Wednesday, October 27, 2010

A Chuck Wagon

Plan B...

This is not the table we had planned for this week. We had another one all ready to go… Unfortunately, the weatherman had other ideas, and we had to take a rain check.

So... we just went with the flow. We’re nothing if not flow goers.


We thought to the weekend ahead and let it dictate a little inspiration. You see, we’re not only having a Hallelujah Night Chili Party at our church, I’m also planning to attend a Soup Party in Blogland as well.

This one...
We decided to put together a chili inspired tablescape
which I insisted that we call
A Chuck Wagon
 instead.


A chuck wagon must use cast iron cookery. Fortunately, the Duchess has plenty of it. She loves to use old family pieces in her decorating. (If you have read here for long, you’ve probably figured that one out already…)


We wanted to use an old cast iron spider that had belonged to her grandmother, but it was nowhere to be found. We finally discovered it down in the bottom of a huge old crock where it was moonlighting as a plant elevator.

So technically… that’s an antique crock pot in the center of our chuck wagon table.


Another cast iron pot holds fall mums and little red peppers.


Bandanas were the only logical choice for chuck wagon napkins. Instead of napkin rings, we stuffed our bandana napkins in some denim pockets cut from a pair of the husband’s old jeans.


Next, we had to invite our invisible friends. We weren’t quite sure who would like to come to a chuck wagon so I let the invisible guest pickometer do the choosing.

I just typed in the words red hot chili peppers…


and I'm not the least bit responsible for what popped out


I report. You decide.

In keeping with the cast iron theme, we made iron placemats by putting together two rectangular wall trivets from Willow House.

We used some  denim blue plates.
These actually came from a local grocery store this summer.




The salad plates are a clear plate with a bandana print on the back side.



The little chili crocks belong to the sister and have been in her kitchen for decades. They have little roosters on the back, but we flipped them around. We'll just keep that our little secret.



We used these cobalt glasses because of their color. The fact that we put stemware on a chuck wagon has no basis in reality whatsoever.




A lantern from my father’s collection on one end…

And a tiered iron basket for bread on the other



And that’s pretty much it.
Not too shabby…



It might be a Plan B chuck wagon tablescape,
but those Red Hot Chili People
are definitely
 the A List
so it all worked out in the end.






.

32 comments:

Manda said...

I adore the detailed love that goes into decorating these tables.... I'm sure the food is delicious but the setting captivates me.

Karen said...

I love your PLAN B. You covered every detail. Especially love the jean pocket napkin holder. TOO CUTE! Would love to taste the chili tonight. Fixing to be chili weather, is what the weatherman is saying.
Enjoyed reading and looking.

elizabeth said...

I am now groaning over every pair of old jeans thrown out with pockets intact...who would have thought? You are a tablescape genius!
Elizabeth
http://www.justfollowingjesus.com

Vanessa said...

Oh Debbie! I think you get the gold star for being the first person to put our Sister Saturday button up on her blog! Thanks so much! And this was absolutely the most adorable table setting...where do I start? The denim pockets, the chili peppers placecards, the trivets as placemats??? Genius! Can't wait for you to join us at the Soup Exchange!
Vanessa
P.S. Your comment on my blog was so encouraging and a true blessing to me! Who knew how nice it would be to have others struggling with the same stuff? Misery loves company, right? :-)

Marlis said...

I'm loving giving up a good comfy pair of jeans for the pockets!! I can relate!! Love your chuckwagon theme and the old dutch oven is amazing. What a great idea on the plates and iron placemats. you are way too clever. Thanks for dropping in, loved your visit and your conversation.

Angel said...

What can I say, Debbie? I'm a true fan. I loved the tablescape and all the cool ideas and all the funny quips that come with them. You are one of a kind and a constant source of inspiration. Blessings to you, my blog friend!

Anonymous said...

You are a SMART cookie! LOVE your ideas and how you did the table! Of course, I especially love seeing Willow House products being used in fun ways!!! :D
You are so clever!
I've missed reading your blog for this week I've been "babying".....glad to catch up with you!
Take care!

Suzanne

Anonymous said...

Could that table be any cuter??? Love it, love it. You have such a great sense of humor! My kind of blogger.

Sharon said...

You KNOW I'm loving those bandannas!! What is it about cast iron that is just so wonderful? It just reminds me of the Old West, and those hardy pioneer women, just twittering away at the back fence to each other. (Twittering = gabbing, chattering, yakking...NOT "tweeting"!)
Frou Frou and Gnee - welcome to the table. (Guess those squirrels from last week will let anyone in - who's next? Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan?)

I totally get the "flow goer" title IN CONTEXT - might be careful where you say that in public, though. Especially at our age...just sayin' -

xoxo
G.G.

(p.s. A little side note - would love to have you come over tomorrow and read Marty's Letter to God - if you've got time...10-Q!! :)

a quiet life said...

that is darling! i love to use bandana's too, but the denim is such a clever touch~ loving your red plates too, CUTE CUTE CUTE!

Linda (More Fun Less Laundry) said...

I was reading a murder mystery today where someone killed her husband (I know--creepy) with a spider! Well, now I know what it is! I don't know how I would ever get my hubby to give up his old jeans, and if he ever saw his pockets on my table I would be in big trouble! I'll have to work on this. I love your chuck wagon, even the "inappropriate" stemware--after all, would Frou Frou come if you didn't use it? Linda

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

This is my kind of eatin' ... and tablescapin'. You are a natural!

FrouFrouBritches said...

Oh my gracious! I absolutey love it and not just because I get to be an invisible chili eater! WOO HOO! I love chili! Okay, where to start. I love the denim pocket idea. Fabulous!!! I covet thy cast iron dutch oven. But my absolute favorite is the bandana dishes. I cannot express how much I love that! GENIUS! It's Supercalifragilisticexpealidocous! I'm sure that's not spelled correctly, but it's the best I could do. I'm overcome with love for that idea! AWESOME! Thanks for inviting me!

Lynn said...

Plan B is a beautiful thing! Lovin' the theme and color scheme. How cool are your clear plates-they look great, what a fun idea! Looks like you're all having a great time in spite of the weather:@)

Mid-Atlantic Martha said...

Panned or unplanned -- what a fun table! This is perfect for chili! Great pockets. Thanks for your visit -- I got that hysterical cat from the drug store last year -- never know where you'll find "treats" this time of year.

Sharon said...

P.S. Sent you an email - heard that Google has run out of megabytes because of it...

Unknown said...

WAAAAY cute!! When's dinner? I can't wait to eat my salad on those cute plates and take my napkin out of the denim pocket. Then I'll settle in for a good 'ol dinner chat. Love it!!
xo
lynn

The Tablescaper said...

Great table!!! Love the bandana plates.

- The Tablescaper

Renée said...

Praise Be and Pass the Chili Peppers! Some people hope to win the lottery, and I just want to be selected by the pickometer! Imagine that I got home from school tonight and found it was my lucky day! I jumped into my cowboy boots, gussied up, grabbed my 'brella and headed over for the classiest chuck wagon chili-cook-off ever! As I sashayed up to the table, it was my kind of bash with bright red bandannas and denim pockets filled with ware! There were lanterns and crocks and cast iron kettles, oh my!...AND I understand this was "Plan B", but it was "Grade A" yippy-i-kee down-home Georgia hospitality. Thanks a million!

Hugs from a hottie in Idaho!

xinex said...

I love this, Debbie! You definitely captured the look of a chuck wagon. Love all the details....Christine

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Chili, chuck wagon and red bandannas! Fabulous! Love all the details. What a fun table.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

Oh, I LOVE this!!! The bandanas in the jeans pocket, hot peppers, the bandana plates, and the trivets for chargers!! Just great!! So many wonderful new ideas! Thanks for sharing!

Katherine

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh My Gosh! The bandana startched to the back of the glass plate is brilliant AND sooooo cute! I'm going to copy that idea some time. Your chuck wagon table is the perfect theme for a chili dinner, and I'm loving your flatware holders. So many good ideas on this table. laurie

Amy Kinser said...

How fun! I love every detail.

Have fun at the Hallelujah Night Chili Party. What a great name!

Entertaining Women said...

Well, this is one of those why didn't I think of that moments. I've known for years about using liquid starch to adhere fabric to walls, but I never made the mental transition to use it on the back of glass plates. Brilliant! Consider this an idea stolen/borrowed/appreciated. Thank you for sharing your charming design with the Duchess' cast iron goodies. Cherry Kay

Pattie @ Olla-Podrida said...

I love the blue jean pockets and the metal placemats. How clever. It really does pay to think outside the box. Very nice display.

Celly B said...

What a cute table! I just love the bandanas for napkins held in the denim pocket--so creative! I also love the idea of the bandana affixed to the back of a clear plate with liquid starch. That's a great idea I'll have to try sometime!
Thanks for stopping by Busy at Home. I liked that picture, too. I wish I had thought to put all the napkins under the bowls!

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

This is a great table! So many details, and your photos are beautiful!

Donna

Tricia said...

Debbie, your posts are always full of ideas! Love the one involving the square glass plates and festive napkins! We also have some vintage cast-iron pans we cherish. Thanks for visiting my table this week!

Alycia Nichols said...

Your chuck wagon is so cool!!!! I can't believe you actually sat down and created those bandana plates!!! What a great job! And those denim pockets for the napkins really rock! Have a great weekend!!!

Chatty Crone said...

It is amazing the details that goes into decorating these tables - you can see the wonderful little details everywhere! Very nice.

sandie

Barbara said...

Your creativity is SO inspiring! First of all, I am laughing at "flow goers" and will no doubt add that to my lexicon. The trivet placemats, the bandana plates - too clever are you! Wonderful tablescape!

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