Dinner with Ghoulish Gourds

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Welcome, welcome to the Blog today. I’m so happy you’re here to join me for a fun display of Halloween exuberance. This is a special holiday for many children and adults so pour a cup of your favorite beverage and join me as I share with you this Halloween Tablescape Blog. I wanted to put together a fun, not so scary, table setting that reminded me of childhood days going from one neighbor’s house to another to trick-or-treat. Every house had a jack-o-lantern to help light the way. Sadly my days of trick-or-treating are over but these “Ghoulish Gourds” became the theme for my Halloween table.

I am delighted to be joining some incredibly talented ladies led by Rita of Panoply to share with all of you some ideas for setting a spectacular Halloween table.

You’ll find links to all these Blog sites at the end of this post.

The idea for Ghoulish Gourds began with a centerpiece of jack-p-lanterns raised on a pedestal to become the focal point of the table. I wanted something a bit different so I decided to try a neutral palate for my Halloween theme.

You can see last year’s Halloween tablescape here: https://thriftingwonderland.com/2022/10/11/practical-magic-halloween/

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a pedestal large enough or any white pumpkins so I enlisted my talented Hubby to build and stain the pedestal and I proceeded to paint my jack-o-lanterns in a linen color.

To complete the centerpiece I added a real off-white pumpkin and decorated it with flowers and vines from the garden. It was quite fun to do and I think it turned out really well.

To balance the flower pumpkin I baked a pumpkin harvest loaf and formed it into a pumpkin shape. I set this on a beautiful bread board that sits on an over-turned wooden bowl to raise it up from the table. The stem of the pumpkin is a cinnamon stick. This was my first try and, I have to say, with all modesty, that it tasted great. It even looks like a pumpkin.

Here you can see the length of the centerpiece that rests on a neutral runner spanning the entire length of the table.

I didn’t want to spend a lot of money on this very seasonal tablescape so I shopped my home. The placemats are a recent thrifting find and add texture and a neutral background to the place setting. I had the glass chargers which have a hint of orange or bronze to reflect the holiday and have lovely silver filagree flowers scattered around the edge of the charger. Next I used my everyday dishes by Mikasa, “English Countryside” to echo the flowered edge of the chargers and the neutral colors I was looking for. A small wreath of neutral oak leaves sits on top of a beautifully embroidered napkin. These two things separate the setting from the top Pottery Barn pumpkin plate found thrifting. The pumpkin place card holder was a score from Hobby Lobby during their 75% off sale last year.

I found this fabulous set of flatware at a Thrift Store last year. The pattern is Cache by Yamazaki. It is really something and goes beautifully with the charger. The same scrolling appears on both…a happy coincidence.

The wine glass is silver plate that I allowed to tarnish. The patina is perfect for this setting and picks up the colors in the charger and flatware. In contrast the crystal, etched, water glass reflects an old world feeling. The etching in the glass is also of a flower that fits in well with the rest of the table.

All the elements work together to create a neutral setting for a fun Halloween table. Then I decided I had to have the rest of the room reflect what was happening on the table.

The hutch is filled with Fall and Halloween pieces. You can see lots more pumpkins, jack-o-lanterns and even pumpkin plates embellished with floating jack-o-lanterns. Black and gold and black and white plates are scattered around the hutch. A vase filled with yellow sunflowers and herbs from the garden adds a dash of color to the setting.

A visiting scarecrow with a happy jack-o-lantern head presides over the tea tray. Neutral pumpkins and a dash of color from the garden add to the mix.

A wonderful, ornate and heavy candelabra in wrought iron takes center stage on the tea tray.

Above the table floating pumpkins are reflected in the mirror. It all looks ready for a Halloween celebration.

But look what happens when the lights go down and the skies darken. The jack-o-lanterns are lit from within and suddenly Halloween is a bit more real.People have been making jack-o’-lanterns at Halloween for centuries. The practice originated from an Irish myth about a man nicknamed “Stingy Jack.” According to the story, Stingy Jack invited the devil to have a drink with him. True to his name, Stingy Jack didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he convinced the Devil to turn himself into a coin that Jack could use to buy their drinks. Once the Devil did so, Jack decided to keep the money and put it into his pocket next to a silver cross, which prevented the Devil from changing back into his original form. 

Jack eventually freed the Devil, under the condition that he would not bother Jack for one year and that, should Jack die, he would not claim his soul. The next year, Jack again tricked the Devil into climbing into a tree to pick a piece of fruit. While he was up in the tree, Jack carved a sign of the cross into the tree’s bark so that the Devil could not come down until the Devil promised Jack not to bother him for ten more years.

Soon after, Jack died. As the legend goes, God would not allow such an unsavory figure into heaven. The Devil, upset by the trick Jack had played on him and keeping his word not to claim his soul, would not allow Jack into hell. He sent Jack off into the dark night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the coal into a carved-out turnip and has been roaming the Earth with it ever since. The Irish began to refer to this ghostly figure as “Jack of the Lantern,” and then, simply “Jack O’Lantern.” …from the History Channel

The soft glow of the inner jack-o-lantern lights the table as silverware gleams and smiling faces join the guests.

The candelabra shows its true form as candle flame infuses the night.

Jack-o-lanterns from the hutch join the party as the guest list expands.

So many friendly jack-o-lanterns are present here to wish you a Very Happy Halloween!

You are all welcome at this Halloween Table!

Jack joins me in inviting you to click on the links below to visit my fellow bloggers and their creative ideas for a Halloween tablescape. Happy Halloween!

Panoply – There’s a Little Witch in All of Us

Home is Where the Boat Is – Halloween Rules

Hyacinths for the Soul –  Pumpkin Wishes and Candy Corn Kisses

Everyday Living – A Grand(s) Halloween Party

Pandora’s Box – “Hey Pumpkin, What’s for lunch?”

The Bookish Dilettante – October Vignette: Think Pink!

Thrifting Wonderland – Dinner With Ghoulish Gourds

My Thrift Store Addiction – Elegantly Eerie Arachnophile Tea Party

Dinner at Eight – A Hauntingly Delightful Halloween

The Cats’ Whiskerz – Quoth the Raven “Nevermore”; a Halloween Tablescape

Life and Linda –  Happy Boo Tablescape

The Painted Apron –  The Witch’s Hat

Me and My Captain – Black is the New Orange

Corner of Plaid and Paisley – Broom Parking – Halloween Tablescape

Celebrate and Decorate – Black & White & Red All Over for Halloween!

Red Cottage Chronicles – Orange and Black Halloween Tablescape

My Hubbard Home – As the Crow Flies| a fun tablescape to celebrate autumn