I’ve been reading this fabulous book, The Art of the Table: A Complete Guide to Table Setting, Table Manners, and Tableware by Suzanne Von Drachenfels. The book is a very detailed read and is a must-have for any professional or lover of entertaining. I especially love all the historical information the author has included about art, china, and table settings. I happen to have an extra copy of the book and want to give it away to one of our fabulous readers!
Simply leave a comment to this post detailing your favorite element in setting your table. Is it a piece of heirloom china? Perhaps menu cards you’ve custom designed? Or a fabulous tag sale find? We can’t wait to know!
A winner will be chosen at random on Friday!
Looks like a wonderful book!
Favorite elements? Mismatched but beautifully ornate Victorian sterling silver serving pieces, with antique linens, and a fabulous antique glass centerpiece, either a fantastic cake stand or a vintage epergne. How about special place setting cards showing antique wedding photos???
I think my favorite has to be the glassware. But that surprises you, right?
of course, as a photographer, lighting is my favorite thing in the world. When i do a table setting, i’m all about the candles and the glow of the table. I like to mix it up with pillars and tea lights, but mostly colored glass and found glassware to use as unconventional candle holders :)
Mine would be the beautiful ivory embroidered table cloth and napkins my husband’s grandmother made for my MIL when she got married. You can feel the tradition when we use it.
I have a retro china set I found at a thrift store a few years ago that I absolutely adore. Only problem is that it is lost amongst the endless boxes in my attic. C’est la vie.
Candice –
This is such a fabulous book! What a great resource to have on hand.
My absolute favorite part of a table setting is chargers. I love the idea of utulizing different textured items as a charger to create a surprising look or modern twist on a tradtional item. ZGalleria had these incredible mirrored charger/trays. I would have loved to utilize them for a wedding. They were beyond GORGEOUS!!!!
Great book…and yay, a giveaway!!! I’d love to have this book, so hope it’s ok I play along. :) My favorite element when styling a table is decorating the flower vases or other centerpieces. Whether it’s using ribbon, beads, modge podge, buttons, paint, colored glass stones or led lights, it gets noticed so I love taking the time to make them look all prettied up! Time consuming it may be sometimes, but well worth it in the end. But that’s just me, I love all that artsy-craftsy stuff…lol.
Cheers!
-Jaime
P.S. You’ve been nominated because you’re appreciated – to see, click here:
http://justjaime28.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/blog-appreciation/
[…] So who is the winner of our Art of the Table give-a-way? I ran a number through the Random Number Generator and came out with luck comment number 4! Congrats to Fran, who will receive a fabulous copy of The Art of the Table. Fran, send us an email with your mailing address and we’ll ship it out soon. […]
I received this book for Christmas and I LOVE it! Definitely worth careful study.