Take-out Tuesday, Tales of The Traveling Tote, Art in the Park Tabletop Picnic
A twist on Take-out Tuesday today as I join my fellow Traveling Tote gals with a tablescape starring our totes
Our sisterhood formed from a mutual adoration of all things MacKenzie-Childs and we share “adventures” using our totes, who all have names and personalities
I chose a French art theme for my table because my tote, Miss Coquille considers herself quite the French coquette, and even though she balks at carrying my art supplies, she loves to carry books, flowers and gourmet delights
How does that song go, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy…” well, how about a deli take-out picnic to keep you out of the kitchen
With temps hovering near triple digits, this “picnic in the park” is indoors in the cool AC
Pulling out some pretties and using a little imagination will make even an everyday sandwich feel special
A loaf of crusty french bread, some charcuterie*, cheese and a bottle of wine, oh la la, you are ready to dine!
*charcuterie is french for cooked meat, more loosely translated as prepared meat, usually pork, such as salami, bacon, sausage, ham
Miss Coquille is helping out with the centerpiece today
She is proudly holding a pink begonia in a painted checked pot perched on a MKC fluted Courtly Check cake stand
Ribbons with flowers spill out onto the table, much to Little Miss Fancy’s delight
Treasured art books sit center stage
To peruse as you nibble and sip
Art history books serve as pedestals for pretty plates and paint buckets hold flatware
Old fashioned travel modes decorate the Carte Postale French plates with French landmarks in the background
Little Miss Fancy is quite the photo bomber~
She says “Bottoms up!”
A simple summer meal spent with flowers, books, wine and delectable bites
Can you think of a better way to spend a relaxing summer night?
Hand painted Hydrangea glasses
feature the words hydrangea and the french fleur
The glasses mingle with the other green and white blooms making flowers appear everywhere 🌷
I loaded up my 3 tier MKC fluted Courtly Check Stand with red raspberries, juicy peaches, cherry tomatoes from the garden, a five grain french bread loaf cut in pieces, salami, bleu cheese, grapes and pickles
With a table set with a little thought and care, even the simplest fare will provide an elegant dining experience
Stop by the deli and give yourself a mini stay-cation!
One of my bloggy friends, RJ, who is also an artist and a huge MKC lover, just wrote about her Friday night tradition of serving a cheese plate, isn’t that a great idea for a no fuss dinner?
Her husband surprised her with a beautiful book, The Art of the Cheese Plate, you can read all about it on Art at Home here. Lovely ideas and lots of eye candy! It’s available on Amazon here
Please visit all the Tote Gals for their traveling tales:
Debbie with Miss Aurora @ Mountain Breaths
Emily with Miss Courtney Childs@ The French Hutch
Linda G with Miss Rosie @ More Fun Less Laundry
Linda P with Miss Lola @ Life and Linda
Patti with Miss Kenzie and Miss Taylor @ “Pandora’s Box”
Rita with Miss Luna C @ Panoply
Sarah with Miss Merri Mac @ Hyacinths for the Soul
Join us Sept 1 for another adventure and a giveaway!
🌺 🎨 👜 🌺 🎨 👜
I will be joining these fabulous parties and blogs:
Rustic and Refined, Between Naps on the Porch, Gardens Galore Make it Pretty Monday
Coastal Charm, Cooking and Crafting with J&J, The Scoop, A Stroll Thru Life
Celebrate and Decorate, Lori’s Culinary Creations, Moonlight and Mason Jars
Full Plate Thursday Foodie Friday & Everything Else Thursday Favorite Things
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I love creativity and your air conditioned art in the park picnic Jenna…your paint bucket vase, art book risers and French plates. Your Courtly Check stand makes the perfect centerpiece and vertical cheeseboard. Miss Fancy always makes me smile 🙂
vertical cheese board! what a great description, thanks Mary!
beautiful!!
Jenna, so creative and clever. J’adore your lovely hydrangea goblets! You combined your gourmet and artsy flair as well as poetic charm in this entertaining and inspiring post.
That MC tiered stand! Ooh La La!
thanks Bonnie, I love any excuse to use the tiered stand, it usually lives on the foyer table anyway as I can’t stand to put it away!
I LOVE the penny farthing plates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
STUNNING! Love your “paint cans” , they are adorable! Your theme is so perfect for you! The layering of dishes on books is clever. I love how you use your sweet stand and I need to use mine more often! As always, it’s all so pretty!
Jenna, So much cleverness and beauty here, with your hydrangea glasses (wow!), that tiered stand, and the french plates! But Little Miss Fancy is stealing my heart with her curiosity, photo bombing and fancy pants on that little bottom! I think a picnic indoors is the perfect place when the temps soar like yours do! I’ll be right over. 🙂 Linda
Isn’t she funny, I have had that goose for years, just plain white, and one day when I saw a MKC flowered one in their catalog, I couldn’t resist giving her a makeover! Thanks Linda!
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I so totally adore this post, I can’t begin to say which I love more — the gorgeous overall look, those great carte postale plates, the flowers, the glasses. It might be those ceramic “paint buckets” — where on earth did you find those, or did you make them? If you made them, a tutorial, please and if you found them somewhere, please give me a hint! I want some! Badly!
hi Jeannie, I found the paint pots at Hobby Lobby several years ago, they might still carry them…if not you could create your own by using a white pot or even a plain tin paint can which I have seen at Lowe’s/Home Depot and dripping paint down the sides. Have fun!
Well, you must know how much I love this post, Jenna, because you combine two of my faves: art and books! LOVE this!!! The paint buckets are making me smile this morning!!!! You are so creative. I enjoy everything you do over here!!!
xo,
RJ
Thanks for letting me link to your post Ricki Jill, I think your Friday night cheese plate is such a brilliant idea. I am dying to look through your new book too, it looks like its full of wonderful ideas!
Wow Jenna, your tote scape takes my breath away! Such a clever use of your paint buckets and French plates (swoon) mixed with Courtly Check. I’m spooning with every photo, especially your fluted stand filled with delights for a picnic.Your tote holding the pink begonia is is lovely and so are your painted glasses. You have created a stunning artsy table setting………….Happy August!
Wow Jenna, your tote scape takes my breath away! Such a clever use of your paint buckets and French plates (swoon) mixed with Courtly Check. I’m spooning with every photo, especially your fluted stand filled with delights for a picnic.Your tote holding the pink begonia is is lovely and so are your painted glasses. You have created a stunning artsy table setting………….Happy August!
Thank you Emily, summer in the South is definitely the time to stay far away from the kitchen, I plan on making meals like this more often from now on, and isn’t it always a treat to have an excuse to use our pretties!
Jenna, not only is your table setting adorable, but your food and flowers coordinate! I am loving those cute little paint cans and want to know – are they planters? So cute, and so you. This is my style of eating in summertime, and although I don’t always set a pretty table, you sure elevate simple cuisine. I love how your bag is scrunched with the falling ribbons – so pretty! Yes, I could definitely spend an afternoon here, lazily gazing through your books. Happy August!
Thank you Rita, this table basically set itself, black and white is my favorite palette to work with, especially if there is MKC involved! The ceramic paint buckets came from Hobby Lobby craft store a few years ago…not sure for what use they were intended, they were part of the spring line. I have used them mainly for my Paint Bucket photos, but also have used them in my studio for brushes, and on my desk for corraling small things. Sometimes even candies…the large one is normally my studio trash can, paper only, nothing too messy!
Jenna, what a perfect table from the food to the decor! I love a charcuterie spread and it looks fabulous on the tiered MC stand! The paint cans are so cute and I love the French plates! With my love for books, this is a home-run table for sure! So creative!
Thank you Pam, it was such fun!
I love your idea of an easy stay-cation, Jenna! Your tiered tray was used perfectly for holding all your deli and items. i love your adorable paint cans and Little Miss Fancy! You’re so fun!
Thank you Kitty! I love Little Miss Fancy, she always makes me smile~
C’est magnifique! J’adore tout ton décor de table Jenna.
Johanne Lamarche
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Merci!
Such a fun and cute post Jenna. Miss Fancy is adorable. Photo bombing for sure. That tiered tray is gorgeous and I find myself wanting one….LOL I am loving the french plates and those darling paint cans. Very creative and so fun. Miss Coquille is hiding out today. This has been so much fun. Love it all Jenna.
Thanks Linda! Wasn’t it fun to have a different type of adventure!
Jenna, what a fun post! Love how you used your tote so artistically! Happy August!
Thank you!
I am in awe of your creativity, Jenna!! Your table looks stunning. Enjoy your week.
Thanks Katie, I hope you’re enjoying your vacay!
Soo adorable!!! Love love love the art books as chargers, and the ribbons spilling out with the flowered ends. Very cute!!
Thanks Ann!
This is very creative and fun! The tote looks cute displaying the cake stand and flower pot. I just got a MC cake stand from a sale but haven’t used it yet. I have a very random few items from MC- it’s addictive!
It is addictive! You will love using your cake stand for all kinds of things! Thanks Liz
I am so jealous when I see your MC collections. Just don’t need to start another collection of dishware right now. WOW is what I can say about your table setting………well done my lady!!
thanks Cathy! >
You’ve convinced me that I should start an MC collection! Thank you for sharing with us at Celebrate Your Story.