clicking on the links below, and come back again tomorrow for DAY 3 of the Thankful to bHOME Thanksgiving Entertaining Blog Tour.
Be sure to visit my friends, I personally can't wait to visit them and see what they are doing creatively for the holiday!
Day Two
French Garden House * Zevy Joy * Laura Trevey * Housepitality Designs * Lilacs and Longhorns
Day One
Designthusiasm * Duke Manor Farm * Celebrating Everyday Life * Cupcakes and Crinoline
40 comments
Lidy, what a fun and festive table setting you’ve set with some wonderful design elements! The centerpiece is just fabulous!! I, too, tend to spend more time on my table than on the cooking, so I completely get where your coming from… ;-) Have a very happy holiday and thanks so much for organizing the tour and for the beautiful giveaway!!
Lidy, what a gorgeous table so vibrant and alive! The blue wheelbarrow is a showstopper for sure. The dessert buffet is just breathtaking and I love panettone! Pam @ Everyday Living
Lidy, your table is so pretty! I love your colors and flowers and the embroidered napkins are gorgeous. So fun to be on the tour with you again…and thanks for the pretty giveaway! Wishing you a wonderful weekend…
Youre table setting is Just Beautiful! That little blue Wheelbarrow is drool worthy… The flower combination is gorgeous. My favorite item is the Turkey Container It’s beyond gorgeous. Thanks for sharing you’re table, I love it!!
So much beauty happening here, Lidy! Thank you for sharing your home and the generous giveaway! Xo, ~julie
My favorite Item is Madeira Organdy Linen Hand Embroidered Applique Placemat & Napkin Apricot Floral. I have considered purchasing them many times.
I have been lusting after the Red Currants porcelain trio!
I would love to have the ‘Limited Edition French Metal Flower Bucket’. If anyone is looking for ideas for me for Noel, this is a winner!
I loved the little red enamel tea pot. The color red makes me smile. The Thanksgiving blog you posted also makes me smile. We have so much to be thankful for and i love this holiday because it helps put all the important things into focus. Family and friends.
Thank you my sweet friend. Kelly, the branches are faux…wouldn’t it be so amazing if they were REAL??