I’ve had my ear to the ground and it seems that people are saying Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday.   There are no gifts involved, no fireworks – though I’m sure it’s pretty deserving.  It’s a holiday reserved for gathering and gratitude.  Really…that makes it pretty special.  Unless you’re spending it alone.

Most years I’m too busy to do more than think about what my Thanksgiving table will look like, let alone plan what will be eaten from the plates on the table.  But, not this year.  I have had time to do a little tablescaping….and exercise that thankful heart muscle while doing so.

 

Dressing up the Thanksgiving Table

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This year I decided to forgo using my lovely Longaberger Dinnerware.  Hopefully, I’m not sorry, because it is tough as well as great looking and I’m known to be a little quick in the kitchen.  My husband has used words like whirling and dervish, to describe my movements.  Ahem.   Instead, my grandmother’s flow blue china will be gracing our table, as well as her silverplate.   It was always a special moment for me when my mom pulled those dishes from the china cabinet for a meal.  And now they’re mine and I get to use them to create special moments now, too.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net - Thanksgiving Tablesetting Ideas

 

You might remember the dining room furniture, gifted to me by a friend.   The table is a little narrower than my maple table and opens up a world of tablecloth possibilities.  A few weeks ago I was in K-mart looking for some black licorice strings to use to make spider cookies for my spider party.  There, just inside the door was a display of fall linens on sale.  I confess, I splurged.  Two brown tablecloths for just $5.99 each came home with me.  One for the table and one for making napkins.  An oval tablecloth might or might not have been bought for making napkins.  But, I digress.  Brown seemed like the perfect backdrop for my tablescape, and wouldn’t you know, it just about tackled me on my way into the store.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net - 7 Days of Thanksgiving - Setting a Thanksgiving Table with Brown & Gold & Blue | Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas

 

The flow blue plates have just a touch of gold on them and so it seemed fitting to use gold as the accent color for my tablescape.  I just happen to have some lovely almost golden goblets.  My neighbor gave them to me to sell…and they didn’t.  Maybe that was a different blessing in disguise.  They are a wonderful complement to the china.

What else could I do to bring in the gold and not spend a dime?  After all, I had already spent one hundred and twenty dimes.   In my trove of boxes marked Christmas, there is one that is filled with the Midas touch.  You see, one year I decided to make several nutballs and sprayed them gold.  They haven’t been outside the box for quite a while.  A few nuts needed to be re-glued and of course, they needed a little golden spritz to really shine.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Inspired Tablescaping | Thanksgiving Table Decor - Gold Nut Ball on Pedestal

 

I couldn’t just lay them on the table.  Well, maybe I could.  Wanting to do something a bit more special, I set the large one on the antique pedestal I previously had cradling the burlap pumpkin on the piano.  Hmmm…what to do with the two smaller ones?  Voila!  In my cupboard were two etched crystal shot glasses.  Why do I have these?  No one in my family ever used them.  I guess, they’ve just been waiting around to become cute little bases for the golden nutballs!

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Give Thanks Tablescape | A trio of color - blue, brown, & gold

 

With the stars of the show taking center stage, we need a few supporting members to give the table the complete Midas touch! Nuts are always available this time of year in the produce department, so we walked down and picked up a few handfuls which I also spray painted.  This can of Rustoleum was from a store that went out of business quite a few years ago.  How handy that it still worked just like new.

When picking up the mixed nuts at the grocery, I made sure to pick up six walnuts, with just the tiniest crack at their tops.  Not that we need place cards.  My friends who are making the long journey over many rivers and through countless woods don’t need to see their names on a card to find their place at my table.  But, I did think that it would be fun to have a card with a meaningful word or two for Thanksgiving.  I found the perfect free printables on Pinterest.  So many great choices…sweet and simple….for me that’s always the best choice.  To make sure the walnuts didn’t roll around, I punched out small dots from some golden cardstock I had on hand.  Then I took out my handy Cordless Glue Gun and with a dollop of hot glue, the walnuts became wobble free and official place card holders!  They are my favorite part of this tablescape.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Inspiration for Thanksgiving | Handmade Napkin Ring with Gold Leaf | Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

 

It took me the better part of an evening to make those six lovely brown napkins.  Being a little bit rusty in the sewing department I thought those corners were going to do me in, even with basting all the sides of the first fold.  It might be a while before I choose to do that again.  Anyway, I was faced with a napkin dilemma.  How to fold them?  Lay them on the plate?  Under the plate?  What to do?  And then I had an ah-ha moment.  Don’t you love those?  I flew upstairs and retrieved a nice sturdy paper towel cardboard tube I had stashed.  I cut it down the middle, then cut it the width to match some gorgeous gold and cream ribbon I have had a long time.   Outside to my makeshift spray booth, again for a bit of the Midas touch, but just to the inside of the cardboard rings.  Thankfully it was a warm for November sunny day.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Thanksgiving Table Decor Ideas

 

How was I going to attach the ribbon to the rings?  That was the 10 million gold piece question.  Spray adhesive.  Thankfully there was still a bit left in my can of Super 77 Multi-Purpose Adhesive Spray by 3M.  The ribbon was cut just a bit longer than the rings when wrapped around.   Back out to my spray booth, the back of the ribbon was sprayed.  While the adhesive was setting up, I taped the rings so they were round again and then wrapped them in the gold and cream ribbon.   There was a slight seam visible.  I wanted to cover that and add a bit of embellishment.  At first, I attempted to cut the rose tip off some pine cones.  If you’ve never tried that before, I’m certain a special tool or saw is needed.  Pushing that mess aside, I thought about the nuts, but they would be too bulky.  I remembered some fake maple leaves from the Dollar Tree.  Those also made the trek to the outdoor spray booth.  Back inside another dollop of hot glue between the napkin ring and the leaf and golden perfection was achieved.  Okay, that might be a bit grandiose.  But, they are nice, I think.

A few extra leaves were also sprayed, just in case.  Good thing.  They were a nice addition down the center of the table with the gilded nuts.

Thanks to my mom, I have a small stash of old doilies and lineny things.  Again, I had never seen them used, but I’ve been using them in my decorating for a little fun textural emphasis.  The table seemed in need of their sweet touch.  Especially since the dinner plates of years ago are only the size of luncheon plates today.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Tablescaping with Gold or Gilded Nut Balls

 

The only thing we needed to add were candles.  These old silverplate candlesticks have made their appearance here before, serving as pedestals for miniature pumpkins.  They are in need of a polish, but with their slight tarnish they seem to blend in a bit more with all the gold.  You’ll notice in some of the photos there is a little twiggy wreath around their bases.  Most every fall they make their appearance, adding just the right touch of bling.  However, in this case, one minute I liked them and the next I didn’t.  My little pocket Nikon does a pretty good job of picture-taking outside.  I haven’t yet acquired the knack for great indoor photos.  As the light changed over a few hours, the pictures I snapped without the ring weren’t quite a good.  And now you know why you see the little bejeweled wreaths, and then now you don’t.

 

That was fun!!  The best part for me was putting my creative hat on and using (except for the tablecloth) items already in my stash.

 

AnExtraordinaryDay.net | Dressing up the Thanksgiving Table in the colors of brown, blue, & gold | Ideas for table decor

 

Yes, the table is a bit dressy.

But…Thanksgiving is deserving of a bit of dress up and glamour.

 

When we gather around the Thanksgiving table, it’s not about how pretty our tables are.  It’s about breaking bread together, and remembering what God has brought us through in the past year. It’s a time to rejoice in our blessings….and most of all in HIS goodness.  
So, if we can….let’s set a pretty Thanksgiving table…it just might be a form of worship to our King.

 

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Best wishes for An Extraordinary Day!
Diane


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Comments

  1. Glenda Kremer says

    so beautiful! good job as usual! thanks for sharing –that is as close as I get to having a pretty table–ha!

    • Diane says

      Thanks Glenda! I’m forcing myself to make use of the lovely things I already have and that’s fun!
      Glad to see you were a blessing at your church’s Thanksgiving dinner.
      Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving!

  2. ARod says

    very pretty table enjoy your thanksgiving

  3. Mel says

    Wow. Whirling dervish in the kitchen AND in the table dressings! Well done!!
    Gosh, it’s awesome! And those candlesticks with the beautiful silverware…….perfect! Just the right touch to tie it all together. Wow…… How cool you get to start your own memories with the mom’s china. I need to pull mine out of the storage room and consider something special to do with them……such a waste to sit in the box, out of sight and unused.

    • Diane says

      Yes! Go for it!! What good is beauty if the eye can behold it!!! There’s still time!! 😀
      Thank you too for your oh so kind words!!

  4. Jennifer {StudioJRU} says

    Oh wow! What a beautiful table!! I love the colors against that dark brown tablecloth. Gorgeous! Happy Thanksgiving, Diane! 🙂

    • Diane says

      You don’t know how much I appreciate your kind words, Jennifer. I know the setting is unusual…a girl sometimes second guesses herself. Yes?
      May your Thanksgiving be extraordinary in every way! “D

  5. It is a very pretty table, Diana! I love how you combined the pretty blue china with the gold accents. I’m also loving brown tablecloths these days 😉

    • Diane says

      You are so kind Cristina…thank you!! 🙂 I’m not really sure…but I’m really loving brown a lot more than ever before. Crazy!!
      Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving!!

  6. Fabby says

    Beautiful tablescape with Brown and gold, along with a stunning blue and White dishes, always a favorite! I love your pretty gold goblets too. Hope you have a wonderful Tksgiving.
    FABBY

    • Diane says

      Thank you so much Fabby!! This was my first attempt at this color combo. I wasn’t sure at first, but it really felt good for the holiday in the end.
      Wishing you and your a Blessed Thanksgiving too!

  7. What a beautiful table! I’m so glad you joining TTF to share this with us.

  8. Suzi says

    Wow Diane! Gorgeous table! I had not yet found your blog when this was posted so thank you for doing it again. LOVE the china w/bit of gold, lace placemats, gold leaves, nuts and your grandmother’s flatware…stunning. I use shot glasses for so many things so grab them when I see them. Great little pedestal idea & also good for small flowers or sorting small make up items, qtips, jewelry, toothpicks or fruit picks, serving cocktail sauce and stuff like that. Didn’t know Longaberger made dishes or there are cordless glue guns so checking those out next. Great post.

    • Diane says

      Thank you so much for your warm words of encouragement Suzi! 🙂
      Wow! What a fabulous list of ideas for using shot glasses. Who knew? Well, not me….but you sure do. I love the idea of using as floral vases. Thanks for the tips!! 🙂
      Wishing you an Extraordinary weekend!

  9. Sarah says

    Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sending us over to have a look at this pretty table. Happy Thanksgiving.

    • Diane says

      Awww….thanks Sarah for popping over for a look. 🙂
      Wishing you a Blessed Thanksgiving!!
      [hugs]

  10. Mimi says

    This is stunningly beautiful. the blue and white china, the lace placemats, the silver flatware…I love it all. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving here in Australia, but I’ll be using some of your ideas as inspiration for my Christmas table for sure. Thanks for sharing….Mimi….x

    • Diane says

      Mimi, I am thrilled that you can use some of the ideas I shared for your Christmas table.
      Thanks for popping by and taking the time to leave your kind remarks!
      [hugs]

  11. So pretty I love the blue with the gold!

    • Diane says

      You are so nice to say that Jennifer. I love blue and gold too…but then of course I’m a Michigan fan. 😉
      Happy Thanksgiving!

  12. You set a lovely table and I did miss it last year, so I’m glad you reposted. What a great idea to buy two tableclothes and use one for napkins! I love the gold nuts placecards and those golden goblets are gorgeous with your blue and gold plates. Thank you for sharing it at What We Accomplished Wednesdays.
    Have a wonderful Thanksgiving my friend.

    • Diane says

      Awwww….thank you so much Deborah!!
      Napkins are sooo expensive….so if a tablecloth is a good price, and we have time, it is so worth the extra effort.
      Those gold nut place cards are way too easy, too!
      Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful!!

  13. I love, love, LOVE those blue plates! What a special family set! And they pop perfectly on your new brown tablecloth. Thanks so much for linking up at Get Your DIY On!

    ~Abby =)

    • Diane says

      Sometimes I have to pinch myself….I can hardly believe that I actually now own those beautiful blue plates.
      Thanks for your lovely words, Abby!! 🙂

  14. Your table is so lovely. It is always nice to have treasures that have been in the family. I always love using pieces that belonged to my grandmother.
    Bev

  15. beautiful table! i love those blue dishes and the fact that they’ve been handed down thru generations just makes me happy! great job with everything- so many wonderful details. happy thanksgiving- MJ

  16. Looks beautiful!
    Love those colors.
    Thanks for sharing.
    Hope to see you on my blog 🙂

  17. Great color combos! Thanks for sharing at Think & Make Thursday!

  18. Fabby says

    Beautiful Thanksgiving table with gorgeous dishes and lovely lace placemats. The centerpiece in a runner fashion is very pretty.
    Happy Tksgiving.
    FABBY

  19. Looks great, I love the color combination!

  20. Jann Olson says

    Diane, the table is beautiful! Your mother’s china is such a wonderful heirloom. I love the creative use of the nuts and the lace placemats! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

  21. Zenda says

    What a gorgeous treasure those dishes are, Diane! They make your table elegant and cozy at the same time. I love how you used the crocheted placemats. With your mom’s silverplate, those wonderful homey memories will prompt fun reminiscences of Thanksgivings past! Wishing you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving get together!!

  22. Your grandmother’s china is so beautiful. I love your walnut place card holders as well. Thanks for sharing your beautiful Thanksgiving table at Your Turn To Shine!

  23. Bev says

    I love the dressy table…you did a beautiful job! The lace placemats on the brown cloth look wonderful and love all the touches of gold. Score!

Trackbacks

  1. […] As Thanksgiving approached I rose to the challenge and you’ll see my table setting here. […]

  2. […] might remember my Thanksgiving table.  The gold trim on the plates were the hint I needed to splash gold accents all over my table. […]

  3. […] family favorite growing up, and today my husband requests it for all our holiday meals, especially Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter.   She is the aunt from whom I inherited my red transferware,  my favorite […]

  4. […] when I first brought out these lovely vintage goblets in a sunny shade of gold.  I also used them here and […]

  5. […] flow blue china and created a very dressy Thanksgiving table setting.   And yes, I even blogged about it.  But, since the post came out just two days before Thanksgiving, you might have been too busy to […]

  6. […] Dressing up the Thanksgiving Table with Browns, Blues, & Golds […]

  7. […] Home Acre + Dwell Beautiful + Embracing Change + Joy in Our Home + Rooted in Thyme + Living Well Spending Less+ Imparting […]

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