As you may know, I participate in my state fair’s table decorating contest almost every year. I wrote about some judging considerations and the results of this year’s contest already, so this post is about how the table actually came together.
It all started with some table linens.
Linens for the table decorating contest
I’ve always loved the linens from April Cornell, and I finally decided to treat myself to a lovely rose patterned set. As soon as I opened the package, I knew I wanted to use them for my state fair table.
Even the packaging is lovely! The blue background on the tags should’ve been my first clue to my colors!
The first thing I did was get out my card table and plywood topper, and spread out them out. Next, I grabbed some champagne glasses, and stuffed some pink faux flowers into the silver wine bucket that was handy in the dining room.
I had already decided on a tea party as my sub-theme. The formal category of the table decorating contest was “Birthday Luncheon.” And since these linens seemed to gently whisper “tea party” to me, it just felt natural.
Suprising color combination
Then I started putting all my tea pots out, one by one, to see what looked good. I had tried a few, then went out of the room for something, When I came back, the contrast of the Wedgwood blue teapot and the pink linens really struck me. Even though it’s totally not my normal color scheme.
I didn’t go with this right off because this was the only piece of Wedgwood I actually had! No sugar or creamer to go with it, and no other pieces to complement it.
A round tea table
But I was really not liking the boxy look of the table. I’ve always had trouble with this – the square table just looks like a gift-wrapped present to me! So I asked my wonderful neighbor if he could cut my square plywood table topper into a round topper. Which he did!
I hadn’t figured out the leg part yet, so I just stuck the now-round topper on the card table for now. (Obviously, I did eventually figure out the leg part, but we’ll talk about that later.)
Experimenting with the tableware
Even though I liked the blue a whole lot, and because as I mentioned, I didn’t have enough blue to go around, I experimented with different tea sets, and china, and teacups. Here are several tries.
The silver tea set was lovely, but I was kind of feeling like people might be getting tired of all my silver. Plus, I thought the table decorating contest might need some more contrast.
I remembered how much I’d liked the blue of the Wedgwood, so I tried some of my Noritake Blue Hill china. I really liked the blue again, and the china itself is lovely. But it didn’t feel like enough contrast. I also experimented with different flowers. And I thought for a minute, that I might make a tiered tray with plates and candle holders.
I love this black floral design tea set! And since I had the plates to go with it, I thought that might be a fun color combination. I eventually decided against it just because I had something brighter in mind.
Table decorating contest teacup choices
I also experimented with different teacups, just to see how I liked the different colors and shapes. I thought if I really super loved one of them, I might be able to fill in some missing pieces. Since I was still hung up on the blue, I tried this lovely Spode Maritime Rose. Beautiful, but still not quite right.
No, the pink was too pink. (That’s Johnson Bros Rose Chintz.)
I tried a bunch of others too.
Back to Blue
But I just couldn’t get that Wedgwood blue out of my mind.
I thought maybe I’d just skip the blue altogether and go more monochrome. And I liked that the white tea set matched the white plates and teacups. (Plus I’d made a tagboard mock up of my cake idea, which I was liking pretty well too! Aren’t those skinny gold candles fun?)
So I broke down and ordered some Wedgwood for accent! As I mentioned in an earlier post, I’d really had my eye on that Wedgwood tiered tray. So I figured I’d splurge a bit. Plus, the gold tray handle matched my gold candles!
I decided not to add the water glasses, since mimosas and tea seemed like enough beverage on the menu. And I wanted the extra space on the table.
Unfortunately, the Wedgwood luncheon plates were a bit too big to use the white plates as chargers. Or even as a “main course” plate. So I needed to come up with another plate stack idea. Since this was a tea party, we really only needed the luncheon plate itself. But I was trying to skew it toward being judged, and I wasn’t sure how just one plate would go over. See my earlier post for the whole thought process.
Cake for the table decorating contest
The cake stand was a fun little project with a crystal candle holder, a dessert plate, and Museum putty! That stuff is amazingly strong, and the stand is still holding tight after two moves, and 10 days at the fair!
The cake itself was another fun project. Since we can’t have any real food on the table, and I wanted a birthday cake for the Birthday Luncheon, I made one!
I used a 5″ styrofoam cake dummy, and “frosted” it with lightweight spackling compound! It was really fun, and went on just like real frosting. Granted, I used a putty knife intead of a cake spreader, but it worked. The faux raspberries and strawberries are pretty realistic looking too.
I stuck the fruit to the cake and the cake to the plate with more Museum putty. (Did I mention that stuff is great?!)
Also in the picture above, you can see the little teapot place card holders I found. Aren’t they darling? Perfect for the tea party theme!
How the round table worked
Once you find the right thing, challenges become so easy! Who knew there were pre-made table legs with screws in the top, that fit into special brackets that you can just screw into a tabletop!?
It was so easy! I just went to the hardware store, bought four of each, and put the table together on my front porch in about 20 minutes one evening.
Going clockwise from the top left in the picture below, take the brackets out of the package. Measure your distance from the edge of the table, and screw them in. Get your legs out, and screw them in! Piece of cake!
Since the legs (and tabletop, too) would be covered by the table skirt, I didn’t need to take the time to finish them. (If I were going to actually use it though, I’d probably brace the legs, in addition to finishing them. They were a tiny bit wiggly. Possibly, I didn’t put the braces on 100% correctly.)
And here it is, back in the dining room in its full round glory. Much more like a tea table, yes?
Graphics for the menu and place cards
I really had fun designing the menu and place card graphics. I wanted to carry on the pink rose theme, and also bring in some of the beautiful Wedgwood blue.
I created them in Canva, and made some templates if you like the design and want to use it yourself. There are a couple formats available.
If you want free printable copies, you can find them in the Member’s Library. If you’re not already a Mantel and Table member, you can join when you get there.
If you want copies you can edit in Canva, click HERE FOR PLACE CARDS AND MENUS.
The table decorating contest tea party menu
I had so much fun choosing the menu for our birthday tea party! And it’s always great to have a good assortment. Plus, I got to choose all my favorites!
I’m planning to actually make this luncheon fairly soon, and I’m really excited! If you’d like me to put out the recipes and maybe a preparation timeline too, let me know in the Comments.
The finished table
So after all my deliberations, and deciding to add the serving pieces too, here’s the finished table!
Packing up and going to the table decorating contest
Then it was time to take it all apart, wash and polish the daylights out of it, and pack everything up to go down to the actual table decorating contest.
The cake was a little delicate, so I fixed up a special travel container, made out of two floral delivery boxes.
Here’s everything all packed up and ready to go into the car. See my new foldup wagon there in the front?! SO excited to have an easy way to get everything into the exhibit hall this year!
And here it all is, IN the wagon, ready to check into the fair!
And HERE it all is, set up and ready for the Oregon State Fair 2023 Table Decorating Contest!
So there you have it, my friends! The story of the 2023 tablescape competition table. Let me know what you think, and thanks so much for sharing all the fun with me!
I love the theme! Pretty in Pink! We live in SW Washington, and I just told hubs that we are going to the state fair in Salem this year just for the table settings exhibit!
Hi Lu! Oh you’ll love the table setting exhibit at the fair – it’s just so fun! Well worth the trip. Be sure to have some of the Dairy Women’s ice cream too! 😊 Thanks so much for popping over. Hope you’re staying dry and warm over there!
I also didn’t know there were table setting competitions! When I first saw the blue teapot I was like, yes, yes, yes! But then I saw the pinkish-brass, and the whites and I was like oooohhh… but I agree, the blue was the right choice. Now you have nice luncheon plates 🙂
Hi Priti! I know – it’s usually so hard to decide what to use because so many things are so pretty in their own way. And yes – it totally was a great excuse to get some Wedgwood! 🤣 Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. Hope you have a great week!
you too!
Wow! I didn’t even know there was such a thing as a tablesetting competition! And you totally knocked it out of the park…definitely a winner in my book. Genius faux cake, and pretty prettty everything! I read the previous posts and I think it was a judging error that you didn’t get a ribbon b/c they missed entire categories on your score card. Anyway, fascinating and you rule no matter what the judges did/didn’t say! I ADORE all things tea and those teapot place card holders are the cutest – And the menu is delightful too! Congratulations on a beautiful table, Barbara!
Thanks so much Janet! I really love participating, and the sometimes weird judging is just part of the game. 😊 I’m so excited to make the menu – very soon now! Hope you have a lovely week my friend. Take care out there!
Hi Barbara
I am truly surprise that you did not win with such a spectacular setting. The choice of colors was outstanding. I agree with one of the previous posts, you should become a judge. Congratulations ! For me you are the winner.
Ha – too bad you weren’t the judge Edmee! 🤣 I’m so glad you like the table, and thanks for the vote of judge confidence. It’s an idea. I’m not sure how one gets to be a judge, but I might look into it for next year or down the road. Thanks so much for always being so supportive – I love your comments! Happy Friday and hope you have a great weekend!
Likewisw.
Well of course the table is gorgeous Barbara, and thank you for sharing the process. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart! There was a lot of thought that went into this table and it sure shows in the final product. The AC linens are gorgeous and showcase the beautiful Wedgewood perfectly. The styrofoam cake was genius. I’m sorry that you didn’t win and I really think you should become a judge!! Happy Thursday my friend!
Haha – you just never know – I may become a judge one day! 😊 Aren’t those linens beautiful? I’m so gald I finally treated myself to some. I’m sure it won’t be my only batch! Hope you have a lovely weekend up there my friend! Take care and thanks as always for stopping over!
Thanks for sharing all these details, Barbara… so fun to know about the process. Tablesettings are my go-to at fairs. I love the competition!
Ha – we’re true competitors, Julie! Even if it’s not to win, trying to do our best jobs is what adds spice, right?! 😊 Thanks so much for sharing all this with me!
I’m so happy to be featuring your post at Tuesday Turn About this week! Pinned!
Oh Julie you’re the sweetest! Thank you so much – I’m just on my way over to the party now! See you soon my friend!
Stunning – absolutely stunning results! I see the luncheon cloth rolled up – is that rolled using a cardboard tube? Great idea to prevent wrinkles from folding it and possibly having to iron it again.
I noticed that there were 2 place settings. Did most entries only require a 2 place setting? Or is that left up to the participant?
The menu cards are gorgeous – I love that there is some blue in there. Thank you for sharing your planning stages — if you ask me, that’s where all the fun is – getting a ribbon would be fun as well 🙂
Thanks as always! From my teacup to yours, ‘bottoms up”
Hi Carrie! I’m so happy you like it – I really had fun with it! Ha, yes, that’s the tablecloth and the skirt, wrapped around a pool noodle! 😊 It does work really well for keeping them smooth, and I can stick pins in to hold it all in place. If I’m using light colored linens, I wrap the whole thing in industrial-sized plastic bags to make sure I don’t get them dirty in transit. I do take a steamer down to the fairgrounds, just in case. Our fair specifies that there have to be two – and only two – place settings. Other fairs have different rules. And you’re totally right, it’s the planning and the creation that’s the most fun. Thanks so much for being here! Raising my teacup to a lovely weekend!
Oh the work you but into your Fair entries ! Thank you for sharing the process and information
on judging. I thought the table decorating might be a great suggestion for the Montana State Fair .
We are there every year with lots of 4 legged entries from dawn to dusk. I know adding this
event is way over my head and energy level .!
I love April Cornel and this pattern is beautiful, the blue and pink theme was so pretty together how
Clever are you the cake is adorable. The menu and place cards were perfect .
Thanks for sharing can’t wait to see the recipes !
Recipes coming up! 😊 I bet it’s fun to show animals at the fair too, but it sounds like a lot more work! It would be great if you could talk someone else into organizing a tablescaping competition, then you could enter or just go see everyone else’s tables. All the fun without any of the work! Thanks so much for popping over, Alexis! Hope things are going great for you on the ranch.
Would love for you to share your luncheon ideas along with recipes and a timeline – it sounds like ‘High Tea’ time. Your tablescape looks amazing and quite the process on deciding what to use. I really like the round table. Thank you for sharing all your ideas with us.
Will do! I’m excited to make all the recipes and actually serve a state fair menu in real life. 😊 Thanks so much for all your encouragement and support Janice – I love chatting with you about our favorite topic!
DID YOU WIN?
MY MOTHER had the blue Edgewood in all white!Those were our every day dishes growing up!
Beautiful tablecloth and flowers and setting!
XXX
No, I didn’t win, but I sure had fun! 😊 How cool that you grew up with Wedgwood – the white version is so pretty – and I know we both love china! Thanks so much for stopping by, and happy weekend!
Thanks for sharing your process and all the details Barbara! I was wondering how you got all the table stuff to the fair and your wagon is genius! Your menu sounds fabulous, please do share the recipes, and boy, I would love to come to one of your parties!
Hi Jenna! Yes I’ll share the recipes – I can’t wait to try them myself. And yes that little wagon was the best. SO easy to haul everything in and out of the exhibit hall. AND I’d LOVE to have you at one of my parties! 😊