Valentines Day Dinner

 

This entire month, at The Gazebo House
 we celebrate LOVE!

We will celebrate our 26 wedding anniversary,
 this coming Thursday, Feb. 14, 2013.

"Being deeply loved by someone

 gives you strength, 

while loving someone deeply gives you

courage."

Lao Tzu

  

Because the holiday falls on a school day,

 I've set the dining room table for 

our family to celebrate together

 on Sunday at our home.

I've used my Churchill pink willow dishes, 

along with some splashes of 

vintage RED to kick it up a notch.

I see lots of RED in the pattern, don't you?

When my baby sister moved to Maui to live, 

she blessed me with our Mother's Depression era

etched ruby footed stemware.

Aren't they GORGEOUS?!  

 

I was thrilled to receive them & 

will cherish & take  gentle care of them.

 The glass is very thin & fragile.

 

I searched for information on their history & manufacturer but was able to find only

 one other listing for similar stemware.  

 

The description follows:

 Quote "They all have ornate cut / etched pattern. The bowls of the stems have a panel optic pattern. I've seen ones like these as being made by the Tiffin Glass Company, the Standard Glass Company as well as the Maryland Glass Etching Works company and as being made during the Depression Era (1920s - 1930s)."

I bought the 8 stems that he had for sale,

 but unfortunately they have not yet arrived

 in time for this tablescape.  

I'm sure you'll see them soon  

for a different holiday... 

RED works beautifully for so many occasions.

 

The silverware, "Danish Princess" 

by Holmes & Edwards, 

was introduced in 1938. 

 I am lucky to now have service for 12 

in this delicate pattern, 

along with several of the serving pieces that go with it.

 

The flowers are a gift from my daughter. 

She knows how much I LOVE POLKA-DOTS! 

  She thought the vase looked a bit like mercury glass &

 I think it also resembles the hobnail pattern from the Depression era.   

I have some of that to show you on 

Tuesday at Marty's Winter Cloche Party.

 

Originally, I made a white Battenburg lace heart 

with my embroidery machine,  

as an accent for it, but then later switched 

it for a PINK one I made instead. 

 I like it better with all the shades of 

PINK, RED & PURPLE 

in the arrangement.

 
 

 I made several others to scatter around the table for decoration.  They are made completely in the hoop, on wash-away stabilizer which it then rinsed away to leave these intricate threads.  The design has to be specifically digitized as a "free standing lace" otherwise, it will just fall apart when the stabilizer is washed out.

 

Taking a page from my sweet friend, Yvonne, 

 I added layer upon layer of various white plates 

with interesting edges for some contrast 

between the pink willow. 

All I can say is thank goodness 

I've got an automatic dishwasher!

Weeks ago I printed out my menu,
in French & then traced around it
with my Waterford crystal heart candy dish.

  

I then cut it out & attached it to a lace heart shaped doily.

Next time I will cut away the center of the lace doily & adhere the printed menu to the back instead. 

 I think that would look better.

 

Here is a close-up of the menu. 

 Hey, Debbie (Confessions of a Plate Addict), check my spelling, will you please?  

 
She was a French teacher in her past life, ya' know.
 

She recently got some great news...Country Sampler  magazine will be featuring her house, all decorated for Christmas in an issue this fall! Stop by & tell her "Congratulations!"

 

 Teacups and vintage "Quban Royal" plates await

  dessert on the side table. 

These plates are trimmed in 22K gold so
they will NOT be going in the dishwasher!

I don't mind a bit.  I enjoy taking good care
of my pretty things by hand washing them. 

The faux slice of cake under the cloche is 
really a darling pink fabric pin cushion 
from my sewing friend, Carol. 

She sends me the sweetest gifts.

Thank you, Honey!  I ♥ it!

Thank YOU for stopping by "The Gazebo House" today & be sure to come back for 

Marty's Winter Cloche party on Tuesday.  

I hope you have lots of LOVE in your life this week & always.

 

I'm joining Bargain Hunting & Chatting with Laurie 

for her annual  

Valentines Day Party on Monday, Feb. 11, 2013

 

as well as Cuisine Kathleen 

on Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013

 for her "Let's Dish" meme
and
Susan's Between Naps on the Porch
Tablescape Thursday 

 Come join the fun!