Tablescape

In an effort to jump start my languishing design business, I signed up to decorate a table at a local Chamber of Commerce event. My goal is to create a show stopper...a table everyone notices and comments upon.
(And then rushes out to hire fab decorator)

I asked to see pictures of tables from past shows and was sent a number of photos. Here's one to give you an idea of what has been done in the past.

(not my design)

The tables are 60" round, and seat eight. A white tablecloth and white cloth napkins are provided, as well as all the dishes and silverware. All the display items go to the table guests. It is also customary to leave gifts for each person at the table. Happily, I am allowed to leave marketing information.

I had credit at my friend's store, Stone Buddha, so I went shopping there.
The store merchandise set the theme: Asian.


I decided to do a mock up at home to see how the display will look. I shoved all the living room furniture against the wall, dragged in the table off the front porch, and had Mark cut a 60" round top that I covered with a white cloth.


These bowls set the color scheme...they will be part of the gift for each guest. I purchased two rolls of wrapping paper, one a bluish green and one in pink tones. I traced and cut circles out of the paper to use as placemats and to give the white tablecloth a punch of color.


The chairs at the reception hall are an utilitarian (boring) gray (see first photo). I wanted to jazz up the backs of them, so I bought a (damaged) fuschia silk sari and tore it into eight strips that I will tie onto the back of each chair.
A chop stick adds a bit of detail.


For the gifts, I picked up small items, bamboo tile magnets, coins with punched holes, fortune cookies, candy and Buddha pocket charms. They went into take-out containers lined with the joss paper...

and tied with strips of silk sari...

and satin ribbon, at alternating place settings. A set of chopsticks tied to the ribbon with my business card finishes them off. I stuck a palm leaf puppet into each box for a bit of fun, and placed an open floral fan behind each box.

For the centerpiece, a tall woven basket filled with silk flowers and parasols. (need to work on the arrangement a bit more...maybe only one parasol...)


A little hard to tell with poor lighting and photography, but I'm pleased with the way this is coming along. The event is January 23rd. I'll take final photos then as I'm sure I'll be making more adjustments to the design...