It's hard to believe Memorial Day weekend is a few days away. 2017 is flying by very quickly. Most of us will gather this weekend with family and friends for the unofficial start of Summer and enjoy a picnic or cookout. Hopefully all will pause and remember the reason for the holiday and the number of service men and women that died to protect our freedom.
I will spend most of my day Sunday in front of the TV watching the Indianapolis 500 and the Coca Cola 600 in the evening. Growing up in North Carolina I was in the heart of racing country. Over the years I have attended many NASCAR races and was a pilot for one of the drivers in the 90's. I spent my Sunday's at the track inside of a car hauler waiting for the race to end then fly he and his family home. I have a large collection of NASCAR memorabilia and I enjoy bringing out a few items to decorate my racing table on Memorial Day weekend. The Indy 500 is on my bucket list of races to attend one day. I took a tour of the speedway in 1985 while making my way home to North Carolina from a Montana vacation. The Indy race will not be the same this year with Florence Henderson (Carol Brady) in attendance. I also always looked forward to Jim Nabors singing Back Home Again in Indiana. He was unable to attend last year due to declining health.
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| Memorial Day race weekend tablescape. |
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| The stack starts with the red woven place mat. I painted the charger plates a couple years ago using oil based Sharpie's. It took a good while to finish them, but I was pleased with the final product. The harvest gold dinner plate is next then topped with a white woven edge salad plate. The logo is a paper decal. |
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| The layers. |
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| I found the Indy 500 souvenir glasses at Goodwill last year. The most recent one is dated 1979 which makes them 38 years old. |
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| Overhead view of the table. |
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| The napkins are the colors of the racing flags. I used a hose clamp as the napkin ring. |
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| I used checkered flags in the centerpiece. They are surrounded by assorted race cars that were driven by my friend Sterling Marlin. |
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| The only souvenir I could find from my visit to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway was a box of matches. I'm sure I have other things packed away. |
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| Assorted stock cars in my collection. |
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| I used Yo-Yo's found at Dollar Tree as my place card holders. |
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| A couple of my car carriers on the server. |
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| My friend Sterling Marlin drove the Piedmont Airlines Oldsmobile in the late 80's. Another friend Terry Labonte drove the car prior to Sterling. When Piedmont was taken over by USAir (which became US Airways and now American) they decided to do away with the Winston Cup car sponsorship. Sterling was also sponsored by Underalls. Do you remember Underalls? Panties and hosiery all in one. |
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| Sterling also drove the Kodak cup car. |
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| Cooper on Memorial Day a couple years ago. |
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| Remember those that gave their lives for our freedom. |
This post is linked to the following parties:
Celebrate Your Story #78 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
The Scoop #276 - Confessions of a Plate Addict
453rd Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Thursday's Favorite Things - Katherines Corner
Home & Garden Thursday - A Delightsome LIfe
Vintage Charm #84 - Blue Willow House
Home Sweet Home #324 - The Charm of Home
Grace at Home #251 -Imparting Grace
Home Matters Linky Party #137 - Life with Lorelai
Foodie Friday and Everything Else - Rattlebridge Farm
Share Your Style Link Party #119 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party #150 - Life and Linda
Inspire me Monday Wee #282 - Create with Joy
Great Race table!!!! Love your chargers!! Thanks for sharing how you made those, I may have to try that!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ann. I really wanted MacKenzie-Childs chargers, but they were not in the budget at the time so I made my own. I have $4.00 plus the cost of the black oil based Sharpie invested. I painted the chargers a glossy white then measured off the grid and filled in with the black Sharpie.
DeleteWhat a fun table! I love the bright colors and patterns. You've honored the sport well! I especially like your use of hose clamps for napkin rings and those yo-yos for placecards! You are so imaginative!
ReplyDeleteRosie @ The Magic Hutch
Thank you Rosie. I always enjoy this race weekend. I have a few more details I want to add to the table. My Dad and brother have a race shop in North Carolina. I'm heading up in a couple weeks for a visit and may raid their used items for a few more special items for next years table. :)
DeleteYour creativity is evident in abundance in your fun table. I love your checkered charger plates; it must have been a lot of work to achieve the beautiful b/w pattern. Have a blast this weekend!
ReplyDeleteThank you Carol. The chargers took time to complete, but were well worth it in the end. I have a full day of racing to watch on TV this Sunday. The Monaco Grand Prix, Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600... I'll be asleep before the last one is finished. lol
DeleteWhat a fun tablescape and way clever ideas for the place card holders and napkin rings. That's thinking outside the box and I'm loving it. Roooooom rooooommmm
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy. This table is always a fun one to style each Memorial Day weekend. I try to add another element every year to keep in interesting. Have a wonderful holiday weekend.
DeleteHow fun! Those napkin rings are brilliant! You always style the cutest tables! Thanks for sharing at Celebrate Your Story!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Chloe! It was a fun table to style and I'll enjoy having my meals at the table this Sunday while watching the Monaco, Indy and Charlotte races. It's going to be a full racing Sunday. :)
DeleteCatherine, another fabulous tablescape. The racing accessories are so cool. Loving your creative race cards and napkins rings. Painting the chargers is something that is creative and time consuming. Love your creative spirit. Such a fun tablescape. Happy Memorial Day and thank you for sharing at DI & DI.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Linda! Yes, those charger plates took some time. I really wanted MacKenzie-Childs, but they were not in the budget at that time. They are now, but I do not want to part with the ones I made. lol It was fun to have three meals at the table yesterday while watching a full day of racing staring in Monaco to Indy then Charlotte last night. I must confess, I went to slept before the Charlotte race was over. At least a hometown boy and the grandson of an old friend won. Thanks for hosting DI&DI. :)
DeleteYour collection of stock cars and carrier trucks makes your tablescape special. Love the chargers you made. Thank you so much for sharing your fun race themed tablescape with us at Vintage Charm.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sharon and thank you for hosting Vintage Charm.
DeleteThanks for joining Home Sweet Home!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting Home Sweet Home! :)
DeleteOh, I am always amazed at the details of your tablescapes, and this one is no exception. What a cute idea for napkin rings! Your painted chargers are wonderful, I don't think I'd have the patience (or steady hand) but might look for some black and white checked fabric for future use. I hope you enjoyed the race!
ReplyDeleteThank you Joy! I sure wish I had know how to cover charger plates with fabric a few years ago when I painted these. It took a long time and my hand is not so steady any more either. I think Hobby Lobby carries the black and white larger check fabric. Sure will be easier than painting.
DeleteYou always have the fun and lively tablescape. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Vanessa. So sorry for the late response. I've been away on vacation in North Carolina visiting family. Hopefully I'll have a new table ready for this Sunday's DI&DI. Thank you again. :)
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