Wednesday, March 7, 2012

CHINA ORCHIDS And "OPEN HOUSE"


Before "table talk" I want to tell you about my friend Sherry's fabulous linky party OPEN HOUSE PARTY. She so kindly featured StoneGable  home and blog this week at Open HOUSE PARTY. What a wonderful "welcome back"!!!! Please go visit Sherry at NO MINIMALIST HERE and tell her I sent you. You just might want to join in the fun!!!!! Thank you so much, Sherry!

Now let's talk about the China Orchid Tablescape...




Simple styling, fine accouterments and exotic orchids make up this classically formal table.

It just whispers elegance. Nothing flashy or frilly... understated and  refined pieces are invited 
to the China Orchid Table...



                       
The inspiration for this tablescape are these stunning Phalaenopsis Orchids. They are also known as moth orchids.

Two plants were repotted in a footed silver serving dish to become a centerpiece.




My Royal Doulton White Nile wedding china was put into service for this table.  A white tablecloth provides an achromatic background for the china.




White Nile's geometric border in quiet colors and stylized flower made me love this very unusual porcelain oh-so-many years ago. It still makes my heart flutter every time I use it.







Waterford Lizmore crystal, another wedding pattern, brings its lovely design and sparkle to the dinner party.




Snowy starched dinner napkins are fanned and held in place by an orchid napkin ring.  


                                             


I made the napkin ring from faux orchids glued to Lucite clear shower curtain rings.





Even though the silverplate flatware came from a flea market, its lovely detail is welcomed at the table.





White candles in hammered silver and glass pillars illuminate the table.  Their simple round design adds weight to the table without being fussy.


The subdued color palate of the table lets the orchid centerpiece be the star! Orchids make such a statement! They are like peals or diamonds... they go with everything!



Thanks to Loretta, Rick, Laleh and Seth for making our dinner together a wonderful and memorable time... let's do it again... soon!




THE MENU
Arugula, Shaved Parmesan And Pine Nuts In A Lemon Vinaigrette
Braised Short Ribs
Herbed Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Carrots
Key Lime Mini Desserts
look for upcoming post
Coffee
Wine



Pin It

I am participating in:
CENTERPIECE WEDNESDAY at The Style Sisters
Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps On The Porch

66 comments:

  1. Your wedding china is just so perfect for today isn't it? And this is a table-setting I'm completely in love with. Orchids, only the best!!

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  2. I just love your blog!! Everything you do is pure elegance.I'm so happy your back.

    Kathy

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  3. It's a given that there will be beauty when I open your blog.

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  4. Gorgeous table! I absolutely love it... the orchids are perfect and my favorites. Thanks to TJ's I keep my home full of them quite inexpensively. Wish I could have been a fly on your wall during this festive occasion! I'll bet it was fabulous.

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  5. Gorgeous Yvonne! Love the knife rests too. Orchids are always elegant.
    Bonne journée,
    Mimi

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  6. Lovely. Sometimes it is nice to pull out the old wedding china. I haven't done that in a long time.

    - The Tablescaper

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  7. Beautiful table setting. simple and serene..

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  8. Oh, this is absolutely gorgeous, Yvonne. I love how you create such a wide array of tablescapes, from the elegant orchids to the lilacs to the Easter settings. I look forward to each one.

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  9. How gorgeous, Yvonne! It's lovely to have you back in Blogland and I look forward to your inspiring posts. Wishing you a delightful day.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  10. Oh be still my heart...Love this setting! Breath-taking! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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  11. Lovely table as usual, Yvonne. Glad to see you back. I knew that you just wouldn't be able to stay away and I'm glad. We missed you!

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  12. I adore that china! (I have something of a problem with dish lust.) The orchids are lovely.

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  13. OMGoodness what a GORGEOUS table! It is so elegant. The orchids are of course, beautiful and your CHINA id=s magnificent! I have never seen this pattern but love it. Every piece on the table is perfect. LOVE how you did the napkin rings! Thanks again for your help. XO, Pinky

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  14. Always beautiful and inspiring!

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  15. Wow you have not lost your touch!! Beautiful......breathtaking actually. I love your potted orchid in the silver pot, I do that too and its so pretty and old world. I miss your recipes and hope you might share one day the mini key lime pie recipe? Beautiful!

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  16. What a gorgeous and elegant table! You are such a talented gal!

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  17. Just saw that you were back blogging!! Welcome home!!

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  18. Oh how wonderful. It is so elegant.
    I'm so happy you are back.

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  19. Hi I found your blog over at No minimalist here. Your home is gorgeous. I look forward to seeing as well as learning much more. Thanks for sharing and welcome back. Happy to be a new follower.

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  20. Your tablescape is just gorgeous....the Orchid is so beautiful too :o) I just came over from Sherry's blog and enjoyed seeing pics of your beautiful home featured there!!!!
    ~Des

    PS. I am now following you on Google...hope you will follow me back :o)

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  21. So dreamy, and elegant! I remember the last time you brought out your wedding china for the sweet table for two. I vowed then to bring mine out (down from the attic, shame on me), and then I forgot! Thanks for the lovely reminder to use these special pieces more often, even after 25 years :)
    xo, Andrea

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  22. Visiting from Sherry's Open House Party. So glad to have found you! I am now a new follower.

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  23. Coming over from Sherry's NMH. Your blog is beautiful. I have always loved moth orchids. They look fabby on your table.

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  24. Beautiful china, Yvonne. This is a new pattern to me. Your table is gorgeous, and it's good to see you posting and sharing these talented tablescapes again. Love the orchid in the silver dish. ~ Sarah

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  25. BEAUTIFUL and welcome back my friend!! I noticed you have a Twitter button but it didn't connect me to your Twitter page. I'd love to follow you if you are Tweeting :)

    Blessings!
    Gail

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  26. Yvonne, love the clean and elegant look of this table. Love the Lismore pattern. Welcome Back, big time!!

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  27. Simply lovely! I'm so glad I popped over for a visit from Sherry's blog. I'm now happily following you. Hope you have a grand evening. Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  28. Just hopped over to say that I saw your home tour on Sherry's blog. Absolutely breathtaking! From the interior to the exterior. Loved it all! The tablescapes and food pictures were fabulour also. What a multi talented lady you are!
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  29. "Understated and refined"--that's the perfect description for this lovely, lovely table, and the kind I prefer. I was recently assessing my tablescapes and didn't come up with those exact adjectives, but I recognized that my style is simpler, if you will, than others', and I decided that's okay :). Welcome back! You surely know how much you were missed. I was pretty new to blogging when you took your break, but I never removed your button from my blog in the hopes that you would be back. Happy that you are.

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  30. So glad you are back!

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  31. Lovely, Yvonne! Very classic. We share the same pattern in our Waterford.
    Your china is very different, I have never seen that pattern, it is beautiful.
    Nothing like a white cloth and starched napkins for a formal dinner.
    We went out for my birthday tonight and I had braised boneless short ribs. Different from the way I make them, but very good. An interesting dessert presentation I am going to try to duplicate too.
    Thank you for sharing this elegant table!

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  32. Hi Yvonne, I saw your home at Sherry's tonight and had to come over and say hello! Gorgeous! I am back from a break as well, sometimes it is just what we need! I love your home and can't wait to look around more! :) I'm following you now too :)
    Kristi

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  33. Oh my, what a fantastically gorgeous table. I love orchids, but can't seem to grow them. Thanks goodness my daughter is a fiber artist and one of the things she makes is beautiful fiber orchids.
    Laura

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  34. I enjoyed the tour of your beautiful home at Sherry's.

    This table is incredible, Yvonne! It is so good to see you again!

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  35. So beautifully classy & understated, yet very elegant, Yvonne! Your wedding crystal & china is just as current as any of today's new designs. My white orchid is blooming, too, but its still in an ugly clay pot. LOL I love how you gussied yours up!

    I'm off to Sherry's to read her post next. Thank you for the link.

    fondly,
    Rett

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  36. Hi I'm a new follower from over at Sherry's! I just love your home and this crystal reminds me of my mom setting the table every Sunday when I was a little girl. Nice memories . . . : ) I would love if you'd share this post at my Frugal Treasures Party going on now. Thanks so much for sharing and I'll definitely be back.

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  37. Your table belongs in a 5 star restaurant setting..Magnificent and I just read Sherry's post on your home and blog...Truly an inspiration.

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  38. Yvonne, I love love this china. Oh goodness. The orchids just make me swoon. Your table is absolutely lovely. Great idea on the napkin rings. I found some white orchid silverplate that would be wonderful with this china!! I do love your new look, makes me want to go clean up my blog this weekend. You are such a God-given inspiration to me.. xo marlis

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  39. Oh, so beautiful! I love the footed serving dish in which the orchids are planted. Very cool! There's just something about pieces with feet that turn my head. I love the way the napkins are starched so beautifully. The napkin rings are a great idea, too! The china is just perfet...very sophisticated and pretty! Just a gorgeous, soft, soothing table!

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  40. So thrilled that you have returned to blogging. This I learned from Sherry and came right over.
    You are multi-talented indeed! Welcome back.

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  41. Welcome back Yvonne! My table features orchids too - but just silk ones. I just love fresh orchids - such little pieces of art! Your wedding china is beautiful and so classic.

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  42. Yvonne, You have created another beautiful tablescape! Thank you for your sweet comment and it was my pleasure to feature your home this week. Hugs, Sherry

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  43. Stunning table! And I'm so glad I'm not the only one whose heart skips a beat when using my fine china! After all these years, I never once wished for a different pattern.

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  44. Everything is so beautiful I hardly know where to begin, so let me just thank you for a lovely visit!

    Hugs,
    Susan and Bentley

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  45. The china is just stunning! Your table is beautiful! Thanks for sharing,Please come and re follow me I lost my blog and had to start over. Joann

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  46. Oooo...I can't wait for the Key Lime Mini Dessert recipe!! :) Beautiful tablescape, as always - I love the china!

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  47. Your table is beautiful, Yvonne. So very elegant.

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  48. Welcome back! I really missed reading your lovely posts. What a nice surprise!

    There are many of us who don't blog but love to visit! I can only imagine how much work it takes for you and fellow bloggers to create these lovely posts.

    Beautiful wedding china! I can't wait to see what you have in store for your followers!

    Welcome back!!! God bless you! Mrs. S

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  49. Welcome back! I can't wait to see what treasures and surprises you have in store for us. Please stop by and say hello! Oh, and feel free to link to the party as well.
    Big hugs,
    Patti

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  50. Hi Yvonne, thanks so much for stopping by. My Frugal Treasures Party is up and running, sorry for the mix up! : ) Hope you'll stop back by.
    Barbe

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  51. Yvonne~ Your table does whisper elegance~ from the sparkling crystal to the gleaming china! I adore orchids~ their blooms last so long. How genius to use a faux bloom on a shower curtain ring for a napkin ring! Welcome back~ You've been missed and I've had to satisfy myself with your archives of tables! I'm thrilled to be able see what you create or share next~ whether on the plate or on the table!

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  52. una vez mas feliz por tu regreso.. hermosa entrada con esta mesa decorada con la pureza del blanco y mi flor nacional la orquidiea. Dios bendiga hoy y siempre tu creatividad.. besos
    Hilda Perez Machado

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  53. Great minds think alike ....I love how we both used these gorgeous orchids as center pieces this time, your photography is always stunning! Thanks again for linking up to centerpiece Wednesday ...it is always a treat to see what you come up with! I just knew you would be back!

    Karin :)

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  54. Yvonne~ I'm so happy you're back! I kept Stone Gable on my favorite list. Checked it recently, and was thrilled to see the site updated.

    You're my very favorite! Thank you for sharing your talents... your beautiful creations brighten my day!

    erin

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  55. Yvonne - I am so happy you are back - I missed you while you were gone especially your lovely table settings. You started me using more white and collecting white dishes and I love it - thank you. The orchid table setting is so beautiful I can't wait for more.

    Thank you so much for sharing your life with us.

    Roxanne

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  56. Wow! Am I glad you're back! I missed your beautiful table settings and your wonderful menus and recipes! And did I say I'm glad you're back! LOL Love this tablescape!

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  57. Yvonne,
    Timeless, classic china!
    Elegantly exquisite tablescape!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  58. I am very happy you are back as well. Yea!!! I love reading your blog posts very much and I missed you. Seems as though you have the best ideas and you are an excellent cook and decorator!!! We all welcome you back!!!!! :>)

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  59. Sherry is the BEST. And I am glad you are back, also!

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  60. I have these same same dishes and have loved them for over 30 years. Your table scape is beautiful.

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  61. This is my wedding china as well...I have used and loved it for 32 years! I get compliments every time I use it. I paired it with Lenox light green crystal and Gold Supreme utensils. Subtle colored table linen make a simple and elegant backdrop. I love your "scape" very much!

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