Southern Vintage China

Vintage Feature – We’re More than Pretty China!

Southern Vintage Table

Yes, we do adore pretty vintage china and goblets; however, we also have a pretty cool collection of vintage decor. This weekend some of our vintage treasures went on their first assignment to a corporate party designed and coordinated by RSVP-Events. The theme? An illicit speakeasy from the prohibition period.

Secretly located in blind alleys or basements, these establishments illegally served alcohol and patrons were told to “speak easy” when asking for a drink, using code names like coffin varnish, white mule, panther sweat, or rot gut.  The speakeasies were not just for getting “tarantula juice;” they were full scaled parties with jazz musicians and dancing flappers. Sounds fun, huh?

So, this is where our fabulous vintage decor comes in. Tammy, Lindsey, and Sharon from RSVP Events came “shopping” at our studio to pick out items for the back alley leading up to their corporate “speakeasy” party. Our seasoned galvanized buckets, crates, metal stand, teal fan, and assorted “junk” were selected to set this look.

Southern Vintage Table

Southern Vintage Table

They also needed authentic decor for the party atmosphere inside. We packed up four banged up trumpets, banjo cases, a record player, wooden boxes and cake stands, a game board, several suitcases, and other assorted items.

Southern Vintage Table

Some vintage pretties were included to dress up the tables and bar – mirrored dresser trays, decanters, and glass candle holders. Remember those cigar boxes we decoupaged with authentic vintage cigar box images? They were used to hold flower arrangements. Super cool!

Southern Vintage Table

Southern Vintage Table

Vintage Decor Rental NC

We helped deliver to the event site and piled up our treasures in this huge empty warehouse. Can’t wait to see how RSVP-Events transforms this space into a roaring party at a speakeasy!

Source:  The History of the Roaring Twenties: Prohibition and the Speakeasies


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – 5 Weddings, 5 Photographers, 5 Venues

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCAJ Dunlap Photography – The Cloth Mill – Olivia & Joseph

Our year of weddings, tea parties, and family dinners has been incredible!  We have loved every single event and are so inspired by the creativity and visions of our many different clients as well as the beautiful work of the photographers who capture their day. This week’s post features the work of five professional wedding photographers at five weddings and five different venues. The memories behind these five photographs are endless (and priceless)!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCAnnie Watts Photography – Merry Hill – Kelcey & Isaac

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCChristy Clewis Photography – The Parlour at Mann’s Chapel – Angela & Jason

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCPorshia Hernandez Photography – Cold Mountain – Jessica & Daniel

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NCRebekah Senter Photography –  Rigmor House – Jennifer & Teague

We salute these talented professionals.  Thank you so much for sharing your work with us!

We are now booking weddings for 2018.  Please email or call us for an appointment to see our vintage wares at our studio in Hillsborough, NC.


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Colorful Thanksgiving Tables

We all arrived with our favorite dishes to share and, as we have for over five decades, enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving meal together. Sisters, brothers, cousins, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and friends – every flavor of family looks forward to our Bass-Heath-Roberson-Friends gathering.

Southern Vintage Table (aka Shelly 🙂 ), along with Rowena, Allie, Tommy, Sandy, and Melissa, arrived Wednesday at the Rolesville Masonic Lodge to set the tables. This year’s colorful theme included printed tablecloths with colored placemats and mid-century plates in greens, yellows, and blues. Also added to each place setting were mixed and matched vintage napkins, clear goblets, and stainless flatware.

Rowena and Melissa arranged centerpieces from greenery, flowers, and berries gathered from our yards and gardens. These were placed in colored bottles and vases down the tables with vintage candle holders and votives The result? Three long tables dressed in happy hues of blues, greens, and gold!

Southern Vintage Table

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


(Thank you, Wiley and Sandy, for posting these on Facebook!)

Although some family members are no longer with us and others couldn’t make it this year, we all dearly love this annual celebration. We’ll be back next year to do it again!

The tradition continues, Susie, Wiley, Christine, Aline, Weldon, and Toot – and your families dearly thank you!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Thanksgiving Tablescapes

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Our favorite holiday is coming up – Thanksgiving! This day has always been special for the Bass/Heath/Roberson family because uncles, aunts, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, close and afar, get together to share a traditional Southern Thanksgiving meal. We line the buffet table with favorite dishes, like turkey, dressing, collard greens, deviled eggs, chocolate eclair cake, and, of course, Sandy’s famous mashed potatoes.

The feasting place has changed over the decades though we have settled in the Masonic Lodge in Rolesville. In the past several years, Southern Vintage Table has joyfully set the tables and today we are sharing these tablescapes before next week’s post with this year’s design.


2016 Tablescape
White stoneware plates, colorful napkins and goblets, greenery, pinecones, and pillar candles.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


2015 Tablescape
Blue and white plates, amber goblets, burlap runners, amber bottles filled with florals, and votives.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

stage Table Vintage China Rental NC


2013 Tablescape
Floral stoneware, tumblers in amber, green and blue, placemats on brown butcher paper, pinecones, and florals in mason jars.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


Come back next Sunday for our 2017 Thanksgiving table design. It will be colorful and fun – this we can promise – and hopefully, a new favorite.

Happy Thanksgiving!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Feature – It’s Been a Crafty Kinda Week!

I love to craft but recently haven’t had the time nor inspiration to start something new. But things changed when I was asked if we had any vintage cigar boxes for an upcoming event. We do have several but thought a few more might be needed. So when we saw a display of new boxes at a  local thrift store, we imagined they could be made to look vintage – didn’t quite know how – but heck, we picked up six. (Of course, now we wish we had bought the whole bunch!)

When the days got shorter and the nights longer, the crafting gene was activated. With a bottle of decoupage product in the craft cabinet, all I needed were images. It didn’t take long to find them – authentic public domain labels in full color. From beautiful ladies to trolley cars and air balloons, these vintage cigar box labels from the early 20th century are amazing!

I printed two of each – for the outside and inside lid – and steadily worked on these every night. This was my first decoupage project so I had a lot to learn. Some of the sides are painted and some are decoupaged. A few have parts of the original labels; others are totally masked.

The two final steps were to add felt feet to keep the bottom dry and a ribbon hinge so the lid could stay upright. Although none of them are perfect, they sure look pretty!

Of course, these aren’t vintage cigar boxes, but they remind us of those times long ago. They are now on our shelves ready to add a little pizzazz to your event!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Eat, Drink, & Be Scary at Ruby’s Place

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

RSVP-Events did it again! They hosted a fun, beautiful, and delicious business lunch this week at Ruby’s Place. The “Eat, Drink, & Be Scary” theme translated into ghostly vintage place settings, purple goblets, ornate stainless flatware, gothic candle holders with black candlesticks, and white pumpkins perched on pedestals. Pretty and boo scary, huh?

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Catering Works added their element of spookiness with a variety of ghastly treats – monster eyeballs, pumpkin and mummy cookies, and witches fingers – along with their main delish dishes. Yum!

Tucked away in rural Orange County, Ruby’s Place is a unique location to host a business lunch. The winning recipe of delicious food, peaceful country vibe, and a festive table creates an atmosphere of collegiality and kinship – a great combination to build strong business relationships!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Adventures – Mountain Wedding Weekend

Whew! We’ve been on the road again this weekend and this time we headed to the beautiful mountains of Hendersonville. Our destination was the Kenmure Country Club and the vista was spectacular. The foliage was tinged with yellows and oranges, the cool autumn weather was refreshing, and the company couldn’t have been more perfect.

After loading the van to the hilt with place settings for 175 guests, Priscilla and I began our westward journey Thursday afternoon. Along the way we stopped for lunch at a restaurant that just so happened to be near a thrift store    and arrived, via the more scenic backroads, to Kenmure in the early evening.

The tables were all ready for us and we meticulously set them with our vintage plates and goblets. The head table donned our blue and white collection while the guest tables featured a more eclectic mix of patterns. These photos are missing the floral arrangements and soft candlelight so we’ll be sharing an updated gallery in the weeks to come. Can’t wait to see them!!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Following a restful night at a charming AirBnB home, we excitedly began exploring the thrift stores in the area. Over the course of three days, Priscilla and I browsed through 8 or so stores – some high end, some more junk, and all worth the time! What was our find of the weekend? A medley of  terrific vintage napkins – including ones with some groovy prints for our growing bohemian offerings – and a gorgeous set of china from Germany.

These last two weekends have shown us that traveling to destinations is a service we can happily accommodate, especially if it includes a day or two of exploration and delicious meals shared with a kindred soul! Thank you, Taylor and Priscilla, for two delightful back-to-back weekends!

Planning a wedding in the “beyond” region of our studio and want a vintage look? We may be able to help!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Vintage Adventures – On the Road to Richmond & Asheville

Southern Vintage Table is on the road this weekend and next – delivering our beautiful vintage tableware to weddings at Tuckahoe Plantation in Richmond and the Kenmure Country Club in Hendersonville.

Scouting out the trip via the backroads, this weekend’s drive up to Richmond was incredibly beautiful and relaxed – perfect temperature, gorgeous sunlight, and an easy drive. After our delivery, I met my daughter in Carytown for the weekend. Our AirBnB rental was a block away from this eclectic, fun area in Richmond and we found lots of restaurant choices and cute shops to browse. We had a grand time together – she even enjoyed going to one thrift store with me!

She’s now back on the train headed to DC and I’m getting ready to return to Tuckahoe to pickup and begin the beautiful drive home. What a lovely adventure with my sweet, amazing daughter!

PS – I’ll be adding a photo of Tuckahoe right here after I return home. This historic venue is the real deal – in fact, it was Thomas Jefferson’s boyhood home!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Event – Soft Pastels Whisper Wedding Romance for Erica & Josh

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Yes, we love deep rich colors but that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate the sweet beauty of soft pastels. For Erica and Josh, their wedding color palette included pale blues, pinks, and white, and as you can see, our vintage floral china was a wonderful fit. Set in the historic Merrimon-Wynne home in Raleigh and coordinated by Amy Wurster of Knots ‘N Such, this wedding was pure romance.

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

In addition to the mixed and matched vintage china, we set the table with our vintage clear goblets, silver-plate flatware and trays, and votive candleholders. With our vintage napkins folded and tucked under the plates, each guest had his or her own unique place setting. We love this!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Our vintage wares also were used to display the array of delicious desserts and sweets. With our vintage silver-plate spoons and plates, guests were doubly treated!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

Thanks for inviting us to help with your beautiful vintage wedding, Erica and Josh!  Sending best wishes for life-long romance and joy!


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC

 

Southern Vintage Table Event – Two Weddings, A Tea Party, and Photo Shoot!

Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC
Photos by Christy Clewis Photography, Priscilla Dennison, Katherine Miles Jones Photography, Shelly Heath

What a tremendous weekend!  Our vintage wares were delivered to two weddings – one at The Parlour at Mann’s Chapel in Chapel Hill and the other at The Cadillac Service Garage in Greensboro. Our beautiful tea cups will be enjoyed at a tea party in Raleigh, and if that wasn’t fun enough, we are collaborating with Elizabeth Vest in a King of Thrones themed photo shoot at The Longhouse in Stokesdale. Whew!  You can bet we’ll be sharing photos from all of these!

So, we hope you understand why today’s blog is a bit brief – we are catching our breath so we can be ready for another exciting week ahead!

We are currently booking events for the holidays and for 2018. Contact us if you’d like to come visit and see our vintage inventory!

 


Southern Vintage Table Vintage China Rental NC