Thursday, July 19, 2012

A Destination Table

It's been a few weeks since we played with dishes around here. Frankly, we've  been a little short on both time and inspiration. When Cuisine Kathleen came to the rescue with the inspiration, we decided we could also  take the time.

That's because it's challenge week at
(And we love a challenge)

This month's challenge was to create a destination table.
Can you guess where we're going? 


Germany

Actually, even though my German father visited repeatedly, I have never been there myself. It's on the list of places that I would love to visit were it not for that pesky fear of flying and the fact that I've seen The Poseidon Adventure. 

My daughters, however, have no such fears. Neither do my nieces.

All four granddaughters in the family participated in a German exchange program in high school. The three older girls spent their summer in Weissenfels, a village in what was once East Germany. Miss Whimsy took a walk in the Black Forest instead to the beautiful town of Freiberg. 

They were the guests of  four German families. In return, we  hosted their four festive frauen in our own  homes in Georgia.  We decided to invite them back to be the invisible guests at our Germany inspired table. 


Willkommen,
 Antje! 



And 
 Susi, Jenni, and Eli!



The  Hummel figurines guarding each place were German gifts
 for the females in the family.  


The bier steins were gifts for the men.
(Fellow Baptists can just call these root bier steins.)



That extra stemware just came from Walmart. 
 For the purposes this post, please feel free to call it Valmart instead. 



For our centerpiece, we used a gift bought especially  for the Duchess.
Perhaps you noticed his feet.


It's not Paul Bunyan. 
It's Hans the Nutcracker. 



Since no one brought home any German dishware, 
 we decided to use a variety of  stoneware
layered in the colors of the German flag. 


And little bowls in the center  of each 
 filled with Gummibär. 


(That 's   gummi bears, in case it isn't obvious.  
Those cute little creatures hail from Germany too.) 





We picked the black iron flatware to give the table an old world effect. 



Added a napkin ring to match
and stuffed it with more red and gold. 


And there you have it.
Our destination table.



Inspired by four Great Deutschland Adventures.  



Auf wiedersehen!

*****
Sharing this with Let's Dish
and 

50 comments:

Vee said...

Love it! You are so creative. Val*Mart it is...hahahahaha...

Nikki (Sarah) said...

I'd love to visit Germany and seeing your table is like a taste of going there. I love the nutcracker and that little doll. They're soooo cute. Your table is incredible and you Debbie...amazingly creative and gifted.

Tanna said...

Valmart!! hee hee. Great tablescape!

Debbiedoos said...

Oh this is just fabulous. What cute treasures you have. My father in law just gave us some German steins and my husband was thrilled to say the least. Beautiful table Debbie!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love your collection. really enjoy the nutcracker. cute. i'm from a Germany family. so we have many keepsakes similar to yours. (:

Anonymous said...

Oh, wow! A really great taste of German European Old World splendor! My heart leaped at the sight of the wrought iron flatware - really???? Toooo wonderful! Hans is great - love the Hummels. But, what's for dinner?
Joy!
Kathy

Creations By Cindy said...

Beautifully presented! Love the German theme! Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Gina said...

I love it! This table is so creative! All the little details are great and of course, when it's served with a side of your humor, it's perfection.

Kathe said...

No detail missed! I love it!

Marlis said...

Wunderschoen! Now I'm homesick. How very clever to add the Hummels to the table. Absolutely perfect idea. Love the Nutcracker too.. Great job on this table.. Hat mir sehr gefallen! xo Marlis

Barbara F. said...

This is so great! Your brain, even at rest, works in triple time, Debbie!!! Layering the plates for the flag, Gummi bars, Val-Mart/Wal Mart, the cute Hummel figurines, so perfect! Now I am thinking weiner schnitzel with a side of German potato salad and red cabbage. xo

renae said...

Lovely table setting - simply lovely!!!!! You've been with my sister, Mary at merrydotdandy, I think. I've seen your flower-cart over there. So thankful for you nice comments this morning on my stories re my sweethearts/husbands. Thank you again!!!!!!

Denise at Forest Manor said...

Hi Debbie,

I'm so glad you did a German table; Germany is on my lonnnng list of places I'd like to visit someday. When I was in high school and college, we had a Mr. Dunderbak's Pantry in our local mall. They served deli sandwiches and soups for lunch and dinner, and it was also a store. They sold deli meats and cheeses, German beers, and all kinds of neat Bavarian items. They had poster prints on the walls of beautiful Bavarian scenery, and that's when I decided I wanted to see Germany. Do you like German food?

Your table is just great! Hans the nutcracker is quite handsome, and the little Hummel figurines are charming. I don't know why, but I think beer steins are so neat, even though I don't like beer. :) My in-laws brought us one from their last trip to Germany. It's one of my treasured pieces.

Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend!

Denise

Pamela said...

I loved seeing the different elements on your table. I love German food and getting to share a mean on this tablescape would surely be a treat.

Crystal Grandeur said...

It's nice to see a beautiful table scape of this nature.everything is so awesome.well taken photos.

xinex said...

This is a fantastic German table, Debbie. I love the steins and the Hummels. And I even learned something new, I did not know that gummi bears came from Germany. Thanks for sharing this....Christine

Sarah said...

Debbie, your German table is full of delights. I adore a table with special details and this one is overflowing. I love the idea of the little Hummel figures holding the place cards that you've beautifully written. Stacking the plates using colors of the flag along with a bowl of the gummi bears holding the German flags ~ brilliant!
Sooooooo enjoyed this little trip to Germany. Thanks!

Christine said...

You got me with the Hummels.
I'm Hummel crazy!

Alycia Nichols said...

VERY creative to used plates in the colors of the flag!!!!!!!! The Hummel figurines and the cool nutcracker really add to the ambiance! I would love to drink root beer out of a stein like that! (Even though I'm Catholic, I never developed a taste for actual beer. Shame on me!) I share your fear of flying, so I'll probably never get to see anywhere really fabulous off American shores. We both need to grow a pair and get our hips off to see the world! :-) My sister and niece have both visited Germany twice. They want to live there. My niece hosted an exchange student, Renee, for a school year and enjoyed every minute of it. My husband and I have never hosted an exchange student, but I think it might be fun. Of course, I would have to find somewhere to put all the linens I have crammed into the guest bedroom closet! :-) Great job, Debbie!

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Ok- you win- that's a fantastic table setting!

Ann said...

You've made me "homesick." It's the second longest place I've ever lived (Virginia being first now).

You did a bang up job Debbie! Wunderbar!

Now, where's the kartoffle und schnitzel?

Tschüss!

Ann said...

You've made me "homesick." It's the second longest place I've ever lived (Virginia being first now).

You did a bang up job Debbie! Wunderbar!

Now, where's the kartoffle und schnitzel?

Tschüss!

Sharlotte said...

Great table, Debbie! I love the German theme. The Hummels add such a sweet touch, the steins and centerpiece really make quite a statement too. You need to make a trip over there...we went this past fall and saw such beautiful things. My favorite was the riverboat cruise of the Rhine! You HAVE to go! Looking at your table makes me want to go back!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Fun, fun, fun...I was given some very large Hummel's from my husband's aunt when she passed on...her husband had served in Germany during WWII

Great table...as always talented one

Lynn said...

I love it and I'm all smiles! Clever to use the flag colors in the plates and Hans is a mighty fine centerpiece-enjoy:@)

Robin said...

Fun table with an interesting destination and clever text. My married name means cousin in German but I doubt we will get there either! Love the beer steins!

Robin
Robin Flies South

Martha said...

A lovely table that reminds me a Germany! Good job!

Chatty Crone said...

I felt I was in Germany are you kidding? Do you have all those items just laying around your house - that just amazes me!

That table setting was just GORGEOUS!!!

That silver with the curl black iron at the bottom is amazing.

I just loved it.

sandie

Kathleen said...

Ja, you nailed it! I can smell the weiner schnitzel!
You are so clever,never would have thought of using the Hummels! And the nutcracker is perfect as the centerpiece!
Pass the pretzels, I am staying for dinner! Great job, thanks for linking to Let's Dish!

The Polka Dot Closet said...

Goodness girlfriend you went all out and your table is fabulously German! Gummi bears are a German candy...Well who knew, look at the stuff we learn reading blogs!

Carol

Yellow Rose Arbor said...

This is just great! Love the Hummel's, the Nutcracker, and so many wonderful details!

I learned something - I didn't know Gummi Bears are from Germany!

Katherine

Debbie said...

Oh I enjoyed this! And discovered even more we have in common....from Germany over here as well, and my flying days have never happened. I loved the silverware here, soo different. The Hummels are darling. Hope you enjoyed your day! HUGS

Renée said...

Wunderbar my friend! Your table and destination are a delight. You must make the trip. Just climb on that plane, take a dramamine, just enough so that you can't make a fist, and before you know it you'll be in my favorite European country. The charm, people, and cuisine will cure your fears!

Vondermart???? You are hilarious!

Sue said...

OH! how the creative juices just flow at your home! Debbie. Loved all especially the Hummel figurines and the iron flatware really caught my eye! Great job thanks for sharing.
Enjoy your weekend.
Hugs,
Sue

Kathleen said...

Oh I love this mainly because I love Germany. My husband and I had a wonderful holiday a couple of yeArs ago in the New Forest and we visited Freiburg. The whole area is absolutely enchanting. Conquering your fear of flying is something I wish you could do. You are missing out on such a lot of happiness.

The Hummel figurines are adorable I bought one over there in a little place called Cochem onthe Rhine on a different trip.

Kathleen said...

Me again. I meant Black Forest. :)

Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours said...

Show off! You gals really pulled out all the stops on this table -- and I love it! Such creative details, especially the flag-colored layering of plates. Thanks for the little vacation this morning!

Denise said...

really love this, beautiful.

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

Lovely table! We lived in Germany for a couple of years when I was (very, very) young. My son has the steins but I have the cuckoo clock, just thought that was fitting :)
(())

Entertaining Women said...

So well conceived and executed! The German plates layered in the colors of the flag is a brilliant touch, and I adore the Hummels. Thanks for inviting us for a peak. Cherry Kay

FABBY'S LIVING said...

Just perfectly thought out German tablescape, it is gorgeous!! I love the layers of pretty dishes, forming the colors of the German flag, you are so clever and talented. I had a few Hummels I bought in Germany when I was single and after my first baby grandgirl was born I gave them to my daughter for the baby's room...I also love the steins. Happy Destination at Let's Dish!
FABBY

Angel said...

What a cool idea! A destination table sort of makes you feel like your traveling without having to leave the country.

I, too, have always wanted to go to Germany. My sister got to go and it sounds like a beautiful place. Hope you get there sooner than later. :)

Cathy said...

What a great collection. where else could your destintion have been.

Cathy <;)

Mary said...

Debbie~ I just snorted my diet coke when I read "Valmart" :)) I so enjoy your commentary and the Hummels and Steins are the perfect touch at your table! Hans the Bunyan-esque Nutcracker makes a handsome centerpiece!

Denise said...

Great table! The German theme is carried out beautifully. I especially love all the Hummels. Would love to visit there someday. Maybe if I could get you over your fear of flying we could travel there together. (A sister can hope, can't she?).

Tammy at Tammy Loves Dishes said...

Wunderbar! Your plate stack is just perfect. The steins, the Hummel figures and the nutcracker all add to the ambiance of your German destination. I also like those special glasses from Valmart. ;)

Mary said...

That is very nicely done. (love the Hummels, I have one.) The stack of colored plates is a favorite. Good work.

Anne said...

Debbie your tablescape is just beautiful. Love the nutcracker.

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Excellent representation of Germany. (I think I'll being saying Valmart frequently in the future. I love it!) Your nutcracker and Hummels are so pretty. Love the flatware. laurie

kitty@ Kitty's Kozy Kitchen said...

I don't know how I missed this, Debbie, but your German tablescape is wonderful. Aren't the Hummels adorable and those beer steins, too?? The centerpiece takes the stage and the gummy bears are the prize!!

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails