Thimbleanna » The Bluebird Table

The Bluebird Table

March 25, 2008 on 10:05 pm | In Holidays, Sewing | 40 Comments

Well, that was a little unplanned blog break! A special thank you to all of you who took the time to send me an e-mail when you came here to leave a comment and found a bunch of gobbledygook. My webhost has been migrating to new servers for months now and I think it occasionally causes problems. Hopefully it’s over now, but I have my reservations — my site hasn’t been migrated to the new servers yet, so there may be rough patches ahead. Happily, I’m on travel this week, so that helped with the blog withdrawal LOL!

Anyhoo, when I made the aforementioned hot cross buns on Easter, I took the dough over to MeMums to rise and bake, as no one else in my family will eat them. While I was there, MeMum was setting the table for Easter dinner and she decided to use some new bluebird dishes that she got last year. Along with the tablecloth and napkins that I made her for Christmas. (I got the linen from Gray Line Linen in Manhattan — I love that place! It’s hard to find linen wide enough for a tablecloth, but they have several options.)

Oops! I never finished the binding on those napkins. (Oh, come on — tell me you’ve never given a partially finished present in the heat of battle!) So, while the hot cross bun dough was doing its thing, I worked on napkin bindings. I got them done just in the nick of time.

A few posts back I mentioned that if you only know one thing about MeMum, it’s that she’s a perfectionist. Well, another thing is that she LOVES dishes. Of all kinds. But especially if they’re blue. (Gurney! Avert your eyes! (Gurney doesn’t like birds — I think they creep her out — was it too many viewings of The Birds, Gurney?))

I thought I’d show you MeMum’s lovely table setting. Our dinner was divine and very traditional: Ham, cheesy potatoes, green beans almondine and salad. To be truly traditional for us, it should have been a jello salad, but MeMum opted for a tomato-vinagrette salad. I missed my spring jello, but the tomatoes were delicious. And fresh coconut (BigDaddy grates the coconut for MeMum) cake for dessert. Yum!

Have a good week!

XOXO,
Anna

40 Comments

That is a beautiful table. Those napkins are so pretty. What fabric is the white?? linen?? I love them. And those dishes……………LOVE THEM!!! Glad your blog is up and running again.

Comment by sharon — March 25, 2008 #
Oh wow, that is all so pretty together – talk about perfect! Those plates are beautiful, and with the glasses and the napkins…….. definitely perfect.

(Speaking of “The Birds,” we had this unbelievably huge flock of birds (starlings?) in the back yard and adjoining field. It was weird. I was sure I was in a scene from the movie. Of course the boys had no clue what I was talking about. Also found out this weekend they have no idea who Mr.Spock is. I obviously have some work to do with them.)

Comment by rohanknitter — March 25, 2008 #
Gorgeous! That’s about all I can say. Oh, Wow, I can say that too! :)

Comment by cindy — March 25, 2008 #
Oh, those plates!!! And those NAPKINS!! Yum yum yum.

Comment by kirsty — March 25, 2008 #
What pretty plates, and I love the napkins you made, perfect match for the plates.

Comment by Linda — March 26, 2008 #
Yay! I can comment now :) Oh those plates..those napkins…those glasses soooo cute! OMG the times I have given a gift just to take it back “cause I just have to finish…fill in the blank!!lol!!

Comment by Tammy — March 26, 2008 #
Wow, I’ve gotten way behind on your blog! First of all gorgeous place settings- those napkins are to die for! How do I place an order? ;-)

Comment by Camille — March 26, 2008 #
Your mum’s table setting is very beautiful- your napkins set the plates off perfectly. What an elegant family!

Comment by the pesky bombolino — March 26, 2008 #
What’s jello salad and what’s almondine?????? Those place settings look gorgeous but I hate to think how many things I have started for my mum and not finished (or given to her!!!)

Lucy x

Comment by Lucy Locket-Pocket — March 26, 2008 #
I love those dishes! Glad your blog is back to normal!

Comment by Caryn — March 26, 2008 #
Oh my goodness – that table is beautiful. Looks like MeMum knows how to set a table, of course with the addition of a little Anna bling :). My mother tother (that’s what we call my Mom) loves loves dishes and her house is mostly blue and white – she would LOVE those dishes. Hey it’s another thing we have in common and it goes beyond us, how’s about that sister.

Hey those buns look yummy also. Never had a tasty bite of anything like that. Sounds like I could be missing something.

Hugs – Karen

Comment by Karen — March 26, 2008 #
Those plates are beautiful.

Comment by Sarah — March 26, 2008 #
The table really does look beautiful and your napkins complement those plates perfectly :)

Glad you had a lovely time with your family and glad you are back in the land of blog!!

xx

Comment by Lesley — March 26, 2008 #
Hello Anna,

I too love the dishes and napkin fabric! So unique and “springy.” Where did your mum get the dishes? And was the napkin fabric also from the Manhattan store?

You sure seem to travel for work alot!

Comment by Linda — March 26, 2008 #
I love, love, love the plates. Your napkins are the ‘perfect touch’ for the table. Your mom probably enjoyed having you there while you sat and sewed the napkins rather then having them done at home.
Moms are like that… aren’t you??

Thanks for the tulips on canvas idea. I’ll have to see if I can find some 4×4 canvases (I have several) but I’ll need 15 or so. I’m also going to try and order tulip bulbs to tie in little bags. Some places advertise “Buy now for Fall delivery”.
Hugs to you,
Joni

Comment by jonipossin — March 26, 2008 #
Those napkins… those plates… that blue… what a beautiful table!!! And it all looks so extra pretty on your blue blog. Eyecandy, eyecandy, eyecandy! I just want to crawl into the photos.

Comment by happy zombie — March 26, 2008 #
I’m so glad your blog is sorted out.

What great napkins and I love the whole blue theme. Your mother’s dishes are fabulous. As an avid birdwatcher, I adore birds and think her dishes are a delight. And I also have a thing about having different dishes, too, so your mom isn’t alone in this little habit. I also love what appears to be a cut-crystal blue glass in one part of your pretty photo.

Comment by June — March 26, 2008 #
I’m not a blue person but that table looks so clean and fresh! Talk me through green beans almondine and jello salad will you..they sound like puddings to me!

Gorgeous photos again.

Mums’ are special aren’t they? Loved your comment on Ali’s blog :^)

Comment by Marianne — March 26, 2008 #
Yay I hope its fixed?

The table is so incredible. The dishes devine. The napkins – priceless!! I love the blue and white. Its so clean and pristine looking. What a lovely dinner. Your family is so great Anna.

Comment by Nanette — March 26, 2008 #
The table setting is gorgeous and yes I’ve finished things at the last moment.

I was wondering why I couldn’t post on the hot cross buns post. They looked so yummy.

Comment by Wendy — March 26, 2008 #
The table setting is fabulous! I love your napkins and I think I might just have to try those hot cross buns. I think the kids will truly enjoy them.

Comment by Jackie — March 26, 2008 #
Oh my dear – those napkins are really fine. I might have to try that now that I am less afraid of stupid bias tape and/or making it myself. Big plans!

BTW: I think I read something about Your Beets on my blog. Just sayin is all.

Comment by finnyknits — March 26, 2008 #
Another thing we have in common. I think I’m a forth generation dish addict. We all have blue ones as or everyday dishes too. My mom has my grandmother’s flow blue dishes and they are incredible.

Memums Easter table looks beautiful. You must have inherited your good taste from her.

Comment by Kim — March 26, 2008 #
Oh, I do love dishes with blue, too. They’re so crisp and pretty . . . and they look so good with food on them!

And those linens are gorgeous. It makes me want to go sew some of my own. Gray Line Linen, you say? Thanks!

Comment by Annalea — March 26, 2008 #
I am a sucker for dishes too…what a cute table scape this turned out to be. :) You could do a magazine feature of the whole piece, just lovely. :) I like the birds.

Comment by Dandelion Quilts — March 26, 2008 #
What a lovely table setting Anna. those plates are very pretty, love too the napkins and the blue glass, very spring like!
Kimx
So happy to be able to comment again!

Comment by kim — March 27, 2008 #
I hope all is fixed with your blog – nothing is more frustrating when you can’t communicate with your bloggy peeps!
The napkins are lovely, the dishes are beautiful (I want them!!!!) – everything IS perfect!! The menu sounds scrumptious – what a wonderful Easter you all had!

Comment by Nan — March 27, 2008 #
the table looks beautiful – those plates are wonderful and the napkins set them off perfectly – I have a affection for blue and white china too! The dinner sounds delicious – especially the fresh coconut cake – mmmm!

Comment by julie — March 27, 2008 #
How beautiful! Looks to me like it would be a shame to mess that up with food.

Comment by Teresa — March 27, 2008 #
Who even cares if the food was good when you have such a lovely table setting and napkins! I would have eaten pickled pigs feet! (ok, maybe not)

Comment by Penny — March 27, 2008 #
Very pretty napkins, and a purely beautiful table setting!

Comment by denice — March 27, 2008 #
So beautiful, Anna! That blue print, is it linen, too? The table and napkins are lovely.

Comment by Jade — March 27, 2008 #
My Mother is mad for a gorgeous table setting too. I’ll have to show her this – it’s stunning! More good reasons to be a part of that gorgeous family of yours! We enjoyed our traditional lamb roast with loads of veggies and a yummy chocolate cake.

Comment by Louise — March 28, 2008 #
Gorgeous table setting! I just love it. Hot cross buns are my father’s favorite Easter treat. He asks for them all the time, but I have never tried making them. Great idea.

Comment by Nicole — March 28, 2008 #
What a wonderful setting!! Those plates are wonderful. The napkins are perfect.

Comment by Dee Light — March 28, 2008 #
Those dishes are so pretty! and the napkins compliment them perfectly.

Comment by Katie — March 28, 2008 #
Anna-
I, too, love blue dishes and a nicely set table. You all looked to have enjoyed one of the loveliest I’ve seen in a while, made all the lovelier by sharing it with family!

So glad to see your blog is back…was going through Thimbleanna withdrawals!

Comment by Anna K. — March 28, 2008 #
Blue and white is always so crisp and clean looking. Lovely table! At a recent quilt show, south of here,I saw a beautiful quilt in blue and white, inspired by the book “Dutch Treat” by Judy Garden. I could hardly wait to get home to go to Amazon to order it! Blue and white—irresistible!

Comment by molly — March 28, 2008 #
GORGEOUS!!!

Comment by Ann — March 30, 2008 #
I can hardly stand it. Those dishes are divine. I’m with MeMum – a different plate for every occasion.

Comment by Vallen Queen — April 7, 2008 #