Before things get to hectic and my mind becomes scattered, before the turkey is defrosting in the fridge and the cranberries are waiting to be made into sauce, I wanted to appreciate the lull in activity. Next week will be a frenzy of family, fun and excitement but this week, when not much of anything is going on, I like to take the opportunity to think about the previous year. It is a week of gratitude, appreciation and calm.
While I was cleaning out the linen closet this week...something I haven't tackled for a very long time, (can you say giant dust bunnies?) I came across this quilt, long forgotten and smooshed into the back of the closet.
I bought this many years ago at an estate sale. I believe the owner of the house was a quilter...she was moving and needed to lighten her load. This quilt inspired an artistic table setting, using vintage and modern touches.
Instead of traditional placemats I used hand hammered, artisan made, aluminum trays all made by Arthur Armour around the late 30's and early 40's. They are all the same size and each one has a different motif...fun if you are making a dinner and want to personalize each setting. I have here snow flakes for the ski buff, a Rose of Sharon for the gardener, Sea Horses for the scuba diver and a world map for the world traveler.
To the center of the table I added a candelabra made in the 1950's by De Ponceau of Chattaqua New York.
Even the flatware has a hammered pattern to it.
The two serving pieces are also vintage aluminum and the glasses are hand blown from Italy.
The end result for this tablescape is hopefully artful and bohemian as I thought the inspiration quilt to be. It definitely perks up a chicken pot pie dinner.
Quilt as tablecloth: Estate Sale
Placemats: Arthur Armour marked trays...vintage
Candelabra: DePonceau of NY...vintage
Serving Bowl: Wendell August Forge, Apple Blossom pattern...vintage
Glass serving bowl set: Canterbury Arts...vintage
Napkin Holders: Ten Thousand Villages
Drinking glasses: Marshall's... Marked Italy
Napkins: Yard sale
Soup bowls: Williams Sonoma...found at a yard sale
White oval underplates: Marshall's Home Goods
I hope you take a few minutes to relax and breathe before the whirlwind of the holidays begins. The leaves are still falling from the trees here...
and it is so pretty, but I am sure that it will look less so this weekend when we tackle the project of cleaning up the yard.
Hoping to be back next week with the Thanksgiving table setting.
This post is being linked to Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday.
♥, Susan
I SO need a linen cabinet! My w/d is in mine!
Brenda
Posted by: Brenda Kula | November 16, 2011 at 01:12 PM
Looks beautiful! I love that world map tray.
Posted by: barbara | November 16, 2011 at 02:19 PM
Lovely and unique. The size of the AA 'place mats' is new to me. also had not seen the Canterbury set before. I really enjoyed browsing through this post!
Posted by: Dannie Woodard | November 16, 2011 at 04:13 PM
Love the place mats! What a fantastic idea. Love the table setting. Happy VTT!
Posted by: suzanne | November 16, 2011 at 04:49 PM
Hi Susan, What a beautiful tablescape. Great idea to use the fabulous trays as placemats. They really add a WOW factor to the table. I think all of your pieces are fabulous and the quilt gives the look you were after. Great post!
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted by: Emily | November 16, 2011 at 05:04 PM
Enjoyed visiting and seeing all you nice vintage things.
Posted by: LaVoice | November 16, 2011 at 05:51 PM
Hi Susan, what a great idea, love the napkins. I enjoyed all of your photos. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.
hugs ~lynne~
Posted by: lynne @ lynnesgiftsfromtheheart | November 16, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Lovely tablescape. Very bohemian chic as you intended.
Posted by: Debs VintageSoul | November 16, 2011 at 06:12 PM
Really enjoyed your tablescape. I am a huge fan of hammered aluminum and I love the idea of trays as placemats. Great job! Enjoyed my visit to your blog. Linda
Posted by: Linda @ A La Carte | November 16, 2011 at 06:18 PM
What a neat quilt...I love the colors! Thank you for stopping by Take Six. Wishing you and yours a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Tanya@TakeSix | November 16, 2011 at 06:24 PM
Love the quilt and the table setting on top of it.. your pieces are stunning! xo marlis
Posted by: marlis | November 16, 2011 at 06:28 PM
Very unique, love the trays! I have a few pieces like that from my mom.
The cloth is so colorful. Lovely table!
Posted by: Kathleen | November 16, 2011 at 07:33 PM
So interesting.Vibrant colors.
- The Tablescaper
Posted by: The Tablescaper | November 16, 2011 at 08:22 PM
Perfect way to set that fun cloth! I agree, definitely bohemian. Those trays are so unique and wonderful. How fun.
Posted by: Jacqueline | November 16, 2011 at 09:06 PM
Yes, yes, yes! I want to replicate this table! What an inspiration. I have collected hammered aluminum for years, finding it abandoned in Goodwills, and flea markets, known as "poor man's silver." I first met hammered aluminum when I was growing up, and mom brought out her dish at Christmas time to fill with powder sugar dusted figs, stuffed with pecans. As I found it in dusty bins, I recalled those Christmas goodies. So I have collected more than enough pieces to replicate your lovely table. Love the idea of using the trays as placemats. Thank you and stay tuned for my hammered bohemian table! ~CJ
Posted by: CJ Foss | November 16, 2011 at 10:57 PM
I LOVE the idea of aluminum trays as place mats. I have one I adore and never know what to do with it - thanks to you I can buy MORE and make place mats. Thrift shopping, sigh, is there anything it can't make better?
Posted by: Annie/Helen Hartman | November 17, 2011 at 04:08 AM
This is an absolutely beautiful table. So very creative!! I love the quilt and the use of trays is fabulous!
Posted by: Pat@Back Porch Musings | November 17, 2011 at 05:05 AM
I love hammered aluminum! You have a great collection of it. I call it poor man's silver. I have a collection of it, too. I did not post today on Vintage Thingies Thursday, but two years ago I posted about my hammered aluminum collection. If you want you can go here and see it. http://janetsmart.blogspot.com/search/label/hammered%20aluminum
Posted by: Janet Smart | November 17, 2011 at 07:54 AM
Sigh!! breathe!! then Sigh!! OK!! I took my break!! lol!!! You are so right Susan!! This really is the time to take a breath and try to relax before the crazy holiday rush!! It all starts with me this weekend, and doesn't end until New Years!! But I must admit, I love every minute of it!
I always love your Aluminum displays! Your tablescape is lovely!! Thank for sharing!!!
oxoxoxo
Cheryl;-0
Posted by: Cheryl F. | November 17, 2011 at 08:35 AM
Just gorgeous......love all that metal and your accessories...perfection...Have a beautiful holiday!!!
Posted by: Becky | November 17, 2011 at 09:49 AM
Susan, your table is lovely and so unique. What a clever use of the trays. Glad that quilt found a thoughtful home.
Posted by: Sarah | November 17, 2011 at 10:35 AM
Bohemian! That's exactly the word that sprang to my mind, so you hit your mark!!! Aren't you glad you cleaned out that closet now? Funny what we can find when we make ourselves do stuff we have been putting off. Trouble is, now you're making me feel guilty that I haven't tackled mine! :-) Love the vintage aluminum pieces and that hammered flatware!
Posted by: Alycia Nichols | November 17, 2011 at 02:21 PM
I love to see how other people decorate their tables! I love how you've mixed the bold colors from the quilt with the elegant aluminum wear! You have a great eye for design!
Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Posted by: oceanbreezesandcountrysneezes.blogspot.com | November 19, 2011 at 08:37 AM
Very nice post with great shots and very beautiful plates!
Thanks for sharing. And thanks for visiting and taking the time to comment;o)
***
Happy weekend****
Posted by: Mildred | November 19, 2011 at 12:14 PM
How unique and utterly exciting, Susan! I love it.
Thank you so much for sharing...Happy Turkey Day to you and yours just in case the rest of the week gets away from me...
P.S. Did you get your book yet???
Posted by: Louise | November 20, 2011 at 12:57 PM
No offense, but if there's a facebook like button, it'll be much easier for me to share.
Posted by: elliptical reviews | November 29, 2011 at 11:10 PM