Thanksgiving Table

I have yet to host a big holiday meal, and given this year’s circumstances, I won’t be this holiday season either. But, I thought it would be fun to put together a tablescape based on pins I’ve saved over the years and using pieces I already own along with some new (to me) things.

I reached out to my friend Leah Ashley, an interior stylist and vintage shopping expert, to see if she would be up to the challenge of helping make my vision for the table happen. I wanted to add in some vintage and inexpensive used pieces with what I already own. Luckily, she said yes, and she got a jumpstart on shopping.

I’ve always loved vintage blue and white china plates and wanted to incorporate those with blue goblets I own and a neutral centerpiece made of mini white pumpkins, candles and fresh greenery on a burlap runner. The only problem: I didn’t own one vintage blue and white plate.

We definitely had our work cut out for us trying to find at least six salad and six dinner plates in less than two weeks time. So, Leah got started on one of her vintage shopping trips and was able to find several plates. The next week, she and I met up to try to complete the collection. We had three hours to shop and went to several Goodwill Locations, a Savers, a Salvation Army Family Store and ended at the Austin Antique Mall.

We found about half the plates we needed during our shopping trip. Those, along with the plates Leah had found a few days before and a couple she already owned were enough to complete the table. Moral of the story is: you shouldn’t try to build a collection in a week. But, with an expert vintage hunter like Leah, you can make it happen. I love how it all came together and hopefully one year I’ll get to host a holiday dinner at our house.