The Painted Apron

These chargers inspired a Safari table for friends

that were coming over for dinner

It was the perfect excuse to get out my favorite china

I started gathering things from around the house

to set a table for the evening

I couldn’t believe all the things I found! 

I also couldn’t believe I had never done this before

We have a round glass table in the foyer

that was perfect for the small dinner party

The black placemats are actually the underside of some placemats

that have a pattern on them. 

I just flipped them over and none’s the wiser!

I don’t have a lot of cloth napkins because, ummmm….the truth hurts here….

I think it’s a pain to wash and iron them….

BUT I did have 2 golden pinned dotted ones and 2 solid black ones

I laid them horizontally across the dinner plate under the salad plate

I saw this done in a tablescape over at Home is Where the Boat is 

Check out her tablescapes, she does some amazing things

This china is “Casablanca” by Christian Dior

  I LOVE it, but only use it occasionally

I have 12 of these gold coasters that work in so many table settings,

especially the holidays, so they get lots of use

I painted the leopard base balloon wine glasses

The martini glasses have small gold pin dots on them

I served small chopped salads in them…a little “amuse bouche,” 

loosely translated from the French

meaning delighting or stimulating the appetite

Recipe at the end of the post

For the centerpiece, I started with a lime green tier from Pottery Barn

and used it to elevate the round wire basket

  The green works because of the palm trees on the china

The basket holds three earth tone patterned decorative orbs

It’s topped it with a funky bowl that is supposed to be half an ostrich egg

  In that I placed a clear glass orb

  Now its a good height that won’t interfere with lively conversation later

Then I tucked some little ceramic animals down it the basket between the orbs

Aren’t they cute peaking out?

Then I added my marching elephants and some tiger candlesticks

a zebra and a giraffe,

a tiger and some Rhinos

Just for fun I made up some exotic names for the menu dishes

and printed the menu out and framed it

Guests love to know what they’re eating

so I often use decorative signs for buffet dishes

I put the frame on a woven tray which served as a centerpiece on the kitchen island where

we serve the dinner buffet

Everything’s ready for our African Safari!

When the party’s over, I can keep this centerpiece on the table for a few weeks

while I wait for Halloween….

It was just a simple few bites of fresh veggies, a refreshing bite with the spicy main dish.

I love crazy and unexpected!

……………………………………………………

I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs

Celebrate and Decorate,  Rustic and Refined,

Between Naps on the Porch, Coastal Charm, Cooking and Crafting with J&J,  The Scoop,   A Stroll Thru Life    Inspire Me Monday

Tickle My Tastebuds,  Wow Us Wednesday

Full Plate Thursday,  Work it Wednesday

Poofing the Pillows,  Creatively Crafty

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