The Thanksgiving table this week is styled in a country theme using handmade items made by Mother and Grandmother. The focal point is the cathedral window quilt handmade by Grandmother Dorothy Smith years ago. I also used hand crocheted place mats that my Mother made as a wedding gift for a cousin and his new wife over 40 years ago. They recently gave them to me while I was home for my Dad's funeral. My cousin always admires my tables and it was a great surprise to open the gift bag and find something so special made by my Mom. There is a special note below from he and his lovely wife.
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| Country Thanksgiving place setting. |
This is my Grandmother Dorothy Smith with her finished quilt. I remember when she started making it and piecing every square together and inserting the pretty fabric for the window. During this process of making this quilt she showed me how to quilt and make this pattern. I made a pillow and I have a pretty one that she made for me that matches a quilt that my Mother made for me.
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| This is the quilt completed on a queen size bed in her quest room years ago. I keep the quilt packed away to protect it. During the last hurricane evacuation it was packed in my car and evacuated with me to higher ground. When you are faced with a quick evacuation order you only have a short period of time to decide what must go with you. This was the first thing in the car along with a couple other sentimental pieces and photos. One day I will pass it down to my nephew Blaine. |
Here is the note my cousin Dennis and his wife Rhonda included in the gift bag with the place mats. I will cherish these forever.
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| The place mats hand crocheted by my Mother over 43 years ago. |
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| The centerpiece starts with the antique bread bowl (below) then I added the pumpkin truck. I added some fresh croton leaves from the yard to faux Fall filler and candle rings. |
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| The pumpkin truck centerpiece. |
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| This bread bowl belonged to my Grandmother Smith. It was passed down to her from her Mother. I remember her rolling out bread dough in this bowl to make loaf bread, biscuits and yeast rolls when I was a small child. I must admit, I've never used it to make bread, but It's been a great centrepiece foundation on several tablescapes. |
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| The pumpkin truck was purchased at Michael's this season. |
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| The turkey salt & pepper set are from Salem Creek in Winston-Salem. I made the corn husk doll when I was in the first or second grade. I'm amazed this girl has made it all these years through numerous moves. She's been packed away in a box for years and I decided it's time she came out for Thanksgiving. |
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| I made the wood slice napkin rings last year. This year I added a mini Indian corn cob with husk under the ring. |
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| The pine cone metal candle sticks are from Orchard Garden Center. The flameless birchwood candles are from Reggie's Flower Shoppe in Welcome, NC. |
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| Overhead view of the quilt tablecloth. |
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| I added a few woodland critters to the server this week. The pumpkin carriage and illuminated mercury glass pumpkins are from the Valerie Parr Hill Collection on QVC. |
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| I added Fall themed houses and trees to bookcases on each side of the server. |
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| The plate stack. |
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| The wood grain chargers are from Michael's this season. |
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| The harvest orange plates are from Dollar Tree. |
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| The embossed leaf salad plates are from Home Goods or TJ Maxx several years ago. |
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| The turkey plates are from Home Goods several season ago. |
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| The table with the quilt and place mats. |
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| Up close view of the quilt. |
Catherine
This post is linked to the following parties:
477th Tablescape Thursday - Between Naps on the Porch
Dishing It & Digging It Link Party 174 - Life and Linda
Creative Mondays Blog Hop- Claire Justine
Inspire Me Monday - Week #306 - Create with Joy
Amaze Me Monday #240 - Dwellings- The Heart of Your Home
Celebrate Your Story #103 - Celebrate & Decorate with Chloe Crabtree
The Scoop #301 - Stone Gable
399th Inspire Me Tuesday - A Stroll Thru Life
Wow Us Wednesday #362 - Savvy Southern Style
Home & Garden Thursday #299 - A Delightsome LIfe
Talk of the Town #98 - Knick of Time
Vintage Charm #109 - Our Hopeful Home
Grace at Home No. 275 - Imparting Grace
Home Matters Linky Party #162 - Life with Lorelai
Home Sweet Home #347 - The Charm of Home
Foodie Friday and Everything Else - Rattlebridge Farm
Share Your Style Link Party #144 - 21 Rosemary Lane
Saturday Sparks Link Party 246 - Pieced Pastimes
"Anything Goes" Pink Saturday - How Sweet the Sound
Pretty Pintastic Party No. 183 - Loveland Lodge
Make it Pretty Monday – Week 232 - The Dedicated House
Oh, Catherine, you have honored your precious heirlooms beautifully! Your grandmother's quilt is exquisite, quite beyond words. I cannot imagine the effort involved in creating such a piece. Thank you for sharing this wonderful fall table. Bravo! Rosie @ The Magic Hutch
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Rosie. I hope she would approve of me using it on the table. I'm sure she never thought of it being used that way when she made it. I really wish I could leave it out and enjoy it, but I'm terrified it will be damaged. I just need to bring it out more often and enjoy it's beauty.
DeleteWhat a beautiful and very special table! That quilt is gorgeous and I'm glad you brought it out to enjoy. And the placemats, what a special gift. Your corn husk doll and your grandmother's bread bowl are perfect for this table, too. Enjoy it and have a Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Joy. I need to bring it out more often and enjoy it's beauty. I hope you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family.
DeleteLike you, I love the look and texture of quilted table cloths, but, being a quilter myself am (I say this cautiously) appalled that something that took the maker so long to make, though being cherished by you, could get spills and stains on by using it in this way. It is great for pictures, but for actual use during a meal, well, I would not do it.
ReplyDeleteI really do appreciate your concern. I live alone and I will be the only one using the table this week. I have been careful and covered quilt while I was eating and have been very selective with the type of foods I have had this week. I'm normally have glass of red wine with dinner, but none this week at the table. I wouldn't dare use the quilt at the table if I had others in the home. I have another tablescape planned to go up this weekend for Thanksgiving. Sadly, the pretty quilt will be heading back to storage as I am afraid to leave it out in the normal elements for fear of damage.
Deletethank you for the reassurance of good care for these treasures. Unfortunately there are many, obviously not quilters, wo do not cherish the time taken to make these beautiful quilts. One of mine was used as a packing blanket and was stolen. Another I saw posted on Face Book, on their bed, with 2 huge dogs on it... I was appalled! Another is used to "spare" a leather couch from sun fading and got badly chewed by their son in laws dog... I finally was told of the dog problem and repaired the quilt. It is hard for them to find where I repaired, and replaced batting too, for them to drape it over the couch again.
DeleteI wish I could keep this one out on display, but I keep it packed away for safe keeping. I do not want it to collect dust or to fade. When I had to evacuate for the hurricane Irma last September it was packed in the trunk of my car and went with me. It's amazing the things you grab when it's time to run. I also have a very pretty quilt my Mother made for me many years ago that is packed away. One day hopefully I will have a place to display it. I plan on passing the cathedral quilt on to my nephew on day in the future.
DeleteSuch a lovely, sentimental table. I am so glad you used that magnificent quilt on your table. I am so glad that you shared it with us than left in a box hidden away. I, too decorate for myself. My husband of 50 years watches football while I create tablescapes and vignettes. I often invite my girlfriends over for dinner. They always appreciate my lovely antique linens, china and silver. Better to share it than to store it away.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I'm happy I brought it out and enjoyed it for a few days. I seriously started tablescaping about 6 years ago. I've always set a nice table for holidays etc., but it really became a hobby several years ago. I always enjoy using family heirlooms on my tables. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteWhat a lovely quilt and those placemats must mean so much to you!
ReplyDeleteThank you Helene. These items are very special to me. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
DeleteWhat a pretty quilt! Happy Thanksgiving!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It is for sure a family treasure. Happy Thanksgiving!
DeleteSo many special touches to this table! You are SO lucky to have received the quilt, place mats and dough bowl (to die for)! Not everyone could make such good use of them, but you certainly have:) Thanks so much for sharing at Vintage Charm ~ hope to see you there at this week's party going on now as well! xo Kathleen|Our Hopeful Home
ReplyDeleteNice post! This is a very nice blog that I will definitively come back to more times this year! Thanks for informative post.
ReplyDeletequestroom
Thank you so much for your kind words and I hope you will come back for a visit. :)
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