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Wednesday, August 11, 2010

New Harmonies Table Decorations

I have had no time to blog or visit blogs this summer - I have missed SO much!!! I have been decorating tables and here is one that was very special. Our Arts Council is having an exhibit from the Smithsonian Museum's Museums on Mainstreet Program called New Harmonies which celebrates American Root Music - jazz, bluegrass, gospel, blues, etc. We had a Grand Opening for the exhibit and I did the table decorations.

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I am linking this to Tablescape Thursday sponsored by Susan BETWEEN NAPS ON THE PORCH.

Also Linking to Centerpiece Wednesday at The Style Sisters.

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For the centerpiece I used a fiddle and a mandolin. I was lucky enough to have my daughter's violin/fiddle and one of her friend's loaned us the mandolin. Getting them to lean just the way I wanted was a bit of a challenge. I finally used 2 glass cake plates with lips which could hold up the instruments, a vase to hold up the mandolin's neck and a ham holder to more securely hold the fiddle. All of these got covered with black fabric which blended with the black table cloths.

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Around the tables I used pennants made of old sheet music glued to ribbon and then attached to the edge of the table.

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The wall above the table looked really blank, so at the last minute a friend loaned me a grapevine wreath she had made and I stuck some miniature musical instruments (Christmas ornaments I had to dig out) and a mini watering can and some fans made of old sheet music. I made a bow out of Ivory & Black striped and black swirled ribbon to go with the old sheet music and VOILA - the wall was no longer blank!

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For the flowers, I wanted to use sunflowers, preferably free sunflowers, but by last weekend all the sunflowers around here were past their prime. So I got several bouquets of grocery store flowers which had a few sunflowers in them and used those plus flowers and greenery from my yard and my friends.

I put magnolia leaves behind the musical instruments  and the the flowers in galvanized tin containers from the Target dollarish section (bought these a few years ago.) The flowers I used were: Sunflowers, Mums, Black-eyed Susans, Zinnias, Berries, Goldenrod, Asters, Acuba and Cotton Blossoms. Yes, I went out to a cotton field on the day of the event to cut cotton blossoms! I thought they added to the American Root theme!

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For refreshments, the committee used napkins and plastic cups in yellow, orange and green to complement the flowers. I think they really stand out nicely against the black tablecloths.

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The event was a BIG success with lots of visitors. The Exhibit is amazing as was the live music and food! Happy Tablescape to all of you!

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22 comments:

Marty@A Stroll Thru Life said...

Absolutely gorgeous. You did such a great job and displaying the instruments was such a fabulous idea. Very pretty. Hugs, Marty

YourTeaLife said...

So beautiful. I love your choice of flowers.

Celly B said...

This is so creative! I especially liked the centerpiece of stringed instruments and the sheet music banner.

Carrie said...

What a gorgeous table setting...no wonder you have had little time to blog!

The Style Sisters said...

I love this centerpiece idea! Stop by and link up to my Centerpiece Wednesday on my blog today. LOve your creativity!

Karin

Debbie said...

what a creative way to use the instruments! VERY nice!! Good job!!!!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Barbara said...

I just love how you used the instruments as part of the centerpiece. Very clever!

Signing Out said...

Love this...you're so creative!

The Tablescaper said...

Great table, love the instrument.

You've been away too long.

- The Tablescaper

craftyles said...

I'm a piano teacher-so of course I love the centerpiece. Really cute and creative!

xinex said...

Your centerpiece is so original and perfect!...Christine

Kathleen Ellis said...

Great job! Love the use of the instruments for the centerpiece...very creative! The sheet music was a nice addition, too!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Have a beautiful day~
;-D Kathleen

Unknown said...

Just lovely!

Blessings!
Gail

SouthernGal said...

Lovely! What a great job you did getting those instruments to behave. They look great and your flowers are wonderful. How clever you are to go out and get the cotton blossoms. Very creative and goes with the theme beautifully!

Christi @ A Southern Life
http://asouthernlife.com

niartist said...

Fantastic vignettes! So creative! Thanks for sharing! Just a reminder - my Friday Vignette's post is tomorrow, and I'd love it if you'd link up! Even pictures from this post - the vignettes are great! :) Hope you join in! :) Artie

Things That Inspire said...

Love the centerpiece- music is so important in my family's life, and that is a great idea!

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh, I just think it is so smart of you to use those instruments that way! It was worth all of your effort to get them propped up just right, because your centerpiece looks beautiful. Love the penants against the black cloth, and weren't you clever again to put Christmas musical instruments on that wreath! (I had been wondering where you had been-so glad to see you posting again). laurie

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh, I just think it is so smart of you to use those instruments that way! It was worth all of your effort to get them propped up just right, because your centerpiece looks beautiful. Love the penants against the black cloth, and weren't you clever again to put Christmas musical instruments on that wreath! (I had been wondering where you had been-so glad to see you posting again). laurie

Entertaining Women said...

I have a family of musicians...your centerpiece is beautiful, and the theme, 'New Harmonies,' is genius. Thank you for sharing your charming design. Cherry Kay

Marigene said...

Oh, I love your artistic table...very nice.

Sue said...

Hi Jewell...you did a great job with the table...love the centerpiece and the music sheets that you made into the banner...very nice..Hope your summer has been going well...you probably have been as busy as I have...everybody seems to have had little time to blog...

Cass @ That Old House said...

Wow -- what a great job!
I love the mandolin and violin on the table -- that is an inspired centerpiece. All of it ... just beautiful.
Now it's September -- what are you up to?
:-)
Cass