Marsha's Creekside Creations: using vintage silver

Thursday, March 17, 2016

And It Looked Like George Washington

I saw this sweet little lamb cake pan at an antique store a few weeks ago and I just had to get it. It's one of the heavier pans (not aluminum). Most people would use this pan to bake a cake. Well, I bought it for a table centerpiece... and because it brought to mind a funny story my friend told me years ago.
I have a friend who doesn't cook...well she can, but cooking is kinda an "adventure" for her. She has a nice collection of china...various patterns and all of them are so pretty. I remember she once said, "I might not cook much, but I can get something at the store, bring it home and make it look good on my plates."

She is one of the smartest ladies I know and she is well-versed on a large number of topics. And her memory-wow-amazing!

So here's the story:

Years ago, my friend was making a lamb cake using a pan similar to the one above. The cake was going to be used as the centerpiece for her Easter table. She had a friend over--"because I would never have made a cake alone." So they were working together to make the cake and realized (when she took a sample) that they forgot to add the sugar to the cake. So, they made a second cake. When they were taking the cake out of the pan, the lamb's head fell OFF!

She told me that they ended up icing the PAN and using it as the centerpiece!! She said they tied the pans together with a string and then they iced it. She said when they finished with the lamb's ears, it looked like George Washington!

So here's how I made my centerpiece.

I decided to start this project late in the afternoon, so I wasn't really interested in going to the store. You can buy moss-covered wreaths in most craft stores, but I had these items on hand and I decided to use them instead. I decided to press in the sharp edges my foam wreath--you can see how much softer the edges look now. I just pushed in the edges with my fingers. Then, I hot-glued the sheet moss to the wreath. It was pretty easy to cover. The moss shed a bit, so I was glad I did this step outside.

Then, it was time begin my Easter table design.

This is a hydra pick.

You can fill it with water and then put small flowers or greenery in the small hole. You can add flowers to spots that might prove to be problematic without the hydra pick. I picked a few azaleas, some violas and a couple of sprigs of a kimberly fern to add some color to my wreath.

I got out this piece of hand-made lace.

I'm not sure who made it, but I would guess it was my grandmother.

I know she knew how to tat.

I used a burlap charger and added my Bordallo Pinheiro cabbage leaf plates. Yes, I think I got them with the encouragement of my friend who likes china, but who doesn't cook too often. I added napkins with wicker napkin rings. I used vintage silver-plate flatware. I know I bought the silver-plate with a friend who doesn't cook too often..... It's always nice to have friends that understand that you just want things you really don't need :)

Here's a final look at the place setting.

Dear sweet little lamb--you make me smile for so many reasons.

I wish you all a joyful Easter season!
HE HAS RISEN!

Sources: chargers (Hobby Lobby), plates (Williams-Sonoma), napkins (Belk), napkin rings (Target)

Joining the Party:

Coastal Charm Show and Share

The Essence of Home Share Your Style Party

Savvy Southern Style Wow Us Wednesday

Between Naps on the Porch Tablescape Thursday

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Mother's Day Heritage Table

I hope you had a great Mother's Day! I wanted to share with you the Heritage Table I created for my family when we ate together last Sunday. I decided that each family member would have a different piece of china that was from a woman in our family. I used their now-vintage sterling and silver plate patterns, too. AND, it was a surprise!!! That's why I didn't share this idea with you BEFORE Mother's Day.
Here's the reason I'm posting.....
I hope you might be able to use a few of these ideas to set up a Heritage Table for your family some day. My family loved the surprise and the conversations we had about our family members were priceless.

Here's my daughter's place--set with china and sterling silver that had belonged to her

great-grandmothers. The china (a luncheon set) had been packed away in my Mom's utility room (probably for almost 20 years). The box said, "Mother's wedding china."

I'd never seen the china until a few months ago.

My maternal grandmother on her wedding day in June of 1929.

My daughter ate with the sterling silver that

belonged to my paternal grandmother pictured here.

I used lovely linen napkins that we used

at many meals at my great-aunt's home.

I wrote the name of each relative on a card at each place

(the top name for the china and the second name for the flatware).

A great-aunt's hand-painted Haviland china.

I used family pictures on the table and the butler's pantry.

I gathered other items and pictures where I served our dessert.

I tried to include women that I knew very little information about--like I made my sweet sister-in-law's great-grandmother's pound cake recipe. And, I was able to add
a blue crocheted piece made by my husband's grandmother.

I found this lovely sampler that my Mom made in THE ATTIC a few months ago

(yes, more shameful attic storage).

She said she made the sampler so she could

use the frame that had belonged to her grandmother.

While I got dinner ready for the table,

I served pepper jelly over cream

cheese with crackers from this piece.

I took my whipped cream to the table in this old mixing bowl. I wonder how many times my great-aunt, my mom or I made home-made whipped cream at my aunt's
house in this humble bowl? This is probably the first time it has ever made it
to the table where guests-even family- could see it.

In all, items from eleven different ladies
were on the table and server.

I hope you'll try a few of my ideas. You could use these ideas to celebrate Mother's Day, a birthday or even an anniversary. I'll bet you have a few things around the house you could use along with a few pictures. You'd be surprised how much joy you'll pass on to others--and in turn, receive yourself.