I know it's fall and Halloween, leaves, and pumpkins will be filling the blog world, I wanted to do something that reflected more of what fall means to our family.
I started with the runner which I pieced together from Birch and Aspen bark my husband gathered on his many fishing expeditions to Quetico.
I added some twisted, weathered wood gathered from our travels in Colorado and Utah.
My husband is a hunter. I am sure there are some who will view this and not agree with hunting and won't like what I chose to put on the table. I don't like that he hunts, mostly b/c he is a serious hunter and spends a lot of time away from me in the woods, but it's something he truly enjoys so I support him and wanted to do something for him. He's not terribly successful as a hunter, but occasionally he out smarts a deer. We do eat most of the animals he hunts and what we don't eat, he gives to his landscape workers. I only have one rule about the deer he hunts: they have to come home looking like they came from Kroger! No Bambi eyes, no fur, just steaks, chops, tenderloins, etc. He does his best. I have some incredible recipes for venison tenderloins, which are so delicious that I have even served them for our family's Christmas dinner.
I added shed antlers he gathered from the forest floor and one set from a successful hunt.
The pine cones were brought back from Colorado. Adding Fern Leaf Cyprus from our backyard softened the centerpiece.
For the place settings, I started with a woven placemat in shades of brown and Cambridge flatware. I added the Pottery Barn bronze charger from a Colorado thrift store (9 for $19!). The chargers are really heavy; weighing 1.55 pounds each.
The dinner plate is Mikasa Gourmet Basics. The pattern on the Home Essentials salad plate echoes the bark in the runner. I thought the brown dinner plate was lost on the bronze charger. I tried several lighter chargers, but none were rustic enough for this table.
I think the addition of the plaid napkin helped separate the browns.
Hubby's antique leather binoculars add to the outdoor look.
Candlesticks are from Ross and globes are from Home Goods.
I hope you are enjoying the cool temps where you are. I will linking with following parties:
Just beautiful! I love all of the natural elements that you have added! I need more Antlers!
ReplyDeleteYour table looks wonderful :o)
ReplyDeleteChris should be very pleased with this wonderful display honoring his love of hunting. I agree....still can hear my crying from going to the movie Bambi, with my mom, when I was a little girl. Oh Well.... your table is lovely!
ReplyDeleteA delicious table. I love all the natural elements!
ReplyDeleteDianne.., missed you! Glad you are back. Your table is just wonderful and does certainly tell of the season. I love the antlers and the birch bark. wow. great idea. Your table is stunning. I didn't find one great find in Colorado... waaah. love your style.. xo marlis
ReplyDeleteDiane, my hubby's a hunter, too. Your centerpiece is wonderful, creative and so outdoorsy. I love all the natural elements that you incorporated.
ReplyDeleteYour table is wonderful! Love the antlers--I see many deer in my yard but I'm still waiting for the antlers to drop in the right place! I agree that the napkin is perfect in between the plates. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your tables! Linda
ReplyDeleteI like the antlers. Antlers are grown in nature, so...! One of my husband's nurses has a huge farm in Kansas, and her husband is always giving away the antlers that are shed over the winter. The husband gave me a couple of them last year, and I like them so much I display them in our library! Our next-door-neighbor is an avid hunter and really enjoys it. I'm not sure what all he hunts, but I know he practices out in the back yard. That's when I stay INDOORS!!! :-) But heck, our ancestors all hunted for food and clothing, and it seems a whole lot more fair than packing animals like sardines in a truck, sending them to a packing plant and whackin' 'em up side the head without warning which is how we get our grocery store meat! (And the leather in our Nikes and car seats and footballs, etc.!!!) I am bowled over by all the detail work in your table this week! You've been away for awhile out there in the wild, and you breathed in a heavy dose of inspiration!!! You did a great job with the centerpiece! LOVE the birch and aspen bark and that cool twisted up wood!!!!!!! You have created a great woodland vignette! I am jealous as jealous can be about what you paid for those chargers!!! Who on earth would give those to a thrift store?!??!!! I need to meet and hug them! :-) Glad you're back, sister!
ReplyDeleteThis is so beautiful, Dianne. Love your centerpiece!...Christine
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you back. Love your different take on Fall. Just beautiful.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
Dianne, this is such a beautifully rustic table! Love all of the natural elements and the antlers are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteTY a mill that your DH is a great hunter, giving you the antlers. They make your table more dramatic and full of character. BEST settings so far of tonight's TS (as I am in the Philippines)
ReplyDeleteGreetings,
/CC
Glad you had some r&r and glad you are back! What a great find and price for the chargers and just great for a natural table. The centerpiece arrangement is wonderful with the wood,, antlers, and binoculars. The candleholders and the globes are a very creative idea and I hope to use it! Really lovely!!!!
ReplyDeleteThis is my first visit to your blog. I love your table set with all the outdoors rustic elements. It is really quite stunning! Pamela
ReplyDeleteI really like this! The birch bark as a runner is so smart and adds a lot to the rustic nature of the t'scape! You've arranged the antlers and pine cones perfectly. I know a few hunters who would love to sit down to some venison stew served at this table setting!
ReplyDeleteDD
Your pictures look like they came out of a magazine. Such a beautiful table. Love the rustic look. Am following you now!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it nice that your blog is always there waiting for you? This tablescape is certainly worth the wait. Love the earthy centerpiece. Does you husband love it to? It says "autumn" in such a gorgeous way. A couple tweaks and it could be Christmas too! Have you seen this link to RL? You might love it!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ralphlaurenhome.com/default.aspx?ab=ln_explore_RLHome
I absolutely love this tables cape with all the natural elements. This tablescape could easily transition into a Christmas scene. Love it, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKaren
This beautiful table setting makes me feel like I'm dining at an upscale resort in the mountains! ~ Maureen
ReplyDeleteGreat to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays.
ReplyDelete- The Tablescaper
This is lovely. Although I am an animal lover, I realize that the herd must be thinned, I understand that the Native Americans used to bless their kill. In many ways, I believe that it is a more humane way to kill animals in the wild than to capture them and keep them in cages.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Susan and Bentley
Love, Love, Love this table!! You did a wonderful job using so many natural elements! Love the charger, plates and napkin combination, also the mix of bark! I come from a long line of hunters and fishermen, still have a great respect for nature and animals. Bautiful table!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous hunters table, Dianne. The centerpiece is awesome.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic tablescape. I grew up with a family of hunters, and I do love me some venison. I agree -- don't want to see any parts that are not edible. My mother would never allow deer heads and antlers hanging on the walls anywhere except the basement. Southern men do like to hunt, but I got one who would probably shoot himself in the foot with a deer rifle! (That would be messy!)
ReplyDeleteI have been MIA too -- so good to see you!
Wow, your centerpiece is truly stunning. All the natural elements really speak to fall. that weathered wood is really beautiful. Thanks for sharing, liz
ReplyDeleteYour table looks absolutely wonderful! I love all the natural elements. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLisa
What a beautiful table! It would be perfect for Thanksgiving, just gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for linking to Let's Dish!
I'm so jealous of your place and your table setting lifestyle! Nice design of that center pieces too. :)
ReplyDeleteArrielle P