I can’t remember the last time that I so anticipated the week leading up to Easter. Perhaps it’s because our weather and the insistent winds have kept me from going outside…and certainly have delayed the onset of spring in Newport. With a birthday in the middle of the week, houseguests arriving Friday and a small luncheon on Sunday, I found many reasons for joy in the planning, starting with the floral decor. Truly, nothing gives me more pleasure than creating flower arrangements of any and all sizes. However, with no garden to choose from I had to look elsewhere, from the wonderful online flower source, Urban Stems, to the wholesale flower market, even to Stop n Shop, and gathered a “gracious plenty” of wonderful plant material.
For this particular occasion, I took inspiration from an antique Famille Rose, 18″ tall vase (which has been tucked away in a room for years). It scales so beautifully with the deep marble mantle and the tall giltwood English mirror. As a contrast, I created an intimate little scene on the mantle with miniature cyclamen, ferns and moss.
I also changed this up a bit to include 2 rattan rabbits in repose.
Easter is such a a perfect occasion to fill our homes with spring flowers, and those plants that have been overwintering on the sunporch, waiting their turn. Like the gloriously graceful ‘Mother Ferns’ brought in to add another touch of greenery on either side of the French doors leading to the terrace.
The oval luncheon table has my favorite Robin’s egg blue silk floor length cloth, topped with an Indian- printed over cloth in predominate shades of green and blue.
And how could I forget the Easter eggs, hung from the giltwood chandelier, announcing Easter in a whimsical kind of way. Monogrammed slipcovers added another note of personalization.
The centerpiece in the French wire basket includes all my favorite flowers – ranunculus, roses, alstroemeria, hyacinth, astrantia, hydrangeas, anemones, to name a few.
There’s nothing I love more than heading into my china closet and picking out the tabletop pairings that will distinguish this luncheon from Easters past…and each brings back warm memories. From the leaf-ringed plates to the sweet pink “onion” soup bowl to the Venetian goblets to the pair of green metal lanterns (from Mrs. Alice), all provided a feast for the eyes…to include, of course, fuzzy green rabbits supporting the place cards.
In the entry hall, another sun porch star has its moment on the stone plinth next to the settee…an ivy-twined metal tuteur that resembles a Hershey’s “Kiss.” A skirt of more favorite fleurs, recalling bits of a French flower market, plays up the specialness of this day.
To you and yours, I wish you a heartwarming week of renewal and blessings.
Beautiful, peace be with you & yours this Easter weekend!
Your arrangements are stunning! Thank you for sharing them with us.
May beauty and peace be part of your Easter weekend also, Tyna! xB
Oh Bettie, I always look forward to your weekly post, have gotten many of my friends to subscribe as well. Todays post was gorgeous and I love your floral arranging techniques. Hope your weekend is filled with love and family.
Jeanie Luskey Huffman
I’m warmed by your kind words, Jeanie, especially as it is my birthday (a busy week…). Blessings to you and yours, xB
I greatly appreciate being able to see your work. Always so inspiring! Thank you! 💛💐🥂
And thank you, Robert, for being part of my Private Newport family! xB
Absolutely stunning and flawless. Happy Easter
With warm thanks! xB
I have just been inspired! What a lovely mantle and your table. This year I am hanging my decorative eggs from pussy Willow and flowering pear branches that I am forcing. I am using my mother’s Spode Buttercup china and my teardrop crystal accompanied with light green Murano water glasses( I hand- carried them home from my first trip to Europe in the 70s. I am going to try and do a more scaled down version of your mantle, using what I have, but I will be getting some begonias for my clamshell and the table. Thank you for all your lovely and smart ideas.
Well Beth, we’re sharing some of the same ideas…hanging eggs and Murano goblets! Doesn’t it bring such a peaceful pleasure to ‘create.” Wishing you a wonderful weekend! xB
Your tablescape is living in a “garden of flowers.” It IS A joyous celebration!! I, too, adore the vignettes transpiring…franki
Dear Franki, your way with words always adds a welcome note to the “comment section.”Have a glorious weekend, xB
Lucky guests to be at your beautiful table in your beautiful home. Your readers appreciate you sharing your talents.
Sharing is what makes this all worthwhile. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, xB
Love all your floral arrangements and tablescape! Happy Easter!
THis is a joyful holiday and I love celebrating it. Happy Easter! xB
There isn’t a single room or space inside or outside your home and gardens that doesn’t ooze with your creative beauty. Perhaps one of my most favorite rooms, though, is your china closet, filled with enough china and crystal to inspire a “chinaholic” to total greatness! Happy Easter and Happy belated birthday wishes.
So very lovely! The attention to detail is inspiring as well as your true expression of love towards those to whom you entertain. I have learned from you a deep thread that weaves through your hospitality, which is making people feel special and comfortable. The art of homemaking is our goal, and you have certainly mastered that expression of love. Very warmly, Karen
So inspired and so inspiring… oh to have the gift to emulate it, but
one can try, right? What bunny would not be ecstatic to be a part of
that floral expression of Easter beauty? A most blessed birthday, Bettie dear, and a year to come, filled with joy and well being. May the peace of Easter-tide be with you and yours.
Thank you, Mary, for your kind words and warm wishes. Blessings back to you. Have a wonderful and meaningful Easter!! xB
Such a blast of beautiful flowers. It cheers the time on this grey New England rainy day!
Thanks for all this Easter decor inspiration. 🐰
And have we ever needed this color…can’t believe it’s still raining…Happy Easter, xB
Can’t imagine trying to afford all of the blooms etc. that you had to purchase to do your beautiful arraignments. Having said that, they are exemplary in all respects!
Thank you, once a year I splurge and they will last for 2 weeks…the joy they are bringing me is priceless (it’s also my birthday, so…) xB
LOVELY LADY,
ONCE AGAIN (AND TO NO ONES SURPRISE), YOU HAVE CREATED, YET AGAIN, ANOTHER …’MIND – BOGGLING SETTING’ … A SETTING THAT ASKS –
‘HOW DOES BETTIE CONSISTENTLY CREATE THESE VISTAS OF PERFECTION?’
ANS. “SHE WAS BORN WITH THE TALENT!”
WHY, EVEN – MMP WOULD BE IMPRESSED WITH YOUR CREATIONS.
BLESSINGS AND JOY TO YOU AND YOURS.
FONDLY,
TOM