lulu
There was never a doubt that this beautiful meticulously handwoven runner from India would be the inspiration for a tablescape and dinner for our gourmet group when it next met at our house.
The design elements in the piece are many, but the primary ones are symbolic of the images seen again and again in Rajasthan. I still marvel at its artistry and treasure the runner as a favorite possession.
My first thought was for the table to be as elegant as if it were in a maharajah’s palace which meant bringing out the china, crystal and silver. Good idea but it proved to be a bit much so began the process of simplifying.
I wanted nothing to take away from the beauty of the fabric so glass candle holders and vases as a centerpiece allowed the colors and pattern to show through.
Gold chargers did survive the cut and became the backdrop for varied colored plates that not only played off the thread colors but were more subtle and took nothing away from the beauty of the runner.
With napkins of gold and burgundy and etched stems with different patterns, the table was simple with touches of elegance that fit my comfort zone.
To this point the only thing missing was the flowers. Choosing roses was a no brainer as in India we were showered with rose petals upon arriving at every hotel. As luck would have it, Trader Joe’s had the perfect colors, and the tea roses nestled beautifully in their globes.
With memories of India swimming in my head, there was never a doubt that the food would also be inspired by that adventure. I opted for chicken tikka masala seasoned with spices gotten in Dehli, and to my delight the hubby found Kingfisher ale at Total Wines.
I have to admit that Indian food met with resistance from some of the group, but the ale was a big hit! Hey, isn’t challenging the taste buds part of the planning for a gourmet group meal?
Joining
How weaving came into the picture is a happy accident. At my girls’ elementary school auction someone donated 6 weeks of weaving lessons which no one bought. Somehow I ended up with those lessons, and they opened the door to a whole new world. I never dreamed anyone would want to buy anything I made, but from the beginning that proved not to be true. 
There were many wonderful moments during that period, but several years ago I burned out on cutting and sewing and began working with designers to create blankets, table linens, accent pillows and yardage for dining room chairs, piano benches, stools, etc. Such work gave me incredible design freedom.
I never would have dreamed that weaving would become a vocation. It is certainly not one that ensures upward mobility or a hefty salary, but it feeds the soul and becomes a means of self expression. For that I will ever be grateful.
Did you know that that the only surviving being that has been weaving longer than man is a spider? History suggests that man discovered early on that lacing reeds, grasses and twigs together provided items such as clothing, shelter, vessels and sleep mats that made life more comfortable. So it is that weaving is said to have preceded other skills such as pottery making, metalsmithing or glass blowing he/she eventually developed. Knowing something of the history of weaving makes me very proud to continue this ages old tradition.
As time passed, weaving became not just practical but an art form. Skilled weavers were held in high regard among royalty who frequently appointed them to court positions. Here, weavers created beautiful tapestries that were used for decorative purposes as well as taken to battle where they made encampments more like home. Often tapestries were prized spoils of war. Thankfully, many survived various ransacks and have been preserved so that we might enjoy and marvel at the work done by hand in another time.
Early on in this country, hand loomed fabrics were for clothing and bed linens made of wool and cotton spun and dyed by the weaver.
Slaveholders often had an outlying shed where women and children spent their days weaving fabric for necessities. 
The breakfast room table is void of trees and snow globes that are replaced with what is left of the flowers the hubby gave me for our anniversary. They are arranged in an assortment of bottles which make for a simple and colorful centerpiece.
The table runner is one I made from a scrap of my handwoven fabric bordered with another remnant. Sometimes it pays not to throw anything away, but when I go into my studio I wonder how it will be possible to use all that is on the shelves!
With the runner and flowers in place, it was easy to pick everything else. The dishes are one of my favorites, Tuscany Rose from 222 Fifth. They’ve been around for a long time, and a few pieces now have chips in them. I’ll keep using them though until they are no longer presentable.
Add glasses and flatware,
and in just a few minutes the table is done. I wish that preparing dinner were that quick and easy!
In Texas we know how to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. It is a day made for TexMex favorites, margaritas and fun.
Around here, that’s no problem. A handwoven rug that serves as a table topper is the backdrop for colorful dishes which create the feeling but but happen not to be from Mexico. (Is that cheating?) Rather they are Fiesta wannabes picked up at a thrift shop and fun pieces from Italy.
The glasses, well, they are a purchase from a parks fundraiser oh so many years ago, but they fit right in and add their own touch of whimsey.
What is authentic is the centerpiece featuring pieces collected from various trips to Mexico.
The family of figures wear handwoven clothing
which just might have been made by the village weaver working on a very primitive backstrap loom. When I see how some fabrics are made, I stand in awe because my studio setup is so sophisticated.
Putting this table together was so much fun because it says a lot about my interests in weaving and color and texture and whimsey.
For dinner it’s King Ranch Casserole, a real Texas favorite chock full of chicken, tortilla strips and jalapeño peppers. It’s so good I think I’ll tempt you to come back tomorrow for the recipe.
