Scouring World Market for a National Holiday

Rustic-Natural-Table-Setting-feathers1Last year I hosted my first Thanksgiving. I had a blast planning the table scape really far in advance and picking everything myself. This year, we’re going back up north to be with my family in Connecticut, and yesterday my mother and I started talking about planning her table scape. My mother said that this year she wanted to go for a more “natural” look on the Thanksgiving table – maybe even a little rustic. As we were discussing all the pieces, I suggested that she go online and check out some moderately priced things from World Market. Well you can imagine my surprise when she said, “what’s World Market?”. World Market is great, it can be hit or miss, but often has some great little finds for low prices. Simple glassware, for instance, is great at World Market – baskets, napkins – the list goes on. So today I thought I would try and piece together my mother’s rustic/natural Thanksgiving table with some finds from World Market. WM TableclothFirst, the Ivory Hotel Linen Tablecloth as a base. WM ChargerThen, add Driftwood Chargers.WM PlatePlace the Nantucket Plates atop the Driftwood Chargers … WM NapkinAnd add the Parchment Hemstitch Napkins. WM FlatwareThe Danieli Flatware gives a homegrown rustic feel to the table.WM GlasswareFollowed by some Tortoiseshell glassware for the water.WM BasketPerhaps a Madras Oval Basket for the bread … WM Cake StandAnd a Wood Bark Pedestal Stand for your Pumpkin Pie! And voila – a rustic table courtesy of World Market. Click on the photos to be redirected to the World Market website. Happy Thanksgiving table scaping!

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Hanging Up the Good China

070B4814Yesterday I posted about the Matchbook Magazine feature about a sweet tea party in my garden. See the feature here. Above is a photo from the party, which features piece of china that belonged to my great-great grandmother. My parents gave me the china when I got married last year, and frankly I haven’t used it. The china is so precious to me, as it is a piece of my family history, and I am terrified of anything happening to it. After all these years, it is no longer a complete set, and I don’t want to contribute to the loss of any more pieces! 070B4831However, after seeing the beautiful photos, I realized I had to find a stress free way to put these special pieces to good use. And figure out a way to follow my own entertaining advice about using the good china.

DSC_0019So, I took the plunge and mounted them on the wall. Which, I will add, is something I never thought I would do. But I am thrilled with the results. This way I can see this piece of my family history everyday, without worrying.

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DSC_0045DSC_0047 DSC_0067 DSC_0070Photos courtesy of Olivia Rae James & Lacquered Life

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Church Street Chronicles

070B4800I am very happy to share with you some behind the scenes photos from the Matchbook Magazine shoot last month, which you can see in the July issue that went live yesterday. Hanna Seabrook of Gadabout and myself hosted a little sweet tea party in my garden, and we had a blast. Today I thought I would share some of the photos that do not appear in the magazine. It was just a bunch of Charleston ladies drinking sweet tea in my garden and having a grand old time. A big thank you to Chef Todd Mazurek from Salthouse Catering for the yummy eats, and to Sara Foster for her amazing Sweet Tea recipe. And especially to Miss Olivia Rae James for the beautiful photographs. To see the Matchbook Magazine spread, click here.

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Photos courtesy of Olivia Rae James

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