The end of November sweeps in with cold winds and falling leaves heralding the approach of Winter and the Holiday Season. Finding that perfect balance between Fall and Winter is fun to search for at the Thrift Store or the Flea Market. This year I hope I found that perfect transition. But before we get to the china let’s take a look at this great centerpiece. The leaping deer is flanked by copper and silver trees that serve as a back drop to the central deer figure. It was all mounted on a piece of driftwood probably meant to mount on a wall. My clever husband mounted the driftwood piece on a super piece of wood that gave a wonderful base for the deer. Squash were scattered around the centerpiece and down the center of the table to bring in the harvest theme and the element of Fall.
The deer theme was repeated on the tea table giving a nod to Christmas. A vase of Fall flowers flank the deer and crystal candlesticks. Everything on the tea cart was thrifted including the decanter and glasses on the left of the picture. It’s Shannon crystal and a great find along with the Fitz and Floyd deers. The lead crystal candlesticks and the lead crystal vase were from Goodwill as was the table runner.
Roger’s silverplate, the Remembrance pattern, courtesy of Goodwill, looks lovely on the wooden table. The table itself is an Ethan Allen and was totally refinished by my husband. It was restored to it’s former glory and came with two leaves. The table works well in the Dining room and was very cost effective.
The crystal on the table is Mikasa’s Park Lane pattern. I’ve collected a service for twelve over the past three years. It’s amazing how quickly it accumulates once you start to pick-up a piece or two at a time. Pictured is a water goblet, champagne flute, red wine and white wine. It really works with casual as well as more formal settings.
The runner pictured is a crate and barrel very long runner. It was purchased at Goodwill and was a bit stained. A trip to the Cleaners fixed all the problems and it looks brand new. I love how it gleams under the lights. The Wood Duck Drake by Tom Taber was found at a Humane Society Thrift Store. He adds a little panache to the table and fits in with the hunt theme.
The plate stack is based on a golden glass charger, thrift shop again. The Noritake Royal Hunt dinner plate rests on top.
The dinner plate and salad plate are ringed with a red and green tartan border with pictures of a stag, a hare and a pheasant. Hounds chase the hunt animals around the rim.
On the dinner plate I placed a Limoges plate with either a turkey or mallard ducks depicted. The plates echo the hunt animals on the dinner and dessert plates.
A Royal Hunt Soup bowl sits atop the Limoges Woodland Plates with a turkey placard nestled in the bowl. The plates and bowls were either thrift store or flea market items. The turkeys came from Goodwill.
The napkins are lace-edged and delicate looking. I was really happy with this tablescape and how it bridges Fall and Winter decor. The harvest elements and the hunt work well with the red and green tartan china that acts as a prelude to the holiday season. A great beginning to Winter and a wonderful closing to Fall.