We’ve come to the end, dear readers – the final styled shoot of 2020, which was held at the gorgeous venue, The Bradford. Designed and styled by Bess and Beau, the blue and yellow theme was fresh and elegant with lots of wonderful details. Kaitlyn Blake Photography‘s photo gallery was chock-full of beautiful photos of the entire shoot, which included multiple models, lovely details, cakes, and even a vintage get-away car. To see the entire cast, see the vendor list at the end of the blog.
We, however, focused on the shots of the tables, which included our vintage tableware and stunning florals by Quiet Blooms Florals. The inclusion of grapes, grape vines, and pears in the centerpiece was a delightful surprise!
Notice the different elements in the two photos – on the left, the light blue velvet (oh my!) was draped under the plate with a clear goblet. On the right, you see a blue goblet added and the napkin tied in a knot. Little details such as these are part of the fun in designing a tablescape. Thank you, Bess and Beau, for using our vintage pieces in the table design.
With weddings and events slowly coming back, we will happily help with more styled shoots. Two open houses have been completed and so far 3 styled shoots are on the calendar, so our vintage inventory is being enjoyed by others. Makes us smile!
Vendor Team Venue – The Bradford @thebradford Photography – Kaitlyn Blake Photography @kaitlynblakephotography Hair and Makeup – Sunshine Beauty and Bliss @sunshinebeautyandbliss Gowns + Accessories – Blush Bridal @loveblushbridal Cake – Love Cake NC @love_cakenc Event Design – Bess and Beau @bessandbeau Models – Olivia and Her Husband @oliviacgreen Florist – Quiet Blooms Floral + Laura @quietbloomsfloral Vintage Car Rental – Wedding and Event Cars @weddingcars.raleigh Models – Brittany and Her Husband @bliss.bybritt Rentals – CE Rentals @ce_rental_raleigh Groom Rentals – Otreblas Tailoring Calligraphy – Oh Eleven Studio @ohelevenstudio Models – Demi Cavender @dem_cav Videography – Hightower Film@hightowerfilm Rings/Jewelry – Alysha Whitfield @alyshawhitfieldjewelry Robes/Accessories – Poppy&Co @poppycoraleigh Vintage Rentals – Southern Vintage Table @southernvintagetable2
Today’s post, our final feature from the Green Guild’s Wedding Challenge at Windy Hill Farm, is fittingly a “green” vintage green tablescape. There are so many details we adore – the fig cardholder, the greenery with cut figs, the vintage green peg votives, and the vintage plates.
Here’s how Addie describes the day:
“Addie Thompson of Dogwood Gatherings and Events (Dogwood) put together a wedding styled photoshoot as part of a challenge event for the Green Wedding Guild (GWG) on Tuesday, September 29, 2020 at Windy Hill Farms in Cedar Grove, North Carolina. Photography services were provided by Kevin Seifert of RTP.Studio, which is a member of the the GWG. Dogwood created a sustainable, environmental friendly tabletop setting using vintage repurposed glassware and sustainable practices in floral arrangements. The venue has fig trees on-site so Dogwood added figs to the decor. Windy Hill Farms is also a member of the GWG. As a venue, Windy Hill Farms has on-site composting available, solar powered amenities, low-water restroom facilities, partners with local, sustainably minded vendors, maintains permeable surfaces (i.e. no paved surfaces), and both the farm & venue are in conservation (protected from future development).”
“Other contributors to the styled photoshoot were Shannon Andrews, permanent cosmetics and make-up artistry; White of Raleigh, bridal shop/gown/dress; SoCharm Designs, earrings/jewelry; and Southern Vintage Table, plates, decor, and flatware. Dogwood is a “less is more” design company. Special thanks to our model couple Shana and Anton!”
On a final note, we absolutely loved this challenge! Working with a cadre of extremely dedicated Green Wedding Guild members was inspiring, uplifting, and fun. More Guild events are coming up this year and we’ll be there!
No doubt, the scrumptious and artfully arranged food provided by Sage and Swift Catering takes center stage on this buffet line but we think our vintage & handcrafted items add a little something to their beautiful display – the pair of vintage brass candleholders, brass goblets with succulents, and the stacked wooden boxes holding the plated desserts.
These dishes look scrumptious!
At the upstairs bar at Windy Hill Farms, Hayley sprinkled some of our vintage brass decor to complete the boho theme. After seeing all of these beautiful photos by Rose Trail Images, we are both hungry and thirsty! 🙂
Thanks again, Hayley and Rose Trail Photography, for the design and lovely images! Look for the final entry from the Green Guild Challenge coming up.
Her soul overheard and replied, “It’s about time.”
As I read this quote I had an epiphany – I have loved creating, decorating, transforming, and arranging all of my life and haven’t given much thought as to why. Now, I understand.
My heart and soul need to create.
Our offerings of handcrafted items have brought us joy to create and now even more joy to share. They are all eco-friendly, natural, and repurposed – the hallmarks of a good steward of our planet. We hope you can imagine how they might be the perfect item for your next occasion!
Wood Rounds – Pedestals – Boxes
Wood may be the most versatile natural element. The live-edged rounds, purchased from a local vendor, were first dried and sanded. We then decoupaged one side with vintage newsprint and slightly stained the other with coffee to provide two different looks. Two have been decoupaged with blue & white paper. With these, you can define a space, elevate decor pieces, or hold dishes such as desserts.
Currently we are cutting fallen branches to make pedestals for small items. As seen in the opening photograph, these can hold votives, small plants, or simply be an architectural addition in a grouping.
Our favorite creation are these wooden boxes fashioned from old ceiling fan blades. Two of the same size were matched up for the sides, and the ends and bottoms were cut from recycled wood. The pieces were sanded and nailed together. So far, they have been used to hold cupcakes on the dessert table, stacked as steps to display individual pastries, and filled with florals as a centerpiece. How do you see them used at your event?
Top photo – Mylina Russell; second – Autumn Harrison; third – Rose Trail
Macrame Bottle Votives – Bottle Vases
Macrame was a big hit in the 1970s and now making a comeback with the boho style. These recycled bottles have been covered with a macrame wrap and look so hip! Some can be used as votives and others as vases.
Photo by Mylina Russell
Lace, Cloth, Macrame Boho Backdrop Curtain
As our linen collection grew, several overlays were put to the side for reuse. We weren’t quite certain what that might entail, but we knew they would be perfect for a project. Well, here’s that project – a boho backdrop curtain. Along with cut strips of overlays, we added strips of vintage cloth, ribbon, lace, toile, and macrame rope. Crafted for a fall porch wedding, it is now hanging in our studio. Perhaps you can see this at your wedding or event?
Decoupage Bottles – Vases – Rocks – Rounds
Decoupaging is an amazing craft because you can totally transform something ordinary into a work of art. Most of these have been covered with paper napkins, but we have used vintage book pages and crafting paper as well. These days our glass bottles and jars don’t make it to the recycling bin – they are destined to become a decoupaged treasure!
Our handcrafted recycled and repurposed decor items are at our studio along with our vintage wares. These two blend together perfectly and belong in each other’s worlds.
“The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul ” – Dieter F.Uchtdorf
The Green Guild Challenge at Windy Hill Farm is the gift that keeps on giving for SVT. We have loved seeing and sharing the amazing table designs from the talented wedding planners from the Guild. Today’s post features a look that we adore – mixed and matched napkins, vintage metal containers filled with succulents, and vintage yellow goblets. (Did you know that yellow is one of Pantone’s colors for 2021?)
Here’s another amazing sweetheart and guest table designed by An Event to Remember and photographed by Rose Trail Images. We believe this table setting would bring lots of smiles and conversations from your guests!
When Haley came by to select items from our studio, she asked if there was anything we’d like featured in the shoot. We asked her if she could style the table around our mixed/matched napkin collection. We couldn’t be any more happier with her design!
Thanks again to the vendors of the Guild, especially Emily of Emily Katherine Events and Maria of KaraMia Events, for organizing this terrific event. We hear there will be more challenges coming up next year! Yay!!
We are sharing today a vintage pink and blue tablescape designed by Hayley Singletary of An Event to Remember, photographed by the amazing Audrey of Rose Trail Images. Our vintage blue and white dinner plates, pink salad plates, goblets, vases, and candleholders adorn this table under the trees. Crafted by Hayley, the florals are stunning and add so much color to this lovely tablescape.
We are now switching focus to our favorite, the dessert table. The first thing you notice is THE cake baked by Cupcakes D’Amour. What a beautiful display next to the blueberry bushes at Windy Hill!
Kudos to Haley for a spectacular dinner and dessert table design, and let us not forget to mention that she also arranged all the florals. Talent abounds here! We loved everything about this shoot (except perhaps for our leaning tiered stand – oops!)
We trust everyone celebrated Thanksgiving with gratitude, kindness, and optimism! Now onward to more winter holiday festivities while we continue to keep each other safe and healthy.
Today’s post shares images from a styled shoot at the Bill Scott Pavilion in Raleigh. This nature -filled venue inspired Primrose + Lily‘s design and Alicia Hite Photography snapped beautiful images. This venue is open and airy, with an updated shelter, a stately stone fireplace and mantle, and a gorgeous view of a tree-lined lake.
The incredible florals were created by Event Flouret. We love how fall berries and colored leaves embellished the flowers and greenery. Our vintage tableware and decor, including plates, flatware, glassware, candleholders, and peg votives, look splendid amongst these natural elements.
As we happily browsed through the photo gallery, we noticed that Primrose + Lily played with several different designs. Notice how the napkin presentation and place card vary in each of the place settings below. With so many options, how does one choose?
Lily + Primrose also explored different centerpiece arrangements. There’s a classic floral centerpiece, a vintage candelabra with candles, and the same candelabra with vintage peg votives. Since different venues have their own requirements regarding an open flame, these options are great to have.
Well done, Primrose + Lily! The styling variations showcased your talents beautifully. We look forward to our next collaboration!
Happy Thanksgiving! With this vintage embossed postcard from 1912, we extend good wishes and good health to all of you. This year’s family holiday will be one we will remember and serves to underscore how vital it is to be mindful of the wellbeing of others.
But, we’d like to tell what we learned about this vintage postcard that’s over 100 years old. There are two interesting details – a bit of information underneath the corn and the handwritten message to Miss Sanford from Isabella.
And, after much research, here’s what we know about “Design Copyrighted Only 1912 by Heymann.” First, we couldn’t find anything except that there’s quite a few Heymann vintage cards for sale. We had assumed the artwork was created by Heymann but that’s not the case. Heymann was part of Heymann and Schmidt, a luxury paper and printing company in Berlin. In addition to printing postcards, they produced calendars, posters, greeting cards, and packaging. Their items were shipped across the world. According to one source, the printing portion of the business operated from about 1904-1930. These postcards are highly collectable today. We still have two questions – who was the artist and why does it say “only 1912”? If anyone knows, do tell!
Now for the message. You can see that it was not mailed because there is no stamp or postmark. Why, we wonder? But, Isbella really wanted her friend, Miss Sanford, to come and spend Friday night with her, perhaps the day after Thanksgiving. We hope she did!
Dear Miss Sanford, I want you to spend the night before you goes home. Can you come Friday night or not and if you can, come visit come Friday night. Please send me word what night you wish to stay. I am looking for Delia and Fannie. Robert won’t be here Friday night he is going to the large (lodge?) so Please send me word From Isbella Trotter. by Hand
Thanksgiving will be different this year for many of us, including the Bass-Heath-Roberson clan. For over 6 decades we have gathered together sharing our speciality dishes to celebrate this day – aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, nephews, cousins, children, sisters, brothers, and friends. It became our yearly family reunion and the time we caught up with other’s lives and families.
This year we’ll be at our own homes and we’ll be okay. That’s because we will be keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe so we can return to this family tradition next year. The good part is we’ll have even more to share with each other!
Last month SVT was chosen to contribute to an article about celebrating Thanksgiving on Redfin’s Blog – how exciting! Here’s the full article with some great advice from “notable experts” about decorating and setting your Thanksgiving table.
Thanksgiving Table Décor Ideas for This Holiday Season
As Thanksgiving is approaching, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll decorate this year’s table. From dinner plans to table decor, you may have a lot going on. That’s why we have gathered tips from experts from New York to Sacramento to share their ideas and tips for creating a beautiful Thanksgiving table this holiday season.
Create a gorgeous chandelier wreath
I think creating a gorgeous chandelier wreath above a table setting can really take the whole tables cape to another level. Simply adding Fall foliage to your chandelier by draping garland with colorful leaves or corn stalks around the light fixture (or around the hanging stem) can take a tables cape from drab to fab. To create more of a rustic farmhouse look, cedar greenery with berries is a fan favorite, and adding black velvet ribbons or pattern bows and even string lights to the chandelier wreath can also add a peaceful and cozy ambiance. -Tammy Leonard, The Gifted Wreath
Add greenery into the mix
Add extra depth to your table by adding some greenery. It can make for a great contrast to the traditional orange colors of fall. Bundle together a bunch of leafy greens and you’ll have a fantastic seasonally-inspired centerpiece that your guests will enjoy. -Freddie Chatt, Decor Blueprint
Get creative with your centerpiece
Take a deep glass bowl, any size will do, but the more impressive – the better. Put some vibrant orange and red maple leaves on the bottom of the bowl. Place an assortment of grapes on top of the leaves. Feel free to add orange and lemon slices or slices of any other citrus fruits. Once you are happy – fill the bowl with water and add a few drops of essential oils of your choice. We recommend bergamot, ginger, and cinnamon to create a cozy and inviting atmosphere at the table. As a final touch, you can use floating candles on the water. –Mcdonald Paper & Restaurant Supplies
Opt for vintage wildflower stoneware decor
Photo by Live View Studios
We love to see mixed and matched table settings and our favorite pattern this family holiday season is vintage wildflower stoneware. Add vintage green, amber, and brown goblets along with mixed patterns of cloth napkins. For decor, our advice is to forage outdoors for the many treasures of autumn. Sprinkle pinecones on the table, perch them atop of brass or wood candleholders, or use them to hold place cards for your guests. Complete the table with vases filled with greenery and tree branches with colored leaves from your yard. See an example of our work below. –Southern Vintage Table
Consider one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose pieces
Consider one-of-a-kind, multi-purpose pieces that showcase your style and turn into conversation starters. Spicy, warm colors like cinnamon and persimmon work well for serving pieces giving a warm and festive look and allowing dinnerware to be more solid flexible colors. After menu planning, consider the largest serving pieces first before adding the seasonal decor, and don’t forget to add pops of bright cheery colors. –Sunset Canyon Pottery
Let your cooking speak for itself
Use your covid-19, lockdown, cooking skills, and let the food be the color and spark at your festive table. –Contextus
Go global
Add warmth and color to your holiday table with artisan wares from around the world. Africa and India, for example, are known for creating tableware using warm, natural materials like olive wood salad bowls, sisal grass breadbaskets, or block print dinner napkins which would add a lot of style and spark conversations at your dinner table. -Anita Terrell, Reflektion Design
Use beautiful paper goods
It may be surprising, but there are beautiful paper goods in stores to use for Thanksgiving. I have found Spode and Lenox china patterns on paper plates. Pair them with beautiful chargers and napkins, and no one knows the difference until they feel them. Makes for easier cleanup after the big feast” -Danielle Keller, Faith and Farmhouse
Take the Thanksgiving fun outdoors
Tis’ the season to give thanks and be together as one, don’t let new norms get in the way of your festive fun. Why not take your turkey outdoors with a quiet bonfire? This Thanksgiving, set up an outdoor dinner by a fire pit using individual place settings to set up a socially distanced dinner. Use small side and end tables with an assortment of chairs for the seating and add rustic decor elements like fresh flowers, candles & little baskets for essentials labeled with guest names at each table. Create a festive vibe by adding some lanterns and string lights. Don’t forget a spot for the laptop in case you need to connect with a loved one, and keep a few throws handy in case it gets cold. -Rahul Agrawal, Styldod
Hire an event company to help
Don’t waste valuable storage and cabinet space on specialty holiday china, flatware, and glassware when you can rent your table settings and linens. We, as an event rental company, stay on top of all of the latest trends so you, in turn, will wow your guest year after year and, as a bonus, we do the dirty work by cleaning and sanitizing all inventory before and after your event so you get to spend more quality time with your family. –All About Events
Oh me oh my – this gallery of wondrous images are going to delight you! Captured by Mylina Russell Photography, Shrimi of Happily Desserted has fully and completely displayed her incredible baking talents. We can personally attest that these treats are even more delicious than they look!
When we were invited by Emily of Emily Katherine Events to provide the cake stands, serving trays, handcrafted boxes, decor, and other items for this styled shoot, we were all in. Two styles were created -a rustic outdoor dessert spread and an elegant indoor display.
As you will see, Shrimi baked, Emily styled, and their joint talents are amazing!
Rustic Outdoor Dessert Table
Elegant Dessert Table
Bravo to all of these talented vendors! What a joy to be a part of such a yummy shoot!
