Hallowe’en is not my favourite holiday. I entered into the spirit of it (pun intended) when I was a candy-crazed kid. The sinister and destructive overtones of the occasion reverberate more with me now, and I see less innocent enjoyment than was my youthful perspective. How’s that for a cheerful start?
But pumpkins! Pumpkins I can get right behind, applaud loudly and enthusiastically support. Especially when they’re in the form of tableware and not the tough gourd itself, requiring carving and slimy gutting of stringy innards. Hmmm – there seems to be more than one reason to dislike Hallowe’en.
Pier 1 has a lovely set of watercolour pumpkin and gourd salad plates called Pumpkin Patch (currently on clearance, so make tracks, folks) that pair beautifully with Hartley Greens Creamware (now discontinued, but can sometimes be had at Replacements.com).
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- Striped Squash
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- Orange Pumpkin
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- Green squash
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- Yellow Squash
I found the paucity of orange in the Pumpkin Patch to be quite refreshing, with the colour emphasis of the plates being very pleasant green and yellow tones.
The table glowed warm and invitingly at nightfall.
The tablecloth is a HomeSense (HomeGoods in the US) purchase, and its warm neutral tones of brown, grey and cream served as a coordinating base for the cheerful variety of tableware.
I’ve collected the tureens over the years. The pumpkins and woven basket ones are Fitz & Floyd, purchased about 20 years ago. Discontinued, obviously, but they come up occasionally on eBay. The gravy boat is from Pottery Barn or Williams Sonoma, several years ago. The wooden pumpkins came from Harvest of Barnstable several years ago, but I’ve seen similar ones at HomeGoods/HomeSense and its ilk more recently.
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- lid detail from pumpkin tureen
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- lid detail from “basket” tureen
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- gourd gravy boat
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- pumpkin open salts
Fitz and Floyd’s figural collections range from quite attractive to nightmare-provoking-hideous, so one has to be judicious in their deployment. A little goes a long way, I always think.
This little pumpkin came complete with a lovely little ceramic spoon. We often use it at Thanksgiving to hold cranberry sauce.
The paisley napkins in green and brown tones were from Pottery Barn and the napkin rings were from Chintz & Co, both several years ago.
The Dubost olive wood handled flatware is from Sur La Table. There are similar items available from World Market at a much more competitive price.
The green goblets are from Pier 1 about 20 years ago, and the amber-stemmed Morgantown depression glass is from Replacements. I have a mixed set of the depression glass. It’s blank # 7617, and I have a couple of different versions of it. The one shown above, and
this one (picture courtesy of Replacements), which has a more lacy pattern to the etching. I love them both and they coordinate well on the table.
Some tables just resonate as they come together, and this one was one of them. I left it set for a couple of days just to enjoy it, braving the perils of less-than-graceful careening felines (I’m looking at you, Moxie…) and wagging tails. Happily, no mishaps occurred and the table remained unmolested.
It was fun shooting pictures at various times of the day and evening, capturing the table in its different moods. My right hand is beginning to solidify into the shape of a Nikon camera…
While the weather has been less than fall-like, it’s been nice to enjoy the extended warm days. The chill will set in all too soon!
Have a great week, everyone. Thanks for joining me on the Pumpkin Patch tour.
I’m sharing this post with Between Naps on the Porch.
Great minds think alike. I bought those plates for our Thanksgiving celebration. I don’t have Fiesta Ware, so I made up a set of Fiesta themed placemats instead and set a colourful table indeed! Always love your blogs. A spot of beauty when we need it most. Cheers, Lynda
Oh – I’d love to see what you did with them, Lynda! Pictures, please 🙂 Thank you so much for visiting and commenting. It’s always a pleasure to hear from you. As a writer, I’m sure you appreciate hearing from people – otherwise one is writing into the abyss!!
Halloween is not my winner-winner-chicken-dinner holiday, either. If I could eat candy with the same zeal as when I was young, skinny, and brimming with a high metabolism, I’d probably be more likely to hop on board. That’s not happening, though, so there’s nothing in it for me! Nice to know I’m not the only one! You have sufficiently enticed me to pay a visit to Pier 1 for those gourd plates! I surely don’t need another dish in this house, but since when is that the criterion? This is a lovely, lovely table! Every element brings something special to it. I especially like the tureens and the perfectly chosen plaid tablecloth. That tablecloth really sets it all off. Beautiful! Have a wonderful week!
Hi Alycia,
As you say, “need” another set of tableware? I think of it as painting with china :). Painters buy paints, don’t they? Hehe. So glad you liked the table. HomeGoods/HomeSense is a great source for very inexpensive tablecloths and napkins! I bought a couple for fall and the plaid one proved very useful. I’d love to see what you do with the plates from Pier1. Please share. Have a good evening.
Lovely tablescape. I so agree with you concerning Halloween. Thanks for inviting us for a peek. CherryKay
Thank you, Cherry Kay. Halloween is not universally popular, but it does seem we are in the minority 🙂 Thanks so much for visiting.
Lovely mix of patterns and textures, particularly the figural dishware. I have to confess to generally loving Fitz & Floyd items. I do enjoy Halloween – but I’m definitely mid-way between cute and sinister!
Hi Sandra! I’m a Fitz & Floyd fan, too, in the main. Some of it is a bit over the top, but generally it’s lovely. I have a cottage teapot, cream and sugar from one of their earliest collections. You’re reminding me that I should do a post on that… Thanks for visiting and commenting. It’s always such a pleasure to see your name come up. 🙂
Thank you! You are probably the only blogger who does not jump wholeheartedly into Halloween. When I was young it had slightly sinister undertones, but now it is simply sinister with an emphasis on darkness, gore and death. Why is that considered enjoyable? Perhaps it is a way of dealing with the things that truly do frighten us.But it is not playful fun for me. My husband, in his wayward youth, became involved in the occult. That culture of darkness is very real. The stories he could tell you…
But – we do observe the day by participating in handing out treats to children who are having a wonderful time dressing in costumes. We sit outside at the fire pit and hand them out there.
It’s all golden and glowy, with corn stalks, jack-o-lanterns, chrysanthemums, and a hand puppet called Nigel who is a crow. He is the one who puts the treats in the children’s bags. Some of the mothers tell me that their kids look forward to our house because it feels safe and not scary.
I do dress the house, but with autumn leaves, pumpkins, crows, owls. These are the things evocative of my childhood when things were simply a little spooky.
BTW Your table looks much like mine, which naturally, I love.
Hi Yolie,
It seems we’re not alone, and good for you and your family for bringing back the more traditional approach to Halloween. My youngest daughter was so scared of the whole event she refused to past the first couple of houses. She’d find a neighbour where she felt comfortable, and join them for the evening handing out candy. That way she had “gone out” and handled the holiday in a way that felt good to her. We all find our way to celebrate, don’t we? Your crow hand puppet sounds like a lot of fun! Thanks again for visiting.
I cannot remember ever seeing a more beautifully coordinated Thanksgiving table. I love your mixture of things – all lovely and perfect together. Like you, I love to keep a table set for a few days and enjoy it for longer. I have no felines to worry about – just a farm project-diving husband! Ha! Happy Thanksgiving ahead! -)
You are too kind, Cindy! Sometimes tables just seem to get their own mojo and this was one of those times. I don’t quite know what sets them apart 🙂 Oh yes, farm projects! I grew up on a farm and have many happy memories of the sense of mutual purpose and just “dealing with it” that farm life brings. Thanks for visiting!
Beautiful table, and I love that tablecloth. It provides just the right amount of color for the background while still being neutral enough to let those plates shine. If I had space for any more plates, I’d love to add those to my collection.
Hi Joy,
I went back and forth between these and the Pottery Barn version, but I really liked these because of the different colours of pumpkins, and the detailed nature of the drawings. The PB ones were more abstract, watercolour versions – also lovely. They do come in a box for easy storage, in case you’re tempted. Teehee…
Very pretty. This year I bought two sets of pumpkin salt and pepper shakers and some dollar store wine glasses with fall colored leaves on them. That is the start of my fall dish collection. We always have Thanksgiving dinner at my mom’s and dad’s house so I really don’t set a table. But maybe for breakfast.
I love salt and pepper combinations. All the little touches make a table, Lorri!
I love your pumpkin fall dinnerware!!! Sure miss dear departed Pier 1 store, especially in Autumn. My favorite season.
I am still crossing my fingers that someone picks up the brand. I’m with you in missing it!