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thanksgiving table

    thanksgiving-table-inspiration

    Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. I know I say that about every major celebration, but truly, Thanksgiving ranks high (like right at the top with christmas and easter). We have the best memories of Thanksgiving from when we were kids – big family gatherings, weekends at my great Aunt & Uncle’s house in their small town, cutting down our christmas tree – and it’s continued to be a time of year that feels festive and filled with tradition even now.

    thanksgiving-table-setting

    I love watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with the kids, then the dog show after (weird, I know. But I tend to be a bit like my mom and she always kept the dog show on so naturally, I do the same), then football for days. Our house fits the most people in it, so we often host here which we love. We do some of the cooking, and the rest of the family each bring a favorite dish (sweet potato puree, sauteed green beans with shallots and bacon, sweet potato cranberry crescent rolls – yum).

    The kids sit in the kitchen at the kids’ table (does your family do that?) and the adults in the dining room around our big dining table. We usually have to pull up a few folding chairs or random benches to fit, but we’re a tight family, so it works. At some point during dinner we go around and share what we are thankful for. There’s usually a few jokes, maybe a teary answer or two and a few years ago our step-dad (whom I like to call sugar-daddy) surprised my mom and proposed during his thankful share-time. It was the coolest thing.

    So the thanksgiving table is a big part of our celebration. And I like to set it.

    thanksgiving-table-top

    It looks different each year and nothing overly elaborate or expensive. I pull from what we have – dishes, silver, glasses, cloth napkins – and add in seasonal decorations from around the house or yard or market.

    For this look, I began with a roll of white butcher paper taped to the table, then a second roll of kraft wrapping paper down the center. Paper makes a great no-iron, recycle-it-when-you’re-done tablecloth alternative.

    thanksgiving-table

    A simple centerpiece of glass apothecary jars filled with faux acorns (from the craft store) reflect light and don’t take up too much visual space. The greenery came from the backyard maple tree popped into little glass vases. A few unscented candles – some wrapped in old book pages – line the table for a pretty candlelight glow.

    thanksgiving-table-candlelight

    The individual place settings are my favorite part: brown transferware dishes (from here) make the perfect background for a linen napkin, white pumpkin, sprig of rosemary and hydrangea leaf with name written in gold sharpie. I just walked around the yard clipping things that looked pretty and still-green.

    thanksgiving-table-plate-close-w

    Of course the most important part of setting the Thanksgiving table is making it warm and welcoming and a place where our family can linger over conversation and good food. I can’t wait!

    setting-a-thanksgiving-table

    A bunch of creative bloggers are linking up this week for thanksgiving table/tradition sharing hosted by Lindsay from The White Buffalo Styling Co. There are great recipes, fun traditions and table setting ideas at each stop, so be sure to check out the whole line up. Yesterday we saw pretty settings from Burlap & Lace, Simple Stylings, Run to Radiance and Eclectically Vintage.

    blogger-tours-

    Next up on the tour is Brittany Makes (who I pretty much repin every time she pins something so I’m sure her table will be great!)

    27 thoughts on “thanksgiving table”

    1. Emily, I forgot to say the important part, that you captured the quiet of Summer’s last gasp, the calm before the inevitable raging wind, ice and snow. It’s such a beautiful, reflective time and you have expressed it well with your lovely neutral colors and spare decorating. For myself, I would be happy to continue on with Thanksgiving for a few more weeks and then take on the crazy cacophonous Christmas season!

    2. I love the simplicity of this table. It is beautiful, and it sounds like your family enjoys the true spirit of Thanksgiving, which is being together.
      (We love to watch the dog show, too, haha)

    3. Love the table ;). I especially love that you gather from things you already have around the house, yard, or local markets. Makes me realize I can do this on a limited budget-that just because I want something inspiring doesn’t mean I can’t make it happen on my budget.

      Thought: Would you consider doing a video on one of your blog posts? A video tour of your home…to see the flow of the rooms. I’ve seen so many pics and love it but curious how you make room to room flow, especially with paint colors and decor/accessories. As in, is the whole house the same color scheme, or different rooms different flow. I tend to struggle with how to make one area flow into the next. It’d be neat to also see a sketched floor plan.

    4. Love the table ;). I especially love that you gather from things you already have around the house, yard, or local markets. Makes me realize I can do this on a limited budget-that just because I want something inspiring doesn’t mean I can’t make it happen on my budget.

      Thought: Would you consider doing a video on one of your blog posts? A video tour of your home…to see the flow of the rooms. I’ve seen so many pics and love it but curious how you make room to room flow, especially with paint colors and decor/accessories. As in, is the whole house the same color scheme, or different rooms different flow. I tend to struggle with how to make one area flow into the next. It’d be neat to also see a sketched floor plan.

    5. Emily, it’s lovely, inviting, simple. It’s what I had already decided to go for this year–dispense with damask tablecoths and napkins and their ironing. In early summer I’d gotten at Pier 1 rattan placemats which look decent with the white with gold trim China. I will certainly borrow the idea of apothecary jars with pillars right on the table, and the Kraft paper cloth. And the floral/natural additions–I have always collected “dead stuff” around TK time so that’s not a problem! Actually I have some hydrangea and black pods I might try to use. Thank you for the lovely images of your table!

    6. Hello Emily,
      Last year, following your blog and your adventures, I wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving at home in France with my family and friends !! Why, you say? You have given me want to learn more about this holiday and I wanted to celebrate with family … I like to party and I think TK is a very nice family celebration, as you describe it! I made a beautiful table, I printed coloring books for children (indians caps, cornucopia, turkey …) and I cooked for my family and friends using the product revenue TK. Can I show you my pictures? As a blogger and I join the group? In France it may seem strange to TK, but I love the idea of thank you and gratitude to our surroundings … I’m doing to my children, my husband grateful tags and I hung on the radiator in the middle of beautiful postcards that we report our travels. Thanks to you, Emily, I am interested in this lovely party and I thank you.
      Carole

    7. Beautiful, simple and elegant! I especially love the use of the kraft paper. I have 3 kids and I prefer to have them sit at the same table as the adults. This setting is elegant, yet kid friendly too. Thanks for the inspiration!

    8. How do you make THAT sound so easy? You are my most remarkable, creative friend!
      Who wouldn’t want to be a part of your warm, caring family! Be blessed!

    9. The table is just adorable!
      Curious… Did you put those polka dots on the brown kraft paper? If not, where did you purchase the dotted paper?

      Thanks!

    10. Emily, this is so pretty! One thing I have always loved about your style is how it is so fabulously neutral! This tablescape does that so well :) Thank you for joining in!

    11. The table truly is warm and welcoming, great job! I am going to use you’re glass canisters idea for my Christmas table for sure.The sweet potato cranberry crescent rolls sound good,any chance for a recipe?

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