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Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Boo!!!!

Our favorite dinner party that we give each year is the one we do for Halloween.  It's always no more than 6-8 people and we never have repeats guests.

I start with this black linen tablecloth and top each place setting with an orange straw placemat.  The the chargers are black French wire.  Don't they look like a spider web?

The next layer is our everyday white dinner plates.  Nothing precious here!

The glassware is a Waterford wine stem in the Lismore pattern and the water stem is etched and painted with a black harelequin pattern.  Here's another example of how my tables are usually a mix of high and low, meaning that some items are high quality, but they will be mixed with low cost, often mass produced items.  Some occassions call for pulling out the best of everything, but not for this dinner.  Fun is the goal here!  You can see a Waterford wine coaster here, too.  I used this for the water, which you will see later in the post.

These napkins are vintage linens that I found years ago.  Some have black cats, some are pumpkins, and some say "boo".  Many years later, I found tea towels that match.

What's better than plastic fangs for a napkin ring?  Every single year that I've done this, someone has put these in their mouth.  Last year, it was a judge!

I bought these tiny little zinc signs to use as placecards.  I used chalk on these to make them look like a tombstone.

These mis-matched pieces of silverplate get used more than any other set of flatware I own.  I've collected it for years and the only thing the pieces have in common is the keystone shape of the handle.

The mother-of-pearl handled knives are pretty special, though, don't you think?

I'm not too sure what these little pumpkin-like things are, but I got them at Whole Foods.  I put them in a white footed urn which shows up well on the black tablecloth.

Then in these white chippendale squares, I put these wonderful roses in the most vibrant orange I could find.

There is no doubt what holiday we are celebrating here!

These kitchy salt and pepper shakers were the girls' favorite from the time they were little tykes.  Here's part of the high/low combination.  They're pretty low, but fun.

Check out the wine we found.

This is a French Syrah by Montperoux Estates.  The lable is done by designer and visionnaire Christian Audigier.  It might be just be too perfect to open!  One thing's for sure.....I won't be throwing this away when it is empty.  It's begging for a drippy candle, don't you think?  The wine coaster is sort of gothic, too.

I replaced labels from water bottles with some from the Martha Stewart line at Michael's.  Then I put these plastic bottles in that Waterford wine coaster!

This setting is nothing but fun.

I about broke my neck to get this shot! 

I wish I could be sure to get these every year.  Are they persimmons?  Anybody know?

Here are the bar glasses set out for drinks.

And these cocktail napkins are so cute.  They are actually orange cotton appliqued with this cute black cat.  I've had them a long, long time.

The coffee tray is set up early.  The pumpkin cream and sugar set is old, as well.  There's that tea towel I was talking about.

Mugs, not cups for this party.  We are so casual and this allows us to linger at the table until late.

My friends give me the best gifts.  Knowing how I love Halloween, Ann knew how much I would love this handmade apron.  You can just barely see the petticoat like ruffle on the bottom.  Isn't it the cutest?

Bows, appliques, and sparkly fabric!  All I'll need is a pair of black pants and a t-shirt.  And killer heels, right?

We'll be dining at the witching hour!

This is getting pretty long, so I'll be posting on the decor and the menu in another post. 

See lots and lots of fall ideas at:



14 comments:

  1. Your table has a beautiful touch of elegance, while offering that sense of whimsy for the holiday. Great job! Love the napkins! ~ sarah

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  2. Hi, Linda! First, thank you for the award! I'm not sure what it's all about (it takes awhile for things to sink in with me...must be the martinis!), but I appreciate it! You're a sweetheart!!! No...I never would have guessed you were vertically challenged. My mind's eye had you about 5'3 with short blond hair and a mole on your cheek. No, wait...that's Marilyn Monroe! OK...so maybe Marilyn's not REALLY dead and you're just masquerading as someone named Linda because you want to be incognito. Aha! FOUND YOU!!! :-) Now, about this table...I could just SCREAM over those chargers that look like spider webs! SCORE!!! You nailed that one, sister! The zinc headstone placecards are really unique, too. That's a great idea!!! When you said that a judge was the one last year to put the fangs in his mouth, I just about keeled over with laughter. That sounds like one of our goofy judge friends. He's a "hangin' judge" on the bench, but one of the goofiest people on earth when you get to know him. Funny! The brilliant color of those roses is just amazing!!! I love them! Our dining room has a lot of orange in it, and those would be so pretty in there. Maybe for Christmas..... Thank you again for the award! That was very, very sweet of you!!!

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  3. Totally awesome! This whole scene is so beautiful! Candy for the soul! Thanks for sharing!
    ~Donna~

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  4. Eeek on the spider web looking chargers.. so fun! they set the tone for the entire table. Your crystal makes the prettiest setting. I agree with mismatched silver pieces. I love the ones i have, too and use them most often. Love the persimmons on the table.. so perfect. I think that is what they are. I bet everyone had a lovely time! xo marlis

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  5. Linda, you thought of every single detail of this! Love your creative expression here from the spider web chargers to the cute tombstone that says Here Sits Larry to the poison bottles... just cute and fun!

    Happy Tablescape Thursday...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  6. Boo-teeful, Linda...I love the vintage napkins and those napkin rings are a hoot!. I bet that is a good selling wine around Halloweentime...

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  7. Sarah said it perfectly. Your table is a blend of whimsy and elegance!

    - The Tablescaper

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  8. FUN is right! Everything about this table is so lighthearted in a spooky way! :) I took in all the perfect details of your table.

    You know what also impresses me?? That you never have repeat guests! That is great! I entertain a lot and much of it is family! I must branch out...

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  9. Now this is a party I would like to be invited to. When you run out of new people to have, remember me. The table is fun with touches of elegance. Mismatched flatware....you're my kind of girl!

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  10. I love everything on this table. Lucky you to find those matching linens! And what a great idea for those place cards. I love the "Here sits....idea!
    D

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  11. How fun! Love your webs -- everything on your table is wonderful. Love the mixtures of high and low----old and new.....all coming together for one fun tablescape. Happy Halloween!

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  12. I want to come!!! What a fabuous dinner party! I'm always curious, you said you only invite around 6 - 9 people, how to you decide who comes? They are in for a treat, for sure. Your table is so perfect for Halloween, you have thought of every detail. I love your decorations in your home as well! Can't believe you found that wine, you need those candle holders that Marlis has for next year to use with the bottle!! I love the combo of upscale with fun stuff. The bar glasses are adorable. Beautiful flowers, too!! Love it!!

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  13. Oh, I love those chargers! They are perfect for the season. I love those little pumpkin stems too but have never bought them because I didn't really know what to do with them. I need to go get some and put them in a white vase, like yours. They look great. The zinc place cards work perfectly. Lovely table!

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  14. Hi lovely lady.
    Your Tablescape for Halloween is a perfect for your dinner party. I love your Spider webs for your chargers.. You did a great job putting this all together sweet lady.
    XXOO Diane

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