trimmings

Plate Bio: The spoon is coin silver, from an old Virginia estate; the fork is from eBay, and (so said the seller) the Civil War; the pewter is also eBay, from the 17oo's...the linen, German. The plate is an old favorite, unearthed at a long-ago garage sale.

These plates were created many months ago; as busy as we all are these days, I think the best use of time would be to print them out, on nice heavy stock, and put them on top of your own plates at the table. A little tongue in cheek chic for your holiday merriment, yes?

Think cranberries and turkey and all the trimmings.

Think happy thanksgiving, from yours truly,

vt

that Shakespeherian Rag

Good Eye

A holiday table swimming with

blue and white china, perhaps?

In Steiff We Trust: Thanksgiving Plate Poetry

Clearly, the children's plate. As the crowd waits for turkey, it's fun to think of these bits of art gracing the table...each placesetting waiting for that certain someone. With our nod to Joseph Cornell, who needs flowers? A few beeswax tapers, held aloft by silver candlesticks at the center of the table, and we're off...

This is a favorite, also...the book, the fox, and the plate (made at a tender age by one of my sons) were such fun to put together...for me, it is creating "family art" that brings joy...and there is true satisfaction when others find delight in the treasures.

Chicago, Chicago

Place Setting: the souvenir plate from Chicago, the vintage German linens and silk ribbon...all purchased on eBay. Black and white polka-dot porcelain from Japan. Beige bisque dish is graced by Molly Pitcher. (Our cannoneer is not seen, but her presence is felt: my mother finds the most incredible goodies, always has, and Molly is one of them.) The pilgrims grace an early 20th century guide to Plymouth, Mass.

Holiday Plates: How to Dress Up Your Table Before the Bird Arrives

dearest readers:

all of the place settings

posted in the next few days were

created by

victoria thorne,

&

photographed by

rick martin

hope they provide great

inspiration and joy

during your holidays!

above:

mim's plate | quail and olive

Over the River and Through The Woods

Thought this might be fun...it's from a bit that I styled a few years back, for a magazine...Norma took the photos, and the model is the delightful Ashley.

Our dreamer looks like she might be going back home with her elegantly ancient luggage and celebratory jewels, but she is, perhaps, thinking that a bigger bird might be needed to pop in the oven?

It's all a bit Herbert Hoover-ish to me, and I can't help thinking this is more timely now than it was when we shot it...a chicken in every pot, right? You half expect an orphan to come tapping into the frame...and you sort of wonder where a girl like this got all those goodies...

(Side note: I borrowed the jeweller's glasses--the magazine was, obviously, featuring her wares in the article--and plopped them on gorgeous Ashley's head at the last minute. It's still my favorite part of the photo.)

Happy almost-Thanksgiving to all!

For the rest of the week, we'll be trying to dig up a few Thanksgiving photos and an apple pie recipe (just for you, Alexander in Germany). We might even throw in a little sweet potato casserole, and Helen Corbitt's stuffing.

The T.K. want to know how it's done (all that Thanksgiving cooking, yum) after lo these many years. Cheers!