Looking Back at Thanksgiving

Today I’m looking back at my Thanksgiving tables during the life of my blog.  The first year I was really just learning about blogging, and I only have a few posts left from 2015.  I was visiting some wonderful bloggers who really were teaching me with their posts.  I really loved seeing the beautiful tablescapes.  I learned that word. .  .  tablescapes.  I grew up in the 1950’s and 1960’s in a world where brides choose china, silver, and crystal.  Holidays of any kind meant getting out the good china for a dinner.  When I was little I called my mother’s china, turkey plates.  We often had turkey for a holiday.

I really believe most of us do not need multiple sets of china to meet every holiday need.  A good set of china  is all you need.  I like white or like my sister’s set, white with a gold rim for a beautiful table.  I have found that owning several sets of salad plates to change the look works well.  On the other hand, one of the earliest bloggers I followed had a beautiful blue and white china set. She made gorgeous tables for all seasons with her blue and white. Holiday tables can come in all colors. In September, I shared Fall Tablescape Ideas   from my blog and others. Below is a table from that post.

 

 

Fall Tablescape Ideas

 

 

Through the years I have enjoyed making pretty tables.  I like to think I’ve gotten better at creating a table and photographing it.  I periodically review my posts and sometimes delete those which I feel should look better.  It’s usually the composition of the table and centerpiece or the quality of my photos.  Today let’s look back.  Several of my autumn tables from the past could easily be a wonderful Thanksgiving table.  Let’s start with several tables I made in 2016.

 

2016 Tables

 

Several weeks ago I re-shared my 2016 November Brunch Table.  It is one of my favorites because I used my antique tea set.

 

 

 

November Brunch Table

 

 

The place setting was built on orange plates that belong to my friend Vickie.  She lent them to me just for the table.  I layered a thrift store salad plate with a saucer from my tea set.

 

 

 

 

November Brunch Table

 

 

 

 

2016 was a good year for exploring my ideas for making holiday tables.  Below is my Burlap, Lace, & Birds Holiday Table.  I think it is appropriate for Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I got a set of 4 bird salad plates at the thrift store. They were my inspiration for the table.  I love turquoise and teal in the fall.

 

 

 

 

Burlap, Lace, & Birds Holiday Table

 

 

The place setting again started with a plate borrowed from Vickie. I added gold chargers from Dollar Tree and a bird salad plate.

 

 

 

Burlap, Lace, & Birds Holiday Table

 

 

 

My centerpiece contains dried and artificial elements with the addition of greenery from my yard and feathers.  I wanted a look perfect for winter and the holidays. Just start with the flowers as a base. Add feathers and dried elements. Last add the fresh greenery.

Tip:  Whether you cut from your yard or buy cuttings, immerse in a bucket of water for 24 hours before using in your decorations.  This will increase the life of the cut greens.

 

 

 

2017 Tables

 

 

 

My Cream & Brown Autumn Table again started with my antique tea set on a runner.  One of my favorite things is my reversible cream and brown table runner I found a few years ago at the thrift store. It was new in original wrapping. For this table,  I used the cream background with brown print side on a white tablecloth.

 

 

 

 

Cream & Brown Autumn Table

 

 

 

The place setting started with a wood charger and a cream plate with brown accents on its flared edges.   The plates were on clearance the year before.  I added a wonderful vintage salad plate with autumn colors in its botanical print. I topped it with a saucer from the tea set.

 

 

 

 

Cream & Brown Autumn Table

 

 

 

 

For a different look, I reversed the brown and cream runner to the brown with cream print for a Turquoise & Brown Table. 

 

 

 

Turquoise & Brown Table. 

 

 

 

 

I used woven natural place mats as the basis of the place setting.  I added clearance turquoise plates, thrift store glass saucers, and napkins.  I love turqoise and brown in the fall.  Add texture with the place mat and the woven napkin holder.

 

 

 

 

Turquoise & Brown Table. 

 

 

I did my first “Thanksgiving” table that year with woven pumpkins. It’s called Rustic Pumpkin Thanksgiving Table.  This is my favorite Thanksgiving table – I just love those pumpkins!

 

 

 

 

Rustic Pumpkin Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

 

 

My place settings start with the woven circular place mat. More natural rustic elements to play with the shiny plates, crystal, and silverware.  I used a wood charger and then the off-white plate with brown details.  I topped the plate with a woven pumpkin.

 

 

 

 

Rustic Pumpkin Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

 

2018 Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

In 2018, my holiday table was Gather Together Thanksgiving Table.  My table’s inspiration were multiple thrift store finds.  The centerpiece is based on a vintage pitcher that is perfect for autumn. I filled it with yellow and white roses and cuttings from my fire bush in the yard.  I placed it on a thrift store tapestry runner that is perfect for Thanksgiving.

 

 

 

 

Gather Together Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

 

 

Gather Together Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

 

 

My place settings are clearance china I bought the previous  year in December.  Bright, cheerful pumpkins and flowers decorate the plate and saucer. The place mats are thrift store crochet table scarves.

 

 

 

 

Gather Together Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

 

2019 Thanksgiving Table

 

 

My inspiration for my Thanksgiving table came from a thrift store find of a set of vintage plates with an antique-looking pastoral image complete with thatched-roof cottages. It just screams Thanksgiving to me!  I used my wood slice chargers and loved the rustic look.

 

 

 

 

 

That year I made my Free Thanksgiving Place Card Printables .

 

 

Free Thanksgiving Place Card Printables

 

 

 

I went with softer colors for my table and choose the soft fall leaves on my Thanksgiving Thankful & Grateful place cards.  Then I placed a place card at the top of each napkin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2020 Thanksgiving Table

 

 

 

Last year was a quiet Thanksgiving with the world in a pandemic. I made a table for two. My inspiration for my small Thanksgiving table was the thrift store angel I got the year before.  The ceramic angel holds a pumpkin and the words “Give Thanks” adorn her skirt. It’s perfect for my Thanksgiving lunch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For my place setting I started with a woven placemat for texture and added an off-white plate with brown markings on the raised design on the rim.  The final layer is a turkey salad plate with a brown fall print. I love it on my wooden table without a tablecloth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Add gold cutlery and a brown glass to complete the place setting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The centerpiece starts with a wooden slab as the basis. I added a vase of November mums and placed the angel in front of the flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This year will again be a very simple Thanksgiving.  I am thankful for my friends and family. I thank you for your visits and comments. I pray you all have a blessed holiday!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Please see my Link Parties page listing where I shared this post.