Thanksgiving Home Tour 2011

 

Update 2013: Wow, I can't believe how much this space has changed in two years! If you've been following my blog, you know that the my farm table now sits where the large area rug and love seat used to be! I still like some of my displays and wanted to share them with you this year too.

 

 

Update 2012:

I am running late on getting 2012's Thanksgiving decor posted but I don't want to miss out on the fun parties so this is last year's post that I am sharing. Hopefully I will have my new post up by tomorrow so I hope you will check back in, I have a new dining room this year!

 

Original Post 

I'm back for any of you who were wondering! I have been so disappointed that it has taken me this long to get back to blogging and to get my Thanksgiving post up. My camera broke right after Halloween and my husband has been wanting me to hold off on buying a new one until Christmas. I just borrowed a camera from my in-laws and was excited to get going, and then my Macbook broke! I am trying not to think about that issue right now so it doesn't ruin my holidays. So for this post I am using a borrowed camera and a borrowed computer both of which I am unfamiliar, but I hope you will enjoy the pictures anyway. I think it is all quite lovely and as excited as I am about Christmas decorating, I will be sad to see my favorite fall decorations go. This year's Thanksgiving displays were my favorite ever and I think I may just refer back to this post for next year's inspiration.  Here is a little tour of our cozy cottage from Thanksgiving 2011!

The 2011 Thankgiving mantel, complete with found turkey feathers, gourds, pumpkins, branches from the yard, grapevine, raffia, autumn leaves and mini-lights

This year my table was graced with the beauty of vintage thumbprint amber goblets and dessert plates from the flea market, the prettiest Johnson Bros. "His Majesty" turkey saucers and coffee cups,($5 for 8 pieces at a yard sale back in May...SCORE!), stacks of antique ironstone dishes and plates in autumn tones, various ceramic pumpkins and gourds in the bowls stacked on top of the dishes (a variation of my Halloween "pumpkin soup" theme from last month when I used mini ghost pumpkins). On the ledge behind the dining table I have a collection of vintage turkeys, a large  faux corn, some favorite ironstone peices, and a vintage spice rack. In the collage there is a vintage turkey planter stuffed with a fall pick and a small antique Gurney's candle. They are displayed on an antique ironstone serving platter.

 Here is a collage of my tablescape and vignettes

Another collage containing more scenes around the living room, dining room and kitchen. Lots of fall colors and vintage Thanksgiving  second-hand finds. My first "cloche" display is a striped pumpkin in a Cheesball dish ($1, Salvation Army).
A big stuffed Tom turkey greets guests as they enter while plenty of pilgrims and indians are tucked here and there in special places. This year I also lucked into several beautiful turkey planters for $2 each at a yard sale. I displayed them above my kitchen cabinets.

One of my platters, over 50 years old

Another lovely platter

This is my very favorite ironstone platter, made by the Meakin Co. in the 1800's. I purchased it for $3 at a yard sale and so began my love and desire to collect more ironstone. Not long afterward I found the small pitcher for $1 at another sale.

 A pilgrim couple offers a harvest of blessings to share. They are placed next to some special canned vegetables that my Step-Father and Mother planted, harvested, and canned at their farm.

Vintage Pilgrim plaques. They are made of some type of tacky faux wood so I white-washed them with Ralph Lauren Sunwash color glaze to shabby them up some.

Some more of the collection, including Thanksgiving postcards from the early 1900's

Little felt pilgrim couple, .50 at an estate sale... so vintage!

A turkey art portrait that my son made in Kindergarten is proudly displayed in an antique frame.

I also love his Samoset vest and head piece

I dug in my keepsakes to find my old Indian costume (I wore it in 2nd grade) to use in this year's Thanksgiving decorating

Here is a unique plate that I spotted this at a yard sale just a few weeks ago. Love my $1 deals!

I was thrilled to find this 1946 Turkey baster for .50 at an estate sale. Made by Pyrex, it was the first turkey baster on the market

 I am so glad that I was able to borrow a camera for this post. I didn't want to let my first year of blogging go by without honoring Thanksgiving, as it is a separate and special holiday altogether from Christmas and deserves more attention these days. It seems that a lot of American families may still gather together for a turkey dinner but aren't celebrating it as it was so many years ago. The new trend for many home decorators is to toss out the rotting Jack-o-lanterns from Halloween and begin hanging Christmas wreaths on the windows the next day. To each his own I guess!

 My family loves and honors Thanksgiving and what it means however, and I do my best to continue my childhood traditions by holding off on Christmas as much as possible until the day after Thanksgiving at least. Adding lots of vintage decorating elements seems to really bring back all those memories of Thanksgivings past for everyone and reminds us all to slow down and remember what we are celebrating.

 I am truly thankful to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family this year and for His protection and grace. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thank you Lord Jesus for these blessings!

Parties!

2013:

Share Your Cup Thursday

Home Sweet Home Fridays

Home Sweet Home Fridays

Thrifty Things Friday

 

 

 

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