Thanksgiving Table

One table down, one kid's table to go.

I showed you in an earlier post how I made these velvet pumpkins for this year's table.
Blue is on my mind.

Here is last year's table,

purple, cranberry, and a mix of gold and silver.

For the center piece I added a golden magnolia acorn spray that I've had for years to the velvet pumpkins. I placed the center pumpkin on a small urn.

The smaller velvet pumpkins on each plate will hold the place cards (which I still need to make.)
I shouldn't have played volleyball at the beach yesterday.  I still have a lot to get done to get ready for our guests.  The decorating is the fun part.  I left all my house cleaning for last, I hate cleaning! 
I know I probably did the decorating/cleaning order backwards.

I used my wedding china, crystal, and gold chargers. 

The only thing purchase new for this year's table are these pale gray/blue tablecloths from Marshall's.  They are a great neutral color that I will be able to use over and over again for other events.  I paired them with my leopard print table runners.  The animal print helps warm up the coolness of the gray.  Without them everything was looking too pastel for Fall.

The brass candlesticks were borrowed from my mom. 
They belonged to my Great Grandmother.

For the center piece I elevated a round silver platter on meatloaf pans and skirted it with a feather boa so you can't see the pans.  On top of the platter I layered left over blue velvet fabric, velvet pumpkins, white ostrich feathers, gold and silver leaves and twigs, and faux white pumpkins to the ends of the center piece.  My original pedestal that I showed my velvet pumpkins on was too tall to be practical for this tablescape.  Many of the the center pieces I see in pictures, while beautiful, are either to tall or not tall enough for a dining table.  The meatloaf pans give just enough height without creating a "pumpkin wall."  I always do a center piece test run and sit down at the table to see if it's the right height for eating. 

I set the tables up inside our living room/office. 

Our formal dining room is outside.

It's supposed to rain here on Thursday.

If it rains my husband will be frying the turkey outside under the gazebo.  It's metal, so no fire hazard.  I'll just need to move the table and take down the chandelier so he doesn't bang his head on it.

This is our formal dining room/turkey frying when it rains room.

I'm excited to eat fried turkey and decorate Christmas cookies.
Decorating Christmas cookies on Thanksgiving with the kids is something I started with them when they were little.  The adults get into the decorating action too.

I still need to set the kids table.  I'll show you that one in a later post.

I hope you and your family have a wonderful day.

I'm so thankful for your visit.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm linking this to Censational Girls HomeGoods Tablescape Party.

Velvet Pumpkins and a Thanksgiving Tablescape Preview

We're hosting Thanksgiving again this year and I'm so excited! 

I love entertaining.

I posted earlier about my blue pumpkins and I showed you how I made these. 

I've been drooling over these velvet pumpkins .  The originals are pricey, 3 for $84. 
 I tucked this picture away with plans on making some at a later date.

Then I found this great tutorial at the Lemonista and decided to make some for my
Thanksgiving table.

Mine are just a little different.  I couldn't find enough real pumpkin stems so I made my own out of clay.  I can't find my stem pictures, but it's very simple.  I shaped the stems out of air dry Crayola clay and spray painted the stems gold.  I notched all the tops of my stems to hold place cards.

 Another change I made was to add a couple stitches from the center top of my pumpkins through the center of the bottom.  I like a flatter squished down pumpkin. 

 Just hot glue the clay stems on and that's it.

The small pumpkins will be used on my Thanksgiving table to hold place cards for each guest. 
The extras will be used for the center piece.

I made 18 pumpkins for around $25. 

If I had purchased these that would have cost me around $500. 

I mixed in some real pumpkin stems and they received the same coat of spray paint.

I'll mix in some silver and gold foliage for some pumpkin glam.  I'm not sure if we will be eating inside or out this year? 
We'll have to see if the weather cooperates.

Are you hosting Thanksgiving? 

Are you whipping up any DIY creations for your tablescape this year?

I would love to see them!

Thanks for checking it out.

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Marti Gras Homecoming

Casey went to her first Homecoming dance last week. She went with her best buddies from school. Our great friends the Mendlers offered to host all the kids for dinner at their house since their kids, Ben, a senior and Maddie a freshman, were going.  

Sofia, Vicky, Casey, and Maddie

 Kristy is a wonderful cook and made most of the food. 
Kristy got me started blogging. To see her blog Mi Casa San Diego go here. 
We were partners in crime for this party.  I helped her come up with the dinner tablescapes to help make the party a festive occasion.

The Homecoming theme was Marti Gras.

Unfortunately I didn't get great pictures of the table before the kids arrived.

More importantly I was busy getting pictures of the kids.

Here are the flower arrangements we came up with.  We put them on top of tall iron candle sticks so the view across the table wasn't blocked.  I don't know about you, but I like to see who is sitting across from me while I'm eating.

Dyed eucalyptus, mums, and sunflowers.

The Seniors

I added my magnetic crystal drops to the candle sticks for some bling.  They looked sparkly in the candle light.  We added the black and white striped fabric to balance all the feminine purple.  We didn't want the boys to feel like they were at a "purple princes party."

The dinner was outside on the back patio.  It was a gorgeous San Diego evening.

I helped the Mendlers design their pool and new landscaping. 

A fireplace at the end of this patio was part of the original landscape design. 

It's part of phase two of the backyard plan and when it's completed, will block out the view of the fence and house you see in the background.
  Just picture a large cozy fireplace at the far right hand side of this picture.

Kristy and I found these amazing lanterns on a shopping trip to H4H for a great price.  They are perfect for the patio.  Her handy husband Don installed them.

Appetizer table

I picked up these masks at the dollar store and tied them around the large glass votives on the table.  They did double duty for the dance after the meal.  All the kids wore masks for the Marti Gras theme.  I'm sure that lasted about five minutes.

Maddie

Casey

The freshman

Vicky, Sofia, Greg, Maddie, and Casey. 

 I think Greg is a lucky guy.

Vicky, Maddie, and Casey have been friends since first grade.  Sofia is a newer addition to the group, they met in Middle School.  I'm very grateful Casey has such a nice group of girl friends.

My mom and Casey shopped for her dress together. 

My mom is the best personal shopper.

Casey and me.

My little girl is growing up.

Thanks for checking it out.