Tuesday, May 1, 2012

A Tisket A Tasket

Some flowers in a basket.


Happy May Day everyone!

Oh, how I miss being a little girl and having  little girls this time of year.  The Great May Day Adventure was always one of our favorites. We made our little homemade baskets and gathered up flowers from the lawn. Then, we would sneak to the neighbor's houses, hang the basket on the doorknob, ring the bell, and run like crazy to hide in the bushes for the great flower discovery.  Giggling.

The best part of the Great May Day Adventure is the giggling. 

Do little children still do that?
They don't around here. 


Since our doorbells will probably not be ringing today, we set up a little May Day Adventure on the table instead. The theme of the day is baskets. 


The actual inspiration came from these little handmade ones that the Duchess got 
at a gallery for local artisans.
They were crocheted and then starched into a basket shape. 


We filled them filled with flowers


May baskets, of course, are supposed to be filled with flowers from the yard. Ours are filled with flowers from the Farm Sister. She used some Sweet William, some daylilies, and some knock out roses called Jacob's Coat. For filler, she used asparagus fern and confederate jasmine, also from the farm.

 I wish you could smell it.
Oh my goodness... 



  My only contribution was some yellow mums the husband brought me.
 That's kind of cheating, but we used them anyway. 


We kept our place setting very simple so as not to compete with the May baskets. Dinner plates and salad plates had a simple basket weave pattern on the rims.


A little pop of color came from the dessert plates in the middle.
The entire place setting is compliments of the Duchess. 



The green napkins and charger came off of my current kitchen table. The napkins came from TJMaxx this season. They are stuffed with some old yellow gingham ones because we love to stuff and fluff.


The stemware belongs to me. It has a very subtle green hue.


Flatware is compliments of the Farm Sister. 
It's a not-so-subtle green.
It thinks it's a sun catcher.

So does everything else on the table. 


Place cards use dry erase markers. 
It's actually not that easy to use a dry erase marker on such a small surface, 
by the way.




And there you have it. Our May Day table.


And then, by candlelight.

Who lights candles in the middle of a sunny afternoon?


Bloggers do.

Have a happy May Day, folks. 
Here's hoping you hear some doorbells today.
And maybe some giggling too.



I'll be sharing this with Cuisine Kathleen on Wednesday
 for her wonderful new party,  Let's Dish!
I'll also be on the Porch for  Tablescape Thursday
and with the Tablescaper for Seasonal Sunday

60 comments:

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

I was just listening on the radio to a talk about what people do on May Day with baskets. I have never seen that, nor participated. I remember the May pole in elementary school.

All that said, you have inspired me and I think Benjamin and I will make a basket for our neighbor...she has more treatments for her cancer.

I can't imagine being in your home and seeing such wonderful table settings....oh my! What a delight and how much fun...this one is just beautiful as always and I hope more than that you all had a wonderful dinner around the table and fellowship.

Gaby said...

Wow!!! You really give meaning to the saying: April showers bring May flowers. So beautiful!

Tricia said...

What a lovely tradition! I remember this from elementary school days, but haven't experienced it since. Your table is lovely -- even basketweave patterned china! I love all the soft greens and the flowers in the little starched baskets!

Amy Kinser said...

I love that you and your girls would hang baskets of flowers on people's doors. I think you and your mom and sisters should still do it. Wouldn't that be fun for y'all. Giggles could still be had. You might just have to walk away instead of run, though. :)

Love your table. So very very pretty.

Blessings to you, my friend. Amy

Debbie said...

Oh how I love that tradition you had! We never did such a thing, but maybe it is not too late to start. My neighbor lady would just love that I am thinking. Your table is soo pretty. I love every little thing about it, but especially the starched crocheted baskets...darling. Hope you have a wonderful day Debbie! HUGS

Renée said...

Can I invite myself for a little May Day celebration? I'm in love with your adorable lacy baskets, such colorful flowers, and the yellow and green place settings.

Like you, Mayday with baskets, flowers, maypoles, and door bell ringing is still a favorite memory. I'd like to be little again too! Well.....then again.........

Shug said...

Beautiful table...you just gave me the inspiration that I have been looking for, for weeks...
I love the green and yellow! I have to decorate a table for a Mother's day luncheon..these colors will be great..
I remember May Day as a little girl. I was a "Brownie" and we always did the May pole...lots of colorful ribbons and us girls dancing around the pole...
Hugs

Chatty Crone said...

Okay I have heard of May Day - but what is it? I really don't know. It is a lovely setting there. I enjoyed all the baskets and the flowers you have. Why do girls ring the bells? You sure put on a gorgeous setting. Love, sandie

Alycia Nichols said...

I was just lamenting how the May Day tradition has gone by the wayside. It used to be a pretty big deal when I was a kid more than half a century ago. (That really sounds scary when a term that as "half a century"!!!) I'm so glad to see the tradition has not been altogether abandoned, and your table is proof positive of that! SO clever to use the basketweave rimmed plates! The flowers - whether from your yard or not in modern times is irrelevant, I think - are gorgeous and you did a great job of arranging them! No that you mention it, the sound of real "giggles" is a rarity anymore. So is the sound of children playing in their yards. They're all mesmerized by the computer or video games these days. So sad. Have a great afternoon, and thanks for keeping hope for May Day alive!!!!!!!

Sooner Laura said...

Beautiful as always! I just love the way you set a table! Also love the crocheted basket. :)

Barbara F. said...

This is so pretty, Debbie, I think I still giggle from time to time! Doorbells ring from UPS only. xo

Sue said...

Absolutely Beautiful, Debbie, one of the prettiest tablescapes I have seen in a while! The shades of green and yellow, tops!!!! . The only thing I didn't see was my name at the place setting! ~smile~ maybe next time, I can make it.
Thanks for sharing.
Hugs,
Sue

Denise said...

Everything looks very beautiful.

Lynn said...

Your table is very sweet and makes me smile! Great colors and I can't believe your day lilies are already blooming too! Love your 'giggle' memory:@)

Scribbler said...

Thanks for visiting! I adore this table, and your photos are stupendous. Green and yellow are so fresh especially when punctuated with white. Just beautiful.

Audrey said...

Beautiful table setting.Thanks
for stopping by Timeless Treasures and leaving such a nice comment.
Blessings,
Audrey Z

A Perfect Setting said...

Sooo beautiful!! I love the little crocheted baskets! Every photo is amazing!

Debbiedoos said...

Debbie this is one of my favorite tables so far. Your sun shots are gorgeous!

FrouFrouBritches said...

I love, love, love all the green!!! It is my favorite color after all. That green charger is fabulous! The flowers are so pretty. You sure know how to set a pretty table.

I have heard of May Day but had no idea what it consisted of. For some reason I thought it had to do with a maypole. Duh. Flowers and giggling sounds like more fun than skipping around a pole holding a ribbon.

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

This is so beautiful! The yellow and green is pretty together, love the little grapevine napkin rings! The crocheted baskets are adorable!

Katherine

Christine said...

I was fixated on the sun and the way it hit the flowers.
Wow!
Happy May Day!

Donna said...

Debbie,
I absolutely love this table! The pictures are great, the way the sunlight plays on the table. Love the color combinations, the flowers,
everything!
D

elizabeth said...

Your table settings never cease to stun me...so lovely!

Dayle ~ A Collection of Days said...

I remember we had May Day activities in elementary school (it represented to ushering in of spring). One year we wore little Dutch girl costumes, complete with wooden clogs (or whatever they call them). We danced around the flagpole and I don't know what all else. I must say, I've never heard of the tradition you blogged about with the baskets of flowers. Love that!

Your table, as always, is stunning!

Tanna said...

You, The Duchess and Farm Sister outdid yourselves with this May Day table!! I DO wish I could smell it, too. Every little detail... perfect! Happy May to you, my friend! blessings ~ tanna

corners of my life said...

I so remember secretly leaving May Day baskets on neighbor's door. It was such fun. Then as a second grade teacher I had my students make May baskets and hang them around the school. Everyone looked forward to it each year.

Anonymous said...

You know, I love all the May Day talk of flowers and sunshine and sweet children giggling in all innocence . . . the stuff of stories and picture book illustrations in my youth. Not of personal experience, I admit.

Growing up in an Italian household - Merry Old England and all its charms were not the norm. May cam with processions and crowning statues and such - which I never understood, but liked the dressing up part.

So, I wondered at the English stuff and eventually crossed over into embracing those traditions in my heart - leaving statues behind me. May is a time of awakening in the garden and the beauty of the Lord bursting in full color.

Enjoying same today - and would love to sit at this amazingly beautiful tablescape setting with you for some grand yakking.

If you run into ME at the Walmart Supercenter - sure hope I get an invite!

Joy!
Kathy

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

I wandered if kids still do May Day too....I love the crocheted basket..so neat...also beautiful with flowers too

Sue said...

Debbie ~ loved this post and remembering May Days past. I used to make my baskets when I was a little girl and as my mother didn't garden, I used to fill them with violets and probably dandelions from the yard and then do the ring and dash. Such fun! I planned to introduce my grands to the tradition this year, but was stuck babysitting the floor demo team. Next year for sure.
Love your table too ~ as always just beautiful. You are a good photographer.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Debbie, this beautiful tablescape is filled with so many special and wonderful details. I don't even know where to begin. I love it all. The little crocheted baskets; the flowers; the basket patterned china; the double napkins. It's all just perfect, and I'm going to pin this to my Tablescape Favs. Thanks for all the inspiration. laurie

Francie...The Scented Cottage Studio said...

beautiful as always ! When I was a child we lived in New England where May Day was BIG ... we even had Maypoles !
(())

xinex said...

I love your May day table, Debbie. I love the greens everywhere and colorful flowers. So springy and so fresh. I bet it smells good too....Christine

Donna@Conghaile Cottage said...

Love,Love,Love the sparkle of the sun on your beautiful table! LOVE those baskets of flowers. Oh My, no one ever rung my doorbell and left flowers. "That is SO Beautiful"! ACTUALLY no one even comes at Halloween due to the FACT I'm so far away from the road,hehe!
Your basket and little starched one are SO SWEET!
Love it all!
Happy May Day to you!
Big Hugs,
Donna

Knitty said...

What a beautiful table! Unfortunately the May Day activities you've described are something I've only read about. They were never done (at least not in my lifetime) in SE Michigan.

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

The flowers! So gorgeous! What an amazingly beautiful tablescape!

I have never ever received a May basket!

Linda @ A La Carte said...

This is such a pretty table! Love the colors and the great May Day theme. I love the old traditions like this one!

Liz@ HomeandGardeningWithLiz said...

How sweet! I am not familiar with the traditions of May Day. That is the cutest idea about you kids making up a basket of flowers and putting them on a door and sneaking off! Too cute!
I really love your florals and the sweet crocheted baskets all starched and perky! I just got placemats that match your new napkins! I loved them immediately! Great color! Your whole table is a joy to look at! You did a fabulous job with your photography and catching the light just right! Kudos!

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I'm loving the traditions of May Day, very happy and fun as is your beautiful table with pretty dishes too. Those adorable crochet baskets are my fav! I love all your small and big flowers arrangements, they make your table the more the lovelier and merrier. Thank you for your lovely and fun visit. Hugs,
FABBY

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

I'm loving the pretty crocheted baskets...how cute is that??!! I love the berry plates, too, and oh my,just the whole table. The lit candles are perfect!!!

Marlis said...

OOh those little baskets are amazing. Love that you used them for the flowers, which are stunning. The whole table is stunning. Love it all.. cheery, welcoming, and the colors are my favs... so wonderful.. xo marlis

Unknown said...

Oh, what a BEAU-TI-FUL table. Love this. Everything about it.
Plus, it made me remember that my mom did up May day back in her day. She had very fond memories of it. We never did it growing up, but it sure sounds like fun.
xo
lynn

The Decorative Dreamer said...

Aww Gorgeous! I really love this setting. It has all the bells and whistles for a beautiful table in my book. Such pretty flowers that look so fresh in the baskets. I also like that you complimented your flowers with those basket weave plates and just the right pop of color. The green really stands out everywhere too. I love that! I have never heard of your May day antics. It is a tradition that sounds wonderful and should still go on. The only thing I remember about May day was May Day play day in school. We would have lots of outdoor games all day long and no classes. Fun!

Diane said...

Debbie - your table is so pretty and I love those dessert plates! I, also, adore those crocheted baskets that your made. I remember doing something similar (balloons, string and starch) for my senior prom many, many(!) years ago. What a creative idea - great job!!

Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside said...

Love it! Pinning it! Thanks for sharing it!......and thank you for visiting my blog! Blessings, Tammy

Kathleen said...

Debbie, this is so pretty! I love those little delicate baskets! I tried it with paper, it didn't work, lol!
Yoour pics are so pretty with the sunlight streaming through.
The flowers are lovely and surely say May! Just a perfect setting! Thank you for joining in at Let's Dish!

Elaine said...

The only place I have lived that celebrated May Day was Wisconsin. Imagine our surprise to find a basket on our door from a mysterious friend! I think it's a lovely tradition and your table is so lovely, too! The flowers are glorious!

Denise said...

I think this table is your best yet. The flowers and linens mesh together so beautifully. I'm sure your awesome photography skills only enhanced the lovely table.

I remember fondly the may basket tradition for the neighbors. Kind of hard to do when you live in the country, but I'm wishing I'd had the girls deliver a basket to the Duchess when they were little. Oh well. I'll have to try this with my own grands one day.

Great table. Great post.

Anonymous said...

I've heard of the May Day tradition, but never taken part in it. Your table is gorgeous. I love the little crocheted baskets and the place cards are precious!

Canadagirl said...

What a gorgeous table! And I think my favorite part was the basket weave plates. I loved basket weave plates soooooooooooo much that for my wedding cake it had the basket weave look done with frosting. So your post brought me back to such good memories of my wedding day. Thank you! [o=

Blessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary

Bunny Jean said...

Hi Debbie!

I opened my own party post this week with reference to May Day baskets... I'm not sure younger people even know about this tradition... I loved the spirit of you post today!

Your table is just lovely and like so many others have commented... I was impressed with how the sun highlighted all the shots. Such a happy start to Spring!

xoxo Bunny Jean
Wednesday's Bunny Hop Party

Kathe said...

The crocheted baskets are too lovely! I too am of a certain age whereas I remember hanging May Day baskets of flowers on the neighbors doors. Of course, we usually got the flowers from their gardens LOL. We don't have too many little ones in our neighborhood and any that we do have are probably involved with their video games and texting (sigh). I miss the good ole days! Lovely table as always. Everything perfectly done!

CAL said...

What a lovely and delicate May table. The starched baskes are so unique, filling them with fluers were a perfect touch.

Love the flatware!!!

Barbara said...

This is just so sweet. I love the idea of this tradition. If little girls aren't doing this, it seems like a good tradition to bring back. Your homemade baskets are so pretty. The whole table is full of springtime!

Entertaining Women said...

The light kissing the table turned the whole thing into a work of art. We spent up years creating May baskets and hanging them on doors. Not sure I could run away now, but ourneighbors will need a bit of time to get to the door any way...I think I can do it. I'll try it next year. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

Sharon said...

Beautiful! I love the spring colors - they're so brilliant! Such a cheery table - and it brought a smile to my face (and yes, I did giggle a bit here and there - evidently even big kids still have the capacity...)

Stuff and fluff...hmmm...sounds like what I do when I put on my jeans.

XO

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Back home and just reading this. You ladies certainly did collaborate on a fantastic May Day table! I love that tradition, although we never actually did it growing up. I always thought it would be fun, and if I'd been home this year I was actually considering putting together a few baskets and delivering them to a few elderly friends. Maybe next year... As for your May Day surprise post --LOL! My luck entirely!

The Tablescaper said...

Love your baskets and the spirit of May Day!

- The Tablescaper

Ann said...

I don't recall May day baskets on doors, but like another reader, do remember the May Pole. We practiced and practiced until we tied that thing up perfectly! It was the job of the 6th graders to do the May Pole dance at our elementary school. That was something to look forward to when you were younger.
Not only was it an honor to do the May Pole dance, it was the girls first time wearing stockings and small heels! Now try THAT while not tripping on the grass doing the May Pole dance! LOL!
I remember my pink dotted Swiss dress, too. Don't have a single photo of it though...dad was away on business. ; /

Anyway, your table, as usual, is drop dead gorgeous!

Cheers!

Tammy @ A Walk in the Countryside said...

Your tablescape is so bright and beautiful! Blessings, Tammy

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Oh Debbie, I do SO love this tablescape!!! It's one of the sweetest I've seen so far! Those crocheted baskets are precious, and I love how the basket theme is continued with the dinner plates. Those green embroidered napkins are just gorgeous! I love the stemware and the "suncatcher" flatware. You know I like to look at the photography, too, and you captured some great shots with soft sunbeams on your table. Wonderful job! I miss tablescaping. This is one of those days when I feel like our kitchen is never going to be finished. I know it is; I just have to be patient.

Thanks so much for visiting me, and I'm sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you. I'm trying to catch up on my visits this week. :)

Hugs,

Denise

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